Reviews

Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks

josiew09's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

4.25

notreallyricky's review against another edition

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adventurous dark 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

4.25

callentha's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional fast-paced

4.5

j0bie's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

angelic712's review against another edition

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4.0

Good ending. Nice tight ending. No loose ends.

areadingbunny's review against another edition

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5.0

The best book in the series! Finally, I was hooked from the start to the end.

I don't particularly appreciate that some things make sense after two books. The author should explain more important things in the first book already. The world-building lacks from the first to the last book. With all the necessary information scattered through all three books, it's easy to miss important hints.

However, I did enjoy the book a lot. Finally, I know more about the other characters like Dorian, Solon, and Feir. They have an important role during this book, but it wasn't obvious until the third book.

We can see Vi's transformation to her better self. I so desperately wanted Vi and Kylar together despite everything. Yeah, I know. There is sweet Elene, Kylar's first love. In the end, Elene is like the most important key character to solve everything, which was a bit shocking to me. I wasn't too fond of her because she was unnaturally kind in this whole horrible world. Please don't get me wrong, Elene is a sweet character, but somehow she didn't fit in this story.

There is also Logan, who eventually, thanks to Kylar, becomes the king of Cenaria. He is also a strange character in this world. With his strong moral compass, he outstands every other character in the book. I'm surprised that the author had created two characters like this. I did love Logan more than Elene. She didn't convince me as a character.

Vi, on the other hand, had everything you would expect from a girl in this world. She is strong, fearless, sweet, thoughtful, and sacrifices her feelings for Kylar to give him a normal relationship with Elene. That was the most amazing act of love I have ever seen in a book. I absolutely adored her and wanted her to find happiness.

If you read the previous books, you know that Durzo Blint is alive. Eventually, Kylar learns more from his former master and his past. Some things become clear for the reader, which was before only mentioned as hints.

You get hints on who might be the mysterious Wolf. Kylar learns his unpleasant price for being immortal. So many great things happen in this book!

There is plotting against the queen of Cenaria, plotting against the Godking in Khalindor. Solon has difficulties in Sethi. I so enjoyed the political side of this story. Everything that was going on had an impact on the future of all Midcyru. All those little pieces finally make sense to me.

This book's most surprising thing was that this whole world was actually more magical than the author had originally interpreted in the first two books! We have some creatures created with the help of magic. Some daemons are used to create these creatures. They are called Stangers, and Dorian can even see them!

There are a lot more people with the Talent! First, I thought that only rarely some people have it, but I was wrong. We are more introduced to the Sister from Chantry and the forming Chattel, which is amazing!

We do get a glimpse of other countries in Micyru. There is Lantano Garuwashi from Ceura. Then there's the ambassador from Alitaera. We know who lives in the Freeze and Ymmur. Thanks to Solon, we learn more about The Island Empire of Seth. I wish I knew this information sooner. The previous books would have been more interesting!

I was horrified at what had become of Dorian. For me, he was the leader of this story who wanted only the good. He was forced to mingle with his Talent to foresee. He became the Godking and did all those horrible things his father did despite that he despises him. That was interesting character development and the most visible too.

I'm giving this book a 5-star rating because it was the best book in the series, and I couldn't put it down. Some confusing parts from the previous books become clear in this book. I only wish that the author explained the world and some other thing sooner in the first book to enjoy this series from the start to the end.

alexreadsnstuff's review against another edition

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adventurous dark slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

2.5

morganba's review against another edition

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1.0

This is the worst book I've read that I can remember. There are some interesting ideas and world building but they're completely hamstring by the misogyny and weak writing. My god the misogyny. Any time there is a woman within sight of the main male characters, they're looking at their breasts, their ass, thinking about sex, or thinking about all the sex the woman might have had with the other male characters. I pushed through this last book because I'm a completionist but I would highly recommend you just avoid starting the series at all.

mrjspancakehouse's review against another edition

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3.0

This entire series was bitter sweet. At times I absolutely despised Brent Weeks writing. Given this was my first Weeks book and after hearing great reviews I picked up the full trilogy. Almost a whopping 9 months later I pushed myself to read these books. The first was an interesting story about a young nobody growing up in the footsteps of a mysteriously powerful man.

First off I hate, hate, hate the character names in this story. Durzo blint... Kylar stern honestly Weeks could have used a Fantasy name generator and produced better names. Secondly the amount of unnecessary sexual awkwardness in book 2 felt like I was watching Titanic as a 8 year old kid all over again.

This is not to say Weeks created an awful Trilogy, just one I probably wouldn't recommend to anyone unless you are into assassins or as Weeks call's them "Wetboys .. seriously wtf?". Anyway Weeks has some fun plot twists that mainly pick up in the end of Book 1 and Book 3. You just need to power through the first 1/2 of book 2 to find the fun parts.

All in all this book was enjoyable but not close to Book 1's captivity.

I would rate this series a 2.75 / 5

vishesh1237's review against another edition

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5.0

Still up