Helpful Score: 7
This is one of the best fantasy novels I have read in a long time. Its fast-paced action and gritty realism are secondary to the strong character development found in this first book in the trilogy. A young boy wants to get away from the poverty and crime in the streets by attaching himself to the most notorious wetboy, or hired assassin, in town. He gives up his name, his friends and his old life for a newer, darker one; but imperial politics and power shifts make it hard to know who to trust. Can an assassin ever really have any loyalties?
I loved everything about this book. The day I finished it I bought the next two in the series.
UPDATED to say that the rest of the series does not disappoint! I'll look for more from this author.
~Andrea
I loved everything about this book. The day I finished it I bought the next two in the series.
UPDATED to say that the rest of the series does not disappoint! I'll look for more from this author.
~Andrea
Helpful Score: 6
The story is something that I think most fantasy readers will be somewhat familiar with. Azoth is a young boy surviving on the streets of Cenaria City. An orphan and pickpocket, Azoth works with a cell of children that have been organized by Cenaria's large, nfluential crime syndicate. Seemingly by chance, Azoth meets Durzo Blint. Blint is a wetboy, a ruthless killer-for-hire who has magical gifts known as Talent. Azoth convinces Durzo Blint to take him on as an apprentice. He spends years working on learning the trade, but is frustrated because he cannot tap into his Talent--without which he cannot be a wetboy.
Meanwhile, Cenaria has troubles of it's own. In addition to a major Organized Crime problem, the king is weak and neighboring Khalidor has plans of conquest. As invaders swarm in, Azoth, now called Kyler Stern, has to find his Talent, no matter what the cost, to save his country and those he holds dear.
Like I said, this plot sounds pretty familiar. So much so that it starts to feel like a road well travelled. But that's okay. THE WAY OF SHADOWS is comfort reading at it's best, and it was exactly what I was looking for. The plot moves quickly, the characters are pretty fun, and the writing is decent.
In a year from now, I'll probably remember is the relationships in the book. The tag on the cover is "The perfect killer has no friends -- only targets." Kylar struggles all throughout the book with this. How can he be an effective wetboy, yet still retain his bonds with those close to him? In the end, it hurts him because Durzo uses those bonds to secretly use Kylar for his own purposes.
One thing I should mention, though, is that THE WAY OF SHADOWS is really, really gritty. Although the story has a lot of familiar plot elements, Weeks puts his characters through ugly situations. As an example, young Azoth has to kill another child in order to convince Durzo Blint to accept him on as a pupil. There's also a lot of harsh language, but I think that it's necessary for the story that Weeks is trying to tell. The nobles of the story are for the most part very civil, but they're a minority of the characters. Weeks is telling the story of criminals, killers, and prostitutes, and he doesn't try to sanitize them.
So, if you're squeamish about those types of things, I'd definitely steer clear. But if you don't mind that, and you're looking for a solidly plotted adventure trilogy, THE WAY OF SHADOWS would be a great place to start.
Meanwhile, Cenaria has troubles of it's own. In addition to a major Organized Crime problem, the king is weak and neighboring Khalidor has plans of conquest. As invaders swarm in, Azoth, now called Kyler Stern, has to find his Talent, no matter what the cost, to save his country and those he holds dear.
Like I said, this plot sounds pretty familiar. So much so that it starts to feel like a road well travelled. But that's okay. THE WAY OF SHADOWS is comfort reading at it's best, and it was exactly what I was looking for. The plot moves quickly, the characters are pretty fun, and the writing is decent.
In a year from now, I'll probably remember is the relationships in the book. The tag on the cover is "The perfect killer has no friends -- only targets." Kylar struggles all throughout the book with this. How can he be an effective wetboy, yet still retain his bonds with those close to him? In the end, it hurts him because Durzo uses those bonds to secretly use Kylar for his own purposes.
One thing I should mention, though, is that THE WAY OF SHADOWS is really, really gritty. Although the story has a lot of familiar plot elements, Weeks puts his characters through ugly situations. As an example, young Azoth has to kill another child in order to convince Durzo Blint to accept him on as a pupil. There's also a lot of harsh language, but I think that it's necessary for the story that Weeks is trying to tell. The nobles of the story are for the most part very civil, but they're a minority of the characters. Weeks is telling the story of criminals, killers, and prostitutes, and he doesn't try to sanitize them.
So, if you're squeamish about those types of things, I'd definitely steer clear. But if you don't mind that, and you're looking for a solidly plotted adventure trilogy, THE WAY OF SHADOWS would be a great place to start.
Derrick J. (ravensknight) reviewed The Way of Shadows (Night Angel, Bk 1) on + 178 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
A young boy becomes the apprentice to the cities top wetboy [super duper assassins] and grows up. Lots of intrigue and politics and the city falls to another kingdom. Turns out the Wetboy had a magical item and it ends up bonding with the apprentice, allowing him to become the next Night Angel, a creature that is a balance to 6 other magical creations.
It was a bit brutal and graphic. As the reviewer before me noted, this is "gritty" and about the underbelly element of a society. I certainly don't/can't recommend this to any younger teens because the level of ugliness in this book, while not in the really graphic/offensive region, pushes it to the edge, imo. Really well written though.
One side note. This is a LONG book. Be prepared for a long haul once you get into this.
It was a bit brutal and graphic. As the reviewer before me noted, this is "gritty" and about the underbelly element of a society. I certainly don't/can't recommend this to any younger teens because the level of ugliness in this book, while not in the really graphic/offensive region, pushes it to the edge, imo. Really well written though.
One side note. This is a LONG book. Be prepared for a long haul once you get into this.
Helpful Score: 2
This book was so hard to put down. I enjoyed the character development, the interactions between the characters, the unexpected happenings, everything. Parts I almost skimmed through because I just had to see what happened, knowing it was okay because I was going to read the book again anyway. Loved it.
Helpful Score: 2
How do I describe this book? It starts off sort of simple and then becomes more complex as you go along. At first when I got a sense of the city, I wasn't that impressed by the world building. II felt like it wasn't something I hadn't seen before: the groups of street children, the idea of Guilds, the corrupt king and unrest while a neighboring land populated by evil magic-doers plots to invade. It reminds me of a lot of other fantasy, but that was okay, because after the world building foundation was in place, the characters and the plot were so unique fascinating my earlier quibbles were forgotten and I enjoyed the book. The author also introduces some new-to-me magical aspects which are peppered throughout the story.
Overall I found this an gritty epic fantasy tale with more twists than a bag of pretzels. It didn't quite wring me out and I thought it was ultimately hopeful and worth the read, but it was a roller coaster. I'm very curious where things will go now.
Overall I found this an gritty epic fantasy tale with more twists than a bag of pretzels. It didn't quite wring me out and I thought it was ultimately hopeful and worth the read, but it was a roller coaster. I'm very curious where things will go now.
Elizabeth B. (Cattriona) -
Helpful Score: 1
Please don't read this trilogy -- you'll weep with frustration for what could have been in the books which lie ahead. The series starts well, the author lays a good back story with interesting characters. Book 2 continues the series, stretching the boundaries of believability a bit, but keeps the reader interested. Book 3 blows all of this hard work into excrement.
The author clearly knows where he wants to go to end things, but doesn't know how to get there, so the finale is filled with clumsy writing, a truckload of "oh, isn't that convenient?" plot elements and awkward similes, things like the Hero's blade slicing into an enemy's guts "like a comb slides through a princess' hair." Puh-leeze.
Having built up this alternative, old-fashioned universe, the author ruins our suspension of disbelief with Biblical allusions (i.e. Daniel 5:27) and references to very recent scientific discoveries (i.e. aspen groves as a single organism).
At times, the author is so lost that he doesn't even try to plausibly explain anything: When the Hero tries to rescue a Heroine, he tells us that the unknown spell holding the heroine will "crush her skull". How do we know this will this is true? "[Hero] didn't question how he knew it, but he did." Well, the readers are questioning when you became magically omnipotent ...
Sadly, the best thing to do with this series (which had a lot of potential) is to never start it. Not recommended.
The author clearly knows where he wants to go to end things, but doesn't know how to get there, so the finale is filled with clumsy writing, a truckload of "oh, isn't that convenient?" plot elements and awkward similes, things like the Hero's blade slicing into an enemy's guts "like a comb slides through a princess' hair." Puh-leeze.
Having built up this alternative, old-fashioned universe, the author ruins our suspension of disbelief with Biblical allusions (i.e. Daniel 5:27) and references to very recent scientific discoveries (i.e. aspen groves as a single organism).
At times, the author is so lost that he doesn't even try to plausibly explain anything: When the Hero tries to rescue a Heroine, he tells us that the unknown spell holding the heroine will "crush her skull". How do we know this will this is true? "[Hero] didn't question how he knew it, but he did." Well, the readers are questioning when you became magically omnipotent ...
Sadly, the best thing to do with this series (which had a lot of potential) is to never start it. Not recommended.
Helpful Score: 1
I thought this book was very well written. I enjoyed the characters and the action sequences. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
Helpful Score: 1
This is the first book in the Night Angel Trilogy. I was really looking forward to reading a series by another great epic fantasy author. This is a really great epic fantasy. It has an intricate plot, great characters, and is of epic proportions. There were some things that bothered me but most were forgivable. I listened to this on audio book. The audio book was well done, although it was tough sometimes to tell when the reader had switched to a different character's prospective.
Azoth, and his friends Doll Girl and Jarl, are street rats who lives in the warrens under the abusive hand of a boy named Rat . When Rat goes too far, Azoth vows to apprentice himself to the best wet boy (assassin with magic skills) in the city, Durzo Blint. Azoth does what he has to become Blint's apprentice and ends up taking on the guise of a young noble lord named Kylar. Kylar becomes one of the friends of a powerful young noble named Logan. In the end Azoth/Kylar becomes deeply embroiled in the intrigues happening both in nobility and the underworld. The fate of the country is in the hands of Logan, Kylar, and others. If they can navigate the complex political moves, perhaps they can save the country...and maybe even themselves.
This book had a number of things that I really enjoyed. I enjoy reading about assassins; and there was plenty of that in this book. There are many nifty action scenes, you learn about crazy devices the assassins use, and about the poisons they develop. The magic system wasn't as well-defined as I like, but it did have some interesting elements to it and the reader is still learning how it is all connected at the end of the book.
The point of view changes between many characters throughout the book. In the beginning we mainly see things from Azoth's point of view and Durzo's point of view. As the book continues we see things from many, many points of view (generals, kings, etc.). It was pretty easy to keep track of what was going on. At some points minor things earlier in the book had major impact and Weeks does a good job of reminding you what happened just in case you missed it (or forgot) from earlier.
People who loved Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy should enjoy the characterization in this book as well. All of the characters are a solid mix of bad and good. They are very grey and make stupid mistakes at times; basically they are very, very human. As such they were engaging to read about and in general had enough good to them that you were really pulling for them. There are also some major female players in the book, which was awesome (I hate it when epic fantasies relegate the ladies to minor roles).
The book ended well and completed the story nicely. Of course they are major things that aren't resolved. The writing was very well done, if a bit wordy at times. The plot twists and turns so many different ways that it is impossible to predict the ending; so as a reader you are kept on your toes. This is a book for adults; there is sexual abuse, physical abuse, loads of swearing, and plenty of gory violence.
There were some things that I didn't enjoy with this book. Azoth/Kylar makes a lot of incredibly stupid mistakes; he does it so often that I was left wondering how anyone could ever think he was a good assassin (again reminds of Fitz from the Farseer trilogy). I think a little less blundering on Azoth's part would have made this book more believable and engaging. Additionally the pace of the story starts to drag towards the end. The last fourth of the book Weeks throws so many crazy plot twists at you that I ended up kind of rolling my eyes and thinking "Okay, so can we just get on with the story at some point and progress it instead of twisting it?"
My last problem with the book was that Weeks does not care about killing off characters. I mean seriously he will spend all this page space to develop characters and then just kill them off like it's nothing. Towards the end of the book I thought I was reading a Shakespearean tragedy so many characters were dying. It was unbelievable. I think it is great to use a major character's death to grab the reader, but Weeks killed off so many major characters that I started to expect everyone to die. At that point it was just depressing and predictable and not a good plot device.
Overall this is an excellent epic fantasy read. I really enjoyed the characters, the story, and the world. The writing is very solid...if a bit lengthy at times. The pace of the plot is relentless in the beginning of the book and then drags a bit at the end. I liked this book a lot better the Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy, but not as well as Sanderson's Mistborn Trilogy, Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, or Jim Butcher's Codex Alera. I will definitely be reading the next book, Shadow's Edge, and hope that it is a bit faster paced and that Kylar doesn't screw up so much.
Azoth, and his friends Doll Girl and Jarl, are street rats who lives in the warrens under the abusive hand of a boy named Rat . When Rat goes too far, Azoth vows to apprentice himself to the best wet boy (assassin with magic skills) in the city, Durzo Blint. Azoth does what he has to become Blint's apprentice and ends up taking on the guise of a young noble lord named Kylar. Kylar becomes one of the friends of a powerful young noble named Logan. In the end Azoth/Kylar becomes deeply embroiled in the intrigues happening both in nobility and the underworld. The fate of the country is in the hands of Logan, Kylar, and others. If they can navigate the complex political moves, perhaps they can save the country...and maybe even themselves.
This book had a number of things that I really enjoyed. I enjoy reading about assassins; and there was plenty of that in this book. There are many nifty action scenes, you learn about crazy devices the assassins use, and about the poisons they develop. The magic system wasn't as well-defined as I like, but it did have some interesting elements to it and the reader is still learning how it is all connected at the end of the book.
The point of view changes between many characters throughout the book. In the beginning we mainly see things from Azoth's point of view and Durzo's point of view. As the book continues we see things from many, many points of view (generals, kings, etc.). It was pretty easy to keep track of what was going on. At some points minor things earlier in the book had major impact and Weeks does a good job of reminding you what happened just in case you missed it (or forgot) from earlier.
People who loved Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy should enjoy the characterization in this book as well. All of the characters are a solid mix of bad and good. They are very grey and make stupid mistakes at times; basically they are very, very human. As such they were engaging to read about and in general had enough good to them that you were really pulling for them. There are also some major female players in the book, which was awesome (I hate it when epic fantasies relegate the ladies to minor roles).
The book ended well and completed the story nicely. Of course they are major things that aren't resolved. The writing was very well done, if a bit wordy at times. The plot twists and turns so many different ways that it is impossible to predict the ending; so as a reader you are kept on your toes. This is a book for adults; there is sexual abuse, physical abuse, loads of swearing, and plenty of gory violence.
There were some things that I didn't enjoy with this book. Azoth/Kylar makes a lot of incredibly stupid mistakes; he does it so often that I was left wondering how anyone could ever think he was a good assassin (again reminds of Fitz from the Farseer trilogy). I think a little less blundering on Azoth's part would have made this book more believable and engaging. Additionally the pace of the story starts to drag towards the end. The last fourth of the book Weeks throws so many crazy plot twists at you that I ended up kind of rolling my eyes and thinking "Okay, so can we just get on with the story at some point and progress it instead of twisting it?"
My last problem with the book was that Weeks does not care about killing off characters. I mean seriously he will spend all this page space to develop characters and then just kill them off like it's nothing. Towards the end of the book I thought I was reading a Shakespearean tragedy so many characters were dying. It was unbelievable. I think it is great to use a major character's death to grab the reader, but Weeks killed off so many major characters that I started to expect everyone to die. At that point it was just depressing and predictable and not a good plot device.
Overall this is an excellent epic fantasy read. I really enjoyed the characters, the story, and the world. The writing is very solid...if a bit lengthy at times. The pace of the plot is relentless in the beginning of the book and then drags a bit at the end. I liked this book a lot better the Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy, but not as well as Sanderson's Mistborn Trilogy, Robin Hobb's Farseer Trilogy, or Jim Butcher's Codex Alera. I will definitely be reading the next book, Shadow's Edge, and hope that it is a bit faster paced and that Kylar doesn't screw up so much.
Helpful Score: 1
It's rare that I can finish any fantasy series, but if the next two books are as good as The Way of Shadows the Night Angel series will be one of the better that I have read. The book is a bit longer than needed and the story gets bogged down a time or two but overall a very good debut novel.
Helpful Score: 1
This fantasy story weaves medieval politics, with a bit of magic and assassins. It starts a bit slow, as there is a lot of story to develop regarding the politics. The pace picks up through the middle and the climax at the end. The characters were very well developed. I cannot wait to read the next part of this series.
Brent Rains decided to become an author at an early age and his first novel, book one of a trilogy, shows that he has made a good decision. I am leary of much of the sword and sorcery fantasy being written because it has become all too formulaic, but The Way of Shadows combines a fresh story with intriguing characters and is highly readable. It has a dark edge to the plot that some readers may find off-putting, but those sticking with the book will be well rewarded. Recommended.
I really loved this book. The character development, the story, the world and history, it's all so very well done that it was hard to put down.
Good book. The important characters in the book are fleshed out wonderfully, and the relationships between them are intriguing.
The world they live in could have been fleshed out a little more to make more sense to the reader. And some of the fighting scenes could have been written better. Overall a good page turner. Hopefully the author will iron out minor flaws in the next book.
The world they live in could have been fleshed out a little more to make more sense to the reader. And some of the fighting scenes could have been written better. Overall a good page turner. Hopefully the author will iron out minor flaws in the next book.
Love, love, love this book. A extremely well told story of intrigue, politics, love lost and love to be gained. Goes way beyond my expectations, much to my delight. Love the true development of the protagonist and the mystery of the antagonist. An absolute must read for anyone who enjoys edge of your seat reading and surprise. As a true romantic, I am pleasantly surprised as to the story being developed in such a believable fashion as to not scare me off. Again, love this book. Have started book two and it is promising to be equally as good. Good reading to anyone who has the opportunity to read this tale.
