The Way of Shadows

Where so many other fantasy novels focus primarily on young characters discovering their abilities, this book introduced me to Durzo Blint, an assassin at the peak of his powers with a legendary reputation and a leave-no-one-alive attitude.

I loved seeing his humanity through his interactions with his apprentice (Azoth/Kylar), but what made this series one of my all-time favorites is knowing that anytime Durzo goes against an enemy, he goes hard and doesn’t stop until he’s the last man left standing. It has insane action, a beautifully dark flavor, and a truly epic story. 

Durzo Blint is an assassin and the last person anyone would suspect would be a hero and liberate the world from a number of tyrannical and lunatic dictators and rulers, but as a broken man, always questioning his own sense of morality and worth, he becomes the perfect man for the job, unclouded by a need for fame or fortune. 

This book is a great, expert portrayal of what assassins are all about. It shows the good and the bad in a very believable way, through the eyes of a boy who strives to escape from a life among street gangs into the elite world of top-level assassins. 

I love this book for its authenticity and the way it immerses the reader into the cutthroat environment of a kingdom in turmoil, filled with politics and danger. To me, there is a romantic thrill in an assassin’s profession, and Brent Weeks is so good at conveying it. I put it first… show more.