sharkiereads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
kodermike's review against another edition
4.0
Before I even get into my review of this book, I should explain my past with this series. I first tried getting into the Shadows of the Apt series when book one, "Empire in Black and Gold," came out - tried, and failed. I thought the ideas were interesting, but the execution was a little too predictable even for me, and I gave up. I watched as successive novels came out, each one sounding awesome. I even read a few short stories set in this world of the Apt, but I never tried to go back to the full series.
And then book five fell into my hands. I could still remember the characters and world setting from the first book, but would that be enough for me to get through "The Scarab Path"? Just barely, and now I know I've missed out on some awesome reading. Comparing book one to book five, it's easy to see Tchaikovsky's growth and maturation as a writer. The action scenes are well paced, and there are plenty of them. But this isn't just an excuse to chronicle some series of RPG born campaigns - there is no want on violence, and every scene serves to further the plot.
The only drawback of this novel is that it doesn't work as a stand alone story. If you've only read the back covers of the other four in the series, you know about the rise of the Wasp empire, and how by the end of book four the Wasps were halted, at least for now. In that respect, this novel is a new direction for the series. But without at least a basic familiarity of the cast involved, the Scarab Path would be confusing to navigate. Many names are just casually referred to, even when critical to the plot. In this novel we bring back Che and Thalric as our principal view point characters, with a mix of new and old supporting cast to round out the story narration. The story is set in the distant city of Khanaphes, a city consigned to myth where a strange kinden of beetles live their lives according to the laws of their mysteriously absent Masters. Che is there to find answers to the confusing questions she was left with at the end of the last book. And where Che goes, others will follow, all suspecting secret strategy in her visit to such a remote corner of the Nem desert.
"The Scarab Path" was a good read that kept me up late reading often. Its always fun to read a book that is so stock full of high magic (the Art of the Apt can be described no other way) but where the characters are blind to it, seeing only the fantastical of the rare low (Inapt)magic. A wonderful blend of steampunk and epic fantasy, "The Scarab Path" makes a good addition to the Shadows of the Apt series.
And then book five fell into my hands. I could still remember the characters and world setting from the first book, but would that be enough for me to get through "The Scarab Path"? Just barely, and now I know I've missed out on some awesome reading. Comparing book one to book five, it's easy to see Tchaikovsky's growth and maturation as a writer. The action scenes are well paced, and there are plenty of them. But this isn't just an excuse to chronicle some series of RPG born campaigns - there is no want on violence, and every scene serves to further the plot.
The only drawback of this novel is that it doesn't work as a stand alone story. If you've only read the back covers of the other four in the series, you know about the rise of the Wasp empire, and how by the end of book four the Wasps were halted, at least for now. In that respect, this novel is a new direction for the series. But without at least a basic familiarity of the cast involved, the Scarab Path would be confusing to navigate. Many names are just casually referred to, even when critical to the plot. In this novel we bring back Che and Thalric as our principal view point characters, with a mix of new and old supporting cast to round out the story narration. The story is set in the distant city of Khanaphes, a city consigned to myth where a strange kinden of beetles live their lives according to the laws of their mysteriously absent Masters. Che is there to find answers to the confusing questions she was left with at the end of the last book. And where Che goes, others will follow, all suspecting secret strategy in her visit to such a remote corner of the Nem desert.
"The Scarab Path" was a good read that kept me up late reading often. Its always fun to read a book that is so stock full of high magic (the Art of the Apt can be described no other way) but where the characters are blind to it, seeing only the fantastical of the rare low (Inapt)magic. A wonderful blend of steampunk and epic fantasy, "The Scarab Path" makes a good addition to the Shadows of the Apt series.
hallucigenia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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? Yes
2.75
tornadical's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
brents's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
This wasn't perfect, but I think it is my favorite since book 2. Whereas books 3 and 4 expanded things really fast and kind of lacked depth in the characters I was most interested in this book really focuses in on just a few characters and I enjoyed that. Also it still expands the world as we go to a new place. More importantly though this book really starts getting deeper into the lore of the world and the magic. While I was somewhat frustrated through the first 3 parts because I wasn't hooked by the plot happenings part 4 was really really good and brought it home. I'm not sure how I feel about a couple of the choices at the end, but it was nothing that ruined anything for me. I'm excited to read the next one.
ariaslibrary's review against another edition
4.0
‘Strength,’ Hrathen explained. ‘Power is all they value – the power of the arm’s reach. If I had cried foul when they took the supplies and killed the men, they would have turned on me. To run with them, you must live as they do, believe as they do. But if you can run faster than they, kill more swiftly, carry more spoils, care less, dare more, then they will welcome you in and make you theirs, without care for either kinden or blood.’
“The Scarab Path” is the fifth instalment in the Shadows of the Apt series. It is the first book of the second arc in the series and in terms of content, it is more of a contained story.
With a tentative truce between the cities of the lowlands and with the Empire, there is ‘peace’ despite the problems arising due to years of prejudice. The story surrounds the city of Khanaphes, a place supposedly housing inapt beetles. Ah Khanaphes, the majestic, the mysterious.
‘Anyone who took you away from here, while you bear that mark, would never trade here again, or ever be welcome. They carve their memories in stone here. They never forget. I could pass my ship on three times, and neither she nor I could put in safely at this port again, nor my sons, nor theirs.’
Still grieving the loss of her lover, Che feels like she is slowly losing her mind. She seems to have lost her Apt abilities and when she learns of Khanaphes, she takes her uncle’s advice and leads a group of scholars to the mysterious city to investigate. And for a city full of inapt beetles, this is a chance to understand what’s happening to her. I have a complicated relationship with Che. Individually she is an interesting character but when put together with Thalric and Totho, she can be a little overshadowed. Still, she bloomed in this book and I’m interested to see where she goes.
So Che wore red, and thus caused public comment. She wore a tunic of deep wine colours edged with black, or else black arrowed with resistance scarlet. Even though she also wore a Moth cape of grey sometimes, nobody realized that she was mourning.
Thalric was a major character in this book. Now Consort to Empress Seda, he lives his life in fear though he cannot show it. The Rekef do not trust him, he’s living under Seda’s thumb and he finds it suffocating. When he learns of Khanaphes, he convinces General Brugan to let him lead a team there. Thalric has clearly changed and I’m not sure I like it. I want him to be a baddie. It sounds wrong when I say this, but he became soft and I don’t like it.
We are introduced to Captain Hrathen of the Imperial Slave Corps, of the Rekef. He is a half-breed, one part being Scorpion, and to earn redemption, he is given the job to make an ally and arm the Many of Nem, Scorpion kinden, to lay siege and take over Khanaphes. The Scorpion kinden were a definite interesting addition.
They have no concept of foul play, he thought. No codes of honour, no complex laws – no noble savages here. All they have is a fierce respect for strength in all its forms, and that includes cleverness.
Whenever Totho appears, he always steals the show. I love his character so much. His character arc is so fascinating to me. His ingenious mind and inventions, even his insecurities and flaws. I just love him so much. Whenever I read about his achievements, him doing all that he couldn’t do in Collegium because of his half-breed status, I cry in pride. Stick it to em Totho! I’m rooting for you.
‘We of the Iron Glove are well known as traders, and wealthy ones. We become targets, by land or sea. We show them in exchange that we who sell war can use what we trade in. That way they will soon realize that we always fight, and that any attacks will cost them more than they could ever gain from us.’
titusfortner's review against another edition
3.0
This book advances the overall plot in one important way, but feels like it is mostly treading water. After the major changes in the previous book, this feels more of a return to the slow burn of a long series.
weemadando's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
5.0