Scarab Path (Shadows of the Apt 5) [Paperback]

Adrian Tchaikovsky (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 480 pages
• Publisher: Pyr (2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0330511459
• ISBN-13: 978-0330511452
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,444,892 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire before heading off to Reading to study psychology and zoology. For reasons unclear even to himself he subsequently ended up in law and has worked as a legal executive in both Reading and Leeds, where he now lives. Married, he is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor, has trained in stage-fighting, and keeps no exotic or dangerous pets of any kind, possibly excepting his son. Catch up with Adrian at www.shadowsoftheapt.com for further information about both himself and the insect-kinden, together with bonus material including short stories and artwork. Author Website: http://shadowsoftheapt.com/

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Arguably, the best book in the series so far., November 15, 2010

By 

R. Nicholson - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Scarab Path (Shadows of the Apt 5) (Paperback)

"The Scarab Path" is the 5th book in the 'Shadows of the Apt' series by Adrian Tchaikovsky. The Kindle e-book and softcover books are both 480 pages in length.

The main focus of this book is Che and Thalric (Wasp secret service). There are other familiar figures (as well as some new ones) from previous books, that sprinkle the character list, but in a somewhat lesser capacity.

*SPOILER*

Collegium's representative, Kadro, in the remote virtually forgotten city of Khanaphes (far eastern territories), has suddenly and unexpectedly gone missing. Master Stenwold Maker of the Lowlands, decides to send his niece, Che to go there as Collegium's new ambassador and try to find out what has happened.

Kanaphes as it turns out, is a city living in the past...very backward; resisting any and all attempts to get it or its citizens into the modern era. However, when Che gets there she finds her old arch enemy (quasi-ally) Thalric has arrived a few days before her. Together, in an uneasy alliance, they slowly begin to realize that all in not quite normal or as benign as it appears on the surface of this ancient metropolis. In addition, just to complicate matters, an old enemy of Khanaphes, the Scorpian desert tribes, decides to attack its long time foe (with the help, not unexpectedly, of a contingent from the Wasp Empire).

*END SPOILER*

Again, as with previous books in this series, Tchaikovsky is able, through adept writing, blend a fascinating story, featuring non-stop intrigue and clandestine plotting. The story and its mysteries slowly unfold leading up to immense and prolonged siege/battle at the end and some startling revelations about Khanaphes and its past.

I liked Tchaikovsky's frequent use of italics to convey characters inner most thoughts and thinking (while often verbalizing something completely different). This technique really helps with character development and gives the reader a deeper, more personal relationship with many of the main-players.

Again two good maps, however the Kindle edition maps are somewhat blurry and because of this, getting exact names and placements of locales was somewhat more difficult that expected.

Conclusion:
This is a magnificent story...arguably one of the best of this series. It's not often I've read books that are able to hold the readers attention consistantly throughout the entire work (and in fact, this applies to the entire series)...this, however is one of those books. 5 Stars.

Ray Nicholson

5.0 out of 5 stars This book made my day!, July 5, 2011

By 

Urticating Setae - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Scarab Path (Shadows of the Apt, Book 5) (Paperback)

I enjoyed the desert theme as well as more details about the various kinden who populate this fantastic world. Everything from the violence to the mysteries was done in a trademark style. My only regret is that they killed one of the characters I was really looking forward to seeing more of! I won't spoil it by saying who!

4.0 out of 5 stars Riveting, awesome - but not a good place to jump into the series, May 27, 2011

By 

M. P. Cummings (Fredericksburg, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Scarab Path (Shadows of the Apt, Book 5) (Paperback)

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 RPGborn 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 ScarabPath" makes a good addition to the Shadows of the Apt series.