Salute the Dark very much ups the ante. The Empire its their attacks all over the Lowlands. People in Sarn and Myna are revolting. It constantly changes the scene to convey thee fact that the war is in fullest swing now.

There is some great character development. I'm thinking especially of Thalric, who develops an unexpected fondness for Cheerwell in their travels to the Wasp-occupied Moth city of Tharn, where Achaeos would find the healers (as opposed to physicians) he needs after the almost mortal would inflicted by possessed Tynisa. Given the chance, he kills his former Rekef superior, General Reiner. Yet, it was not as a final act to cap all connection to the Empire. Indeed, it was the opposite: he feels an even stronger bond, but not in its currently fragmented form. At the same time, he shows a certain loyalty to the cause of the Lowlands, which he had served in some form.

Achaeos is not just there to rest. With the help of an uncommon Wasp Apt who defected his people they are performing the darkest of rituals, gathering the most senior of magicians at the myth-enshrouded mountaintop. Meanwhile, Mosquito-kinden sorcerer Uctebri the Sarcd is planning his ritual to grant princess Seda eternal life and place her on the throne, while pretending to the Emperor it would be him who will be granted immortality at Coronation Day held in honor of him being nine years on the throne. Secretly, Seda is planning her own conspiracy.

The siege and resistance battles are thrilling spectacles again. After the Wasp crush the Spider and Mantis forces in a brief swift, they are free to march on Collegium. Things there look more dire than ever. Focus is on their attack on the Ant city of Sarn. There various armies oppose them. There is Balkus with his troops of war inexperienced but crafty Collegium fighters. There is Salma, the Lord of the Wastes, with his troop of bandits (their strategy of sudden chaos and confusion stroke fear into the hearts of many Wasps the past few months). There is Taki with her army of fliers.

Tisamon has left disorientedly wandering the Lowlands after he kissed Felise Mien in a heated moment. He sees betrayal of his former lover (the mother of Tynisa). In his travels he becomes a pawn in Uctebri's game through an apparation of a woman that emerged from the Shadow Box. His daughter is in pursuit, but it's unclear whether he is even willing to come back. At the same time, Felise is crushed by another abandonment. To save her from suicide, her doctor suggests to give purpose to her life by sending her to the Commonweal to convince her people to attempt the recapture of the territories they had lost in the Twelve-Year War. Stenwold joins them, though the Dragonfly-kinden and their motives are very different from what they expected. What they learn is about an apocalyptic prophecy if ever there was one.

And indeed, I was shocked by how many of the main characters die. At times it's not even glorious. Actually, at times war shows its most hideous face—as Colonel Auxilian Drephos's new chemical weapon amply shows. Seriously, there were some of my absolute favorites among them. I could seriously feel the passion and rage of Grief in Chains (or whatever she is called now) when she finds this time she is too late and cannot save her lover. It's crushing, yet so amazingly epic when she lits up in blinding light burning the Wasp forces.

I was very surprised by the climax. Actually, it's almost anticlimactic. Who would have expected sudden treaty of truce between the Lowlands and the Empire? At that point, the Wasp feel believably tired of the fighting. I'm sure it's not bound to last. So, I'm very much looking forward to where the series is going next. This one was again delightfully twisty and thrilling.

Rating: 4.5/5