The Way Of Shadows: Book 1 of the Night Angel

I really like this one. Great characters. I hate the jumping back and forth to different characters, but it's well done and adds to the suspense. I'm almost finished the second book and it's just as good.

I simply loved how the characters came to life and grew as I continued flipping through the pages. I even continued reading my way into the nights until I reached the end. It's a good thing to know this is but the beginning of a wondrous tale..

My grandson seems to enjoy this genre of books and I wanted to have something to talk with him about. I have discovered I enjoyed it as much as he! 'The Way of Shadows' is fast paced, interesting and just fun to read and talk about. Looking forward to start book two soon.

Somewhat cliched, but well done.
This starts out as your standard dark, grim fantasy, with an extremely corrupt city filled with gangs and crime, where a young boy trains to become an assassin. The writing is solid, and the world building is well done, so props for that. I found it fairly cliched that the usual 'noble assassin' trope is in full swing, and that training for an assassin involves learning to fight with almost every weapon ever created, as if assassins have to be master swordsmen rather than someone who would kill with poison or a bow more than a knife, and a knife more than a sword, but the Talents are quite interesting, even if they lend the characters some kind of omni-competence, which can get irritating, but seeing as Azoth/Kylar goes most of the book without it, this isn't much of a problem. I like that Kylar still fails several times and makes mistakes, and that the author isn't afraid to be ruthless to his characters.

Great book, the storyline is laid out very well. I was absorbed before I'd even finished the first chapter. I would recommend this book to anyone. It has plenty of evil, and also lots of good. A little romance, and a lot of hatred and desire for revenge. Well worth your money.

A lot of reviewers say that the story jumps around from character to character too much, but I think the way Brent Weeks has done it is a really great storytelling technique. It keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire story.

Great book, the storyline is laid out very well. I was absorbed before I'd even finished the first chapter. I would recommend this book to anyone. It has plenty of evil, and also lots of good. A little romance, and a lot of hatred and desire for revenge. Well worth your money.

A lot of reviewers say that the story jumps around from character to character too much, but I think the way Brent Weeks has done it is a really great storytelling technique. It keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire story.

Fantastic story that draws you in from the first page. The characters are well drawn and learning their secrets pulls you along just as hard as the plot itself. Bravo, I'll certainly be reading the next book.

Very similar to The Highwayman by Ed Greenwood; our main character starts off weak, goes into a training montage, finds a Deus ex machina to unleash his true potential, saves the day, and ends the story without relying on a cliffhanger. And there is some stuff about love/romance.

The author's vocabulary and grammar are good. I read the whole story and never stopped to question his choice of periods, commas, semi-colons, etc. He doesn't use a lot of big words, but he does use a lot of fake words that sound similar to one another. He also prefers to use similes and metaphors frequently, making them feel like a crutch when he can't properly describe an event or object.

I could not get a grasp on the setting. The first chapter attempts to set the interior decor of households but throws information about other countries that are not needed at this time as the story never goes beyond a single kingdom. I'm thinking it is medieval with a dash of technology. Kind of Industrial European with no electricity, steam, or coal. There are aqueducts... and rotating fan blades that overlook a harbor...

In the end I enjoyed the story. Unlikely to read the rest of the books. Could really use another pair of eyes to proofread and edit the work before submitting it.

From the very first chapter of the book, Weeks sets up the entire story and does a fantastic job of filling in the pages in between. This is the 4th time I've read this book and every single time I fall more in love with the characters and Brent's writing style. It grabs you, pulls you in, and doesn't let go. To this day, it is still my favorite story.

I got a recommendation from a friend to start reading this author's work.
I'm not disappointed - This is a promising start for a trilogy and a wonderful introduction into the story's world.
There are some interesting characters all around and their development, while sometimes expected, is presented well.
If you enjoy dark, gritty fanatasy - This is for you.

I found this book through a recommendation on Goodreads and absolutely loved it. There are so many amazing characters that I can't pick a favorite. I look forward to reading everything Brent Weeks has ever written up to and including grade school homework assignments.

The author creates a believable fantasy world and fills it with well-rounded characters understandably influenced by the dark city around them. The action sequences are especially well done and are woven into a well-paced story. Tough to put down.

So many books, so little time ... Brent Weeks is worth putting other books on hold to read his trilogy.

Many have already given a run down of the plot, so I won't, but ... if you like assassin (oh, sorry "wetboy") action, creepy bad guys, not so good guys, good bad boys, creatures, love interest, a little humor and tons of battles - Brent Weeks satisfies! I've been reading this genre for a very long time and Weeks still stands out as one of the very best. He easily rates with the best of all fantasy writers. For a new author on the scene, he shines like a super nova. Read his Shadow trilogy for a feast for your soul.

The entire Night Angel Trilogy is really about coming out of the darkness into the light. The underlying theme is about goodness and strength. I enjoyed watching the characters grow and evolve into strong, courageous adults, and I admire Brent Weeks for writing about real and even delicate topics. The Way of Shadows is deep, yet extremely satisfying to read. It is an incredible story, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself down to the last page. No matter what it is that Brent Weeks writes next, I will be reading it!

Dear Mr. Weeks,
Hi, I've just finished reading your novel and I'm sorry to say that you've effectively killed all my dreams of one day becoming an assassin. My mother will probably write to thank you, but as an avid fantasy reader I'm a bit disappointed at this revelation. You see, all the previous books I've read regarding assassins have been a bit more romanticized, Ive never been forced to contemplate the emotional devastation killing and training to kill would reap, all the psychopaths I'd probably acquaintance myself with, or work beside and the cruelty and torture I might be subject to witness. Despite you smothering my reason to exist, I'm loathe to admit I rather loved the novel. I loved the realness, the internal struggles that eventually inspired personal courage, and of course, being a romantic at heart, I loved that through all the despair in this book, love could still prevail. So, thank you for enlightening me, entertaining me to the wee hours over several days, and for inspiring my new career choice of adopting and schooling homeless orphans to be assassins. (Jk, too soon?)

Yours truly,
A. Thorne & Kylar's biggest fan

I stumbled upon this series after reading his other trilogy about the Black Prism. This series had me riveted. I just finished book 2 and already bought the 3rd. Very very good story. And I felt like I never knew what to expect next.

The Way of Shadows has introduced me to an assassin unlike any before him. Azoth is a killer with a constant reminder of what he's doing. The interplay between him and his master is wonderful. Lots of surprises at the end. Must read.

Absolutely amazing book series. It is so in depth and well thought out. Everything ties back in to each other. There are some periods where it can be a little dull and slow. However, those periods become essential in the development of the story line.

I enjoyed the book. It kept me guessing and wanting to know what would happen next. The magical world created by Weeks is interesting.

I started out listening to the audible version, but switched to reading it on my Kindle because the narrator didn't add anything to the story. He brought it down quite a bit.

To me he sounds like a boy trying to impress the grownups with his reading. I can't imagine anyone ever speaking the way he does. A narrator who always uses the same inflection is tedious to hear. His sentences have the same rhythm and I tire of him quickly. Once you've heard some really good narrators at Audible, you won't settle for someone like this guy.

I'll be reading the next book. Reading, not listening.

I love fantasy books and have been a casual fantasy reader my whole life. Now I'm 33 and I was hoping to find something a little edgier. I don't like fantasy books that are "high fantasy." You know, where the hero has a sentient sword and a talking dragon buddy. Not for me. Those books rely more on content over quality, or stuff over the characters. I'd warn anyone that the Way of Shadows trilogy has a hard edge. I described it to my wife pointing out the hard life the main character has as a child where his only goal is to find food and not get raped by the male gang leader. But really, this was what I was looking for. Most fantasy novels gloss over things like "the warrens." They tell you the character had it rough in his or her past but don't go into it. This book goes into it and really points out what f*&cked backgrounds the main characters have. It was awesome! You really see them grow in the book. This book had the edge I wanted which delved into the humanity of the characters.
So I'm already hooked at this point, but even better I swear the thing has so many great twists and turns. I was actually staying up late, every night, I was reading this series, till like two or three in the morning, unable to put it down. Then I'd stand in the shower explaining the whole thing to my wife the next morning. She kind'a read it vicariously through my re-telling of it. My favorite series before this was The Deed of Paksenarrion by Elizabeth Moon. Great fantasy book about the characters, not the fantasy. Easy read. (gets my endorsement too.) But I warn you this book is on another plane of story telling. Rough setting, difficult character decisions, great plot twists and surprises abound, and it slowly goes from "kid in the warren looking for scraps" to super awesome ending! Not going to give anything away by saying that :)

I look forward to reading this trilogy again after I finish my stash of Jim Butcher books.

I have read this series several times in between "better" book series. It's fun and entertaining. It is rather tropish and I feel like Weeks didn't get to flesh out his world enough in three books, but overall I would recommend reading this series.

Though the storytelling and worldmaking are a bit lackluster, Weeks has built just enough mystery around the main characters and their motives to keep you turning the page. Some scenes are a bit forced, and other elements are rather predictable, but the book was OK overall.

This book was incredible! You really grow up with the characters. This book had me on the edge of my seat so many times. I love books about assassins in this time frame. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys suspense and a fighting.

Was looking for a new book and stumbled across this. Spent the rest of the day reading it then bought the rest of the trilogy, it was that good. Weeks does a great job with the characters and plot so if you're into fantasy this is a good one.

Tired of reading Wheel of Time by Robert Jordan for the 10th time? Tired of waiting for George RR Martin's to write the next book in Song of Ice and Fire? Already read everything Brandon Sanderson has written?
Want to read something *GOOD*?
Buy this.
You will not regret it.