The Way of Shadows

Brent Weeks

Oct 2008 · Sold by Orbit

About this ebook

From NYT bestselling author Brent Weeks comes the first novel in his breakout fantasy trilogy in which a young boy trains under the city's most legendary and feared assassin, Durzo Blint.

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art -- and he is the city's most accomplished artist.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums, and learned to judge people quickly -- and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.

But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics -- and cultivate a flair for death.

Ratings and reviews

I found the overall plot interesting, but i had to keep focused on the write else i would wonder whats happening. During chapters it would skip from one character to anyone in a flash... No matter how much i focused myself on the story events i would be lost. Unfortunately this story is not for me but i know that now and am i glad i did finish the book. This story is not for everyone and you should read the sample before you purchase the book.

Don't spend money on this book. The characterizations are weak and the names are ridiculous. ⅔s of the way through, you'll be asking yourself what is happening to who - is Blintzo ashamed for being too awesome and hardbitten? Is Killer Meanface learning to hate growing up as a teenage edgelord? Is King Gunderbucket going to wear a clown nose to court? Between the loose characters, stilted pacing, and paint-by-numbers plot, you will wonder why you wasted 3 hours on this nonsense. The first ¾s of this book is a training montage where you don't see the training! It's just... montage. And regret. Please, heed my warning, traveler - spend those 3 hours walking your dog. Or any dog. Just... spend some time with a dog. It's more worthwhile.

I read the description and thought it sounded interesting, then I read it. This book clearly was not finished when submitted to the publisher. It jostles you from scene to scene and often changes how it does that. I remember three paragraphs with no separation being from three different perspectives. Every scene happens without giving us any information. I feel like I'm reading half a book at best. It only gets worse at it goes on. There is plenty more wrong going on here that I can't even begin to address.

About the author

Brent Weeks was born and raised in Montana. He wrote on bar napkins and lesson plans before landing his dream job years and thousands of pages later. Brent lives in Oregon with his wife, Kristi, and their daughters. Find out more about the author at www.brentweeks.com or on Twitter @brentweeks.