Perfect Shadow (The Night Angel Trilogy)

I am probably one of the biggest fans of Brent Week's novels that you will ever find. I blazed through his incredible Night Angel trilogy and savored every second of The Black Prism. So I was somewhat surprised to find that his next book would be a short story or a novella instead of a standard novel. Revisiting the Night Angel universe was more than enough to kindle my interest, and for the most part this story does deliver. However I cannot recommend this to anyone who hasn't already read the Night Angel trilogy.*Spoilers* Don't read this review unless you've read the Night Angel trilogy.Going back and elaborating on the back-story of Kylar's mentor Durzo was an interesting premise, one that I would have happily seen as a full novel. This is my first issue with Perfect Shadow: it seems that Brent Weeks had a laundry list of interesting scenes and ideas for Durzo but couldn't think of a full novel to work them into. You'll probably come to the same conclusion when you see the overall structure of the story. It seems to scan over the more memorable and important moments in Durzo's past life at a very brisk pace without much in the way of character development. I got the notion that Brent Weeks really just wanted to write some scenes for Durzo that never got into the Night Angel trilogy, kind of like deleted content. While it does provide some interesting (and erotic) exposition on the relationship between Momma K and Durzo the story doesn't have any new memorable characters nor does it elaborate much on the ones we've come to know. That's saying a lot considering that I revere Brent Week's for his incredible characterization.I really feel that Brent Weeks missed an interesting opportunity with Perfect Shadow. Don't get me wrong it's a great story, but I feel that it could have been so much more. Durzo is an immortal who has lived multiple lives for countless generations. We could have explored these older lives and witnessed the very events that culminated into Durzo becoming a cold-blooded assassin that he is now. The reason I bring this up is because Durzo isn't a very deep character, so he doesn't really work very well as the protagonist. He's an interesting character, but he lacks the internal conflict and depth that made Kylar such an endearing and memorable character.Perfect Shadow is a good story but only an "ok" Brent Week's story. A huge reason why I'm so harsh on it is because Brent Weeks has constantly blown my expectations out of the water, Perfect Shadow while solid just didn't have that same WOW factor that his other works have had. It's not a must read like his other stories, but if you want a quick gritty backstory then give it a try. Just remember that this is NOT an introduction into the Night Angel series.

Took me about 30 minutes to read, similar writing style to the night angel trilogy, except less engaging. Not bad as a standalone short story. But calling it a "novella" was too generous, and should be just an intro chapter in one of the other books. The BEST part of this book was that it peomptes me to reread the trilogy.

I enjoyed it for what it was, however it's much shorter than I was expecting. I was thinking it would be maybe a third of the size of the other novels, but I finished it in less than an hour. I know it tells you how many pages it is, but ever since starting to read ebooks several years ago, number of pages have become meaningless to me. What I should have done was compared the page count on this one to the other Night Angel Trilogy books but I didn't. So it's mostly my fault, but just know what you're getting into with this novella - it's REALLY short. I actually think it's too short for the $2.99 price tag. $.99 would have been much more appropriate. But if you've already read the other 3 novels, you're going to buy it anyway, just like I did.

Not really worth the time or money. Not very cohesive. I was frankly a bit disappointed. So unless you just have to have it/read it, I would skip it. It has zero to do with Kylar. Calling it a novella is being way generous.

This one was a nice quick read. Even though it gave you a hint at Durzo's life it was still a mere shadow of it. Not sure if Weeks meant to do that but he is a cheek bastard so, yeah, I'll roll with it.Usually I'm not a huge fan of tense and PoV changes, especially in such a short read. However, I never once got lost of where I was in the story even though it went back and forth in Durzo's life. That's how well written it was.Why only four stars? I grumbling in the places where little secrets were hinted at and then not revealed too much or at all. Maybe I'm just a curmudgeony old woman beyond the point of being teased with a carrot or just greedy and left wanting. maybe both.Still, I'm a fan of not overindulging a beloved series to the part of bludgeoning (willing) readers to death with super awesome characters. I prefer they go out with dignity instead of limping through the finish line only to see it has been moved.Sorry, no spoilers. Just read it (and pay for it, don't be a thief) and enjoy it for the little slice of ahhh it is.

I read the Night Angel Trilogy about two to three years ago and loved it then. This book is centered around Durzo Blint...one of my favorites from the trilogy(the other one was Logan.)This just gives insight to Durzo, before he was Durzo Blint, before he met Momma K(Gwinvere) and how he became a wetboy. Reading this seriously makes me miss Azoth/Kylar and all the other characters. I may just do a re-read of the series soon. There is no heroism There is no justice There is no heaven There is no sixth sense There is no hell but life, and death is worse There is no glory There is no light There is only victory.

Brent Weeks is one of my favorite authors now. I started the Night Angel series because my husband owns them and told me that I'd like them. It took my a year and a half to get through the second one, but I had two babies in that time so it wasn't from being boring. This book did a great job of helping you understand the enigma that is Durzo Blint, and some of the things that people talk about in the original series. Yes, this is a very fast read. It took me about two and a half hours total to read it but it didn't need to be any longer. It is written in a different style than the other three books so that was a little weird to get used to, but not necessarily a bad thing. All in all, a necessary read for those that read the series!

There were parts of this Novella, that were excellent, then there are other parts of are just confusing. The way he completes his first mission is excellent, then the story jumps back as few days of how he and why he took this mission. Here he is being hired/seduced by the just as smart Mistress of Pleasure. Apart from her body and money she offers him the one thing he has been looking for year. Who is Galen Starfire? What we know if him is 680 years old, uses magic in place of tech. He has had many names over the year, part of his magic is shape shift to change his features somewhat but does not uses it because of the pain. He is a consummate planner and assassin with a code, but professes mercilessness. Another reviewer said even though this is a prequel, it does give away some of the plot for the main Night Angel trilogy. I prefer reading books in order so I read this one first. I am looking forward to reading main trilogy.

Having read and totally enjoyed the "Night Angel" Trilogy, I was intrigued by this novella about the character who became Durzo Blint. I expected it to be good, but I was surprised when it turned out to be fantastic (though given the talent of Mr Weeks, I shouldn't have been) It fills in some of the blanks, with regard to the truly enigmatic and enthralling character of Durzo Blint, the Master Assassin of the "Night Angel" series. I have recently bought the first book of Mr Weeks new series, "The Black Prism", and am eagerly awaiting the completion of this series, so that I can get to reading it (I learned my lesson, with "The Song Of Fire And Ice", about starting to read a series, only to be left hanging for a very, very, very long time waiting for the next instalment) as I don't read a series until I have the whole thing in my possession. Brent Weeks is a brilliant writer and I am fast becoming a fan. One complaint, this story isn't long enough. Given that Gaelan Starfire or as he became known, Durzo Blint, or as he was originally known Acaelus Thorne, had lived for almost seven hundred years, he would make an excellent subject for another series; just a thought, Mr Weeks???

A novella set before the stories that lead, Durzo Blint, is best known for this is going to appeal to Assassins Creed everywhere. There's the same creative elegance in the violence, the same acknowledgement of its consequences too. However, where Weeks excels is in the motivation behind it, the battles his lead fights with his mind proving far deadlier than the ones he fights with his body. Occasionally heavy going if you don't know the novels but overall a great on ramp into that world and a format, and length, that Weeks clearly has fun working at.

If you like Brent Weeks and his others in this series you'll lap this up. Just a shame it never made it to full length. I'll never get tired of this character, or the dynamic way Weeks writes. I think he enjoys writing Gaelan Starfire as much as we enjoy reading it.I'm currently devouring his light bringer series as fast as he churns them out and recommend those also.Flying the flag for fantasy, Orbit, and continuing what Robert E. Howard began, his pace and action combine with endearing characters and plots with enough sophistication to keep you turning the pages til long after you should've turned out the light.Brent Weeks remains top of my Wish list.

The night angel trilogy is my favourite ever book series. Let’s just put that out there. I feel like this novella is veeeeeerrryyy short and not very good value for money. Maybe £2. Given the substance that went into the NA trilogy, this is a dramatic shortfall. Fees like Brent Weeks just trying to squeeze the last few pennies out of Kylars fans.Still, a decent short story.