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vipersinapit's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and War
Moderate: Racism
uhtceara's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
forroan's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.0
I didn’t think another book in a series about the same war with the same people could hold my attention but I’m so invested and might actually read this whole series (a rarity for me)…we’ll see
katpavlikova's review against another edition
4.0
Jsem se utvrdila v tom, že tohle je zase jednou fantasy svět, pro který se dá dýchat. Válka už neklepe na dveře, už vstoupila, vše se komplikuje, znepřátelené rasy musí spolupracovat, pokud chtějí mít šanci uspět. Baví mě to velmi a těším se, co bude dál.
hecticpanda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
canopyhawk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
pureferret's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
pezski's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
I'm very much enjoying the Shadows of the Apt series. While perhaps not quite as well written as Tchaikovsky's later work (there is the occasional clumsiness, and I did start rolling my eyes at the number of times swords went in "to the hilt") the plotting and characterisation is excellent - and the world-building, I love in particular that there is much of the world that is unknown to even the most knowledgeable and well-travelled person.
In this second volume, the Wasp empire encounters the Spiderlands, about whom they know nothing and seems more than a match for them. It felt perhaps like the Romans suddenly butting up to the Seleucid/Parthian empires, the first time they encountered another true world power, one which they would never conquer. The author gives us huge battles, intrigue, treachery, along with personal tragedy and often heart-breaking moments of personal conscience.
I was switching between the paperback and audiobook, and must say that Ben Allen's reading is amongst the best I've come across. He is clearly a classically trained actor, with a superb pacing and delivery, but the voicework is truly extraordinary - the decision to give particular accents to the various factions is perfect, and perfectly executed. So, the Beetles are solid Yorkshiremen, the Spiders upper-class American, right out of Gatsby, the Wasps cut-glass English received pronunciation, and the genius of making the Mantids Northern Irish is exceptional. The only "race" that seems to vary are the Ants, who live in discrete city-states mostly at war with each other - one lot are Lancastrian, another Brummie, the late-arriving Fire Ants a more down-home, working-class US accent. Within these, Allen has the skill to voice several different characters with a subtle variance that keeps the accent but distinguishes the character.
I'm reading this series with Beyond Reality group on Goodreads, and we're reading a volume each month, so will be jumping into part 3, Blood of the Mantis, in a couple of weeks.
In this second volume, the Wasp empire encounters the Spiderlands, about whom they know nothing and seems more than a match for them. It felt perhaps like the Romans suddenly butting up to the Seleucid/Parthian empires, the first time they encountered another true world power, one which they would never conquer. The author gives us huge battles, intrigue, treachery, along with personal tragedy and often heart-breaking moments of personal conscience.
I was switching between the paperback and audiobook, and must say that Ben Allen's reading is amongst the best I've come across. He is clearly a classically trained actor, with a superb pacing and delivery, but the voicework is truly extraordinary - the decision to give particular accents to the various factions is perfect, and perfectly executed. So, the Beetles are solid Yorkshiremen, the Spiders upper-class American, right out of Gatsby, the Wasps cut-glass English received pronunciation, and the genius of making the Mantids Northern Irish is exceptional. The only "race" that seems to vary are the Ants, who live in discrete city-states mostly at war with each other - one lot are Lancastrian, another Brummie, the late-arriving Fire Ants a more down-home, working-class US accent. Within these, Allen has the skill to voice several different characters with a subtle variance that keeps the accent but distinguishes the character.
I'm reading this series with Beyond Reality group on Goodreads, and we're reading a volume each month, so will be jumping into part 3, Blood of the Mantis, in a couple of weeks.
katmarhan's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
9.5/10
A lot happens in this second book of the Shadows of the Apt series: the author sheds more insight into the strengths and failings of the various kinden, includes plenty of intrigue and action, and introduces challenges that are both personal to individual characters and broader to groups of allies and even cities. I think however, there are layers to several kinden that have yet to be peeled away and revealed.
Several characters end up sorely tested and grievously wounded, yet none have died. While I don’t like to see characters killed off needlessly, neither do I think they should survive when they realistically shouldn’t.
Several of the main characters appear to be outliers of their kinden, loners, outsiders, even outcasts. I find that commonality intriguing, but I hope the author doesn’t overuse it.
A lot happens in this second book of the Shadows of the Apt series: the author sheds more insight into the strengths and failings of the various kinden, includes plenty of intrigue and action, and introduces challenges that are both personal to individual characters and broader to groups of allies and even cities. I think however, there are layers to several kinden that have yet to be peeled away and revealed.
Several of the main characters appear to be outliers of their kinden, loners, outsiders, even outcasts. I find that commonality intriguing, but I hope the author doesn’t overuse it.