Luck in the Shadows (Nightrunner, Vol. 1)

One of my favorite series.

(I am not a native speaker: please overlook my style) This book is the first of the Nightrunner series: the three volumes are self contained but reading them in chronological order increases the pleasure and add to the growing tension of the liaison between the two main characters, which, by the way, is a homosexual one. Some complain about this, by the way, only to sound extremely childish: why are gay fantasy lovers (I am one) supposed to be able to relate to straight characters and enjoy their adventures while straight ones cannot be bothered by gay characters? Can someone offer a reasonable and non-homophobic argumentation, please? Not to mention the fact that Ms Flewelling's characters do not spend their time (and our book's pages) in bed: they live their adventure packed existences. The author is a skilled writer, one thing which comes to be essential in a genre where anyone putting a couple of dragons-sorcerers-knights and kings together seems to get published: i DO love epic fantasy but cannot stand shabby, obvious, nonsensical writing; the plotting has its weakpoints, characterization is not always as polished as one may wish and there is a general tendency of exaggerating the sentimental vulnerability of the heroes (i tend to ascribe this to the author being a woman describing the intimacy of male characters), but the novel is one of those that keeps you awake at night to finish it. The world created here is absolutely believable, political intrigues are reasonably wicked and well developed without becoming oppressive; magic is an essential part of the book but it is not its only raison d'etre. In this first episode the two heroes meet, get to know each other and live their first adventures together: Ms Flewelling is particularly subtle in not introducing them with long, naive descriptions: the characters act and we get to know them, even the depths of them, by their conduct. Flashbacks are very rare and fit perfectly in the story; the pace is nearly breathtaking. To sum up: the story is excellent, entertaining and reasonably escapist without being dumb; it could have even surpassed the boundaries of genre fiction if the author had chosen to leave it in a drawer for a couple of years and to reread it later with a severe critical attitude, to polish the small flaws. Brutally: this book is fun, perfectly worth the money it costs and bears rereading.

Luck in the Shadows has the timeless quality of an instant classic. Alec and Seregil's meeting in a dungeon, their hair-raising escape, the revelation of the real Seregil, dangerous and compelling -- these images become part of our subconscious tapestry. Speaking of images, as soon as I saw the cover illustration of Seregil looking down from the roof at his pursuers, I knew I had to read this book.Seregil is a whip-smart rogue with an uncanny knack for acquiring information and keeping it to himself. Flewelling wastes no time in introducing Alec and Seregil to us and to each other, and revealing their horrific enemies. Seregil is complex and mercurial, a man who lives by his wits and acting skills. He is at home in all levels of society, and makes a charming guide to his world. Alec is his ideal partner - kind and innocent, yet intelligent and quick of hand and mind, reminding Seregil of himself as a youth. Their bond has the satisfactory feel of the last puzzle piece, feared lost, fitting snugly in place to complete the picture.The other characters are so fleshed out that in lesser books they'd be the leads. Micum Cavish, Seregil's friend of 20 years, is a bear of a man, gruff and plain-spoken. He and his family take to Alec instantly. Seregil and Alec have four little 'families': at the Cockerel, the Oreska, Wheel Street and Watermead. Personally, I find Seregil's enchanted rooms at the Cockerel, chock-full of books, gems and curiosities, enormously appealing;--I'd move there myself in a second.Nysander is the finest wizard since Gandalf: he has awesome powers and the compassion to use them wisely. All of Flewelling's women are strong: the warrior queen Idrilain, Micum's no-nonsense wife Kari, and their soldier daughter Beka.But the core of the novel is Alec and Seregil, and their growth both as individuals and friends in the course of myriad breath-taking adventures. Imagine all these strengths in a book written in clean,taut language by an enthusiastic author. What a treat.

I really liked this charming book. It had a great mix of humor and emotion, and the characters were very easy to like. The book is about a sly, charming thief and spy, Seregil, who picks up an apprentice when he is captured and they meet in a dungeon. His companion, Alec,a modest, backward lad of fifteen, has an aptitude for theivery and sleight of hand, so they become partners. They work for the Queen, gathering information about the approaching war with their age old enemy, Plenimar. They also learn about themselves, especially Alec, as they traipse about the country, robbing and carousing. However, they are not simply roguish theives, their mission is much more important. When a magical artifact strikes Seregil and he falls into a coma, the responsibility of getting him to his teacher and friend, the wizrd Nysander, falls to Alec. In this, he proves himself, and through many other challenges they must face in the future. This was an amusing book, filled with wonderful jokes and hilarious situations. The characters were lovable and real, brought to life by the talented Lynn Flewelling. I recommend this to all who love to laugh and live on the edge.