Empire in Black and Gold (Shadows of the Apt)

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Tchaikovsky revealed the basis of Shadows of the Apt in an online essay entitled "Entering the Shadows" at Upcoming4.me. [14] But meanwhile, in far-off corners, the Wasp Empire has been devouring city after city with its highly trained armies, its machines, its killing Art...And now its hunger for conquest and war has become insatiable.

The city states of the Lowlands have lived in peace for decades, bastions of civilization, prosperity and sophistication. They have been protected by treaties, trade and a belief in the reasonable nature of their neighbours. Relying on a simple premise as this, gives you a large amount of advantages as an author, that you would otherwise have to be very careful about, and especially as a first time author get you into some problems or inconsistancies.Tomio, Jay (26 September 2008). "Bug Out with Adrian Tchaikovsky Before Children of Time". Nekoplz . Retrieved 11 March 2010. I feel like this is so far a worldbuilding-focused story, with characters, that are likable and easy to grasp. You basically kill several birds with one stone, you make it easier for both yourself and the reader. But let me explain. This book feels like the beginning of the big conflict that will probably take place in the next 9 books. It is very fast paced and has multiple settings and plots going on, also changes location quite often, but never really gets into loads of action and large-scale events. Which is fine, as the action that did take place, was what I would critizise most about Tchaikowskys writing.

I don't know how to describe it properly, but the action scenes in here didn't even feel like action most of the time. The writing-style and prose are pretty good consistantly, but the action... I don't know about that one.We already know, the wasps are BAD. We know what they can do, we know what they want to do. And so do our characters.