Potential Spoilers Ahead: Blood of the Mantis is the 3rd book in the Shadows of the Apt series. As such, the blurb for this book and the following review will inevitably have some level of spoilers for the previous books. I’ve tried to keep those spoilers to a minimum, but you have been warned.
Achaeos the seer has tracked the stolen Shadow Box to the marsh-town of Jerez, driven by the ghosts of the legendary Darakyon. But he has only days before this magical artifact will be lost to him forever . . .
Meanwhile, the Empire’s dread forces are mustering for their next great offensive. Stenwold and followers have only a short time to gather allies, before the enemy’s soldiers march again – conquering everything in their path. If Stenwold cannot hold them back, the hated black and gold flag will fly over every city in the Lowlands before the year’s end.
And should the Shadow Box fall into the hands of the power-mad Emperor, nothing will save the world from his relentless ambition.
Summary: Blood of the Mantis by Adrian Tchaikovsky is the third book in the Shadows of the Apt series, and frankly a little disappointing after the highs of Dragonfly Falling. While it is still perfectly readable, the book felt mostly full of detours and setup for events to come.
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Writings of a Doomscribe 