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Stalking Darkness (Nightrunner #2)

by Lynn Flewelling (Goodreads Author)

4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 · rating details · 4,521 ratings · 165 reviews

With the Leran threat laid to rest, Alec and Seregil are now able to turn their attention to the ancient evil which threatens their land. The Plenimarans, at war with Skalans, have decided to defeat their ancient enemy by raising up the Dead God, Seriamaius. The early attempts at this reincarnation--masterminded by the sinister Duke Mardus and his sorcerous minion Vargul A...more

Paperback, 512 pages

Published November 17th 2010 by Bantam Spectra (first published 1997)

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Mar 24, 2008 Kathryn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I can sum this up in essentially the same way I did with Luck: They have lots of adventures and kick lots of butt. And they also fall in love with each other, but Seregil has a crisis of conscience because Alec is still pretty young, and Alec is just plain confused by what he feels for Seregil, so neither of them say anything.

Saying anymore than that would spoil it if you haven't read it, really.

There's no real social commentary going on with the two main characters falling for each other, unl...more

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Mar 25, 2013 Philip rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book continues with all the best parts of Luck in the Shadows. Alec, Seregil, Micum, Nysander and everyone continue to be amazing, for the most part.

Most of the plot that was built up in the first book but not finished there is resolved in this one. As it's all starting to come together, the writing does a fantastic job of building the tension and giving feelings of impending doom without the excessive obviousness or clumsyness of some stories/movies. Then about two thirds in it takes a sha...more This book continues with all the best parts of Luck in the Shadows. Alec, Seregil, Micum, Nysander and everyone continue to be amazing, for the most part.

Most of the plot that was built up in the first book but not finished there is resolved in this one. As it's all starting to come together, the writing does a fantastic job of building the tension and giving feelings of impending doom without the excessive obviousness or clumsyness of some stories/movies. Then about two thirds in it takes a sharp turn towards the dark. It is fantastically done, I think. I've read this already and I'm still terrified for them.

The magic continues to be vague. How does Oreska magic differ from Necromancy or drysian magic? These are things I like to know. At the very least, some more explanation regarding how taxing various spells are would be helpful. (view spoiler) But I know it isn't something the series explores or clarifies so this is the last review I'll mention it in (probably) and not lower the rating for it.

I do like the addition of Beka to the main pov characters in this book. I don't always like how loose Alec and Seregil's morals are sometimes (Did they really need to steal the wine from the vintner? They're in Rhiminee, they have money.) But the narrative does a good job glossing over that so I don't think of it too much.

But as far as I remember the series that I read so far (the first time I read was a while ago, though) I think this was my favorite one, thanks to the fantastic writing and doom and evil along with just the right amount of angst and adorableness between Alec and Seregil.

Three (or so) last spoilery comments: (view spoiler)(less)

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Dec 22, 2012 Scrittevolmente rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Secondo capitolo della saga Nightrunner in cui ritroviamo Alec e Seregil alle prese con i battaglioni di Plenimar che avanzano conquistando terreni sempre più ampi. I due protagonisti saranno sempre affiancati dal fido Micum e dal saggio Nysander, e troveranno sia in Thero che in Beka dei validi aiutanti, anche se forse non come avevano previsto inizialmente.
Come sempre lo stile della Flewelling è sciolto anche se raffinato e ricercato com’è giusto che sia un fantasy di questo stampo, e tuttavia...more

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Sep 10, 2012 Pamela Su rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Pamela Su by: Joshua

Shelves: noteworthy, read-in-2012

A satisfactory ending to the first arc of Alec and Seregil's adventures.

The pacing was just right and the action picks up in the second book. More dramatic events happen and there is less exposition which allows the story to flow faster.

I love that the story is not dragged on over multiple volumes. Yes, there are more books to this series, but there was a conclusion in the second book and it was suitably dramatic.

It was a little confusing when I started seeing more narrative from the perspective...more

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Jul 01, 2012 Jason rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good book, but a number of things prevented it from being great. I understand to an extent why we got perspectives other than the 2 main characters, but I don’t think it really enhanced the story. Partially because most of the others seemed one-dimensional, and that one dimension didn’t even always involve a personality. Mostly it just made for more pages to skim before we got to a potentially interesting part again. The pacing is wildly uneven; the first few chapters made me think we’d get brea...more

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Dec 06, 2010 Troy G rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

I'm of two minds about this book.

It is good fantasy adventure. There is a good pace to the adventure, and while some of the world may have been a bit foggier than other books in this genre, I did enjoy the quests, magic, and intrigue.

HOWEVER, I was really, really bothered by the romantic relationship between the two main characters. It isn't about the homosexual part of it (though that did suprise me when I was 16). The problem I had with this was the age and social maturity difference between...more

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Apr 07, 2009 Jennn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, 2009

I like the characters, I do. They change and develope. I also like how Flewelling will revisit things, too, like the death of Alec's father. Things aren't just swept under the rug and I appreciate that.

I also appreciate how Seregil and Alec's relationship isn't the focus of the story that unfortunately happens too much in romance, especially homoerotica. The book is more dedicated to the story and in doing so, makes their relationship realistic and believable.

The biggest complaint I have is maki...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Shortlatte rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

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Aug 30, 2009 Rhianon rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of high fantasy

Shelves: high-fantasy, m-m, five-star-rec-s

Every bit as good as the first volume, Flewelling doesn't disappoint. Less incidence of info-dumping -- it's readily apparent that her writing style is improving, without sacrificing the voice and authenticity of her characters.

One of the most poignant scenes for me in this book was the death of one of two twin brothers. Gut injury in a battle leaves him dying slowly in his brother's arms in the medical tent, surrounded by members of his platoon. He was far from a prominent character in the tale...more

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Aug 08, 2011 Jaime rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Luck in the Shadows was a good book that showed a lot of potential for a fantasy series. This sequel delivered on that potential in spades! The first book literally concluded with "to be continued," and this follows immediately on. Seregil, Nysander and even Alec are now suffering frightening dreams, somehow connected to a dark god. Nysander sends Seregil on a dangerous mission to collect another evil artifact, but he's not the only one trying to find it. The plot does indeed thicken, and the lo...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Bryan rated it 5 of 5 stars

I love things that surprise me. I've been around the block a time or
two and have a perception of people and things honed from years of
studying trends, people, and why things are the way they are. Most of
the movies that I watch are usually because they surprise me in some
fashion, whether it be new and innovative ideas, a different approach
to a usual topic, or what have you. I'm rather limited when it comes to books because I spent so many years simply not reading. Still, over time I've come to ha...more

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Apr 23, 2012 Contrarius rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book was often very frustrating for me. As I mentioned in my review for the first volume of the series, I'm seriously underwhelmed by Llewelling's writing ability. Her prose seems very.....elementary? basic? blunt?.....to me. There's no special talent at description or emotion or any real grace at all.

So why is that especially frustrating here? Well, unlike the first volume (Luck in the Shadows), there were many moments in this book that I thought **could** have been very dramatic and movin...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Sineala rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: e-books, fantasy, fiction, gay, owned, paper-books, queer, favorites, romance

Still one of my favorites in the series and in fantasy in general. I just find this book really comforting. It takes on the evil-magic plot left hanging at the end of the last book, all the way through an epic (and angst-filled) resolution. I really like how, even though this falls neatly into the everyone-is-bi (or at least okay with the possibility) fantasy trope, it's not just about being queer, but nonetheless you really want Seregil and Alec to end up happy together.

Sure, it's still not the...more

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Mar 22, 2013 Pancha rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction

The writing was still good, but there was something about the pacing that felt off, maybe a rush to tie up this plot line so they could get on to other adventures? But it felt like a death god of this power should have a trilogy to be defeated in. Also there was some weirdness around sex that ruffled my feathers a bit, specifically how people reacted (or didn't!) to someone being magically coerced in to sex. And absolutely no discussion about how it sucked that they couldn't save all the sacrifi...more

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Dec 04, 2011 Cody VC rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Cody by: Ria

The bad guys are totally one-dimensional and there's some weirdly sexist tropes going on, but it's still not bad genre reading. The info-dumps have gotten a bit better, and the author certainly has a good feel for the grotesque (there was one scene at the Cockerel that was particularly revolting). (view spoiler)...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Anny Pham rated it 4 of 5 stars

I've only read the first two books in the Nightrunner series and this one took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting that level of macabre from the author!

So far, Flewelling's Nightrunner books don't disappoint. The most entertaining aspect of this series, in my opinion, is how the characters interact with each other. Although her characterization skills are strong for the protagonists, like some reviewers here, I do agree that the antagonists and protagonists are a little black and white in this...more

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May 20, 2013 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, romance, loved, read-in-2013, would-marry-the-author-for-this

Deserves lots of GIFS!

Better than the first, in my opinion. Maybe it's just because the story is more engaging for me this time round
...and I've grown more attached to the characters, which, I know, is

Though the writing isn't necessarily what I would usually read (I find it kind of heavy sometimes), it's well suited for this type of book. It's just colossal amounts of fun. The world Flewelling has spun is wondrous and enchanting; a pleasure to dive into. This series is seriously underrated....more

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Mar 28, 2012 Jeff rated it 5 of 5 stars

A very satisfying conclusion to the events from Luck in the Shadows. Very well-told tale, real suspense, great characters, and I even approved of the final battle between Good & Evil, which often comes off as pretty lame in books of this nature. I almost dropped it down to 4 stars because the wrap-up in the last couple of chapters does tend to drag a little bit (after nearly bringing me to tears on the bus this morning) but after a tamarind margarita I decide to forgive that little hiccup. T...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Monica Dias rated it 5 of 5 stars

I have no ideia why I'm loving this series as much as I am. No ideia at all. Because it's not that good, actually. The writing is bland, the situations as clichéd, and the author doesn't seem to fully know what she's doing. Well, at least that's what the first instalment of the Nightrunner series was like in my opinion. However, I did see some potential in the series and in the characters, and I hoped that in the second book somethings would've been improved, and for the most part, I was right....more

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Jan 09, 2011 Trix rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, sorcery, sword, hard-copy, favorites

Such a gripping story. I am an avid fan of sword play, magic and perilous adventures. And this book delivers them all.

I had started "Luck in the Shadows" only assuming it was a one volume story, containing a light plot to encompass the romantic entanglement between Seregil and Alec. I was proven wrong on both accounts. The book turned out to be the first of 5 (as of yet) published volume) with only a slight derail in acknowledging the romantic development between the two men.

[spoiler ahead]While...more

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Aug 04, 2010 Leandra rated it 3 of 5 stars

Second book of the Nightrunner series. I enjoyed it, but not as much as #1, even though the story is more suspenseful and yes, sexier. When Flewelling goes "dark", she really goes "dark" and I found a couple of concepts really gruesome in their detailed descriptions. All in all I was glad when they book came to an end and the characters finally had their "happy" ending, even though the happy ending was slightly tainted by the losses they had to suffer.

I haven't felt the need to pick up #3 yet,...more

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Jan 13, 2013 Althea Ann rated it 3 of 5 stars

Continuing the story of Alec and Seregil...
In this installment, the wizard Nysander discovers that the maleficent magical artifacts discovered by A&S in the first book are part of a necromantic plot by the Plenimarans, who are planning to invade the land of Skala and also, take over the world with evil magic.
Sounds like an excuse for a QUEST! Let's get some horses and march out...

In addition to Defeating Evil, Alec and Seregil also discover their love for one another, in a very G-rated manne...more

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Aug 08, 2010 orannia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

Four and a half stars. I definitely enjoyed this book far more than the first book (Luck in the Shadows) in the (Nightrunner) series. There was far more character development, something I really need in a book. I also discovered that the author has no problem with...playing nasty. Nice things don't always happen to characters. In fact, in this book, the death count was quite high, and I'm talking about characters we've come to know. There were also twists and turns. I so want to read the next bo...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Emelie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Refreshing. Finally - a fantasy world that I would actually love to be in, because both males and females seems to be seen as individuals rather than their gender only. I would love to be a citizen of Skala. :-) Memorable, interesting characters. A very beautiful romance, I love the fact that it takes some time for the main characters to end up together.
The one thing that keeps me from giving the book five stars is that the author could elaborate her writing during some parts. Add more details,...more

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Mar 01, 2009 Djrmel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, fiction, historical-fiction, glbt

This is the second book of the The Nightrunner Series and it's almost as much romance novel as it is fantasy. Sure, the heroes are on a quest to save their world from evil, and there's an army doing battle that arrives just in time to help save the world. But in between, we get angst and pounding hearts and blushes and all the stuff of new love and lust. It's hard to believe these guys can be so brave in the face of ghosts and evil sorcerers, but they can't bring themselves to just reach out and...more

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Sep 30, 2012 James rated it 5 of 5 stars

Again, absolutely brilliant. Flewelling is astoundingly gifted with prose and the humour injected into her work, instead of being flat as in some novels, only serves to heighten the characters' believability. I get quite depressed when I finish re-reading the series (skipping "Shadows Return" as I'm not as fond of it as others for various reasons, it's very dark) and realise I'm NOT going to run into Seregil or Alec or Klia or Beka because they, unfortunately, don't exist. I also just realised h...more

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Jan 03, 2012 Moira rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dala bych spíše 4,5. Jedna moudrá osůbka mě však poučila, že to se zaokrouhluje nahoru, ne dolů. :D

Oproti minulému dílu je Příchod tmy opravdu lepe zpracován. Autorka se do svého světa vžila, dokázala si se vším pohrát a pořádně se do toho opřít. Překvapilo mě, že rozpletení dějové linie Seregila bylo už v této knize, jelikož Běžci jsou trilogie a čekala jsem, že na konec si budu muset ještě počkat. Ale že bych byla zklamaná? Ani náhodou!

Dějové linie nejsou jen dvě, jako v minulé knize, ale dost...more Dala bych spíše 4,5. Jedna moudrá osůbka mě však poučila, že to se zaokrouhluje nahoru, ne dolů. :D

Oproti minulému dílu je Příchod tmy opravdu lepe zpracován. Autorka se do svého světa vžila, dokázala si se vším pohrát a pořádně se do toho opřít. Překvapilo mě, že rozpletení dějové linie Seregila bylo už v této knize, jelikož Běžci jsou trilogie a čekala jsem, že na konec si budu muset ještě počkat. Ale že bych byla zklamaná? Ani náhodou!

Dějové linie nejsou jen dvě, jako v minulé knize, ale dostává se nám pohledu i postavy třetí. Nám již známá Beka, dcera Seregilova dobrého přítele Micuma a voják v královnině armádě, se dostane takřka k centru dění a vykreslí nám i pozadí celého boje, o kterém se jinak dozvídáme z narážek hlavních postav. Líbí se mi, jak nenuceně dokázala autorka přecházet z tématu na téma a dokázala pospojovat dvě zcela odlišné situace.

Začátek knihy byl lehce vleklý, nedokázala jsem se úplně vžít. Pokračování knihy pomalu zvyšovalo úroveň knihy a poslední čtvrtina! Ta pro mě byla dechberoucí! Hltala jsem příběh, hltala děj, nemohla z knihy spustit oči. Dějové zvraty mě šokovaly, nechávala jsem se strhnout okamžikem a hlasitě nadávala, stejně jako lapala po dechu či napjatě čekala. Musel na mě být v autobuse zábavný pohled. Protože ano, dočetla jsem zbývajících sto stran za třicet minut v autobuse. Konec knihy si autorka opravdu vychutnávala a dokázala napsat tak poutavě, že jsem se od čtení nemohla odtrhnout.

Už jsem někde zmiňovala, že mi dost záleží na konci knihy. Tato kniha sice po rozuzlení zápletky mělo zpomalující dojezd, na druhou stranu jsme se ale ponořili do psychického bahna našich hrdinů. Protože to, co se stalo, nemohlo přejít bez následků. Což mě přivádí k tomu, že mě udivuje, jak bravurně autorka zvládala chování a vykreslení postav. Realisticky, tak, jak se to v mnoha knihách nevídá. Dokázala obsáhnout i hlubokou bolest postavy, dokázala ji prohloubit tak, že si to možná hned neuvědomíte, ale poté vám ta postava smutně straší v hlavě a dlouho na ni nedokážete přestat myslet. O to více mě ohromuje, když si uvědomím, že toto bylo teprve autorčino druhé dítko.

Oproti minulé knize byla tato promyšlenější, lépe zpracovaná a celkově nesená v temnějším, drsnějším duchu. Místy vás doopravdy mrazí. A to je to, co u mě knihu tak vyzvedlo. Nejzajímavější pro mě je ale kontrast, který autorka dává do protikladu k tomu nejhoršímu, co se v knize objevuje. Myslím tím, že k vraždě pak trochu později popíše dojemnou scénu, kdy nám hlavní hrdina dělá něco neuvěřitelně milého. U některých scén jsem doslova tála jako zmrzlina v poledním slunci. A ještě u toho roztomile pošišlávala.

Překvapuje mě, jak dobře autorka vede děj. Jak už jsem jednou zmínila, dokáže to až s dechberoucí obratností. Zapůsobilo na mě také, jak se postavy chovají. V některých knihách nám autorky předestřou: Toto je strašně chytrá postava, malý génius. Tady jsme taky měli vychytralou postavu, ale ta se vychytrale i chovala! Někdy jsem nad scénami s ní jen zaraženě koukala. Protože některé její slova vážně nutila k zamyšlení.

Což mě dostává k hlavním postavám. Máme tu samozřejmě Seregila, tahouna celého děje. Je to arogantní bastard, lstivý všivák a postava, kterou se dříve či později musíte zamilovat. Do protikladu k němu je postaveno více postav, nejdůležitější však je Alek, druhá hlavní postava knihy. Tentokrát jsem se do něj dokázala vžít lépe, než v minulé knize, avšak stále mezi mé nejmilejší nepatří. I když... ke konci by to za zvážení stálo. Tím, že se pohybuje v Seregilově přítomnosti něco z jeho osobnosti pochytil.

Myslím, že z recenze vám musí být jasné, že tato kniha se mi více, než líbila. Po dlouhé době jsem opravdu spokojená - jak s dějem, tak s postavami i kulisami. Autorka pracovala s promyšleným světem, který měl své vlastní kultury a zvyky. Pracovala s postavami, které jste si dokázali živě představit a vžít se do nich. A s dějem, který sice není originálem stolení, ale podán natolik dobře, že je vám to srdečně jedno. Doporučuji všem milovníkům klasické fantasy, které neodradí lehké šachování se Seregilovou bisexuální orientací. Věřte mi. Seregil vám to vynahradí. :))(less)

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Nov 27, 2011 ingenue rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ok srsly guys, who took my homoerotic devil-may-care caperfic and replaced it with melodramatic fantasy yaoi? D: D: And I have nothing AGAINST fantasy yaoi melodrama, I am all FOR melodramatic fantasy yaoi; but I need mental preparation for the shift from "We are snarky lovable rogues who steal things and touch each other in good dirty ways!" to "We are in secret ethereally beautiful, angstily immortal elves with magically prophesied destinies who weep as we kiss in the moonlight, stroking each...more

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

Easily my favorite of the Nightrunner series. The characters become more fleshed out, the relationships are strengthened and the tone is much, much darker. We get a better picture of the world Lynn is building and the politics therein.

I will be honest and say that though the book is my favorite of the series, after the first reading, I skipped over the parts with Beka and her turma. That plot line serves a very important purpose, but failed to really move me in any way, except to get closer to t...more

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Feb 20, 2013 Anka rated it 5 of 5 stars

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

5/5 ★

I enjoyed Stalking Darkness even more than Luck in the Shadows, which I gave 5/5 stars, as well, so I think it's pretty evident that I loved it.

If I have to highlight flaws, I'd say some of the technical incongruities that I mentioned in my review of Luck in the Shadows remain the same. Also, some of the passages in Beka's point of view dragged on a bit, mostly because I wanted to find out what was happening with Alec and Seregil, but I still adored the book. These were all small flaws, and...more 5/5 ★

I enjoyed Stalking Darkness even more than Luck in the Shadows, which I gave 5/5 stars, as well, so I think it's pretty evident that I loved it.

If I have to highlight flaws, I'd say some of the technical incongruities that I mentioned in my review of Luck in the Shadows remain the same. Also, some of the passages in Beka's point of view dragged on a bit, mostly because I wanted to find out what was happening with Alec and Seregil, but I still adored the book. These were all small flaws, and, well...

OH MY GOD, IT PUT ME THROUGH AN EMOTIONAL RINGER. I guess one thing I'm worried about is, after the events of Stalking Darkness, what more CAN happen? It had a lot of fun moments, sure, such as the often humorous development of Seregil and Alec's relationship (boys, come on, you're both sleeping with prostitutes who look like each other! What do you think that means?), but the characters went through so much agony. I was shocked by how much the deaths of characters like Cilla and even Tym affected me; don't even get me started on Nysander. When I read what happened to him, I literally shouted aloud, "But Dumbledore doesn't die yet! We're only on book two!"

Poor Alec was physically, psychologically, verbally and sexually tortured throughout SD. Even the scene with Ylinestra deeply disturbed me, because his consent was manipulated, but when it was implied that Cilla was raped before she died, I teared up. The result of Irtuk Beshar's magic on Thero, sapping his will from him, was horrifying, too. Even a lot of the death's in Beka's sequences, such as that of one twin brother, were written powerfully, despite my hardly knowing those characters. There was a lot of gruesomeness overall, and it really shook me up the way only a strongly written book about characters I'm attached to can. Seregil's depression at the end was warranted and heart-breaking. I'm glad Alec and the Cavishes helped him at least start to overcome it.

I'm an emotional wreck right now, but I'm going to begin Traitor's Moon soon. Thank you, Stalking Darkness, for being my light while I was reading Divergent, which I abhorred.(less)

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About Lynn Flewelling

Born Lynn Elizabeth Beaulieu.

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The Bone Doll's Twin (The Tamír Triad, #1)

The Oracle's Queen (The Tamír Triad, #3)

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Quotes from Stalking Darkness

“It was Alec who brought their lips together.
Seregil's first reaction was disbelief. But Alec was insistent, clumsy but determined. It lasted an instant, an eternity, that one awkward kiss, and it spoke silent volumes of bewildered honesty.
The moment that followed was too fragile for words.” — 9 people liked it

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Stalking Darkness (Nightrunner #2)

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