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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Nice book, nothing special. Although the plot sometimes was a bit hard to follow due to the large amount of magic used in the writing in general I’d say the story was good. Some plot twists were quite good while others I saw coming from a mile away.
The style of writing was sometimes a touch confusing and even though this took some of the immersion away, I got back in to it quickly and the book read decently.
The style of writing was sometimes a touch confusing and even though this took some of the immersion away, I got back in to it quickly and the book read decently.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Azoth as an assassin in training is a little timid, and a bit helpless, but his mentor Blint makes up for that weakness strong will and unflinching adherence to the way of the wetboy (assassins with special powers). There is murder, mystery, magic, and more in this book, and I loved every word. What reviewers say on here is true though, at times the book will cut to a viewpoint that seems unimportant and boring, it does take a bit away from the flow of the story. I only minded this a few times, when we were transported to placed we haven't heard of and had to read about people we didn't know, that ended up not having a big part in the plot. That is definitely not a reason to not read this book. If you decide to read this book you are in for an epic journey of a boy who doesn't really want to be an assassin, who is forced to get over his old life and assume a new role. You will get to follow a boy who is eager to please his master, even when his master may seem to be on the wrong side of things. I can not wait to read the rest of this series, what a great start!
I decided to read this book despite the first several reviews on Goodreads being 1 and 2 stars because I had friends who had rated it 4 and 5 stars, and I'll always trust friends more than random snobs on the internet.
I'm glad I took the chance. While the middle of the book seemed to drag on for a bit, oh boy did it pick up and go in a direction I wasn't expecting. It got real. I will certainly be picking up the 2nd book in this series before too long
I'm glad I took the chance. While the middle of the book seemed to drag on for a bit, oh boy did it pick up and go in a direction I wasn't expecting. It got real. I will certainly be picking up the 2nd book in this series before too long
enjoyed, but not as much as the lightbringer series! may have just overdosed on fantasy though
I wanted to like this so badly. I'm an aspiring writer working on an assassin story, and I hoped to get some inspiration from this story, but I'm closing it at around 60%. I'm really hoping I can pick it back up at some point, but for right now it's not doing it for me. Lots of other reviews noted quitting it around the same time.
I will say, I do NOT have a problem with any of the dark themes such as murder, rape, sexism, and the grim world Way of The Shadows is set in. I love dark and grim fantasy, and actually really loved the idea of the Warren's where the story is set. Perhaps this style of writing goes over my head, but I felt like I had to work twice as hard to put this world and magic system together. I feel like I've read more complex fantasies that just click and make sense in my head, and this book felt like studying, like homework, and eventually I didn't enjoy picking it up.
I like Kylar, Durzo, Momma K, and the main cast of characters, but I feel like I'm constantly yearning for so much more from them. Just when someone is about to have some great character development, or emotional breakthrough, we're back into 3 chapters of far too detailed politics and world building.
I'm so so curious about the rest of the series as I love assassin stories, but I have to put this book to the side for now. I'm not the fastest reader, I usually finish a book of this size in 2-4 weeks, and I've been in this one for 6 and just need to pick up something else
I will say, I do NOT have a problem with any of the dark themes such as murder, rape, sexism, and the grim world Way of The Shadows is set in. I love dark and grim fantasy, and actually really loved the idea of the Warren's where the story is set. Perhaps this style of writing goes over my head, but I felt like I had to work twice as hard to put this world and magic system together. I feel like I've read more complex fantasies that just click and make sense in my head, and this book felt like studying, like homework, and eventually I didn't enjoy picking it up.
I like Kylar, Durzo, Momma K, and the main cast of characters, but I feel like I'm constantly yearning for so much more from them. Just when someone is about to have some great character development, or emotional breakthrough, we're back into 3 chapters of far too detailed politics and world building.
I'm so so curious about the rest of the series as I love assassin stories, but I have to put this book to the side for now. I'm not the fastest reader, I usually finish a book of this size in 2-4 weeks, and I've been in this one for 6 and just need to pick up something else
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I lost the plot a bit more than I'd like to admit, and some parts of this book have aged poorly, but this was a fun time overall. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series!
If nothing else, this gave me a great appreciation for how much Weeks' writing has improved in a short time. He used "anyway" three times in two sentences at one point here. I tried though. I got about 60% in before I couldn't do it anymore. I started dreading opening the damn book. That's never good. Far too derivative, far too predictable, and, even though this doesn't really occur to me that often, far too sexist for me to continue.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced