REVIEW: The Perfect Shadow by Brent Weeks (Kindle Edition)

The Perfect Shadow by Brent Weeks
Publishing information: Kindle
Publisher: Orbit 1 June 2011
ASIN: B004RQTXDI
Series: Prequel to The Night Angel Trilogy
Copy: Out of Pocket
Reviewer: Tyson

Synopsis: "Discover the origins of Durzo Blint in this original novella set in the world of Brent Weeks' New York Times bestselling Night Angel trilogy.

"I got a bit of prophecy," the old assassin said. "Not enough to be useful, you know. Just glimpses. My wife dead, things like that to keep me up late at night. I had this vision that I was going to be killed by forty men, all at once. But now that you're here, I see they're all you. Durzo Blint."

Durzo Blint? Gaelan had never even heard the name.

***
Gaelan Starfire is a farmer, happy to be a husband and a father; a careful, quiet, simple man. He's also an immortal, peerless in the arts of war. Over the centuries, he's worn many faces to hide his gift, but he is a man ill-fit for obscurity, and all too often he's become a hero, his very names passing into legend: Acaelus Thorne, Yric the Black, Hrothan Steelbender, Tal Drakkan, Rebus Nimble.

But when Gaelan must take a job hunting down the world's finest assassins for the beautiful courtesan-and-crimelord Gwinvere Kirena, what he finds may destroy everything he's ever believed in."

It is no secret that I am a big Brent Weeks fan, in fact his Night Angel trilogy is what got me back into the genre after reading history and military books for years. When his Lighbringer series started up I was not all that impressed as it had a hard time of keeping me interested. So, it was a nice change of pace to return to the world that started this whole love for the genre and blogging thing.

The Perfect Shadow is a prequel to the Night Angel trilogy and it basically tells of Durzo Blint's rise as the infamous assassin in the world. We also learn a bit more about his early life and where the name Durzo Blint actually comes from.

While The Perfect Shadow is a prequel, I couldn't help but wonder if someone who was interested in the series would want to start here. There is a lot of information that only seems to make sense for those who have already read the original series. If I had started with the Novella I think that things would be spoiled once I got to the trilogy. A few things are given away that do not come to light right away as you read the series. With that in mind, I might skip this prequel until you have read the series first. It does not really contain much as far as spoilers, but some relationships are revealed before they are in the books which may or may not ruin the experience.

That aside, The Perfect Shadow was a homecoming of sorts, I enjoyed the story and my only real complaint was that it was far too short and made me wish there were more stories to read about the characters and the world.

Do not have a Kindle? Subterranean Press has it for pre-order. No official release date other than fall. Click here for details.

Story 7
Characters 8
Style 8

Overall 8/10

REVIEW: Blood Follows by Steven Erikson

Blood Follows by Steven Erikson

Publishing information: Hardback; 125 pages

Publisher: Night Shade Books; 25 May 2005

ISBN 10: 159780004X

ISBN 13: 978-1597800044

Standalone: Part of the Malazan of the Fallen universe

Copy- out of pocket

Reviewer: Tyson

Inside the Book "All is not well in Lamentable Moll. A sinister, diabolical killer stalks the port city's narrow, barrow-humped streets, and panic grips the citizens like a fever. Emancipor Reese is no exception, and indeed, with his legendary ill luck, it's worse for him than for most. Not only was his previous employer the unknown killer's latest victim, but Emancipor is out of work. And, with his dearest wife terminally comfortable with the manner of life to which she asserts she has become accustomed (or at least to which she aspires) -- for her and their two whelps -- all other terrors grow limp and pale for poor Emancipor. But perhaps his luck has finally changed, for two strangers have come to Lamentable Moll... and they have nailed to the centre post in Fishmonger's Round a note requesting the services of a manservant. This is surely a remarkable opportunity for the hapless Emancipor Reese... no matter that the note reeks with death-warded magic; no matter that the barrow ghosts themselves howl with fear every night; and certainly no matter that Lamentable Moll itself is about to erupt in a frenzy of terror-inspired anarchy.... After all, it's work... and working is better than not working. Isn't it? First in a series of novellas taking place in the Malazan Empire."

I was shocked to find this first edition of Blood Follows in the used book store and even more befuddled to find it in South Korea of all places. However, when I found it I latched on to and held on to it tightly until I made it to the cash register. I am a huge fan of Erikson and have not had the pleasure of reading any of his novellas until now. 

Blood Follows is the story of Emancipor Reece and how he became employed as a manservant by Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. As the story progresses we also have a murder mystery as several people, including some close to the king of Lamentable Moll. 

The focus is on Reece and his lifestyle. It appears that Reece's former employers all meet with an untimely demise and when his despicable wife finds out he has once again become unemployed he learns that he may be able to get a job that involves lots of travel. Broach and Baucelain are still as mysterious as they were in Memories of Ice. There is a bit of irony and some humor injected into the story and it was enjoyable. As for the two employers they are as creepy and mysterious as I remember them to be. While we never learn their true mission in Moll, we do learn a few things about them, but not much.

The plot of Blood Follows is airtight which may surprise some people as many find Erikson to talk in circles before finally getting to his point. But the story goes from point to point without interruption. 

Blood Follows was a quick and entertaining read and I look forward to reading the other short stories as I find them. I know that Erikson will soon be releasing Blood Follows, The Healthy Dead, and The Lees of Laughter's End in a omnibus soon but at the time of this review the information was not available. The omnibus will cover three of the four books that detail the adventures of Bauchelain, Korbal Broach, and their faithful manservant Emancipor Reece.

Plot  9

Characters  9

Style  9

Overall 9/10