Night Angel · #1

The Way of Shadows

Name: The Way of Shadows
Rating: 8.44 (50 reviews)
Author: Brent Weeks

Brent Weeks

Fantasy Epic Fantasy High Fantasy

8.4 / 10

50 ratings

2 reviews

David Gemmell Legend Award nominee 2008.

The perfect killer has no friends. Only targets.

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art. And he is the city’s most accomplished artist, his talents required from alleyway to courtly boudoir.

For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he’s grown up in the slums, and learned the hard way 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.

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Published: September 23, 2008

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Night Angel

The series

Full series details →

In a city ruled by shadows, where betrayal lurks in every alley and power is held by those who manipulate the dark, the Night Angel series immerses readers in a brutal world of assassins, espionage, and moral complexity. This gritty, fast-paced fantasy trilogy follows the journey of Azoth, a young orphan who is trained in the deadly arts of assassination by the enigmatic and feared Durzo Blint. But Azoth's path is not just one of bloodshed—it's a fight for his own soul as he grapples with loyalty, revenge, and his emerging sense of self.

Read full series description

The world of Night Angel is built on layers of darkness and light, both literally and figuratively. Weeks crafts a society steeped in corruption, where the line between good and evil is murky at best, and survival often means embracing one's worst instincts. The story delves deeply into the psychology of its characters, revealing their inner conflicts and struggles with power, redemption, and their own limitations.

At its core, the series is not just about the high-stakes action or the art of killing, but about identity and the choices that shape a person. Azoth’s transformation from a street thief into a deadly assassin is both harrowing and poignant, offering a rich exploration of self-discovery and the cost of power. Alongside him, an unforgettable cast of characters, from ruthless mentors to unlikely allies, create a world filled with tension, suspense, and surprising emotional depth.

The Night Angel trilogy is marked by its relentless pace, gripping world-building, and sharp prose. Weeks pulls no punches, exploring themes of betrayal, loyalty, and the price of vengeance, all while weaving a tale where nothing is as it seems. The stakes are high, and the consequences of every action reverberate through the entire story, ensuring that each twist lands with profound impact.

For fans of morally complex characters, fast-paced fantasy, and epic tales of power and survival, Night Angel is a journey into a world where shadows hold more than just darkness—they hold the key to everything. Prepare to enter a realm where the only certainty is that every choice has a price.

#0.5 · 2011Perfect Shadow

#1 · 2008The Way of Shadows

#2 · 2008Shadow's Edge

#3 · 2008Beyond the Shadows

#4 · 2023Night Angel Nemesis

#5 · 2027Night Angel Book 5

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Reader reviews

2 reviews

What Risingshadow readers think about this book

Seregil of Rhiminee2009-01-22

This review is for all The Night Angel Trilogy books: The Way of Shadows, Shadow's Edge and Beyond the Shadows.

When I began to read this trilogy I didn't have much information about these books. I think it was good that I didn't know much about them, because it helped me to like them.

In my opinion these books were entertaining and easy-to-read fantasy books. There were some minor problems/flaws and the writing wasn't always as fluent as it should have been, but the plot was interesting. Although these books were quite thick (600+ pages), I read them fast.

For a debut trilogy, The Night Angel Trilogy was pretty good. The flaws were a bit annoying sometimes, but the books were readable and likable.

Here's some information about the flaws: The adult themes were nice, but I would've liked to see more depth in certain scenes. The writing style was okay, but not as good as it could've been (it was easy to see that these books were debut books).

And here's some information about the good things: The plot was pretty good and interesting. I also liked the action. Although these books weren't perfect, I consider them to be good entertainment.

If you're looking for an interesting, entertaining and easy-to-read fantasy trilogy, The Night Angel Trilogy is a good choice. You'll probably enjoy reading it.

Selendra Faye Book2008-11-02

This book was hard to put down. The depth of his characters yanked me in and kept in perfect bliss the whole time, even at the most depressing of times. For those who love assassins, corrupted power figures, twisted politics, and disturbing magic, this is the book of all books.

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