Review: Shadow's Edge by Brent Weeks

SHADOW'S EDGE
Book Two of the Night Angel Trilogy
Published: November 1, 2008
ISBN-10: 0316033650
ISBN-13: 978-0316033657
Review: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

Highlight the blocked out spoilers to read them.

Brent Weeks has done it again in Shadow's Edge. While this second novel in the series was slower in the middle, telling of Kylar and how he is trying to get out of the way of the shadows, it soon picks up at the pace I love Brent Weeks for.

After he killed his master, Durzo, Kylar began rejecting everything about the assassin's life. He wanted a life with his childhood friend, Elene. They adopt a young girl, Uly, from Momma K, the leader of a very popular brothel. It turns out Uly is the daughter of Momma K and Durzo, and Kylar has more of a reason to escape the life of killing.

However, when his old friend, Jarl, comes knocking to recruit Kylar back for one last hit, the memories of that life slowly start to come back to him. That, and he learns Logan Gyre, his best friend and King of Cenaria, is alive. Kylar's final hit is the Godking, the murderous and very powerful ruler of the Kahlidorian army. Through betrayal and heartbreak as he watches friends die at his side to take on this hit, Kylar feels more like he needs this. He was meant for this one kill.

Now, here is where Brent Weeks really sucked me in. In the last ten or twelve chapters or so, things are moving so quickly with all of these characters coming out of the woodwork to participate in the final battle. While Logan leads the battle charge against the Godking's army, Kylar and his sworn enemy, Vi, make a pact to take down the Godking together.

After all is said and done, Logan succeeds in breaking the Kahlidorian threat and Godking is dead. He wants to return to Elene, but knows she will reject him. All he has now is the mysterious black ka'kari, the artifact that made him the Night Angel. A voice comes from the ka'kari, telling him to visit Durzo. He uncovers a letter at Durzo's grave, written by his master and dated a month after Kylar killed him. Durzo is alive!

Blew my mind! Sprockets and bolts were clicking everywhere. Didn't see it coming. I had assurance that something more was coming because everything seemed to be culminating in only the second book, and sure enough, I downloaded Beyond the Shadows last night. Can't wait to finish this trilogy.

Peace and Writing Love,

JWP