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callunavulgari's review against another edition
5.0
So, unless Shards of Time completely blows me out of the water, I can easily say that Stalking Darkness is going to remain my absolute favorite of this series. That said, this book returns to the roots of the first two books. It's steeped in political intrigue, with the two main characters mingling with nobles, burgling friends and enemies alike, and working for the crown to discover the source of two separate mysteries, the first being a sleeping sickness that affects the poor and the second uncovering two conspiracies against the crown.
It's a good book, and I was happy to see these two delve back into the usual nightrunning business after the last few books where they spent much of their time either separated, or running and hiding from various peoples. The sleeping sickness plot was refreshing, and the business with the cabals balanced it out whenever that got a little boring. Over all, I liked this one more than I've liked any of them since Traitor's Moon.
It's a good book, and I was happy to see these two delve back into the usual nightrunning business after the last few books where they spent much of their time either separated, or running and hiding from various peoples. The sleeping sickness plot was refreshing, and the business with the cabals balanced it out whenever that got a little boring. Over all, I liked this one more than I've liked any of them since Traitor's Moon.
lalexvp's review against another edition
3.0
I can’t bring myself to rate anything in this series lower. It really is a wonderful series, but holy cow it took me a long time to finish this book! I picked it up and put it down 3x, finishing by will alone and not due to any attachment to the plot or even the characters anymore. I was so extremely bored. And, honestly, I found some of the previous in the Nightrunner series to be too action packed, but at least I was engaged with those. I normally don’t mind books heavy on the political intrigue, but this one… just not at all my thing, apparently.
And, wow, so many elements in this were sloppy. The plot, the writing, the relationships - all very sloppy. My kindle copy also didn’t split sections by perspective, so it looked like we were hopping around from one character to the next without warning. I have no idea if that was an e-book thing or not.
And now I have no idea if I’ll pick up the last one. I don’t understand what the plot could entail, but Casket also didn’t really tie up well either so maybe I won’t be disappointed… right? I mean, this series is setup in a very strange way as it is so maybe I need to let go of any expectations.
And, wow, so many elements in this were sloppy. The plot, the writing, the relationships - all very sloppy. My kindle copy also didn’t split sections by perspective, so it looked like we were hopping around from one character to the next without warning. I have no idea if that was an e-book thing or not.
And now I have no idea if I’ll pick up the last one. I don’t understand what the plot could entail, but Casket also didn’t really tie up well either so maybe I won’t be disappointed… right? I mean, this series is setup in a very strange way as it is so maybe I need to let go of any expectations.
zoeshea's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-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? No
4.75
premium_huhn's review against another edition
4.0
Seregil und Alec sind nach den überstandenen Strapazen endlich wieder in Rhíminee, wo sie zwischen ihrer Tarnidentität als adlige Lebemänner und ihrer Berufung als nächtliche Spione und Einbrecher hin- und herwechseln. Und letztere werden dringend benötigt: Zwei geheime Gruppierungen scheinen darum zu streiten, wen sie gern auf dem Thron sehen würden - nicht jeder ist mit der derzeitigen Thronfolge zufrieden, welche die Halbschwester der Königin Phoria zugunsten ihrer Nichte umgehen soll. Während sich der Adel der Stadt in Intrigen gegenseitig anfängt zu zerfleischen, greift in den ärmeren Bezirken eine geheimnisvolle Schlafseuche um sich, der insbesondere Kinder zum Opfer fallen. Alec, der den Verlust Sebrahns noch nicht ganz verkraftet hat, kann nicht anders, als neben den Ermittlungen gegen die Intriganten auch die Ursache der Seuche aufklären zu wollen.
Ich mochte die Bände 4 und 5 nicht so und habe sie daher bei meiner großen Leseaktion diesmal übersprungen, um gleich zu Band 6 zu kommen, den ich beim letzten Mal nicht mehr gelesen hatte. Alles in allem ein solider Band, der auf den Stärken des dritten Bandes, Ermittlungen, Intrigennetze und der angenehmen Dynamik zwischen Seregil und Alec, aufbaut. Irgendwie ermitteln sie diesmal aber nicht so richtig erfolgreich: Es wird zwischenzeitlich etwas ermüdend, ihnen dabei zuzusehen, wie sie erneut versuchen, die merkwürdige Bettlerbande aufzuspüren und am Ende ist es mehr der Zufall als ihr Können, der zur Aufklärung beiträgt. Nichtsdestotrotz liest sich der größere Teil des Buches gewohnt spannend. Vor allem ist die begrenzte und harmlose Intriganterei der Hauptstadt eine Wohltat nach den Schrecken der vorherigen beiden Bände. Es ist schön, Seregil und Alec hier in Aktion und in ihrem Element zu sehen. :)
Also: Nicht ganz so herausragend wie Bände 1-3, aber dennoch für Fans der Reihe sehr lesenswert.
Ich mochte die Bände 4 und 5 nicht so und habe sie daher bei meiner großen Leseaktion diesmal übersprungen, um gleich zu Band 6 zu kommen, den ich beim letzten Mal nicht mehr gelesen hatte. Alles in allem ein solider Band, der auf den Stärken des dritten Bandes, Ermittlungen, Intrigennetze und der angenehmen Dynamik zwischen Seregil und Alec, aufbaut. Irgendwie ermitteln sie diesmal aber nicht so richtig erfolgreich: Es wird zwischenzeitlich etwas ermüdend, ihnen dabei zuzusehen, wie sie erneut versuchen, die merkwürdige Bettlerbande aufzuspüren und am Ende ist es mehr der Zufall als ihr Können, der zur Aufklärung beiträgt. Nichtsdestotrotz liest sich der größere Teil des Buches gewohnt spannend. Vor allem ist die begrenzte und harmlose Intriganterei der Hauptstadt eine Wohltat nach den Schrecken der vorherigen beiden Bände. Es ist schön, Seregil und Alec hier in Aktion und in ihrem Element zu sehen. :)
Also: Nicht ganz so herausragend wie Bände 1-3, aber dennoch für Fans der Reihe sehr lesenswert.
mary_soon_lee's review against another edition
5.0
Summer reading book reviews, book #16, "Casket of Souls" by Lynn Flewelling.... This is the sixth Nightrunner novel. For me, the Nightrunner series is a delight, this book included. It is not that the prose nor the world-building stand out, but rather that I love the characters. Offhand, I can think of only one fictional friendship that has brought me more pleasure than that between Seregil and Alec. The strength of their friendship anchors the series, a friendship that isn't contorted to fit the plot, that isn't diminished by false misunderstandings, a friendship that fills me with happiness. (For the curious, the other literary friendship that stands out for me is the one between Aubrey and Maturin in Patrick O'Brian's outstanding Napoleonic-era naval series.)
shigai's review against another edition
4.0
After Shadow's return and White road, this was a breath of fresh air. I really liked it! Back to political intrigue and the war between nations. I don't give it 5 stars because the end... well. I wasn't 100% pleased. But still!! Good book, it's nice to be back to what I really liked about this series.
the_real_al_cal's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
wannabekingpin's review against another edition
4.0
All reviews in one place: Night Mode Reading
People of Rhimenee, in hardships brought by war time, get struck down with a mysterious plague they call Sleeping Death. People, mostly just poorest of the poor, fall into a sleep-like coma, and stay so until death of starvation or thirst claims them. No one knows where it came from, what’s causing it, or even if it’s contagious. Not many even care to make a fuss about it, ask these questions out loud, until important people start falling ill too.
In the meantime there’s a new theater trope in the city, and everyone seems to love them. Alec and Seregil make sure to get into the fan crowd as part of it too, if only for the sake to have actors, with whom people often talk very openly, and who hear a lot of things too, on their side. Yet both of our beloved characters harbor healthy distance due to suspicion. After all, they got here just barely before plague started, and they did admit they had to run from their previous home.
You can likely guess that the story is very predictable. From the title, to the newcomers, to the author inserting actual chapters of the evil guys doing evil deeds as if she’s letting us in on a secret. But the adventures are usually fun, and characters – pleasant, so I really can’t give it any less than 4 out of 5. Lovely ending too!
People of Rhimenee, in hardships brought by war time, get struck down with a mysterious plague they call Sleeping Death. People, mostly just poorest of the poor, fall into a sleep-like coma, and stay so until death of starvation or thirst claims them. No one knows where it came from, what’s causing it, or even if it’s contagious. Not many even care to make a fuss about it, ask these questions out loud, until important people start falling ill too.
In the meantime there’s a new theater trope in the city, and everyone seems to love them. Alec and Seregil make sure to get into the fan crowd as part of it too, if only for the sake to have actors, with whom people often talk very openly, and who hear a lot of things too, on their side. Yet both of our beloved characters harbor healthy distance due to suspicion. After all, they got here just barely before plague started, and they did admit they had to run from their previous home.
You can likely guess that the story is very predictable. From the title, to the newcomers, to the author inserting actual chapters of the evil guys doing evil deeds as if she’s letting us in on a secret. But the adventures are usually fun, and characters – pleasant, so I really can’t give it any less than 4 out of 5. Lovely ending too!
tiashe's review against another edition
5.0
Bellissimo.
In questo sesto volume possiamo rilassarci e respirare un attimo. Certo non mancano gli intrighi, i misteri, i colpi di scena e l’ansia, ma non c’è neanche tutta l’angoscia e la sofferenza che abbiamo patito con i due volumi precedenti. Alec e Seregil si portano dietro le cicatrici di quanto è accaduto in Plenimar, ma tornano a fare quello che sanno fare meglio.
Belli loro, belli Thero, Micum e tutti gli altri.
Amo questo mondo e i suoi personaggi, e mi sento male al pensiero che il prossimo libro che leggerò, il settimo di questa bellissima saga, sarà l’ultimo. Ho un po’ paura.
In questo sesto volume possiamo rilassarci e respirare un attimo. Certo non mancano gli intrighi, i misteri, i colpi di scena e l’ansia, ma non c’è neanche tutta l’angoscia e la sofferenza che abbiamo patito con i due volumi precedenti. Alec e Seregil si portano dietro le cicatrici di quanto è accaduto in Plenimar, ma tornano a fare quello che sanno fare meglio.
Belli loro, belli Thero, Micum e tutti gli altri.
Amo questo mondo e i suoi personaggi, e mi sento male al pensiero che il prossimo libro che leggerò, il settimo di questa bellissima saga, sarà l’ultimo. Ho un po’ paura.