I get the feeling though that we are in good hands. I worry that such a high standard of writing and storytelling might be hard to sustain. There are two more books in the series to read. It is difficult praising the first novel in a series too much. The Godking’s brutal succession traditions are impressive in its brutality and plays a huge role in understanding many of the character’s motivations. Weeks’ attention to detail is equally admirable. Their sense of honour and duty rings true and isn’t forced. In the same way, you feel for the higher born characters.

His relationship with his friends has the fragility of a soap bubble, but you will them to survive. Azoth’s early years are pretty harrowing to read at times. Weeks takes the pile of charcoal which is some pretty standard fantasy tropes and creates a Koh-I-Noor of a story. The increasingly complicated plots reveal themselves to be a vibrant tapestry of masterful design. What elevates this book above and beyond the numerous fantasy stories around it is the fantastic writing abilities of Brent Weeks. All that was needed was a mismatched group of warriors and a fair amount of travelling. I read the first few chapters thinking: Orphan – check. You could be forgiven for thinking that much of the above is familiar. How will the Sa’kagé Criminal organisation react to the growing threat of war? Will the King survive his own subject’s before the Godking has a chance to declare war? The politics and power-plays grow at the same time. The story develops over many years as Azoth grows physically and leaves his old persona behind. The overwhelming number of soldiers are augmented by powerful evil magic users.

Outside of Cenaria, a terrible and powerful army lead by the Godking of Khalidor is making plans to invade. Logan’s leadership and popularity also earns him the growing enmity of Cenaria’s weak and disliked king, Aleine Gunder. His father, Lord Gyre, has schooled him in martial skills and leadership and Logan’s natural character earns him the devotion of the soldiers and servants around him. Born into one of the most powerful and well liked noble families, he has the chance to become rich and powerful. On the other side of Cenaria is Logan Gyre. The plan is simple: Azoth becomes apprentice and makes enough money for the other two to leave the Guild life. He’s a wetboy, an assassin who uses special magical abilities to be undetectable and Durzo is by far the best. He and his only two real friends are desperate to escape this brutal life but the only way out they can see is for Azoth to become apprenticed to Durzo Blint. The story begins with Azoth, a lowly orphan who lives in a brutal crime gang on the fringes of Cenarian society. It seemed to have a lot of very tired fantasy book stereotypes. I began this book, ‘The Way Of Shadows’ with fairly low expectations.

The night angel trilogy books