Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Spectra (1996), Edition: Reissue, 496 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. Thriller. HTML:"A new star is rising in the fantasy firmament...teems with magic and spine-chilling amounts of skullduggery."�??Dave Duncan, author of The Great Game When young Alec of Kerry is taken prisoner for a crime he didn�??t commit, he is certain that his life is at an end. But one thing he never expected was his cellmate. Spy, rogue, thief, and noble, Seregil of Rhiminee is many things�??none of them predictable. And when he offers to take on Alec as his apprentice, things may never be the same for either of them. Soon Alec is traveling roads he never knew existed, toward a war he never suspected was brewing. Before long he and Seregil are embroiled in a sinister plot that runs deeper than either can imagine, and that may cost them far more than their lives if they fail. But fortune is as unpredictable as Alec�??s new mentor, and this time there just might be�?�Luck… (more)
Media reviews
User reviews
LibraryThing member narwhaltortellini
At the time a slash fan and occasional reader of yaoi, Luck in the Shadows was my introduction to the genre of canon m/m romance. It also came to me at a time when I had just begun to grow disenchanted with cliché quest fantasy and partially introduced me to the sort of fantasy I would later lean
On my first reading, Seregil, the second main character, was perhaps a bit perfect but cool and charming nonetheless. Alec was duller but inoffensive, and by playing off Seregil he became more fun to watch. The romance (though minimal in this volume) was endearing. The plot clearly had its duller and slower points, but it usually stayed acceptably interesting just by virtue of involving characters I cared about.
Even back then, I felt it to be clearly weak on many points. The clumsy info-dump world building was of particular annoyance. But at the time for me, it was also able to remain unmistakably fun and sometimes engaging despite the weaknesses. Now, after having read plenty more m/m, the mysterious magic of the concept is of course considerably lessened. And I wasn't sure what I'd think of this book which could very well have only been brought above dull mediocrity due to the rose-colored glasses the enchantment of canon m/m allowed me to see it through.
And after reading it again, I still can't make up my mind. It seems I'll always be doomed to see this book through strong bias, either of the rose glasses of before or the ostensibly less clouded though very possibly too cynical way I looked at the book this time.
Certainly, though, the book does not have many extra layers to better appreciate on a rereading. Much of the joy there was to be had the first time for me was in wondering how the characters would start to relate to one another and begin to have romantic feelings, and when I already knew, there wasn't a lot of artistry or originality put into the telling to make it worth seeing again.
The main characters were as I remembered them (one charming and cool and the other bland) but more irritating this time around. Both are Mary Sues of a different sort. Alec the kind that seems plain but really has Hidden Depths and Talents (and catches on to absolutely everything ridiculously fast), and Seregil the more outright amazing and perfect kind. These things don't have to be so bad, but the author emphasizes the characters' wonderfulness in such a heavy handed way that had me frequently rolling my eyes at the transparency of it all.
On the other hand, as the book goes on the author apparently decides she's made her point, she starts to lay off overemphasizing her characters' perfection. Once predicting the path of each scene was no longer as easy as guessing what turn of events would best glorify the characters most, Seregil and Alec became a little less predictable and a little less grating. Though the characters aren't terribly complex, the novel is still pleasantly character driven. The short intrigue plot also surfaces some time in the second half, and while nothing spectacular, it was one of the only things that surprised me by being just as pleasantly entertaining as I remembered it.
As for the romance, as mentioned before, it is only grazed upon in this volume. What is there is (and if I remember correctly what is to come) is a generally sweet relationship with just a dab of tension caused by unrequited romantic feelings by one of the characters. Despite being for many the main attraction of the book, it's nothing striking or complex or original, especially when compared to the more detailed relationships of much m/m fiction...
Only actually, upon my second read, the romance of this series is still one of the most distinctive things about it, and one of its biggest draws. Because personally, most of the m/m fiction I've read has romance as central or fairly central to the story. This lends to greater complexity in comparison to Seregil and Alec's relationship, yet I think there's something very pleasant about being able to read m/m romance where the story isn't *about* romance. And such a romance is likely particularly attractive for a slash fan, who is in fact normally used to the story they're reading or watching being about other things entirely, thinking of the possibility of romance as just a bit of side fun.
There's something weirdly cozy and familiar about it to me, a sweet and slowly budding romance instead of the dramatic, wrought out romances of many m/m stories. Indeed, it's the sort of thing we see much more often in the romantic subplots of straight fiction. Cozy and familiar too the fantasy tropes and plot, I suppose. Eventually likable characters, a little journeying, a little thieving, a little magic, a little fighting. Still, while that kind of coziness can be welcome too, in a way, the execution of it all is often bad to lackluster. Either way, it's hard to call one's self a self respecting fan of m/m romantic fantasy without reading the Nightrunner series. But you may keep in mind it might not be so praiseworthy as it's often touted.
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towards (centering on complex cities full of intrigue rather than sprawling quests or wars).On my first reading, Seregil, the second main character, was perhaps a bit perfect but cool and charming nonetheless. Alec was duller but inoffensive, and by playing off Seregil he became more fun to watch. The romance (though minimal in this volume) was endearing. The plot clearly had its duller and slower points, but it usually stayed acceptably interesting just by virtue of involving characters I cared about.
Even back then, I felt it to be clearly weak on many points. The clumsy info-dump world building was of particular annoyance. But at the time for me, it was also able to remain unmistakably fun and sometimes engaging despite the weaknesses. Now, after having read plenty more m/m, the mysterious magic of the concept is of course considerably lessened. And I wasn't sure what I'd think of this book which could very well have only been brought above dull mediocrity due to the rose-colored glasses the enchantment of canon m/m allowed me to see it through.
And after reading it again, I still can't make up my mind. It seems I'll always be doomed to see this book through strong bias, either of the rose glasses of before or the ostensibly less clouded though very possibly too cynical way I looked at the book this time.
Certainly, though, the book does not have many extra layers to better appreciate on a rereading. Much of the joy there was to be had the first time for me was in wondering how the characters would start to relate to one another and begin to have romantic feelings, and when I already knew, there wasn't a lot of artistry or originality put into the telling to make it worth seeing again.
The main characters were as I remembered them (one charming and cool and the other bland) but more irritating this time around. Both are Mary Sues of a different sort. Alec the kind that seems plain but really has Hidden Depths and Talents (and catches on to absolutely everything ridiculously fast), and Seregil the more outright amazing and perfect kind. These things don't have to be so bad, but the author emphasizes the characters' wonderfulness in such a heavy handed way that had me frequently rolling my eyes at the transparency of it all.
On the other hand, as the book goes on the author apparently decides she's made her point, she starts to lay off overemphasizing her characters' perfection. Once predicting the path of each scene was no longer as easy as guessing what turn of events would best glorify the characters most, Seregil and Alec became a little less predictable and a little less grating. Though the characters aren't terribly complex, the novel is still pleasantly character driven. The short intrigue plot also surfaces some time in the second half, and while nothing spectacular, it was one of the only things that surprised me by being just as pleasantly entertaining as I remembered it.
As for the romance, as mentioned before, it is only grazed upon in this volume. What is there is (and if I remember correctly what is to come) is a generally sweet relationship with just a dab of tension caused by unrequited romantic feelings by one of the characters. Despite being for many the main attraction of the book, it's nothing striking or complex or original, especially when compared to the more detailed relationships of much m/m fiction...
Only actually, upon my second read, the romance of this series is still one of the most distinctive things about it, and one of its biggest draws. Because personally, most of the m/m fiction I've read has romance as central or fairly central to the story. This lends to greater complexity in comparison to Seregil and Alec's relationship, yet I think there's something very pleasant about being able to read m/m romance where the story isn't *about* romance. And such a romance is likely particularly attractive for a slash fan, who is in fact normally used to the story they're reading or watching being about other things entirely, thinking of the possibility of romance as just a bit of side fun.
There's something weirdly cozy and familiar about it to me, a sweet and slowly budding romance instead of the dramatic, wrought out romances of many m/m stories. Indeed, it's the sort of thing we see much more often in the romantic subplots of straight fiction. Cozy and familiar too the fantasy tropes and plot, I suppose. Eventually likable characters, a little journeying, a little thieving, a little magic, a little fighting. Still, while that kind of coziness can be welcome too, in a way, the execution of it all is often bad to lackluster. Either way, it's hard to call one's self a self respecting fan of m/m romantic fantasy without reading the Nightrunner series. But you may keep in mind it might not be so praiseworthy as it's often touted.
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LibraryThing member imayb1
Luck in the Shadows is an excellent book. Essentially, there are two main characters. Seregil is a good guys' spy. Alec is a young adult caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. Seregil is impressed by Alec's quick thinking and his ability to learn quickly. He decides to take Alec on as a sort
The book is filled with political intrigue, thievery, sorcery, and excitement. The plot moves pretty quickly but it flows in a believable manner. The writing is great. Lynn Flewelling's style isn't too flowery, nor too gritty. She comes across factually without being cold. The characters are full of life, well-rounded and interesting. She doesn't reveal everything at once, but drops a few subtle hints before springing information on the reader.
The book concludes nicely, wrapping up the plot. Then, it throws in a dash of prophecy and an old wizard's precognitive vision of DOOM. Although the 'upcoming sequel soon' stuff usually annoys me, this didn't. It was presented in a 'far-off future' kind of way. The characters were all safe and happy; they were not hanging on the edge of a cliff in uncertainty! So, I didn't feel buying-pressured by the ending; it just gave some dark foreshadowing for the next book. It was a very satisfying read overall. I am currently reading the second book in the trilogy, Stalking Darkness.
If I had any complaint about this book, it would be a lack of love story, but I know one is building. I am willing to let it build and watching it play out. I look forward to reading more and seeing how this story and these characters develop. I think the last time a trilogy interested me this much was when I read Holly Lisle's 'Secret Texts' trilogy. (Courage of Falcons, et al.)
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of apprentice and partner. The book is filled with political intrigue, thievery, sorcery, and excitement. The plot moves pretty quickly but it flows in a believable manner. The writing is great. Lynn Flewelling's style isn't too flowery, nor too gritty. She comes across factually without being cold. The characters are full of life, well-rounded and interesting. She doesn't reveal everything at once, but drops a few subtle hints before springing information on the reader.
The book concludes nicely, wrapping up the plot. Then, it throws in a dash of prophecy and an old wizard's precognitive vision of DOOM. Although the 'upcoming sequel soon' stuff usually annoys me, this didn't. It was presented in a 'far-off future' kind of way. The characters were all safe and happy; they were not hanging on the edge of a cliff in uncertainty! So, I didn't feel buying-pressured by the ending; it just gave some dark foreshadowing for the next book. It was a very satisfying read overall. I am currently reading the second book in the trilogy, Stalking Darkness.
If I had any complaint about this book, it would be a lack of love story, but I know one is building. I am willing to let it build and watching it play out. I look forward to reading more and seeing how this story and these characters develop. I think the last time a trilogy interested me this much was when I read Holly Lisle's 'Secret Texts' trilogy. (Courage of Falcons, et al.)
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LibraryThing member krysteria
I generally don’t go for these fantasy genre books and wasn’t sure why this book came up in my Amazon gay-lit searches. Since it’s a series, I decided to give the first book a shot and see if I liked it.
Whereas I normally would have given up near the beginning of the book, not because the
I was maybe only about a quarter of the way thru when I started to get the hang of the world the story takes place in and started to enjoy the tale. I guess you just have to get used to the world you’ve entered. I was still curious as to why it came up in gay-lit searches, but the story was still cool, and the lead character totally reminded me of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. Any book where Viggo can star is a keeper!
The queer storyline finally showed up and that made the story even more interesting. By the end, I was completely engrossed and looking forward to continuing the story.
On a scale of 1 to 10, it’s a 9.8.
Whereas I normally would have given up near the beginning of the book, not because the
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story isn’t interesting, but there’s just so much to learn, a new landscape, new geography, new people, races, culture, etc. I usually get tired of trying to figure out if some weirdly named something is a place or a person, or whatever. But this time I told myself to keep on reading.I was maybe only about a quarter of the way thru when I started to get the hang of the world the story takes place in and started to enjoy the tale. I guess you just have to get used to the world you’ve entered. I was still curious as to why it came up in gay-lit searches, but the story was still cool, and the lead character totally reminded me of Aragorn from Lord of the Rings. Any book where Viggo can star is a keeper!
The queer storyline finally showed up and that made the story even more interesting. By the end, I was completely engrossed and looking forward to continuing the story.
On a scale of 1 to 10, it’s a 9.8.
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LibraryThing member jshillingford
I love epic fantasy, so I was delighted to come across the Nightrunner series (though I seem to be late finding it). There are a lot of familiar tropes from fantasy: the rogue hero, the innocent boy, the wise old wizard, a lot of traveling "there and back again," etc. Sometimes this can feel
First, Seregil is a great character (who owes more than a passing nod to Silk from the Belgariad) because he's so three-dimensional. He's imperfect, funny, self-deprecating, loyal, and wicked deadly. But, he is the only fully developed character. Alec comes across as overly innocent, and so more one-dimensional, but he is a good foil for Seregil and has potential. Unlike Garion, or other such characters, Alec is already on his way to becoming a thief, and more interesting because of it. The pace can be somewhat slow at times as the world-building takes place as the characters travel across the fictional landscape. The underlying plot/conspiracy is built in a similar way. However, one jewel in this slow evolution is Rhiminee - a city so vibrant and well described it is practically a character in the story. The author has a gift for description, and does ocassionally go overboard with it, but I felt like I was in the story as a result.
Yes, Seregil is at least bisexual, and attracted to Alec. But, as with Vanyel in the Last Herald Mage series, this is simply one of many traits of the character. It was nice to see a gay protagonist treated so matter-of-factly. Though the conclusion is not exactly a cliff-hanger, there is obviously much more to come. Overall, I was drawn in and look forward to continuing the series. Highly recommended to fantasy fans.
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repetitive: why is there always a dark god, that know one knows of, who wants to enslave or destroy the world? For once, couldn't it be a beautiful goddess who wants to protect mankind...from themselves? How does a 16 year old boy manage to stay so innocent? Surely there are girls in the village? But most of the time, such familiarity is comforting and why I keep coming back for more. Flewelling manages to balance familiarity with enough originality to make this a very good start to a series. First, Seregil is a great character (who owes more than a passing nod to Silk from the Belgariad) because he's so three-dimensional. He's imperfect, funny, self-deprecating, loyal, and wicked deadly. But, he is the only fully developed character. Alec comes across as overly innocent, and so more one-dimensional, but he is a good foil for Seregil and has potential. Unlike Garion, or other such characters, Alec is already on his way to becoming a thief, and more interesting because of it. The pace can be somewhat slow at times as the world-building takes place as the characters travel across the fictional landscape. The underlying plot/conspiracy is built in a similar way. However, one jewel in this slow evolution is Rhiminee - a city so vibrant and well described it is practically a character in the story. The author has a gift for description, and does ocassionally go overboard with it, but I felt like I was in the story as a result.
Yes, Seregil is at least bisexual, and attracted to Alec. But, as with Vanyel in the Last Herald Mage series, this is simply one of many traits of the character. It was nice to see a gay protagonist treated so matter-of-factly. Though the conclusion is not exactly a cliff-hanger, there is obviously much more to come. Overall, I was drawn in and look forward to continuing the series. Highly recommended to fantasy fans.
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LibraryThing member Aurone
I must say that Luck in the Shadows by Lynn Flewelling is one of my all time favorite novels. It is the first book in what is currently a five book series. The plot is sound and moves well and I absolutely love the main characters Seregil and Alec. I have read this novel several times and for me it
Plot: Alec is a simple woodman. He is good with a bow and he traps and kills animals for a living. Think French fur-trapper type. He has just lost his father to illness and for the first time is on his own. Unfortunately, one day he finds himself in the wrong woods at the wrong time and he is jailed for being a spy. He is tortured and finds himself facing being sold to slavers. Not a pretty future. Then a bard gets thrown into his jail cell. But the bard is not what he seems. This bard is actually a master of disguise, a thief, a rogue so to speak. He escapes his chains and releases Alec out of his. The “bard” springs them both from the dungeon and so begins a beautiful friendship. Seregil, the name of our mysterious bard, believes that Alec would also make a good rogue so he decides for some reason to take Alec with him as an apprentice. Now Seregil might seem like a fishy character but he is actually working for a wizard name Nysander who is a friend to the crown. During one of their first jobs together Alec and Seregil lift a seemingly unimportant wooded disc which causes them to be hunted by a pair of nasty characters, one of which is a necromancer (raiser of the dead). The disc itself has some kind of power that nearly kills Seregil (who is wearing the disc around his neck). With Seregil out of it, and Alec a green woodsman, the boys are in trouble. Alec undertakes a long journey to Seregil’s home city to find the wizard Nysander who might be able to save Seregil’s life. Can Alec reach it before Seregil dies? You will have to read the book to find out.
There are a couple of secondary plots in this book that meld well with the plot of establishing Seregil’s and Alec’s characters. There is also a background plot of a war brewing.
What I love about Flewelling’s novels are her characters even her secondary characters like Nysander and Thero (Nysander’s apprentice) are excellently done and 3-D. I absolutely love Seregil and Alec. Currently I am re-reading the novels and it feels like visiting old friends to me. I am so excited to watch the plot unfurl again. Seregil is an excellent rogue with a heart of gold. There is a lot of depth to his character and you watch him war with lots of internal issues throughout the books. Alec is a doll such an innocent in the beginning. You will wonder how he will ever survive Seregil, but Alec bends rather easily and becomes used to his new life. He grows a tremendous amount in this novel. It is definitely a tie for me between Seregil, Alec, and Vanyel (from the Last Herald Mage trilogy by Mercedes Lackey) who is my favorite book character of all time. All of Flewelling’s characters are engaging and believable.
Flewelling writes an engaging book with spectacular characters and a solid plot. There is a lot of history about each of the countries and a religion you have to learn, but the important things are repeated to Alec who is learning all of it with you so it is not so bad. I like her writing style, it is a lot more involved than some other writers but she will pull you in and captivate you.
Luck in the Shadows is one of my favorite books. If I could only keep 10 books out of the 1100 I own, the first three books of the Nightrunner series would make the cut. If you like a good fantasy novel then you will love this series like I do. It is a fantastic read, give it a chance.
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never gets old. Plot: Alec is a simple woodman. He is good with a bow and he traps and kills animals for a living. Think French fur-trapper type. He has just lost his father to illness and for the first time is on his own. Unfortunately, one day he finds himself in the wrong woods at the wrong time and he is jailed for being a spy. He is tortured and finds himself facing being sold to slavers. Not a pretty future. Then a bard gets thrown into his jail cell. But the bard is not what he seems. This bard is actually a master of disguise, a thief, a rogue so to speak. He escapes his chains and releases Alec out of his. The “bard” springs them both from the dungeon and so begins a beautiful friendship. Seregil, the name of our mysterious bard, believes that Alec would also make a good rogue so he decides for some reason to take Alec with him as an apprentice. Now Seregil might seem like a fishy character but he is actually working for a wizard name Nysander who is a friend to the crown. During one of their first jobs together Alec and Seregil lift a seemingly unimportant wooded disc which causes them to be hunted by a pair of nasty characters, one of which is a necromancer (raiser of the dead). The disc itself has some kind of power that nearly kills Seregil (who is wearing the disc around his neck). With Seregil out of it, and Alec a green woodsman, the boys are in trouble. Alec undertakes a long journey to Seregil’s home city to find the wizard Nysander who might be able to save Seregil’s life. Can Alec reach it before Seregil dies? You will have to read the book to find out.
There are a couple of secondary plots in this book that meld well with the plot of establishing Seregil’s and Alec’s characters. There is also a background plot of a war brewing.
What I love about Flewelling’s novels are her characters even her secondary characters like Nysander and Thero (Nysander’s apprentice) are excellently done and 3-D. I absolutely love Seregil and Alec. Currently I am re-reading the novels and it feels like visiting old friends to me. I am so excited to watch the plot unfurl again. Seregil is an excellent rogue with a heart of gold. There is a lot of depth to his character and you watch him war with lots of internal issues throughout the books. Alec is a doll such an innocent in the beginning. You will wonder how he will ever survive Seregil, but Alec bends rather easily and becomes used to his new life. He grows a tremendous amount in this novel. It is definitely a tie for me between Seregil, Alec, and Vanyel (from the Last Herald Mage trilogy by Mercedes Lackey) who is my favorite book character of all time. All of Flewelling’s characters are engaging and believable.
Flewelling writes an engaging book with spectacular characters and a solid plot. There is a lot of history about each of the countries and a religion you have to learn, but the important things are repeated to Alec who is learning all of it with you so it is not so bad. I like her writing style, it is a lot more involved than some other writers but she will pull you in and captivate you.
Luck in the Shadows is one of my favorite books. If I could only keep 10 books out of the 1100 I own, the first three books of the Nightrunner series would make the cut. If you like a good fantasy novel then you will love this series like I do. It is a fantastic read, give it a chance.
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LibraryThing member Jenson_AKA_DL
When 16 year old Alec of Kerry is imprisoned and tortured for being a spy, the innocent huntsman's son finds help from a most unexpected source. He soon discovers his savior, Seregil, is a man of many faces and talents. In short order Alec is caught up in Seregil's world, a world of hidden dangers,
As a short aside about how I wound up with this book; earlier last week or the week before I wrote down the name of an author I was interested in and set off in search of an interesting sounding book, with no luck. On Friday I visited a convention where Lynn Llewelling was speaking, the name wasn't familiar to me until I went to the dealer's room and lo and behold there sat the book I had been looking for earlier that week. The fact that I had written down the name of the author and had no inkling of recognition upon hearing at the convention it is a bit disturbing. However, I was very happy to have found this book!
I thought "Luck in the Shadows" was a pretty solid fantasy book with lots of adventure, magic and quests. My only qualm is one that I have with much of the Tolkenisque type fantasy where you don't really get an idea of what the characters are "feeling". You get flashes here and there, but it is primarily glossed over in favor of plot and setting description. But, the small glimpses of the inner characters along with the intriguing story were certainly plenty enough to keep me glued to the book for the last two days. I really did like all of the characters, particularly Alec and Seregil, more than enough to have already ordered the next two books of this series. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Alec, even though he is young and pretty naive, isn't made out to be a "country bumpkin" sort and brings many talents of his own to his apprenticeship/partnership with Seregil. Another of the very neat things is that the author snuck in the actual pronunciation of Seregil "Ser-ah-gill" right at the beginning and it stuck with me through the rest of the book (I'm truly very horrible at pronouncing words I'm not familiar with, particularly fantasy names).
Overall I found this to be an engrossing and interesting fantasy/quest type story that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to other fans of the genre. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book!
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powerful magic and deadly betrayals. With a war brewing Alec has to make a monumental decision, to return to his simple life or accept Seregil's offer of apprenticeship to experience an adventure he could have never even dreamed of.As a short aside about how I wound up with this book; earlier last week or the week before I wrote down the name of an author I was interested in and set off in search of an interesting sounding book, with no luck. On Friday I visited a convention where Lynn Llewelling was speaking, the name wasn't familiar to me until I went to the dealer's room and lo and behold there sat the book I had been looking for earlier that week. The fact that I had written down the name of the author and had no inkling of recognition upon hearing at the convention it is a bit disturbing. However, I was very happy to have found this book!
I thought "Luck in the Shadows" was a pretty solid fantasy book with lots of adventure, magic and quests. My only qualm is one that I have with much of the Tolkenisque type fantasy where you don't really get an idea of what the characters are "feeling". You get flashes here and there, but it is primarily glossed over in favor of plot and setting description. But, the small glimpses of the inner characters along with the intriguing story were certainly plenty enough to keep me glued to the book for the last two days. I really did like all of the characters, particularly Alec and Seregil, more than enough to have already ordered the next two books of this series. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Alec, even though he is young and pretty naive, isn't made out to be a "country bumpkin" sort and brings many talents of his own to his apprenticeship/partnership with Seregil. Another of the very neat things is that the author snuck in the actual pronunciation of Seregil "Ser-ah-gill" right at the beginning and it stuck with me through the rest of the book (I'm truly very horrible at pronouncing words I'm not familiar with, particularly fantasy names).
Overall I found this to be an engrossing and interesting fantasy/quest type story that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to other fans of the genre. I'm really looking forward to reading the next book!
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LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
This is a story about a wrongly imprisoned boy, Alec of Kerry, who is rescued by Seregil of Rhiminee. Alec is young and is unsure of his future since his father died and now has an opportunity. He realises that there are secrets Seregil holds and this attracts him. The plots going on around Seregil
I had read The Bone Doll's Twin before this and now that I realise that this was published before that I understand some of the problems I had with this one, it reads a bit like a first publication. Not a bad first book but there are some issues and some slight clumsiness that I didn't expect from the writer who wrote Bone Doll's Twin and sequels.
I liked the characters and how they develop and how you learn more about the background as I read. I really look forward to reading the sequels.
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are also interesting and gives Alec a sense of purpose.I had read The Bone Doll's Twin before this and now that I realise that this was published before that I understand some of the problems I had with this one, it reads a bit like a first publication. Not a bad first book but there are some issues and some slight clumsiness that I didn't expect from the writer who wrote Bone Doll's Twin and sequels.
I liked the characters and how they develop and how you learn more about the background as I read. I really look forward to reading the sequels.
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LibraryThing member Kiddboyblue
This felt like a strong beginning to a fantasy series. Despite its formulaic fantasy premise of random stranger is swept up in an epic quest for no forsseable reason, it seemed to work to some degree with this book.
I found that despite getting into the action literally right away, Flewelling was
I did find the two main protagonist's adventure to be a bit too easy for the most part. Despite getting into some harrowing ordeals, they always seem to luck out of it, or find their way pretty easy. By the end of the book I wasn't too worried about the whole life or death aspect, because I assumed they would luck out of it. Hopefully, with the following additions into the series, the situations aren't so easily escaped.
There was some great story building however, that is clearly meant to expand over multiple books, and it was written so that I am left wanting more! Flewelling is great at world building as well, and you can tell that a lot of depth and thought has gone into the world she has created, which always helps add to any fantasy novel or series.
Overall I enjoyed the book a lot and look forward to the next installments!
I found that despite getting into the action literally right away, Flewelling was
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able to still have some great characterization throughout the novel. She had very solid and unique characters that I found myself drawn to and caring about. This isn't often easy in fantasy novels when there are generally so many characters coming and going within the pages. I did find the two main protagonist's adventure to be a bit too easy for the most part. Despite getting into some harrowing ordeals, they always seem to luck out of it, or find their way pretty easy. By the end of the book I wasn't too worried about the whole life or death aspect, because I assumed they would luck out of it. Hopefully, with the following additions into the series, the situations aren't so easily escaped.
There was some great story building however, that is clearly meant to expand over multiple books, and it was written so that I am left wanting more! Flewelling is great at world building as well, and you can tell that a lot of depth and thought has gone into the world she has created, which always helps add to any fantasy novel or series.
Overall I enjoyed the book a lot and look forward to the next installments!
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LibraryThing member flemmily
Pretty good, although to be honest I'm more of a fan of the Tamir series. I like these sorts of epic/quest fantasy books, but they get a little seen one seen 'em all.
That being said, I think Flewelling is a good author, she writes interesting characters and interesting situations. The tension
That being said, I think Flewelling is a good author, she writes interesting characters and interesting situations. The tension
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between characters is not quite dynamic enough for me in this book however. Show Less
LibraryThing member crazybatcow
Well. This book took too long to read. I like my fantasy novels to go by fast, but this one felt like I always had more pages to go. There is a LOT of world building. The characters are fleshed out. The politics are fleshed out. The world is fleshed out. The homosexuality, however, is fleshed
I don't particularly enjoy being spoon-fed. I also don't really care who is having sex in a fantasy novel... I don't read them for "romance" ('cause if I wanted romance, I'd, I dunno... go get a romance novel?)
Anyway, I think it's almost a good novel. I will start the next in the series and if it is also as slow to read, I'll stop there 'cause I don't want to feel like my fantasy is work.
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around. It's clear the author spent a lot of effort to slowly build up the "shock" of the main characters being gay. A little dollop here, a tiny hint there, a medium dole here, and voila! at the end of the book we know they'll be lovers.I don't particularly enjoy being spoon-fed. I also don't really care who is having sex in a fantasy novel... I don't read them for "romance" ('cause if I wanted romance, I'd, I dunno... go get a romance novel?)
Anyway, I think it's almost a good novel. I will start the next in the series and if it is also as slow to read, I'll stop there 'cause I don't want to feel like my fantasy is work.
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LibraryThing member cat8864
When I heard that this had m/m I was expecting something with little plot and mainly ... well, basically the usual pwp.
Was I ever wrong. Its a thrilling introduction into the world and the characters. The characters (Alec and Seregil) meet and their relationship slowly grows in a realistic manner.
There's no romance in this novel, this one is the world builder. It leaves many questions to answer and room for series development.
Its definitely a series i'll be digging into, and if the rest are as good I may actually buy it.
Was I ever wrong. Its a thrilling introduction into the world and the characters. The characters (Alec and Seregil) meet and their relationship slowly grows in a realistic manner.
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The politics are introduced as the plot requires as is the history - no long winded lectures here.There's no romance in this novel, this one is the world builder. It leaves many questions to answer and room for series development.
Its definitely a series i'll be digging into, and if the rest are as good I may actually buy it.
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LibraryThing member surreality
Plot: Fairly straightforward "young man meets mysterious stranger and adventures happen" plot with a few unexpected twists to keep it interesting. The pacing is slightly off, with a somewhat abrupt change from quest plot to mystery plot in the middle.
Characters: Good character development and good
Style: It's a first effort, and it shows. Prose is a bit bumpy, scenes aren't quite balanced and description is delivered in large chunks. Things improve as the story progresses, but the first half has occasional awkward jolts. Blessedly little made-up terminology and foreign languages; the book generally feels quite down-to-earth. Too many changes in point of view.
Plus: Interesting characters. Good set-up and world-building.
Minus: The writing style could be better.
Summary: Solid fantasy story with a bit of mystery and horror thrown in. Not the heaviest read, but entertaining. Comfort food.
Characters: Good character development and good
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characterization. The characters are what carries the book, and while there are a few stereotypes around, they're not gratingly obvious and irritating. The occasional incompetence and blunders are refreshing - it's nice to see non-perfect characters. It's a relatively small cast, especially for a book that sets up a series. Style: It's a first effort, and it shows. Prose is a bit bumpy, scenes aren't quite balanced and description is delivered in large chunks. Things improve as the story progresses, but the first half has occasional awkward jolts. Blessedly little made-up terminology and foreign languages; the book generally feels quite down-to-earth. Too many changes in point of view.
Plus: Interesting characters. Good set-up and world-building.
Minus: The writing style could be better.
Summary: Solid fantasy story with a bit of mystery and horror thrown in. Not the heaviest read, but entertaining. Comfort food.
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LibraryThing member extrajoker
first line (of the prologue): "Mouldering bone crumbled beneath their boots as Lord Mardus and Vargul Ashnazai lowered themselves down into the tiny chamber beneath the earthen mound."
first line (of the first chapter): "Asengai's torturers were regular in their habits--they always left off at
Having read the Tamir Cycle (the three prequel novels), I finally got around to the original Nightrunner novel. As evidenced by the opening lines, this is not your shiny, happy fantasy novel. That's right: no butterfly-chasing, unicorn-coaxing virgins need apply. I don't read much high fantasy these days, but Lynn Flewelling's good for tight stories with strong characters. And it's refreshing that someone's giving "alternate lifestyles" a prominent place in fantasy fiction.
first line (of the first chapter): "Asengai's torturers were regular in their habits--they always left off at
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sunset."Having read the Tamir Cycle (the three prequel novels), I finally got around to the original Nightrunner novel. As evidenced by the opening lines, this is not your shiny, happy fantasy novel. That's right: no butterfly-chasing, unicorn-coaxing virgins need apply. I don't read much high fantasy these days, but Lynn Flewelling's good for tight stories with strong characters. And it's refreshing that someone's giving "alternate lifestyles" a prominent place in fantasy fiction.
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LibraryThing member willowcove
Where the main characters are gay thieves...and they're the good guys. Full of court intrigue, and very enjoyable.
LibraryThing member maughta
Pretty standard high fantasy. A little Tolkeiny at times (a piece of jewelry that causes one to fantasize and go crazy? C'mon!). This book has a subplot that takes over the second half of the book and leaves the main plot for the following volumes. So it goes with three-part high fantasy.
LibraryThing member silentq
I really enjoyed this book, it's a young adult fantasy that edges on the adult. Alec is super sweet and I can see myself patterning a DND character after him (he's a great archer and tracker). Serengil takes Alec under his wing and teaches him the trades of spy and thief, but things stay relatively
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light, as they're in the service of a powerful mage trying to keep the kingdom together. The acceptance of alternate sexualities in this world is refreshing, Serengil is at least bisexual if not mostly gay and I can see the beginnings of a close relationship blooming between him and Alec - they take care of each other through some life threatening situations, magical and mundane. Show Less
LibraryThing member robreadsbooks
I did enjoy this book. The characters are well thought out and the plot (for the most part) was quite thrilling. I say "for the most part" because I found the scenes where the characters were verbally retelling the history of the land to Alec to be tedious. These scenes were scattered throughout
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the first half of the book and they really stalled the pacing. I found Seregil to be a great character. He's a bit of a rogue but he has a great heart. The friendship between he and Alec grew slowly but it was entirely believable. But overall, I can't say that I was impressed enough to continue reading the series. If, indeed, there is something "brewing" in Alec and Seregil's relationship, I saw--or felt for that matter--nothing indicating this. There were very vague references to Seregil being gay but I saw and felt no such thing regarding Alec. Not enough for me to want to continue reading about them anyway. Still, it was a good read and I do recommend it for those who want more action than romance. I was just hoping for a little more of the latter. Show Less
LibraryThing member aryadeschain
I fail to understand why this book has been rated as "m/m romance", because really, there is nothing explicit in this book and there is not much that can lead to a direct shameless hot and passionate m/m relationship.
My thoughts about this book... well, first of all, I feel like I should be
The characters are... okay. I feel like they could have been more deeply developed. Most of them have a lot of potential, and even though there are lots of them (and by the middle of the book I forgot more than half of them), you know that they do have their importance throughout the story. Still, they are those kind of characters whom I just imagine the way I want rather than in the way they are described in the book.
What I didn't like in the book (and I can't even say I hated it) is that it felt that the adventures and hardships through which Alec and Seregil go could have a better development. I thought that the author was very good at creating scenarios of tension, when you know s*** is about to get real, but when it happens, it wasn't a big deal and the characters were able to go through it very easily. It seemed as if Lynn was afraid to make her characters suffer, but again, maybe that's just me and my sadistic spirit speaking louder.
I also didn't like the way the book ended. It didn't even feel like it was over. It was more like "I wanted to put a bigger thing here in the story, but the page limit didn't allow me to do that". It's not even a cliffhanger, it just feels like the story is incomplete.
Other than that, I really liked the book and the story. I'm looking forward to read the rest of the saga!
My thoughts about this book... well, first of all, I feel like I should be
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complimenting the universe that the author has created. I always get the impression that it is very difficult to create a consistent, coherent universe for a book, complete with its own history, conflicts and several different races. I think Flewelling did a pretty good job here, creating a world that was rich enough to have an atmosphere of somewhere magic, yet not getting lost in an excessive amount of descriptions. I do have to say that occasionally the way the worlds' story is told is slightly tiring, but even so, if you remove them from the book, very little will actually make any sense.The characters are... okay. I feel like they could have been more deeply developed. Most of them have a lot of potential, and even though there are lots of them (and by the middle of the book I forgot more than half of them), you know that they do have their importance throughout the story. Still, they are those kind of characters whom I just imagine the way I want rather than in the way they are described in the book.
What I didn't like in the book (and I can't even say I hated it) is that it felt that the adventures and hardships through which Alec and Seregil go could have a better development. I thought that the author was very good at creating scenarios of tension, when you know s*** is about to get real, but when it happens, it wasn't a big deal and the characters were able to go through it very easily. It seemed as if Lynn was afraid to make her characters suffer, but again, maybe that's just me and my sadistic spirit speaking louder.
I also didn't like the way the book ended. It didn't even feel like it was over. It was more like "I wanted to put a bigger thing here in the story, but the page limit didn't allow me to do that". It's not even a cliffhanger, it just feels like the story is incomplete.
Other than that, I really liked the book and the story. I'm looking forward to read the rest of the saga!
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LibraryThing member Maaike15274
Great! A fast adventurous read, with charming protagonists. I really want to read more of this series!
LibraryThing member lewispike
I'm guessing this is a first book. It's fine, lightweight fantasy, but it's fun and easy to read.
LibraryThing member rdyornot
The writing is mediocre, but I liked it anyway.
LibraryThing member Tikimoof
I was totally down with the thievery, I was mostly down with the barding, I was not at all down with the infodumps. Those were really clumsily done, and done waaaaaaay too early in the novel for me to want to care.
Also I thought Nysander was a bit creepy.
Also I thought Nysander was a bit creepy.
LibraryThing member lente
I almost finished this book, but than it turned out to be a standard mediocre fantasy book. I just want to read really good books and this one just isn't good enough. Still, 3 stars, because it wasn't terrible.
LibraryThing member ConnieJo
I just finished Lies of Locke Lamora, and since this is another fantasy story about a thief and a thief's apprentice, it was hard for me not to compare the two while I was reading this. Locke Lamora is a better book, but Luck in the Shadows was still a great read.
I liked the slow education of Alec
I liked both Alec and Seregil a lot, both were well-rounded and interesting characters. All the characters were, really, but I enjoyed the main team immensely, both Alec's adeptness and willingness to try something completely new and Seregil's seeming delight at finding a partner-in-crime, something he hadn't expected he'd ever do.
The setting, magic, political situation, all of it was good stuff, and this really did just feel like a taste of things to come. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!
I liked the slow education of Alec
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and the way it's used to reveal the bigger plot mysteries. As the first book in the series, I was disappointed that some of the more tantalizing questions were left unanswered, and that what appeared to be the main story at the beginning of the book was more-or-less abandoned in favor of something else once they reached the main setting. But the secondary story was ultimately more interesting, so I wasn't that upset.I liked both Alec and Seregil a lot, both were well-rounded and interesting characters. All the characters were, really, but I enjoyed the main team immensely, both Alec's adeptness and willingness to try something completely new and Seregil's seeming delight at finding a partner-in-crime, something he hadn't expected he'd ever do.
The setting, magic, political situation, all of it was good stuff, and this really did just feel like a taste of things to come. Can't wait to read the next book in the series!
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LibraryThing member AltheaAnn
I’d heard good things about this series, so thought I’d pick this up. It’s fairly standard fantasy fare – a young orphan falls in with a mentor who initiates him into an exciting world of thievery and spycraft, getting him involved with plots that stretch from seedy taverns to the highest
You may have heard (I did) this recommended for fans of gay fiction. If you’re looking for erotica, or even romance, look elsewhere, because there is no more than a flickering of sexual tension between the two leads.
The writing is fairly standard, and a bit clunky at times. (It’s a good thing our young protagonist, Alec, is pretty ignorant, so that his mentor, Seregil, can keep explaining things to him. Alec also suddenly develops expertise at various things without seemingly trying.) However, this was Flewelling’s first novel, so I’m not dismissing the story out of hand. The setting and characters were entertaining enough that I’ve actually already picked up the next two books.
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levels of politics. You may have heard (I did) this recommended for fans of gay fiction. If you’re looking for erotica, or even romance, look elsewhere, because there is no more than a flickering of sexual tension between the two leads.
The writing is fairly standard, and a bit clunky at times. (It’s a good thing our young protagonist, Alec, is pretty ignorant, so that his mentor, Seregil, can keep explaining things to him. Alec also suddenly develops expertise at various things without seemingly trying.) However, this was Flewelling’s first novel, so I’m not dismissing the story out of hand. The setting and characters were entertaining enough that I’ve actually already picked up the next two books.
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Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1996
ISBN
9780553575422