The Scarab Path

by Adrian Tchaikovsky

Mass Market, 720 pages

English language

Published Aug. 5, 2010 by Tor.

ISBN:: 978-0-330-51145-2
OCLC Number:: 620311283

(9 reviews)

The Empress Seda is already regaining control over her renegade Imperial cities. After all, she draws strength from something far more sinsiter than armies or war machines. Only her consort, former spymaster Thalric, knows the truth behind her power. And when assassins come for him, he finds his life and loyalties under threat once more. Both Cheerwell and Thalric are drawn to the ancient city of Khanaphes, beyond the Nem desert. But a terrible secret lies entombed beneath its stones...

4 editions

Noisy Deadlines reviewed The Scarab Path by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Shadows of the Apt, #5)

A review from Goodreads

5 stars

I thought the first half of it dragged on a little. I wasn't too interested in what was going on with the Refek agents and their mobilization to have the Scorpions attack Khanaphes. The interactions between Thalric and Che are what interested me the most. Thoto was so annoying. I almost wish he was killed at some point. The mystery of the Masters in Khanaphes kept me engaged with the story, but in the end, I didn't get Ethmet, the First Minister. Was he really in touch with the Masters at all? He seemed just like a puppet, repeating old sayings. And why the Masters were dormant? And why after they woke up, found Che, let her go, and then went back to sleep? What was their goal? It seems like this mystery is the backdrop of what this series is really about.