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  • Blood of the Mantis

  • Shadows of the Apt, Book 3
  • By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
  • Narrated by: Ben Allen
  • Length: 16 hrs and 2 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (231 ratings)

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Blood of the Mantis cover art

Blood of the Mantis

By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Narrated by: Ben Allen
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Summary

Blood of the Mantis is the third novel in Adrian Tchaikovsky's richly imagined Shadows of the Apt series, following Dragonfly Falling. Stenwold must rally his allies for battle against the Empire, even as it seeks a dangerous artifact of enormous power.

A dread ritual casts a deadly shadow....

Achaeos the seer has finally tracked down the stolen Shadow Box. But he has only days before this magical artefact will be lost to him forever. Meanwhile, the Empire's dread forces are mustering for their next great offensive. Stenwold and his followers have only a short time to gather allies, before the enemy's soldiers march again – to conquer everything in their path. If Stenwold cannot hold them back, the hated black and gold flag will fly over every city in the Lowlands before the year's end.

Yet a more insidious threat awaits. Should the Shadow Box fall into the hands of the power-mad Emperor, nothing will save the world from his relentless ambition.

Blood of the Mantis is followed by Salute the Dark, the fourth book in the Shadows of the Apt series.

©2009 Adrian Tchaikovsky (P)2021 Macmillan Publishers International Limited

What listeners say about Blood of the Mantis

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Still good...

...but it has the same issues as the previous book. Keeping a lot of the characters around without giving them much to do, or reason to be there.. This, while introducing more and more new characters. So it all feels a bit diluted.

The big positive that is keeping me around are the world building. It's still really interesting to explore this world.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

continues the quality

with this being the third in the series I thought maybe it would get baggy and so so. impressively not so! the complexity of intrigue, drama and fabulous world building maintains pace and builds interest. I'm still loving the reflection, the prism of humanity in an escapist world, the tension and the unfolding.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Masterfully written

A true genius piece of work that only Adrian could have written with his deep understanding of the animal kingdom perspective.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

so engaging

fantastically read again by Ben Allen I'd say easily my favourite reader on here.
the story feels like a bridge to something bigger in the next book and I mean this in the best way possible I know what my next credit will be spent on

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Fantasy at its best

Amazing world creation. Great multifaceted characters. Gripping story. Characters of all sorts of personality. Heroes saving the day but with flaws not overly perfect.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Awesome steampunk novel

Loved it - best in the series yet! Interesting character development and the plot races on in a very satisfying manner...

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Blood of a Mantis

Very enjoyable characters and story line, looking forward to the next book in the series.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant

Love this third book in the series. The first 2 were great too. Such a big story. Can’t wait to get the next one. I love the narrators range of accents.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Keeps getting better

Between Adrian's story telling and Ben Allen's narration, this is turning into being an amazing listening experience

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love this series.

I think this series would make an amazing TV adaptation. Another amazing book, love all the stories and the lore.

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