The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

In the back-alley slums of Cenaria, a guild rat named Azoth hopes to survive by becoming the apprentice of Durzo Blint, who is the best of the wetboys — the most elite of assassins. To do this he must unquestioningly follow Durzo’s every command, accept that life — anyone’s life — is worthless, and forget everyone he knew in his old life. He must become Kylar Stern: gentleman by day, stone-cold killer by night. Though Azoth doesn't know it, as Kylar he is destined for much bigger things.

I like stories with strong criminal elements, action, and intrigue — all of which The Way of Shadows has. The plot has so much potential, but I went from interested, to briefly revolted, to almost started to like it, to bored, and ended up forcing myself to finish the book.

The only characters I actually cared about were a few minor ones. The villain... Read More

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

Azoth, a young boy growing up in the poor ghetto of a large city, witnesses a violent confrontation between a master assassin and some thugs sent to kill him. He soon realizes that the only way to be free of the constant fear and desperation he lives with is to become an assassin himself. Thus begins Brent Weeks’ The Way of Shadows and the journey of young Azoth from child-thief to deadly assassin.

Mingled amidst the decadence and decay of the corrupt capital of Cenaria, Azoth stumbles and struggles to become what he can in order to make a better life for himself. Meanwhile, politics, betrayal, and magic are also afoot in Cenaria, and things don’t turn out quite for the best.

The Way of Shadows is long and meanders back and forth between the different plotlines, but... Read More

Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks

I read Brent Weeks’s debut novel The Way of Shadows some time ago. It was not a brilliant book but it kept me entertained enough to try the second part in the NIGHT ANGEL trilogy, Shadow's Edge. On the whole I liked Shadow's Edge much better than The Way of Shadows. With the wider scope of the story, it is a much more satisfying read, though it still has a number of annoying flaws.

The story picks up right where we left the characters at the end of book one. The army of the Godking (as he styles himself; there is little proof of his divinity that I can see) Ursull has taken the city of Cenaria in an orgy of violence and blood. The nation appears subdued, all resistance broken. Kylar has decided to give up his life as an assassin and prepares to move away from the c... Read More

Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks

I hate to leave a series unfinished if it is at all palatable, and while the first two books of the NIGHT ANGEL trilogy were not brilliant, I still couldn't stay away from the final book. In Beyond the Shadows Weeks continues the relentless action we saw in the first two books. After reading Shadow’s Edge, which was a lot better than the first volume, The Way of Shadows, I had hoped the series would continue improving. Unfortunately, Beyond the Shadows is a bit of an unfocussed book, better than the first book but not quite as good as the second.

Cenaria is saved, and while Logan may not have been able to claim the throne, many things now seem possible. This sense of optimism does not last long. Soon it becomes apparent that several parties are trying to relieve the weakened n... Read More