Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-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
Hmmm, what do I think? I think the story was really good, I think that Brent Weeks has some really sold storytelling / writing skills. However, something felt seriously lacking for me; I couldn't quite put my finger on it until I read this review
Apart from the overly relying on fantasy tropes, I didn't really mind up until the epilogue, there is almost no character building. All characters are more or less the exact same at the end of the story as they are at the start. There is a very small arc at the start when Azoth goes from "innocent kid" to "avenger" when he kills Rat, and there is Durzo that gets some paternal feelings for his boy apprentice, but other than that it's just bland.
The thing that bugged me while reading was the lack of a connection with any of the characters. I mean, the story is really good (maybe a bit stereotype, but that's ok sometimes), the setup is good, the writing style brings things to life, but without a link to the character, in the end, it's just words.
I still enjoyed it and I think that's because the story was interesting enough to make me continue with part 2.
Apart from the overly relying on fantasy tropes, I didn't really mind up until the epilogue, there is almost no character building. All characters are more or less the exact same at the end of the story as they are at the start. There is a very small arc at the start when Azoth goes from "innocent kid" to "avenger" when he kills Rat, and there is Durzo that gets some paternal feelings for his boy apprentice, but other than that it's just bland.
The thing that bugged me while reading was the lack of a connection with any of the characters. I mean, the story is really good (maybe a bit stereotype, but that's ok sometimes), the setup is good, the writing style brings things to life, but without a link to the character, in the end, it's just words.
I still enjoyed it and I think that's because the story was interesting enough to make me continue with part 2.
Weeks might as well have put a "No Girls Allowed" sign on the front cover of this book. Disgustingly sexist. I was already irked by the sexism in the Lightbringer series and frankly I don't know why I had hope for a series he wrote years before that one.
"He was suddenly silenced as breasts went past. No, not just breasts. The breasts. They were perfect." REALLY? And this is a man in his early 20s (lorded throughout the book as the kindest and most well liked person ever) looking at a 15 year old. Yuck!! I get that the setting is medieval-esque and nobles marrying and such that young might be commonplace, but that felt so out of character considering the POV, and it was just a terrible introduction of her (although I dont think that Weeks was capable, at this point of his writing career, of describing a new female without mentioning her breasts at least twice).
It gets a 2 star instead of 1 because of 2 very memorable scenes that I did genuinely enjoy, but otherwise I don't feel much at all for the characters. Maybe I'll suck it up and finish this trilogy at some point but right now it's feeling like a big DNF.
"He was suddenly silenced as breasts went past. No, not just breasts. The breasts. They were perfect." REALLY? And this is a man in his early 20s (lorded throughout the book as the kindest and most well liked person ever) looking at a 15 year old. Yuck!! I get that the setting is medieval-esque and nobles marrying and such that young might be commonplace, but that felt so out of character considering the POV, and it was just a terrible introduction of her (although I dont think that Weeks was capable, at this point of his writing career, of describing a new female without mentioning her breasts at least twice).
It gets a 2 star instead of 1 because of 2 very memorable scenes that I did genuinely enjoy, but otherwise I don't feel much at all for the characters. Maybe I'll suck it up and finish this trilogy at some point but right now it's feeling like a big DNF.
Got to page 172. The writing is decent, but I just don't care about the story. I don't care what happens, don't care about the characters. I feel absolutely no connection with this book, so back to the library it goes.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Super gruesome and dark; don’t get attached to anyone lol
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-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:
No
Brent Weeks delivers an intense, action-packed fantasy in The Way of Shadows. The story follows Azoth (Kylar), a street orphan who trains under the infamous assassin Durzo Blint, navigating a dark world of crime, power, and betrayal. The book contains brutal fight scenes, political intrigue, and unexpected twists set in a vividly built world.
There's a lot to love here - the characters are compelling, the magic system is intriguing (although I don't think I fully understand it), and the pacing (for the most part) keeps you hooked. Weeks doesn't shy away from the grim realities of his world, and the grittiness adds to the immersion (sometimes). However, I do think the book could have been a little shorter. Some sections felt unnecessarily long, and while I appreciated detailed world-building, there were moments where I found myself wanting the story to move along more quickly. (I've discovered I have this feeling when reading fantasy written by male authors more often than not when compared to female authors)
One thing I wasn't expecting but loved was the sheer number of one-liners that had me chortling—some even made me laugh out loud. Weeks has a sharp wit and knows precisely when to drop a list that cuts deep. There were moments when I had visceral reactions to specific dialogue, whether it was a brutal truth bomb, a scathing insult, or just a perfectly timed bit of dark humor. It added a lot of personality to the story and kept me engaged, even in the slower parts.
Then, a creative choice towards the end almost made me throw the book across the room and never pick it up. I won't spoil it, but it was one of those moments where I genuinely debated if I wanted to keep reading. Fortunately, Weeks managed to redeem himself, and by the time I turned the final page, I felt satisfied (I understand the point of the choice now, but I am still skeptical though)
Overall, The Way of Shadows is a solid fantasy novel with strong characters and an engaging plot, even if it's a bit longer than it needs to be (for my taste).
There's a lot to love here - the characters are compelling, the magic system is intriguing (although I don't think I fully understand it), and the pacing (for the most part) keeps you hooked. Weeks doesn't shy away from the grim realities of his world, and the grittiness adds to the immersion (sometimes). However, I do think the book could have been a little shorter. Some sections felt unnecessarily long, and while I appreciated detailed world-building, there were moments where I found myself wanting the story to move along more quickly. (I've discovered I have this feeling when reading fantasy written by male authors more often than not when compared to female authors)
One thing I wasn't expecting but loved was the sheer number of one-liners that had me chortling—some even made me laugh out loud. Weeks has a sharp wit and knows precisely when to drop a list that cuts deep. There were moments when I had visceral reactions to specific dialogue, whether it was a brutal truth bomb, a scathing insult, or just a perfectly timed bit of dark humor. It added a lot of personality to the story and kept me engaged, even in the slower parts.
Then, a creative choice towards the end almost made me throw the book across the room and never pick it up. I won't spoil it, but it was one of those moments where I genuinely debated if I wanted to keep reading. Fortunately, Weeks managed to redeem himself, and by the time I turned the final page, I felt satisfied (I understand the point of the choice now, but I am still skeptical though)
Overall, The Way of Shadows is a solid fantasy novel with strong characters and an engaging plot, even if it's a bit longer than it needs to be (for my taste).
At moments, I felt like I was reading a darker and less detailed version of Assassin’s Apprentice. Very similar characters and story progression. I think, because of that, I didn’t care as much about this book as it deserved. I enjoyed it while reading but it took me a little over a month to get through it because there was nothing motivating me to pick it back up. Still, it is enjoyable and decently written. The pacing is also quite a bit faster than AA. And this definitely stands on its own. I will get around to the rest of the series for sure.
The Way of Shadows was… well, meh. I actually only finished it because I was sick in bed and didn't feel like reading anything I might have to think about. Fortunately for me (although unfortunate for the book in general), Weeks saved up all the good stuff for the last 200 or so pages (out of 700). Up until then, all you've got is a mysterious master assassin (or "wetboy"—this is a quibble, but why would magical assassins call themselves such a dumb, demeaning name?) who spends all his time brooding about whether or not to kill his apprentice, and said apprentice, who spends all HIS time trying to figure out WTF he's doing, wondering if his master is going to kill him this time, and generally being such a wuss you can't figure out why he isn't dead long since.
If you absolutely must have assassin fantasy, forget Weeks and go read Robin Hobb for a thorough schooling in intrigue, technique, and emotional character development.
I'll probably read the next book in this series because, as I said, it finally started getting good at the end. Besides, I read fast.
If you absolutely must have assassin fantasy, forget Weeks and go read Robin Hobb for a thorough schooling in intrigue, technique, and emotional character development.
I'll probably read the next book in this series because, as I said, it finally started getting good at the end. Besides, I read fast.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated