The Scarab Path cover art

The Scarab Path

Shadows of the Apt, Book 5

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The Scarab Path

By: Adrian Tchaikovsky
Narrated by: Ben Allen
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About this listen

Ancient powers are waking . . .

The Scarab Path is the fifth book in the critically acclaimed epic fantasy series Shadows of the Apt by Adrian Tchaikovsky.

The war with the Wasp Empire has ended in a bitter stalemate, and Collegium has nothing to show for it but wounded veterans. Cheerwell Maker finds herself broken in ways no doctor can mend, haunted by ghosts of the past. Meanwhile, the powerful Wasp Empress is regaining control over those imperial cities that refused to bow to her. But she draws her power from something more sinister than armies and war machines.

Only her consort, the former spymaster Thalric, knows the truth. As assassins seek to end him, he finds his life and his loyalties under threat once again. And in an ancient city beyond the desert, a terrible secret stirs beneath its stones.

The Scarab Path is followed by the sixth book in the Shadows of the Apt series, The Sea Watch.

©2020 Adrian Tchaikovsky (P)2020 Macmillan Publishers International Limited Action & Adventure Epic Epic Fantasy Fantasy Fiction Haunted War

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Critic reviews

Full of sparking, speculative innovation (Stephen Baxter, author of the Xeelee Sequence, on The Doors of Eden)
Breathtaking scope and vision. Adrian Tchaikovsky is one of our finest writers (Gareth Powell, author of Embers of War, on Children of Ruin)
A joy from start to finish. Entertaining, smart, surprising and unexpectedly human (Patrick Ness, author of The Knife of Never Letting Go, on Children of Time)
All stars
Most relevant
I’ve enjoyed this book so much. As the protagonist unwraps layers of a new, mysterious city, so too are deeper layers of the characters we love revealed. Superb redemption arches and twisting romances. Epic battle scenes with wondrous new characters. This book had it all.

My favourite in the series so far!

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Loved the battles which have now become a signature of this author, tofo reminds me of a dreadnought from warhammer in his armer…next book down loaded and ready for me for jump straight back in! The narrator is banging…

Smashed it yet again

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Pretty decent although as the preceding books were such a hard act to follow I didn’t enjoy it quite as much but it is still an impressive piece of work. Looking forward to the next one in the series.

A solid piece of the series

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another great addition to the series. narration was great, the story has really started to evolve and I can't wait for the next one.

a great sequel

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Needless to say, Ben Allen is superb again. New accents required in this one. How does he do the female voices?

The story is set after a major resetting of things, and this, at first appears to be a side trip for some of our characters.

Two things are happening at once though. And I suspect this book has big implications in the series.

As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Both the author and the reader are amazing.

A little side trip, but probably profound.

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