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emilyb_chicago's review against another edition
4.0
Loved it. This kept up with the promise of the first two. Definitely one of my favorite new series in a long time - I was so sad to finish it! Highly recommended for those who enjoy a good fantasy novel.
flowerhatprincess's review against another edition
5.0
Most beautiful ending to any book I've ever read. I've never cried so sincerely out of sadness and joy over a book before. Brent left me cultivated, shocked, and wanting more. This is truly the best book I've ever read in my life.
sterlingprimerius's review against another edition
3.0
And that wraps up the Night Angel trilogy. I ended up giving 4 stars again, just like I did with Shadow's Edge. While I sat staring at the review box, I did contemplate dropping all 3 books 1 star. But that didn't feel right either. These are the moments I wish Goodreads would let us rate in half star increments. So for me the trilogy will be rated:
[b:The Way of Shadows|3227063|The Way of Shadows (Night Angel, #1)|Brent Weeks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327881551l/3227063._SY75_.jpg|3261241] 4.5 stars
[b:Shadow's Edge|3754016|Shadow's Edge (Night Angel, #2)|Brent Weeks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327881435l/3754016._SY75_.jpg|3797880] 3.5 stars
[b:Beyond the Shadows|3754026|Beyond the Shadows (Night Angel, #3)|Brent Weeks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327881432l/3754026._SY75_.jpg|3797890] 3.5 stars
I liked the book, but I had to do an awful lot of blank filling. Even more than in book 2 I feel like. Solon goes on an epic quest to win back the love of his life and visits dozens of islands in the Seth empire in literally a few pages. Durzo takes the kakari from Kylar, then runs to Erza's Woods, grabs Curoch from there while evading the terrible Hunter and we get to see nothing of it. It simply just happened, deal with it. At the same time we spend a lot of time on the moment where Vi has to suffer through Kylar and Elene making love. It just seems a little off balance. I don't mind filling blanks, but when a novel comes in at close to 700 pages, I guess I expect less of it, not more.
Then there is a second gripe I have with this book. It's the driver that sets everything in motion, like the 7 armies mentioned in the blurb. It's a bit of a Helena of Troy rerun. The majority of the armies are at the final battle at Logan's request, because Logan wants to go save Jenine, whom he thought dead. I just have some trouble swallowing it. The automatic assumption that the new Godking must be as evil as the previous, sins of the father and so on, was extremely short-sighted.
In the end all the different prophecies of the different nations come together quite nicely with a neatly wrapped bow on top. I think the execution of the the trilogy as a whole fell a little short, that's why it's not a 5 star rating 3 times. But it wasn't a bad read, it was great to see Durzo again. I liked the development of Vi at the Chantry. Kylar's realization of what happens every time he dies and gets resurrected. Kylar stomping through the Chantry when he thought the Sisters stole Retribution from him. It is a great fantasy story, even if it is filled with tropes, but to be honest which fantasy isn't?
Actually while writing this review I have come to a decision and I'm documenting it right here. Even though I really enjoyed the books, I am having trouble keeping them at their current ratings. Because it put's The Way of the Shadows on par with Sanderson's Mistborns and Robert Jackson Bennet's Foundryside. An the other 2 novels on par with handful of Elderling novels by Hobb and some of the Harry Potters, and that doesn't feel right. So here I am making the call, whenever I feel a half star is warrented, I don't automatically round up. I might not even automatically round down. But I will do so for this trilogy.
[b:The Way of Shadows|3227063|The Way of Shadows (Night Angel, #1)|Brent Weeks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327881551l/3227063._SY75_.jpg|3261241] 4.5 stars
[b:Shadow's Edge|3754016|Shadow's Edge (Night Angel, #2)|Brent Weeks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327881435l/3754016._SY75_.jpg|3797880] 3.5 stars
[b:Beyond the Shadows|3754026|Beyond the Shadows (Night Angel, #3)|Brent Weeks|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327881432l/3754026._SY75_.jpg|3797890] 3.5 stars
I liked the book, but I had to do an awful lot of blank filling. Even more than in book 2 I feel like. Solon goes on an epic quest to win back the love of his life and visits dozens of islands in the Seth empire in literally a few pages. Durzo takes the kakari from Kylar, then runs to Erza's Woods, grabs Curoch from there while evading the terrible Hunter and we get to see nothing of it. It simply just happened, deal with it. At the same time we spend a lot of time on the moment where Vi has to suffer through Kylar and Elene making love. It just seems a little off balance. I don't mind filling blanks, but when a novel comes in at close to 700 pages, I guess I expect less of it, not more.
Then there is a second gripe I have with this book. It's the driver that sets everything in motion, like the 7 armies mentioned in the blurb. It's a bit of a Helena of Troy rerun. The majority of the armies are at the final battle at Logan's request, because Logan wants to go save Jenine, whom he thought dead. I just have some trouble swallowing it. The automatic assumption that the new Godking must be as evil as the previous, sins of the father and so on, was extremely short-sighted.
In the end all the different prophecies of the different nations come together quite nicely with a neatly wrapped bow on top. I think the execution of the the trilogy as a whole fell a little short, that's why it's not a 5 star rating 3 times. But it wasn't a bad read, it was great to see Durzo again. I liked the development of Vi at the Chantry. Kylar's realization of what happens every time he dies and gets resurrected. Kylar stomping through the Chantry when he thought the Sisters stole Retribution from him. It is a great fantasy story, even if it is filled with tropes, but to be honest which fantasy isn't?
Actually while writing this review I have come to a decision and I'm documenting it right here. Even though I really enjoyed the books, I am having trouble keeping them at their current ratings. Because it put's The Way of the Shadows on par with Sanderson's Mistborns and Robert Jackson Bennet's Foundryside. An the other 2 novels on par with handful of Elderling novels by Hobb and some of the Harry Potters, and that doesn't feel right. So here I am making the call, whenever I feel a half star is warrented, I don't automatically round up. I might not even automatically round down. But I will do so for this trilogy.
mitchyfrost's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ralfcazam's review against another edition
5.0
Like the first two, a little more epic, a little more cliche, overall very enjoyable
paveley_poet_prat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
charleneelyce's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a great ending to this trilogy! Overall this book was packed with action and adventure from beginning to end, I really liked it. A few twists and turns, as well as emotional moments had me feeling all the feels throughout. I was sad to leave this world, and the way it ended definitely leaves it open to potentially more books which I'd be excited to read more.
This was a great ending to this trilogy! Overall this book was packed with action and adventure from beginning to end, I really liked it. A few twists and turns, as well as emotional moments had me feeling all the feels throughout. I was sad to leave this world, and the way it ended definitely leaves it open to potentially more books which I'd be excited to read more.
jacobferrell's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent and fitting conclusion to the Night Angel series. The scope of the story is expanded greatly in this finale. The reader is rewarded with a sprawling tale that challenges the main characters while bringing to light the importance of the side characters in the series.