“Shadow’s Edge” by Brent Weeks • Book Review
Published: 1 November, 2008 by Orbit
Format: Audiobook on Scribd, 23 hours, English
“In suffering, we find the true measure of our strength.”
★★ (2.4 / 5 stars) I started The Night Angel Trilogy as a recommendation from my friend and a pre-cursor to Brent Weeks' other series, The Lightbringer Series (also on my #TBR). This series starts with The Way of Shadows, which was action-packed and overall an unexpected take on fantasy, magic with mythology, and an assassin main-character with a broody backstory. Shadow's Edge picks up right where the story left off and carries us through 23 more audiobook hours.
I didn't write a review for the opening novel because I was trying to keep an open mind and not judge too harshly (or too quickly), knowing that a series can drastically change from novel to novel. (Just look at where Throne of Glass started and where we ended up, for instance.) HOWEVER, once I finished this sequel, I knew the flaws I saw hints of in Book #1 became detrimental to my enjoyment of Book #2, which made me really want to voice my thoughts and dissect the really polarizing experience I have had with this story so far.
If you want to avoid spoilers, don't feel like reading beyond this point, or will only take one thing from this post, just know that while I wouldn't sincerely recommend this series to anyone (who doesn't have loads of time to waste on less-than-4-star-reads), Weeks has a unique story here and some amazing elements worth recognizing. Please read on for spoiler-ridden discussion of what I found most cringe-worthy about this book and the stellar scenes that stole my heart. Happy reading!
!! WARNING !! There are spoilers ahead!
As a follow-up to The Way of Shadows, I feel like Weeks is trying to compensate for a lack of action in this sequel. Rather than rich fighting scenes and continuous cliffhangers, we're left with chapters fool of excess information and background info that doesn't appear useful until much later (if ever). While I got relatively used to the consistent switching between POVs in the first book, it felt even more tedious and whiplashing this time around. Not only do we have the same set of characters to go between and develop, but Weeks also added
“The only life you have the right to sacrifice for the greater good is your own.”
cringe-worthy.
ELENE AND KYLAR.
By the end of The Way of Shadows, I was shipping Elene and Kylar together So. Hard. But almost right at the start of this sequel, I got extremely annoyed with them, and my frustration was only relieved by them eventually separating for a good portion of the book. First of all, "honey..." Not only did this pet name show up suddenly and with no context, but also it was just gross. I mean realistically, they don't even know each other. They just have a bond from their past, and Kylar's been secretly stalking her whole life. So when they just jump into some natural, nuclear-family dynamic with Uli, I was thrown. PLUS, it only went downhill as Kylar's expectations vs. reality of escaping with Elene felt like a medieval, magical version of "F is For Family" (but without the actual humor).
VI AND KYLAR.
This. Flirting. My God, I cannot with them. As much as their interactions make me cringe, I do feel like Vi is a much better fit for Kylar on a character level. She understands the assassin lifestyle and doesn’t judge him for it. But in a way, I think they both want to escape the life they’ve chosen to lead for so many years (although the word “chosen” could be debatable). I really hope this ship sails and we get Kylar away from Elene.
highlights.
THE SISTER. Trying to get out of small talk. Her distinctly scientific personality.
THE BROMANCE. “My King.” When I heard those words come out of Kylar's mouth to Logan, I about melted. Also Gnasher.
THE NOCTA HEMATA. Caldrosa Wynn. Logan's speech honoring the Order of the Garter. That reunion with her husband.
looking ahead.
BOY, were there some twists at the end of this novel, and I’m eager to see where the series ends up. I think knowing there’s only one book left is helping push me forward. Light at the end of the tunnel, and all that. It’s so strange to be both extremely disturbed and thoroughly captivated by varying elements of a book. Which is why I half-recommend it and half-don’t. Who knows where my feelings will be by the end of the series? (I sure don’t.)