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14th out of 71 books
—
26 voters
Perfect Shadow (Night Angel 0)
by
Brent Weeks (Goodreads Author)
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...more
"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...more
ebook, 70 pages
Published
June 1st 2011
by Orbit
(first published 2011)
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Nothing beats snacking on delicious Blintses.
Brent Weeks is the master of the twist you don't see coming, and he usually does it more than once in a book. This is a prequel focusing on Durzo Blint, but it's definitely important to read
first. It would have been disorienting to read
first, and it'll spoil some of those twists I loved in the Night Angel trilogy. The switches between point-of-view was a bit disconcerting at the beginning, but once I figured out what was going on, I settled nicely into the story. I also wish I had read t...more
first. It would have been disorienting to read
first, and it'll spoil some of those twists I loved in the Night Angel trilogy. The switches between point-of-view was a bit disconcerting at the beginning, but once I figured out what was going on, I settled nicely into the story. I also wish I had read t...more
9 likes
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To the best of my knowledge, every fan of Durzo Blint's character will love this. Brent Weeks takes us on a trip to master assassin's heart before it became a barren wasteland. We can see the contours of the wetboy persona forming - his cynicism and embrace of violence in process of dealing out justice.
What intrigued me about this book is the character of Gwinvere Kirena (later known as Momma K). Brent Weeks has taken every Western reader's erotic fantasy, draped it in positive hero-defining tra...more
What intrigued me about this book is the character of Gwinvere Kirena (later known as Momma K). Brent Weeks has taken every Western reader's erotic fantasy, draped it in positive hero-defining tra...more
Brent Weeks' immensely popular Night Angel Trilogy was published in quick succession. Readers had all three of his debut books on hand, devoured them, and then had to wait for his next novel. While imperfect, it was easy to see Weeks' potential for spinning a good yarn. THE BLACK PRISM has been released since then, but Weeks did take a little time to go back to the world he started out with, and gives us a novella about the assassin Durzo Blint.
Durzo is a character with a lot of back story, but...more
Durzo is a character with a lot of back story, but...more
3 likes
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If you haven't read the Night Angel Trilogy then stop reading this and go do it, because those books are great and the novella won't make much sense if you don't. This review is going to assume that that you have read them and so may contain spoilers.
I quite liked this book, but I feel that was more because of my interest in Durzo's past than because it was well written. The biggest problem is that there is no real sense of tension at any point in the book. The Durzo we know from the trilogy is...more
I quite liked this book, but I feel that was more because of my interest in Durzo's past than because it was well written. The biggest problem is that there is no real sense of tension at any point in the book. The Durzo we know from the trilogy is...more
Disclaimer-If you read the review and feel there is a spoiler in it, please let me know and I will remove that section. Also, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.
Perfect Shadow by Brent Weeks is a short story that details some of the beginnings of Durzo Blint from the Night Angel trilogy. Before becoming that beloved character, he went by the name Gaelan Starfire and he has a story to tell.
I really liked this story. It felt refreshing to return to the world in the Night...more
Perfect Shadow by Brent Weeks is a short story that details some of the beginnings of Durzo Blint from the Night Angel trilogy. Before becoming that beloved character, he went by the name Gaelan Starfire and he has a story to tell.
I really liked this story. It felt refreshing to return to the world in the Night...more
Sombra perfecta es el mejor regalo que a Brent Weeks pudo ocurrírsele hacer. Esta novella (novela corta) la escribió en 2011, justo después de iniciar su nueva trilogía con
El prisma negro
. En Estados Unidos salió una edición coleccionista en papel, con la cubierta de cuero, que se agotó en un abrir y cerrar de ojos y que me encantaría que emularan en español.El ángel de la noche había acabado, y dos años después surge la historia de Durzo Blint, el mejor personaje, a mi opinión, de esta trilog...more
Perfect Shadow: A Night Angel Novella was a good, bite-sized bit of back story for one of the main characters in the Night Angel trilogy, Durzo Blint. The novella tells the story of how Durzo came to possess the black ka'kari and how he came to work in Midcyru with (and for) Gwinvere Kirena. It's interesting and engaging, and was a pleasant way to take a break between larger books. I also think that Brent Weeks probably wrote it after writing the rest of the trilogy. If I had one complaint about...more
Assassins going to assassinate people all assassin-like. Add crazy awesome magical abilities, immortality, love, shadows, betrayals, and constant action. You may just have Perfect Shadow: A Night Angel Novella.
I don't think I'd recommend diving into Perfect Shadow without having already read the rest of the Night Angel Trilogy, or at least the first book, The Way of Shadows. It's a great series especially if you want a book/series that's really hard to put down. With all its faults, it's so muc...more
I don't think I'd recommend diving into Perfect Shadow without having already read the rest of the Night Angel Trilogy, or at least the first book, The Way of Shadows. It's a great series especially if you want a book/series that's really hard to put down. With all its faults, it's so muc...more
8 likes
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PERFECT SHADOW is a prequel novella to the Night Angel Trilogy. In it, Weeks reveals a little more of the origins of Durzo Blint and how he became a Wetboy (magic-using assassin). As usual, Durzo is less than reliable when it comes to relating his story and powers. Part of the novella is him explaining himself to someone, but we're left wondering how much of what he said is true.
Brent Weeks' books have amazingly fast pacing, and PERFECT SHADOW. I read this novella in one sitting and it felt like...more
Brent Weeks' books have amazingly fast pacing, and PERFECT SHADOW. I read this novella in one sitting and it felt like...more
It's been a few months since I read the last of the Night Angel trilogy and having just received Mr. Weeks first novel in the Lightbringer series, I decided to read this novella that prequels the Angel series to get me in the mood for Mr. Weeks imagination. As some fans of the series have noted, it may be easier to follow if you start with the actual first book of the series. I know this may not make sense but I believe that this short was written after the series was mass market produced and it...more
My major complaint with this novella was that it was too short and hurried. Durzo deserves a fully developed story, rather than a quickly sketched outline of how he came to be involved with the Sa'kage. If Weeks ever finds the time to write Durzo's story, I'll be first in line to buy it. This novella gives the reader just a hint of what could be, and so was ultimately unsatisfying. Because Weeks does such a fine job with his full-length novels, anything less is bound to fall short.
So, if you're...more
So, if you're...more
A nicely done novella in the world of the "Night Angel" trilogy that serves well to fill in the backstory of Durzo Blint. While largely a tale of assassinations, plenty of them and very cool in their description, I appreciate even more Mr Week's ability to write short crisp scenes that depict much larger themes. It is harder to write short pieces than long ones and this is an example of the short novella done well.
Even though this is a "prequel" to the Night Angel trilogy I would recommend read...more
Even though this is a "prequel" to the Night Angel trilogy I would recommend read...more
1 like
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I never would have thought that a novella could be this good. To me, this is an example of the potential of ebooks. Brent Weeks stated that as he wrote this story he knew that to give it a conventional publication he would have to add a lot of "fat" to it to turn it into a novel. When his publisher offered to distribute it as an ebook novella he loved the idea because it allowed him to write exactly the story he wanted instead of trying to fit it into a publishing mold. Love the story exactly th...more
Perfect Shadow gives us a little of the history of who is Durzo Blint and what makes him tick. Any reader of the Night Angel Trilogy will know that Durzo has some serious history and, among many other things, was possibly the finest assassin in Cenaria City. This is his tale.
Excellent, as a dip back into the world of the Night Angel Trilogy, this satisfies in so many ways. It's a prequel to the main story but reveals things best left until that tale has been read so don't read this first.
Excellent, as a dip back into the world of the Night Angel Trilogy, this satisfies in so many ways. It's a prequel to the main story but reveals things best left until that tale has been read so don't read this first.
This novella (and at forty eight pages of story I use that term loosely) is an interesting backstory to the character Durzo Blint.
It’s a very enjoyable read after completing Week’s trilogy as it does a wonderful job at filling in some gaps.
The writing is unique as it’s sort of fragmented and non-linear, more of a retelling of important events in order of importance, you’ll find that the timing becomes irrelevant.
Although it is very short it’s certainly a great evening of reading that adds a new...more
It’s a very enjoyable read after completing Week’s trilogy as it does a wonderful job at filling in some gaps.
The writing is unique as it’s sort of fragmented and non-linear, more of a retelling of important events in order of importance, you’ll find that the timing becomes irrelevant.
Although it is very short it’s certainly a great evening of reading that adds a new...more
Shorter than I would've liked, and the plots are kind of scattering. Well, it's a novella after all. But Durzo Blint is the protagonist, and there are many other old characters from the Night Angel trilogy, all the better. If there are any more Durzo books, I'd love to read them all.
One small question: Durzo said somewhere in the Night Angel trilogy that the ka'kari ignored/left him after his first kill for hire, but in this book, he killed a bunch of wetboys and the ka'kari, after it failed to...more
One small question: Durzo said somewhere in the Night Angel trilogy that the ka'kari ignored/left him after his first kill for hire, but in this book, he killed a bunch of wetboys and the ka'kari, after it failed to...more
I changed my mind on reading this book until after I was done with the Night Angel series because I already interrupted the series with Ken Scholes' Lamentation (per the Ranting Dragon Book Club). So, I tackled this one after Lamentation, and it really only took an hour or two.
As short as it was, Brent Weeks had to be very concise with his backstory of Acaelus Thorne, who became Durzo Blint in the first Night Angel book. Despite being short, I thought the story gave a solid understanding of the...more
As short as it was, Brent Weeks had to be very concise with his backstory of Acaelus Thorne, who became Durzo Blint in the first Night Angel book. Despite being short, I thought the story gave a solid understanding of the...more
If you have read the Night Angel trilogy then this short story will make sense to you. I need to go or should say want to reread them.
A assassin who sees glimpses of the future saw he was being killed by forty men all at once. The story bounces around a lot in Durzo Blint past over the last few hundred alives and a little about who he was or is. The choices he made at different times and why he keeps living and changing who he is and what he looks like. I liked it but wished it was longer look i...more
A assassin who sees glimpses of the future saw he was being killed by forty men all at once. The story bounces around a lot in Durzo Blint past over the last few hundred alives and a little about who he was or is. The choices he made at different times and why he keeps living and changing who he is and what he looks like. I liked it but wished it was longer look i...more
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 we...more
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 we...more
This book tells the story of how Gaelan Starfire became Durzo Blint and how he started working for Momma K. If you have already read the original series, none of this information should be a spoiler. If you are new to the books, then beware!
As usual, Brent Weeks delivers wonderful characters, fast-paced action, and fantastic dialogue in this novel. It was refreshing (although often depressing) to read narrative from Durzo's point of view, since his perspective was extremely rare in The Night Ang...more
As usual, Brent Weeks delivers wonderful characters, fast-paced action, and fantastic dialogue in this novel. It was refreshing (although often depressing) to read narrative from Durzo's point of view, since his perspective was extremely rare in The Night Ang...more
Brent Weeks is author of what I consider the best fantasy trilogy of all time. The Night Angel trilogy really seemed to have it all. You had a complex plot, multiple subplots, hot women, incredible and vivid action, intense relationships and all was contained within an enjoyable style of writing.
Mr Weeks earlier this year took a break from his current 'LightBringer' series in order to bring to fans a short story about stand-out character from The Night Angel trilogy; Durzo Blint. Obviously fans...more
Mr Weeks earlier this year took a break from his current 'LightBringer' series in order to bring to fans a short story about stand-out character from The Night Angel trilogy; Durzo Blint. Obviously fans...more
An enjoyable, but too brief, look at the back story of Durzo Blint, one of the main characters of Brent Weeks' Night Angel series. Don't read this unless you've read the series though, otherwise it will make very little sense.
While I realize this was only a novella, it could have been fleshed out more. Scene changes were abrupt and slightly confusing. Overall though, anyone who enjoyed reading the trilogy should enjoy the insight this provides into one of its more interesting characters.
While I realize this was only a novella, it could have been fleshed out more. Scene changes were abrupt and slightly confusing. Overall though, anyone who enjoyed reading the trilogy should enjoy the insight this provides into one of its more interesting characters.
Call me a fan-boy or whatever, but I love this world and its characters. I'm just gonna soak up as much of Midcyru as i can until Mr. Weeks chooses to continue writing in this world. If you haven't read The Night Angel Trilogy yet (I don't know why you would be reading this) PICK IT UP! You won't regret it. Weeks' character development is probably the best I've read. I truly care about the characters in his books. When an author is able transmit the emotion of his characters to the reader so the...more
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Brent Weeks is the kind of writer who, upon reading one of his books, causes you to become temporarily bored with any other book ever written by anybody.
Weeks' plots are straightforward, but his storytelling is phenomenal. A true master of prose. I don't know of any other current epic fantasy authors who can match the precision, flow, and sheer gripping captivity of each and every line Weeks writes. Buy it. Start reading. You won't put it down until you've finished.
Weeks' plots are straightforward, but his storytelling is phenomenal. A true master of prose. I don't know of any other current epic fantasy authors who can match the precision, flow, and sheer gripping captivity of each and every line Weeks writes. Buy it. Start reading. You won't put it down until you've finished.
Perfect Shadow is the prequel novella to the Night Angel Trilogy and is one for the die hard fans only. Comprising exclusively of the rise of Durzo Blint, the most prominent and proficient assassin known to man, the premise was solid, though the delivery severely lacking. What could've been a fans delight turned sour from the onset with the novella essentially consisting of part story telling, part high fantasy, part erotica all mixed into part of a plot that never felt whole. Some known charact...more
Prelim Review: I love Durzo. I love Graphics Audio. I love the fact I got a little over two hours of listening enjoyment from Graphics Audio about Durzo and who he was before he met Kylar. NIGHT ANGEL TRILOGY was so much about Kylar (as he was the focal character mainly) and for me I wanted to know more about the man who trained him. This hard man who had lived for so many years, through so many guises, who loved and lost and loved again and fought hard to just be normal once more.
This frelling...more
This frelling...more
This was my first ebook. My husband gave me one of my Christmas presents early. I was worried that I wouldn't feel like I was reading a book. But this book was a good first experience for me. I enjoyed the series so I was pretty sure I'd like this book. Which is why I choose this for my first ebook. It didn't disappoint. There were a few spots where it was a little had to follow. But if you enjoyed the series then chances are good you'll enjoy this book too.
I wished that the book was longer. The prequel to The Night Angel trilogy was AWESOME. It's been a while since I read the trilogy and this jogged my memory and made me want it again. It brought a lot to perspective. An insight on who the main characters were and how they became to be. Tied it all together nicely. Side note: I read a rumor that there might be a Night Angel Trilogy movie...
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Brent Weeks was born and raised in Montana. After getting his paper keys from Hillsdale College, Brent had brief stints walking the earth like Caine from Kung Fu, tending bar, and corrupting the youth. (Not at the same time.) He started writing on bar napkins, then on lesson plans, then full time. Eventually, someone paid him for it. Brent lives in Oregon with his wife, Kristi. He doesn’t own cats...more
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“There is only one question: Does what you do, every day, have meaning? Acaelus had thought his actions did, once. For centuries, he’d put his faith in Jorsin Alkestes. A long dead king. A madman who’d sworn he would return. Even from death. A madman who’d left madness everywhere in his wake.”
—
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