Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks

Title: Beyond the Shadows by Brent Weeks

Pages: 689.

How it was obtained: Birthday present from Susan.

Time spent on the "to read" shelf: 2 weeks.

Days spent reading it: 1 week.

Why I read it: I wanted to finish the trilogy.

Brief review: This final installment of the Night Angel Trilogy did not disappoint. I did not love it as much as the first two books, but it holds its own with other books in the fantasy genre. Beyond the Shadows begins to set the stage for a much larger world that Weeks is sure to explore. It is almost like he has figured out the micro level of this world, and now he wants to expand it to the macro level. I almost saw this book as the introduction to the entire rest of the world that Weeks has developed. There is so much going on: different kingdoms begin moving, characters we have been following since the first book now become major players in their political realms, all kinds of fun stuff. Events come together and leave us with a satisfying, if all too soon, conclusion to this trilogy.

Beyond the Shadows reveals answers to many of the burning questions we have had since The Way of the Shadow. And the answers are both believable and satisfying. At the same time, I want more. I want more background. I want to hear more about the original war that serves as a backdrop to the current world. I want to hear more about the origins of the magical artifacts in this book. In short, Weeks gives us a peak into a world that has so much to offer. I hope Weeks continues to write stories that are this good, because once you are done with his books you simply want more. I can think of no higher praise for a writer. This trilogy was well worth reading. It was so much fun. I loved Week's pace, character, and plot development. Sure, he can learn more about this craft, but Brent Weeks is definitely an author to keep your eyes on in the future. He delivers a superior adventure to his readers. I highly recommend.

Favorite quote: "It was beautiful. It was amazing. It was the best feeling of his whole life, right until he threw up."

Stars: 4.5 out of 5.

Final Word: Satisfying.