Customer Reviews

Salute the Dark (Shadows of the Apt, Book 4)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Salute the Dark" is the 4th book in the 'Shadows of the Apt' series by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The paper back edition in 325 pages in length...the Kindle version 480 pages.

The characters of the Apt world in this series, although human, have special abilities related to the insect class, e.g. wasps, dragonfly, moths, beetles etc. Each 'species' has its own strength and weaknesses, i.e. good at some things...poor at other. The human Wasp kindred for example, are aggressive, have a lethal 'sting' but are poor socially and depend on other to supply their needs. Similarly, others species have their own 'traits'.

*SPOILER*

After 3 books of persistent aggression towards the 'Lowlands' and 'Commonweal' territories, the Wasp Empire seems poised to push ahead with the final attack and conquer the last remaining bastions of freedom in the cities of Collegium, Sarn and Solarno. However, clandestine plotting has become rampant throughout the Wasp Empire...not only are there ripplings of strife within the Wasp hierarchy, but also a subtle groundswell of resistance is growing in some previously conquered lands. A climate, ripe for changes is apparent.

*END SPOILER*

I described Adrian Tchaikovsky's second book "Dragonfly Falling" as one of the best second books of a series I've ever read. And this book is no different...an intriguing story with a host of interesting people. And although the book is not all fighting and explicit action, there always seemed to be lots going on to captivate the readers interest...I found nothing boring or unduly dragged out in this novel. This book follows in a sequential fashion the gradual development of circumstances in the major cities of Collegium, Sarn, Solarno, Myna and Capitas (the Wasp capital) and a few smaller, yet important areas, as well.

But more than just a tale and its characters, the thing that impresses me most about this author's work is his sense of pace and timing that he uses to develop his story and important people. I found I tended to bond with some of the main characters and looked forward to returning to their part of the story.

The are two maps (although the Kindle edition map is 'fuzzy' and a little difficult to make out in parts) of the area that are more than adequate to let the reader know the geographic locales of the story. They also give the reader a sense of distances between important sites. I really appreciate good mapping in these type of fantasy/adventures.

Conclusion:
Anyone liking the previous books in this series will, I'm certain, like this latest effort. The story in well written, reads easily and has a sense of the dramatic about to happen, that makes it hard to put down. Superb pacing! 5 Stars.

Ray Nicholson

Spring has come, and the war for the Lowlands has resumed. A freshly-reinforced Wasp army is marching on Sarn, whilst a newly-assembled force is preparing to assault the Mantis-held woodland of Felyal and clear the coast route to Collegium. With the chances of victory hanging in the balance, Stenwold Maker embarks on a daring diplomatic mission to the Dragonfly Commonweal, hoping to convince them to attack the Wasp Empire whilst their attention is elsewhere. Meanwhile, Nero and Taki are returning to the Exalsee to try and arrange the liberation of Solarno.

Elsewhere, other events are coming to a head. Tisamon's path leads him to Capitas for an attempt on the Wasp Emperor's life. Uctebri, now master of the Shadow Box, is preparing for the culmination of his own plans. And Cheerwell sees an opportunity to tear apart the Empire from within, but finds that old allies now see her as a deadly enemy and traitor...

Salute the Dark is the fourth book in the Shadows of the Apt series and whilst it isn't the conclusion of the whole series (which will run for ten books), it is the culmination of the first major story arc. Enough closure is given here so that the reader can pause before reading the next book in the series (Books 5-7 form a trilogy of their own within the larger series). Events that Tchaikovsky has been laying the ground for since the first book finally take place and some questionable earlier storytelling decisions are here explained fully. Whilst there's a large amount of military activity going on in the fourth volume, it isn't as overwhelmed by it as the second book was, and there is a good mix between the war scenes, character-building and political intrigue. Thalric's return to the centre of attention is well-handled, and characters like Cheerwell, Tisamon and Salma are all developed impressively.

The main startling thing about Salute the Dark is the death toll. Perhaps aware that the number of characters was getting extremely large, Tchaikovsky takes a scythe to the cast with enthusiasm, killing off major and minor characters in a bloodbath that even George R.R. Martin might find a tad excessive. This gives rise to a genuine feeling of unpredictability and tension as you don't know who's going to be offed next. Some of the deaths fall a little flat, as they're minor characters who haven't had much screen-time, but there's enough major ones to be surprising.

The book's conclusion is well-handled, giving a good explanation for the pause in hostilities whilst laying just enough groundwork for future stories to make you want to pick up the next book without being left on a tedious cliffhanger.

Salute the Dark (****) is the best book in the series to date, featuring impressive developments in the story, the worldbuilding and characters. It is available now in the UK and USA.

I enjoyed the book. Salute the Dark ended the way it should and in a way that doesnt leave you feeling like you got robbed of a decent ending. Yes, decent and yes good fun.
Looking forward to seeing if any of the loose ends are going to be the kickoff point for a new series.
Good Job, thoroughly enjoyed the book.

This 4th entry in the Shadow of the Apt series was extremely well written. Unlike some fantasy series which concentrate on either battles or character develop, this novel (and series) ably combines both. It is fascinating to read how the author creates human/insect characters. There are twists, conclusions and much to look forward to in the next entries in this series.

I have read fantasy for over 35 years and this series ranks as one of the best, if not the best, I have ever encountered.

This was a pretty good finish for a series that has for the most part been top notch all along. I will agree with some of the reviews I saw that it does feel kind of rushed right at the end. Like the author had to get finished under a certain amount of pages, and realized he wasn't going to be able to do it. Not that the quality of the writing suffers much if at all, but it just feels like you're being pulled along in the story, instead of being in the midst of it. The series itself was amazing, I'd recommend to any fantasy fans to go and buy the first book, "An Empire in Black and Gold". It's unique, and will really draw you in.

The Shadows of the Apt book series is an engaging and well-plotted series. The author creates engaging characters who each have their own, believable motivations that guide their actions. There are no characters that are just evil for evil's sake, or good for good's sake. All of his characters, for good or ill, operate from enlightened self-interest. The actions and events in the series are, for the most part, well written and you get sucked into the action thoroughly.

That being sad, this book suffers a bit because so many aspects of the plot are wound not into a temporary solution but a final one. Heroes and Villains die, armies are defeated, independence is won and lost and the question of whether Collegium will rise or fall is resolved... for the near future. Because so many events are carried to a conclusion some of them have to get short shrift. Battles that would have consumed chapters in other books are only reflected on as after-thoughts by those that saw them, but it would have been impossible to give us the level of detail we've previously had and bring things to a close.

For fans of the series, you're going to buy this book, and you'll enjoy it... but the author has shown that in this world there are few happy endings, and those few are paid for in a full price of blood. You may want to keep that in mind as the end of the book approaches.

The fourth book in the Shadows of the Apt series brings a resolution to many story lines and character arcs including the big Wasp conflict started with Empire in Black and Gold. I've been loving this series and this arc ender didn't let me down. It still didn't bring me back to the high that was Dragonfly Falling, but it made everything I've read up to now worth all the time spent, which is what should happen in a long running series. With more Shadows of the Apt books on the way I'm eager to see where Tchaikovsky takes the series from here. Highly recommended.

I believe the author made a big mistake. If you haven't read the book to the end, please stop here. I have invested alot of time reading the series and I was disappointed in the end. Many of the characters I liked have died. I don't understand the facination with Che the author has but I am not a big fan of hers. Salma and Tisamon are much more interesting characters. I will no longer be purchasing the subsequent books although it WAS a good concept. I say WAS because once you introduce guns, the sword fighting becomes moot.

The armies of the Wasp Empire continue their ruthless conquest of the other nations. Their prime opponent is Stenwald, but though he and his Lowlander allies have had some success slowing down the blitzkrieg (see Blood of the Mantis), conquest by the belligerent Wasp Empire seems inevitable. Ironically under their iron rule, the various Lowlander entities would be forced to cooperate; however, although still free none of the at-risk kinden trusts the other sects.

Meanwhile inside the Wasp Empire where technology has recently superseded magic unlike their weaker neighbors, vampiric sorcerer Uctebri incongruously uses the Shadow Box to stealthily control the ruler. As the combat turns bloodier, the certainty of the outcome appears very lucid even to a wary frustrated Stenwald who has learned sometimes the good guys fail.

The latest Shadows of the Apt military fantasy is a fabulous entry as the overarching theme moves forward while individuals find out the hard way that good intentions are meaningless in the heat of battle as the bad guys are winning. Action-packed with a clear stunning cause and effect consequences, readers will relish Adrian Tchaikovsky's strong tale.

Harriet Klausner

I was disappointed with the writing in Salute the Dark. The entire 'Shadows of the Apt' series is highly reliant on battle and warfare as climactic occurrences that drive the storyline. This book attempts to continues in that tradition, unfortunately it appears that the author was forced to 'hurry' up the story and there are so many battles in this book that you lose track of them.

What is terrible is that quite a few of the lowland battles read like a middle-grade boring history essay. Most of them describe 'what happened' after the battle got over - it's like reading a dry Wikipedia entry. [X and Y met at so date, X did this, Y did that, X beat Y]. This is a horrible way to write - one needs to write what is happening from the point of view of the characters involved. It gives the impression that the author was lazy and didn't want to develop any characters who actually experienced those battles.

To be fair to the author - Shadows of the Apt is an *extremely* original fantasy series and the other books prior to this were very good. But it looks as if burnout is commencing. I am not sure, perhaps the author needs to take more time and write a bit slower instead of rushing to print.