Potential Spoilers Ahead: Dragonfly Falling is the 2nd 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 book. I’ve tried to keep those spoilers to a minimum, but you have been warned.
The Wasp Empire’s armies are on the move. The city of Tark will be first to feel their might, now preparing for siege. And within its walls, Salma and Totho will take a stand alongside their Ant-kinden brethren. But they’ll face weaponry and numbers such as the Lowlands have never seen.
Meanwhile, the Empire’s secret service has deemed Stenwold Maker too dangerous to live. So Major Thalric is dispatched to eliminate Stenwold and destroy his beloved city of Collegium. For if this centre of learning is lost, it will crush all hope of intelligent resistance.
As the Empire’s troops continue their relentless advance, their young Emperor pursues another, even darker goal. His success would trigger a reign of blood lasting a thousand years.
Summary: Dragonfly Falling by Adrian Tchaikovsky is the second book in his Shadows of the Apt series, and builds excellently upon the foundations laid in the first book. More effectively than the first book, it balances setup and action in equal measure, and gives many of the best characters from Empire in Black and Gold a chance to shine.
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