You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
A review by beaconatnight
Dragonfly Falling by Adrian Tchaikovsky
4.0
Dragonfly Falling continues to thrill with even more epic siege battles and even less boring politics or dialogs that would unnecessarily distract from the action. When it comes to heart-pounding prose, Tchaikovsky really is my favorite at the moment.
There are various threads to follow (see the great summary on reddit if you need to refresh your memory). Stenwold is back at Collegium, even more eager to convince its leader of the imminent threat of the Wasp Empire. Salma and Totho are on their way to the Ant city state of Tark, right before the town will be under Wasp attack. The one is in search for love, the slave girl he met in captivity in the previous novel; and the other running from love, still hurt deeply by the fact that Cheerwell fell for Achaeos rather than him. Meanwhile, the latter two were sent by Stenwold to the Ant city of Sarn to seek their help (apparently, there was some sort of allegiance in the past). Tisamon and Tynisa are on their way to the Mantis blademaster sect where he hopes his daughter may receive their special training.
We also meet the empire himself for the first time, Alvdan II. It turns out, he has a Mosquito-kinden prisoner, a member of the legendary race thought extinct. Capable of tapping into a source of power, he promises him eternal life (while secretly following his own agenda with Alvdan's sister). His vampirism (like the insect) added to the dark atmosphere around him. Finally, there is a somehow crazy Dragonfly woman whose only purpose is to kill Thalric (for reasons initially unknown).
From these starting points, the story goes to some interesting places. Salma becomes the leader of his own army of outcast, while Totho becomes chief artificer of the enemy. Before that, the two ran into an artist, a Fly named Nero, who for the first time in his life finds the courage to join the good cause. Armies suddenly show up in battle to save the day at the very last minute, the reveal of new technologies changes their course, and much ingenuity can be decisive, too. At times things are looking quite dire indeed. We see a weaker side of Stenwold when he takes sexual advantage of a young student of his. When forces in the Wasp leadership turn against him, Thalric tries to form a pact with Stenwold.
I very much enjoyed how the enmities between the races play out here. There are prejudices and resentments that make them very wary towards each other. The Moths despise the Beetles, which makes Cheerwell and Achaeos a rather strange couple. Spiders are the enemy of the Mantis, which makes Tynisa a freakish halfbreed. Moreover, the Spider realm is terra incognita to outsiders, yet it's them that take chances and rush to Collegium's rescue. The honorably tone of conversation in the aftermath well conveyed the singularity of the events.
Of the newly introduced abilities, I especially loved the Ant's hive mind. While their cities are superficially completely silent, information passes from on from neighbor to neighbor in an instant. It gives them the power to strike the most coordinated attacks. The Wasps are special because they not only have slaves (many races do), but because they use them in their armies. There are even some giants in their ranks, the mole crickets. Of the Inapt we learn that they wouldn't even be able to open the mechanisms of Beetle doors. The Ancestor Art can arm the Mantis as well as the Spiders with claws out of their knuckles (was this fact in the first novel already?). As in the real world, Flies are everywhere, but they very much keep to themselves. They are no real fighters, but they have a strong interest in treasures (not necessarily their own) and other illegal activities. In their clothing, they are as plain as their paragon.
To some extent, politics is involved, though it often takes place in the off. The Ants are known for fighting among each other as they are fragmented in various city states. In the past, Vek wasn't able to conquer Collegium (mainly because of its allegiance with Sarn), which still nags at them. The Empire helps them to strike another attack, expecting that they would defeat each other. The scheming is never the focus, but it does have cool effects on the overall unraveling of events.
There are some truly captivating moments. For instance, Tynisa reenters the novel by her appearance as fighter in the Prowess Forum of Collegium. Her opponent she knew from the time before she left, though he stands no chance. More impressive still is the awesome entry of Felise Mienn. What a fighter! She pinned the ear of the guy against the wall by throwing her knife and is also capable of casting magical weapons from her hands. Initially it seems as if for her killing is like ecstasy, though her mind is even more in turmoil. When she steps out of her blood frenzy, she doesn't even know what is going on. Her character never takes center stage, but I was still interested in the reasons of why she was like that (and what's with the guy who travels with her?). Her relationship with Tisamon, who finds in her the first truly equal opponent in a very long time, has potential, too.
There were other great action sequences. For instance, there is the nightly raid on the Empire's aircrafts. it turns into the fiercest of battles, and it doesn't take long before the Intruders are head deep in water (it then that Topho becomes prisoner of the Auxiliary). I was also shocked by the moment when the ting of Tark orders that Parops would take the 800 men to his command and flee the city. "Leave our city. Find somewhere else for yourself and your men. And when the time is right, Parops, whether it be you and your men, or your children or their children, reclaim our city from the invader." Not long thereafter, and somewhat in passing to the events depicted, Helleron falls to the Wasps, too. And the railway escape of Sarn after the Wasps suddenly pull out their new airbows (designed by Topho), that was quite the Dunkirk moment. Things don't look too good, do they?
The narrative often encompasses the side of the attackers, so the reader learns about their strategy. It adds an element of suspense, as we often know about coming threats when our heroes still celebrate their minor victories. Collegium has some tricks in its sleeves, though. The brave jetpack attackers and the bomb-placing submarine were kind of cool. Eventually, every civilian of Collegium is fighting, including the youngest and oldest. It's the kind of development that never gets old.
I wasn't completely sold on some of the character developments. I mean, Topho traveling around for no apparent reason, then turning sides? It was a bit too convenient for the plot. And it really was too cringeworthy when he remarks, "I have become the destroyer" (I mean, really?). Sure, I can understand the bargain to join the Wasp ranks in exchange for Selma's life, I can emphasize with his pain and I can see his desire for recognition. Still, it didn't feel believe overall.
All's well that ends well. The Vekken army stands defeated. Cheerwell, who had the bad luck of being taken prisoner over and over again, is freed by Topho as one last favor, even given to her the blueprint for their new secret weapon (with the twist that secretly this was exactly what Drephos intended, to boost the rate of innovation). There is the heartwarming reunion of her and Salma, who I think hadn't seen each other for the entire novel. I have to say, I was very keen to see where their journeys would lead next!
Rating: 4/5
There are various threads to follow (see the great summary on reddit if you need to refresh your memory). Stenwold is back at Collegium, even more eager to convince its leader of the imminent threat of the Wasp Empire. Salma and Totho are on their way to the Ant city state of Tark, right before the town will be under Wasp attack. The one is in search for love, the slave girl he met in captivity in the previous novel; and the other running from love, still hurt deeply by the fact that Cheerwell fell for Achaeos rather than him. Meanwhile, the latter two were sent by Stenwold to the Ant city of Sarn to seek their help (apparently, there was some sort of allegiance in the past). Tisamon and Tynisa are on their way to the Mantis blademaster sect where he hopes his daughter may receive their special training.
We also meet the empire himself for the first time, Alvdan II. It turns out, he has a Mosquito-kinden prisoner, a member of the legendary race thought extinct. Capable of tapping into a source of power, he promises him eternal life (while secretly following his own agenda with Alvdan's sister). His vampirism (like the insect) added to the dark atmosphere around him. Finally, there is a somehow crazy Dragonfly woman whose only purpose is to kill Thalric (for reasons initially unknown).
From these starting points, the story goes to some interesting places. Salma becomes the leader of his own army of outcast, while Totho becomes chief artificer of the enemy. Before that, the two ran into an artist, a Fly named Nero, who for the first time in his life finds the courage to join the good cause. Armies suddenly show up in battle to save the day at the very last minute, the reveal of new technologies changes their course, and much ingenuity can be decisive, too. At times things are looking quite dire indeed. We see a weaker side of Stenwold when he takes sexual advantage of a young student of his. When forces in the Wasp leadership turn against him, Thalric tries to form a pact with Stenwold.
I very much enjoyed how the enmities between the races play out here. There are prejudices and resentments that make them very wary towards each other. The Moths despise the Beetles, which makes Cheerwell and Achaeos a rather strange couple. Spiders are the enemy of the Mantis, which makes Tynisa a freakish halfbreed. Moreover, the Spider realm is terra incognita to outsiders, yet it's them that take chances and rush to Collegium's rescue. The honorably tone of conversation in the aftermath well conveyed the singularity of the events.
Of the newly introduced abilities, I especially loved the Ant's hive mind. While their cities are superficially completely silent, information passes from on from neighbor to neighbor in an instant. It gives them the power to strike the most coordinated attacks. The Wasps are special because they not only have slaves (many races do), but because they use them in their armies. There are even some giants in their ranks, the mole crickets. Of the Inapt we learn that they wouldn't even be able to open the mechanisms of Beetle doors. The Ancestor Art can arm the Mantis as well as the Spiders with claws out of their knuckles (was this fact in the first novel already?). As in the real world, Flies are everywhere, but they very much keep to themselves. They are no real fighters, but they have a strong interest in treasures (not necessarily their own) and other illegal activities. In their clothing, they are as plain as their paragon.
To some extent, politics is involved, though it often takes place in the off. The Ants are known for fighting among each other as they are fragmented in various city states. In the past, Vek wasn't able to conquer Collegium (mainly because of its allegiance with Sarn), which still nags at them. The Empire helps them to strike another attack, expecting that they would defeat each other. The scheming is never the focus, but it does have cool effects on the overall unraveling of events.
There are some truly captivating moments. For instance, Tynisa reenters the novel by her appearance as fighter in the Prowess Forum of Collegium. Her opponent she knew from the time before she left, though he stands no chance. More impressive still is the awesome entry of Felise Mienn. What a fighter! She pinned the ear of the guy against the wall by throwing her knife and is also capable of casting magical weapons from her hands. Initially it seems as if for her killing is like ecstasy, though her mind is even more in turmoil. When she steps out of her blood frenzy, she doesn't even know what is going on. Her character never takes center stage, but I was still interested in the reasons of why she was like that (and what's with the guy who travels with her?). Her relationship with Tisamon, who finds in her the first truly equal opponent in a very long time, has potential, too.
There were other great action sequences. For instance, there is the nightly raid on the Empire's aircrafts. it turns into the fiercest of battles, and it doesn't take long before the Intruders are head deep in water (it then that Topho becomes prisoner of the Auxiliary). I was also shocked by the moment when the ting of Tark orders that Parops would take the 800 men to his command and flee the city. "Leave our city. Find somewhere else for yourself and your men. And when the time is right, Parops, whether it be you and your men, or your children or their children, reclaim our city from the invader." Not long thereafter, and somewhat in passing to the events depicted, Helleron falls to the Wasps, too. And the railway escape of Sarn after the Wasps suddenly pull out their new airbows (designed by Topho), that was quite the Dunkirk moment. Things don't look too good, do they?
The narrative often encompasses the side of the attackers, so the reader learns about their strategy. It adds an element of suspense, as we often know about coming threats when our heroes still celebrate their minor victories. Collegium has some tricks in its sleeves, though. The brave jetpack attackers and the bomb-placing submarine were kind of cool. Eventually, every civilian of Collegium is fighting, including the youngest and oldest. It's the kind of development that never gets old.
I wasn't completely sold on some of the character developments. I mean, Topho traveling around for no apparent reason, then turning sides? It was a bit too convenient for the plot. And it really was too cringeworthy when he remarks, "I have become the destroyer" (I mean, really?). Sure, I can understand the bargain to join the Wasp ranks in exchange for Selma's life, I can emphasize with his pain and I can see his desire for recognition. Still, it didn't feel believe overall.
All's well that ends well. The Vekken army stands defeated. Cheerwell, who had the bad luck of being taken prisoner over and over again, is freed by Topho as one last favor, even given to her the blueprint for their new secret weapon (with the twist that secretly this was exactly what Drephos intended, to boost the rate of innovation). There is the heartwarming reunion of her and Salma, who I think hadn't seen each other for the entire novel. I have to say, I was very keen to see where their journeys would lead next!
Rating: 4/5