The
Air War by Adrian Tchaikovksy, Shadows of the Apt #8
All is in turmoil as
the world moves towards war. In Solarno, the spies watch each other and ready
their knives, while Myna sees the troops muster at its border and emotions run
high as it vows never to be enslaved again. In Collegium, the students argue
politics, too late to turn the tide. In the heart of the Empire, new pilots
have completed their secretive training, generals are being recalled to service
and armies are ready to march. Their Empress, the heir to two worlds, intends
to claim her birthright. And nothing – either within the Empire or beyond it –
will stand in her way. A conflict is coming, the like of which the
insect-kinden have never seen.
Having
finally been able to catch up with this series with Heirs of the Blade last month I was thrilled to continue the story
once again in The Air War. So far the
Shadows of the Apt series hasn’t let me down once and Adrian Tchaikovsky just
keeps on amazing me with his rich and interesting world and the characters that
inhabit it. Heirs of the Blade showed
several piece of the storyline that will play an important in the finale of the
series and I thought that they would be more explored in The Air War, but this isn’t really the case. The Air War focuses on revisiting several events and happening that
went on earlier in the series, but this time explores them in the fullest
detail and though The Air War isn’t a
direct follow up of book #7, it didn’t let me down again. Because by this
revisiting of the several earlier events, you get a much better grip on the
threat that the Empire imposes but also gives a better grip on the technology
and everything that makes the world goes round. This one of the strongest
points of the series. Adrian Tchaikovsky keeps on taking the series further
with new material but keeps to the true nature of the story with using earlier
explored things. This is what makes epic fantasy. Top material.
With
already the eight book in the series I will try to keep spoilers to a minimum
and give a general description!
The Air War starts off
with a completely different cast than what we were used in the last book. Most
of the characters that have been focused on aren’t making a big appearance.
Che, Thalric and Tynisa won’t make an appearance and Seda character only takes
up a small part of the book. First off, the book is divided into two parts. The
first is called “The Calm” now I could immediately guess where this might be
aimed for... because there is also the calm before the... yes that’s right
Storm. And the second part is called that. The
Air War’s titles is self explanatory and this where the focus lies within
the book, where the warring threats first occurred on ground, they are now translated
to the skies. The aspect of air warfare was explored in a few books back
already but now come to full color in The
Air War, lying a heavy emphasis on a the steampunk and technology of the
book.
The
first part of the book focuses a lot on setting the storyline up for the second
part of the book. Introducing the new characters and on the first go letting it
seem that everything is just normal in Collegium, showing a new quartet of
students taking several tests but on the other hand taking place in a different
place you have the slow rise of the Empire. This way of exposing the storyline
was done in a great way. Several of the storylines that you follow include
Taki, who starts of the story and finds out that the Empire is amassing a new
way of aerial warfare with new technology. Laszlo, who act as an agent for Stenwold
maker in the city of Solarno, an Assassin Bug kinden who has the power to shape
shift and is tasked with assassinating Seda, Seda herself, and that of Stenwold
Maker. It was a solid decisions to reintroduce several past characters, Adrian
Tchaikovsky’s characterization is strong and when I just read the names of
several character, immediately several images and their backgrounds directly
leapt to mind. From these different storyline most of them all converge into
one in the end, as you have the defenders of Collegium trying to fend off the
war with the Empire and the point of view of the Empire trying to invade and
achieve what couldn’t e done earlier. I really liked how Adrian Tchaikovsky
showed both sides of the story as this gives you a great feeling for several
characters and even though Stenwold and
his crew are the good guys in the series and the Empire the bad guys, it didn’t
automatically wanted me to root for Stenwold. Adrian Tahckovsky does a great
job in highlighting both sides.
Like
I mentioned above Seda doesn’t take a strong role in this book but there is the
occasional scene. And what does come to show in her is that it takes place
after Heirs of the Blade. So I am
hoping to see a bit of a catch up for Che’s and Thalric’s story in the book to
follow. But that said. Seda’s part is cool, well cooler than cool. Because we
all know what the last book in the series is called right? Seal of the Worm. Yes. Now that Seda is struggling with being
Inapt, having a heavy weight on her shoulders to lead the Wasps to victory, she
is contemplating using deadly magics. And this part really bring the worst in
her to front but possibly the best of the series. Adrian Tchiakovsky starts to
drop hints about what the Seal of the Worm is. And this is really something
that got my hopes up when I read the first word. Especially given the fact that
one of Seda’s advisers, Gjegvey, is telling her not to and why. But Seda is
determined to see her plan for total domination, with no matter what costs. But
what makes her character really strong is that Adrian Tchaikovsky shows her on
one moment in a very fragile way and on the other moment determined, viscous
and harsh. With the first hint of the danger of the Seal of the Worm shown in The Air War starts to give a promise a
grande ending.
The
overall storyline was solidly constructed from start finish, and even though
you are already in the eight book of the series, Adrian Tchaikosvky doesn’t
falter at all with what he has already shown in his narration in the first
seven books. The story doest fall in a drag and he keeps on introducing twists
and turns to really get you fired up about the proposed events will unfold. He
keeps you on the edge of your seat and sharp about everything, from down to the
battles to the relation amongst several characters. The way that the aerial
combat is being described is just done in an amazingly rich way, like you were
just co-piloting a plane together with Taki and the other aces. Good stuff. The
ending of the story, with Collegium having fended of the Empire once again,
does leave a direct entry for War Master’s
Gate, and with this Adrian Tchaikosvky does show that the Empire isn’t
bested with one loss. They are determined to win, to conquer and to destroy. The
Empire is shown in this everpresent, everdetermined dangerous and nefarious
way. They will never give up, they will never step down and there is only one
solution...
The Air War continues
the ever solid tradition of The Shadows of the Apt series. By revisiting
earlier proposed idea’s and letting them come to full show in The Air War Adrian Tchaikosvky really
shows that he is on top of his game with writing Epic Fantasy and knows how to
build a series and an interesting and engaging world. The story starts off with
a slow exposition of the direction of the story, but when the Storm hits, shows
chaos, battles, and much much more. It’s like I said with Heirs of the Blade this is a series to read. And this might turn
into a fan boy review, well frankly I don’t care. It’s extraordinary.