Review: Beyond the Shadows - Brent Weeks + KT Grant winner

Night Angel, book 3

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 608
Published: 2008

Logan Gyre is king of Cenaria, a country under siege, with a threadbare army and little hope. He has one chance - a desperate gamble, but one that could destroy his kingdom.

In the north, the new Godking has a plan. If it comes to fruition, no one will have the power to stop him.

Kylar Stern has no choice. To save his friends-and perhaps his enemies-he must accomplish the impossible: assassinate a goddess. 

This is the third and last book. The two first were good and heart wrenching, I was always sick to my stomach for fear of the main characters life, and for the horrible things happening. In this one that feeling wasn't around, it was "lighter".

In this book Kylar wants Logan to take the throne, and he is willing to to whatever it takes to make that happen. Even if it means killing the queen and loosing his own life. Cenaria has enemies surrounding them, and as always the north is stirring.

Kylar was great as always, only he can die over and over again and still be surprised. I was never relaly a fan of Elene but after this book, she was remarkable. Love really is all conquering. Logan, well he is sure to become a great king. Dorian, the Godkings son is heading north and searching for the woman he dreamed about, Jeni. I felt sorry for him in thsi one, he really wanted to change the country but fell into every trap. Vi Sovari still swears and I have a new appreciation for her. All in all this book has a great cast of interesting characters.

Khali, oh I have been curious about her for a while. Could she really be a goddess and all that, since no other gods are around. And the strange Wolf that gives Kylar life again. It is truly a strange and magical world.

This is epic fantasy. Kingdoms fall, wars are fought, people die and are massacred. It is a dark fantasy series but with truth in it. Like I have said in previous reviews. War is a bitch, people suffer, people die, and civilians pay the consequences. That is shown here.

My only negative thing is the end. It was good and all, but I kind of wanted to know what happens next with Kylar. All stories in the book are getting an ending but it still leaves room for something more, perhaps 20 years later. I sure hope he gets back to this world because I can see a lot of more things happening.

Cover Corner: I do like fantasy and men in hoods.

Reason for reading: Own copy

Final thoughts: Good fantasy

The winner of For the Love of Mollie is 

Cecile

Congrats!!!

Review: Shadow's Edge - Brent Weeks

Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks

Night angel triology, book 2

Genre: Fantasy
Pages: 608
Published: 2008

Kylar Stern has rejected the assassin's life. The Godking's successful coup has left Kylar's master, Durzo, and his best friend, Logan, dead. He is starting over, new city, new friends, and new profession.

But when he learns that Logan might actually be alive and in hiding, Kylar is faced with an agonizing choice: will he give up the way of shadows forever and live in peace with his new family, or will he risk everything by taking on the ultimate hit?

This book took some time to read, not cos it was big, but cos it was so emotionally draining. I read 50 pages and had to stop. And took a break for some time. The reason, well let me put it like this. I saw a glimmer of hope, then I turned around and Weeks stabbed me in the back and left me bleeding.I should have learned not to trust it but I kept turning around and getting hit again and again.

He is an excellent writer and he has created a rich world, but there is darkness, such darkness that I had to take those breaks from it.

And the darkness he creates it not a darkness that I read and think no way (well except for those cannibals, but then that happens too, like that plane crash in the Andes.) But here the deal was war, and what happens during and after it. People do not live happily ever after. No there is death, rape, and bloody murder. It is brutal and it happens every day in real life too. The thing is just that Brent Weeks put it here for all to see, and he really pushes it.

It is not a gore fest in blood and guts. Yes there is death, and horrible things. But he tells about them, without going in to details, because that would really have been bad. Now they are just there in this dark, dark world without hope.

But ok, something about the story then, Kylar has left the fallen city and gone to another with Elene and young Uly.. But then he hears that Logan might be alive, but in a place worse than hell. Can he really turn his back on his nice new life and go back to what he used to be? The answer is pretty obvious, he may be a killer but he is also nice and wants to help his friends. He is loyal, and righteous (well most of the time, I mean he was an assassin.)

This story started away from the horror, but went there via the side characters, while Weeks dealt blow and blow of hopelessness. But he has such strong characters that never give up even after the horrors that are happening to them. And there is still one more book, this one left with hope again but there are things to be seen too. I just have one hope, that he keeps Kylar alive, because I want him to be happy.

One other thing is how he made me see one character in a new light, one I should, have hated, but even among this hopelessness there is forgiveness. All hope is not lost.

Great series, even if it is dark. Take your time reading it, or perhaps you are not like me and I can deal with these things. I always have a hard time to deal with sadness, and darkness. Which is weird since I love fantasy and big war scenes, but I still wanna live in lala land and see HEAs and freakin unicorns.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: What can I say, I like it.

Reason for reading. My own book

Final thoughts: Dark fantasy, but awesome.

Review: The Way of Shadows - Brent Weeks

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

The Night Angel trilogy, book 1

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 645

Published: 2008

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art-and he is the city's most accomplished artist.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly - and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.

But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics - and cultivate a flair for death.

There is a reason for why fantasy is my one true love, I may cheat on fantasy but I always come back and I love it the most. This book I got from googling "fantasy authors who write like Raymond E Feist and Robert Jordan". This series I was told I would like if I liked Feist and Jordan. The truth, I did like it, and I can see Feist in it. So thank you google.

This is not a pretty book, right there in the beginning the harsh reality of street kids is shown and it is horrible beyond imagining. Kids hurting kids. Azoth is a thief grown up in the slum and who knows he has no real future. One night he encounters the mysterious Durzo Blint, the greatest assassin, or wetboys as these masters are called. He sees a way out and after some events he seeks Durzo out and he is given an ultimatum. He begins his training and Azoth dies and he severs all ties with his past. Even with Doll Girl who he only wants to see saved. As Kylar Stern, a noble, he has a new path.

As I said, the beginning is harsh and raw. It sets the tone, because he does kill people in later life. And he is not some nice assassin who only kills the wicked. He kills those he is told to kill, and if someone innocent crosses his path that person dies too. Still I have to like Kylar, he is a hero, the way he wants to save poor Doll Girl, and the rest of the gang. And he is likeable, more so than his master Durzo. But then he has been a killer for a much longer time.

This is the kind of fantasy that I enjoy, magic, darkness, war, a lot going on. Yes perfect for me. Epic fantasy that left me wanting more. The kingdom is in turmoil and to the north there is a shadow, a godking who wants more. Which means war, and political intrigue and assassinations.

Weeks has created a nice world where cultures has mixed and in the city where this takes place 9 rule the underworld, and I like his creation. The wetboys are also interesting because they all have talents, magic.

The first part of thsi book was amazing and I was swept away, the second part wasn't as good. Do not get me wrong, it was still good, just not that I can't stop, go away all who wants to disturb me amazing. I think it might have been because I got a bit upset with a certain person who accused Kylar of something he didn't do. And because the second part mostly took place around one fatal night. While the rest of the book moved along. Still, yes the whole book was great anyway. Don't think otherwise.

Read one review where he was called  a sadistic genius, but let's not go all George RR Martin on him now, I didn't see him like that.Yes he kills people, but not everyone like the king of character massacres. But he does dare to kill off some people in this book, that is true.

Great fantasy, how I love amazing fantasy, and wonderful characters. I want to read more by him! I wish I could convert everyone to fantasy readers, there is truly no better genre to read. Fantasy rocks my socks off, yes go read this series.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Fantasy :D

Reason for Reading: My own copy.

Final thoughts: I just came back from the bookstore, I had them order me book 2. That pretty much sums it up.