What do you think?
Rate this book
Nightfall #2
The Return of Nightfall
In 1993, a character took the fantasy world by storm. He was known by countless names and terrifying deeds—thief, magic wielder, swordsman, assassin, adventurer. But chief among those names and the most dangerous of his personae was Nightfall, a man—or perhaps the legendary demon himself—gifted with a power any sorcerer would kill to possess. Now, Nightfall makes his triumphant return in a spellbinding new adventure that sweeps readers from the high courts to the darkest dungeons, from piracy and derring-do at sea to sorcerous encounters and cutthroat attacks in enemy territory. Bound by sorcery and oath to guard and guide Prince Edward on his quest, Nightfall is forced to reveal his true name, Sudian, and to use every trick at his command to keep himself and his idealistic young charge alive. And when Edward suddenly becomes a king, he makes Sudian his advisor. But advisor or not, Sudian cannot dissuade King Edward from a journey to repay a debt of honor to Duke Varsah, an expedition that ends in disaster when all of Edward’s guards are slain and the king himself vanishes without a trace. Now Sudian must turn to Duke Varsah for aid. But is he putting himself into the clutches of the very man responsible for Edward’s disappearance, a man whose greatest desire is vengeance against Sudian himself?
539 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2004
10 people are currently reading
389 people want to read
About the author
Mickey Zucker Reichert
89 books182 followersMickey Zucker Reichert (pseudonym for Miriam Susan Zucker Reichert) is an American fantasy fiction author of several best selling novels. Perhaps her most famous work is the epic Renshai series, which offers an intriguing perspective on traditional Norse mythology. She is also a parent and paediatrician with a soft spot for critters great and small. She has been known care for a veritable zoo of creatures, at times including mice, horses, snakes, llamas, parrots, squirrels, possums, and foxes.
Alongside her twenty-two novels, Reichert has also published one illustrated novella and fifty-plus short stories.
Alongside her twenty-two novels, Reichert has also published one illustrated novella and fifty-plus short stories.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 26, 2020
I loved Mickey Zucker Reichert's The Legend of Nightfall. It's a book that I love and I've read and reread it several times. I had hoped that she'd write a sequel so I could spend more time with the beloved characters again.
After almost a decade, she did. And to be sparse to the point of silliness - it was good.
The characters are back were as fun and interesting as they were in the first book. Due to obvious storytelling license, our hero couldn't stay in the same hopeful situation as he had achieved at the end of The Legend of Nightfall. The first rule of writing is to take your protagonist and squeeze him hard.
Mickey Zucker Reichert does that in spades. I felt that the trials and tribulations that our hero went through weren't up to the same caliber as the adventures in the first book, however, but still a worthy sequel and a joy to read.
After almost a decade, she did. And to be sparse to the point of silliness - it was good.
The characters are back were as fun and interesting as they were in the first book. Due to obvious storytelling license, our hero couldn't stay in the same hopeful situation as he had achieved at the end of The Legend of Nightfall. The first rule of writing is to take your protagonist and squeeze him hard.
Mickey Zucker Reichert does that in spades. I felt that the trials and tribulations that our hero went through weren't up to the same caliber as the adventures in the first book, however, but still a worthy sequel and a joy to read.
October 10, 2007
Entertaining fun (with a caveat).
Set in a fantasy world where some people, called the Talented, are born with innate abilities and others, called sorcerers, prey on them and steal their talents by torturing them to death.
The titular character, Nightfall, was a thief assassin who had made good use of his talent to create a fearsome reputation. This sequel carries on where the first book left off with Nightfall as advisor to the idealistic new king.
(spoiler alert)
I had some problems with the plot – no matter how trusted or liked, why would the king make Nightfall his chancellor? Especially when he has no experience in that role? Also, since the chancellor is the ruler in the king’s absence, how can both chancellor and king go off to a foreign kingdom with no fanfare and practically no guards?
Also the thinking behind the plot to kidnap the king and thereby discredit Nightfall made no sense.
Set in a fantasy world where some people, called the Talented, are born with innate abilities and others, called sorcerers, prey on them and steal their talents by torturing them to death.
The titular character, Nightfall, was a thief assassin who had made good use of his talent to create a fearsome reputation. This sequel carries on where the first book left off with Nightfall as advisor to the idealistic new king.
(spoiler alert)
I had some problems with the plot – no matter how trusted or liked, why would the king make Nightfall his chancellor? Especially when he has no experience in that role? Also, since the chancellor is the ruler in the king’s absence, how can both chancellor and king go off to a foreign kingdom with no fanfare and practically no guards?
Also the thinking behind the plot to kidnap the king and thereby discredit Nightfall made no sense.
February 5, 2021
In this book, Ned gets kidnapped, and people suspect Nightfall is responsible.
I was hoping female characters would have a larger role in this book, but they ended up being less important than they were in the first book. I also didn’t like
I thought the pacing was better in this book, but that could just be because I already liked the characters, so I was more invested in what was going on from the start. I enjoyed seeing Nightfall’s other personas, though some of them were popular enough, and successful enough, that they made me question why he needed the Nightfall persona at all.
The story itself is a fun romp, providing you don’t look too closely for plot holes.
I was hoping female characters would have a larger role in this book, but they ended up being less important than they were in the first book. I also didn’t like
I thought the pacing was better in this book, but that could just be because I already liked the characters, so I was more invested in what was going on from the start. I enjoyed seeing Nightfall’s other personas, though some of them were popular enough, and successful enough, that they made me question why he needed the Nightfall persona at all.
The story itself is a fun romp, providing you don’t look too closely for plot holes.
September 17, 2008
A lighthearted romp with homoeroticism, violence, and hardcore identity-porn! Just what I needed right now. (It's better than the first one, although I greatly enjoyed that one too and this one probably wouldn't make sense without it.)
November 11, 2021
Just as good as the first book, and the supporting cast is even stronger. Loved the gay pirate captain, loved the clever and loyal captain of the guard, loved how Nightfall is good at 1) throwing daggers, 2) climbing, and 3) absolutely nothing else. In a genre full of overpowered geniuses who never trip or make mistakes, Nightfall's bungled interrogations and lost fights are a joy to behold, particularly when they end in him stripped naked on a pirate ship, or being tenderly cared for by crowds of sympathetic women. While I do appreciate the top notch woobie material, it also has the effect of making the stakes high and the action scenes tense. The disguises and aliases are great too, and I'm glad the author went into them in detail in this book.
The romance was the barest afterthought - Nightfall and his fiancée never manage to have sex in this book; just couldn't spare any pagetime from Nightfall fantasizing about how handsome King Edward is and his dead friend Dyfrin was, and how good the pirate captain looks. Lots of passionate conversations about loyalty and fealty and devoted friendship. Exactly my kind of book.
The romance was the barest afterthought - Nightfall and his fiancée never manage to have sex in this book; just couldn't spare any pagetime from Nightfall fantasizing about how handsome King Edward is and his dead friend Dyfrin was, and how good the pirate captain looks. Lots of passionate conversations about loyalty and fealty and devoted friendship. Exactly my kind of book.
March 5, 2023
The notorious assassin Nightfall has retired to serve his prince. Why does life have to force him back into his blacks? Unfortunately, the one time that his civilian self goes off to do something personal (cue the vigilante do-gooders), his prince ends up being kidnapped and Nightfall is off to find him (obstructed by feuding nobles, threatened coronations, unprofessional pirates, unscrupulous slavers and more murderous sorcerers). What a thrilling rollicking mind-boggling epic quest! Again, I really enjoy reading (again!) how Sudian (and now his new pirately colleague) cannot bear to puncture the delicate armour of Edward's idealism, and so end up doing his (their) best to guard that naivety. I can't help but marvel at Edward's superpower (not natal gift) and hope that he never uses it for evil.
July 4, 2023
Nightfall finally returns! In better company.
So, I'd say the second book of the nightfall duology suffers from the same empty explanations as the first one. And the first half of the continuing tale runs into plenty of deadends! But then we visit the sea where Nightfall has a chance to show his competence and it scratches the itch left from earlier chapters. He really shouldn't have been stripped of his identity for so long.
Getting rid of certain characters also lifted the cast as a whole. Namely our dear maiden prince.
I'd say The Return Of Nightfall can be a book worth delving into. I wouldn't even suggest reading the first book, since we get plenty of backtracking exposition in the second installment.
I might return to read the second half of The Return Of Nightfall, since it entertained me so. Might. Good luck.
So, I'd say the second book of the nightfall duology suffers from the same empty explanations as the first one. And the first half of the continuing tale runs into plenty of deadends! But then we visit the sea where Nightfall has a chance to show his competence and it scratches the itch left from earlier chapters. He really shouldn't have been stripped of his identity for so long.
Getting rid of certain characters also lifted the cast as a whole. Namely our dear maiden prince.
I'd say The Return Of Nightfall can be a book worth delving into. I wouldn't even suggest reading the first book, since we get plenty of backtracking exposition in the second installment.
I might return to read the second half of The Return Of Nightfall, since it entertained me so. Might. Good luck.
June 17, 2019
I'm sad that I finished this book already, and therefore the series, though I appreciate that the author essentially 'quit while she was ahead'. The book was good and entertaining, though I wish there had been more interaction between Nightfall and Edward, as that's what made the first book so charming. Once again, things were resolved very quickly and Kelryn was just a love interest with even less to do with the story than last time. Still, I enjoyed all of Nightfall's schemes and even his failures.
December 17, 2019
I was so very glad to see Nightfall return to the pages of a book, but must admit I was just a little disappointed. I suppose the "newness" of the plot concept was gone, making much of what happened "expected". This does not diminish the value of the read significantly, as this same issue has occurred under many authors' pens as they try to expand their creations.
I might consider this a higher grade after some time and re-reads sink in. Some of my favorite books took several passages before their true greatness was revealed. I look forward to the next go.
I might consider this a higher grade after some time and re-reads sink in. Some of my favorite books took several passages before their true greatness was revealed. I look forward to the next go.
September 13, 2017
Rollicking Good Fun!
That's what I would call the second book about Nightfall.
If you haven't read the first one yet, the legend of Nightfall, I truly suggest that you do so in short order.
Now if only someone would convince Mickey to write a third... surely someone who knows her could drop a mention in her ear.
Perhaps the storyline could follow Sudian during pending fatherhood, while Ned finally gets himself a wife.
Just sayin...
That's what I would call the second book about Nightfall.
If you haven't read the first one yet, the legend of Nightfall, I truly suggest that you do so in short order.
Now if only someone would convince Mickey to write a third... surely someone who knows her could drop a mention in her ear.
Perhaps the storyline could follow Sudian during pending fatherhood, while Ned finally gets himself a wife.
Just sayin...
September 29, 2023
Somehow, this was even better than the first one. SO GOOD. I'd love to have more Nightfall books so I can spend more time with him and all the fantastic side characters (alternately, I'd accept a spinoff book about the captain, but y'know).
August 9, 2018
After a long absence, Reighert brings back his well known antihero: Nightfall.
Reighert's plot blends mystery with fantasy when King Edward Nargol is abducted.
Reighert's plot blends mystery with fantasy when King Edward Nargol is abducted.
July 24, 2022
More of the same. Wanted a duo
logy.
logy.
April 14, 2007
It's been over ten years since Reichert published the first Nightfall novel, The Legend of Nightfall, which I read in nearly one sitting last year. I must say that the sequel, while not as good as the first, still lived up to my expectations. Nightfall was back and jumping in and out the disguises that were only hinted upon in the first story. This time, Nightfall must find his kidnapped king while having a price on his, Sudian's, head. And unlike the first book, you get a firsthand look at just why Nightfall is such a feared persona in all the nations on the continent. Engrossing, well-written, well-paced, exciting... Typical Reichert writing. She managed to recreate the universe and characters I fell in love with and expand them. I loved it.
January 27, 2008
This is a sequel to The Legend of Nightfall, which I read years ago. I had been resisting picking it up because I was afraid that once I read it, I might like it so much I'd have to read all of Mickey Reichert's books. I was right. Still working on that... But while her other stuff is quite good, there's a special place in my heart for Nightfall. So, when this book came, I had to have it right away. Took me a while to get around to actual reading it, but that's true of anything. It didn't disappoint. Highly recommended. But read Legend of Nightfall first. :-)
October 28, 2009
This book makes me remember why I loved the first one so much. I read it right after it came out, one of the few books I read for fun in college and it was good enough not to get lost in all the other stuff. The character is very engaging because he is normal in so many ways (and in so many ways not normal), so he's believable. The plot of this book moves right along and Nightfall goes all over the world on his search, one adventure after the other, all of which are rowdy. So yeah, I liked it.
September 27, 2016
I first read this book a very long time ago, and to this day it (and, honestly, almost everything by this author!) ranks among my all time and forever favorites!
Finally, after YEARS of waiting, the sequel to the phenomenal "Nightfall" book! Yep, for years it looked like we'd only have one sad little stand-alone book, but no! She didn't leave us all sad like that! Just as good as the first, and very much worth thr wait!
Enjoy!
*** Please note that I am playing "catch up" with some old and favorite reads! Enjoy my Backlog! ***
Finally, after YEARS of waiting, the sequel to the phenomenal "Nightfall" book! Yep, for years it looked like we'd only have one sad little stand-alone book, but no! She didn't leave us all sad like that! Just as good as the first, and very much worth thr wait!
Enjoy!
*** Please note that I am playing "catch up" with some old and favorite reads! Enjoy my Backlog! ***
August 9, 2019
3 and a large bit stars rounded up.
Good, if unnecessary, sequel.
Nightfall's master, the ridiculously good and naïve Prince Edward, now king, is kidnapped and Nightfall is set up to take the blame for his assumed murder. Nightfall is forced to go on the run and use all his skills and assorted disguises to find the real villains before the realm is plunged into civil war. A bit slow to start, but really picks up at the end when Nightfall gives up playing nice and unleashes his assassin side.
Good, if unnecessary, sequel.
Nightfall's master, the ridiculously good and naïve Prince Edward, now king, is kidnapped and Nightfall is set up to take the blame for his assumed murder. Nightfall is forced to go on the run and use all his skills and assorted disguises to find the real villains before the realm is plunged into civil war. A bit slow to start, but really picks up at the end when Nightfall gives up playing nice and unleashes his assassin side.
July 8, 2023
Is good but not as good as the previous book. Interestingly, it lags a bit when Ned isn’t around. Ned actually forces Nightfall|Sudian to be smarter, faster, sneakier, and more sarcastic. The reason Ned’s taken doesn’t quite seem organic either. Still, a good read. I went through it in one sitting. It gets extra points for Celdurant, the dashing heroic type forced into piracy who also happens to be gay.
June 9, 2010
Now when i firsted looked at my book I thought u know it was gonna be really scary and a whole bunch of action but as i'm gettin close to the middle all hes doing is trying to win his honor/love back with the love of his life and as he lives in a hudge castle named "Alyndar Castle". His close friend Edward helps him on his journey and is also the king of the castle so Nightfall(the main character) is on a journey agin to take down anybody who gets in his way if he has to.
January 29, 2008
This was a fun follow up. It continued to explore the main character and took it a step further by removing several of the constraints he was operating under in the first book. It managed to pitch a moral without hammering me in the face with it, which was very much appreciated. I highly recommend it, especially if you were a fan of the original.
January 12, 2015
I wish I could give 4 1/2 stars. This is the sequel to one of my favorite books, and you get to see the master of disguise go at it, but it's just not quite as good as the Legend of Nightfall. Still a good read, though!
May 30, 2021
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
February 17, 2009
Have read it twice now. Love it.
November 30, 2020
I love the 1st book...Amazing....waited 10 years to read the next book, not so amazing. Pretty disapointing. I like it only because it's Nightfall......a prequal would have been nice instead.
September 27, 2013
I resisted many times reading, afraid the sequel would not be as good as the first. I was wrong, it is as good (but the first wins for novelty at that time). Enjoy it !
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews