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. Download (lit) PDF maryamah karpov