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Shadows of the Apt #6
The Sea Watch
A shadow is falling over Collegium.
Despite the tenuous peace, Stenwold Maker knows that the Empire will return for his city. Even as he tries to prepare for the resurgence of the black and gold, a hidden threat is steadily working against his people. Ships that sail from Collegium's harbour are being attacked, sunk by pirates. Some just go missing...
Lulled by the spread of lies and false promises, Stenwold's allies are falling away from him. He faces betrayal on every side, and the Empire is just waiting for the first sign of weakness to strike. But the Empire is not the only power that has its eyes on Collegium. And even the Wasp-kinden may not be powerful enough to stave off the forces massing in the darkness and turning hungry eyes towards Stenwold's city.
Despite the tenuous peace, Stenwold Maker knows that the Empire will return for his city. Even as he tries to prepare for the resurgence of the black and gold, a hidden threat is steadily working against his people. Ships that sail from Collegium's harbour are being attacked, sunk by pirates. Some just go missing...
Lulled by the spread of lies and false promises, Stenwold's allies are falling away from him. He faces betrayal on every side, and the Empire is just waiting for the first sign of weakness to strike. But the Empire is not the only power that has its eyes on Collegium. And even the Wasp-kinden may not be powerful enough to stave off the forces massing in the darkness and turning hungry eyes towards Stenwold's city.
697 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2011
183 people are currently reading
3046 people want to read
About the author
Adrian Tchaikovsky
191 books17.4k 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 208 reviews
October 3, 2025
Tchaikovsky released the Kraken on this one! For real :D
Steampunk bugs
Book SIX of Shadows of the Apt
This continues to be a five-star series for me all the way through. The emotional character arcs really take the detailed world building and action over the edge to be one of my favorite long-standing fantasy series.
I love that we are getting to know more about the Inapt kinden, as well as now the Sea-Kinden. This post-war/apocolyptic bugsociety has to engage in complex military and political tactics to re-establish order, if that's even possible. I love what he does with the spider-kinder in particular in this book as he continues to elaborate on the racial/species characteristics and how that impacts this society. I really miss Che and Thalric from earlier books; however, I was very pleased to get a very emotional story line for beetle-kinder Stenwold weapons-master and renegade of Collegium. And he is being set up for more trials in the next book #7 Heirs of the Blade
This was probably more like a 4.5, and rounding up for the emotional and unexpected character arc :)
*****
Book SIX of Shadows of the Apt
This continues to be a five-star series for me all the way through. The emotional character arcs really take the detailed world building and action over the edge to be one of my favorite long-standing fantasy series.
I love that we are getting to know more about the Inapt kinden, as well as now the Sea-Kinden. This post-war/apocolyptic bugsociety has to engage in complex military and political tactics to re-establish order, if that's even possible. I love what he does with the spider-kinder in particular in this book as he continues to elaborate on the racial/species characteristics and how that impacts this society. I really miss Che and Thalric from earlier books; however, I was very pleased to get a very emotional story line for beetle-kinder Stenwold weapons-master and renegade of Collegium. And he is being set up for more trials in the next book #7 Heirs of the Blade
This was probably more like a 4.5, and rounding up for the emotional and unexpected character arc :)
*****
May 18, 2025
Well, no one can say Tchaikovsky is formulaic, even with his epic fantasy series. The first four volumes introduced us to the Lowlands and the Wasp Empire; that alone was fabulous. Mr T took us on a different kind of adventure in volume 5 of the series, with the ancient slug-kinden city of Khanaphes. With the sixth volume, Mr T. takes us underwater for even more types of kinden!
Lots of political intrigue in this one. Stenwold, our main protagonist, is still trying to build an alliance among the lowland kinden cities for when the Wasp Empire will return, including two relatively close ant-kinden cities that, lets say, are not buddies by any means. With that going on, Stenwold comes to learn how many of the city's merchant ships are being attacked by pirates or simply gone missing. Now, shipping is not the real life blood of Collegium, but still, something smells fishy. It turns out (mild spoiler) that the spider-kinden are behind the pirates! Seeking a parlay before things get nasty, Sten meets his spider frenemy Aristoi on a barge out in the sea; neutral ground. Turns out, however, that there is another faction that no one even knew about-- the sea-kinden!
Mr T's imagination is stunning at times, and he keeps fleshing out this world in ever more detail. Legend has it that the sea-kinden were cast out of land 1000s of years ago and they have made a new life for themselves under the sea. I lost count of all the new kinden developed here, but the world building is amazing to be sure. Vast 'colonies' of underground coral cities teeming with various kinden and a new, upstart city of Apt 'small claw' kinden (somewhat like fly-kinden) build around underwater 'smokers'. All kinds of sea monsters, tame or otherwise flood the pages, and the sea-kinden, being ultimately human after all, have their own political struggles, factions and issues, which Stenwold and his spider frenemy find themselves stuck right in the middle of it.
TSW, unlike others in the series, really just follows the adventures of Stenwold; while we do have a large supporting cast, they really are tangential to the story. It takes a stolid, solid beetle to get things done and thankfully, Stenwold is just the man. I thought this suffered a bit from fairly erratic pacing (sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow) but the amazing world building and crazy adventures kept the pages turning. 4 solid stars!!
Lots of political intrigue in this one. Stenwold, our main protagonist, is still trying to build an alliance among the lowland kinden cities for when the Wasp Empire will return, including two relatively close ant-kinden cities that, lets say, are not buddies by any means. With that going on, Stenwold comes to learn how many of the city's merchant ships are being attacked by pirates or simply gone missing. Now, shipping is not the real life blood of Collegium, but still, something smells fishy. It turns out (mild spoiler) that the spider-kinden are behind the pirates! Seeking a parlay before things get nasty, Sten meets his spider frenemy Aristoi on a barge out in the sea; neutral ground. Turns out, however, that there is another faction that no one even knew about-- the sea-kinden!
Mr T's imagination is stunning at times, and he keeps fleshing out this world in ever more detail. Legend has it that the sea-kinden were cast out of land 1000s of years ago and they have made a new life for themselves under the sea. I lost count of all the new kinden developed here, but the world building is amazing to be sure. Vast 'colonies' of underground coral cities teeming with various kinden and a new, upstart city of Apt 'small claw' kinden (somewhat like fly-kinden) build around underwater 'smokers'. All kinds of sea monsters, tame or otherwise flood the pages, and the sea-kinden, being ultimately human after all, have their own political struggles, factions and issues, which Stenwold and his spider frenemy find themselves stuck right in the middle of it.
TSW, unlike others in the series, really just follows the adventures of Stenwold; while we do have a large supporting cast, they really are tangential to the story. It takes a stolid, solid beetle to get things done and thankfully, Stenwold is just the man. I thought this suffered a bit from fairly erratic pacing (sometimes too fast, sometimes too slow) but the amazing world building and crazy adventures kept the pages turning. 4 solid stars!!
August 29, 2025
Review on English, followed by the Bulgarian one. Ревюто на английски е първо, следва това на български.
The survivors from the collision with the Empire in black and gold are divided into their adventures.
In the "Scarab Path", we saw Che and Thalric's acting in the ancient city of Khanaphes, and the "Sea Watch" describes those of Stenwald Trudan and Collegium who are facing new challenges and threats.
I'm quite upset that the Bulgarian publisher abandoned this awesome fantasy series and many of it's readers will not discover how the story will continue.
The "Sea Watch" has everything a fan of epic fantasy can wish - intrigue, betrayal, tension, battles, strange new world, and for me is one of the best books in the series up to date.
Following Tynisa now in "Heirs of the Blade" and I expect another crazy roller-coaster!!!
———————————————————————————————
Оцелелите от сблъсъка с Империята в черно и златно са разделени от приключенията си.
В "Пътят на скарабея" проследихме част от тези на Че и Талрик в древния град Канафес, а в "Морска стража" се описват тези на Стенуолд Трудан и Колегиум, изправени пред нови предизвикателства и заплахи.
Много ме е яд, че издателство БАРД изоставиха и тази страхотна фентъзи поредица и много от българските ѝ читатели няма да разберат, как продължава бурната история на Равнините.
В "Морска стража" има всичко, което един фен на епичното фентъзи може да желае - интриги, предателства, напрежение, битки, странен нов свят за проучване и за мен това е една от най-добрите книги от серията до сега!
Продължавам напред с битките на Тиниса и "Наследниците на острието"!
The survivors from the collision with the Empire in black and gold are divided into their adventures.
In the "Scarab Path", we saw Che and Thalric's acting in the ancient city of Khanaphes, and the "Sea Watch" describes those of Stenwald Trudan and Collegium who are facing new challenges and threats.
I'm quite upset that the Bulgarian publisher abandoned this awesome fantasy series and many of it's readers will not discover how the story will continue.
The "Sea Watch" has everything a fan of epic fantasy can wish - intrigue, betrayal, tension, battles, strange new world, and for me is one of the best books in the series up to date.
Following Tynisa now in "Heirs of the Blade" and I expect another crazy roller-coaster!!!
———————————————————————————————
Оцелелите от сблъсъка с Империята в черно и златно са разделени от приключенията си.
В "Пътят на скарабея" проследихме част от тези на Че и Талрик в древния град Канафес, а в "Морска стража" се описват тези на Стенуолд Трудан и Колегиум, изправени пред нови предизвикателства и заплахи.
Много ме е яд, че издателство БАРД изоставиха и тази страхотна фентъзи поредица и много от българските ѝ читатели няма да разберат, как продължава бурната история на Равнините.
В "Морска стража" има всичко, което един фен на епичното фентъзи може да желае - интриги, предателства, напрежение, битки, странен нов свят за проучване и за мен това е една от най-добрите книги от серията до сега!
Продължавам напред с битките на Тиниса и "Наследниците на острието"!
April 26, 2018
3.5 Stars
In the sixth chapter of the Shadows of the Apt series, the author takes the story in a new and unexpected direction, continuing to show off his incredible imagination.
Events pick up not long after the finish of The Scarab Path. There is little time spent on what happened in the last book, and Che and Thalric are nowhere to be found. Instead the story swings back to Stenwold, for which I was grateful. I find him a far more interesting character than his niece. Middle aged, balding, and slightly overweight, the scholar/artificer/spy/politician is a one of the best characters in the series.
Things start off innocently enough, with an investigation into rumors of piracy and trouble on the seas. Stenwold soon discovers that there is far more to happening that he ever imagined. I won’t go further into the plot to spoil the surprise.
This was a hard book to rate. The first few hundred pages were interesting and kept me hooked. Same with the last couple hundred. But that middle was a struggle, enough that this book took me longer to finish than the previous 5 in the series.
Just like in every book so far, The Sea Watch expanded the world of Stenwold and his fellow kinden, showing new peoples and lands previously unknown. The creativity was exceptional, as always. Tchaikovsky truly is brilliant in his creation of so many different and varied peoples and cultures, making them feel real. Unfortunately, that strength also became a weakness this time. For much of the middle of the book, it felt like plot development took a back seat to showing off the incredible additions to this world. In small doses, that’s fine. Here though, it lasted nearly 250 pages, which turned my initial interest in new discoveries into a bit of a trudge as I waited for something to happen.
Thankfully, the end made up for much of the lag in the middle as events moved forward quickly. At times I almost wished Tchaikovsky slowed down and gave more detail on the conclusion to some of the plot threads, considering how much time was spent building them up. Still, the last 150 pages or so gave some great action and well constructed scenes that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The book meandered a bit, and made only passing mention to the events from The Scarab Path, which I found a bit frustrating as the overarching plot progression of the series seems to have stalled. Still, even with a few frustrations I always enjoy time reading about the world Tchaikovsky created.
In the sixth chapter of the Shadows of the Apt series, the author takes the story in a new and unexpected direction, continuing to show off his incredible imagination.
Events pick up not long after the finish of The Scarab Path. There is little time spent on what happened in the last book, and Che and Thalric are nowhere to be found. Instead the story swings back to Stenwold, for which I was grateful. I find him a far more interesting character than his niece. Middle aged, balding, and slightly overweight, the scholar/artificer/spy/politician is a one of the best characters in the series.
Things start off innocently enough, with an investigation into rumors of piracy and trouble on the seas. Stenwold soon discovers that there is far more to happening that he ever imagined. I won’t go further into the plot to spoil the surprise.
This was a hard book to rate. The first few hundred pages were interesting and kept me hooked. Same with the last couple hundred. But that middle was a struggle, enough that this book took me longer to finish than the previous 5 in the series.
Just like in every book so far, The Sea Watch expanded the world of Stenwold and his fellow kinden, showing new peoples and lands previously unknown. The creativity was exceptional, as always. Tchaikovsky truly is brilliant in his creation of so many different and varied peoples and cultures, making them feel real. Unfortunately, that strength also became a weakness this time. For much of the middle of the book, it felt like plot development took a back seat to showing off the incredible additions to this world. In small doses, that’s fine. Here though, it lasted nearly 250 pages, which turned my initial interest in new discoveries into a bit of a trudge as I waited for something to happen.
Thankfully, the end made up for much of the lag in the middle as events moved forward quickly. At times I almost wished Tchaikovsky slowed down and gave more detail on the conclusion to some of the plot threads, considering how much time was spent building them up. Still, the last 150 pages or so gave some great action and well constructed scenes that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The book meandered a bit, and made only passing mention to the events from The Scarab Path, which I found a bit frustrating as the overarching plot progression of the series seems to have stalled. Still, even with a few frustrations I always enjoy time reading about the world Tchaikovsky created.
April 2, 2025
Tremendous. Nearly as good as The Scarab Path. So much Stenwold and so much politicking. The underwater section I think goes on a little long, but otherwise one of my favorites for sure.
January 19, 2025
This is the sixth book in the Shadows of the Apt series and it looks to be a long one. The pacing is very slow mainly due to the detailed politics, pirate antics and many characters. I enjoy the addition of new characters but the politics tended to get in the way of my enjoyment.
Tchaikovsky’s world building is still extensive and very detailed, and the exploration of the new sea-kinden and their world adds a new layer to the series (it just takes the majority of the book to get there). I was very disappointed that there wasn’t any mention of the characters from the previous book at all or any mention of what went on.
Overall a not so exciting and but detailed fantasy story. It’s a good read for fans of the series who enjoy political intrigue and pirates. While not without its flaws, it offers a somewhat immersive experience for fans of epic fantasy. I really wish there was more of the sea-kinden and their world in the book as constant political debates wasn’t of interest to me at all.
Tchaikovsky’s world building is still extensive and very detailed, and the exploration of the new sea-kinden and their world adds a new layer to the series (it just takes the majority of the book to get there). I was very disappointed that there wasn’t any mention of the characters from the previous book at all or any mention of what went on.
Overall a not so exciting and but detailed fantasy story. It’s a good read for fans of the series who enjoy political intrigue and pirates. While not without its flaws, it offers a somewhat immersive experience for fans of epic fantasy. I really wish there was more of the sea-kinden and their world in the book as constant political debates wasn’t of interest to me at all.
October 12, 2023
A Return To Form
I had become a bit burnt out on this series despite the books being good. This book was exactly what the series needed to reinvigorate my interest. A story focused on Stenwold is great. Add to that an incredible expansion of the world and an entirely different layer of politics and storytelling made me absolutely riveted. Even the Collegium politics here was very good. The romance continues to be poorly handled but it isn't much of a focus. I might end up finishing the series by the end of the year after all.
I had become a bit burnt out on this series despite the books being good. This book was exactly what the series needed to reinvigorate my interest. A story focused on Stenwold is great. Add to that an incredible expansion of the world and an entirely different layer of politics and storytelling made me absolutely riveted. Even the Collegium politics here was very good. The romance continues to be poorly handled but it isn't much of a focus. I might end up finishing the series by the end of the year after all.
November 29, 2022
Well , The Shadow of the Apt series took a sudden left turn ,or should I say left dive, under the waves as we are introduced to a whole new set of kinden who live in an Aquaman style underwater realm.
While still being enjoyable ,the Sea Watch took some getting through and I have to say I preferred it when the story was on terra firma. Still, the imagination of the author is quite incredible and there was much for fans of the series to enjoy.
3.75 stars.
While still being enjoyable ,the Sea Watch took some getting through and I have to say I preferred it when the story was on terra firma. Still, the imagination of the author is quite incredible and there was much for fans of the series to enjoy.
3.75 stars.
July 23, 2014
After the superb Scarab Path, Mr. Tchaikovsky switches characters, setting and gears with a story that takes place partly at sea, partly in underwater scapes that read like action on the Moon or Mars, so the book has a very sf-nal feel.
It is all Stenwold and Teornis here with supporting action from a bunch of new characters as well as some known ones.
The universe expands with more Kinden, more places, more capabilities.
While there are some superb personal scenes including a restatement of one of the best and most chilling moments in Salute the Dark, this book is back to the expansive non-stop action of the first four volumes, as opposed to the more intimate Scarab Path; both an episode and almost a standalone, The Sea watch has a clear beginning and ending - ending that is another for the ages btw though despite its completeness, I felt quite sad when it ended since I want more; August and volume 7 cannot come soon enough, though to be honest i have no real idea how the author's promise of another partial tie-up as in Salute the Dark will happen since for now I see no clear main direction away from the regular power play of the universe (Collegium vs wasps vs Spiders...)
So to sum, like in Scarab Path, the book focuses only on 2 main characters, but introduces many others which may or may not play important roles, though here we are back to almost all around action, sense of wonder and just great, great fun.
I will add the full FBC rv in several days too
FULL FBC Rv:
INTRODUCTION: There is no secret that in the past three years the Shadows of the Apt has become my favorite ongoing fantasy series for its combination of superb world building, great characters and extreme inventiveness. Salute the Dark ended quite emphatically the first part of the series dealing with the war between the Collegium and the Empire in Black and Gold, while The Scarab Path, a standalone withing the larger series context, has been my personal favorite to date and I rated it the best fantasy of 2010.
I strongly recommend to go and get those five books and read them before proceeding further here, though I will try to keep the spoilers to the minimum possible. Be warned that even the blurb of The Sea Watch consists of huge spoilers for the ending of the first part.
After reading The Scarab Path and the synopsis of The Sea Watch which had spoilers about the previous books, but little illumination about its content, I was quite intrigued to see where the author will take us next. And as the title hints The Sea Watch goes indeed to the sea, though in the authors' ingenious world building, a large part of it actually takes place in underwater landscapes and it reads like sense of wonder sf on say Mars of yore.
"A shadow is falling over Collegium. Despite the tenuous peace, Stenwold Maker knows that the Empire will return for his city. Even as he tries to prepare for the resurgence of the black and gold, a hidden threat is steadily working against his people. Ships that sail from Collegium's harbour are being attacked, sunk by pirates. Some just go missing ..."
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: After the superb The Scarab Path, Mr. Tchaikovsky switches characters, setting and gears in The Sea Watch. Starting essentially with the return of the Khanaphes mission and the election for the new speaker which Jordy Drillen, Stennwold ally is favored to win partly due to the success of that mission, partly due to Stenwold's backing, the novel switches soon into high gear when conspirators appear with unclear but ominous plans, while Stenwold finally is compelled to check allegations that someone is targeting Collegium's shipping which has expanded due to the war with the Empire and the corresponding reduction in the traditional land commerce.
The Sea Watch is all Stenwold and Teornis with supporting action from a lot of new characters, most notably fly-kinden Laszlo, a young factor from a pirate crew who wants to move legit and whose boss Tomasso agrees to help Stenwold find out who is attacking Collegium ships, while from the under-the-sea kinden, mercenary Wys and Paladrya whom we first see in the prologue set some years earlier are the most important, though we meet a large cast of unforgettable characters.
And of course the usual Collegium cast like Jordy Drillen, Arianna, the wasp ambassadors and their minions, Marius and Acius, the Vekken returned from Khanaphes and some of their Kes rivals, as well as a few other known characters which I do not want to spoil also appear, though Tynissa is still missing, Stenwold is fuming when he gets Che's letter and the news about her new companion, while Teornis returns to prominence as wheeler and dealer and favorite adoptive son of the Collegium...
The second important aspect of the Sea Watch is the large expansion of its universe. Among many goodies, I will mention: kinden bonding with and traveling in animals like sea-horses and huge jellyfish or riding octopuses and crabs; seagods, prophecies, dart-cavalry, but also Aptness, submersibles, engines in a no-fire world based on springs and siphons, accretion of materials and more; there are also mysterious kinden like the builders and the savage echinoi, while more familiar ones like the spider analogue, the krakind, and their servants/followers, and the huge crab-like warriors that grace the cover, the onychoi, and their followers, appear too.
The tone of the novel is back to the expansive non-stop action of the first four volumes, as opposed to the more intimate Scarab Path. While there are some superb personal scenes including a restatement of one of the best and most chilling moments in Salute the Dark, The Sea Watch is first and foremost action oriented, taking the reader on a page-turning ride to its superb finale...
The Sea Watch has a clear beginning and ending - ending that is another for the ages - though despite its completeness, I felt quite sad when it ended since I really wanted more; August and volume 7 "Heirs of the Blade" cannot come soon enough, though to be honest I have no real idea how the author's hint of another partial tie-up as in Salute the Dark will happen since for now I see no clear main direction away from the regular power play of the series universe - Collegium vs Wasps vs Spiders...
I had the highest expectations for The Sea Watch (A++) and it delivered everything I came to expect from the series and consolidating its front-runner status in my fantasy reading. To end this review here is one of the best lines of the book that makes one want Heirs of the Blade asap...
‘There will come a tomorrow, ...., when we shall speak again. Remember that."
It is all Stenwold and Teornis here with supporting action from a bunch of new characters as well as some known ones.
The universe expands with more Kinden, more places, more capabilities.
While there are some superb personal scenes including a restatement of one of the best and most chilling moments in Salute the Dark, this book is back to the expansive non-stop action of the first four volumes, as opposed to the more intimate Scarab Path; both an episode and almost a standalone, The Sea watch has a clear beginning and ending - ending that is another for the ages btw though despite its completeness, I felt quite sad when it ended since I want more; August and volume 7 cannot come soon enough, though to be honest i have no real idea how the author's promise of another partial tie-up as in Salute the Dark will happen since for now I see no clear main direction away from the regular power play of the universe (Collegium vs wasps vs Spiders...)
So to sum, like in Scarab Path, the book focuses only on 2 main characters, but introduces many others which may or may not play important roles, though here we are back to almost all around action, sense of wonder and just great, great fun.
I will add the full FBC rv in several days too
FULL FBC Rv:
INTRODUCTION: There is no secret that in the past three years the Shadows of the Apt has become my favorite ongoing fantasy series for its combination of superb world building, great characters and extreme inventiveness. Salute the Dark ended quite emphatically the first part of the series dealing with the war between the Collegium and the Empire in Black and Gold, while The Scarab Path, a standalone withing the larger series context, has been my personal favorite to date and I rated it the best fantasy of 2010.
I strongly recommend to go and get those five books and read them before proceeding further here, though I will try to keep the spoilers to the minimum possible. Be warned that even the blurb of The Sea Watch consists of huge spoilers for the ending of the first part.
After reading The Scarab Path and the synopsis of The Sea Watch which had spoilers about the previous books, but little illumination about its content, I was quite intrigued to see where the author will take us next. And as the title hints The Sea Watch goes indeed to the sea, though in the authors' ingenious world building, a large part of it actually takes place in underwater landscapes and it reads like sense of wonder sf on say Mars of yore.
"A shadow is falling over Collegium. Despite the tenuous peace, Stenwold Maker knows that the Empire will return for his city. Even as he tries to prepare for the resurgence of the black and gold, a hidden threat is steadily working against his people. Ships that sail from Collegium's harbour are being attacked, sunk by pirates. Some just go missing ..."
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: After the superb The Scarab Path, Mr. Tchaikovsky switches characters, setting and gears in The Sea Watch. Starting essentially with the return of the Khanaphes mission and the election for the new speaker which Jordy Drillen, Stennwold ally is favored to win partly due to the success of that mission, partly due to Stenwold's backing, the novel switches soon into high gear when conspirators appear with unclear but ominous plans, while Stenwold finally is compelled to check allegations that someone is targeting Collegium's shipping which has expanded due to the war with the Empire and the corresponding reduction in the traditional land commerce.
The Sea Watch is all Stenwold and Teornis with supporting action from a lot of new characters, most notably fly-kinden Laszlo, a young factor from a pirate crew who wants to move legit and whose boss Tomasso agrees to help Stenwold find out who is attacking Collegium ships, while from the under-the-sea kinden, mercenary Wys and Paladrya whom we first see in the prologue set some years earlier are the most important, though we meet a large cast of unforgettable characters.
And of course the usual Collegium cast like Jordy Drillen, Arianna, the wasp ambassadors and their minions, Marius and Acius, the Vekken returned from Khanaphes and some of their Kes rivals, as well as a few other known characters which I do not want to spoil also appear, though Tynissa is still missing, Stenwold is fuming when he gets Che's letter and the news about her new companion, while Teornis returns to prominence as wheeler and dealer and favorite adoptive son of the Collegium...
The second important aspect of the Sea Watch is the large expansion of its universe. Among many goodies, I will mention: kinden bonding with and traveling in animals like sea-horses and huge jellyfish or riding octopuses and crabs; seagods, prophecies, dart-cavalry, but also Aptness, submersibles, engines in a no-fire world based on springs and siphons, accretion of materials and more; there are also mysterious kinden like the builders and the savage echinoi, while more familiar ones like the spider analogue, the krakind, and their servants/followers, and the huge crab-like warriors that grace the cover, the onychoi, and their followers, appear too.
The tone of the novel is back to the expansive non-stop action of the first four volumes, as opposed to the more intimate Scarab Path. While there are some superb personal scenes including a restatement of one of the best and most chilling moments in Salute the Dark, The Sea Watch is first and foremost action oriented, taking the reader on a page-turning ride to its superb finale...
The Sea Watch has a clear beginning and ending - ending that is another for the ages - though despite its completeness, I felt quite sad when it ended since I really wanted more; August and volume 7 "Heirs of the Blade" cannot come soon enough, though to be honest I have no real idea how the author's hint of another partial tie-up as in Salute the Dark will happen since for now I see no clear main direction away from the regular power play of the series universe - Collegium vs Wasps vs Spiders...
I had the highest expectations for The Sea Watch (A++) and it delivered everything I came to expect from the series and consolidating its front-runner status in my fantasy reading. To end this review here is one of the best lines of the book that makes one want Heirs of the Blade asap...
‘There will come a tomorrow, ...., when we shall speak again. Remember that."
March 1, 2023
‘When history began, when the Seven Families arose. We were driven into the sea, and only the beasts of the sea saved us. We found our paths. We built. We journeyed. We lived within our hosts. We dwelt in shadow. We are greater now than ever we were when your people drove us into the waves. We have never forgotten, though. Always we have the Littoralists to remind us, telling the old tales. I wouldn’t care so much, landsman, for it’s all history to me, but my warriors are restless and the Edmir has promised me my war.’
“The Sea Watch” is the sixth instalment in the Shadows of the Apt series and what a journey. Pirates. Politics. Myths made real. Returning the rightful heir to the throne. This was a recipe for an adventure and I love every second of it.
Picking up directly after the end of Scarab Path, instead of Che, this time we follow Stenwold in Collegium. Stenwold has been a professor, a spymaster, a warmaster and now he must face the greatest challenge yet, politics. The search for a new speaker continues and Stenwold notoriety proves to either be a curse or a blessing. With Tsen arriving seeking their allegedly stolen plans, tensions with Vekk rise. Stenwold proves himself to be a statesman when he cleverly manages both the Ant City states.
‘Besides,’ Stenwold added, ‘Tsen may be small, but it’s clear you make up for it in artifice. You may find that profits you more in trade than ever it did in self-defence. Perhaps you, also, would like to send a message to your city and its court.’
‘And if they say no?’
‘You disappoint me. The Vekken have already worked that one out,’ Stenwold said. He felt absolutely merciless in taking all the deeply held tenets of Ant-kinden society and twisting them in his hands. ‘What do you think will happen, if you say no but the Vekken say yes?’
Politics aside, the sea merchants bring forward an issue of increased piracy. They’ve been complaining for a while now but Collegium has been busy with the tenuous peace with the Empire, the even more tenuous peace with the other city states, preparing an army for the eventual invading army, recovering from their losses and selecting another Speaker of the Assembly. So when the sea merchants pressed the issue, Stenwold snapped and it was beautiful.
‘However, the Assembly has always been deplored by the merchants of this town for interfering in their business. Not seven years ago, there was a motion concerning the workhouses in Helleron, and whether a clean-handed magnate of Collegium could deal with such institutions, could even own shares in them. It was then firmly stated: the business of a merchant is his own. A year before the war came a motion to ban shares in slaving concerns, for as we outlaw slavery within our city, should our merchants be free to invest in the flesh trade beyond? It was again firmly stated, although hotly contested, that the business of a merchant is his own. Therefore I say to you, Master Failwright, that the business of a merchant is his own. If this Assembly may not dampen his profits, neither may it blow upon the embers of his losses.’
But when the claims prove true, Stenwold finds himself on the sea, with a crew of legendary pirates as they seek to unravel the mystery behind the recent thefts. What follows is a journey that shakes his beliefs and forces him to go on a journey into uncharted waters. Adrian Tchaikovskty went hard with his worldbuilding and this instalment is quite possibly my second favourite after Dragonfly Falling. The way Stenwold was able to handle himself throughout the book was magnificent and it bodes down to one of his beliefs.
‘Our strength is in our friends, in those who will give of themselves to keep us free.’
April 1, 2024
Ci ho messo un po' di tempo a entrare in sintonia con questo libro, l'inizio non è stato dei migliori e questo inizio del secondo arco di storie sembra ancora non avere una direzione vera e propria come invece nei primi libri con la minaccia dell'Impero.
L'Impero continua a essere una minaccia all'orizzonte, un nemico che di sicuro tornerà a creare fastidi prima o poi.
Qui ci viene ricordato che questa minaccia non elimina quelle del passato, o i sogni di grandezza di altri popoli. I Ragni, per essere precisi, che cercano di inserire nelle loro danze Collegium, pur contro il parere di Teornis che infatti pagherà un prezzo assai alto per questo errore della sua famiglia.
Libro incentrato su Sten, stavolta. Il tempo passa ed è stanco, senza più amici in vita con cui combattere, senza la nipote fuggita chissà dove con Thalric (e ignora quanto le sia accaduto) e senza la protetta fuggita chissà dove a fare la Mantide (in un corpo di ragno), così quando la nuova minaccia si abbatte sulla città, a base di pirati, mostri marini, minacce di imperi pronti a invadere la sua città e nuove razze sconosciute, dovrà radunare nuove forze intorno a sé.
Un gruppo di profughi Mantidi, una ciurma di Mosche pirati, e un eterogeneo gruppo di razze sottomarine. Un'alleanza tenuta insieme da promesse, da soldi, dalla minaccia di Ragni e Vespe, da un tiranno usurpatore, dalla politica e da un principe in esilio.
Alla fine si rivela un altro bel viaggio, per noi, ma come dicevo l'inizio è assai balbettante e si impiega un bel po' di tempo ad appassionarci alla storia.
Storia che comunque sembra quasi una storia a sé stante, un filler, per quanto sia collegata alla macro trama.
Non dubito che certe cose (la frattura con i Ragni, la nuova Guardia Marina, l'evoluzione di Grief) torneranno al momento opportuno, ma alla lunga buona parte del libro è poco più di Stenwold all'avventura, riluttante eroe come sempre, intento a parlare fino a a farsi nuovi alleati, rovesciare un tiranno guidando una rivolta, fermare un paio di guerre e un complotto, tutto mentre sospira dicendo di non volere tutto questo ma solo una vita tranquilla.
Almeno non c'è più la storia con Arianna.
L'Impero continua a essere una minaccia all'orizzonte, un nemico che di sicuro tornerà a creare fastidi prima o poi.
Qui ci viene ricordato che questa minaccia non elimina quelle del passato, o i sogni di grandezza di altri popoli. I Ragni, per essere precisi, che cercano di inserire nelle loro danze Collegium, pur contro il parere di Teornis che infatti pagherà un prezzo assai alto per questo errore della sua famiglia.
Libro incentrato su Sten, stavolta. Il tempo passa ed è stanco, senza più amici in vita con cui combattere, senza la nipote fuggita chissà dove con Thalric (e ignora quanto le sia accaduto) e senza la protetta fuggita chissà dove a fare la Mantide (in un corpo di ragno), così quando la nuova minaccia si abbatte sulla città, a base di pirati, mostri marini, minacce di imperi pronti a invadere la sua città e nuove razze sconosciute, dovrà radunare nuove forze intorno a sé.
Un gruppo di profughi Mantidi, una ciurma di Mosche pirati, e un eterogeneo gruppo di razze sottomarine. Un'alleanza tenuta insieme da promesse, da soldi, dalla minaccia di Ragni e Vespe, da un tiranno usurpatore, dalla politica e da un principe in esilio.
Alla fine si rivela un altro bel viaggio, per noi, ma come dicevo l'inizio è assai balbettante e si impiega un bel po' di tempo ad appassionarci alla storia.
Storia che comunque sembra quasi una storia a sé stante, un filler, per quanto sia collegata alla macro trama.
Non dubito che certe cose (la frattura con i Ragni, la nuova Guardia Marina, l'evoluzione di Grief) torneranno al momento opportuno, ma alla lunga buona parte del libro è poco più di Stenwold all'avventura, riluttante eroe come sempre, intento a parlare fino a a farsi nuovi alleati, rovesciare un tiranno guidando una rivolta, fermare un paio di guerre e un complotto, tutto mentre sospira dicendo di non volere tutto questo ma solo una vita tranquilla.
Almeno non c'è più la storia con Arianna.
April 19, 2022
Really 3 stars. The standalones have not worked for me.
5 stars as I was sat reading this waiting for my sister to arrive to celebrate her birthday. She passed away suddenly a few hours later from a brain aneurysm.
RIP Sis 6th March 1974 to 6th March 2022.
5 stars as I was sat reading this waiting for my sister to arrive to celebrate her birthday. She passed away suddenly a few hours later from a brain aneurysm.
RIP Sis 6th March 1974 to 6th March 2022.
October 15, 2023
The Sea Watch was not what I expected. It had been more than a year since I've read The Scarab Path and initially I thought that this was the reason I couldn't fully connect with the story. There were other reasons, though.
The book focuses almost entirely on Stenwold Maker. Sure, in earlier entries too the narrative was more concerned with some characters than with others. For instance, Cheerwell and Thalric shared the spotlight in the previous novel. Here, however, the cast of genuinely important people is significantly smaller and the changes of scenery are within narrow confines.
But I'm getting ahead of myself, let me sketch where we are at the beginning of the story. As always, Collegium is under threat again. Pirates prey on Beetle ships and Stenwold discovers that they are financed by Spiders. In fact, the Spiders are planning an attack and Teornis – once vital in resisting the Imperial advance – is at the center of the betrayal. Moreover, it's clear that the Wasps themselves are planning to regain lost territory.
The story's main antagonist is revealed only later on. In the book's advertisement there is some secrecy about this. To be honest, if you've ever read a book (seen a movie) you will know that there is some sort of Atlantis-like kingdom to be involved (spoiler alert?). Surprisingly (?), this is exactly what it turns out to be.
I enjoyed the Lovecraftian vibes that come with the environmental change and Tchaikovsky goes a long way to describe their culture and customs in great detail. The Sea Kinden really come to life here. As many observed, though, the plot itself came too much to a halt.
It's a very long book, much longer than the earliest titles in the series, but the middle act is strikingly uneventful. There are too many new players at least I for myself didn't really care about. Frankly, initial intrigue gradually waned and it became a bit of a struggle. It was only the last 200 pages or so, when Stenwold finally gains the upper hand, that I thoroughly enjoyed the journey again. Tchaikovsky's thrilling prose is there all along, but it's only in this highly satisfying conclusion that it's finally channeled in great action and plot progression.
For me, two characters stood out. I already mentioned Teornis who was great mainly because it wasn't completely obvious that he would be the villain. In fact, I think his actions are somewhat ambivalent until the bloody confrontation at the end. The Fly-pirate Laszlo has all the potential to become a fan favorite. Don't be fooled by his outlaw background, he's very loyal to Stenwold and his happy-go-lucky attitude is great fun to read.
People say Heirs to the Blade is going to be the best in the series, so I'm very excited to continue with the series (and much sooner this time). Still, The Sea Watch wasn't quite the page-turner earlier entries had been.
Rating: 3/5
The book focuses almost entirely on Stenwold Maker. Sure, in earlier entries too the narrative was more concerned with some characters than with others. For instance, Cheerwell and Thalric shared the spotlight in the previous novel. Here, however, the cast of genuinely important people is significantly smaller and the changes of scenery are within narrow confines.
But I'm getting ahead of myself, let me sketch where we are at the beginning of the story. As always, Collegium is under threat again. Pirates prey on Beetle ships and Stenwold discovers that they are financed by Spiders. In fact, the Spiders are planning an attack and Teornis – once vital in resisting the Imperial advance – is at the center of the betrayal. Moreover, it's clear that the Wasps themselves are planning to regain lost territory.
The story's main antagonist is revealed only later on. In the book's advertisement there is some secrecy about this. To be honest, if you've ever read a book (seen a movie) you will know that there is some sort of Atlantis-like kingdom to be involved (spoiler alert?). Surprisingly (?), this is exactly what it turns out to be.
I enjoyed the Lovecraftian vibes that come with the environmental change and Tchaikovsky goes a long way to describe their culture and customs in great detail. The Sea Kinden really come to life here. As many observed, though, the plot itself came too much to a halt.
It's a very long book, much longer than the earliest titles in the series, but the middle act is strikingly uneventful. There are too many new players at least I for myself didn't really care about. Frankly, initial intrigue gradually waned and it became a bit of a struggle. It was only the last 200 pages or so, when Stenwold finally gains the upper hand, that I thoroughly enjoyed the journey again. Tchaikovsky's thrilling prose is there all along, but it's only in this highly satisfying conclusion that it's finally channeled in great action and plot progression.
For me, two characters stood out. I already mentioned Teornis who was great mainly because it wasn't completely obvious that he would be the villain. In fact, I think his actions are somewhat ambivalent until the bloody confrontation at the end. The Fly-pirate Laszlo has all the potential to become a fan favorite. Don't be fooled by his outlaw background, he's very loyal to Stenwold and his happy-go-lucky attitude is great fun to read.
People say Heirs to the Blade is going to be the best in the series, so I'm very excited to continue with the series (and much sooner this time). Still, The Sea Watch wasn't quite the page-turner earlier entries had been.
Rating: 3/5
February 15, 2011
Stenwold Maker takes centre stage in a story derived from politics, betrayal, war, and assassination in which his home Collegium is once again under threat of invasion – and it’s not just the usual suspects this time. Fighting to keep the peace, Stendwold embarks on a journey which leads him to the unexplored depths of the sea, east to the Spiderlands and north the newly formed city of Princep Salmea. All of the settings are quite unique and have a distinct feel about them; Tchaikovsky once again does a great job of creating a world that is as enthralling as it is all consuming. ‘The Sea Watch’ felt more like a bridge to future books in the series as apposed to a defining point in the history of the Lowlands – one can only imagine how all the threads established in this book (and the Scarab Path) will be pulled together in what should be a momentous event as the ark reaches its conclusion. Fans of this series should look to this book as a combination of ‘Empire In Black and Gold’ and ‘Salute The Dark’ in terms of the new character development, the creation of a new settings and the pivotal events which should cause ripples throughout the Lowlands for many a time to come - 4 stars.
July 27, 2021
While the previous books had its emphasis on character development, this one is much more about intrigue and fighting and treason. Somehow it didn't work for me like the others did.
The worldbuilding of the undersea kinden was fascinating and mightily interesting, but I felt unmoved by the character side of the story. The conflict was too black/white for my taste and the repetitive attack scenes made it difficult for me to keep my interest. Somehow the conflict mirrored the ones in the previous volumes.
Adding to that the fact that nearly all of the players were newly introduced and thus not fleshed out and that we had more exposition than in the other books (to bring the new environment across) this one so far was the weakest in the series for me.
The worldbuilding of the undersea kinden was fascinating and mightily interesting, but I felt unmoved by the character side of the story. The conflict was too black/white for my taste and the repetitive attack scenes made it difficult for me to keep my interest. Somehow the conflict mirrored the ones in the previous volumes.
Adding to that the fact that nearly all of the players were newly introduced and thus not fleshed out and that we had more exposition than in the other books (to bring the new environment across) this one so far was the weakest in the series for me.
June 1, 2025
"It told me of you," she whispered. "There is blood coming from the land: a great outpouring of blood that shall wash over everything until it comes to where the land meets the sea... In the end the sea itself will be red with it, and all that we are shall be destroyed... even to the Seagod itself. If it can be stopped at all, then you are the man who might do so."
For the first 200 pages I was considering dropping the whole series. I couldn't care less about the plot even though Stenwold was witty at times. We as readers know what's going on from the beginning but Stenwold doesn't and following his investigation was tedious. Not to mention this book doesn't advance the overarching plot same way The Scarab Path didn't. It just puts more pawns on the chessboard before second Lowlands war starts.
But then we go underwater and act 2 of this book is among the best parts in the entire series. It's a completely different culture at the dawn of apt revolution and I was fascinated by everything even though I have zero doubt there's got to be so many holes in that worldbuilding they would sink a ship. But I don't care because it was really enjoyable.
Once we return to the surface plot drags again. Mostly because the villain on the surface was so terribly written. I understand what Tchaikovsky was going for with this "I really like you Stenwold but they marked you as enemy" and it just didn't work. Made me despise the character when I'm sure author wanted to make him sympathetic. I notice this happens often with Tchaikovsky, unfortunately. And also because of deus ex machina coming from
For the first 200 pages I was considering dropping the whole series. I couldn't care less about the plot even though Stenwold was witty at times. We as readers know what's going on from the beginning but Stenwold doesn't and following his investigation was tedious. Not to mention this book doesn't advance the overarching plot same way The Scarab Path didn't. It just puts more pawns on the chessboard before second Lowlands war starts.
But then we go underwater and act 2 of this book is among the best parts in the entire series. It's a completely different culture at the dawn of apt revolution and I was fascinated by everything even though I have zero doubt there's got to be so many holes in that worldbuilding they would sink a ship. But I don't care because it was really enjoyable.
Once we return to the surface plot drags again. Mostly because the villain on the surface was so terribly written. I understand what Tchaikovsky was going for with this "I really like you Stenwold but they marked you as enemy" and it just didn't work. Made me despise the character when I'm sure author wanted to make him sympathetic. I notice this happens often with Tchaikovsky, unfortunately. And also because of deus ex machina coming from
November 3, 2025
"And so we go on pushing at the borders of the world, until we wish we'd left them well alone"
I know I will repeat myself when I say that I love Tchaikovsky, but the satisfaction I get from reading his books is simply unmatched.
I admit that there was a big part in the middle of the book that felt like I was submerged under water and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Also, there was a rather anticlimactic solution to one of the problems the protagonists were facing, which left me rather unconvinced. Hence the 4 star rating.
Nonetheless, the story is filled with the familiar lovable characters, fascinating new parts of the magical world of the Apt, the occasional but delicious dry humour, and of course the delightfully rewarding plot twists, which Tchaikovsky never fails to deliver.
I am not ready to say goodbye yet and painfully itching to start the next book.
"Time to weep for the past when my enemies are dead, as the poet said."
"It was easier to stand tall if you convinced everyone else to kneel."
"What price incorruptibility."
"Well, my excuse is that it is hard to account in one's plans for the formerly mythological."
"Only the dull and the foolish are ever happy with what they've got. Do you sit there, victorious son of the Apt revolution, and preach stagnation? [...] Life is all about striving and change, Stenwold."
I know I will repeat myself when I say that I love Tchaikovsky, but the satisfaction I get from reading his books is simply unmatched.
I admit that there was a big part in the middle of the book that felt like I was submerged under water and everything seemed to be moving in slow motion. Also, there was a rather anticlimactic solution to one of the problems the protagonists were facing, which left me rather unconvinced. Hence the 4 star rating.
Nonetheless, the story is filled with the familiar lovable characters, fascinating new parts of the magical world of the Apt, the occasional but delicious dry humour, and of course the delightfully rewarding plot twists, which Tchaikovsky never fails to deliver.
I am not ready to say goodbye yet and painfully itching to start the next book.
"Time to weep for the past when my enemies are dead, as the poet said."
"It was easier to stand tall if you convinced everyone else to kneel."
"What price incorruptibility."
"Well, my excuse is that it is hard to account in one's plans for the formerly mythological."
"Only the dull and the foolish are ever happy with what they've got. Do you sit there, victorious son of the Apt revolution, and preach stagnation? [...] Life is all about striving and change, Stenwold."
February 7, 2023
This book felt like an overly long side quest.
October 10, 2024
6.5/10
It probably didn’t help that I had some long pauses while reading this book, so it took me 2 weeks. My biggest complaint was the sheer number & variety of new kinden the author introduced. Yes, very creative & appropriate given that the story takes place largely underwater, so obviously, different sorts of people would have evolved to live & thrive there, but I sometimes felt like the author was just showing off how inventive he could be. I assume these kinden will continue to play a role as the overall story goes forward, but maybe not.
I also felt like the last few chapters, as Stenwold Maker’s plots unfold, were rushed. Obviously he made good use of all his time undersea,when he wasn’t escaping from one threat or another, but we were not privy to his thoughts & planning, so bing, bing, bing, things just fall into place like magic! (Yes, I know, it wasn’t quite that smooth…)
My relatively lower rating is mostly because I was overwhelmed with the number of new kinden & charaters and the amount of world-building the author needed to do in order to add the undersea world to the overall world of the Apt & Inapt.
It probably didn’t help that I had some long pauses while reading this book, so it took me 2 weeks. My biggest complaint was the sheer number & variety of new kinden the author introduced. Yes, very creative & appropriate given that the story takes place largely underwater, so obviously, different sorts of people would have evolved to live & thrive there, but I sometimes felt like the author was just showing off how inventive he could be. I assume these kinden will continue to play a role as the overall story goes forward, but maybe not.
I also felt like the last few chapters, as Stenwold Maker’s plots unfold, were rushed. Obviously he made good use of all his time undersea,when he wasn’t escaping from one threat or another, but we were not privy to his thoughts & planning, so bing, bing, bing, things just fall into place like magic! (Yes, I know, it wasn’t quite that smooth…)
My relatively lower rating is mostly because I was overwhelmed with the number of new kinden & charaters and the amount of world-building the author needed to do in order to add the undersea world to the overall world of the Apt & Inapt.
February 17, 2024
This was attempt number 3 to read this book, and third time is the charm. I have...feelings.
Three parts to this book -
Part one is Stenwald attempting to uncover a potential conspiracy/string of crimes. Great stuff, Sten reminds us all how amazing he is.
Part two is the underwater world of the sea-kinden. It's rough. It's boring. It feels like an unnecessary world building decision that, for me, bore no fruit. Like the author saw a bug in water and ran with it, with us helplessly in tow. Not for me.
Part three is the culmination of the stories from parts one and two. And while not as good/strong as part one, it was a huge breath of fresh air after part two.
Big takeaway from the novel is this: Stenwald Maker needs to be in the discussion when people talk about all-time great characters in fantasy.
There was also a cool part at the end referencing just how far reaching the effects of war can be; I liked that.
Three parts to this book -
Part one is Stenwald attempting to uncover a potential conspiracy/string of crimes. Great stuff, Sten reminds us all how amazing he is.
Part two is the underwater world of the sea-kinden. It's rough. It's boring. It feels like an unnecessary world building decision that, for me, bore no fruit. Like the author saw a bug in water and ran with it, with us helplessly in tow. Not for me.
Part three is the culmination of the stories from parts one and two. And while not as good/strong as part one, it was a huge breath of fresh air after part two.
Big takeaway from the novel is this: Stenwald Maker needs to be in the discussion when people talk about all-time great characters in fantasy.
There was also a cool part at the end referencing just how far reaching the effects of war can be; I liked that.
March 7, 2022
I love Stenwold Maker of the Collegium and he had to carry this book on his Beetle-kinden shoulders all the way to the not-so-bitter end. This is one of those mid-series books that totally expands the world but is a little too long for its own good. Also, several amazing characters were absent but at least we got a horde of new ones.
Overall, I really enjoyed meeting the sea-kinden. I also love Tchaikovsky can be suddenly devastating when the need arises.
Overall, I really enjoyed meeting the sea-kinden. I also love Tchaikovsky can be suddenly devastating when the need arises.
January 13, 2024
Probably my favorite one so far. Everything Tchaikovsky built up in previous books reaps a lot of rewards here with the world building, politics, characters while he expands the scope in interesting ways. Some beautiful visuals in this one too. Looking forward to the next book even though everyone I know hates it
February 21, 2024
3.5. Still really enjoyed, just jarred by the extreme pivot in the middle section of the book. Recovered by the end however and am still greatly enjoying this series and world
October 17, 2012
Took me a while to get going on, this one. While it's continuing the usual high standards I was jarred by the introduction of the sea kinden. As I've read in another review so am clearly not alone in thinking, after several books of slowly introducing a range of land-kinden you're suddenly slapped in the the face with a tentacle-load of new races with little time to explore them and instead you just dump them in with their equivalent land-kinden they're clearly related to. That it was so easy to do didn't help either since they didn't evolve much of their own as a result.
But mostly my issues were simply that, after the last book where we were taken to a completely new civilisation, we're thrown at one here. A little more blending of worlds would have worked much better for me rather than Stenwold suddenly out on his own and spending a lot of time being bounced around various parties. While I like the focus and drive of the series, this book actually dealt with matters too quickly and I can't help feeling the sub-plot of the sea-kinden could have been stretched over two books, sharing space with other situations and not just sealing Stenwold off in a brand new world for the majority of a book.
It's a gripe however, and I still enjoyed the book though I took twice as long to get around to reading it all, and certainly hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for the series.
But mostly my issues were simply that, after the last book where we were taken to a completely new civilisation, we're thrown at one here. A little more blending of worlds would have worked much better for me rather than Stenwold suddenly out on his own and spending a lot of time being bounced around various parties. While I like the focus and drive of the series, this book actually dealt with matters too quickly and I can't help feeling the sub-plot of the sea-kinden could have been stretched over two books, sharing space with other situations and not just sealing Stenwold off in a brand new world for the majority of a book.
It's a gripe however, and I still enjoyed the book though I took twice as long to get around to reading it all, and certainly hasn't dampened my enthusiasm for the series.
March 21, 2022
The Sea Watch is the second of three 'standalone' Apt novels that bridge the gap between the first Lowland War Arc (Books 1-4), and what I assume/imagine will be a second Lowland War Arc in Books 8-10.
Like Book 5, it takes on some unexpected adventures that may initially seem unrelated to the main plot, but are in fact adding building blocks of plotting that I imagine will be very important in the last few novels.
I was so very happy to be back with Stenwold - as much as he has a penchant for continually saying "I don't understand", he also has a unique ability to be just endearing enough (and tough enough) that no one kills him.
His adventures this time take him below the sea into the utterly fascinating world of the Sea Kinden. Wow, is all I can say - Tchaikovsky's imagination when it comes to world-building continues to rival any and all of his writing contemporaries. The world of the Sea Kinden was so interesting, so detailed, and honestly? So terrifying. The creativity shown here rivals what Tchaikovsky would later show off in Children of Time.
The character work and plotting are also pretty good, especially the growth of Teornis, previously more of a side character.
Overall a very good, and very underrated addition to a very good, VERY underrated Epic Fantasy series.
Like Book 5, it takes on some unexpected adventures that may initially seem unrelated to the main plot, but are in fact adding building blocks of plotting that I imagine will be very important in the last few novels.
I was so very happy to be back with Stenwold - as much as he has a penchant for continually saying "I don't understand", he also has a unique ability to be just endearing enough (and tough enough) that no one kills him.
His adventures this time take him below the sea into the utterly fascinating world of the Sea Kinden. Wow, is all I can say - Tchaikovsky's imagination when it comes to world-building continues to rival any and all of his writing contemporaries. The world of the Sea Kinden was so interesting, so detailed, and honestly? So terrifying. The creativity shown here rivals what Tchaikovsky would later show off in Children of Time.
The character work and plotting are also pretty good, especially the growth of Teornis, previously more of a side character.
Overall a very good, and very underrated addition to a very good, VERY underrated Epic Fantasy series.
May 1, 2019
It's a testament to this series that you can have a book with multiple perspectives, set over an expanse of different towns, cities and places - and then have another following pretty much only one character, but still have it feel as epic and enjoyable.
In this volume we are introduced to a whole host of different characters and kinden, numerous plots are uncovered and set in motion and a whole new world is discovered.
That's all I'm going to say plot wise!
I really like some of the new characters, and some of the old, returning characters.
Although I did really enjoy this book, I'm not going to lie, I really hope the next book follows a certain set of characters that joined forces in The Scarab Path (because one of them is my fave, and I'm really intrigued with their storyline and where they're going to go next!!)
One thing i would say though is that
In this volume we are introduced to a whole host of different characters and kinden, numerous plots are uncovered and set in motion and a whole new world is discovered.
That's all I'm going to say plot wise!
I really like some of the new characters, and some of the old, returning characters.
Although I did really enjoy this book, I'm not going to lie, I really hope the next book follows a certain set of characters that joined forces in The Scarab Path (because one of them is my fave, and I'm really intrigued with their storyline and where they're going to go next!!)
One thing i would say though is that
June 4, 2020
There are no more kinden you could possibly think of, Tchaikovsky. We're at book 6, and you've pulled out Moth Cricket-kinden, Grasshopper-kinden, Roach-kinden, even Stink Bug-kinden. Until the opening scene of The Sea Watch, where a hulking Space Marine wearing stone armor emerges from the water. Oh, shit. I guess crustaceans really are basically sea bugs, aren't they? Tchaikovsky throws Stenwold Maker under wave and out of his depth — literally. The bottom of the sea is equal parts beautiful and horrific, as one might expect. Ethereal Jellyfish-kinden, poisonous Anemone-kinden and deadly Urchin-kinden appear and heighten the sense of strange. There's a lot of love here, and I feel like Tchaikovsky has grown as a prose author in leaps and bounds since the first book as well. What could have felt like a filler book between the story of Collegium and The Empire is handled deftly and engagingly. Who indeed knows what lives beneath the sea?
June 25, 2016
Loved this book and love the series. It keeps going from strength to strength. This book focus' on a new threat. This time from the sea! And guess who is in the middle of it? Stenwold of course. Did he save the Collegium from the Wasp empire only to lose it to the Seakind or the Spiders?
This book is full of non stop action, intrigue and plot twists. A whole host of new characters are introduced in this book with such flair that they feel like old friends or long standing enemies. Some of the old crew are back to keep life interesting as well.
I normally find that by now a series is starting to slow down or get so convoluted you cant remember who is who and what is going on. Not in this case. For me a least, it has been one of those books that keeps you saying 'just one more chapter'. Can't wait for the next one.
This book is full of non stop action, intrigue and plot twists. A whole host of new characters are introduced in this book with such flair that they feel like old friends or long standing enemies. Some of the old crew are back to keep life interesting as well.
I normally find that by now a series is starting to slow down or get so convoluted you cant remember who is who and what is going on. Not in this case. For me a least, it has been one of those books that keeps you saying 'just one more chapter'. Can't wait for the next one.
October 1, 2024
Maybe 3.75 stars because I like other books in the series better. It's a Tchaikovsky, therefore the book is wonderful as always.
October 4, 2024
This entry in the Shadows of the Apt series was enormously creative. Tchaikovsky continues to expand the kinden world and explore new areas and new characters while broadening our understanding of key characters and their growth. There were a few sections where the writing wasn't as strong, I think because the author was so focused on creative, complex world building.
This book centers on Stenwold Maker, the War Master and lecturer at Collegium. We learn that pirates have been attacking ships more heavily, cutting deeply into merchant profits. Renes Failwright, a merchant, seeks help from Stenwold but Sten feels this is outside of his pervue. However, after some thought, he decides to look into the matter. Meanwhile, Failwright is brutally murdered and disappears. Sten agrees to meet with Teornis, of the Aldenrael family, on a barge at sea, to come to an agreement about the reach of the pirates. Sten's lover, Arianna comes too, as well as several Mantis Kinden.
During the meeting, a giant octopus, Arkeuthys, drags Sten, his helper Lazlo, and Teornis down into the ocean. As he is taken, Danaen the Mantis, whips out her sword, killing several including Arianna.
Sten, Laszlo, and Teornis awaken inside a sea kinden world, ruled by the jealous, angry Claeon. We also meet Rosander, a leader of one faction who dreams of going ashore and ruling the land, Mandir, head of the Hot Stations which is somewhat a factory, and Nemoctes, leader of the Pelagists, a group of wandering sea kinden. The three land kinden are put in prison where they meet Paladrya, a former lover of Claeon and tutor to his nephew, Aradocles whom she smuggled to land to protect him years ago. Enemies of Claeon want to find Aradocles and bring him back to rule in his uncle's place.
We learn that the Sea kinden have adapted well to living in the sea, but they are fragmented into several groups, are poorly led, and have little technology. Their homes are built by the Archetoi, who use found items to build and build according to their will. Other groups include the Kerebroi (primarily rulers), the Onychoi (known as people of the claw, often warriors), the Polypoi (wanderers), the Medusoi (people who travel the sea), the Gastroi (the farmers and low level workers), and the Echinoi (group who survive by periodically attacking the settlements). Many believe that the land is a dangerous and deadly place. Also, many just accept life as they have made it, instead of seeking change.
Sten and Laszlo flounder about, feeling weak and disoriented in this new place. They are helped by Wys and Phyllis, who are bold and somewhat independent. Teornis on the other hand, works quickly to ally himself to Claeon, claiming he will help Claeon to get his own way. It was very interesting to see various land kinden try to adapt to new situations.
Sten meets an enchantress under the sea, Lyess, who tries to put a love spell on him and control him for selfish purposes. But Sten agrees to search for Aradocles to help Paladrya and Nemoctes. Meanwhile, Teornis promises to hunt down Aradocles for Claeon. Sten brings with him a small group of sea kinden to help, who find themselves lost in the land kinden world.
When Sten and Teornis get to land, they go to an out of the way city, Princep Salmae, where Sten's student Salma had set up a base. The city is full of Roach and Spider kinden, both of whom are scavengers and con artists. Aradocles is hiding in the castle, helping the woman formerly known as Grief in Chains, now the Monarch. When Sten gets to him and explains the problems in the sea, Aradocles agrees to go fight for his place as leader. We discover that a prominent assembly man, Helmess Broiler, has been working with some sea kinden to undermine Collegium. Also, a wasp leader, Aagon, is investigating Princep.
Sten calls for a meeting with Rosander, after confronting Broiler about his duplicity. Sten cleverly takes Rosander in an airship and shows him how vast the land is, to show that Rosander's plan to take the land is futile given the realities. Then Sten decides to accompany Aradocles undersea where the opposition quickly crumbles. .
In the end, Sten confronts the spider-Aldenrael family and threatens the destruction of their fleet if they do not back away from Collegium. Sten is really in his element negotiating with various leaders, to bring them to reason or change their course.
The strength of this book is the variety of personalities and methods of adapting to their environments. Some kinden work with living creatures under the sea. And some sea kinden have art to create intricate decorative gold and paper creations. Lyess, though obsessed and misled, brings in elements of magic. While a few good characters die in the various clashes, we do see the crooked and selfish leaders getting their just desserts. And there are hints of things to come.
This book centers on Stenwold Maker, the War Master and lecturer at Collegium. We learn that pirates have been attacking ships more heavily, cutting deeply into merchant profits. Renes Failwright, a merchant, seeks help from Stenwold but Sten feels this is outside of his pervue. However, after some thought, he decides to look into the matter. Meanwhile, Failwright is brutally murdered and disappears. Sten agrees to meet with Teornis, of the Aldenrael family, on a barge at sea, to come to an agreement about the reach of the pirates. Sten's lover, Arianna comes too, as well as several Mantis Kinden.
During the meeting, a giant octopus, Arkeuthys, drags Sten, his helper Lazlo, and Teornis down into the ocean. As he is taken, Danaen the Mantis, whips out her sword, killing several including Arianna.
Sten, Laszlo, and Teornis awaken inside a sea kinden world, ruled by the jealous, angry Claeon. We also meet Rosander, a leader of one faction who dreams of going ashore and ruling the land, Mandir, head of the Hot Stations which is somewhat a factory, and Nemoctes, leader of the Pelagists, a group of wandering sea kinden. The three land kinden are put in prison where they meet Paladrya, a former lover of Claeon and tutor to his nephew, Aradocles whom she smuggled to land to protect him years ago. Enemies of Claeon want to find Aradocles and bring him back to rule in his uncle's place.
We learn that the Sea kinden have adapted well to living in the sea, but they are fragmented into several groups, are poorly led, and have little technology. Their homes are built by the Archetoi, who use found items to build and build according to their will. Other groups include the Kerebroi (primarily rulers), the Onychoi (known as people of the claw, often warriors), the Polypoi (wanderers), the Medusoi (people who travel the sea), the Gastroi (the farmers and low level workers), and the Echinoi (group who survive by periodically attacking the settlements). Many believe that the land is a dangerous and deadly place. Also, many just accept life as they have made it, instead of seeking change.
Sten and Laszlo flounder about, feeling weak and disoriented in this new place. They are helped by Wys and Phyllis, who are bold and somewhat independent. Teornis on the other hand, works quickly to ally himself to Claeon, claiming he will help Claeon to get his own way. It was very interesting to see various land kinden try to adapt to new situations.
Sten meets an enchantress under the sea, Lyess, who tries to put a love spell on him and control him for selfish purposes. But Sten agrees to search for Aradocles to help Paladrya and Nemoctes. Meanwhile, Teornis promises to hunt down Aradocles for Claeon. Sten brings with him a small group of sea kinden to help, who find themselves lost in the land kinden world.
When Sten and Teornis get to land, they go to an out of the way city, Princep Salmae, where Sten's student Salma had set up a base. The city is full of Roach and Spider kinden, both of whom are scavengers and con artists. Aradocles is hiding in the castle, helping the woman formerly known as Grief in Chains, now the Monarch. When Sten gets to him and explains the problems in the sea, Aradocles agrees to go fight for his place as leader. We discover that a prominent assembly man, Helmess Broiler, has been working with some sea kinden to undermine Collegium. Also, a wasp leader, Aagon, is investigating Princep.
Sten calls for a meeting with Rosander, after confronting Broiler about his duplicity. Sten cleverly takes Rosander in an airship and shows him how vast the land is, to show that Rosander's plan to take the land is futile given the realities. Then Sten decides to accompany Aradocles undersea where the opposition quickly crumbles. .
In the end, Sten confronts the spider-Aldenrael family and threatens the destruction of their fleet if they do not back away from Collegium. Sten is really in his element negotiating with various leaders, to bring them to reason or change their course.
The strength of this book is the variety of personalities and methods of adapting to their environments. Some kinden work with living creatures under the sea. And some sea kinden have art to create intricate decorative gold and paper creations. Lyess, though obsessed and misled, brings in elements of magic. While a few good characters die in the various clashes, we do see the crooked and selfish leaders getting their just desserts. And there are hints of things to come.
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