Traitor's Moon

Aug 08, 2010 BJ Rose rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, audiobooks, series

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

Dec 13, 2007 Schnaucl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, owned, reread, read_2007, december, glbt, series

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Warning: This review contains major spoilers. Proceed at your peril.

I enjoyed this book so much more when I wasn't worrying about mpreg. I read these books about the time I started to get into slash and I think that actually contributed to my feeling that the writing was so bad it was good and it certainly contributed to my worry that there would be mpreg. Flewelling feels like a slash fan, at least in these trilogies. I have no idea if she is or not (I know of a few published authors who are) b...more Warning: This review contains major spoilers. Proceed at your peril.

I enjoyed this book so much more when I wasn't worrying about mpreg. I read these books about the time I started to get into slash and I think that actually contributed to my feeling that the writing was so bad it was good and it certainly contributed to my worry that there would be mpreg. Flewelling feels like a slash fan, at least in these trilogies. I have no idea if she is or not (I know of a few published authors who are) but that was the feeling I had at the time.

Rereading it now, I don't dislike it as much as I did originally. I don't like it as much as the first two, but I don't dislike it either. There are still some problems, for example, I think the system of patronymics and matronymics while believable, are confusing to read. It wasn't quite as bad as reading a book where everyone has two or three names (Seregil and Alec aside) but it did detract from the light, fun feeling.

This time Alec, Seregil and Beka are off to Seregil's homeland. It was fun to see it but I can't see Seregil really being happy there for any length of time. Maybe if he became a schemer like Ulan...

I like Beka more now, though I still feel like we were cheated out of a chance to really get to know Micum.

It was nice to see Thero with more compassion and good to see that while the feud with Seregil has been put aside there's still some baiting of each other.

I liked seeing the progression of Seregil and Alec's relationship. I'm glad they're more comfortable with each other but I'm also glad that Alec isn't a totally different person. He may be more sexually open minded than he was, but he's still a modest man at heart.

I liked how the issue of children came up and Alec's reaction to it. I'm curious what the average human life span in Flewelling's world is supposed to be. If it's comparable to ours then I'm not surprised Alec hasn't thought about Children. If it's more like the European Middle ages then he probably would have thought about it.

I love Seregil, but Alec's a saint to put up with him sometimes.

I'm really looking forward to the next book. I'm curious how Skala has fared under Phoria's rule and if/how Flewelling intends to involve Thero and Beka since they appear to be in Auren for the duration.(less)

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Aug 31, 2007 Peggy rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fantasy fans

Shelves: gay-bisexual, high-fantasy

This installment felt somewhat transitional to me, coming after the interconnected, myth-arcs-to-the-brim feeling of the first two books. This feeling makes even more sense now that LF has said the fourth and fifth Nightrunner books will be a two-parter of the same story, as well. This book is absolutely necessary for Seregil, who was in some ways ruined by the events of SD. Seregil needs this book to be able to deal with his issues - including those pesky ones from his childhood - so that he an...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Scrittevolmente rated it 5 of 5 stars

Terzo e ultimo capitolo (edito in Italia).
Ne Il traditore di Kerry è un po’ come ritornare agli albori: niente più guerre universali per la lotta alla sopravvivenza del continente bensì di nuovo ventri di palazzi, città da scoprire, amicizie da stringere e nemici da affrontare. I nostri due eroi, Alec e Seregil, si vedono costretti a tornare nella patria natia di quest’ultimo in veste di accompagnatori di Klia, la figlia della regina di Skala che ha bisogno di stipulare un patto che consenta lor...more

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Apr 30, 2012 Contrarius rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

Like the first two volumes of the series, this book constantly frustrated me because it could have been so much better if the plot had simply been handed over to a better prose stylist. There's really not much wrong with the plot itself -- not in the classics category, for sure, but there are enough complications and twists and turns and opportunities for emotional drama to keep most everyone happy. Unfortunately, Flewelling just doesn't have the talent to make the most of that plot. There's no...more Like the first two volumes of the series, this book constantly frustrated me because it could have been so much better if the plot had simply been handed over to a better prose stylist. There's really not much wrong with the plot itself -- not in the classics category, for sure, but there are enough complications and twists and turns and opportunities for emotional drama to keep most everyone happy. Unfortunately, Flewelling just doesn't have the talent to make the most of that plot. There's no grand evocative descriptions of scenery, no trolling of emotional depths....just blunt unimaginative sentences and wasted opportunities.

And then there's an odd kind of uneasy handling of the relationship between the two main characters, Seregil and Alec. This is the first volume in which the two have actually been lovers, so this aspect of their interactions hasn't really been breached until now (setting aside some rather chaste longings and one kiss from the previous book). On the plus side, the society being depicted has absolutely zero qualms about either gender equality or same sex relationships. Same sex couples are depicted as being quite common and of no note whatsoever, including within military units; and not only do women frequently hold positions of power in all three of the countries involved in the stories, but also one is just as likely to find a brothel of male whores servicing women as to find a brothel of female whores servicing men, or either gender of whore servicing clients of the same gender. On the minus side, however, the author herself seems to be a bit uneasy with actually discussing homosexuality. Oddly enough, straight sexual acts in this series are described in more detail than gay sex (although none are ever described graphically). For instance, although sex between Seregil and Alec always fades to black after at most a kiss, occasionally (considering all three books up to this point) Alec and other characters do have gently-glossed-over yet on-screen sex with members of the opposite gender. Also, although there are relatively frequent authorial references to "lovers" when straight couples are mentioned, Alec and Seregil are almost always referred to by Flewelling as "friends" (with the occasional exception of actual dialogue between characters). It leads to an odd sense of cognitive dissonance -- that Flewelling might believe somewhere down deep in her soul that the relationship is acceptable but also somehow not acceptable at the same time.

Anyway, I mostly read this far into the series because I'm a completist at heart -- I hate to leave a story half way through. On the other hand, given my frustrations up to this point and the.....shall we say....questionable sound of the blurb for volume 4 of the series, I think I'll probably cut my losses and stop here!(less)

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Mar 19, 2012 Shortlatte rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review covers the first three books in the Nightrunner series. For those who haven’t yet read these books, be warned that there are spoilers ahead.

Every year I seem to stumble upon a series that seemed innocuous enough on the shelf, and I take that series home, unwittingly committing myself to a week in which all my waking thoughts will be consumed by this new world and its characters. Last year, I was lucky enough to happen upon this phenomenon twice, first with Karen Marie Moning’s Fever...more This review covers the first three books in the Nightrunner series. For those who haven’t yet read these books, be warned that there are spoilers ahead.

Every year I seem to stumble upon a series that seemed innocuous enough on the shelf, and I take that series home, unwittingly committing myself to a week in which all my waking thoughts will be consumed by this new world and its characters. Last year, I was lucky enough to happen upon this phenomenon twice, first with Karen Marie Moning’s Fever series, then with Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels Trilogy. I flew through these books at a feverish pace, desperate to find out what would happen to the characters that I’d grown to love yet unwilling to let them go when I’d finally turned the last page. They haunted me for months afterward, and every few months I still flip through to revisit favorite chapters. They are the books that I compare all others against, not in terms of quality per se, but in terms of emotional investment they set the bar.

It took approximately a page and a half for me to realize that the Nightrunner series would be my new series obsession.

Lynn Flewelling achieves that rare feat of balancing complexity of worldbuilding with character development, yet she accomplishes the latter in a most intriguing way. Alec and Seregil have skyrocketed to the top of my list of all-time favorite characters, yet even after three books there is still so much we don’t know about these two, and it’s not for lack of description or purposeful concealment. Well, the latter does contribute, particularly in the first two books, for Seregil portrays one of my favorite character conventions: the spy, the thief, the rogue, perpetually situated on the outskirts while secretly immersed within the intrigue, he gives away little about himself out of necessity and reluctance. Alec, though he suffers from ignorance of his own ancestry, is likewise hesitant to share more of himself early on, though that hesitance is borne largely of confusion and self-denial. We learn more of both characters as the series progresses, yet it is a slow chipping away rather than a large revelation, as each character has good reason to be cautious of giving away too much of himself. Perhaps it is the scarcity of true insight into either character that makes their connection in the first book, Luck in the Shadows, so compelling, for despite how little either knows the other, their friendship forged on a spur-of-the-moment impulse never feels artificial or unfounded. It’s obvious that Alec and Seregil should be as close as they are, though neither character nor the reader discover the why of it until much later on.

The Nightrunner books are a sort of epic/high fantasy hybrid, yet what struck me most about the worldbuilding was the fact that, particularly early on in the series, the fantasy elements take a backseat to the Nightrunner hijinks. Make no mistake, magic is an integral and essential element of the story, and it provides an ever-present backdrop for the events that unfold, yet I never felt overwhelmed by a landscape that seemed otherworldly as with so many books of this genre. Flewelling has stated that she doesn’t want her characters to have an easy-out just because of the presence of magic, and this philosophy really shines in her worldbuilding. The focus of the first few books is really on Alec and Seregil’s escapades, honing the skills of an occupation that takes much practice and a little luck, yet is no more improbable in a world devoid of magic than in one inhabited by wizards, necromancers, and dragons. True to her word, Flewelling never lets her characters become complacent with the ease of magical ability, and in fact our two leads possess very little in the way of magical skill. Their trials, successes, and failures are a testament to the abilities they have earned rather than the serendipity of the world in which they live. Likewise, even wizards as powerful as Nysander and Thero are far from invincible; their talents are similarly won of hard work and practice, and they don’t possess endless reservoirs of power. They must choose when and how to use what they have, with real consequences for overworking themselves and, more personally, for merely possessing their magical blood.

Though not all the characters in this series are strictly human, Flewellyn again chose the road less traveled in creating the different races and cultures. While there definitely exist cultural differences, which become painfully apparent in the third book, Traitor’s Moon, the biological consequences of being born with magical or ‘faie blood bear only one great distinction in that their members are long-lived. Yet, they possess no cliched physical features or healing powers to set them apart from humans (and land them squarely in the camp of overused fantasy tropes). While they have physiological distinctions as would any member of a distinct race, they look, act, and are as fragile as any other. Our main characters come near to death more times than faithful readers would like, and they have only their own wits and talents to aid them most times (along with a little well-placed magic, but then without it it wouldn’t be a fantasy at all).

As wonderfully intricate and adventurous as the plot arcs are, what really makes the story for me are the characters, and what wonderfully drawn, complex characters they are. The progression from unlikely allies to friends to partners to lovers occurs so naturally, and greater still, it occurs between two equals, no matter their respective ages or experience. They might make the occasional misstep, but they never fail to respect each other, and they both learn to consult with each other before acting unilaterally (though perhaps Alec is a bit more astute in that regard than Seregil). While each character grows, neither outgrows his own humanity. There are no perfect characters here, and growth occurs in the true sense of the word, not continually striving toward something better, but rather learning from mistakes and adapting. Alec’s confidence and assertiveness come into fruition, yet he still relies on Seregil for guidance, rues his own careless errors, and struggles to shed the Northern reserve bred into him even after accepting his ultimate deviance from his cultural norm. Seregil, for all his flourish and bravado, isn’t above making serious miscalculations and dwelling self-consciously on past blunders. I found the gradual shift in his personality entirely consistent and appropriate with the events that he endures, and though he is more reserved and solemn in Traitor’s Moon, I never lost sense of his humor and lust for life.

Flewelling’s secondary characters are equally complex and have the potential for much growth in future books. I’m particularly interested to see how Thero, Beka, and Klia fare in upcoming installments, as I felt that Flewelling has thus far laid the groundwork yet none has quite reached their full potential.

Overall, I can’t recommend the Nightrunner series enough and am eagerly awaiting my receipt of the next few books. I’ve found a lifetime keeper, and I couldn’t be happier.

http://abookandashortlatte.wordpress....(less)

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Feb 25, 2012 Aeslis rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, gay-literature, thieves

This is easily my favorite of the Nightrunner series I've read so far. It's a different feel than the two that come before, though; both Luck in the Shadows and Stalking Darkness had an element of the grotesque that wasn't present in this book, which I found a relief. The pace is slower here, as Seregil and Alec accompany Princess Klia on an ambassadorial journey to Aurenfaie in an attempt to gain favor and allies for the war that Skala is losing.

Seregil and Alec do very little nightrunning unti...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Jenre rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, m-m, romance

This is the third of the Nightrunners series which I'm enjoying immensely. This book was a little quieter and had a lot of passages which dealt with politics, especially between the faie and the humans.

The story begins when Alec and Seregil, who have spend the last two years essentially running from the terrible things that happened in book two, are asked by the queen to accompany princess Klia on a diplomatic mission to Aurenfaie. The queen is hoping to gain help from the faie with the war aga...more

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Mar 28, 2013 Philip rated it 4 of 5 stars

The best parts of this book of the series are where it gives more of Alec and Seregil's back stories from before the series started. Additionally, the exploration of Aurenen and world building there was great. The rhui'auros were neat, though sometimes when a little over the top in their enigmatic crazy/wise/omniscience prophecy bits; I especially liked how the Nha'mahat was similar to the temple of Illior in Rhiminee, yet still different since the two had many years to evolve on their own.

The t...more The best parts of this book of the series are where it gives more of Alec and Seregil's back stories from before the series started. Additionally, the exploration of Aurenen and world building there was great. The rhui'auros were neat, though sometimes when a little over the top in their enigmatic crazy/wise/omniscience prophecy bits; I especially liked how the Nha'mahat was similar to the temple of Illior in Rhiminee, yet still different since the two had many years to evolve on their own.

The thing that I had the most issue with in this book is that I have trouble believing the telimenios bond between Alec and Seregil. Seregil is especially frustrating in that he has all these feelings and memories and things, yet he never talks to Alec about them. Besides them sleeping together, the whole protege-teacher dynamic still seems like how their relationship is, with Seregil leading and Alec following, not really as equals. They've supposedly had two years together since the last book, the way they act together just doesn't necessarily sell it to me.

But, for the most part I still like the series a lot. Flewelling did a neat job tying in some seemingly abandoned plot devices from previous books along with establishing some for future books. The characters - not just Alec, Seregil and Beka - are interesting and fun to read about. For being a relatively minor character, Ulan is really fascinating to me. He is remarkably straightforward in his purpose yet is unpredictable and keeps me guessing as to what he's doing.

Some unorganized last thoughts: (view spoiler)[There is disappointingly little political intrigue involved in the story, despite the entire plot hinging around it. I suppose it would be impossible to really establish centuries of relationships and context necessary to really make the Iia'sidra interesting, but still I wish there were more of it. But I'm probably the only one.

There are times in the narrative when it's really unclear whether they're speaking Skalan or Aurenfaie. I realize this doesn't matter, but when there's an instance that a group contains a person who only knows Skalan and a 'faie who probably only knows Aurenfaie, it distracts me and makes me wonder how it works. I suppose it would be annoying if it said "Seregil translated for the rest" after every line, but as is, I had more problems with the parts where it wasn't clear than the parts where it was spelled out like that.

Simiarly, and perhaps more importantly, there were times when I wasn't sure whose point of view the narration took. This was a problem in instances when the narration said what someone's reaction was, but I could tell if that was that person's actual reaction, or just what he showed on the outside of the courtesy of the people around him. Or for example the narrative commented on how easily Alec fit into the role of being the novelty when they first arrived, but I wasn't sure if that was Seregil admiring him and how well he did it (and maybe Alec didn't actually like it) or if it was Alec actually feeling comfortable in the role.

For as much as Alec is supposedly the quietest person some of these people know, there are times when he is really frustrating in his lack of ability to shut up. Perhaps contradicting my previous statement on Alec/Seregil's relationship, there were a number of times when I wished he would be quiet and defer to Seregil (with regards to Aurenfaie customs, generally) rather than making a scene and arguing on Seregil's behalf when it was out of place. Also, there were times when he especially, but also occasionally others really jumped to conclusions and acted on them with all the certainty in the world, which was super annoying.

I don't get Phoria at all. I can't tell if Flewelling wants her to appear completely irrational, or if she just did a really bad job of making her sympathetic.

Huh, based on where this ramble is going it almost seems like I don't like the book. But I guess that's just 'cause I'm pointing out the few odd things but not pointing out the sweeping good things, because I did that already in previous reviews. (hide spoiler)](less)

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Sep 12, 2012 Pamela Su rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: noteworthy, read-in-2012

The continuing saga of Alec and Seregil. I was not disappointed by this book at all.

To be honest, the buildup in this book is rather slow and it took me a little longer to finish this book compared to the last book because there was a lot of information to absorb about the Aurenfaie culture. There is more political intrigue and a lot less of the cloak & dagger adventure elements.

Overall, I liked the book. I have to admit, however, that I was disappointed by the reduction of spy hijinks. Sti...more

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Dec 09, 2011 Cody VC rated it 2 of 5 stars

Recommended to Cody by: Ria

My first impression was, fortunately, mistaken--Thero figures prominently enough in this, and we're shown a little growth (most of which has happened off-screen). However, that's not enough to help this book. The long passages of blatant exposition/info-dump are back, and the plot could be that of any political-intrigue book--there was nothing that made it actually fantasy other than the names. The dashes of magic were just to do what ordinary smoke and mirrors would have done in a magic-less wo...more My first impression was, fortunately, mistaken--Thero figures prominently enough in this, and we're shown a little growth (most of which has happened off-screen). However, that's not enough to help this book. The long passages of blatant exposition/info-dump are back, and the plot could be that of any political-intrigue book--there was nothing that made it actually fantasy other than the names. The dashes of magic were just to do what ordinary smoke and mirrors would have done in a magic-less world, and all the stuff with the dragons and seers and whatnot could easily have been set in a real place with similar beliefs. (Ancient Greece, for instance, or any contemporary country where those sort of traditions are still practiced.)

Personally, the most irritating thing was that heterosexuality was treated more sensually than homosexuality; sure, in book two we had that scene at the gay brothel, but that was all visual and shortly followed by a very tactile description of Alec's first time with a woman. We also had repeated detailed descriptions of Ylinestra's body paired with Alec's/men's reactions to her, as well as the graphic breastfeeding scene. And now in this book, with Seregil and Alec finally paired off, nearly all their scenes are fade-to-black and the one time we get more description, it's not nearly as tactile as the heterosexual scene earlier in the book. I'm not knocking heterosexuality or bisexuality, or prioritizing sex over love, but it strikes me as wrong to give the sex scenes of the main characters a less sensual treatment than those of the secondary characters.

(view spoiler)

I'm still willing to give the next book or two a shot, but jeez what a disappointment.(less)

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Aug 08, 2011 Jaime rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

After the rapid-fire pace of book 2, this third Nigthrunner seems almost plodding in comparison. That said, the story is just as rewarding if requiring more patience from the reader. Here our heroes are sent to Seregil’s birth country of Aurenen to negotiate the reopening of ports and trade to assist Skala in the war effort. Politics and diplomacy take a lot of time, but are no less deadly than Seregil and Alec’s previous adventures. We also find out the details surrounding Seregil’s exile, meet...more

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Apr 16, 2009 Jennn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, 2009

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. (take two - my computer ate the first draft)
I was wary after reading the reviews, but after putting the book down, I'm glad I was pleasantly surprised.

I think after all the havoc and chaos that the characters went through in the previous books, slowing down the story to concentrate on their growth was a good decision. I might have postponed it just a little longer if I was the author, but I'm grateful it happened when it did. It didn't seem forced, nor cliche. I know that some readers felt like...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Meg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ridiculously-fantasy

Traitor's Moon
Or
Wow Seregil is Coping Poorly With Everything

I love the characters and the character interactions. The stories themselves are a little heavy on the politics for me, though. I shouldn't be surprised, these are books about SPIES, so of course they're heavy on the country politics. But there we have it, as much as I'm enjoying these books, I don't really care about Skala or Aurenen. Sure, I don't want to see countries sacked and burned, but that's because it would make characters I l...more

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Jul 31, 2009 Cecile rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: english, fantasy

At last I'm finished with this one ! For my first complete review here, I'm afraid it won't be a very favourable one.
For me, the first half of the book was a little boring. In fact all of the action is in the last hundred pages, the rest is very slow paced, full of endless argument intertwined with (sometimes dull) Aurenfaie's life description.

It wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for this series main flaw: the constant change between multiple points of view. The author tried to show all sides of...more

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Oct 21, 2011 Christopher rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ♥favorites♥, nightrunner, have-it, third-person-pov, homosexual-romance, fantasy, made-me-smile, funny

I thought I wouldn't enjoy it after reading some of the reviews on here. I personally was not disappointed. It was different from the fast-paced, action-y flow of the previous book. I found it just as enjoyable and just as engaging, but in a different way. The story branches away from the lands of Skala and into the territory of the Aurenfaie.
What I found enjoyable was learning of these somewhat xenophobic people. It was interesting to learn of their culture; their ways, customs, history, etc....more

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Jun 12, 2012 Azhureheart rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

A bit slow at the beginning - especially compared to the first two - but once it gets going, it's just as awesome.
They were some heartbreaking moments (Seregil explaining some of his past to Alec) and some adventures, and some nefarious plots to foil... and a bittersweet (yes, again!) end but since Alec and Seregil are together, I'll say it was happy. Still sad for Klya (and Beka).

And, God, did I love Thero !

Bowing, Nyal left the floor without looking in Thero's direction, and the wizard's fing

...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Gabrielle Morgan rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book doesn't have the amount of action its predecessors did, but in spite of that, I love it just as much as I did Luck in the Shadows and Stalking Darkness. Maybe even more. There's so much insight into Seregil's character and his past, and for anyone who loves Seregil as much as I do, it's a real treat. Addad to that, some of the moments between him and Alec just made my heart melt.

This book also gave me a greater appreciation for Beka and Thero, two characters I already enjoyed but hadn'...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Snowtulip rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: m-m, fantasy, own

4.5

I still absolutely love this series! I didn't love this book as much as the first two stories, but it's still an absolutely amazing read.

In this book we see a very different Seregil. He had so much emotional damage from book two and throw in a trip to the home he's been exiled from...of course he's going to be more subdued and reflective.

There is still plenty of intrigue and continued character development and world building. Like other reviews, I missed the high paced action, but anticipate...more

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Jul 18, 2012 Rachel rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book was an excellent show of complicated politics can be. The world building in this series is wonderful, and partially to do with the well-traveled characters Alec and Seregil (who are still very much well rounded, if not more so with the demons of their past haunting them as well as readers). Although there isn't nearly as much action in this book as the previous two, it manages to be just as thrilling - if not more so. The politics of war and alliances are horribly difficult, and it was...more

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Feb 03, 2013 Anka rated it 3 of 5 stars

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

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 3.5/5 ★

On the tumblr tag for Nightrunner, someone said, "...Traitor's Moon is basically 600 pages of Aurenfaie politics and Seregil pouting," and that's definitely the gist of Traitor's Moon. Where Stalking Darkness - and, to an extent, Luck in the Shadows - was a blood-pounding, adrenaline-bursting page turner, where the character's are on the verge of suffering something horrible every time you want to leave off, Traitor's Moon is very slow-paced.

It starts two years after the events of Stalki...more 3.5/5 ★

On the tumblr tag for Nightrunner, someone said, "...Traitor's Moon is basically 600 pages of Aurenfaie politics and Seregil pouting," and that's definitely the gist of Traitor's Moon. Where Stalking Darkness - and, to an extent, Luck in the Shadows - was a blood-pounding, adrenaline-bursting page turner, where the character's are on the verge of suffering something horrible every time you want to leave off, Traitor's Moon is very slow-paced.

It starts two years after the events of Stalking Darkness. Seregil and Alec, now lovers (and oh so adorable!), have left their second home, Rhiminee, to wander and try to deal with all the losses that occurred in SD; Seregil has also given up his sword. Beka Cavish, under orders from a dying Idrilain and Princess Klia, travels to their new location to attempt to coerce them into helping Klia gain another port in Aurenen, which had been closed to foreigners, save Viresse, because of events after the last Great War. Seregil is still an exile, and his return is only temporary, but after some contemplation, he decides he wants to see his homeland again, no matter what.

I think a lot of the conflict in the book is internal, revolving around Seregil. He displays signs of depression throughout this book, and has since the culmination of the last. In TM, he finally tells Alec why he was exiled: when he was very young, he was manipulated by an older lover to sneak into the room of one of his father's potential rivals and take some papers, but he was caught in the act and killed a man, instead. The punishment for murder in Aurenen is death, but the magical rhui'auros stepped in and had him exiled rather than killed. He still feels a great deal of shame over this, because it was his greatest act of disappointing his already father, tore him away from a couple of his loving sisters, and estranged him to the others. He's been wandering ever since, not quite fitting in till he became a nightrunner. And this is what we have to deal with the repercussions of. For a long time in the book, Seregil is unwilling to act as he usually would, because he wants to make a good impression on the other 'faie and potentially retract his banishment.

Meanwhile, Alec finds out from the rhui'auros what happened to his mother: she was murdered by her fellow hazadrielfaie for mixing with his father, a tir/human. In the course of this book, he does feel sadness over this, but hasn't had time to really think about it, distracted as he was by the intrigue going on and Seregil's self-destructiveness (letting himself get the shit kicked out of him by drunk Haman, then beaten by Emiel, and so on). I have to admit, however, that one of my favorite things about this book is how affectionate Seregil and Alec are with one another now; every time they call each other "tali" or cuddle or offer comfort, I melt into a pile of goo. Beka, has also found love with an Aurenfaie man, Nyal. Where Seregil and Alec have become pretty comfortable as lovers, Beka and Nyal are at a more complicated passing, since Seregil suspects Nyal, who still has some feelings for Amali, the wife of a khinari, of being a spy. This is troublesome because, as I said, so much drama is going on. Several khinari don't want to associate with outsiders; the khinari of Viresse, arguably the most clever of the Iia'sidra, wants no port but Viresse open; the Haman are still angry about Seregil's return; Akhendi appears supportive, but according to Nyal, has its own internal struggles, etc. Torsin, a Skalan diplomat, is murdered, and Klia falls perilously ill, both because of poison. LOTS OF DRAMA!

What I really enjoyed about this book is that the twists really surprised me, whereas I expected most in the previous books. I never could figure out how to feel about Nyal - first I found him charming, then I was suspicious of him, then I found him sweet again, then he told the Iia'sidra that Beka, Seregil and Alec had run, then he let them go; at that point, I figured he was good, though Seregil still felt unsure of him. I never could figure out who the killer was, either, though I suspected Phoria's spy, at least, was Mercalle, because a hidden Alec saw her in Torsin's room. I finally began to suspect the Akhendi only after Seregil visited them when Klia/Alec's charm, and Amali gave such a melodramatic reading, after which Amali and her husband had a secret talk. I do, however, predict that Thero getting bitten by a dragon where he did will end his sterility - and perhaps the sterility of Skalan wizards in general - so he can create future generations of wizards and sorceresses.

Overall, because of the slow pacing, I didn't enjoy Traitor's Moon as much as the first two, which I gave five stars. The action for this book didn't start to pick up until Seregil and Alec left to intercept Korathan, when Seregil finally picked up a sword again. I also noticed that there were a lot more typos in TM than the others, but not so much that I couldn't glean the words' meaning, so it wasn't too bad. I did still like it, though. Like its predecessors, it does certain things I don't usually like, such as using numerous epithets and having countless points of view, very well.(less)

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May 21, 2012 Erulisse rated it 5 of 5 stars

The third book in Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner's books brings Seregil and Alec back to Aurenfaie as part of a delegation attached to negotiate more open trading and port privileges. The politics is fascinating, the cultural differences well thought out. As I read her books, I am astounded by her clarity of vision. Everything mentioned has a point, all of the chaff has been edited out. The results - strong and lean stories in which every element is thoroughly thought out and plots with twists an...more

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Mar 05, 2010 Bridget rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Dumas, swashbuckling, intrigue and high fantasy.

Of the first three Nightrunner books, this feels somewhat the weakest. The events of the first two books play a part, but peripherally, and some events set up what's to come in Shadows Return. So I guess you could consider it a bridge. It's probably the most "stand alone" of the books after Luck in the Shadows. (This isn't to say, though, that you should read it before reading the first two.)

It is worth the read, as it gives a lot of insight into the Aurenfaie culture and you come away with a gr...more

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Jan 18, 2013 Althea Ann rated it 2 of 5 stars

Not quite as good as the first two in this series. I'm sure fans will still love it, but I found it a bit tedious.
It's quite long - 540 pages, and the great majority of that involves the characters sitting around during pointless political negotiations that seem to be going nowhere. (the kingdom of Skala, at war with neighboring Plenimar, needs access to the forbidden land of the Aurenen - specifically, their ports - in order to gain a military advantage.)
Finally, things pick up when some people...more

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Jan 15, 2011 Trix rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, sorcery, sword, mm-novels, hard-copy

I enjoyed this book very much. However, one thing I found askew from the general feel of the series was the apparent lack of thrilling action. Having followed the characters through shady streets and war ravaged country, Aurenen land seemed too bland. I read the book with a constant dread, always expecting a criminal to pop up at the next page turn. And they never did. And for a land supposedly magical, it wasn't all that exciting.

As other readers have pointed, Seregil seemed much too subdued an...more

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Mar 23, 2013 Edwyna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

J'avoue ne pas être objective, c'est l'une de mes séries HF préférées.
Après la fin douce amère des Traqueurs, il était temps de lever le voile sur passé de Serégil et ses relations a son peuple. Comme d'habitude, l'auteur travaille ses personnages et ses situation en en faisant des éléments réalistes, et son choix de poser un hiatus entre la fin des Traqueurs et le début de la Lune, posant de façon définitive la relation entre nos deux héros, est judicieuse et empêche de tomber dans l'eau de ro...more

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May 30, 2012 Bonnie rated it 4 of 5 stars

The third of the Nightrunner series (although the author herself said you could start with this book). This time we go to Seregil's homeland in a tale of magic-tinged political intrigue.

I enjoyed this book, it was very long, but managed to stay interesting throughout. Some of the plot twists seemed like pointless stalling, but for the most part wove an interesting story.

I continue to recommend the Nightrunner series to any fantasy fan.

I give it four stars for being good, but not as great as Stal...more

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Jun 20, 2012 Aleshia rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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May 26, 2012 Saphirablue rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: dragons, fantasy, favorites, hurt-comfort, in-english, read-in-2012

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

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Jan 21, 2012 Moira rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pro začátek mě pobavilo menší technické nedorozumnění. Na obálce si můžemě pěkně přečíst, že Běžci jsou trilogie. Avšak pár stránek listování a v poznámce nám autorka ve veselém duchu oznamuje, že to v žádném případě trilogie NENÍ. Nu což. Její další díly nejspíše budou vydány pod jiným štítkem, ale s našimi oblíbenými hrdiny, což mi dělá ohromnout radost. Ztrátu Seregila, Aleka a celé jejich země bych asi nesla těžce.

V minulé recenzi jsem se mýlila. Děj pořád ještě neskončil. V minulé knize se...more Pro začátek mě pobavilo menší technické nedorozumnění. Na obálce si můžemě pěkně přečíst, že Běžci jsou trilogie. Avšak pár stránek listování a v poznámce nám autorka ve veselém duchu oznamuje, že to v žádném případě trilogie NENÍ. Nu což. Její další díly nejspíše budou vydány pod jiným štítkem, ale s našimi oblíbenými hrdiny, což mi dělá ohromnout radost. Ztrátu Seregila, Aleka a celé jejich země bych asi nesla těžce.

V minulé recenzi jsem se mýlila. Děj pořád ještě neskončil. V minulé knize se totiž našim hlavním hrdinům - tvrdohlavému sympatickému Seregilovi a jeho jen o málo méně nezkušenějšímu příteli Alekovi - podařilo zabránit sestavení mocného zlého artefaktu, který by jejich zemi uvedl do předem prohrané války. Avšak jsem jaksi pozapomněla, co vše dokáží i obyčejní lidé, o to více Plenimarští, kteří stojí proti Skalanům - zemi, za kterou naši hrdinové bojují a kterou Plenimar z duše nenávidí.

Kniha začíná pochmurně, dostáváme se do situace, ve které nám autorka popopisuje, jak špatně na tom Skala proti Plenimaru je. Nedokáží vzdorovat ohromné přesile vojáků a - což je důležitější - ani Plenimarským nekromantům. Proto se královna Skaly odhodlává k zoufalému kroku. Poprosí o pomoc Aurënfaie. Hrdou, dlouhověkou rasu, z vlastního rozhodnutí žijící izolovaně od zbytku světa. A kdo se nám k takové práci hodí více, než aurënfaieský vyhnanec? Seregil? Ano, jeho vyhnanství by mohlo mnoho věcí zkoplikovat - ale urážka v nedbalosti, které by se mohli neznalí Skalané na aurënfaieském dvoře dopustit, by mohl být mnohem větší problém.

Seregil s Alekem jsou odvoláni z jejich dobrovolného vyhnanství a Seregil se může po dlouhém vyhnanství vrátit do své milované země. Ale... je opravdu vše takové, jaké se zdá? A je to opravdu to nejlepší, co může Seregil udělat?

Třetí díl trilogie odplouvá společně s našimi hrdiny do nové země, autorka proto získává nové pole působnosti a popisuje novou kulturu, novou morálku a nové zvyky. Především toto se jí podařilo více, než uspokojivě. A jako krvavá nit se v pozadí táhne válka, kterou důvěrně známe už od prvního dílu a která bohužel nemá konec ani v třetím svazku této "trilogie". Ale o tom později.

Seregil se mi jako charakter zdá v této knize z počátku utlumený, vůbec nebyl ve své kůži. Možná je to návratem do své vlasti. Každopádně se mi o mnoho více zalíbil vyvíjející se charakter Aleka. V minulých recenzích jsem se opomněla zmínit, ale jeho povaha se pozměnila a vyvinula nejvíce. Jde to hezky odpozorovat od toho nevinného, prostého kluka v Kerře až do současnosti. K muži, který bez mrknutí oka zabije šípem nepřítele a neváhá to udělat ani zblízka. Ne že bych si stěžovala. Vlastně jsem si po většinu knihy oblíbila číst pasáže hlavně s Alekem.

Další důležitou postavou je opět Beka. Je vojákem, důležitá kapitánka Skaly, která odplouvá do Aurënfaie s našimi hrdiny, a je blízkou přítelkyně Aleka i Seregila. Autorka si dokázala dobře vystavět vojenskou hiearchii ve Skale a já jen žasnu nad tím, jak vše dokázala smysluplně splést dohromady. Jak dokázala vyvážit jiskrné dialogy s popisem okolí i zvyků a to vše ještě sloučit s dobrým dějem. Flewelling má velmi dobrý styl psaní, dokáže vyjádřit co chce s lehkostí a hravostí, která strhuje. A dokáže psát poutavě, což se u epické fantasy cení. Beka je jednou z vedlejších hlavních postav, ale časem uznáte, že je vedlejší klíčovou postavou. Z počátku jsem ani moc nechápala, proč se jí autorka dává tolik prostoru a popravdě mi i trochu vadilo, že popisuje rozvoj nového vztahu. Možná jsem jen zlenivěla a nechtěla si udělat na knížku celkový nadhled. A možná jsem se jen bála, co by se z knihy a děje mohlo stát, kdyby těch vztahů bylo příliš. To jsem ale hrubě podcenila Lynn Flewelling. Ona si UMÍ udržet dějovou linii, což mnoho autorek tak dobře nezvládá.

Co mi na knize vadilo byla, kupodivu, jen jedna věc. Autorka občas nechala mluvit své postavy aurënfaiesky, ale dodatečně to nepřeložila. Což knize dodává na kouzlu, avšak když se to stává častěji, taky to vadí. Tato kniha byla lehce odlišná od ostatních. Obsahově. Tentokrát jsme netančili kolem nepřátelských vojsk, ale tančili jsme stejně nebezpečný tanec na parketu politiky. Zákeřné, křehké a strašně únavné. Pro postavy. Nás to sledovat baví. Aspoň mě.

Autorka tentokrát rozehrála hru intrik, zrad a vražd - které jsou u Aurënfaieů naprosto jedinečné. Dala nám indície, mnohdy jen od pološílených kněží, dala nám náznaky a nechala své postavy pátrat. Zamilovala jsem si nepředvídatelnost, zamotanost a složitost celého tohoto dílka. Strašně ráda bych také popsala to ohromení ze zvyků Aurënfaieů, poznávání jejich země, všeho, co s nimi souvisí. Něco takového si ale musíte přečíst. Musí se vám to dostat pod kůži samostatně.

Knížka snad ani není epická fantasy, ale dost se jí blíží. Do kolonky klasická bych ji ale zařadila bez zaváhání. Doporučuju každému, koho neodradí se nad příběhem trochu zamyslet, koho nezastraší trochu více postav, s kterými budete muset při politickém vyjednávíní pracovat a koho neodradí vztah Aleka a Seregila, kteří se upřímně milují. Jednoduše? Kdo se nebojí číst. :)(less)

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Traitor's Moon (Nightrunner #3)

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