This one was excellent and a perfect follow-up to the first book in the series. I did begin to see some of the author's influences in this one. There is definitely some "LOTR" influence with the concept of a broken fellowship and the reliance on unexpected allies. Obviously, the presence of an ever-expanding "Empire" evokes thoughts of the Star Wars movies. I also like how the author continues to slowly introduce other "kinden" who haven't been introduced previously. This adds variety and keeps the reader thinking about what could come next.Overall, I am really enjoying this series and I am looking forward to the next one. The fact that there are 10 books in the series is amazing to me, but I am not complaining. You know what’s cool?Bugs.Also?Fantasy.So, clearly, a fantasy story with bugs would be awesome. This is the second book in the “Shadows of the Apt” series. I enjoyed the first more than well enough to partake of the second. Fortunately, the same neighbor who had the first loaned me the second.Much of what I said about the first novel applies again, though I felt like this one was even better. The plot was more fluid, the characters better defined, and the emotion clear and poignant. Part of this comes from the continuation of largely the same set of characters that we met in book one. I’m still very interested in the dichotomy the author has created between “apt” and “inapt”, as a different spectrum from the magical and non-magical.Still my favorite part was the relationship between the different groups of people (tribes? races?) and the insect icon of which they are “kinden”. I’ve read many a novel in which a human-like but non-human race will have qualities or even physical features of an animal. Cat aliens are pretty common. I’ve even come across bug aliens, though usually they are real bugs, not humans. Tchaikovsky has built his people around themes inspired by different insects. I love this for two primary reasons: first, it feels really unique. Second, it allows so much variety. The insect world is hugely varied, and so vast that I doubt the author will ever run out of new bugs any time he wants to introduce a new group of people.There are at least five books in this world as best as I can tell, and I’m hoping my neighbor will buy the next one soon!
What do You think about Pád Vážky (2009)?
Similar flaws to the debut novel - erratic pacing.
—Akash
