SciFiNow.

'With all the groundwork laid so well in book one, book two leaps straight into the action and rarely lets up for the entire of its almost 700 page length, and while the scale of book one was big, the story has now become nothing less than epic . . . Reminiscent of much that's gone before from the likes of Gemmell, Erikson, Sanderson and Cook but with its own unique and clever touch, this is another terrific outing from Mr Tchaikovsky and a worthy sequel in this epic saga'

Sci-Fi-London.com.

Heirs of the Blade.

Adrian Tchaikovsky was born in Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire, before heading off to Reading to study psychology and zoology. For reasons unclear even to himself he subsequently ended up in law and has worked as a legal executive in both Reading and Leeds, where he now lives. Married, he is a keen live role-player and occasional amateur actor, has trained in stage-fighting, and keeps no exotic or dangerous pets of any kind, possibly excepting his son.

Catch up with Adrian at www.shadowsoftheapt.com for further information about both himself and the insect-kinden, together with bonus material including short stories and artwork.

Heirs of the Blade is the seventh novel in the Shadows of the Apt series. Have you read Empire in Black and Gold, Dragonfly Falling, Blood of the Mantis, Salute the Dark, The Scarab Path and The Sea Watch?

BY ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY.

Shadows of the Apt.

Empire in Black and Gold.

Dragonfly Falling.

Blood of the Mantis.

Salute the Dark.

The Scarab Path.

The Sea Watch.

Heirs of the Blade.

Acknowledgements.

Firstly, an enormous thank you to my wife, Annie, not just for all the usual, but for her invaluable a.s.sistance in reading through and commenting on the ma.n.u.script during the editing process, when I was greatly in need of another point of view.

Secondly, the usual round of people, 'Without Whom': Simon Kavanagh, Peter Lavery and Julie Crisp, Chloe Healy and everyone else at Tor; Pete Bayly and the regulars at Oxford and Reading. In particular thanks to Helen Walter for being my consultant armourer.

Finally, for diverse secret reasons, a special thanks to La.s.se Skjalm, Johnny Burlin and Anders strom.

A glossary of characters and places can be found at the end of the book.

end.