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Shadows of the Apt #1
Empire in Black and Gold
'EMPIRE IN BLACK AND GOLD' IS THE FIRST NOVEL IN ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY'S CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED EPIC FANTASY SERIES THE SHADOWS OF THE APT.
THE DAYS OF PEACE ARE OVER. ..
Seventeen years ago Stenwold witnessed the Wasp Empire storming the city of Myna in a brutal war of conquest. Since then he has preached vainly against this threat in his home city of Collegium, but now the Empire is on the march, with its spies and its armies everywhere, and the Lowlands lie directly in its path.
All the while, Stenwold has been training youthful agents to fight the Wasp advance, and the latest recruits include his niece, Che, and his mysterious ward, Tynisa. When his home is violently attacked, he is forced to send them ahead of him and, hotly pursued, they fly by airship to Helleron, the first city in line for the latest Wasp invasion.
Stenwold and Che are Beetle-kinden, one of many human races that take their powers and inspiration each from a totem insect, but he also has allies of many breeds: Mantis, Spider, Ant, with their own particular skills. Foremost is the deadly Mantis-kinden warrior, Tisamon, but other very unlikely allies also join the cause.
As things go from bad to worse amid escalating dangers, Stenwold learns that the Wasps intend to use the newly completed railroad between Helleron and Collegium to launch a lightning strike into the heart of the Lowlands.
But first he must stop himself from becoming the Empires latest victim.
'EMPIRE IN BLACK AND GOLD' is followed by the second book in the Shadows of the Apt series, 'Dragonfly Falling.'
RUNNING TIME => 23hrs. and 4mins.
©2020 Adrian Tchaikovsky (P)2020 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd
THE DAYS OF PEACE ARE OVER. ..
Seventeen years ago Stenwold witnessed the Wasp Empire storming the city of Myna in a brutal war of conquest. Since then he has preached vainly against this threat in his home city of Collegium, but now the Empire is on the march, with its spies and its armies everywhere, and the Lowlands lie directly in its path.
All the while, Stenwold has been training youthful agents to fight the Wasp advance, and the latest recruits include his niece, Che, and his mysterious ward, Tynisa. When his home is violently attacked, he is forced to send them ahead of him and, hotly pursued, they fly by airship to Helleron, the first city in line for the latest Wasp invasion.
Stenwold and Che are Beetle-kinden, one of many human races that take their powers and inspiration each from a totem insect, but he also has allies of many breeds: Mantis, Spider, Ant, with their own particular skills. Foremost is the deadly Mantis-kinden warrior, Tisamon, but other very unlikely allies also join the cause.
As things go from bad to worse amid escalating dangers, Stenwold learns that the Wasps intend to use the newly completed railroad between Helleron and Collegium to launch a lightning strike into the heart of the Lowlands.
But first he must stop himself from becoming the Empires latest victim.
'EMPIRE IN BLACK AND GOLD' is followed by the second book in the Shadows of the Apt series, 'Dragonfly Falling.'
RUNNING TIME => 23hrs. and 4mins.
©2020 Adrian Tchaikovsky (P)2020 Macmillan Publishers International Ltd
23 pages, Audible Audio
First published July 25, 2008
1403 people are currently reading
24571 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Tchaikovsky
193 books17.7k followersADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY was born in Lincolnshire and studied zoology and psychology at Reading, before practising law in Leeds. He is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor and is trained in stage-fighting. His literary influences include Gene Wolfe, Mervyn Peake, China Miéville, Mary Gently, Steven Erikson, Naomi Novak, Scott Lynch and Alan Campbell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 968 reviews
February 16, 2020
Some authors do not write enough books while others write heaps. Tchaikovsky is one of the latter group. I feel as though I am never going to catch up with him, but starting the Shadows of the Apt series is a small step in the right direction.
I liked this book but did not love it, mostly because there was just too much war. The author actually writes war really well but it is not my favourite subject and I admit to skimming a bit. The characters were good and I had developed an attachment to, or at least an interest in, most of them by the end of the book thus ensuring I will move on to book 2.
The best part was the world in which the book is set with insect/humans and magic versus engineering. I would have liked much more of that and much less war but maybe that will happen in future books. I definitely plan to find out.
I liked this book but did not love it, mostly because there was just too much war. The author actually writes war really well but it is not my favourite subject and I admit to skimming a bit. The characters were good and I had developed an attachment to, or at least an interest in, most of them by the end of the book thus ensuring I will move on to book 2.
The best part was the world in which the book is set with insect/humans and magic versus engineering. I would have liked much more of that and much less war but maybe that will happen in future books. I definitely plan to find out.
March 14, 2025
I'm finally diving into Tchaikovsky's epic fantasy series after liking so many of his books. If you've not yet tried Tchaikovsky, and you're a fan of science fiction try Children of Time and Dogs of War, and if you happen to be a fantasy fan, try the excellent Guns of the Dawn.
Shadows of the Apt consists of ten books. Quite a commitment, but it's done, so no waiting for the last few books. This is a world filled with human-insect races, and no, the Wasps are not very nice. The series has a steampunk flair with lots of races using and developing technology.
The prose isn't quite as smooth as in Tchaikovsky's later books, but it's already filled with his unmistakable humour.
The cast of characters is varied, fleshed out, and I particularly enjoyed the amount of work the author put into his antagonists.
It's a fantastic first book, and I can't wait to continue with the series.
Shadows of the Apt consists of ten books. Quite a commitment, but it's done, so no waiting for the last few books. This is a world filled with human-insect races, and no, the Wasps are not very nice. The series has a steampunk flair with lots of races using and developing technology.
The prose isn't quite as smooth as in Tchaikovsky's later books, but it's already filled with his unmistakable humour.
The cast of characters is varied, fleshed out, and I particularly enjoyed the amount of work the author put into his antagonists.
It's a fantastic first book, and I can't wait to continue with the series.
February 9, 2017
War, war, and rumours of war, and yeah, war is here and war is HERE!
I wish I liked epic fantasy novels of war more. I'd probably be a bit more enthusiastic.
The wasps are an implacable and vast, vast army, an empire made up of slaves, slaves, and yet more slaves. This is a foe that makes me feel a knee-jerk reaction. Hell, most of the arguments made up of those still living in the lands that haven't been taken over make it sound like the ramblings of ignorant peeps in the face of the Chinese. All the stereotypes are still in effect: clever, devoted to their ideology, and you know the trope.
What really makes this novel stand out are the races of humans, whether Apt or non-Apt. Those who use magic can't use tech at all, even latches on doors, but they can take on the aspects of the insects (or arachnids) that they're linked to. The normal races of humans (for they're all human) have a thriving steampunk society and they fear the magic. Of course, all types of people show up in every land, but how they deal with the types allows for a lot of diverse conflict situations.
Cool and interesting world-building here.
Too bad so much of it was placed firmly in the service of so much eye-watering war. Sure, a great deal of character building happens with the show, don't tell school, but my eyes glazed over with most of the time being a slave. Things picked back up by the time of the rise in the ranks and the rescue comes around, and I finally began seeing the promise of the MCs.
I finally got into the stride of the novel very late, and that's a shame. I'm now into it and I'll probably continue reading the series. My only regret was the potential storytelling that didn't happen early on, revolving around the rules of the world and the exploration of any and all possible loopholes in the restrictions. Hoards and hoards bore me unless we've got some truly amazing viewpoints. The amaze factor wasn't here for most of the novel, but there were some very cool moments, placing this firmly in the category of immensely serviceable epic fantasy with still-good potential with a somewhat uninspiring beginning.
I wish I liked epic fantasy novels of war more. I'd probably be a bit more enthusiastic.
The wasps are an implacable and vast, vast army, an empire made up of slaves, slaves, and yet more slaves. This is a foe that makes me feel a knee-jerk reaction. Hell, most of the arguments made up of those still living in the lands that haven't been taken over make it sound like the ramblings of ignorant peeps in the face of the Chinese. All the stereotypes are still in effect: clever, devoted to their ideology, and you know the trope.
What really makes this novel stand out are the races of humans, whether Apt or non-Apt. Those who use magic can't use tech at all, even latches on doors, but they can take on the aspects of the insects (or arachnids) that they're linked to. The normal races of humans (for they're all human) have a thriving steampunk society and they fear the magic. Of course, all types of people show up in every land, but how they deal with the types allows for a lot of diverse conflict situations.
Cool and interesting world-building here.
Too bad so much of it was placed firmly in the service of so much eye-watering war. Sure, a great deal of character building happens with the show, don't tell school, but my eyes glazed over with most of the time being a slave. Things picked back up by the time of the rise in the ranks and the rescue comes around, and I finally began seeing the promise of the MCs.
I finally got into the stride of the novel very late, and that's a shame. I'm now into it and I'll probably continue reading the series. My only regret was the potential storytelling that didn't happen early on, revolving around the rules of the world and the exploration of any and all possible loopholes in the restrictions. Hoards and hoards bore me unless we've got some truly amazing viewpoints. The amaze factor wasn't here for most of the novel, but there were some very cool moments, placing this firmly in the category of immensely serviceable epic fantasy with still-good potential with a somewhat uninspiring beginning.
December 29, 2025
Винаги се завръщам с удоволствие във фантастичния свят създаден от Ейдриън Чайковски.
В поредицата "Сянката на умелите" има от всичко, което почитателите на фентъзито обичат - приключения и битки, интриги, предателства и любов.
Равнините са разделени на градове-държави, улисани в стари дрязги и непрекъснати конфликти. Почти никой не вижда заплаха в надигащата се от север Империя в черно и златно.
Всички раси в този свят са свързани духовно с насекоми и арахноиди, и имат умения присъщи за тях - чародейства, мисловни връзки, оръжия, способността да мимикрират, да летят и още много други.
Стенуолд Трудан, бръмбаророден от Колегиум работи от години срещу неминуемата инвазия на осите. Ще успее ли той заедно със своите агенти да предотврати плановете им за господство над Равнините? В тези смутни времена са омесени стиймпънк технологии и магия, в една наистина експлозивна смес!
Поредицата бе издадена само до четвъртата част от Бард - което е един завършен цикъл от нея, но тези дни си купих петата книга - "Пътят на скарабея" и смятам да ги изчета до край на английски. Българският превод е отличен!
P.S. Дочетох поредицата, няма нито една слаба книга в нея! Препоръчвам я горещо!
В поредицата "Сянката на умелите" има от всичко, което почитателите на фентъзито обичат - приключения и битки, интриги, предателства и любов.
Равнините са разделени на градове-държави, улисани в стари дрязги и непрекъснати конфликти. Почти никой не вижда заплаха в надигащата се от север Империя в черно и златно.
Всички раси в този свят са свързани духовно с насекоми и арахноиди, и имат умения присъщи за тях - чародейства, мисловни връзки, оръжия, способността да мимикрират, да летят и още много други.
Стенуолд Трудан, бръмбаророден от Колегиум работи от години срещу неминуемата инвазия на осите. Ще успее ли той заедно със своите агенти да предотврати плановете им за господство над Равнините? В тези смутни времена са омесени стиймпънк технологии и магия, в една наистина експлозивна смес!
Поредицата бе издадена само до четвъртата част от Бард - което е един завършен цикъл от нея, но тези дни си купих петата книга - "Пътят на скарабея" и смятам да ги изчета до край на английски. Българският превод е отличен!
P.S. Дочетох поредицата, няма нито една слаба книга в нея! Препоръчвам я горещо!
February 1, 2018
4 Stars
An Empire in Black and Gold was a really enjoyable start to a fantasy series, with distinct characters, cool action, and some unique world building. Set against a backdrop of a looming invasion no one wants to believe will actually happen, the book follows a reluctant spy and his young helpers as they try to find out what the menacing Wasp army is going to do and stop them before it’s too late.
To start with, that first chapter was great. I know some people don’t like being dropped right into the action from the start but for me a great prologue that leaves me asking questions and wanting to know more is one of the best ways to get me hooked. Like the prologue from the Eye of the World or the Way of Kings or the Shadow of What Was Lost, it made me immediately interested in what was happening. Plus there was some really cool and unique action.
One of the most distinctive things about this book was the world building. The races are completely different from anything I’ve seen before. I was a little hesitant when I read the cover blurb because I wasn’t sure how I would feel about what sounded like various races of bug people, but it was executed brilliantly. These people aren’t just human sized insects walking around. The different races, or kinden, have distinct characteristics and abilities, called their Art, that lend them specific talents. For instance the Wasp kinden can summon wings to fly and shoot fiery blast, or stings. Others can summon abilities like stealth, strength, or dexterity. The diversity of the kinden was really interesting, and I can’t wait to find out more about them. There is also a heavier technology presence than I was expecting, which I usually don’t love, but which I thought was handled well.
The author also created some really intriguing characters. You have Stenwold, an aging engineer (what they call an artificer), who has become a spymaster in the face of an invasion he knows is coming yet no one will believe. He assembles four younger charges, each of them different in ability and temperament. Salma, a Dragonfly kinden, and Tynisa, a Spider kinden, were 2 I particularly liked. Special mention has to go to Tisamon as well, a Mantis kinden who is simply cool. The author also managed to add depth to the conflict by presenting a character from the enemy, Captain Thalric, who is a Wasp officer working against the rest of our characters. The Wasp Empire itself, with its entire male population serving as soldiers and its use of captured people as slave labor, reminded me a bit of ancient Sparta, which as someone who finds the Spartans fascinating was another positive.
Despite all the good, the book wasn’t perfect. After that great opening chapter the middle of book was a bit slow. The writing itself is sometimes a bit cumbersome with at times a frustrating lack of detail. Some of the dialogue and interpersonal interactions also felt a bit stilted, as there were times I wondered why a character didn’t ask the obvious question or react more strongly to a situation.
Still, I would definitely recommend giving the book a shot. It’s the first in a completed (no waiting for the next book!) 10 book series and I’ve already gotten the second book. After the end to this book, I’m excited to see where the story goes now.
An Empire in Black and Gold was a really enjoyable start to a fantasy series, with distinct characters, cool action, and some unique world building. Set against a backdrop of a looming invasion no one wants to believe will actually happen, the book follows a reluctant spy and his young helpers as they try to find out what the menacing Wasp army is going to do and stop them before it’s too late.
To start with, that first chapter was great. I know some people don’t like being dropped right into the action from the start but for me a great prologue that leaves me asking questions and wanting to know more is one of the best ways to get me hooked. Like the prologue from the Eye of the World or the Way of Kings or the Shadow of What Was Lost, it made me immediately interested in what was happening. Plus there was some really cool and unique action.
One of the most distinctive things about this book was the world building. The races are completely different from anything I’ve seen before. I was a little hesitant when I read the cover blurb because I wasn’t sure how I would feel about what sounded like various races of bug people, but it was executed brilliantly. These people aren’t just human sized insects walking around. The different races, or kinden, have distinct characteristics and abilities, called their Art, that lend them specific talents. For instance the Wasp kinden can summon wings to fly and shoot fiery blast, or stings. Others can summon abilities like stealth, strength, or dexterity. The diversity of the kinden was really interesting, and I can’t wait to find out more about them. There is also a heavier technology presence than I was expecting, which I usually don’t love, but which I thought was handled well.
The author also created some really intriguing characters. You have Stenwold, an aging engineer (what they call an artificer), who has become a spymaster in the face of an invasion he knows is coming yet no one will believe. He assembles four younger charges, each of them different in ability and temperament. Salma, a Dragonfly kinden, and Tynisa, a Spider kinden, were 2 I particularly liked. Special mention has to go to Tisamon as well, a Mantis kinden who is simply cool. The author also managed to add depth to the conflict by presenting a character from the enemy, Captain Thalric, who is a Wasp officer working against the rest of our characters. The Wasp Empire itself, with its entire male population serving as soldiers and its use of captured people as slave labor, reminded me a bit of ancient Sparta, which as someone who finds the Spartans fascinating was another positive.
Despite all the good, the book wasn’t perfect. After that great opening chapter the middle of book was a bit slow. The writing itself is sometimes a bit cumbersome with at times a frustrating lack of detail. Some of the dialogue and interpersonal interactions also felt a bit stilted, as there were times I wondered why a character didn’t ask the obvious question or react more strongly to a situation.
Still, I would definitely recommend giving the book a shot. It’s the first in a completed (no waiting for the next book!) 10 book series and I’ve already gotten the second book. After the end to this book, I’m excited to see where the story goes now.
March 13, 2023
This book is better than it has any right to be. I went in fairly skeptical because I heard it was about "bug people" and I thought of cartoony anthropomorphized bugs. That couldn't be farther from the truth. In fact this may be a new favorite.
This story starts right in the middle of the action where there is a small group trying to defend a city from the invasion of an empire. Tchaikovsky wastes no time in showing you this isn't going to be the typical slow start to a fantasy book. After drawing you in it skips ahead a few years and introduces the main cast of somewhat unlikely protagonists and the journey begins. At it's heart this is a story about resisting the expansion of an evil empire. That alone is enough, but it's really when you add in all the very cool and unique world building and all of the characters (everyone of which is interesting and layered) this becomes something special. And yes each character is a type of insect "kinden" which in the context of the novel means they are fully human, but at some point in the past in this world they also gained certain traits or abilities of insects. It's not cartoonish or laughable. It's executed in a way that is really interesting and adds a lot to the story and world.
And I don't really any have any criticisms for this book. There is maybe one part where I thought it was going to go into some annoying "teenager stuff", but it was mostly averted. And that is easy to overlook based one how excellent every single character is no matter which side of the conflict they are on or how little or big their part is. I liked every single one. Throw those characters in a kick-ass plot with some of the most unique worldbuilding I've read in fantasy and you have an absolute banger.
A lot of people are going to be put off by the length of this series. I get it, but I think this is something special that is worth is. This is a tbr buster. I haven't been this swept up by a fantasy book in a long time.
This story starts right in the middle of the action where there is a small group trying to defend a city from the invasion of an empire. Tchaikovsky wastes no time in showing you this isn't going to be the typical slow start to a fantasy book. After drawing you in it skips ahead a few years and introduces the main cast of somewhat unlikely protagonists and the journey begins. At it's heart this is a story about resisting the expansion of an evil empire. That alone is enough, but it's really when you add in all the very cool and unique world building and all of the characters (everyone of which is interesting and layered) this becomes something special. And yes each character is a type of insect "kinden" which in the context of the novel means they are fully human, but at some point in the past in this world they also gained certain traits or abilities of insects. It's not cartoonish or laughable. It's executed in a way that is really interesting and adds a lot to the story and world.
And I don't really any have any criticisms for this book. There is maybe one part where I thought it was going to go into some annoying "teenager stuff", but it was mostly averted. And that is easy to overlook based one how excellent every single character is no matter which side of the conflict they are on or how little or big their part is. I liked every single one. Throw those characters in a kick-ass plot with some of the most unique worldbuilding I've read in fantasy and you have an absolute banger.
A lot of people are going to be put off by the length of this series. I get it, but I think this is something special that is worth is. This is a tbr buster. I haven't been this swept up by a fantasy book in a long time.
August 15, 2021
This is an amazing start to a finished series. Topnotch intrigue and action, set against a complex backdrop with many races, a wide range of interests and motivations, with characters that are written with a superb touch - you care about all of them from the very start. There are no cardboard villains, quite the opposite, from the traitors to the 'bad guys' each one is presented with credible motivations, unanswered mysteries of character, adding up to incredible depth and scope.
The execution is smooth and the uptake as well, for a book of this scope and complexity. If you enjoy topnotch political intrigue, plenty of sword fights and full scale battles, gangster wars, industrialization, and yes, even magic - spread across multiple factions, nationalities and settings - here are interesting angles of view set into concepts that are never more relevant, and characters you can empathize with - this is your ticket. A brilliant read, and keep this level of praise for any work sparingly. Nor do I do stars very often. This book deserves full credit.
Among my top reads, and if you are a Wars of Light and Shadows reader, don't wait, give this one a shot! I loved it without reservation.
The execution is smooth and the uptake as well, for a book of this scope and complexity. If you enjoy topnotch political intrigue, plenty of sword fights and full scale battles, gangster wars, industrialization, and yes, even magic - spread across multiple factions, nationalities and settings - here are interesting angles of view set into concepts that are never more relevant, and characters you can empathize with - this is your ticket. A brilliant read, and keep this level of praise for any work sparingly. Nor do I do stars very often. This book deserves full credit.
Among my top reads, and if you are a Wars of Light and Shadows reader, don't wait, give this one a shot! I loved it without reservation.
December 12, 2022
A beautifully written book with amazing characters and exceptional world building. This author has obviously put a lot of thought into how he wants the book, characters and world to come across. Lots of fuel for my imagination.
I was very impressed and curious about the different races (kinden) of people and how they are insect like. Their differences in this book are what makes the characters so fascinating and believable. There are many different types of kinden which are thoroughly explored as well as what roles they play in their own societies. This story plucked at my heart strings so many times as the relationships between the characters unfolded, I was so moved I felt like I was observing real life.
This author really knows how to write a book I found it really hard to put down with it’s instantly loveable characters (and some not so much.!) and a totally engrossing plot. Lots of interesting fighting styles and techniques by all kinden in their unique ways against the enemy.
I especially liked the artwork that was included at the end of the book to show you what the different kinden looked like. Just beautiful.
I’m very excited to get into the next book..!!
I was very impressed and curious about the different races (kinden) of people and how they are insect like. Their differences in this book are what makes the characters so fascinating and believable. There are many different types of kinden which are thoroughly explored as well as what roles they play in their own societies. This story plucked at my heart strings so many times as the relationships between the characters unfolded, I was so moved I felt like I was observing real life.
This author really knows how to write a book I found it really hard to put down with it’s instantly loveable characters (and some not so much.!) and a totally engrossing plot. Lots of interesting fighting styles and techniques by all kinden in their unique ways against the enemy.
I especially liked the artwork that was included at the end of the book to show you what the different kinden looked like. Just beautiful.
I’m very excited to get into the next book..!!
April 10, 2024
This was good!
I have been wanting to dive into Tchaikovsky's fantasy work for years after having read four of his sci-fi novels.
Empire in Black and Gold is the first book in the 10 book series, Shadows of the Apt. Right from the start the world-building feels incredibly unique and fresh. The story takes place in a futuristic world where cities and nations are divided by their "kinden". Each kinden is a human with unique abilities from a kind of insect. While I still don't fully grasp all the intricacies of each kinden, I loved learning about all the different races! Secondly, I enjoyed the characters and the story felt well paced!
I feel like I could make a long video about this book since there is so much to talk about but overall, I am really glad I picked up this book. I look forward to diving deeper into this world soon!
4 / 5
I have been wanting to dive into Tchaikovsky's fantasy work for years after having read four of his sci-fi novels.
Empire in Black and Gold is the first book in the 10 book series, Shadows of the Apt. Right from the start the world-building feels incredibly unique and fresh. The story takes place in a futuristic world where cities and nations are divided by their "kinden". Each kinden is a human with unique abilities from a kind of insect. While I still don't fully grasp all the intricacies of each kinden, I loved learning about all the different races! Secondly, I enjoyed the characters and the story felt well paced!
I feel like I could make a long video about this book since there is so much to talk about but overall, I am really glad I picked up this book. I look forward to diving deeper into this world soon!
4 / 5
May 11, 2025
I first discovered Tchaikovsky with his Children of Time and have read most of his science fiction, but EIBAG was his first foray into writing and also a fantasy epic. Yet, many of the themes found in his later science fiction novels may be found here as well. EIBAG was his first novel, and while that shows a little, I still found it an engrossing and fun read.
Tchaikovsky is known for his 'big ideas', world building and biological 'constructs' for lack of a better world and all are on display here. Mr. T. does not employ big info dumps, so it takes a bit to get into the groove here. The world T. builds here is definitely unique. Humanity had historically been traumatized by large insects, like horse size locusts and such. Through some (magical?) means, various groups of humans started to take on features of the local bugs. Eventually, there were 'spider-kinden', 'beetle-kinden', 'wasp-kinden', 'scorpion-kinden' etc. Now, these people kinden have various attributes of the bugs, and to an extent some features, but they are still human and can interbreed. Beetle-kinden, for example, are industrious, short and squat, while spider-kinden are lithe, cunning and crafty (and killer with a sword).
This strange melange of humanity for hundreds of years was ruled by a theocracy of Moth-kinden, the most 'magical' of the humans in alliance with the 'mantis-kinden' who provided the muscle with their legendary prowess with blades. 500 years ago, the 'slave races' rebelled and cast off the moth yoke. It seems moths and some of the races possess an inability to employ technology while beetles (what is called the 'apt'), ants and so forth are really good at it. In a way, it was new tech and mass production that lead to the downfall of the moths and company. The moths have been reduced to living in a few scattered cities while the former slave races populate an area known as the lowlands. Whew!
In the here and now so to speak, the story centers on a beetle (Stenwold) who teaches at the largest university in the world, located in Collegium, the heart of beetle inventiveness. Stenwold Maker, our main protagonist, a few decades ago saw the downfall of a city on the edge of the lowlands by the wasp empire and over the years repeatedly warned his colleagues at the university and else where of the wasp threat. This definitely has a rise of the Nazi empire feel to it. The wasp empire is built on conquest, and while they turn to their northern flanks first, after a terrible 12 year war with they dragonfly-kinden, they now are turning their sites on the lowlands. The lowlands are basically a mixed bag of city states with petty rivalries that go back generations. Until recently, the 'outlands' were similar, until the wasp empire started its massive consolidation under the black and gold flag. It is up to Stenwold and the network of his former students scattered in the lowlands to raise the awareness of the wasp threat, or else!
While this is definitely a world building treat laced with political intrigue, Mr T. does not skimp on his characters. Besides the beetle Stenwold, we have his current cadre of students, including his beetle niece, a spider woman, a mantis prince and a half-breed beetle young man. The traits of the various species color their world and create some fascinating interrelations to say the least. They set out to the industrial center of the lowlands, a city that feels like Pittsburgh in its prime in the 1920s. Helleron exports manufactured goods all over, and lately, its best customers are the wasp empire. Lets just say the reception in Helleron is a disaster and the plucky students are forced to grow up fast...
I should also note that this has a definite steampunk feel to it. The beetles have invented cars running on steam, spring tension and even electricity; the same goes for air craft. Trains are just coming into the picture. Weapons seem to be the cutting edge, however, with gunpowder fired crossbows (with repeating action), massive siege engines and such. The imagination of Tchaikovsky is truly amazing and his prose is a pleasure.
This does suffer from some pacing issues, and perhaps a little 'too much' to grasp regarding the world itself. If you just let it flow, however, it all starts to make sense. Very good first novel in any case and I will be back for the sequels! 4 buggy stars!!
Tchaikovsky is known for his 'big ideas', world building and biological 'constructs' for lack of a better world and all are on display here. Mr. T. does not employ big info dumps, so it takes a bit to get into the groove here. The world T. builds here is definitely unique. Humanity had historically been traumatized by large insects, like horse size locusts and such. Through some (magical?) means, various groups of humans started to take on features of the local bugs. Eventually, there were 'spider-kinden', 'beetle-kinden', 'wasp-kinden', 'scorpion-kinden' etc. Now, these people kinden have various attributes of the bugs, and to an extent some features, but they are still human and can interbreed. Beetle-kinden, for example, are industrious, short and squat, while spider-kinden are lithe, cunning and crafty (and killer with a sword).
This strange melange of humanity for hundreds of years was ruled by a theocracy of Moth-kinden, the most 'magical' of the humans in alliance with the 'mantis-kinden' who provided the muscle with their legendary prowess with blades. 500 years ago, the 'slave races' rebelled and cast off the moth yoke. It seems moths and some of the races possess an inability to employ technology while beetles (what is called the 'apt'), ants and so forth are really good at it. In a way, it was new tech and mass production that lead to the downfall of the moths and company. The moths have been reduced to living in a few scattered cities while the former slave races populate an area known as the lowlands. Whew!
In the here and now so to speak, the story centers on a beetle (Stenwold) who teaches at the largest university in the world, located in Collegium, the heart of beetle inventiveness. Stenwold Maker, our main protagonist, a few decades ago saw the downfall of a city on the edge of the lowlands by the wasp empire and over the years repeatedly warned his colleagues at the university and else where of the wasp threat. This definitely has a rise of the Nazi empire feel to it. The wasp empire is built on conquest, and while they turn to their northern flanks first, after a terrible 12 year war with they dragonfly-kinden, they now are turning their sites on the lowlands. The lowlands are basically a mixed bag of city states with petty rivalries that go back generations. Until recently, the 'outlands' were similar, until the wasp empire started its massive consolidation under the black and gold flag. It is up to Stenwold and the network of his former students scattered in the lowlands to raise the awareness of the wasp threat, or else!
While this is definitely a world building treat laced with political intrigue, Mr T. does not skimp on his characters. Besides the beetle Stenwold, we have his current cadre of students, including his beetle niece, a spider woman, a mantis prince and a half-breed beetle young man. The traits of the various species color their world and create some fascinating interrelations to say the least. They set out to the industrial center of the lowlands, a city that feels like Pittsburgh in its prime in the 1920s. Helleron exports manufactured goods all over, and lately, its best customers are the wasp empire. Lets just say the reception in Helleron is a disaster and the plucky students are forced to grow up fast...
I should also note that this has a definite steampunk feel to it. The beetles have invented cars running on steam, spring tension and even electricity; the same goes for air craft. Trains are just coming into the picture. Weapons seem to be the cutting edge, however, with gunpowder fired crossbows (with repeating action), massive siege engines and such. The imagination of Tchaikovsky is truly amazing and his prose is a pleasure.
This does suffer from some pacing issues, and perhaps a little 'too much' to grasp regarding the world itself. If you just let it flow, however, it all starts to make sense. Very good first novel in any case and I will be back for the sequels! 4 buggy stars!!
July 11, 2024
*** 4.15 ***
A wonderful start to a series! Imaginative and intense! Very excited for the rest of the series! 👍😃
A wonderful start to a series! Imaginative and intense! Very excited for the rest of the series! 👍😃
Read
September 19, 2016I hadn't even known about this epic fantasy series, until a friend outside the USA mentioned it. The good thing about that is: all ten books in the series are out (though one or two are not published here yet), which means not having to wait, if the succeeding volumes entranced me as much as this first one did.
It has a zillion reviews, most of which give a general outline of the plot, and hint at the world building: basically a world of human-insect races, called kinden. Within some of these are clans, like the Ant-kinden, who fight each other when not menaced by outsiders, in this story arc, the imperialistic Wasps.
Tchaikovsky does what I thought a terrific job of developing his characters, young and old. The old ones are weighed down by experience, but still demonstrate vitality and drive, especially Stenwold Maker, the old, fat Beetle who mentored the four young kinden central to this story. When it looks like a Wasp assassin squad is coming after Stenwold and his group, he sends them ahead to safety--or what he assumed would be safety, and their adventures begin.
I loved all the characters, but especially Che, (Cheerwell Maker), Stenwold's niece. I wonder if the series is going to be centered around her, and I'll be more than fine with that if it is. She's so determinedly certain she knows how the world works, but that doesn't get in the way of her natural compassion as slowly her worldview gets hammered, and she herself falls into extreme danger.
The villains are as interesting as the protagonists, which is a rarity I treasure. I find it more difficult these days to stick with a book in which the villains are all torture and evil all the time. Unless you enjoy reading all that graphic misery, it can get tediously predictable. not that torture doesn't happen in this book, but I appreciated the way it was handled, and even more, I found the chief villain, Captain Thalric, interesting in his determined dedication to the empire. He is aware that that makes ethical and moral decisions moot: honor requires totally loyalty to the empire, even when carrying out utterly horrific orders. Except that certain memories will keep coming back at him.
Thalric reminds me a little of Rommel, without the Junker sense of aristocratic entitlement. But similar in that conviction that the military is the only calling for a man, which means your life is necessarily organized around war, and loyalty to the government being the dividing line between savagery and honor, which can come back to haunt you when it becomes increasingly clear that the government is run by seriously flawed humans whose power guarantees that their whims affect countless thousands.
Exiting chases, betrayals, battles, and moments of awe and a sense of numinous otherness filled the tale richly around characters I am excited to follow into their next adventure.
It has a zillion reviews, most of which give a general outline of the plot, and hint at the world building: basically a world of human-insect races, called kinden. Within some of these are clans, like the Ant-kinden, who fight each other when not menaced by outsiders, in this story arc, the imperialistic Wasps.
Tchaikovsky does what I thought a terrific job of developing his characters, young and old. The old ones are weighed down by experience, but still demonstrate vitality and drive, especially Stenwold Maker, the old, fat Beetle who mentored the four young kinden central to this story. When it looks like a Wasp assassin squad is coming after Stenwold and his group, he sends them ahead to safety--or what he assumed would be safety, and their adventures begin.
I loved all the characters, but especially Che, (Cheerwell Maker), Stenwold's niece. I wonder if the series is going to be centered around her, and I'll be more than fine with that if it is. She's so determinedly certain she knows how the world works, but that doesn't get in the way of her natural compassion as slowly her worldview gets hammered, and she herself falls into extreme danger.
The villains are as interesting as the protagonists, which is a rarity I treasure. I find it more difficult these days to stick with a book in which the villains are all torture and evil all the time. Unless you enjoy reading all that graphic misery, it can get tediously predictable. not that torture doesn't happen in this book, but I appreciated the way it was handled, and even more, I found the chief villain, Captain Thalric, interesting in his determined dedication to the empire. He is aware that that makes ethical and moral decisions moot: honor requires totally loyalty to the empire, even when carrying out utterly horrific orders. Except that certain memories will keep coming back at him.
Thalric reminds me a little of Rommel, without the Junker sense of aristocratic entitlement. But similar in that conviction that the military is the only calling for a man, which means your life is necessarily organized around war, and loyalty to the government being the dividing line between savagery and honor, which can come back to haunt you when it becomes increasingly clear that the government is run by seriously flawed humans whose power guarantees that their whims affect countless thousands.
Exiting chases, betrayals, battles, and moments of awe and a sense of numinous otherness filled the tale richly around characters I am excited to follow into their next adventure.
October 2, 2019
This has been on my radar for a while but the low scores have put me off and i already have a couple of long series on the go. What swayed me was the superb Cage of Souls by the same author, which is one of the better books I've read this year.
It’s an interesting plot concept which brings to mind the film 300 (well, my mind. maybe nobody else’s). The Wasps play the part of the Xerxes led Persians as they sweep over the land conquering all before them aiming for their end goal of ‘One Nation’. Stenwold Maker, a beetle spymaster defeated in the books opening battle at Myna, is laying low in Collegium keeping his eye on the advancing Wasps as they slowly make their way to the Lowlands. His attempts at convincing the governors of Collegium to take action and prepare for the inevitable invasion are rejected due to their selfishness. The idea of invasion is a joke to them so they’d rather turn a blind eye and live like fat kings. Fed up of Collegiums ignorance Stenwold assembles a team and departs for the Industrial city of Helleron, which seems to be the Wasps next conquest.
The idea of an all devouring race slowly conquering an entire world just appeals to me and the execution is pretty good. The standout sections are the political scheming and negotiations between the different insect/human races; dialogue is definitely the authors strongest writing skill. The downside to this book is the fighting/battle scenes; they’re such a drag. I found myself zoning out every time there was a scuffle. They seemed amateur compared to the rest of the book.
Fight scenes aside it’s a decent opener to a fantasy series but i won't be in a rush to read book 2.
It’s an interesting plot concept which brings to mind the film 300 (well, my mind. maybe nobody else’s). The Wasps play the part of the Xerxes led Persians as they sweep over the land conquering all before them aiming for their end goal of ‘One Nation’. Stenwold Maker, a beetle spymaster defeated in the books opening battle at Myna, is laying low in Collegium keeping his eye on the advancing Wasps as they slowly make their way to the Lowlands. His attempts at convincing the governors of Collegium to take action and prepare for the inevitable invasion are rejected due to their selfishness. The idea of invasion is a joke to them so they’d rather turn a blind eye and live like fat kings. Fed up of Collegiums ignorance Stenwold assembles a team and departs for the Industrial city of Helleron, which seems to be the Wasps next conquest.
The idea of an all devouring race slowly conquering an entire world just appeals to me and the execution is pretty good. The standout sections are the political scheming and negotiations between the different insect/human races; dialogue is definitely the authors strongest writing skill. The downside to this book is the fighting/battle scenes; they’re such a drag. I found myself zoning out every time there was a scuffle. They seemed amateur compared to the rest of the book.
Fight scenes aside it’s a decent opener to a fantasy series but i won't be in a rush to read book 2.
September 1, 2021
Damnnnn
That was something I didn't know I needed.
That was something I didn't know I needed.
September 28, 2015
Perhaps it was the phase of the moon or the change of the seasons or my attention to other matters, but whatever the reason, this book and I never hit it off. I thought the prologue was great: combat, intrigue, deaths, and a hopeless fight against a powerful enemy, but then the actual book began with two hundred pages of world building and four new main characters who I never cared one thing about. Perhaps if I kept reading I could finally get to the exciting parts, but since this is a library book, my time has run out (Literally, no more renewals allowed), so back it goes and maybe I'll try it again some other time.
August 4, 2017
Started strong then the final third kinda dragged. Overall I found it very enjoyable and will continue the series.
December 15, 2025
This is a re-read entirely on audio, and I'm still so impressed by this initial outing. This book has every single thing that I look for in military fantasy. If you like military fantasy, but have not read this, I don't understand you. If you are put off by the bug stuff, you shouldn't be. Something that seems like it shouldn't make any sense at all seems to fit absolutely perfectly.
Stenwold and Thalric are two of my favorite characters in fantasy.
Stenwold and Thalric are two of my favorite characters in fantasy.
August 25, 2024
Another fantastic step into the unique and creative world of Adrian Tchaikovsky!
Pure fantasy in its most epic, we have insect-kinden races; mantis, beetle, spider, dragonfly, ant, moth, wasp, and a hundred others. I ADORE world building and creativity and twisty plots where things aren’t predictable, and this is everything I love in my fantasy stories. Some are Inapt, some are Apt, and although revolution was five hundred years prior, there is not peace everywhere as the powers that be would have the masses believe.
The premise is so unique that I was gripped from the very beginning. The action scenes are strong, the intrigue kept me guessing, and my jaw dropped several times - especially in the final third. We follow Stenwold Maker, an old beetle and former revolutionary as he tries to protect those he loves and the world as he knows it from the encroaching wasp empire.
Unfortunately, when war is not at your doorstep, few ears are willing to listen. With a rag-tag squad of collegium duellists, he tres to prevent the inevitable. Our party is split up, with their own goals and motivations, caught up in their machinations and those of others, and whose paths cross in unlikely ways. I loved every character, every location, every single page from start to finish.
I loved everything about this, and simply want more maps, more lore, more myths and legends and magic of each race.
Highly recommend if you want a fantasy series that is epic in every sense of the word. I imagine the scale, scope, and stakes will be raised in every subsequent book in this incredible series.
Pure fantasy in its most epic, we have insect-kinden races; mantis, beetle, spider, dragonfly, ant, moth, wasp, and a hundred others. I ADORE world building and creativity and twisty plots where things aren’t predictable, and this is everything I love in my fantasy stories. Some are Inapt, some are Apt, and although revolution was five hundred years prior, there is not peace everywhere as the powers that be would have the masses believe.
The premise is so unique that I was gripped from the very beginning. The action scenes are strong, the intrigue kept me guessing, and my jaw dropped several times - especially in the final third. We follow Stenwold Maker, an old beetle and former revolutionary as he tries to protect those he loves and the world as he knows it from the encroaching wasp empire.
Unfortunately, when war is not at your doorstep, few ears are willing to listen. With a rag-tag squad of collegium duellists, he tres to prevent the inevitable. Our party is split up, with their own goals and motivations, caught up in their machinations and those of others, and whose paths cross in unlikely ways. I loved every character, every location, every single page from start to finish.
I loved everything about this, and simply want more maps, more lore, more myths and legends and magic of each race.
Highly recommend if you want a fantasy series that is epic in every sense of the word. I imagine the scale, scope, and stakes will be raised in every subsequent book in this incredible series.
August 13, 2021
3.5. Solid but not spectacular start to this fantasy series. I enjoyed the steampunk industrial elements and learning about the various kinden races. There is a large cast of characters but only a couple have me interested. Hopefully they will develop over time. I was entertained but it hasn’t kicked me in the feels.
January 7, 2023
Adrian certainly has civilization building down to an art. I thought this was a fun, "different" take on sword and sorcery with bug people.
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-All the moving parts. New kinds of humans! Very distinct politics all over the place! Found family! Magic!
-True ensemble cast. Each had a story, point of view, and growth. Very cool.
Why it's not 5 stars:
-One step from totally new. We have so much new and then so much very mundane. I'd have loved to have seen more about gender, sexual relationships, and the concept of war integrated more from the bugs that have influenced the people of this world.
I'll likely continue and I see what people enjoy about this. Definitely worth a read!
CONTENT WARNING:
Things to love:
-All the moving parts. New kinds of humans! Very distinct politics all over the place! Found family! Magic!
-True ensemble cast. Each had a story, point of view, and growth. Very cool.
Why it's not 5 stars:
-One step from totally new. We have so much new and then so much very mundane. I'd have loved to have seen more about gender, sexual relationships, and the concept of war integrated more from the bugs that have influenced the people of this world.
I'll likely continue and I see what people enjoy about this. Definitely worth a read!
May 22, 2022
I absolutely adored this first book of the Shadows of the Apt. I grew attached to just about every main or side character, and I was so intrigued by the creative worldbuilding and was left wanting so much more (not a bad place to be when there are 9 more books in the series!).
The opening action set piece and the climactic action set piece had me on the edge of my seat, and I found the action to be so well laid out and written that I could picture things so clearly.
Overall a great start to the series!
The opening action set piece and the climactic action set piece had me on the edge of my seat, and I found the action to be so well laid out and written that I could picture things so clearly.
Overall a great start to the series!
March 17, 2023
Third read, March 2023: Now knowing the fate of all the characters meeting them for the first time again is such a bitter sweet experience. This series easily became my second most favourite Fantasy series.
Second read, March 2021: after having listened to the first 4 books which contain one story arc I went back for a re-read before going on to the next. With so many characters and places a second read always is more rewarding, cause nuances are more appreciated in hindsight, characters are better known etc.
So I would tend towards 5 stars now, but in light of the level up that is book 4 I'll go for 4.5 star rating now.
I'm happy to say that "Shadows of the Apt" is the second epic Fantasy series after Sanderson's "Stormlight Archive" that convinces me on all levels.
‐------------------------------
Initial review:
This is a great opening book for what looks like a very promising series.
The worldbuilding in Tchaikovsky's Fantasy epic is refreshingly different from your usual medivial human kind of characters. Here the humans are separated in different kinden which all have special qualities connected with certain arthropod species that lent their names to the respective kinden. There are bugs and spiders, dragonflies and mantis etc. These peoples live more or less in peace (or ignorance), until the wasp kinden start conquering the lands and (re)action is called for. A nice twist is that some can use machinery, they are called the apt, and some can't even figure out how a locking mechanism could work, but have other qualities - the inapt.
I was listening to it (lovely performance by Ben Allen) and so it took me some time to get into the world, cause it starts in medias res with a lot of names and places which certainly is easier to follow on (e-)paper. But not long and I started to feel for and with the characters. And that's the linchpin for me and Fantasy. When I start rooting for some (or more than some) of the folks I'm reading about, I'm bought.
All of the characters are layered and some are more grey tinted than others. Their struggles and doubts feel real in this epic war world. Everybody, including the antagonist, goes through emotional development - and since this is only book one I am eagerly looking forward to see what is in store for them.
I am hooked and I want to see what my favourites are up to, what kind of fate lies in wait for them. What more can I wish for from a good Fantasy read?
Only warning: this is a book (and probably the whole series) about war. So the emphasis is on fights and battles. I'm not such a fan of this, but I was forewarned and got into it with the right mind-setting. Readers who aren't into war tales probably won't enjoy it that much.
Second read, March 2021: after having listened to the first 4 books which contain one story arc I went back for a re-read before going on to the next. With so many characters and places a second read always is more rewarding, cause nuances are more appreciated in hindsight, characters are better known etc.
So I would tend towards 5 stars now, but in light of the level up that is book 4 I'll go for 4.5 star rating now.
I'm happy to say that "Shadows of the Apt" is the second epic Fantasy series after Sanderson's "Stormlight Archive" that convinces me on all levels.
‐------------------------------
Initial review:
This is a great opening book for what looks like a very promising series.
The worldbuilding in Tchaikovsky's Fantasy epic is refreshingly different from your usual medivial human kind of characters. Here the humans are separated in different kinden which all have special qualities connected with certain arthropod species that lent their names to the respective kinden. There are bugs and spiders, dragonflies and mantis etc. These peoples live more or less in peace (or ignorance), until the wasp kinden start conquering the lands and (re)action is called for. A nice twist is that some can use machinery, they are called the apt, and some can't even figure out how a locking mechanism could work, but have other qualities - the inapt.
I was listening to it (lovely performance by Ben Allen) and so it took me some time to get into the world, cause it starts in medias res with a lot of names and places which certainly is easier to follow on (e-)paper. But not long and I started to feel for and with the characters. And that's the linchpin for me and Fantasy. When I start rooting for some (or more than some) of the folks I'm reading about, I'm bought.
All of the characters are layered and some are more grey tinted than others. Their struggles and doubts feel real in this epic war world. Everybody, including the antagonist, goes through emotional development - and since this is only book one I am eagerly looking forward to see what is in store for them.
I am hooked and I want to see what my favourites are up to, what kind of fate lies in wait for them. What more can I wish for from a good Fantasy read?
Only warning: this is a book (and probably the whole series) about war. So the emphasis is on fights and battles. I'm not such a fan of this, but I was forewarned and got into it with the right mind-setting. Readers who aren't into war tales probably won't enjoy it that much.
October 18, 2022
4 stars - Oct. 2022 re-read via the new audiobooks. Ben Allen does a fantastic job narrating. His performance reminds me of Jim Dale in the way he acts out the voices.
There were some parts/plot points that I liked less the second time through (nearly a decade later), but overall I'm planning to continue a reread of this amazing series in audio.
---------------------------
I'm sure every reader knows the feeling of starting a book you're skeptical about and being pleasantly surprised. Empire in Black and Gold was that and so much more. I had continually pushed it down on my TBR list because the whole insect idea just didn't click with me. Eventually I caved thinking that what if it ended up being a gem? Tchaikovsky writes pretty damn fast for a new-ish (I know '08 isn't that new but still) author whom not a ton of people know about.
The human race is divided into several different insect-kinden and each kinden has an Ancestor Art. From what I gather, we have Beetles who tend to be more stout than the others, but also more resilient, with very rare encounters of flying Beetles, and even then they're bad at it. The Beetles are one of the Apt races, those of whom can use technology and their Art allows them this resilience to several things. Dragonflies are gold of skin and can fly and are much more dextrous and quick than other races (but Inapt) and have weapons called 'thumb claws' that are explained in the book, Wasps can fly and 'sting', meaning their Art allows them to shoot what is essentially a ball of fire from their hands. Flies are much smaller than others, Mantids are deadly warriors, the list goes on and Tchaikovsky does a great job explaining them.
The action is very well written and keeps coming, and the dialogue is great. I cannot comment on prose due to the fact that I'm still not 100% sure how to categorize it. The basic plotline is that Stenwold, a Beetle, has been preaching to everyone for 17 years of the imminent Wasp threat, but nobody has listened. The Wasps continue to move and mobilize, and he is laughed at. The cast has many likable characters and their development is also top-notch.
The electronic version finished at 86%(567 or so pages on the PaperWhite), which was strange, but included several little short stories not relevant to our cast that I'll get around to eventually. There wasn't a crazy cliffhanger like GRRM has done and PVBrett has done as well, but there is definitely motivation to read more. Most first novels in an epic fantasy-esque series tend to be set-ups, and Adrian did a brilliant job setting up the series, but with some added POW.
All in all this was a fantastic debut and I'm very pleased that I am able to dive right into Dragonfly Falling and subsequent ones without waiting. Provided that I whittle down Mount TBR a bit between books.
5/5 and really looking forward to more.
There were some parts/plot points that I liked less the second time through (nearly a decade later), but overall I'm planning to continue a reread of this amazing series in audio.
---------------------------
I'm sure every reader knows the feeling of starting a book you're skeptical about and being pleasantly surprised. Empire in Black and Gold was that and so much more. I had continually pushed it down on my TBR list because the whole insect idea just didn't click with me. Eventually I caved thinking that what if it ended up being a gem? Tchaikovsky writes pretty damn fast for a new-ish (I know '08 isn't that new but still) author whom not a ton of people know about.
The human race is divided into several different insect-kinden and each kinden has an Ancestor Art. From what I gather, we have Beetles who tend to be more stout than the others, but also more resilient, with very rare encounters of flying Beetles, and even then they're bad at it. The Beetles are one of the Apt races, those of whom can use technology and their Art allows them this resilience to several things. Dragonflies are gold of skin and can fly and are much more dextrous and quick than other races (but Inapt) and have weapons called 'thumb claws' that are explained in the book, Wasps can fly and 'sting', meaning their Art allows them to shoot what is essentially a ball of fire from their hands. Flies are much smaller than others, Mantids are deadly warriors, the list goes on and Tchaikovsky does a great job explaining them.
The action is very well written and keeps coming, and the dialogue is great. I cannot comment on prose due to the fact that I'm still not 100% sure how to categorize it. The basic plotline is that Stenwold, a Beetle, has been preaching to everyone for 17 years of the imminent Wasp threat, but nobody has listened. The Wasps continue to move and mobilize, and he is laughed at. The cast has many likable characters and their development is also top-notch.
The electronic version finished at 86%(567 or so pages on the PaperWhite), which was strange, but included several little short stories not relevant to our cast that I'll get around to eventually. There wasn't a crazy cliffhanger like GRRM has done and PVBrett has done as well, but there is definitely motivation to read more. Most first novels in an epic fantasy-esque series tend to be set-ups, and Adrian did a brilliant job setting up the series, but with some added POW.
All in all this was a fantastic debut and I'm very pleased that I am able to dive right into Dragonfly Falling and subsequent ones without waiting. Provided that I whittle down Mount TBR a bit between books.
5/5 and really looking forward to more.
August 12, 2023
Is it possible, that Adrian Tchaikovsky has some sort of insectophilia?
Didn't notice before, but insects seem to be his characteristic element... Haven't read more than this of him, but his Children of Time series deals with Insects, this one features them on basically every front and I don't think it's the end of it.
From his debut novel (this one) to his more recent works, it seems to be some sort of secret ingrediant... He knows his insects, one could say.
I only want to know, what ingrediant HE took to come up with this and put out a BANGER of a debut out with this one.
I want some of it, too.
But let's get to the review, shall we?
This might be a debut, but apart from some small things, you will probably not really notice it. Tchaikovsky had some balls when he decided to start off with something like this.
A massive series with worldbuilding, that feels like done by a veteran. Seriously, before starting this book, I looked up some maps and the likes, to get a feeling for the setting and to decide, if it was worth a read right now, and was kind of blown away.
The world is massive, the cultures rich and come in all shapes and forms. Add the uniqueness of the setting and main worldbuilding premise, and I was instantly hooked.
If you don't know yet, the Shadows of the Apt series as its main catch uses all kinds of insects for its races. There aren't big insects running around, if that is what it sounds like, think more of humanity having evolved to share skills and typologies with different types of insects.
This might sound a bit strange at first, but thinking about it, this was actually a BRILLIANT move, especially for a debut, and it is easy to see, how he was able to pull this monster of a series off at the beginning of his career.
Relying on a simple premise as this, gives you a large amount of advantages as an author, that you would otherwise have to be very careful about, and especially as a first time author get you into some problems or inconsistancies.
You basically kill several birds with one stone, you make it easier for both yourself and the reader. But let me explain.
Since every reader knows the different types of insects, there is instantly a picture painted, of how these people might look, what their abilities might be, how they might behave, etc.
You take away the main challenge, an author faces, when deciding to tell a story in a SFF setting, the exposition and information needed for the reader, to be immersed and believe in the world; to have an understanding, that can create urgency and feels consistent.
If - for example - I tell you about a character named Rut Djawiar, an elder prophet of the Kshintu-people, a race of Fraktuars, I would then need to slowly introduce you into what each of these things mean. If there would be plots at play, that focus around changes in the culture of the Fraktuars, the society or whatever, there would be some type of legwork woven in.
Something, I would need to be very careful about, to not kill momentum, pacing or interfere with characters - while also not getting boring for the reader.
What Tchaikowsky did instead, was telling you about a character named Atryssa, a ambassador of the spider-kinden.
With that, there is instantly at least some of that legwork done.
Everyone can imagine, what a culture/society of people looks like, that are inspired and derived from spiders.
And if not 100% clear, if I there is just the information sprinkled in, that they like to play mind-games, politicing and manipulating, I think most of the work is done and the author can go on to tell his actual story without needing to worry about these things too much.
It is instantly believable.
Same for the ant-kinden, a race of military-focused people with swarm-intelligence; the moth-kinden, which focus on magics and the occult (seer-like if you will), wasp-kinden; scorpion-kinden; beetle-kinden; mantis-kinden; dragonfly-kinden and so on and so forth.
So yes, it might be pretty bold to start with a world so big, but also quite genius, if you do it like this. Because we all know, that wasps are sick little fuckers, so we instantly accept them as the hatable enemy-empire that have to be defeated as fast as possible!
Summed up, setting is phenomenal. It is extremely unique, while also very easy to follow. I guess with a genius premise like that, it is just very easy as an author, to fill the cultures with depth and make them all differ from each other. Also a difficulty for many first-time authors that Tchaikowsky cleverly avoids here.
The only problem I noticed for myself, that this world does feel a bit artificial at times - a bit constructed.
Why is it insects? Why did these people evolve into gaining insectoid-traits in the first place?
These are questions, that might get explained later, but so far it was a bit strange at times and I noticed, that I was never fully immersed, as vast and well-developed this world felt.
Second is the technology, which I didn't have a problem with, but that needed some adjustment by myself. In the end, I only viewed it as a nice change of habits, to have some very high level of development in some of these races.
But just know, that there are flying-machines in here, as well as some sorts of early cannons and guns - at least at times.
So all of that also makes it possible to jump into the action right away. Which we do.
This starts off with a big siege and shit is going bad.
Great beginning and introduction.
The stakes are immediately set, and with what follows after that, the author manages to boost all of the things he wants the reader to feel.
We already know, the wasps are BAD. We know what they can do, we know what they want to do. And so do our characters.
So with that, their furstration while trying for years to convince the capitalistic and blinded societies they live in, that they need to act against this unstoppable, fanatic empire, becomes the frustration of the reader.
The blindness of the leaders is one of the most prevalent themes of the book, and basically also what drives the narrative, as the characters decide to act themselves and finally prove their point.
It hits some serious pre-WW2 vibes, and I guess it is also pretty obviously inspired by that.
So yeah, wasps suck. Both in real life, and here.
This book feels like the beginning of the big conflict that will probably take place in the next 9 books. It is very fast paced and has multiple settings and plots going on, also changes location quite often, but never really gets into loads of action and large-scale events. Which is fine, as the action that did take place, was what I would critizise most about Tchaikowskys writing.
I don't know how to describe it properly, but the action scenes in here didn't even feel like action most of the time. The writing-style and prose are pretty good consistantly, but the action... I don't know about that one.
I am not a fan of how he depicts swordfights, chases, general battles and the likes... It feels disconnected in a way and not "exciting"... But maybe that is just me being spoiled by all the great action-writers I read at the moment...
It never really took away from my enjoyment, but also held it back quite a bit. You will most likely find yourself reading this for everything but the action, as the highlights in my opinion lie in the worldbuilding, themes and interactions.
There is quite some tension in many of these "little" encounters, that the author pulls off really well. Great stuff, especially in the middle part.
I did not yet talk about characters though, which are obviously one of the most important elements in a story like this. And they are great. Nothing too special but serve their purpose.
I feel like this is so far a worldbuilding-focused story, with characters, that are likable and easy to grasp.
Don't get me wrong, there are some great arcs in this book alone, but they never get into a territory of being especially deep or layered. But that doesn't always need to be the case and can also evolve pretty easily in the sequels. They get the point across, you root for them and relate at most times.
(This is multi-POV btw. so you will also have some variety)
If this really is just the beginning - as it feels like it is - then I am very excited to continue. A great beginning with a genius approach to world- and character building.
I just hope that the acion gets a bit more weight added when the real war happens...
There is so much stuff you can do with these races and abilities, and I am sure, Tchaikowsky knows that. Let's see how he delivers on all of his promises! So let's go; haven't had a huge 10 volume, 1.9 million word series in a while, have I? ^^
Didn't notice before, but insects seem to be his characteristic element... Haven't read more than this of him, but his Children of Time series deals with Insects, this one features them on basically every front and I don't think it's the end of it.
From his debut novel (this one) to his more recent works, it seems to be some sort of secret ingrediant... He knows his insects, one could say.
I only want to know, what ingrediant HE took to come up with this and put out a BANGER of a debut out with this one.
I want some of it, too.
But let's get to the review, shall we?
This might be a debut, but apart from some small things, you will probably not really notice it. Tchaikovsky had some balls when he decided to start off with something like this.
A massive series with worldbuilding, that feels like done by a veteran. Seriously, before starting this book, I looked up some maps and the likes, to get a feeling for the setting and to decide, if it was worth a read right now, and was kind of blown away.
The world is massive, the cultures rich and come in all shapes and forms. Add the uniqueness of the setting and main worldbuilding premise, and I was instantly hooked.
If you don't know yet, the Shadows of the Apt series as its main catch uses all kinds of insects for its races. There aren't big insects running around, if that is what it sounds like, think more of humanity having evolved to share skills and typologies with different types of insects.
This might sound a bit strange at first, but thinking about it, this was actually a BRILLIANT move, especially for a debut, and it is easy to see, how he was able to pull this monster of a series off at the beginning of his career.
Relying on a simple premise as this, gives you a large amount of advantages as an author, that you would otherwise have to be very careful about, and especially as a first time author get you into some problems or inconsistancies.
You basically kill several birds with one stone, you make it easier for both yourself and the reader. But let me explain.
Since every reader knows the different types of insects, there is instantly a picture painted, of how these people might look, what their abilities might be, how they might behave, etc.
You take away the main challenge, an author faces, when deciding to tell a story in a SFF setting, the exposition and information needed for the reader, to be immersed and believe in the world; to have an understanding, that can create urgency and feels consistent.
If - for example - I tell you about a character named Rut Djawiar, an elder prophet of the Kshintu-people, a race of Fraktuars, I would then need to slowly introduce you into what each of these things mean. If there would be plots at play, that focus around changes in the culture of the Fraktuars, the society or whatever, there would be some type of legwork woven in.
Something, I would need to be very careful about, to not kill momentum, pacing or interfere with characters - while also not getting boring for the reader.
What Tchaikowsky did instead, was telling you about a character named Atryssa, a ambassador of the spider-kinden.
With that, there is instantly at least some of that legwork done.
Everyone can imagine, what a culture/society of people looks like, that are inspired and derived from spiders.
And if not 100% clear, if I there is just the information sprinkled in, that they like to play mind-games, politicing and manipulating, I think most of the work is done and the author can go on to tell his actual story without needing to worry about these things too much.
It is instantly believable.
Same for the ant-kinden, a race of military-focused people with swarm-intelligence; the moth-kinden, which focus on magics and the occult (seer-like if you will), wasp-kinden; scorpion-kinden; beetle-kinden; mantis-kinden; dragonfly-kinden and so on and so forth.
So yes, it might be pretty bold to start with a world so big, but also quite genius, if you do it like this. Because we all know, that wasps are sick little fuckers, so we instantly accept them as the hatable enemy-empire that have to be defeated as fast as possible!
Summed up, setting is phenomenal. It is extremely unique, while also very easy to follow. I guess with a genius premise like that, it is just very easy as an author, to fill the cultures with depth and make them all differ from each other. Also a difficulty for many first-time authors that Tchaikowsky cleverly avoids here.
The only problem I noticed for myself, that this world does feel a bit artificial at times - a bit constructed.
Why is it insects? Why did these people evolve into gaining insectoid-traits in the first place?
These are questions, that might get explained later, but so far it was a bit strange at times and I noticed, that I was never fully immersed, as vast and well-developed this world felt.
Second is the technology, which I didn't have a problem with, but that needed some adjustment by myself. In the end, I only viewed it as a nice change of habits, to have some very high level of development in some of these races.
But just know, that there are flying-machines in here, as well as some sorts of early cannons and guns - at least at times.
So all of that also makes it possible to jump into the action right away. Which we do.
This starts off with a big siege and shit is going bad.
Great beginning and introduction.
The stakes are immediately set, and with what follows after that, the author manages to boost all of the things he wants the reader to feel.
We already know, the wasps are BAD. We know what they can do, we know what they want to do. And so do our characters.
So with that, their furstration while trying for years to convince the capitalistic and blinded societies they live in, that they need to act against this unstoppable, fanatic empire, becomes the frustration of the reader.
The blindness of the leaders is one of the most prevalent themes of the book, and basically also what drives the narrative, as the characters decide to act themselves and finally prove their point.
It hits some serious pre-WW2 vibes, and I guess it is also pretty obviously inspired by that.
So yeah, wasps suck. Both in real life, and here.
This book feels like the beginning of the big conflict that will probably take place in the next 9 books. It is very fast paced and has multiple settings and plots going on, also changes location quite often, but never really gets into loads of action and large-scale events. Which is fine, as the action that did take place, was what I would critizise most about Tchaikowskys writing.
I don't know how to describe it properly, but the action scenes in here didn't even feel like action most of the time. The writing-style and prose are pretty good consistantly, but the action... I don't know about that one.
I am not a fan of how he depicts swordfights, chases, general battles and the likes... It feels disconnected in a way and not "exciting"... But maybe that is just me being spoiled by all the great action-writers I read at the moment...
It never really took away from my enjoyment, but also held it back quite a bit. You will most likely find yourself reading this for everything but the action, as the highlights in my opinion lie in the worldbuilding, themes and interactions.
There is quite some tension in many of these "little" encounters, that the author pulls off really well. Great stuff, especially in the middle part.
I did not yet talk about characters though, which are obviously one of the most important elements in a story like this. And they are great. Nothing too special but serve their purpose.
I feel like this is so far a worldbuilding-focused story, with characters, that are likable and easy to grasp.
Don't get me wrong, there are some great arcs in this book alone, but they never get into a territory of being especially deep or layered. But that doesn't always need to be the case and can also evolve pretty easily in the sequels. They get the point across, you root for them and relate at most times.
(This is multi-POV btw. so you will also have some variety)
If this really is just the beginning - as it feels like it is - then I am very excited to continue. A great beginning with a genius approach to world- and character building.
I just hope that the acion gets a bit more weight added when the real war happens...
There is so much stuff you can do with these races and abilities, and I am sure, Tchaikowsky knows that. Let's see how he delivers on all of his promises! So let's go; haven't had a huge 10 volume, 1.9 million word series in a while, have I? ^^
July 26, 2008
Excellent debut fantasy set in a quite unusual world of various human races that have some specific insect adaptation and are called insect-kinden, e.g. beetle-kinden squat, mechanically inclined, mantis-kinden fast deadly warriors, spider-kinden masters of intrigue in whose society women dominate, moth-kindeb mystical former rulers until the mechanically inclined kinden, beetle, ants and flies overthrew them and built an early industrial society of city states - Lowlands - loosely allied and having the Collegium - an Athens like mercantile and scholar democracy as the most influential.
But now the tribes of the eastern deserts have been united by the wasp-kinden in the Empire in Black and Gold of the title and in the 3 generations since creation the Empire started expanding to the borders of the Lowlands where the industrial powerhouse city of Helleron is making tons of money selling the most advanced weapons and machinery to it. Making money for now...
One master artificer and historian beetle-kinden Stenwold Maker of the Collegium has seen the Empire in action at first hand when fighting alongside a desert city state trying to resist the wasp-kinden and in the 17 years since he played Casandra to the Collegium assembly with the same (lack of) success as the original had with the nobles of Troy. But now after winning a terrible war with the dragonfly-kinden Commonweal, the Empire is on the move again.
Stenwold and his last disciples, his spider-kinden ward Tynisa, his niece Chee, his apprentice Totho and a young prince of the Commonweal Salma try one more desperate attempt to do something, while Intelligence Captain Thalric of the Empire currently emissary to the Collegium has Sten on his hit list.
Full of wonders, action and stopping at a reasonable point this novel is an extraordinary debut and moved into my top 5 fantasies of 2008. The second book scheduled for February 09 became a get asap book
December 15, 2020
Just an absolutely fantastic first book in a series that deserves a fandom as dedicated as those of Malazan, Stormlight Archive, or Wheel of Time.
Tchaikovsky has somehow struck an amazing balance between the wildly unique world-building of Steven Erikson and the accessible/addictive writing of Brandon Sanderson. The outcome is a book that I -literally- could not put down.
If you are a fan of any of the writers I just mentioned, do yourself a favor and check this book out as soon as you can. I'm off to go start Book 2!
Tchaikovsky has somehow struck an amazing balance between the wildly unique world-building of Steven Erikson and the accessible/addictive writing of Brandon Sanderson. The outcome is a book that I -literally- could not put down.
If you are a fan of any of the writers I just mentioned, do yourself a favor and check this book out as soon as you can. I'm off to go start Book 2!
August 3, 2024
This book left me wondering what happened to Tchaikovsky in years after he wrote it.
I've read Children of Time trilogy and Dogs of War. None of these books had as rich and developed characters as Empire in Black and Gold. It's not even close. It's also a shame that he got famous only after CoT was released when this book is better than Time (not Ruin though which I loved).
I saw many people mention that this series is underrated - it is. There are flaws to which I will get but all in all this is excellent action packed novel set in a rich weird and original world with dozens of different races. Yet it's never a headache to keep track of stuff. Tchaikovsky does masterful work in exploring it and pumping the information in small bursts so that it's not overwhelming.
First few pages were slow and I was wondering if it is even for me (I'm not a fan of insect, kill it all except bees and maybe ants I say) but after first few chapters the story moves forward in rapid pace and what seems dull turns into Indiana Jones spy action flick with crazy runaways and colorful characters. I was also surprised to find out that this is not medieval fantasy but a steampunk one. They have airships, planes and walking(!) automobiles.
Long time ago people of this world made a pact with insects and other beasts and gained their features. Wasp, fly, moth, butterfly-kinden can fly, spider-kinden are born for politics and spying, beetle-kinden are heavier but more sturdy, mantis and ant-kinden make great soldiers, etc. Essentially they gained the stereotypical abilities you would easily think of. Some of these races (kinden) are apt, some are inapt. Apt people like ants or beetles are good with technology, inapt are not good with it at all. I'm talking your 90yo grandma trying to operate computer level. It's actually ridiculous that spider is not able to shoot a crossbow when shown how to. I think this is borderline immersion breaking because of how far Tchaikovsky took it but at the same time he manages to stay clear of these issues for most of the book. Inapt people like magic, though for the apt ones it's just superstition.
While I praised the characters at the beginning, the villain didn't work. He's suppose to be conflicted about the stuff he does "for the empire" but comes off like a joke towards the end because you already know that he won't do anything drastic like killing a character. He didn't even torture one of the main characters when he had several chances to do so and gain information. I already feel like he's going to turn against the imperial regime and take it down, again "for the empire", or something like that.
This is Tchaikovsky's first novel so it's understandable that there was inconsistent stuff like that but I hope it improves as the series goes on because I really like what I'm seeing so far. I also think at least 150 pages could've been cut down because the rescue subplot in the middle of the book took too long, it was half of this book. While pacing was still fast I was just wishing it to be over, especially after the villain turned out to be so weak. This is the reason it's 4 and not 5 stars. The other half of the book was great.
I've read Children of Time trilogy and Dogs of War. None of these books had as rich and developed characters as Empire in Black and Gold. It's not even close. It's also a shame that he got famous only after CoT was released when this book is better than Time (not Ruin though which I loved).
I saw many people mention that this series is underrated - it is. There are flaws to which I will get but all in all this is excellent action packed novel set in a rich weird and original world with dozens of different races. Yet it's never a headache to keep track of stuff. Tchaikovsky does masterful work in exploring it and pumping the information in small bursts so that it's not overwhelming.
First few pages were slow and I was wondering if it is even for me (I'm not a fan of insect, kill it all except bees and maybe ants I say) but after first few chapters the story moves forward in rapid pace and what seems dull turns into Indiana Jones spy action flick with crazy runaways and colorful characters. I was also surprised to find out that this is not medieval fantasy but a steampunk one. They have airships, planes and walking(!) automobiles.
Long time ago people of this world made a pact with insects and other beasts and gained their features. Wasp, fly, moth, butterfly-kinden can fly, spider-kinden are born for politics and spying, beetle-kinden are heavier but more sturdy, mantis and ant-kinden make great soldiers, etc. Essentially they gained the stereotypical abilities you would easily think of. Some of these races (kinden) are apt, some are inapt. Apt people like ants or beetles are good with technology, inapt are not good with it at all. I'm talking your 90yo grandma trying to operate computer level. It's actually ridiculous that spider is not able to shoot a crossbow when shown how to. I think this is borderline immersion breaking because of how far Tchaikovsky took it but at the same time he manages to stay clear of these issues for most of the book. Inapt people like magic, though for the apt ones it's just superstition.
While I praised the characters at the beginning, the villain didn't work. He's suppose to be conflicted about the stuff he does "for the empire" but comes off like a joke towards the end because you already know that he won't do anything drastic like killing a character. He didn't even torture one of the main characters when he had several chances to do so and gain information. I already feel like he's going to turn against the imperial regime and take it down, again "for the empire", or something like that.
This is Tchaikovsky's first novel so it's understandable that there was inconsistent stuff like that but I hope it improves as the series goes on because I really like what I'm seeing so far. I also think at least 150 pages could've been cut down because the rescue subplot in the middle of the book took too long, it was half of this book. While pacing was still fast I was just wishing it to be over, especially after the villain turned out to be so weak. This is the reason it's 4 and not 5 stars. The other half of the book was great.
May 25, 2023
Tchaikovsky è una garanzia.
Si comincia un suo libro e sappiamo che sarà diverso da ciò che ci si aspetterebbe, che devierà abilmente dalle traiettorie classiche dei generi, e che ci saranno insetti.
In questo caso si comincia una saga fantasy ad ampissimo respiro, che promette epicità e mostra già un'ottima complessità, popoli diversissimi tra loro, magia e scienza, fede incrollabile e avidità, guerrieri e spie.
Il protagonista è uno studioso che da tempo cerca di aprire gli occhi delle città stato delle Terre Basse, da sempre in contrapposizione l'una contro l'altra, contro il pericolo presentato dal minaccioso Impero sorto ad est, una macchina da guerra invincibile e vorace che conquista e schiavizza. Ma che prima si presenta amichevolmente, con soldi e promesse, ottenendo sempre quel che vuole
Così Maker è passato dalla gioventù idealista e guerriera (tentando di difendere una città dall'attacco imperiale, assieme ai suoi amici... Una sorta di Byron insomma) a una vita da maestro di spie, dirigendo uno stuolo di giovani dotati e motivati che si sono infiltrati in tantissime città facendogli da occhi e orecchie, mentre continuava a Collegium a tentare invano di avvisare i suoi concittadini sul pericolo imminente
Ora il pericolo si è materializzato, e tutti insistono nel non volerlo vedere, per sicurezza infondata, avidità o interessi personali.
Quindi dovrà trovare il modo di scoprire i piani imperiali e fermarli, aiutato solo dal suo ristretto gruppo di alleati: la nipote che ha preso in casa fin da piccola, la figlia adottiva letale con una spada, il nobile spadaccino in esilio Salma, un suo studente ingegnere e le sue spie sparse nelle città a rischio. E ovviamente il suo vecchio amico Maestro di spada, una creatura letale e apparentemente invincibile.
Una storia che sembra quasi comune, anche se i personaggi lo sono un po' meno.
Ma il colpo di genio si ha con un altro fatto: non sono normali umani. Cioè, lo sono, ma in un mondo dove da sempre camminano insetti giganteschi. E le tribù umane per sopravvivere e prosperare hanno da sempre appreso come "legarsi" a loro, dividendosi così in base ai tratti "insetti" che hanno assorbito.
L'impero è delle Vespe: volano e lanciano raggi di energia dalla mano, come il pungiglione dell'insetto.
Maker è uno Scarabeo, resistente e ingegnoso.
Abbiamo letali Mantidi, astuti Ragni, piccole e veloci Mosche, e ancora Formiche guerriere con una comunione mentale tra loro, Libellule, Farfalle ipnotiche, Falene dotate di arti oscure... La genialità e fantasia di tutto questo sono enormi.
Solo, gran parte del tempo si cerca di capire quanto ci sia di umano e quanto di insetto, visto che anche a livello mentale e di "odio razziale" sembra che queste persone abbiano assorbito moltissimo dagli insetti, e si fatica un po' in questo, finché col passare del tempo e delle pagine non ci si abitua.
Un grandioso inizio di una saga che promette grandi cose!
Si comincia un suo libro e sappiamo che sarà diverso da ciò che ci si aspetterebbe, che devierà abilmente dalle traiettorie classiche dei generi, e che ci saranno insetti.
In questo caso si comincia una saga fantasy ad ampissimo respiro, che promette epicità e mostra già un'ottima complessità, popoli diversissimi tra loro, magia e scienza, fede incrollabile e avidità, guerrieri e spie.
Il protagonista è uno studioso che da tempo cerca di aprire gli occhi delle città stato delle Terre Basse, da sempre in contrapposizione l'una contro l'altra, contro il pericolo presentato dal minaccioso Impero sorto ad est, una macchina da guerra invincibile e vorace che conquista e schiavizza. Ma che prima si presenta amichevolmente, con soldi e promesse, ottenendo sempre quel che vuole
Così Maker è passato dalla gioventù idealista e guerriera (tentando di difendere una città dall'attacco imperiale, assieme ai suoi amici... Una sorta di Byron insomma) a una vita da maestro di spie, dirigendo uno stuolo di giovani dotati e motivati che si sono infiltrati in tantissime città facendogli da occhi e orecchie, mentre continuava a Collegium a tentare invano di avvisare i suoi concittadini sul pericolo imminente
Ora il pericolo si è materializzato, e tutti insistono nel non volerlo vedere, per sicurezza infondata, avidità o interessi personali.
Quindi dovrà trovare il modo di scoprire i piani imperiali e fermarli, aiutato solo dal suo ristretto gruppo di alleati: la nipote che ha preso in casa fin da piccola, la figlia adottiva letale con una spada, il nobile spadaccino in esilio Salma, un suo studente ingegnere e le sue spie sparse nelle città a rischio. E ovviamente il suo vecchio amico Maestro di spada, una creatura letale e apparentemente invincibile.
Una storia che sembra quasi comune, anche se i personaggi lo sono un po' meno.
Ma il colpo di genio si ha con un altro fatto: non sono normali umani. Cioè, lo sono, ma in un mondo dove da sempre camminano insetti giganteschi. E le tribù umane per sopravvivere e prosperare hanno da sempre appreso come "legarsi" a loro, dividendosi così in base ai tratti "insetti" che hanno assorbito.
L'impero è delle Vespe: volano e lanciano raggi di energia dalla mano, come il pungiglione dell'insetto.
Maker è uno Scarabeo, resistente e ingegnoso.
Abbiamo letali Mantidi, astuti Ragni, piccole e veloci Mosche, e ancora Formiche guerriere con una comunione mentale tra loro, Libellule, Farfalle ipnotiche, Falene dotate di arti oscure... La genialità e fantasia di tutto questo sono enormi.
Solo, gran parte del tempo si cerca di capire quanto ci sia di umano e quanto di insetto, visto che anche a livello mentale e di "odio razziale" sembra che queste persone abbiano assorbito moltissimo dagli insetti, e si fatica un po' in questo, finché col passare del tempo e delle pagine non ci si abitua.
Un grandioso inizio di una saga che promette grandi cose!
March 23, 2023
This is the first volume of the 10-novel series Shadows of the Apt, a great epic by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I should admit that while I’m a fan of the author, I much prefer his SF over his fantasy and I actually dreaded starting this series – the novel there are often 700+ pages long and as I said there is a lot of them. After finishing this book I keep to my preferences.
The story starts with a battle in some fantasy-steampunk mix, where defenders, people of different kinden (see below) are fighting a losing battle against the empire from the title. People are depicted as humanoid creatures of different colors and sizes and with a limited ability of flight (so, angels?), each linked to their insect (or spider) – there are wasps, whose empire of Black and Gold aims at world domination, ants, who are mind-linked as a hive, bugs – individualists-artisans, spiders – masters of intrigue and social interaction, and much more. Being attributed to a specific insect gives ‘bonuses’ from the ability to shoot electricity bolts (wasps’ sting) to night-vision (moths).
The battle is lost but the war is not over. In the next chapter, we fast-forward almost two decades and follow Stenwold Maker, who for ages attempts to persuade the people of Collegium, a city of tinkerers and scientists that the empire won’t stop on its current borders and there is just a pause between conquests. He isn’t successful in that, but as a scientist and teacher, he is able to persuade young eager students to become his agents across the land. The recent bunch of them are one of the main characters of the volume: there is Cheerwell Maker, more known as Che, of Beetle Kinden, a niece of Stenwold, who sees herself as a failure compared with the rest of the group; Tynisa of Spider Kinden, a swordswoman par excellence and a high school queen, adopted by Stenwold after some shadowed story; Salme Dien of Dragonfly Kinden, an aristocrat and fairytale prince from a faraway kingdom, initially looking as a match to Tynisa; Totho a Beetle/Ant halfbreed artificer. This team of four soon find themselves on a special mission, for which they are hardly prepared…
This is a solid well-paced fantasy book – while not great, definitely worth reading. A nice cast of diverse characters, protagonists and antagonists alike aren't one-dimensional heroes/villains, all have strong and weak points. The fact that the setting is not a ‘classic’ medieval fantasy but steampunk with a lot of fliers, repeating crossbows and walkers as transport leads to machines and mechanisms, which look great but are hard or impossible to have in our physical laws (but this is fantasy!). Overall, I enjoyed the story but I feel no rush to continue it. I may one day.
The story starts with a battle in some fantasy-steampunk mix, where defenders, people of different kinden (see below) are fighting a losing battle against the empire from the title. People are depicted as humanoid creatures of different colors and sizes and with a limited ability of flight (so, angels?), each linked to their insect (or spider) – there are wasps, whose empire of Black and Gold aims at world domination, ants, who are mind-linked as a hive, bugs – individualists-artisans, spiders – masters of intrigue and social interaction, and much more. Being attributed to a specific insect gives ‘bonuses’ from the ability to shoot electricity bolts (wasps’ sting) to night-vision (moths).
The battle is lost but the war is not over. In the next chapter, we fast-forward almost two decades and follow Stenwold Maker, who for ages attempts to persuade the people of Collegium, a city of tinkerers and scientists that the empire won’t stop on its current borders and there is just a pause between conquests. He isn’t successful in that, but as a scientist and teacher, he is able to persuade young eager students to become his agents across the land. The recent bunch of them are one of the main characters of the volume: there is Cheerwell Maker, more known as Che, of Beetle Kinden, a niece of Stenwold, who sees herself as a failure compared with the rest of the group; Tynisa of Spider Kinden, a swordswoman par excellence and a high school queen, adopted by Stenwold after some shadowed story; Salme Dien of Dragonfly Kinden, an aristocrat and fairytale prince from a faraway kingdom, initially looking as a match to Tynisa; Totho a Beetle/Ant halfbreed artificer. This team of four soon find themselves on a special mission, for which they are hardly prepared…
This is a solid well-paced fantasy book – while not great, definitely worth reading. A nice cast of diverse characters, protagonists and antagonists alike aren't one-dimensional heroes/villains, all have strong and weak points. The fact that the setting is not a ‘classic’ medieval fantasy but steampunk with a lot of fliers, repeating crossbows and walkers as transport leads to machines and mechanisms, which look great but are hard or impossible to have in our physical laws (but this is fantasy!). Overall, I enjoyed the story but I feel no rush to continue it. I may one day.
March 8, 2012
It was a very fine book with an original idea and well executed too. Solid world building, even pacing and impeccable characterization, plenty of action as well.
But I've been reading exceptionally great books in the recent past with Paul Kearney, Steven Erikson, and K.J Parker's books so it fell a prey to involuntary comparisons, although I did try very hard to not let that happen and enjoy this book on its own merits which are considerable.
One thing I missed was epic battles which I am rather mad about in my epic fantasy. So I was a bit disappointed on that front. Although there were plenty of duellist melees and group combat.
This series does have vast potential though and from the reviews I've seen it gets better and better so I will be getting back to it. But not immediately cause as good as this was I've got even better stuff awaiting my attention.
Rating: Distracted Smile.
But I've been reading exceptionally great books in the recent past with Paul Kearney, Steven Erikson, and K.J Parker's books so it fell a prey to involuntary comparisons, although I did try very hard to not let that happen and enjoy this book on its own merits which are considerable.
One thing I missed was epic battles which I am rather mad about in my epic fantasy. So I was a bit disappointed on that front. Although there were plenty of duellist melees and group combat.
This series does have vast potential though and from the reviews I've seen it gets better and better so I will be getting back to it. But not immediately cause as good as this was I've got even better stuff awaiting my attention.
Rating: Distracted Smile.
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