Scan barcode
noranne's review against another edition
3.0
Wow this one took forever. It's not a bad book, exactly, but it's long and so much of it is about fighting. I do not really like reading about fighting. I wish I could have read an abridged version of this book that was about half as long but covered the same plot and character points. The pacing was also strange, the battles in the first half are lovingly detailed and then the last quarter of the book it's like "this happened, this happened, this happened."
I find the overall plot to be pretty straightforward, but it's not uninteresting. The characters feel sketched in still even after two books.
Not sure if I'll continue with this series or not, but it's not terrible or anything.
I find the overall plot to be pretty straightforward, but it's not uninteresting. The characters feel sketched in still even after two books.
Not sure if I'll continue with this series or not, but it's not terrible or anything.
mwplante's review against another edition
4.0
Tchaikovsky really kicks the Shadows of the Apt into high gear with this second entry. This one makes good on the epic battles the last book seemed to promise lay ahead. In fact, I am now even more in awe of Tchaikovsky's ability to move the plot along. He manages to fit at least three major battles in this relatively slim volume. Cities fall, seiges are broken, and armies are slaughtered. The characters continue to be interesting but an epic of this scale has little time to spare on intricate characterization of its sprawling cast.
groenling's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
karinlib's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not going to say too much here, other than I really enjoyed this book 2nd book in a series, and I look forward to reading the next book.
In an interview, Tchaikovsky said "who doesn't like insects?" I wanted to raise my hand, metaphorically, particularly the flying stinging kind.
Despite my cringing every time the author mentions the Wasps (one of the main groups), I will continue to read the series.
In an interview, Tchaikovsky said "who doesn't like insects?" I wanted to raise my hand, metaphorically, particularly the flying stinging kind.
Despite my cringing every time the author mentions the Wasps (one of the main groups), I will continue to read the series.
cloudsinthecupboard's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
awoodalla's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? Yes
4.75
annakak's review against another edition
4.0
My entry on the Tchaikovsky spreadsheet for this one is "Incels with guns make everything worse," which will continue to be a theme for the series.
mhedgescsus's review against another edition
5.0
Watch my video review by clicking here.
Absolutely wonderful from start to finish, and is turning into the wonderful multi-POV epic story that I wanted so badly from the first book.
Absolutely wonderful from start to finish, and is turning into the wonderful multi-POV epic story that I wanted so badly from the first book.
globe_97's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.5
Audiobook - 03/01/24
All the potential and promise that Empire in Black and Gold (Book 1) sets up but itself falls short of, Dragonfly Falling (Books 2) meets and utter exceeds. It takes this story to a whole different level.
Books 2 expands the world at a rapid pace, as we see new interesting characters, plot points and locations introduced; alongside the twists and turns for those characters we already met in books 1. From the Wasp Empire, to the Spiderlands - so much depth and colour is added to this world. From the cultures of the different races and city states, the politicking and factioneerings, the history and lore etc.
Book 1 was really a story about freeing captives, but slowly setting up the oncoming war that would shake the lowlands. I thought that we'd spend the next several books continuing to set up this confrontation, between the wasps and the lowlands, between Thalric and Stenn. But where the overall plot goes in this book, the paths of individual characters and their relationships, was completely unpredictable. Everything moved at a rapid and frantic pace, which to me captured the essence of the volatility of the situation. I greatly enjoyed the lack of predictability and the somewhat subverting of expectations. I couldn't have guessed correctly any of the story arcs for those book 1 characters in this book.
My favourites parts (no spoilers)
• Palace intrigue in Capitas, and generally more insight into the Wasp Empire and the factioneering.
• The emperor's prisoner
• Battle of Tark
• Thadspar's speech to Stenwold.
• Insight into Ant-kinden, their culture, how they operate and the way their society is shaped by the mind-link.
• The big climatic battle of the book
• Introduction of Dariandrephos
• Totho's character arc (took the weakest character in book 1 and made him one of the strongest in book 2)
Acheos and at some point Thalric, both my favourite characters from the first book, suffered from the expansion of the world and the introduction of other characters and storylines. They're both relegated for major parts of the novel which was a bit dissapointing. For Thalric it made sense given he was the only insight into the Empire in book 1 and i had wanted to see an expansion on that front, which we got. Although I won't hint here about where their arcs might go or not go, or on which way was potential future arcs set up or not set up, so as to not reveal whether one or both of them make it out of this book alive.
I am just very impressed by this book - it did everything right for me. Thrilling battles, fantastic character arcs, intriguing expansion of lore (which continues to be a strength from the first book).
All the potential and promise that Empire in Black and Gold (Book 1) sets up but itself falls short of, Dragonfly Falling (Books 2) meets and utter exceeds. It takes this story to a whole different level.
Books 2 expands the world at a rapid pace, as we see new interesting characters, plot points and locations introduced; alongside the twists and turns for those characters we already met in books 1. From the Wasp Empire, to the Spiderlands - so much depth and colour is added to this world. From the cultures of the different races and city states, the politicking and factioneerings, the history and lore etc.
Book 1 was really a story about freeing captives, but slowly setting up the oncoming war that would shake the lowlands. I thought that we'd spend the next several books continuing to set up this confrontation, between the wasps and the lowlands, between Thalric and Stenn. But where the overall plot goes in this book, the paths of individual characters and their relationships, was completely unpredictable. Everything moved at a rapid and frantic pace, which to me captured the essence of the volatility of the situation. I greatly enjoyed the lack of predictability and the somewhat subverting of expectations. I couldn't have guessed correctly any of the story arcs for those book 1 characters in this book.
My favourites parts (no spoilers)
• Palace intrigue in Capitas, and generally more insight into the Wasp Empire and the factioneering.
• The emperor's prisoner
• Battle of Tark
• Thadspar's speech to Stenwold.
• Insight into Ant-kinden, their culture, how they operate and the way their society is shaped by the mind-link.
• The big climatic battle of the book
• Introduction of Dariandrephos
• Totho's character arc (took the weakest character in book 1 and made him one of the strongest in book 2)
Acheos and at some point Thalric, both my favourite characters from the first book, suffered from the expansion of the world and the introduction of other characters and storylines. They're both relegated for major parts of the novel which was a bit dissapointing. For Thalric it made sense given he was the only insight into the Empire in book 1 and i had wanted to see an expansion on that front, which we got. Although I won't hint here about where their arcs might go or not go, or on which way was potential future arcs set up or not set up, so as to not reveal whether one or both of them make it out of this book alive.
I am just very impressed by this book - it did everything right for me. Thrilling battles, fantastic character arcs, intriguing expansion of lore (which continues to be a strength from the first book).