| Shadows Return (Nightrunner) | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 38 reviews)
Sales Rank: 15057
Category: Book
Author: Lynn Flewelling
Publisher: Spectra
Studio: Spectra
Manufacturer: Spectra
Label: Spectra
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 544
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 0553590081
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780553590081
ASIN: 0553590081
Publication Date: June 24, 2008
Release Date: June 24, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
With their most treacherous mission yet behind them, heroes Seregil and Alec resume their double life as dissolute nobles and master spies. But in a world of rivals and charmers, fate has a different plan.?
After their victory in Aurenen, Alec and Seregil have returned home to Rhiminee. But with most of their allies dead or exiled, it is difficult for them to settle in. Hoping for diversion, they accept an assignment that will take them back to Seregil?s homeland. En route, however, they are ambushed and separated, and both are sold into slavery. Clinging to life, Seregil is sustained only by the hope that Alec is alive.
But it is not Alec?s life his strange master wants?it is his blood. For his unique lineage is capable of producing a rare treasure, but only through a harrowing process that will test him body and soul and unwittingly entangle him and Seregil in the realm of alchemists and madmen?and an enigmatic creature that may hold their very destiny in its inhuman hands?. But will it prove to be savior or monster?
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| Customer Reviews: Read 33 more reviews...
A+ For Effort August 25, 2008
To start things off, I'd like to say that the time lapse between Book 3 and 4 has been felt, as those who have already read SR noticed Ms Flewelling's stylistic changes. For one, with SR, the Nightrunner Series finally feels and reads like a series, as opposed to 3 books that can be read a stand-alone novels. Reading SR without background will be rather disappointing at some points, since references to important characters from the previous 3 books (such as Beka, Nyal and Nysander) aren't clearly explained and the significance of the Zengati as well as the Plenimarians will not have as much impact as it should.
Ms. Flewelling's writing has taken a more introspective, if limited, character-centric turn. Other side characters such as the bad guys don't get as much air time as they used to. Like previous reviewers mentioned, global issues such as saving the world have taken a trip to the back burner; Ms. Flewelling now choses for SR to have us witness the sometimes bumpy-ride of Alec and Seregil's relationship, at a more intimate level. As opposed to the way their relationship was developing/described in Books 1&2&3, the focus in now on the personal and emotional, whereas previously their relationship seemed to be stable and even, dare I say it, predictable, we finally get to see some conflict arise, which at times is a good and bad thing. With their relationship in front seat, the rest of the action (though not as much as we're used to) gets woven into the story in nicely paced sections, yet it would have been nicer to see more of Thero and Micum, or even a change of scenery.
The last 3rd of the book was my favorite, in which we meet Sebrahn. There is much potential for Sebrahn, even if his magical abilities can appear underdeveloped and even stereotypical (cure-for-all flowers, the very useful singing, etc) in that they present easy solutions for problems. If handled well, his gifts will not be his primary use in the future books, and instead we will get to learn more about him as (please excuse the pun) a person.
It is almost certain that tensions between Queen Phoria and Princess Klia, news from the war-front, more intrigue between the Aurenfaie clans, and various other such tantalizing morsels of conflict will be dealt with in Book 5 (hopefully) because SR has racked up loads of unfinished business; it's a transition book in that regard.
Ms. Flewelling's expert use of tension in the previous three books has wanned a bit in SR though it is still an intriguing and exciting read, albeit a fast one. People might be disappointed with it because it is perhaps not what the fans are used to, but it is to be expected that things are bound to change with time, and this change hasn't been a bad one so far. I congratulate Ms. Flewelling on a job well done and encourage fans of the Nightrunner series to not forsake this book and give it the chance it deserves.
Alec, Seregil and a neat avoidance of cliche August 25, 2008
I read this book on holidays, in one long read, and every now and then I thought the plot was taking a stereotypical turn, falling into cliche - and every time, Flewelling swerved away from the obvious and took the characters and plot in unexpected directions. I found the imprisonment section a bit long, but the complexity and depth of the villains, as well as the heroes, was entirely rewarding and will stand re-reading. Flewelling's writing has improved immensely since "Luck in Shadows" - and it wasn't bad then - and watching Seregil and Alec struggle to maintain a longterm relationship after the thrill of romance is an unusual and fascinating component to a fantasy novel. The new characters are wonderful, the magic is as complex and solid as ever, and I can't wait for the next book!
 Lovely new installment. August 21, 2008
If you loved the first three Nightrunner books, that is reason enough to give this one a chance. Is it everyone's cup of tea? No. Is it written in the same manner as the previous books? Not really. The plot is narrower, and there are certainly a greater number of personal monologues. However, even if these elements don't suit you, I wouldn't give up on the series quite yet.
The new characters (both major and minor) are compelling, and the twists are engaging. The doubts Alec and Seregil have feel genuine, and the small conflict between the two toward the end of the story is worrisome, but will surely be resolved.
Overall, my personal opinion is that it is a wonderful book. I couldn't put it down.
Thank you for bringing Seregil and Alec back, Lynn.
A change of style, but a great comeback nonetheless! August 20, 2008
Heh, say one thing about me, say I've been very damn unproductive all day when Shadows Return has been released, because I've been reading! Somehow I should have known this before, but since I got my hands on my copy of the latest Nightrunner book, I haven't been able to put it down until I'd finished it.
In retrospect I'm rather glad that I got into this series as late as I did by a random recommendation, because it would really have sucked big time to have waited for book 4 for 9 years (volume 3, Traitor's Moon came out in 1999 followed by Flewelling's next project the Tamir Triad). Call me impatient...
Having read the first three Nightrunner books just a little while ago, one thing that definitely strikes is the change in style. With I think about 110,000 words, Shadows Return is shorter than Traitor's Moon, but Flewelling definitely manages to pack those pages with a lot of plot that makes the book a pageturner and in my case a one day read, because I just couldn't put it down anymore.
I still haven't finished her Tamir Triad (am in the middle of Hidden Warrior right now), but even so it's great to see how her style has changed over the years and even though we still have the same lovable characters and a familiar setting, there's much more subtlety and unexpected plot twists in the book.
Oh and did I mention that one very significant character from Seregil's past showing up and how it's a) in a different way than you'd usually expect and b) that you're really torn in the end whether to like or pity said character? I sort of like how the end of this particular subplot is consciously left open so we may hope for a recurring character there :)
In general I had the impression like Lynn said in the interview that I had with her a while ago, that her writing has improved, but one thing surprised me particularly positively and that was how she goes much more into depth in Shadows Return. Her villains are much more fleshed out, their motivations are twisted, but altogether `logical' in a villainous sort of way, but she also plays with some previous perceptions of characters, twisting it around so you don't really know whether or not to dislike this character anymore. Yay for character-based writing is all I can say :D
Of course Shadows Return did have awesome Alec&Seregil moments, maybe even more so because they're separated for most of the book. As far as the ending is concerned, it rocked. I loved how the main plot of Shadows Return found a conclusion, but leaves enough loose ends to make you want to read the next Nightrunner installment The White Road (due next summer). Let's hope for recurring characters and of course Alec and Seregil's past will catch up with them again ;)
For anyone who's new to the Nightrunner books, I'd suggest to start with the first three books, Luck in the Shadows, Stalking Darkness and Traitor's Moon, because even though Shadows Return is different in many ways, it continues the story more or less seamlessly and it would probably be confusing otherwise.
Excellent addition to the series! August 18, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I read the reviews that weren't favorable before reading the book myself and was first of all irritated by the huge spoilers- thanks a bunch, people- and secondly, I think they were just flat out wrong. I was completely entranced by this book even more than the first three and could not put it down. If you liked the first three, I think you are more likely to love this one than to be one of the few who didn't. It is more focused on Alec and Seregil rather than wars and treaties and a whole host of other characters, but frankly, that made me like it more. Other than that, I thought the pacing, plot and characterization was just as wonderful as the first three.
So, ignore the nay-sayers and read it yourself. If nothing else, it's not like it's a $30 hardcover that's going to set you back a bit. Can't wait for the next installment!
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