Reviews

Night's Master by Tanith Lee

mayapber's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

scottjp's review against another edition

5.0

This was the first Tanith Lee I ever read. I used to have the SFBC omnibus editions (which I got by accident--forgot to send the reply card back in time--and decided to keep) and read the first three books of the set. I liked them a bit, but had a hard time getting into the mythical style of narration. The Flat Earth books are collections of interconnected myths, legends, or fairy tales if you will, where magic is wondrous and not subject to laws, even fantastical ones. If a demon wants to grow a woman out of a flower well then, it is done. At the time, (this was some 30 years ago) I preferred my fantasy more grounded. However, as I got older and fell in love with some of her later works, I started to feel I hadn't been fair to these books. Or that I just read them at the wrong time.

So I was thrilled to see that DAW was bringing these and other works (most of which were out of print before I discovered her writing) back into print and giving me another chance. And having now re-read this first volume, I am so so so glad I decided to give it a second try, because my experience this time was one of sheer delight. Far from being difficult, the style of the storytelling now felt liberating. I didn't have to analyze the way I often do. This isn't to suggest that it is light or fluffy reading, necessarily; it's just...different. If you are interested in reading original, adult fairy tales--as opposed to re-tellings of the usual old warhorses--I can't recommend this highly enough.

notonlyreading's review against another edition

4.0

Como una sucesión de cuentos oscuros, Tanith Lee desarrolla una personalísima escritura.
Desde las primeras páginas sabes que te adentras en un imaginario personal, sensitivo, envolvente y sensual, donde lo clásico se revisa y rompe: como el abordaje de la sexualidad, el género, la muerte, los extremos de belleza y oscuridad como dos caras de una misma moneda…

calebph's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

3.75

Really only read this while I was waiting for The Way of Kings to get here. Some reviewers are upset about the underage— uh, relationship(?) in the first chapter. One guy is 16, the other guy is an ageless demon who burns cities and steals the souls of men. He literally raised the kid from birth to pretty much be a sex toy (had no idea it was that kind of book lol). Not sure if moral age gaps are of major concern to him!

Book was fine! I do like Lee’s prose quite a bit, something about it felt particularly Old Testament. Wanna read Birthgrave at some point. 

ashezbookz's review against another edition

2.0

Liked the stories, HATED the writing style .....I'd put it down for weeks and not read....rarely do I do that with a book, I can usually finish a short book like this within a day or two and it took MONTHS to finish.... stories were great though

mtt0990's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

cloudsinthecupboard's review

adventurous mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

octophile's review against another edition

5.0

I get from Tanith Lee all the things I wanted to get from Neil Gaiman.

bubbleybrain's review against another edition

1.0

Within the first ten pages, the Demon Prince rescues a beautiful baby boy from impending death, brings the baby to his lands to be raised, and for kiddo's sixteen birthday, Demon Prince goes all "YUSSS! Your beautiful ADULT body will make my perfect sexy toy." Screw this. Nope!

Literally groomed from birth. This is disgusting.

sade's review against another edition

5.0

TAKE A BOW!!!!!!!!

What a marvelous, gem of a book this is. The writing is so sublime (i want to throw in more words to describe the unrivaled beauty of the writing that is this book) Best of all is how all the stories come full circle. Like a butterfly effect. Never missing a beat, Tanith Lee, connects all the dots no matter how inconsequential and spins a story for the ages.
Read this book and fall in love with the absolute wickedness of Azhrarn ruler of Druhim Vanashta, master of many sorceries & a Lord of Darkness.