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mikehex's review against another edition
4.0
Best of the series so far, with the scene at the auction being very intense and well done. It still dragged in the middle but ranked up to the ending much quicker than in the first two.
kadomi's review against another edition
4.0
I am a bit behind on my reviewing, but here we go.
Blood of the Mantis is the 3rd book in the Shadow of the Apt series. What started as a typical 'fellowship of the ring' style story in the first book, with a group of young students setting out to fight the evil Wasp Empire, turned into something like a world war novel in the second book. In the 3rd book, we go back to something more similar to the first book. We have three different groups of protagonists in different locations, all with different goals to weaken the Wasp Empire. For what it's worth, very little actually happens. We have Che and Nero visiting the spider city of Solarno, and they meet one of my favorite characters so far: Taki, the reckless Fly-kinden pilot lady. In Sarn we have Stenwold himself trying to prepare for the next part of the war, and in the skater-kinden city of Sarn we have the Inapt crew around Achaeos trying to locate the Shadow Box. The Jerez chapters were my favorite, because it sounded like such a sinister, dark place, with much dark magic (but also technology) afoot.
Ultimately, few things happened, and the author is juggling many different story threads, maybe too many. I am excited to maybe learn more about Princess Seda in Capitas, and am still recommending this series that is pretty far removed from your classical fantasy.
Blood of the Mantis is the 3rd book in the Shadow of the Apt series. What started as a typical 'fellowship of the ring' style story in the first book, with a group of young students setting out to fight the evil Wasp Empire, turned into something like a world war novel in the second book. In the 3rd book, we go back to something more similar to the first book. We have three different groups of protagonists in different locations, all with different goals to weaken the Wasp Empire. For what it's worth, very little actually happens. We have Che and Nero visiting the spider city of Solarno, and they meet one of my favorite characters so far: Taki, the reckless Fly-kinden pilot lady. In Sarn we have Stenwold himself trying to prepare for the next part of the war, and in the skater-kinden city of Sarn we have the Inapt crew around Achaeos trying to locate the Shadow Box. The Jerez chapters were my favorite, because it sounded like such a sinister, dark place, with much dark magic (but also technology) afoot.
Ultimately, few things happened, and the author is juggling many different story threads, maybe too many. I am excited to maybe learn more about Princess Seda in Capitas, and am still recommending this series that is pretty far removed from your classical fantasy.
jhouses's review against another edition
3.0
En esta tercera entrega la saga comienza a alcanzar verdaderas dimensiones de Fantasía Épica. El pequeño grupo del Maestro Stendwold opuesto a los avances del imperio de las Avispas se extiende por nuevos territorios una vez que la invasión de las Tierras Bajas es un hecho. Los acontecimientos se desbordan y las tensiones en el propio imperio comienzan a aflorar.
He odiado al narrador del audiolibro con su voz nasal e impostada con toda mi alma y creo que abandonaré este medio y volveré a la lectura tradicional.
He odiado al narrador del audiolibro con su voz nasal e impostada con toda mi alma y creo que abandonaré este medio y volveré a la lectura tradicional.
jocdillo's review against another edition
5.0
This was my favorite of the novels so far. Though there was a lot of political maneuvering for the characters and not a lot of action (until the end), the plot was still solid.
thedayoflight's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
The fact they where part insect freaked me out.
ariaslibrary's review
3.0
This thing, this snapbow, is not progress. It is just another way of killing someone and, even if it is an inch more efficient, then that does not make it progress. Progress is made by the improvement of people, not the improvement of machines.
“Blood of the Mantis” is the third instalment of the Shadows of the Apt series. There’s not much I want to say about this book, other than it was quite a shift from the previous book. ‘Dragonfly Falling’ was packed with action (I really love sieges okay) but ‘Blood of Mantis’ focuses more on infiltration. That’s why individually I would give it five stars but compared to the previous two books, it falls more on three stars, so it falls in between. Also my review will not that good since I’m on vacation right now and just wanted this review to be out.
The main plot follows Achaeos, Tisamon, Tynisa and Thalric as they hunt down the shadow box. We are introduced to several new characters, most of which I can’t remember their names. Of the four, I don’t really care about Tisamon and Tynisa so I was more invested in Achaeos and Thalric. Achaeos’ character arc seemed to come to a halt as he’s obsessed with the box and all the visions he’s receiving and with how the book ended, it’s not looking good for him. Thalric on the other hand is struggling. He’s angry that his people have turned against him and him watching others serve his beloved Empire feels him with an ache. Of the new characters introduced, I want to learn more about Sef and her underwater city.
The side plots included Che and Nero going to a Spider city state to warn them of the Wasp Empire. I need Che to stop being kidnapped. All she’s doing at this point is being rescued and recruiting people to help Stenwold. Of the new characters introduced in her chapters, I find Cesta, the assassin bug, the most interesting
Stenwold is struggling to get the Lowlands to unite. They all want the plans to the snapbow but Stenwold knows that if they defeat the Wasp empire, they would start turning the machines against each other. It’s an ethical dilemma he has to think through and even though he disappointed me in the last book, his speech!
Progress is made by the improvement of people, not the improvement of machines.Yes Stenwold! Give those Captain America speeches!
We don’t see much of Totho in this book which sucked because he became my favourite character but this one scene: You bastards have kept me down all my life, he had thought. Now see how you like it. Good for you Totho, good for you.
I don’t even know what Salma is doing at this point.
While I did enjoy it, one thing I was really looking forward to but was not explored was Stenwold’s reaction to what happened in the previous book with one of his students. Like why wasn’t it discussed?! I’d argue that it’s something very major that needs to be talked about but all we got was one throw away line!! HOW ARE YOU NOT AFFECTED STENWOLD!
Anyway, that disappointed me but the chapter where the bees started rebelling was the best part of this book. I’m really pumped up for ‘Salute the Dark’ because the Bees have rebelled…… and I believe Drephos has made a bioweapon. That mad scientist is surprisingly endearing. All he wants to do is make weapons of mass destruction.
We are the dispossessed, your Majesty, and we fight
titusfortner's review against another edition
3.0
A little slower than the previous book; focused on fleshing out the fascinating world and interesting characters.