Sunday, December 28, 2008

Beyond the Shadows (Book 3 of the Night Angel Trilogy)

Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks



December 2008, Orbit Books
ISBN 0-316-0336-5
http://www.thewayofshadows.com

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Logan Gyre is king of Cenaria, a country under siege, with a threadbare army and little hope. He has one chance - a desperate gamble, but one that could destroy his kingdom.
In the north, the new Godking has a plan. If it comes to fruition, no one will have the power to stop him.
Kylar Stern has no choice. To save his friends-and perhaps his enemies-he must accomplish the impossible: assassinate a goddess. Beyond the Shadows is the action-packed conclusion to the Night Angel Trilogy.


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Early Reviews up for Beyond the Shadows (Book 3 of the Night Angel Trilogy)!

Un:Bound says, “I love these books, beautifully written, entertaining and leaving me with a sense of satisfaction at the conclusion, they deliver everything I could ask for…”
Fantasy Books News and Reviews confesses to being “very impressed… I honestly can’t think of one bad thing to say.”
The Beezer Review calls it “a fantastic read… one of the best trilogies I have read in a very long time. Mr. Weeks has not only made his mark on the fantasy genre, he has kicked in the doors and announced he is here to stay.”
Books Monthly selects Beyond the Shadows as its Books Monthly Choice for December, declaring it the “Best fantasy of the year, possibly the decade.”


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Shadow’s Edge (Book 2 of the Night Angel Trilogy)

Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks



November 2008, Orbit Books
ISBN 0-316-0336-5
636 Pages
http://www.thewayofshadows.com


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BrentWeeks’ Night Angel Trilogy continues in Shadows Edge, with Kylar attempting to reject who he is and what he is. Although the first installment (The Way of Shadows) had some closure, hints were left that Kylar’s story was far from over. Weeks plays on those hints, and continues to explore many of the themes he ignited in the first volume.

Beware of possible spoilersfor the first in the trilogy because it is quite difficult to discuss the second with out revealing some elements of the first.

Kylar’s life was pretty much settled at the end of The Way of Shadows, or so he thought. His life of killing behind him, he is settling down with his love Elene and his master’s daughter Uly. At first, I got the sense that this was a cobbled together family for Kylar, but I soon realized that was just the effect Weeks was attempting to convey. As time passed for Kylar, he found it more difficult to completely cut himself of from his former ways. He would hop along rooftops at night just to keep his skills intact (which at times reminded me of Batman or Spider-Man), but he inevitably came across people in trouble. He can’t help but save the day, his persona as the Night Angel can’t be shunned forever.

In his attempt to further shed the skin of killer, Kylar sells the sword that is his symbol as the Night Angel after much deliberation (and encouragement) from Elene. Of course, as soon as Kylar gives up this last symbolic element of his past is when his past comes back looking for some help. It turns out events he thought to have transpired in The Way of Shadows turned out differently.

Much of Shadow’s Edge concerns itself with Kylar's identity -  finding who he really is after he thought he got what he wanted. He yearns for a life of normalcy with Elene, the woman he loves. He hates the killer/assassin aspect of himself but can’t fight it either. His conflict spills over quite a bit of the novel and he vacillates between fighting his instincts and being the good man he thinks Elene wants. Of course, Elene doesn’t help matters. Their relationship was a frustrating aspect of the novel only in that Elene came across as a two-dimensional nag for a good portion of the novel. She and Kylar shared the same bed, but never really in the carnal sense. Their thoughts about consummating their love for each other was often at odds. Elene wanted to wait until they were married, but when she was finally ready to share the experience with Kylar, he felt unworthy of it and went on one of his nightly patrols.

When Kylar’s past comes knocking, though in the form of his old friend Jarl, Kylar doesn’t immediately jump at the opportunity to leave his life of peace. Here again, Weeks shows the conflict Kylar is experience between who and what he thinks he should be and what he actually is. Weeks comes just short of brow-beating us with some of these expository scenes. Momma K. comes back into the fold and it is a welcome return throughout the novel. Wetboys, who were on the periphery in the first volume, also play a more prominent role here.

So how does Shadows Edge fare as the second book of a trilogy? The story in it can be seen as another episode of Kylar’s life, but it also serves to propel the greater story arc of the trilogy. One might be able to pick up this one without having read the first, but it really works better as the second installment of the trilogy. Weeks’ story is still as compelling, Kylar is still an interesting a character and I thought the tonal shift from becoming something in the first installment to questioning who he’s become was natural and played out well. The only criticism I can level at Shadows Edge is Elene – as I said, she comes across as more of set dressing – and annoying set dressing at that – than a fully realized character in her own. That criticism aside, though, I enjoyed the novel and was compelled to stay up later than normal to finish reading the book. Weeks is continuing to tell a thoroughly entertaining tale in the Night Angel Trilogy. Bring on Beyond the Shadows!

© 2008 Rob H. Bedford

 


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Other Reviews for Shadow’s Edge (Book 2 of the Night Angel Trilogy)

RisingShadow.net says, “I wait in agonizing pain for the next book. And I do not regret it.”

Un:Bound says, “Weeks has shown that the first book was not a fluke, he really is that good.”

The Beezer Review says, “Mr. Weeks is two for two… This book, and series, gives me renewed hope that the fantasy genre still has new and fresh ideas to offer its readers.”

Fantasy Book News and Reviews says, “Kylar is just a flat out great character to spend time with…. [Brent Weeks] is now in my ‘buy upon release’ category.”

Wannabe Writer says, “A fantastic sequel, just as gripping as its predecessor….Now I understand why these are being published in such quick succession–anything else would be cruel.”

Blood of the Muse says, “Fast-paced and hugely entertaining, Shadow’s Edge just may have one of the best endings ever for a middle book in a trilogy. There’s no sophomore slump here. It’s a good thing that the third book Beyond the Shadows is being released in December, because I’d probably start a riot if I had to wait a year for the next one…”

The Road Not Taken says, “Having just completed Shadow’s Edge by Brent Weeks, I feel as though I have been sprinting through a maze, and each time I thought I had it figured out it became another series of twists, turns, or dead ends. I’m still breathless.” And notes the depth of the characters: ”these are not just your average class of nobles, assassins, and prostitutes–they are all so human it is heartbreaking.”

The Bookbag objects strenuously to the phrase “trying to be cute” but still says, “the magic is inventive, the evil is, occasionally, genuinely terrifying, the monsters are horrendous, obscene and tragic, the artefacts intriguing, the overarching moral dilemma and conflicts between private happiness and public duty, between piously high moral sentiments and cruel realities of the world, valid and genuine. There were also moments of epic grandeur and real pathos, moving heroism and a good final twist.”

 


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Saturday, December 27, 2008

Night Angel Trilogy: The Way of Shadows

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks


(2008-11-03)
October 2008, Orbit Books
ISBN 0-316-0337-7
688 Pages
http://www.thewayofshadows.com

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Brent Weeks bursts onto the fantasy scene with his debut novel, The Way of Shadows, the first volume in his Night Angeltrilogy. The story, on the surface, is a fairly typical assassin-with-heart-of-gold bildungsroman. Weeks’s plotting,chararacter development and overall stortytelling ability help to make the novel rise above those somewhat clichéd trappings into animpressive debut novel.
Young Azoth is a street urchin in an unstable gang looking for a way out. He is constantly beaten, shamed and only caresfor two other people in the group – Jarl and Doll Girl. At this stage in his life, his tormenter is the sadistic Rat who beats everyonesmaller than himself. Azoth sees a way out though, if he can apprentice to the legendary assassin Durzo Blint, then surely Azoth can make abetter life for himself. Of course the story wouldn’t really go anywhere if Azoth didn’t apprentice to Blint, but Weeks plays outAzoth’s struggles engagingly well. The first quarter to fifth of the novel deals with Azoth on the streets and coming to be Blint’sapprentice. Once Azoth becomes Durzo’s apprentice in full he assumes the name Kylar Stern, both becoming who he feels he is meant to be andcasting aside all ties to his former life.
Even though Azoth/Kylar has the desire to become a killer for hire, or a wetboy as they are called in Weeks’s harsh world, he is not a morallyunlikeable character. Much of the same can be said for his mentor Durzo Blint, but again, Weeks does a good job of both working within thecliché of the cranky mentor and making Blint stand on his own. Weeks surrounds Blint with an air of mystery not unlike Chains from ScottLynch’s The Lies of Locke Lamora or Chade from Robin Hobb’s Farseersaga. Indeed, the relationship between Kylar and Durzo is very reminiscent of the relationship between Fitzchivalry Farseer and Chadethroughout her excellent Farseer saga. This isn’t a groundbreaking revelation by any means because I suspect Hobb and Weeks(and Lynch to another level) are mining some of the same sources. Weeks does an admirable job of making this relationship and these characterswork on their own merits within his saga.
Weeks’s story follows the growth and maturation of another staple character of the genre – the young regent. In this case,Logan Gyre is the young prince who is ‘destined’ to grow into the noble ruler. I though Weeks’s characterization of Logan was just as even asit was with Blint and Azoth/Kylar. Kylar and Logan, on the surface, are polar opposites. Where Kylar grew up on the worst of streets, Logan wasgifted with a royal lineage. Where Logan is large and blunt, Kylar is smaller and less obvious.
The Way of Shadows is a big fat novel and I mean that in all good connotations of thoseterms. The world Weeks depicts in this novel is harsh: the protagonist is a killer-for-hire as is his mentor, his best friend is a maleprostitute who serves both men and women, one Durzo’s closest companions, the enigmatic Momma K., is the head of a brothel, and waysof killing are spoken of very matter-of-factly. In addition, The Way of Shadow contains manyof the elements of a solid fantasy novel: magic, murder, an über-powerful enemy pulling the strings, a nigh-omnipotent enchantedsword, and a chivalrous knight. By no means; however, is this simply a paint-by-numbers novel. In many ways, I would liken Weeks’s approach tosome of the new fantasy authors who are embracing these standard elements of the genre and spinning them out with an entertaining voiceof their own. I’m thinking of writers like the aforementioned Scott Lynch, as well as Patrick Rothfuss, Joe Abercrombie, and BrandonSanderson. In other words, if somebody were to ask me for a recommendation on a well-written, high fantasy that exemplified theexpected elements of the genre, I’d pass them a copy of The Way of Shadows.
Granted, the novel is a debut and isn’t without its flaws however minor they are. At times, the characters tend to speakanachronistically. That is, some of their phrasing and objects to which they refer seem out of synch with the implied technological level andsocietal advancement. Some of the names struck me as less than original. I doubt Weeks was aware of Joe Abercrombie’s novels whichalso feature a character by the name of Logen when he was writing The Night Angel trilogy.However, the name Logan is already very popular as the comic book character Wolverine. That said, Brent Weeks is off to a solid career asa fantasy novelist with The Way of Shadows, the most impressive debut novel I’ve read this year.
© 2008 Rob H. Bedford

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Other Reviews for The Way of Shadows (Book 1 of the Night Angel Trilogy)

RisingShadow.net says, “For those who love assassins, corrupted power figures, twisted politics, and disturbing magic, this is the book of all books.”
Sci-Fi Fan Letter says, The Way of Shadows is the kind of book “you can’t put down even though you have to eat, sleep or work.”
Books Monthly calls it “an extraordinary debut…an astoundingly good fantasy world.”
Un:Bound says, “Weeks really has a knack for creating complex, realistic, and very human characters… Intrigue and tension pull you through to the next page, and for the first time in years I actually flicked a few pages ahead to see if someone was really dead…. a delight…”
Harriet Klausner, extraordinary #1 reviewer for Amazon.com, gives 5 out of 5 stars, noting the “shadowy twists that feel genuine and quite exciting… Especially fascinating are the poetic legendary assassin [Durzo] and his new apprentice [Azoth]“.
Wannabe Writer says, “I was soon hooked. It’s exciting, full of action but interesting characters too, the world is wonderfully realised, the use of magic imaginative, the fight scenes thrilling…”
Sffworld.com calls it “an impressive debut…if someone were to ask me for a recommendation on a well-written, high fantasy that exemplified the expected elements of the genre, I’d pass them a copy of The Way of Shadows.”
Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review says, Brent Weeks infuses the book “with energy and intrigue while giving us plenty of opportunity to get to know both the city and the people who live there…. Anything can happen and you’ll find yourself constantly surprised when it does.”
BookspotCentral.com says, “it made me turn off television, it made me skip dessert, it even made me skip a shower once…unless something extraordinary happens in the next month or two, this is going to be my book of the year for 2008.”
Memoirs of a Rabbid Hotdog says, it “kept me glued to my chair for the duration of the book.”
Fantasy Book Critic says, “so engrossing that after I stayed up late to finish it, I stayed up late again to reread the book!” It is “a superb epic fantasy that will absorb you from start to finish…Highly, highly recommended.”
The Literary Cat says, “With liberal doses of magic, politics, and warfare, the six hundred-odd pages really will fly by.”
Fantasy Cafe says, [minor SPOILERS in linked article.] “The Way of Shadows is a fast-paced, entertaining read that is difficult to put down.” She also really liked the term wetboys: “It sounds like they should be the guys that fetch water for all the important people…” So picturing Adam Sandler as Durzo Blint could be problematic.
Blood of the Muse says, “Overloaded with fun, The Way of Shadowsis an absolute joy. Filled with a pantheon of unforgettable and epic characters and an intense, high-octane and twisting plot, the book has me eagerly anticipating the sequel Shadow’s Edge.
The Bookbag calls it "a captivating page-turner that verges on the unputdownable.”
Fantasy Book News and Reviews says, “this book might take my label of best book of the year…”
Grasping for the Wind remarks on “a depth of character [epic fantasies] often lack….Yet it never bogs down for lack of action, or suspense.”
The Civilian Reader says, “Solid, extremely well written, and deftly plotted…”
The Fantasy and Sci-Fi Lovin’ Book Review says, “The Way of Shadows” is a pretty big book, 688 pages, but it reads really fast… hard to put down”
Pat’s Fantasy Hotlist: “I believe that The Way of Shadows and its sequels…will sell extremely well, regardless of the fact that it will likely not be held in high esteem by the SFF fandom’s ‘in crowd.’”
Having invoked “gritty” YA lit, and SFF fandom’s “in crowd,” Pat’s review provoked a rebuttal. And some discussion of what is and is not Young Adult fiction. I swear I don’t pay people for these.

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Friday, December 19, 2008

SEXUAL TEENS, SEXUAL MEDIA

SEXUAL TEENS, SEXUAL MEDIA
Investigating Media’s Influence on Adolescent Sexuality


Edited by
Jane D. Brown
University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill
Jeanne R. Steele
University of St. Thomas
Kim Walsh-Childers
University of Florida


308 p + xiv
LAWRENCE ERLBAUM ASSOCIATES, PUBLISHERS
Mahwah, New Jersey London
2002

excerpt
PREFACE

Young people today are faced with often conflicting and confusing messages about how they are supposed to behave sexually. Adults and socializing institutions in the culture are not in agreement about when, what, or where youth should learn about sexuality. Although we might hope that parents would be the primary source of sexual guidance for their children, parents often find it difficult to present timely and clear expectations, or even accurate information. Manyparents want schools to provide sexuality education, but schools are increasingly reluctant to do more than say “Wait until marriage.” And many religious institutions still maintain that sex outside heterosexual marriage is a sin. In contrast, the mass media —television, movies, magazines, music, the Internet— are not at all reticent, frequently portraying sexual behavior as riveting, central in everyday life, and emotionally and physically risk free.

Many adults haven’t liked what they’ve seen about sex in the media, but they don’t agree about what should be done about it, either. Religious leaders, parents, and some politicians, claiming that the media encourage youth to be sexually active before they are ready and without the sanction of marriage, want the media to clean up their acts. Health advocates argue that if we’re going to have sex in the media, at the least we should show the risks and responsibilities too. Politicians threaten further regulation if program ratings and content blocking devices such as the V-chip aren’t sufficient. But media producers say, “Leave us alone; we’re exercising our constitutional rights.” Advertising executives believe that sex sells and don’t want to give up their potential advantage in a highly competitive marketplace.

Remarkably, despite the consternation in many quarters, relatively little scientific research exists on how sexual content in the media affects teens (Huston, Wartella, & Donnerstein, 1998). One reason is that many schools, the places where adolescents are easiest to find, are reluctant to let researchers in. Federal and state agencies have been leery, too, afraid that conservative legislators will cut off funding if they sponsor research that requires talking with youth about sex. As a consequence, nonprofit, non-governmental organizations have had to take on most of the work... .




Tuesday, December 9, 2008

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