aneton's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
1morepaige's review against another edition
5.0
(Not terribly spoiler-y but maybe avoid if you don’t like any info before starting a book)
Do you like thieves with a heart of gold?
Do you like canon bisexual protagonists?
Do you like the drama of Good vs Evil but find most Good protagonists really boring?
Do you like a healthy dose of politics in your fantasy?
Do you like books that make you laugh out loud in one chapter and send chills of fear down your spine in another?
Do you love the aesthetic of nighttime winding city streets paved with cobblestones damp from the mist coming off the sea?
Do you like terrible prophecy?
Do you like an extremely slow burn romance?
If you answered yes to a bunch of these, the Nightrunner series (starting with this book, Luck in the shadows) might be for you!
This is one of those books that is difficult for me to review because it’s one of my literal favorites of all time. I feel like when I try to write a review of a fave it turns to inarticulate screaming and doesn’t actually help anyone decide whether they would like to read it. Anyway, I hope this helped someone, but if not it is a list of reasons why reading LitS and the continuing books feels (to me) a lot like coming home.
Do you like thieves with a heart of gold?
Do you like canon bisexual protagonists?
Do you like the drama of Good vs Evil but find most Good protagonists really boring?
Do you like a healthy dose of politics in your fantasy?
Do you like books that make you laugh out loud in one chapter and send chills of fear down your spine in another?
Do you love the aesthetic of nighttime winding city streets paved with cobblestones damp from the mist coming off the sea?
Do you like terrible prophecy?
Do you like an extremely slow burn romance?
If you answered yes to a bunch of these, the Nightrunner series (starting with this book, Luck in the shadows) might be for you!
This is one of those books that is difficult for me to review because it’s one of my literal favorites of all time. I feel like when I try to write a review of a fave it turns to inarticulate screaming and doesn’t actually help anyone decide whether they would like to read it. Anyway, I hope this helped someone, but if not it is a list of reasons why reading LitS and the continuing books feels (to me) a lot like coming home.
rachelita's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
evanmc's review against another edition
3.0
2.5. I didn't care for how the dialogue was written, so many exclamation points! And the plot was jumpy and disconnected, but I did enjoy some of the world building and the characterization of Alec and Seregil.
caitann's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Oh my goodness this was everything I felt like reading at this current moment in time - my mood aligning exactly with the book I’m reading is always like DESTINY and so I was of course captivated. This book is quintessential classic adventure fantasy but starring a character so refreshingly different from the usual heroes that it felt new despite being older. We’re given adventure, sword-and-sorcery, lovable characters, queer representation, a lived-in imaginative world, the works. I was entirely immersed and just loved it so much
josh_vanrys's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
mcfrenret's review against another edition
3.0
Tengo sentimientos encontrados con este libro. Y es con el libro en sí y no con la historia, porque la historia la adoré. Me encantan los personajes, me encanta el mundo, me encanta la ambientación, me encantan los misterios que envuelven a todos, y los secretos y... me encanta todo. Quiero saber qué pasa después, quiero saberlo mucho y con mucha ansia.
Pero.
No me atrapa la ¿prosa? Y no sé si es culpa de la traducción o es característica del original, pero la narración a ratos me resultaba un tanto desarticulada, como si la autora hubiera pegado un montón de frases y escenas entre sí con pegamento y a la fuerza en vez de dejarla fluir. No sé, tal vez sea sólo sensación mía, pero... Pero. Los diálogos también me parecieron poco naturales, como si estuviera leyendo a robots hablar en vez de a personas, y cuando sueltan monólogos, buf. No me parecía creíble y no me dejaba concentrarme en la historia, así que no me ha permitido disfrutarla como me hubiera gustado, y boooh.
Hay más detalles que me desconcertaron y que tampoco me parecieron creíbles. La construcción de algunos personajes, por ejemplo, o que parezca que todos tienen siempre metida una flor en el culo. El título es la mar de apropiado y a veces resulta cansino porque la historia pierde emoción, sabes que no les va a pasar nada malo.
Así que a pesar de todo lo que me gustó, creo que no continuaré con la saga. Si le vuelvo a dar una oportunidad sería en inglés (porque además eso de que sólo estén traducidos tres de los tropecientos libros que tiene es una verdadera p), pero no creo tener por el momento el nivel suficiente para leerlos, y realmente no quiero odiar este libro de ninguna manera. Prefiero recordarlo con cariño que contaminado por el resto de libros por razones x.
Lástima.
Pero.
No me atrapa la ¿prosa? Y no sé si es culpa de la traducción o es característica del original, pero la narración a ratos me resultaba un tanto desarticulada, como si la autora hubiera pegado un montón de frases y escenas entre sí con pegamento y a la fuerza en vez de dejarla fluir. No sé, tal vez sea sólo sensación mía, pero... Pero. Los diálogos también me parecieron poco naturales, como si estuviera leyendo a robots hablar en vez de a personas, y cuando sueltan monólogos, buf. No me parecía creíble y no me dejaba concentrarme en la historia, así que no me ha permitido disfrutarla como me hubiera gustado, y boooh.
Hay más detalles que me desconcertaron y que tampoco me parecieron creíbles. La construcción de algunos personajes, por ejemplo, o que parezca que todos tienen siempre metida una flor en el culo. El título es la mar de apropiado y a veces resulta cansino porque la historia pierde emoción, sabes que no les va a pasar nada malo.
Así que a pesar de todo lo que me gustó, creo que no continuaré con la saga. Si le vuelvo a dar una oportunidad sería en inglés (porque además eso de que sólo estén traducidos tres de los tropecientos libros que tiene es una verdadera p), pero no creo tener por el momento el nivel suficiente para leerlos, y realmente no quiero odiar este libro de ninguna manera. Prefiero recordarlo con cariño que contaminado por el resto de libros por razones x.
Lástima.
hrtlss_grl's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Gore, Torture, Violence, Blood, Classism, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, War, Vomit, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Murder, and Xenophobia
Minor: Miscarriage, Death of parent, and Animal death
bookosaurusrawr's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
elm's review against another edition
4.0
I LOVED THIS!!! which I'm so happy about because I haven't read a 'proper' fantasy book in ages and I was worried I wouldn't be able to get into it. Thank fuck this had engaging characters and FUN banter, otherwise I probably would have drowned in the world building before I fully gave it a chance.
My only two criticisms is that one) there were too many plot lines going at once and it felt like some were suddenly dropped when new ones were introduced ? (there is a second book ofc so I'm sure they'll get picked up later). and two) keeping track of all the characters & places was a bit difficult, though I find that hard in All fantasy books so it could just be me rather than it being the book's fault.
anywayy,, I'm so excited to read more!!!!!
My only two criticisms is that one) there were too many plot lines going at once and it felt like some were suddenly dropped when new ones were introduced ? (there is a second book ofc so I'm sure they'll get picked up later). and two) keeping track of all the characters & places was a bit difficult, though I find that hard in All fantasy books so it could just be me rather than it being the book's fault.
anywayy,, I'm so excited to read more!!!!!