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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I consumed this book in a day. Cancelled life and just drowned in this world. Amazing world building, loved the writing and of course the characters.
Azoth defends his friends from the guild's leader, Rat. He dreams of safety, living a life where people are afraid of him. He makes a deal with the notorious assassin, Durzo Blint.
He becomes Kylar - a noble with no fortune, and sees a different way of life. Friends, people who care about him.
Complex politics and friendships, Kylar learns the art of death while finding his destiny.
Azoth defends his friends from the guild's leader, Rat. He dreams of safety, living a life where people are afraid of him. He makes a deal with the notorious assassin, Durzo Blint.
He becomes Kylar - a noble with no fortune, and sees a different way of life. Friends, people who care about him.
Complex politics and friendships, Kylar learns the art of death while finding his destiny.
Lots and lots of twists and surprises BUT I just couldn't get into it. I gave it a three and that might be harsh but I am going to read some of the reviews for Night Angel 2 to see if it takes my fancy
I enjoyed the story, but felt like the writing was very confusing at times. I now suspect that was intentional, because there are a couple of key scenes that are revisited later in the book where what was happening is clarified. If so, the effect didn't work for me: I found it annoying rather than affecting. If I'm wrong, well that's not good either.
Other parts, however, I felt were very well-written. I particularly liked the description of how Dorian's prophetic powers worked. I also liked the revelation of Count Drake's backstory about halfway through the book, as it dangled out the possibility that some of the other characters might find redemption in what is otherwise a very dark world.
Other parts, however, I felt were very well-written. I particularly liked the description of how Dorian's prophetic powers worked. I also liked the revelation of Count Drake's backstory about halfway through the book, as it dangled out the possibility that some of the other characters might find redemption in what is otherwise a very dark world.
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not much going on until the last third of the book but still entertaining. Last third of the book was non stop and tense.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Durzo Blint is an accomplished assassin, using magic and skill to hunt his targets. Azoth is a guild rat, abused and tormented he seeks a way out before he is broken. He has to turn his back on his past and embrace a new life, full of intrigue and danger.
Yes, it is a debut novel, yes there are moments where it falls down and bit and drags along or makes leaps that have you re-reading the last couple of pages but it lost me sleep!
Yes, it is a debut novel, yes there are moments where it falls down and bit and drags along or makes leaps that have you re-reading the last couple of pages but it lost me sleep!
Brent Weeks' gift is crazy pace. Cannot put these books down. Awesome trilogy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Brent Weeks has a great writing style that keeps you focused on the story. In this story in particular, it was difficult to grow an attachment to any of the characters. By about 2/3 of the way through, I felt completely disinterested in the resolution of this plot. The POV changes between characters felt disjointed and inorganic.
This is the author’s first published work, so that should be taken into consideration. On the contrary, his Lightbringer series is very likely my all time favorite fantasy series to date. There is a stark different between these two series.
This is the author’s first published work, so that should be taken into consideration. On the contrary, his Lightbringer series is very likely my all time favorite fantasy series to date. There is a stark different between these two series.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
I would summarize this book as a fairly cliché dark (ish) fantasy, with some vaguely interesting ideas. Generally, not a huge fan of the prose or structure of the story. The pacing was good though, and considering it was a quite long book that I didn’t particularly enjoy, it was a fast read. I was also not convinced by any of the characters, who all felt rather flat and underdeveloped. All of that can be put aside though, because Oh Boy, this author did not like women.
Though I know I’ve made it a bit of a hobby of mine to read books by famously sexist men, this book was not one I chose with that prior knowledge. It was, however, one of the more sexist books I’ve ever read. This book had almost headache-inducing levels of sexisms. I would be impressed if I weren’t so angry.
If I never have to read another woman (or – in this book more often – girl) be introduced by a description of her boobs, it won’t be a second too soon. I don’t know if that is the only way Brent knows how to introduce women, but it sure felt like it. The female characters were often young (generally between 15 and 17 years old), immature, and insecure (they kept asking people if they thought they were ugly??), while also being incredibly sexualized and portrayed as temptresses.
This book really had a “shut up and look pretty” approach to women and girls, clearly illustrated by the character of Doll Girl. As her name indicates, Doll Girl has a beautiful face; she is also mute (at least until it was no longer convenient for her to be so). As she doesn’t talk, she has no opinions or input, she’s a pretty face that the main character gets to save from monstrous men. While Doll Girl is maybe the clearest case of this, women in this book really exist only to 1) look pretty/sexy, 2) be emotional and function as moral compasses, and 3) be something for the male characters to save.
The only thing I can’t really fault this book for is the sexual violence aimed at women, and that’s only because there is an equal amount of sexual violence aimed at men.
This is really a prime example of the type of fantasy novel where I find myself wishing that there just weren’t any female characters, because the book would have been a more enjoyable reading experience if my blood hadn’t been boiling the whole way through.
Though I know I’ve made it a bit of a hobby of mine to read books by famously sexist men, this book was not one I chose with that prior knowledge. It was, however, one of the more sexist books I’ve ever read. This book had almost headache-inducing levels of sexisms. I would be impressed if I weren’t so angry.
If I never have to read another woman (or – in this book more often – girl) be introduced by a description of her boobs, it won’t be a second too soon. I don’t know if that is the only way Brent knows how to introduce women, but it sure felt like it. The female characters were often young (generally between 15 and 17 years old), immature, and insecure (they kept asking people if they thought they were ugly??), while also being incredibly sexualized and portrayed as temptresses.
This book really had a “shut up and look pretty” approach to women and girls, clearly illustrated by the character of Doll Girl. As her name indicates, Doll Girl has a beautiful face; she is also mute (at least until it was no longer convenient for her to be so). As she doesn’t talk, she has no opinions or input, she’s a pretty face that the main character gets to save from monstrous men. While Doll Girl is maybe the clearest case of this, women in this book really exist only to 1) look pretty/sexy, 2) be emotional and function as moral compasses, and 3) be something for the male characters to save.
The only thing I can’t really fault this book for is the sexual violence aimed at women, and that’s only because there is an equal amount of sexual violence aimed at men.
This is really a prime example of the type of fantasy novel where I find myself wishing that there just weren’t any female characters, because the book would have been a more enjoyable reading experience if my blood hadn’t been boiling the whole way through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Rape, Sexual violence
Minor: Homophobia, Cannibalism