Luck in the Shadows

Nightrunner, Book 1

De: Lynn Flewelling

Narrado por: Raymond Todd

When young Alec of Kerry is taken prisoner for a crime he didn't commit, he is certain that his life is at an end. But the thing he hadn't counted on was his cellmate.

Spy, rogue, thief, and noble, Seregil of Rhiminee is many things, none of them predictable. And when he offers to take on Alec as his apprentice, things may never be the same for either of them. Soon Alec is traveling roads he never knew existed, toward a war he never suspected was brewing. Before long he and Seregil are embroiled in a sinister plot that runs deeper than either can imagine and that may cost them far more than their lives if they fail. But fortune is as unpredictable as Alec's new mentor.

Don't miss the other volumes in Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series.©1996 Lynn Flewelling (P)2004 Blackstone Audiobooks

Fantastic Series! Homophobes, shut up!

I am completely enthralled by the series and its characters. Lynn Flewelling does a expert job of weaving together a world for her creative energies to take form in. This--the first book--is largely exposition woven into an array of adventures that build the relationship between our main characters and introduce the most influential ones to grace us throughout the rest of the series. However, I highly encourage the effort to gain the knowledge of this exposition to more fruitfully enjoy the rest of the books. Though this is not a kind of literature that begs the reader to develop grand theories of metaphor and symbolism, I would urge anyone looking for a good adventure with engaging characters to purchase this text and the ones that follow. Raymond Todd, while occasionally missing an inflection or overusing certain voices, does an excellent as far as most audiobooks go. Mainstream youth fantasy novels such as Harry Potter or the Inheritance Cycle receive more funding and are able--I imagine--to buy more studio time to master all the different characters voices.

However, I must say that I am disgusted by the heteronormative and homophobic interjections of fellow reviewers on this site. The mere idea that queer characters being present could be "unsafe for children" is appalling and deserves a good scolding. Furthermore, that this should make anyone avoid the series is outlandish. Though I suppose--to be fair--I find myself rather appalled by the blatant heterosexuality that dominates the majority of books on this site. However, until this moment, I have felt no need to scream from the rooftops that I don't wish to read/listen to such "lifestyles" being exhibited in literature. Therefore, I kindly ask all homophobic and heteronormative listeners to shove it and let listen to my queer audiobook in peace.

I will not be warned against what I look for in the first place. Heteros don't own the world, they just seem to think they do

This story is an epic fantasy that isn't spoken about enough.

I read the first book of this series as a teen and was hooked by Alec and Seregils story. I love this story because the friendships are true, forged over hardship, the motivations and mysteries intriguing. I've read the whole series front to back, as well as the Tamir triad and I just can't get enough of the world. I have so much love for their journey. The narrator does change in later books if that's a huge issue for you but I like both narrators.

I enjoyed the whole series.

Reviewers who bemoan "explicit homosexuality" in these books are being ridiculous. There are no graphic depictions of sex in any of the books, which only tamely and tastefully mention the characters' sexual encounters without going into details. If that is what you're looking for, you will be disappointed. It is only "explicit" or "blatant" in that the love between the two main characters is not hidden, nor is a big deal made of it. I don't think I would even categorize this as LGBTQ fiction, because that aspect of the main characters was not prominent enough to think of it that way.
That nonsense aside, these books were a lot of fun and I really enjoyed them. I binged the whole series too quickly, and now I wish there were more. The characters are endearing. The action is well paced. Flewelling did a masterful job creating her world for her characters to inhabit. I seldom ever feel compelled to write a review, but I enjoyed this series enough to recommend it. I'm sure I'll go through the whole series again eventually.

in love with this story

fantastic narrator he keeps you captivated into the story to the point where you can see it and feel like you're part of it.

A surprisingly good series

I was pleasantly surprised by this series of books. The characters are enjoyable from the first and as they develop across the series you find some new depths. Sometimes keeping a handle on what is happening can be a bit tricky at first but I found I soon got into the flow of it. At times it is distracting that the narrator miss pronounces some of the words and the strange accents are a bit comical, but it does not distract too much. The book does not have a complex plot and because of this it works well as an audio book. Worth a listen for some good harmless fun

Painting with words

Lynn's descriptions of the characters, places and the era, are a verbal cinemascope painting. Lay back close your eyes and watch the mental movie unfold. This is only a part of the story. The next part " Stalking Darkness" ,continues the adventure

Rich history & character depth

This is a rich, colorful story with a lot of depth. Feels a little on the Tolkien side for long, well constructed narrative, but a fascinating world building.

Luck in the Shadows

EXCELLENT SERIES! Lynn Flewelling brings the charecters to life for you with a flare that holds your attention. And Raymond Todd is great in the reading of it, making them even more real to you. If you're looking for a good story line that is easy to follow andf keeps you wanting more...then Any of Lynn Flewellings books will keep you entertained. Oh and keep an open mind while your listening...it is worth it.

An excellent start to an excellent series!

This series is one of my all-time favorites.I am currently on my 5th listen through it, and it is as good as the first time. I highly recommend this to anyone who as an intrest in magic, spys, thieves and later on, dragons!

Nightrunner Series Review (not just this book)

Each story in this series was a well-developed story in its own right. To be sure, one necessarily follows the other, and they couldn't be as fun taken out of order. But each book is its own episode in the ongoing epic. I admit to having the attention span of a gnat and usually get bored with a series by book three, and almost never read beyond book four. But here I am anxiously awaiting--no, impatiently waiting--for the sixth book in this series. I love Alec and Seregil and the relationship they have not only with each other, but with all of their friends. Somewhere along in this series, the narrators change. While some might have difficulties with the change of voices, I confess, the narrators were superseded by the story for me, and they hardly mattered.

I listened to The Tamir Triad first and almost didn't give this series a try. I found that series to be rather dark and difficult to suspend disbelief. I was afraid this would be like that. But this series is much easier, lighter and warmer. Much more to my preferences for escaping into fantasy.