Beyond Reality discussion

Have you finished reading Blood of the Mantis by Adrian Tchaikovsky, book 3 in the Shadows of the Apt series? Please share what you thought of it—likes, dislikes, questions, etc.

Spoilers OK here! (through this book only)

I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first 2. We get the addition of more magic with the Shadow box, Scyla, and others. We also have stealth as in the attack on the Bee kinden Queen. With the focus away from battles, I thought the focus shifted to examine smaller movements within the Lowlands and how various characters shifted the actions.
I also found the changes in Thalric and Totho to be fascinating. This entry just had a different feel and dynamic that I really enjoyed.
However, I did feel Tchaikovsky introduces a few too many new characters. Instead of getting to understand characters like Thalric, Tynisa, and Seda more deeply, we get almost a dozen new characters. I found Scyla, Odyssa and Sef very interesting, there were a few others I felt played too small a role.
I'm curious what other elements will appear as the series progresses. I haven't read a series over 5 books before.

There are a lot of characters, and we cover a lot of territory. I certainly feel like we're exploring the world, and learning more about the different kinden, their Arts and weaknesses.

There are a lot of "down" aspects to this chapter in our overall story. While most everyone is coming to the realization that the wasps are an existential threat, few are willing to put aside their mistrust of old rivals and cooperate. Totho's collaboration with the wasps, at first reluctant, has now heartbreakingly become almost a passion.

There were some bright spots, such as the gentlemanly aerial duel (not all wasps are inherently evil). And some interesting new possibilities (cities at the bottom of the lake!).

I did feel that we spent too long looking for a box. And we still don't know much about the box. And we are still going to be looking for the box in the next book. I hope that we eventually find the box, and that it is worth all the fuss ....

That's a good point about the lack of cooperation. And Totho's shifting attitude is sad but interesting.
I too hope the box is worth all the effort. The final disappearance and reappearance of it has my hopes up that we'll get more interesting magic!

I loved this installment! It had a different feel than the last one - fewer battles, more politics and espionage. I enjoyed getting to explore some new settings (having grown up in Michigan, I can't help but imagine the Exalsee as a bit like one of the Great Lakes) and kinden. I can see how the introduction of so many new settings and characters might feel a bit overwhelming, but this is still just the third book of a ten-book series, so Tchaikovsky has a lot of story left to weave the threads all together.

I can't wait to see where it goes from here.

I will have to let this book “simmer” a bit, but here are some initial reactions.

Yes, I know this is only book 3 of a 10 book series, but I found the new settings & characters a bit overwhelming. There already was a pretty big cast (both individual characters & types of kinden) spread across a number of locations, & now there are a bunch more. It’s not as though the action just moved on, since we still have activity with Sten & his companions, the Emperor & his sister & the other players in the capital, and Totho in Helleron.

And this was such a bleak installment…

Who has undergone the biggest change since book 1? I think Totho and Thalric are obvious choice, but I also think Salma has matured immensely, or else shed his outer skin and let his leadership show.

As I think about this, I realize that most of the characters have changed pretty substantially. Events have somewhat forced changes, but the characters have found it within themselves to adapt, whether for “better” or “worse”.

I think that's why I enjoyed this installment so much, bleak as it was. I have always loved to read about characters growing and changing as they move through whatever their journey is.