Reviews

Shadows Return by Lynn Flewelling

premium_huhn's review against another edition

3.0

Wie gesagt ein sehr düsteres Buch, in dem, ich lehne mich mal an eine der anderen Rezensionen auf Goodreads an, die Protagonisten entführt, versklavt, vergiftet, gefoltert, gedemütigt und missbraucht werden - und das ist nur die erste Hälfte. Mir persönlich wars stellenweise zu viel. Insbesondere deswegen, weil die beiden Helden der Geschichte die meiste Zeit über absolut chancenlos sind. Sie können sich weder wehren, noch flüchten und haben keine Aussichten auf Besserung und keine Hoffnung, zumal sie über weite Teile des Buches nicht einmal sicher sind, ob der jeweils andere überhaupt noch am Leben ist. Und dieses alchemistische Experiment ist rundweg... weird. Nichtsdestotrotz war das Buch spannend und ab einem gewissen Punkt gehts auch wieder bergauf. Dennoch... die ein oder andere "der Protagonist wird halbtot geprügelt"-Szene weniger hätte dem Ganzen sicher nicht geschadet.

weremallard's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

linda_1410's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This was just as grim and infuriating to read this time around as the first time. Though at least this time, I at least knew how it would end to help me get through it. There's not much room for the trademark humor in this one, and the trials our heroes go through will forever mark them, Alec especially. Seeing Alec and Seregil brought to such lows was hard to read. :(

I hated Yuckibin (as we decided to call him in our BR group) and couldn't wait for him to get what was coming to him.

And, boy, was it satisfying to see Seregil gut him like a fish.

As for

Ilar, I don't like him in the slightest, and I'm not even sure I pity him. He did help Alec and Seregil though, and I do sympathize with what he's become and what he's had to endure all these long years. He didn't deserve any of that. But he did deserve Alec shoving him in the water and decking him. Leave Seregil alone, Ilar! Hopefully, we'll not see him again.

And also hopefully,

Ulan will get what's coming to him. It's so frustrating to think there might not be anything that can be done to him through official channels, but there are always unofficial ones.

😈

As for

Sebrehan, that's going to cause problems going forward. He's a powerful creature and people are going want him if/when word gets out of the things he's capable of doing. I forgot the part about him having a dragon in him somehow? Probably not literally, though, but who knows.

Anything's possible in this world, which is part of the fun.

Adam Danoff took over as narrator for this series with this book, thank the lord. He's not the most performative narrator out there, but he's easy to listen to and does a decent job with the voices. 

Thanks for the BR, Rosa and Elena! <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body horror and Slavery

mary_soon_lee's review against another edition

4.0

Summer reading book reviews, book #8, "Shadows Return" by Lynn Flewelling.... This is the fourth book in the Nightrunner series, and, as with the first three books, I enjoyed it very much. I love the relationship between the two main characters in the series, Alec and Seregil. While still caught up by the story, I was a little disappointed that there was a lengthy section where Alec and Seregil were separated from each other.

cactusjuicer's review against another edition

5.0

Review to come...

_samshine's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

3.75

theheartbreakprins's review against another edition

adventurous challenging tense

4.5

eosin's review

adventurous dark emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

wannabekingpin's review against another edition

4.0

The story was really pretty great, reminded me of Anne Rice’s “Claiming Beauty” trilogy, and C.S. Pacat “Captive Prince” too. I’ll give it a firm 4 out of 5, and hope it continues with these great topics!
Night Mode Reading

cozy_reading_times's review against another edition

4.0

4.5*
Favourite Nightrunner book together with Luck in the Shadows.
Very tight, loaded with tension and emotion, good themes and an upgraded writing style from the first three books.
I missed a bit the meandering comfort of this world and it wasn't overly complex.
On the other hand, it was quite a page turner.