Way Of The Shadows- (Blog Post #2)

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Author: Brent Weeks
Publisher: Orbit
Binding: Paperback
Publication Date: October 2008
Cover Artist: Calvin Chu

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The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks is a book that was found by total accident, but one that I am quite very grateful for. If I had the time to talk to an author, describe what I liked most in a book and then said, “Give me a story that you know will be something I would like,” it would be quite realized here in this book.

This story involves some of my favourite elements in fantasy: assassins, intrigue, battles, magic, and magic-items. So-far so-good, but let's talk about characters, and storyline all without giving away any spoilers to ruin it for the rest of the readers.

This gigantic book weighs in at over 640 pages and what I found interesting at times is that it may have been underwritten from the point of fleshing it out. Some parts go by a little too quickly for my preference.
This is where the publishers probably came in. I am sure Brent Weeks could not have handed in a book over 1000 pages, or more, but yet I think if he had I would have enjoyed it a little more.
Weird, I know. I actually stopped and thought to myself, “Wow... He is really packing it in there!” as I cleared page 300-or-something.


Picture done by Midnight-Spectrum on DeviantART
Click Here!! <- To See Their AMAZING Gallery

If I was forced to pick the weakest part of the book, for me it would be the
world-building of the world of Midcyru. It sputters to get started in the early-going of the book, before actually coming to life.

I started to get a feel for Azoth and Durzo’s city, Cenaria, around the middle of the book. The saviour for me is once you get to that point in the book, it is no longer an issue as Weeks brings the city to life. This is a gritty story with a fair amount of adult situations and language, but it fits the story at hand. Also the magic in the world of Midcyru is interesting and while not very well 'advertised', there is more than enough to go around to satisfy.

This book was filled with inspiration for me, as both an inspiring Novelist and Graphic Designer, because you get such a rich feeling of what the characters look like and how the city is built. As a Novelist, one day I would love to be able to describe my characters and settings like Weeks has in his novel.
However, as a Graphic Designer, I would love to take these visions of characters and their towns and cities, and draw them into life.

I also have quite a bit of admiration for the artist Midnight-Spectrum, who drew the picture above of Kylar Stern/ Azoth. They took their own idea of Kylar and breathed life into it. For this I am truly both jealous and in awe.

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To Read The First Chapter of The Way of Shadows, follow this link here

Look!! :D