Review of The Way Of The Shadow

Title: The Way Of Shadows
Author: Brent Weeks
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre Type: Sci-Fiction, Fantasy 
Publication Date: October 1st 2008
Publisher: Orbit
Format: Paperback
Pages: 645 pages
Source: Books A Million, Bought

My Review:
4/5 Geek Points

In The Way of Shadows (Night Angel, #1) by Brent Weeks, we meet Azoth who is an orphan that hates his life. When he crosses paths with Durzo Blint, the most renown Wetboy/assassin, he begs Blint to train him. Blint accepts on two conditions: Azoth has to kill his "master" Rat to prove himself worthy and he has to abandon his street friends. It was successful. Durzo then proceeds to changing Azoth by teaching him in the art of murder and giving him a new name-- Kylar. Kylar get "adopted" by the Drakes, a not very powerful family, and befriends the Gyres that are nearly on top of the social pyramid. After that, well, he gets dragged into this messed up, but very interesting political intrigue.

The Way of Shadows is a fast-paced dynamite of a novel. I was up late into the night burning through pages to find out the next twist. I have to admit, I love a good assassin-themed novel. Weeks does a great job with characterization and I became really attached to Kylar, Momma K, and Logan; some awesome characters with convincing moments. In a character/plot driven novel, The Way of Shadows doesn't get bogged down in description and it was much appreciated.

Brent Weeks is a great story teller and his writing is plenty strong enough to carry the load. I call the book fun, and it is, but that's not to diminish it in any way. There are plenty of emotional scenes and even though I could see the strings being pulled, I still got drawn in. There's as much action as any reader could want, varied and interesting magic, tight plotting from a good number of interesting points of view. The pacing is good and there are few info dumps. I could perhaps have stood fewer discussions on the city's varied architecture but that's the very minor niggle on the back of a great deal of enjoyment. 

I recommend this book for anyone who loves a good assassin book, and to anyone who loves to get lost in a good book than just plunges you into the action

This is Geek Boy saying thanks and till the next read.

Get  Brent Weeks's The Way Of Shadows Here:

About This Author:

Brent Weeks was born and raised in Montana. After getting his paper keys from Hillsdale College, Brent had brief stints walking the earth like Caine from Kung Fu, tending bar, and corrupting the youth. (Not at the same time.) He started writing on bar napkins, then on lesson plans, then full time. Eventually, someone paid him for it. Brent lives in Oregon with his wife, Kristi. He doesn’t own cats or wear a ponytail.

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