| Shadows Return (Nightrunner) | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 36 reviews)
Sales Rank: 19244
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 31 more reviews...
 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!
The Nightrunners Return *Spoiler Free* August 14, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is a spoiler free review.
One of my favourite trilogies of all-time, The Nightrunner Series has long been denizens of my bookcases. So when I learned a new book had been released, I was estatically eager to reenter the world of Seregil and Alec, and follow Lynn Flewelling's detailed and emotionally engaging stories of the occurences in their lives.
In this installment the Oracle's prophecy regarding Alec, which he received visiting the Aurenfaie's homeland in "Traitor's Moon" reaches fruition. The story begins somewhat slowly with a synopsis of sorts of the last books, as Seregil and Alec are asked to prove their loyalty to Phoria by undertaking a mission back to the elvish homeland, but treachery occurs along the way, spinning them far off course and deep into enemy territory with many twists and turns along the way. We learn by the end of the novel, to our joy, that another series is beginning.
For readers who've read and reread the first three in the series, many of the characters and countries featured are well-knowned, so little background is given. It is somewhat assumed. First time readers might have a little difficulty realizing the depth of some of the surprises in the plot, yet to "old"readers, I found them predictable yet logical. Personally, I did not find the descriptive phrases and passages as strong as the other books, the secondary characters had little explanation and we were given no reason to care for them one way or the other. Perhaps in trying to keep the book moving at a fast pace, some details were sacrified that I believe the story could have benefited from, and others were repetitive giving slight annoyance. I also struggled with the reactions and behaviors in Alec, in particular, which I found out of character, or simply didn't make sense in the attempt to add facets to his personality that somehow didn't fit. Seregil, however and as usual, is his flippant, engaging self. Although the story is more centred around what is happening to Alec, I feel Seregil carried the story more vividly. Writing concerning Alec was the weaker link. The warmth of their relationship is hardly noticeable. A couple of attempts at closeness were shown, but overall I felt disappointment as their love seems to have cooled. Perhaps it will reignite in the next book.
It's a new beginning to a much beloved couple, and another journey starts to rid their world of evil and keep the innocents unblemished. A few flaws, but promising overall. Depth was noticeablely absent, but hopefully it will pick up in subsequent installments. I look forward to future releases.
Return of Seregil and Alec August 13, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
A worthy addition to the delectable Nightrunner series. Here's to many more adventures to come - and the further development of some of the fascinating concepts and scenarios introduced in this one (e.g. Thero's love life and the rhekaro)!
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