Book Log 39-41/2009 Night Angel Trilogy

Brent Weeks - The Way of Shadows
The Night Angel Trilogy #1

As Tanya Huff in 2003, Lois McMaster Bujold was a couple of years ago and Patricia Briggs last year, Brent Weeks has just become my discovery of the year. His Night Angel trilogy is riveting. Having bought the first on spec in Waterstones I hurriedly ordered the second two from Amazon. Firstly - even without the story, the covers are gorgeous Calvin Chu illustrations

Okay - to the story. Violent and compelling the first book of the trilogy starts with three feral children, Azoth, Doll Girl and Jarl, who are part of a street gang in the Warrens of Cenaria City, doing whatever they can to survive, living under the terror regime of the rising leader, Rat, an abuser of the worst sort. The Littles are afraid of the Bigs, the Bigs are afraid of Rat, but everybody is afraid of Durzo Blint, the legendary wetboy and enforcer-for-hire of the the Sa'kagé - an underworld of street gangs, organised and disorganised crime, prostitution and death for hire.

'A wetboy is like an assassin the way a tiger is like a kitten,' we are told. A magically enhanced killer who doesn't have 'targets' - he has 'deaders', because once a wetboy takes a contract his victim is as good as dead. Before Durzo will take him as his apprentice Azoth must prove himself by killing Rat. Azoth hesitates - with devastating consequences for his friends and so begins his education as a wetboy and his change of name to Kylar.

The first book tells of Kylar's apprentice years - riddled with disappointment as his innate magical talent refuses to manifest - and his final test. He doesn't understand the taciturn Durzo, doesn't know what the man wants of him, more often than not gets beaten for his efforts. He has to learn how to move in high society and how to figure out Cenarian Court politics as invasion looms.

It's a sprawling, complicated, hard-edged political fantasies where the stakes are high and emotions run deep. This book is a wild ride of action and emotion and just my type of read.

Shadow's Edge
The Night Angel Trilogy #2

Continuing the story of Kylar Stern in the aftermath of the Godking of Khaliras' violent coup which has left Cenaria thoroughly conquered and his closest friends dead. Though Kylar - now immortal thanks to the black ka'kari (sentient magical artefact) with which he has bonded - determines to leave the life of a wetboy behind him and settle down in a new home with his  lover, Elene, and their adopted daughter, Uly, he's dragged back into Cenarian politics.

He has to break a promise and take up his old ways when he hears that one old friend may not be quite as dead as he thought. Suddenly the Cenarian resistance has a chance against the Godking if Kylar can take action fast enough.

Another breathless book with excellent use of dramatic tension to keep the pages turning. I found this no less gripping than the first one.


Beyond the Shadows
The Night Angel Trilogy #3

As the final part of the Night Angel trilogy this did not disappoint. In the wake of the Godking's death, a new queen has usurped the throne. It's up to Kylar to do something about it. In the meantime other armies are ranged against Cenaria and a renegade priest plans to bring back the goddess Khali and hoards of magical undead warriors. Kylar learns - too late - the bitter cost of his own immortality.

Everyone he loves is in mortal danger unless he can assassinate the goddess herself. Failure will doom all the countries of the south and success will rob him of the one thing he loves best in all the world.

No more spoilers. All I can say is this is a satisfying ending with enough loose ends tied up to keep me happy and a couple of minor dangling threads that make me wonder if Weeks hasn't quite finished with the immortal Night Angel yet. If there was more, I'd certainly read it.

Book Log 39-41/2009 Night Angel Trilogy

Brent Weeks - The Way of Shadows
The Night Angel Trilogy #1

As Tanya Huff in 2003, Lois McMaster Bujold was a couple of years ago and Patricia Briggs last year, Brent Weeks has just become my discovery of the year. His Night Angel trilogy is riveting. Having bought the first on spec in Waterstones I hurriedly ordered the second two from Amazon. Firstly - even without the story, the covers are gorgeous Calvin Chu illustrations

Okay - to the story. Violent and compelling the first book of the trilogy starts with three feral children, Azoth, Doll Girl and Jarl, who are part of a street gang in the Warrens of Cenaria City, doing whatever they can to survive, living under the terror regime of the rising leader, Rat, an abuser of the worst sort. The Littles are afraid of the Bigs, the Bigs are afraid of Rat, but everybody is afraid of Durzo Blint, the legendary wetboy and enforcer-for-hire of the the Sa'kagé - an underworld of street gangs, organised and disorganised crime, prostitution and death for hire.

'A wetboy is like an assassin the way a tiger is like a kitten,' we are told. A magically enhanced killer who doesn't have 'targets' - he has 'deaders', because once a wetboy takes a contract his victim is as good as dead. Before Durzo will take him as his apprentice Azoth must prove himself by killing Rat. Azoth hesitates - with devastating consequences for his friends and so begins his education as a wetboy and his change of name to Kylar.

The first book tells of Kylar's apprentice years - riddled with disappointment as his innate magical talent refuses to manifest - and his final test. He doesn't understand the taciturn Durzo, doesn't know what the man wants of him, more often than not gets beaten for his efforts. He has to learn how to move in high society and how to figure out Cenarian Court politics as invasion looms.

It's a sprawling, complicated, hard-edged political fantasies where the stakes are high and emotions run deep. This book is a wild ride of action and emotion and just my type of read.

Shadow's Edge
The Night Angel Trilogy #2

Continuing the story of Kylar Stern in the aftermath of the Godking of Khaliras' violent coup which has left Cenaria thoroughly conquered and his closest friends dead. Though Kylar - now immortal thanks to the black ka'kari (sentient magical artefact) with which he has bonded - determines to leave the life of a wetboy behind him and settle down in a new home with his  lover, Elene, and their adopted daughter, Uly, he's dragged back into Cenarian politics.

He has to break a promise and take up his old ways when he hears that one old friend may not be quite as dead as he thought. Suddenly the Cenarian resistance has a chance against the Godking if Kylar can take action fast enough.

Another breathless book with excellent use of dramatic tension to keep the pages turning. I found this no less gripping than the first one.


Beyond the Shadows
The Night Angel Trilogy #3

As the final part of the Night Angel trilogy this did not disappoint. In the wake of the Godking's death, a new queen has usurped the throne. It's up to Kylar to do something about it. In the meantime other armies are ranged against Cenaria and a renegade priest plans to bring back the goddess Khali and hoards of magical undead warriors. Kylar learns - too late - the bitter cost of his own immortality.

Everyone he loves is in mortal danger unless he can assassinate the goddess herself. Failure will doom all the countries of the south and success will rob him of the one thing he loves best in all the world.

No more spoilers. All I can say is this is a satisfying ending with enough loose ends tied up to keep me happy and a couple of minor dangling threads that make me wonder if Weeks hasn't quite finished with the immortal Night Angel yet. If there was more, I'd certainly read it.