The White Road

May 29, 2010 Heather rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Well, it certainly isn't Lynn Flewelling's best work, by a long shot. Throughout the book, there were a variety of inconsistencies and some distracting violations of believability. I'm sure some of the offending moments are listed in other reviews, so I'm not going to rehash them. I also never really had any moments of palpable danger and suspense... those things that make you not want to put a book down. I put this one down frequently until the last 100 pages. The plot could have been stronger....more

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Aug 20, 2012 Maciel rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Otro libro genial!!!!
SPOILERS
Me dio mucha pena por Alec, pero era obvio que Sebranh no podía quedarse con él. No, si él quería seguir teniendo la vida que tenía. Pero fue desgarrador ver cuanto amor le tenía, especialmente teniendo en cuenta que el no tendra hijos.
Me parece que se hizo gran enfasis en el libro respecto al hecho de que Alec estaba vivo cuando debería estar muerto. Que había hecho algo que no debería haber hecho nadie: Volver a traves de las puertas de la muerte.
Si era correcto o...more Otro libro genial!!!!
SPOILERS
Me dio mucha pena por Alec, pero era obvio que Sebranh no podía quedarse con él. No, si él quería seguir teniendo la vida que tenía. Pero fue desgarrador ver cuanto amor le tenía, especialmente teniendo en cuenta que el no tendra hijos.
Me parece que se hizo gran enfasis en el libro respecto al hecho de que Alec estaba vivo cuando debería estar muerto. Que había hecho algo que no debería haber hecho nadie: Volver a traves de las puertas de la muerte.
Si era correcto o incorrecto, a Seregil no le importaba.
Pero empezó a pensar en serio en ello cuando, casi al final, Rieser le hizo prometer que no lo reviviría, en caso de que muriera, por un extraño sueño que había tenido...
No llegamos a enterarnos de que iba el sueño, pero Seregil se quedo preguntandose si había algo más que simple superstición detrás de la petición de Rieser...
Tambien mencionaron más de una vez que la magía de Sebranh podía agotarse y que Alec podía tener los días contados...

Me pregunto si todo esto se retomará en el último libro o de plano ya quedo cerrado...me encantaría que volviera el tema. Me parece que ahí hay mucho que explotar *__*

Por otro lado...¿Volveremos a ver a Ilar?
No odio a Ilar. Despúes de todo lo que le sucedio, creo que el pobre ya pago más que de sobra. Me gustaría que viviera el resto de sus días en algun lugar tranquilo con gente amable rodeandolo. Pero ciertamente no me gusta. Me incomoda su obsesión por Seregil y más me incomoda ver como Seregil aún se confunde en su presencia. Pero eso era de esperar.
No me parece que su participación haya terminado. Pero ¿Como volverá a la historia? Ojala de la mano de otro alquimista más poderoso que Yhakobin *__*

En cuanto a lo de la alquimia, Rieser dijo que se habían encontrado rekharos en TODAS las tierras tyr...por lo que me parece muy ingenuo acabar el problema simplemente destruyendo los libros de Yhakobin. Aún más considerando que demasiadas personas conocen la ascendencia Hazadrielfaie de Alec.

Me han gustado mucho estos dos últimos libros. Me parecia que los tres anteriores estaban demasiado centrados en Seregil y, aunque es un personaje que me encanta, quería más protagonismo de Alec. (Y tambien hace tiempo que quería saber a que venia tanta cosa con los Hazadrielfaie). xD
¡Y ojala haya más por todos los cabos sueltos que dejaron en este libro!

¡¡Ojala estos puntos vuelvan en el último libro!!

(less)

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May 28, 2010 Kaia rated it 3 of 5 stars

After a long departure from the much loved NIGHTRUNNER series, Lynn Flewelling returned to Seregil and Alec’s adventures in 2008 with the release of Shadows Return. Now the adventure begun in Shadows Return continues in The White Road:

“Having escaped death and slavery in Plenimar, Alec and Seregil want nothing more than to go back to their nightrunning life in Rhíminee. Instead they find themselves saddled with Sebrahn, a strange, alchemically created creature — the prophesied “child of no woman...more

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Jun 12, 2010 Just_ann_now rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, women-of-genre

This book was full of the things I really like about the Nightrunner series: good characterization, rich detail and background, fun action-adventure. Alas, I couldn't get into it whole-heartedly because so much of it dealt with Sebrahn (who, frankly, gives me the creeps.) So I didn't have the emotional attachment necessary to fully engage the plot ("OHNO SEBRAHN IS IN DANGER WE MUST PROTECT HIM!/ OHNO WE ARE IN DANGER MAYBE SEBRAHN CAN SAVE US!"). Is it a spoiler to say I was satisfied with the...more

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Apr 04, 2013 Philip rated it 4 of 5 stars

This installment is a definite improvement over the previous one, mainly in that it has Alec, Seregil and Micum together again, which is a big improvement over them being enslaved separately.

Also, in the previous book, Ulan's actions aren't explained at all, which makes him seem more vindictive than fits with his initial characterization. This time his reasoning is more explained which helps a lot to make what he does make sense with his character.

Really, as I glance at my review for the previou...more

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Sep 20, 2012 Abbe added it · review of another edition

Shelves: in-library

Product Description

Dissolute nobles, master spies, and the unlikeliest of heroes, Alec and Seregil have survived exile, treachery, and black magic. But the road that lies ahead is the most hazardous they’ve ever traveled. For with enemies on all sides, they must walk a narrow path between good and evil where one misstep might be their last.

Having escaped death and slavery in Plenimar, Alec and Seregil want nothing more than to go back to their nightrunning life in Rhíminee. Instead they find...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Meg rated it 2 of 5 stars

The White Road
OR
Is That a Plot Device In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Happy To See-- Wait, It IS a Plot Device?

I was really looking forward to this book. I wanted to read this one very badly. I was excited after Shadows Return, waiting eagerly to get my hands on the next in the series and... was rather badly disappointed.

This is hardly the worst book I've read, but it lacks a certain shine, polish, and follow through, especially compared to other books by the same author. I was expecting a lot m...more

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Sep 27, 2011 Anna Tan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Saddled with Sebrahn, a magical creature who can heal, kill and raise the dead, Seregil and Alec set off on a journey back to Plenimar, where an alchemist had created Sebrahn out of Alec’s blood, to find a way to prevent it from ever happening again. For exactly the same reason, they are hunted by Alec’s long-lost kin, intent on capturing him and Sebrahn before anymore tayan’gils are created out of Alec’s blood. Also hot on their tail is Seregil’s old nemesis who desires Sebrahn for his healing...more Saddled with Sebrahn, a magical creature who can heal, kill and raise the dead, Seregil and Alec set off on a journey back to Plenimar, where an alchemist had created Sebrahn out of Alec’s blood, to find a way to prevent it from ever happening again. For exactly the same reason, they are hunted by Alec’s long-lost kin, intent on capturing him and Sebrahn before anymore tayan’gils are created out of Alec’s blood. Also hot on their tail is Seregil’s old nemesis who desires Sebrahn for his healing power.

I only picked up The White Road because it was on 50% discount and it had a Legolas-looking persona on the cover (not that I like Legolas, but I like elves and elvish stuff in general). I had browsed the blurb and found it to be about two heroes searching for “the truth about this living homunculus - a journey that can only lead to danger… or death”. I mean, what could go wrong with a fantasy with elves (she calls them faie, but anyone with a decent background in reading fantasy would know the words are interchangeable) and magic and dangerous adventure? I did take the precaution of reading the list of “also by Lynn Flewelling” to find out if it was part of a series, but didn’t find any indication. No “So and so series” with list of books or “book #XX of the something-or-other chronicles!”

Boy, was I wrong. After the first chapter, I started thinking that there was too much back story to the book for it to be a stand alone. Then again, The White Road was written as a complete novel in itself - whilst I wondered if there were prior books (maybe one of the also-bys) to the series, I didn’t find it difficult to follow the story. A quick google search later informed me that this was book 5 of the Nightrunner series.

It was altogether a tantalising read, one of those books that just don’t let you put it down. I mean, it took altogether about 5 hours, on a working night, up until 2AM to for me to release that final sigh of relief, so go figure.

Note:
I went back to the bookshop a few days later but couldn’t find any of the other books. I suppose Flewelling’s not popular enough to be high on the list of imports. On the other hand, I’ve only ever found the Ender series (Orson Scott Card) during warehouse sales, and you hardly see any Eddings on the shelves anymore, so maybe it’s the poor reception of fantasy books in Malaysia that’s causing the problem. A third deterrent could be the fact that the two main protagonists are in a homosexual relationship. Um, yeah, way to go, censorship board. (less)

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Jan 26, 2011 Angel Martinez rated it 4 of 5 stars

Closer to a 3.5 - I need to start by saying I adore Lynn's books. Her writing is lush, her world-building meaty enough for the most jaded fantasy reader to sink fangs into, and her characters are marvelous. I've followed Alec and Seregil from the beginning, and will continue to do so.

The writing remains wonderful - the scenery, the details, the dialogue - but I was left a little flat this time. The story as a whole wasn't quite as satisfying as the previous ones and I had the odd feeling I was...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Trix rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, sorcery, sword, hard-copy

Perhaps after reading the much darker fourth volume of the series, "White Road" was less interesting.

[spoiler ahead]The only mystery and suspense was determining where the attack would come from and when, as the main enemies were pointed out in short order from the start of the book, not to mention that the flow of the plot was easily guessed. Taken as a whole, the volume seems rather shallow: moving from place to place with Sebrahn in tow, trying to avoid being kidnapped again, going to one en...more

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Dec 05, 2010 Tracy Dobbs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-since-1-1-10, fantasy, sword-and-sorcery

The fifth book in the series...which I've had on my Kindle for a while now, but didn't get around to reading until now. I do this(put off reading things) and kick myself later because once I start reading, I can't put it down til I'm done. Which is what happened....again.

Anyway, this is an excellent addition to the Night runner series. The two main characters, Alec and Seregil, escaped from their necromantic/alchemical "master" after being captured and sold into slavery in the last book. This s...more

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Sep 12, 2010 Molly H. rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Nightrunner fans

Shelves: on-my-bookshelf, fantasy

This is the fifth book in the Nightrunner series (following Luck in the Shadows, Stalking Darkness, Traitor's Moon and Shadows Return), and I sincerely recommend starting at the beginning of the series with Luck in the Shadows. It's an excellent series and well worth your time, unless male/male makes you uncomfortable (have it be know that there are no detailed sex scenes in any of the books so far, so whether you find that positive or negative, you have been told).

The White Road (read an excerp...more This is the fifth book in the Nightrunner series (following Luck in the Shadows, Stalking Darkness, Traitor's Moon and Shadows Return), and I sincerely recommend starting at the beginning of the series with Luck in the Shadows. It's an excellent series and well worth your time, unless male/male makes you uncomfortable (have it be know that there are no detailed sex scenes in any of the books so far, so whether you find that positive or negative, you have been told).

The White Road (read an excerpt on Lynn Flewelling's website) follows directly where Shadows Return ended, and centers on the issue of What to Do with Sebrahn. (If you don't know who Sebrahn is, you need to read the other books and not the rest of this review.) For fear of any spoilers, I won't say too much more.

Having been unable to sit down and really enjoy a book for a few months, once I settled into this book I devoured it. It's more fast-paced than Flewelling's other books, which had more calm, introspective moments. While I enjoyed the action, I missed some of the character-developing reflection. It felt as though certain parts of the book had not been completely finished, or fully edited. I thought some of the action might have been more tense if the moments before had received more detailed attention. Not that the writing isn't descriptive, but I felt there were some key scenes that ought to have been slowed down instead of being interrupted by a fight sequence. I'm not saying that the fighting should be held off until all emotional issues have been resolved--damn inconvenient ambushes!--but I AM saying that perhaps not all of these moments had to be interrupted. I think it left out the usual thorough character development, and some of the newly introduced characters were not as fleshed-out as they seemed in the past.

I love this series. It's one of my favorites. And I love the characters. But I sincerely miss the focus on nightrunning. I know not all the books can be focused on it, but it has not been so prevalent in the last two books (or even Traitor's Moon). I did get to have my book signed by Lynn Flewelling at Comic-Con this year, which was very exciting, and I asked her about upcoming books. She said, with seeming certainty, that there would be two more Nightrunner books (I'm not sure if this includes the upcoming collection of short stories entitled GLIMPSES). Based on the ending to The White Road, it seems like there will be more actual nightrunning, and I look forward to it.

So overall I seem a little lukewarm on this book. But I really enjoyed reading it, and if you're already a fan of the series then I consider it worth following through with this book. If you have yet to read any of the books in this series (but proceeded to read my review anyway...tsk tsk), you MUST start with Luck in the Shadows. Trust me. I know stuff. Sort of.

Just read the books.

:UPDATE:

I actually revised this from four stars to three. In retrospect, it was rather disappointing. It all felt rushed. Initially the book was supposed to be released in July 2009 I believe, but then it was pushed back to Winter 2010, and then finally released in May 2010. I think perhaps Flewelling had some trouble finishing the book, and then maybe the editing was rushed so it wouldn't be released any later. In the end, it seems like a placeholder; the Sebrahn and Ulan i Sathil storylines had to be wrapped up to make way for another storyline. BUT if you enjoy the Nightrunner series, I maintain that this book is worth reading.(less)

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Aug 10, 2010 Aaron rated it 5 of 5 stars

Alec and Seregil are back for another adventure, and this one will include resolving a lot of the questions and issues that begin in the previous volume of the Nightrunner series. Alec is still recovering from being used in a series of experiments to produce the rhekaro Sebrahn. While the creature appears to be a small child, Sebrahn is actually a being of amazing powers, allowing him to kill with the sound of his voice or heal or even resurrect the dead with his blood.

Thankfully, they have esca...more Alec and Seregil are back for another adventure, and this one will include resolving a lot of the questions and issues that begin in the previous volume of the Nightrunner series. Alec is still recovering from being used in a series of experiments to produce the rhekaro Sebrahn. While the creature appears to be a small child, Sebrahn is actually a being of amazing powers, allowing him to kill with the sound of his voice or heal or even resurrect the dead with his blood.

Thankfully, they have escaped from enslavement in the northern kingdom of Plenimar, but their trials their are not over. While Plenimar and Skala, the kingdom that is their adopted homeland, are at war, darker dangers lurk in Plenimar. Everyone knows about the necromancers and alchemysts who have a great deal of influence there, but the ability to create another rhekaro like Sebrahn could be a real danger. It also means that Alec and Seregil must go back to recover the spell books that were used by their slave owner to complete his experiments on Alec.

Along they way, they are joined by their good friend and fellow nightrunner, Micum. There group is enlarged when they run into a group of Fae. While Fae are normally their allies (particularly since Seregil is one of them), things prove to take a different take when the group attacks them. It turns out that the Haradzaiel have sworn to hunt down Alec because he is a half-blood Fae/Tir (think elf/human), which makes his blood impure and a danger to their tribe. The Haradzaiel hold an ancient secret that have forced them to hide away from other Fae and the world at large, and it is this secret that ties them to Alec. They demand that Alec and Sebrahn be turned over to them.

After some discussion, it is agreed that the group;s leader Reigel, will join Alec, Seregil, and Micum as they head out on their mission, leaving Sebrahn with the others.

Overall this a triditional quest-based fantasy novel with the epic tale taking the backstory. It is clear that Flewelling will likely return to that backstory in a later novel, but fans of Alec and Seregil will find everything that make the series popular to date. Their relationship continues to grow, particularly in light of their differing feelings about Sebrahn.

While I loved this book, it definitely should be read after the rest of the series since you need to know what is going on if you are going to have any chance of understanding the current plots. I loved this just as much as the rest, and can't wait for more Flewelling!(less)

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Jun 08, 2010 Andi rated it 5 of 5 stars

The fifth book in Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunners series was as engaging as the previous four. With so much fantasy being written these days, some of it regrettably hackneyed, it is great to find an author whose world-building is fresh and whose characters are so engaging, warts and all, they become real to the reader. Each book in the series deepens your understanding of the principal characters and introduces interesting new characters. I especially appreciate the way the author weaves plot poi...more

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Sep 13, 2010 Nancy O'Toole rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, library

In Shadow's Return, a cruel alchemist worked magic to create a creature called Sebrahn from Alec's Aurenfaie blood. Although he resembles a human child, Sebrahn is a dangerous being with the ability to kill with a song, and bring someone back from death with his blood. Alec and Seregil, now free from their enslavement, must determine what they will do with this creature that Alec has grown to see as his son. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones who know of Sebrahn's existence, and there are...more In Shadow's Return, a cruel alchemist worked magic to create a creature called Sebrahn from Alec's Aurenfaie blood. Although he resembles a human child, Sebrahn is a dangerous being with the ability to kill with a song, and bring someone back from death with his blood. Alec and Seregil, now free from their enslavement, must determine what they will do with this creature that Alec has grown to see as his son. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones who know of Sebrahn's existence, and there are others that will do anything to capture him.

As you might expect from the plot summary, The White Road mainly deals with the consequences of the events that occurred in Shadow's Return. It was interesting to see how the presence of Sebrahn strained Alec and Seregil's relationship at first. While Alec focuses on how much Sebrahn resembled a child, Seregil saw the dangers that such a creature may cause. One thing I really enjoyed about this book, and all Lynn Flewelling's novels, is how interesting and well developed all the characters are, especially the “evil” characters. I particularly enjoyed the scenes involving Illar, an old enemy and lover of Seregil's who has been completely changed by his life in Plenimar. I'm really interested to see what directions Flewelling will take his character in future books.

Although The White Road can be said to be a companion book to Shadow's Return, there are many differences between the two books. Much of the darkness that permeated the story in Shadow's Return is not present here. Instead the story reads more like a character driven adventure story, more similar to the earlier books in the series. The White Road reads very quickly and even has a few nice romantic moments between the two leads. Admittedly, the book is a little bit predictable. Once all of the players have shown up in the book, it's easy to see the direction that the plot is going in, and it doesn't take too long to realize what's going to happen to Sebrahn in the end. Still, this is really a minor quibble as I did find myself enjoying this novel consistently from beginning to end.

The White Road is the fifth Nightrunner novel written by Lynn Flewelling, and it's obvious that the series still has it's magic. I really enjoyed the strong characters, the fast pace, and the romantic elements. One thing I would recommend to readers is to not start the series with The White Road. The book jumps into the storyline right away, and new readers will easily be confused with the multitude of existing plots and unfamiliar vocabulary. I would highly recommend any new reader to start off with the first book, Luck in the Shadow(less)

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Oct 18, 2011 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

I know I've been kind of lax in my reviews for this series, but I'm still very much enjoying it! The characters are fantastic - Thero in particular has rapidly grown to become one of my favorites - and there's tons of suspense and conspiracies and action, and I love the portrayal of Seregil and Alec's relationship...

HOWEVER.

I gave this book three stars as opposed to my usual happy four because I spent a good amount of it cursing Alec's stupidity and feeling bad for Seregil. Because, well... Sebr...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Jaime rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

The White Road is a direct follow-up to the story begun in "Shadows Return". That book depressed me because our heroes spent the entire story enslaved and mistreated. Here, the chains are off (literally and figuratively) and the two men set off on a mission, once again joined by Micum, to discover the truth about Sebrahn. What follows is something of a quest, with a lot of traveling, but also a lot of action. The story is fast-paced and filled with humor and surprises. This book has a lot going...more

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Oct 10, 2012 shuya rated it 4 of 5 stars

Well, this time, I am not going to be 100% honnest... I cannot think straight since I finished this book last night, because I am completely overwhelmed by my feelings for Sebrahn. HE IS SO DAMN CUTE. And I wanted so bad that Alec could keep him even though I knew it would be almost impossible. I have to admit I cried a single tear at the end of the book...
Nonetheless I think this book is far better than the previous one. All the newly introduced characters (aka The Hazadriëlfae) are very inter...more

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Jul 22, 2012 Nia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I didn't make a review of the last book however that book and this book sort of ties together as it links two very related plot points. Shadow's Return was excellent as it pinpointed some of the chips in Alec and Seregil's armor as a couple. It is something that I could really identify with.. add in something that really causes tension and you get a thoroughly good read. I don't want to give any spoilers however I will just say that a prophecy from "Traitor's Moon" gets fufilled and Alec and Ser...more

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Jul 17, 2012 Bethnoir rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Oct 09, 2011 Nightcolors rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ebook, 2011, fantasy, glbt

I loved Sebrahn, so the plot lines that involved him worked really well for me. I was very emotionally invested in Sebrahn's secrets and future. I really enjoyed this book, not that I wasn't aware of the occasional weak plot points in it. I felt the overall storyline was rather predictable...

(view spoiler)...more

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Nov 01, 2011 Jesse rated it 5 of 5 stars

After surviving slavery, and worse, in Plenimar, Seregil and Alec head back to Aurënen and to their kin in Bôkthersa, with Sebrahn in tow. It's been a wild ride so far, and so it continues in The White Road, in true Nightrunner fashion.

Lynn Flewelling's writing just totally draws me in. Within the first sentence, I'm hooked, and everything else ceases to exist as I become more and more engrossed in the story. It's like being there with Alec and Seregil on every step of the adventure, seeing new...more After surviving slavery, and worse, in Plenimar, Seregil and Alec head back to Aurënen and to their kin in Bôkthersa, with Sebrahn in tow. It's been a wild ride so far, and so it continues in The White Road, in true Nightrunner fashion.

Lynn Flewelling's writing just totally draws me in. Within the first sentence, I'm hooked, and everything else ceases to exist as I become more and more engrossed in the story. It's like being there with Alec and Seregil on every step of the adventure, seeing new places, revisiting a few old places, meeting new people and reuiniting with old friends. And still, there's so much left to see and explore.

Micum is back this time, which is also very cool in a nostalgic sort of way, as he was one of the first people Alec met when he first fell in with Seregil. It's great to know that old Micum hasn't lost his touch, or gotten too old for Nightrunning just yet. And Thero's character is developing quite nicely. Lynn has done an awesome job with him, taking him from someone who was barely tolerated, to someone who was a friend and ally, and now...a very interesting step in another direction: Thero is becoming what Nysander once was, and what I've sorely missed in the last few books. Though Seregil and Alec are, without a doubt, able to get themselves out of any situation, knowing that they had a powerful and well-informed guardian looking out for them (back in the days of Nysander) added something to the story that has been missing ever since Nysander died. And in The White Road, I started to see Thero step into Nysander's shoes. He's the type of guy you'd go to if you had a problem, and if he didn't have a quick and easy answer, he'd at least be ready to help you out. I like that.

And we also get a closer glimpse at the Hazâdrielfaie...a people I've wondered about since the very first book, but especially since we learned that Alec is descended from them. I instantly liked Rieser, despite his brusque manner. I can't imagine that we've seen the last of him.

(view spoiler)[And Sebrahn...hmm. I admit, I put myself more of less in Seregil's shoes when thinking about Sebrahn. The romantic envisionment of the Nightrunners that I have in my head--Alec and Seregil against the world, just the two of them, fighting and spying and adventuring and, yes, loving each other--all of that is thrown way off-kilter by the addition of a child like Sebrahn, even if "child" isn't an accurate description. I almost felt as jealous as Seregil when Sebrahn took all of Alec's attention...and then felt just as guilty as Seregil did, too. And amazingly, at the end, during the fight with the Retha'Noi (who, for some reason, I just could not stand...probably because of their continuous deception and backstabbing...I wasn't sad to see them cut down at the end) but I WAS moved when I thought that Sebrahn would die. All through the story, I disliked him, and had uneasy thoughts about how Alec and Seregil would ever be able to get on with their lives with him around...but then...when I thought he had died, I found myself cheering for him, hoping he would live. I really hope we haven't seen the last of him yet, because I have the feeling that none of the characters has seen the complete depths of Sebrahn's powers yet.

Seeing Bôkthersa, at long last, was another treat, albeit one that felt a bit rushed, since Alec and Seregil were so preoccupied and didn't get to spend much time there. We, as readers, finally get a glimpse of Seregil's other two sisters, who didn't seem quite as forbidding as I'd imagined--and that was cool. It's also really great to read a story, even a work of fantasy, where a man's same-sex partner is completely accepted into the family without a second thought. Very, very cool.

And from Bôkthersa...on to more adventurous traveling which reminded me a lot of the first half of the very first book, Luck in the Shadows. Traveling roads and forests and passes, spurred ever onward, with lots of tension and doubt thrown in...it really makes you look back on the quiet moments with a sense of appreciation and nostalgia, like both of the times they stopped at the small island between Skala and Plenimar so Captain Rhal could change the sails. It reminded me of just how much these guys have gone through, and how much I like them as characters.

It was great to see Captain Rhal again, too. There's another great character. I love how several of the characters come in and out of Seregil and Alec's lives throughout the course of the series--and they all have their own lives, as well, and their own agendas, so we may not hear from them for a few books while they're off doing something else--Captain Rhal, Beka, Princess Klia--which makes me spare a thought for now-Commander Myrhini and wonder what she's up to, besides being busy on the battlefield?

The part where Seregil, Alec, and Micum spend the night at Madlin, the old Watcher's house, on their way across Skala, struck me as very bittersweet. Even though she was only in a few brief pages of the book, Madlin stood out to me, maybe because I got the idea that she'd seen quite a few adventures in her day and now was somewhat lonely, out in her small town, and not having seen any other Watchers for a great deal of time. That struck me as sad, for some reason.

And that reminds me of the older female Aurënfaie slave back at Yhakobin's house, the one who nursed Seregil back to health when he was imprisoned in Plenimar. I wonder whatever happened to her? Seregil thought of taking her with them when they escaped, but they couldn't at the time. Now they go back again, and she's nowhere to be seen. I can't see why they'd revisit Yhakobin's estate ever again, but you never know. It would have been nice if they'd been able to rescue the old lady and at least take her back to Skala, if she didn't want to go back to Aurënen.

So from Skala, we go back to Plenimar again. It was a quick jaunt this time, and about as much as I wanted. Plenimar is like one of those places where you just don't want to go, especially not for any length of time. It was interesting to see it from a different perspective this time, and the whole Yhakobin storyline in general seems a bit unresolved to me. I guess when you get killed, as Yhakobin did, then your life stays unresolved, but still, I wouldn't be surprised if we don't hear something more about the alchemists and/or the rhekaros in the future...especially the latter.

And Ilar...I say that with a sigh. I don't know what I think about Ilar, except to say that he makes me uncomfortable, especially with his obsession with Seregil. Maybe it makes me uncomfortable because it's so realistic, but just like Seregil, at first I felt guilty for the way Seregil tricked and used him in Ulan's house, until I remembered what Ilar did to Seregil, and even more importantly (in Seregil's mind) what Ilar did to Alec and the hand he had in what happened to Alec when he was a slave. Then I didn't feel quite so bad. But even so...leaving anyone abandoned on a shore in Plenimar is harsh. I'm not saying that Ilar didn't deserve it, but it still makes me wince.

Reading about Alec saying good-bye to Sebrahn was harder than I thought it would be, even if I'm immensely relieved that the dynamic between Alec and Seregil is back as it should be, once again. (There was a lot less romance and lovemaking in this installment, so hopefully they'll make up for that in the next one--I daresay they need it, haha!)

Going back through the canal, saying good-bye to Micum with a promise to visit the Cavish family at Watermead soon, stopping by the Orëska House on the way through the darkened streets of Rhíminee at night...all very, very nostalgic, and more than a little bittersweet. I'm a sucker for revisiting places in that sort of manner, so that was right up my alley. And finally...Seregil and Alec creeping up the steps to the Inn, with Ruetha the cat waiting to greet them, lounging together on the couch next to the fireplace...it really was a fitting homecoming, and perfectly captured the feeling you get when you finally return home after a long journey elsewhere. Everything seems quiet, reflective, and somehow familiar and yet changed at the same time.

I love the city of Rhíminee...it's like a character in itself, and one I've missed. I can't wait to see what mischief our boys get up to next, now that they're back home.

(hide spoiler)]

At this point, some series will start to get unimaginative and predictable, and you can almost tell what is going to happen next, before it happens. Not so with the Nightrunner series. Instead, I feel like there are endless possibilities all over the place--all happening at the same time--so much left to do, see, explore, discover...and I hope this series goes on for a very, very long time to come!!

(less)

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Jul 20, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 03, 2013 Anka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, lgbt-books, romance, high-fantasy

4/5 ★

The White Road, in my opinion, was a stronger book than Shadows Return.

I think it had a more adventurous plot, whereas Alec and Seregil spent a lot of time captive - stagnant - in Shadows Return, which was also a much longer book, only to escape around the last hundred or so pages. This book, like the last two (yes, I'm including Traitor's Moon) was also very slow to pick up its pace, though less so. Only about halfway through did it become a nightrunning adventure, with Seregil, Alec and M...more 4/5 ★

The White Road, in my opinion, was a stronger book than Shadows Return.

I think it had a more adventurous plot, whereas Alec and Seregil spent a lot of time captive - stagnant - in Shadows Return, which was also a much longer book, only to escape around the last hundred or so pages. This book, like the last two (yes, I'm including Traitor's Moon) was also very slow to pick up its pace, though less so. Only about halfway through did it become a nightrunning adventure, with Seregil, Alec and Micum (who is always a treasure) traversing back to Plenimar to destroy Yhakobin's books on alchemy, while a band of Hazadrielfaie hunted them to take Alec and Sebrahn back with them.

The first half, in Aurenen, mostly revolved around Alec's angst that Sebrahn would never be normal or accepted by others - which is okay. I found his sadness moving, because I love Sebrahn, too, but throughout the book, the inevitable conclusion of leaving him somewhere safe - for him and for others - always hung in the air. I hope Alec gets to visit him someday, at least. In addition, I found a lot of Ulan's segments rather dull, and the Hazad's as well, at first. Eventually, however, Rieser and Hazadrien, along with their compatriots, became very interesting - even, to an extent, Turmay, though I never came to like him like them.

So the negatives of this book are: slow pacing, a somewhat dull first half, other points of view being dull at times, some of the poorer writing quirks I've mentioned in other reviews (repetitiveness, typos, descriptions that made me laugh like, and paraphrasing here, "anyone but the Retha'noi who tried using their oo'lu would only get a strange fart sound"), SEBRAHN LEAVING.

*Ahem* I know, I know, it's agreed that it was necessary. Anyway, the positives are: Micum coming on another adventure with his friends, Seregil being sassy, getting to visit Bokthersa (although it was in the slower first half of the book), Thero, the Hazadrielfaie fleshing out into interesting characters (especially Rieser, because I really liked him), the world-building, Alec's sadness truly wrenching my heart, the nightrunning, etc.

The White Road is still not as good as the first two books of the series, but I think it's more entertaining than Shadows Return and even Traitor's Moon. And I'm eager to start the next installment of the series!(less)

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Dec 07, 2012 Ren rated it 3 of 5 stars

After finishing Shadows Return, a dark book that I found difficult to read because of all the brutality and frank tratment of slavery, I almost didn't pick up The White Road. When I did and first read of Seregil's and Alec's planned return to the land of Plennimar where they were enslaved, the book nearly hit the trash. After a few days, though, I made myself pick it back up and continue reading, promising myself that I would stop the moment either character was captured. Luckily for me, Flewell...more

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Jun 28, 2010 amelia cavendish rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action, books-2010, fantasy, fiction, gay-male

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jan 27, 2011 Aredhel rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: faeries-fantasy, glbt, epic-fantasy, read-in-2011, favorites

Ok, yesterday I finished it...and now I have my heart broken because I can give this book only 4 stars :(((
This series was my first m-m fantasy series, I was literally in love with some characters, devoured all the previous books in one setting and couldn't wait when the last one in the series (at that time I thought that The white Road would be the last one) would be released...Then, when it finally was out, I couldn't bring myself to read it - I was afraid. Afraid that I wouldn't like it as mu...more

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Jun 12, 2010 Lisa rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010-reading-list, sci-fi-fantasy

My rating probably isn't one hundred percent fair, but that's Flewelling's own fault; she set herself a high standard and is therefore held to it.

The book was...okay. It plateaued and there was never anything that made it particularly impressive or particularly horrible. The characters seem very washed out from what they were in the first three books and the plot line is without the intrigue and excitement that made earlier offerings so enjoyable. It progresses quickly and routinely throws in a...more

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Mar 29, 2012 Diane rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thought this book was one of the best in the series. I love the relationship between Seregil and Alec. This relationship has just been getting stronger and stronger as the series has gone on. I think the author has done a wonderful job of world building. I also really like the way the author has developed the secondary characters. Who wouldn't want a friend like Micum? I also like the way the author has redeemed the character of Thero from a pretty unlikeable person to a really wonderful chara...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Aldi rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, gay-or-gender-interest

(contains spoilers)

Seregil and Other Plot Points: "Hey, talí. Remember that really annoying freak gurgling non-child that some pervert made out of your assorted bodily fluids last book? ~~I don't either.~~ Well, events are transpiring which indicate that we might eventually have to give him up ~~thank god~~."

Alec: "NEVERNEVERNEVER."

Events: *transpire*

Sebrahn: *is given up*

Nothing remotely memorable: *happens in between*

All in all, definitely closer to 2.5 stars - I'm mostly giving it 3 for old times' sa...more

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The White Road (Nightrunner #5)

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