Perfect Shadow

Night Angel #0.5

by Brent Weeks

Discover the origins of Durzo Blint in this original novella set in the world of Brent Weeks' New York Times bestselling Night Angel trilogy.

Gaelan Starfire is a farmer, happy to be a husband and a father; a careful, quiet, simple man. He's also an immortal, peerless in the arts of war. Over the centuries, he's worn many faces to hide his gift, but he is a man ill-fit for obscurity and all too often he's become a hero, his very names passing into legend: Acaelus Thorne, Yric the Black, Hrothan Steelbender, Tal Drakkan, Rebus Nimble.

But when Gaelan must take a job hunting down the world's finest assassins for the beautiful courtesan-and-crimelord Gwinvere Kirena, what he finds may destroy everything he's ever believed in.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Epic Fantasy, Magic, High Fantasy, Short Stories

70 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 1, 2011

About the author

In a small-town Montana school at age 12, Brent Weeks met the two great loves of his life. Edgar Allan Poe introduced him to the power of literature to transcend time and death and loneliness. Fate introduced him to The Girl, Kristi Barnes. He began his pursuit of each immediately.

The novel was a failure. The Girl shot him down.

Since then–skipping the boring parts–Brent has written eight best-selling novels with the Night Angel Trilogy and the Lightbringer Series, won several industry awards, and sold a few million books.

Brent and his wife Kristi live in Oregon with their two daughters. (Yeah, he married The Girl.)

Reviews

[Overhaul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gaelan Fuego de Estrella es un campesino, un padre atento y un esposo fiel. Un hombre que, en apariencia, transmite serenidad y simpleza. Pero lo que el mundo no sabe es que Gaelan es también un ser inmortal, poseedor del don supremo del arte de la guerra. A través de los siglos, el guerrero ha tenido que adoptar múltiples alter egos para esconder su verdadera esencia, pero es un hombre destinado a convertirse en héroe aunque procure vivir en la oscuridad. Así es como los diversos nombres que ha asumido acaban convirtiéndose en auténticas leyendas: Acaelus Thorne, Yric el Negro, Hrothan Doblaceros, Tal Drakkan, Rebus Diestro...

El delicado equilibrio que sostiene toda su vida y la mentira que lo acompaña parecen vacilar el día en que Gaelan se ve obligado a aceptar un nuevo y peligroso trabajo: enfrentarse a los delincuentes más temidos del universo, para ayudar a la dueña suprema de los crímenes de la ciudad, la hermosa cortesana Gwinvere Kirena.

Este será su nuevo e inevitable destino: vivir en el mundo de las sombras y convertirse en un asesino en serie al servicio de los poderosos. A partir de ahora, su nuevo nombre será Durzo Blint

Me ha encantado este relato que muestra más de mi personaje favorito de esta gran saga Durzo. Esta saga me flipa, me flipa y mucho. Sombras y asesinatos en un mundo tan intrigante como despiadado.

Único aspecto ¿negativo? es darme cuenta de que voy a tener que releer el primer libro de la saga antes de leer el segundo porque no me acuerdo de mucho después de tanto tiempo. ✍️😅🎩

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

“La luz es, pero es una sombra indefinida se convierte simplemente en oscuridad”

Precuela de Ángel de la Noche. Quería adentrarme en esta saga y aproveché para leerme este antes de la saga principal.

Sinceramente puedes no leerlo antes por dos simples razones: la primera fue escrito posteriormente a los libros de la saga, según he estado viendo el orden de publicación y la segunda, es que te cuenta el trasfondo y el secreto de varios de los personajes de la saga principal. Yo personalmente no lo he considerado como spoiler y creo que te aclaran ciertas cosas de cara a lo que es la primera novela.

“Esto es lo que me corresponde. Esto es lo que me merezco. Retazos”.

Ahora bien ¿Puede llegar a ser lioso? Sí, obvio, pero como cualquier libro de fantasía que estás sumergiéndote, las primeras cincuenta paginas son de prueba del terreno y después ya coser y cantar. Sin embargo, una vez me adentre en el libro uno ya estaba un poco más situada que si lo hubiera empezado a ciegas.

“Júntalos todos. Ha llegado la hora.”

Solo tengo una pega y es que la narración del principio choca mucho con el resto del relato y me dieron ganas de abandonar el libro y por ende la saga, porque sinceramente pensé que tanto libro como el resto de la saga estaría escrito de esa forma. Si ustedes lo catan entenderán a lo que digo. Igualmente les gusta ese tipo de narración, pero a mí, especialmente no.

“Imposible"

[Książkowe Bajdurzenie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Niespecjalnie ciekawe i niespecjalnie potrzebne.

[seak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Assassins going to assassinate people all assassin-like. Add crazy awesome magical abilities, immortality, love, shadows, betrayals, and constant action. You may just have Perfect Shadow: A Night Angel Novella.

I don't think I'd recommend diving into Perfect Shadow without having already read the rest of the Night Angel Trilogy, or at least the first book, The Way of Shadows. It's a great series especially if you want a book/series that's really hard to put down. With all its faults, it's so much fun.

If you haven't read the trilogy, or at least book one, then you may not want to read further...

Perfect Shadow takes us back in Durzo Blint's history. He's just around 700 years old, so he's got plenty to go around. We learn things not only from his distant past, but also how he got to where he is at the start of the main sequence, just before Kylar comes into the picture.

In a kind of Name of the Wind style (but a little more confusing), Durzo Blint, tells us his story as he sees it.

As I mentioned above, there's plenty of assassinining going on and a nice little plot with Momma K, to take out all the wetboys (super-assassins) in the city.

The writing isn't going to win any awards, but the action and imagination are what keep me coming back.

4 out of 5 Stars

[Petros Triantafyllou · Rating 5 out of 5]

This still gives me goosebumps.

"I got a bit of prophecy," the old assassin said. "Not enough to be useful, you know. Just glimpses. My wife dead, things like that to keep me up late at night. I had this vision that I was going to be killed by forty men, all at once. But now that you're here, I see they're all you. Durzo Blint."

[S. ≽^•⩊•^≼ I'm not here yet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this was goood!!


"I know what I know. what I don't know is what you think you know. And if you use that tone again, you'll be picking it up from the floor."

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nothing beats snacking on delicious Blintses.

[Jean ~ Kindle Queen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brent Weeks is the master of the twist you don't see coming, and he usually does it more than once in a book. This is a prequel focusing on Durzo Blint, but it's definitely important to read first. It would have been disorienting to read first, and it'll spoil some of those twists I loved in the Night Angel trilogy. The switches between point-of-view was a bit disconcerting at the beginning, but once I figured out what was going on, I settled nicely into the story. I also wish I had read this one right after I had read the original trilogy. I think there were a few details that I missed, because it took me a while to remember the characters. Definitely an enjoyable read - just make sure to read the original trilogy first!

[Ashley Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well crap...

I guess I just spoiled the trilogy for myself by reading this first. I'm not entirely sure what I was thinking.

With that said, I still want to read the trilogy and want to even more so after this little nugget. I was just getting into this world and it ended...of course now I know that it wasn't meant to be my beginning, so shame on me for not looking into that before reading it.

On to book one!

[David Sven · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a Durzo Blint origin story. Add a fantastic GraphicAudio production with 15 voice actors and fist pumping music and sound effects and you have two hours of pure assassin badassery as The Night Angel stalks the warrens.

Most of the story focuses on Gaelen Starfire just before he becomes Durzo. We see the rise of Mama K and how Durzo came to meet and work for Gwinvere Kirena and the Sakage. We also get a little back story on Acaelus Thorne and how he became The Night Angel.

You'll probably need to at least have read The Way of Shadows Night Angel 1 to have a clue what's going on, but if you are already a Night Angel fan then prepare for death from above and death from below and some Mortal Combat style finishing moves, especially the first one. It will have you flinching and clenching hard - especially if you're listening to the GraphicAudio version with the accompanying sound effects.

As a short story this succeeds in concentrating on one thing and doing it well. In this case it's badass action. If you are looking for an alternative to ebook or DTE or if you are thinking of checking out GraphicAudio then this will be four bucks well spent.

4 stars

[Chris Haught · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice little return to the world of Night Angel. I will say that though it's a prequel to the main series, one should avoid reading it first. It goes into background information that would spoil key parts to the books.

That said, it would also be confusing to a Weeks novice. The terms, history, relics, and organizations in the story are not explained here, as they are so well in the series. In fact, it has been awhile since I read the books, so I felt a little lost with some of it. Most of it came back as I was reading, though.

A good story and some good insight into the past of one of the major characters from the Night Angel series. It wasn't as well developed or action packed as one of those, but it held its own pretty good for a short story taste.

[Athena Shardbearer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the Night Angel Trilogy about two to three years ago and loved it then. This book is centered around Durzo Blint...one of my favorites from the trilogy(the other one was Logan.)

This just gives insight to Durzo, before he was Durzo Blint, before he met Momma K(Gwinvere) and how he became a wetboy. Reading this seriously makes me miss Azoth/Kylar and all the other characters. I may just do a re-read of the series soon.

There is no heroism
There is no justice
There is no heaven
There is no sixth sense
There is no hell but life, and death is worse
There is no glory
There is no light
There is only victory.

[TS Chan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A glimpse of Durzo Blint's back story. In short, highly entertaining but do read this only after finishing at least Shadow's Edge, ideally post Beyond The Shadows. I'll just leave this review with a Durzo gem below.

I let him finish his business. Never say I’m not a gentleman.
I was once the avatar of retribution. Now I just try to be polite.

A moment later, the baron disappeared down the privy without a trace. When his soldiers grew suspicious and checked, he was simply gone. You’ll forgive me if I don’t dwell on the details. You see, this isn’t the tale of Baron Rikku's death. It’s the tale of mine.

But afford me a moment for my professional pride and let me say this: in the Chateau Shayon, no one ever again shat unworried.”

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perfect Shadow is the prequel novella to the Night Angel Trilogy and is one for the die hard fans only. Comprising exclusively of the rise of Durzo Blint, the most prominent and proficient assassin known to man, the premise was solid, though the delivery somewhat lacking. What could've been a fans delight turned sour from the onset with the novella essentially consisting of part story telling, part high fantasy, part erotica all mixed into part of a plot that never felt whole (the floating timeline didn't help and the various personalities of Blint were hard to follow). Some known characters make appearances; while a nice precursor to the trilogy, failed to save the novella from a rather disjointed and incomplete tale. The character assassin, Blint, has so much promise and such a rich and exciting back story - perhaps my expectations were set too high - nonetheless, at the conclusion I was left wanting.

My rating: 2/5 stars. I've read this twice now (2011 and 2017), there are some nice moments but it just didn't work for me. The Night Angel trilogy on the other hand, is excellent.

[Mariam Mohsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was an audio book from graphic audio it was so great, spectacular, really thanks to my kind and nice friend Mr Aren for giving me a gift copy of this book... Really appreciate it... Definitely I'm gonna continue the series

[cors · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why I keep on reading books that I don't like

[The Tattooed Book Geek (Drew). · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...

I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve never read a book by Brent Weeks before! I know, I know, I fully expect some haughty derision from all you fantasy fans out there! He’s an author I’ve heard many good things about but have never managed to get around to reading until now.

Perfect Shadow also includes the short story: I, Night Angel which I’ll mention first.

There’s not much to write about I, Night Angel, it is an interesting short 20-page read focusing on torture and the prelude to the actual starting of the torture. It’s well written and showcases Weeks ability at setting up and building the scene. The story finishes just as the actual torture is about to begin and I found it to be a nifty, atmospheric and entertaining little read (the type of torture alluded to will make you cringe) but it does, however, read more like a chapter in a book rather than a complete novella.

Perfect Shadow is the origin story for Durzo Blint, the wet boy (assassin) and a character from Weeks Night Angel trilogy. The book itself works well as a story offering you the reader a snippet and taste of the characters and world that Weeks has created. For myself, as someone new to the work of Weeks it left me wanting to find out more, served to whet the appetite and has gotten me interested in reading the Night Angel trilogy (now to find more hours in the day to be able to fit ALL the books in) but I was also left feeling like I wanted more from the novella too. Sure, it did its job and made me interested in the Night Angel trilogy but my overall impression was one of being indifferent towards the novella.

Perfect Shadow isn’t told in chronological order and the narrative flits around. Confusing for some? Maybe, but the same could be said for any book that alternates timelines and doesn’t include the prefixes ‘then‘ and ‘now‘ or the subsequent similar equivalent. For me, as a fantasy fan, I’m used to it and I was easily able to follow the story and the jumps in time.

I enjoyed the beginning of the book, it’s outstanding and on the whole, the story does have a lot to offer but I did feel that the beginning itself was the pinnacle of the book before the story tapered off. Don’t get me wrong, it still had some decent moments but the beginning was definitely, for me, at least, the high point. Blint is a 700 year old immortal and as such, has a long history, the glimpses of that history are great and add some additional depth to his character. When dealing with a shorter page count you need to parcel out what you include in the story and for me, there are a few scenes of copulation that take place and that didn’t add much overall to the story. I feel that Perfect Shadow would have been better served by these being removed and other scenes included. I’d have personally replaced them with scenes that showed Blint training to be a wet boy as for a story that is the origin tale of an assassin the actual training which should have been a big part of the story is only briefly glossed over and I think it would have been interesting to read. The assassin on assassin action is really cool though and when they occur Weeks knows how to write exciting fight scenes.

Weeks writing works well with this novella. His style is straight to the point but engaging. Whether it’s in the past or the present he moves the story forward and as I said, the action is good though, more fighting action and less between the sheets action would invariably have been better!👌

For fantasy fans, Perfect Shadow is a brief, somewhat exciting but ultimately underwhelming snapshot of the work of Weeks and his Night Angel world.

[Vanessa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Brent Weeks' immensely popular Night Angel Trilogy was published in quick succession. Readers had all three of his debut books on hand, devoured them, and then had to wait for his next novel. While imperfect, it was easy to see Weeks' potential for spinning a good yarn. THE BLACK PRISM has been released since then, but Weeks did take a little time to go back to the world he started out with, and gives us a novella about the assassin Durzo Blint.

Durzo is a character with a lot of back story, but since Night Angel wasn't about him, we didn't get to see much of it. "The Perfect Shadow" will give readers a glimpse into his life, specifically about how he became the man that is Durzo Blint. If you haven't read any of the Night Angel books you wouldn't know that Durzo is actually almost 700 years old, and has lived a lot of lives, in different countries, under different names.

As far as character studies go, it's too short and even disappointingly cliche. It's written much like Weeks' first book WAY OF SHADOWS, with its movie-esque action scenes and standard fantasy setting; the pace is quick and the prose easy to read. Unfortunately very little time is spent on Durzo actually learning the assassin trade and the rest of the time we're exposed to frequent wish-fulfillment sex. There's little to no setting, so those unfamiliar with the world will have a hard time creating a mental image of the time and place, especially since Weeks jumps around Durzo's memories.

It's only available on Kindle and Audible for pretty cheap, so if you loved the Night Angel world, and Durzo fascinated you, then you may want to pick this up. It's a quick read with details and insight about what makes Durzo an interesting character. But if you haven't read the trilogy, you'd best pass.

Recommended Age: 16+
Language: Quite a bit
Violence: Well, yes, he is an assassin, so there's blood and killing
Sex: Referenced. A lot.

[Andrew Obrigewitsch · Rating 1 out of 5]

Weeks continues with his juvenile drivel.

It looks like he discovered the word feces and had to look up all it's synonyms and write a scene that beat such "adult" subjects to death. Not realizing that he could have put it to good use by naming his book "Fecal Matter".

Next Weeks enters 12 year old pervert mode and introduces one of his female dichotomies, namely all women are either virgins or whores, as the main charter meets a whore who of course wants to have sex with him for free. Juvenile dialogue ensues, because 600 year old men should talk like 15 year olds right?

Next our mighty hero strives to become a Wetboy, (is that anything like a wet-nurse?) which is a very bad term for an assassin. Why not call them something cool like a blade, or bloody blade, or stiletto? Hell I'm sure most 12 year olds could have actually come up with a better name.

The story leaves me wondering why a person who does not seem to be able to mature beyond the age of 15 years old, is given the ability to never age and incredible powers.

I read this because I got it for free and it is extremely short.

[Scott Hitchcock · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like The Black Prism so I gave Weeks and this novella a shot but sadly no more.

[Sandra (folded.between.pages.of.books) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the Night Angel trilogy, but this short story...not so much 🙁

[Izabela Ostrowska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cień doskonały to historia mężczyzny, który żył już życiem wielu mężczyzn podczas swojego nieśmiertelnego życia. Jest to króciutkie opowiadanie, mające być prequelem do trylogii Anioł Nocy, niestety za późno przeczytałam, że lepiej by było przeczytać je w ramach uzupełnienia po poznaniu trylogii.
Jako że ta jeszcze przede mną, to z początku miałam poczucie, że brak mi danych. Opowiadanie skupia się na Gaelanie Gwiezdny Żar, mężczyźnie, który nie chce by jego tajemnice wyszły na jaw i który podejmuje się wykonać misję prawie niemożliwą, zleconą mu przez kurtyzanę Gwinvere. Celem misji jest zabicie najlepszych zabójców świata.
Mimo, że zrozumiałam, że ten bohater jest mistrzem w sztuce wojny, to wydało mi się, że pokonanie przeciwników okazało się zbyt proste. W końcu mieli być to najlepsi z najlepszych. W międzyczasie poznałam trochę postać Gaelana, który nawiązuje do swoich poprzednich wcieleń, opowiada jaki był pod postacią tego czy innego na osi swojego życia.
Akcja dzieje się dość szybko, jest krwawo, jest sex jest intryga, ale historia wydała mi się taka sobie. Styl pisania Weeksa jest dla mnie bardzo nierówny, są momenty świetne i nagle pojawia się jakiś prostacki tekst, który w ogóle nie pasuje do reszty. Opowiadanie czyta się dobrze. Myślę jednak, że wrócę do niego jeszcze raz po zakończeniu trylogii.

[The Chapter Conundrum (Stacey) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Would definitely recommend waiting until after book 3 to read this since it contains side plot spoiler and reveal from book 3 and a large spoiler from book 1 as well as many other references that you pick up on if you've finished Beyond the Shadows! :)

This novella is quite enjoyable and gave me plenty of aha moments when it referenced events I'd already read about in the main series! I also love what Weeks chose to cover in this novella!

[Brandi Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Graphic Audiobook version was a blast to listen to.

[Adela · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75* Troszkę chaotycznie jest to napisane, ale lubię Durzo, więc podobało mi się :)

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was well read, but not well suited to reading since it skips back & forth through time a lot. The narrator made no indication of such breaks (They never do for some unknown reason.) so I got a bit lost at times.

This seems to be the introduction & history of the main character of the series. Considering that it was basically a big info dump, it was quite interesting & very well done. Still, it was an info dump, a character sketch. A very interesting character & an interesting magical system. I look forward to listening to more of the series.

I liked the first of Weeks' Lightbringer series which I read in paper format. I have the 2d book, but haven't read it since I'm waiting for the 3d. My wife enjoyed both, though.

[Erica Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

My major complaint with this novella was that it was too short and hurried. Durzo deserves a fully developed story, rather than a quickly sketched outline of how he came to be involved with the Sa'kage. If Weeks ever finds the time to write Durzo's story, I'll be first in line to buy it. This novella gives the reader just a hint of what could be, and so was ultimately unsatisfying. Because Weeks does such a fine job with his full-length novels, anything less is bound to fall short.

So, if you're a fan of Durzo, by all means, read Perfect Shadow. But know that you'll finish the novella wishing for something more.

[Aneliya Ivanova · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t read it ,but I have listened the audio format.And it was not just an audio narrated by one person but full drama (graphical) adaptation.People,it was amazing experience-with all the music,sounds (even you could hear how the blood dripping from the dead bodies).I was a bit confused about who is who,so better to grab the physical copy(actually I am always a bit confused about this type of genre,because usually is a bit complex and a lot of personages).Anyway I am determined to read the trilogy.😄

[Traci Loudin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough overall. Nice to see Durzo again. But even knowing this was a novella, I felt shortchanged. I think I would've been less disappointed in the length if a full 20% of the eBook weren't an advertisement for the author's other books. 5%, great. 10%, I feel a little irritated. 20% of a book that's already short as-is? Downright disappointed.

On the other hand, maybe the device should only count the % of the actual story, not including the extras.

[Dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, entertaining, nothing spectacular, but a nice post Night Angel treat. We get a little more Durzo history / back story, see a little more of what makes him tick. I'd love to see more.. Like a full on prequel of his early history.. But for now this was a nice Night Angel fix.