The Backlot Gay Book Forum discussion

This second to last instalment of the longstanding and lauded Nightrunner series takes readers back to the familiar streets, settings and surrounds of the city of Rhiminee. After much traipsing about and being pursued all over the neighbouring lands, Seregil and Alec finally return to their original ‘thief in the night’ modus operandi, breaking into secured premises for hidden loot, using their dissolute wastrel public personas to cloak their undercover nightrunner roles. Lots of Llewelling fans applaud this novel-setting move but I freely admit I’m one fan who prefers them being chased and hunted all over foreign and threatening landscapes. Give me more of Sobrahn and Alec’s mother’s kin please.

That all aside, the political / courtly intrigues were sufficiently interesting to keep me engaged with the plotline. Flewelling also brings back several secondary main characters, some of whom are featured quite strongly in an alternating plot/setting to our guys – Beka Cavish, Princess Klia, Nyal face battle-action, troop insurrection and double-agent spies in their midst whilst facing down the Plenimaran armies, and I found the chapter-setting jumps between town and battle field mildly discombobulating on occasion. The best thing I appreciated in this novel is the slow reveal of the insidious evil striking the citizens of Rhiminee – people from all levels of society are randomly dropping dead or wasting away in a comatose state for no apparent reason (medical or magical); the danger reaches far and wide into the ruling nobility classes and even one secondary character close to Seregil / Alec dies!

That brings me to my second gripe, that being, for all Seregil’s street-smarts, our heroes take far too long to even get a positive sniff of the nefarious killers’ trail. I had a strong inkling as to who these killers might be a quarter-way through the book, their motivations becoming clear mid-way through …. I found it frustrating that the nightrunner crew (despite being aided and abetted by Mikah and their wizard allies) only clued on in the final quarter of the book. I suspect this was to heighten tensions and drama when the body count starts escalating dramatically, and especially when the lives of close friends and allies are directly threatened.

For those readers who look for descriptive man-on-man action between our two MCs, I have to say go elsewhere for that – the author keeps the romance low-key and the sexuality very understated; and I’m OK with this since I’m expecting a strong fantasy story more than anything else from this book/series. Flewelling is a master at blending socio-political intrigue with dark arcane evil into one same plot, as proven by her earlier titles of this series; she succeeds yet again with this latest offering.

Knowing that there’s only one book left in the series … I’m hoping and praying she will expound and resolve the Rhekaros elements more. Overall, I had fun 'nightrunning' with Seregil and Alec.

Guess what is scheduled for release in April 2014???

I've loved this series, so I'm very excited to see a release date for the last book in the series!

I enjoyed seeing them back in Rhiminee, but I agree with you that it was frustrating to have them take so long to tumble to who was actually committing the murders. Having said that, the suspense did rise to a fever pitch in this one, as I was quite frightened for our pair's safety, especially given their lack of awareness, and contact with the killer.

I'm also with you in also hoping she will resolve the Rhekaros elements more. The title of this last one is intriguing - hopefully seeking something from the past will tie knots in some open ends.

I've ordered the paperback of Shards of Time. I feel excited that the book is at long last in print and I can find out what happens next to Seregil and Alec. I'm full of anticipation as to whether the author decides to wind up those hanging threads regarding Alec's heritage and what the heck has happened to Sobrahn (and associated prophecy).

I am also feeling despondent because this book will be the final installment to a wonderful pair of MCs (unless Ms Flewelling has a change of heart/mind). I can barely believe the first book came out in 1996!; and what a journey (sometimes frustrating delays in between books) it has been.

Perhaps the author can start a series of prequels (nod to Star Wars) and expand on the stories contained in Glimpses: A Collection of Nightrunner Short Stories.

PaperMoon, I've read the first book twice but still haven't read further. Your comments have me interested in maybe getting back to the series.

Duane wrote: "PaperMoon, I've read the first book twice but still haven't read further. Your comments have me interested in maybe getting back to the series."

I know that this series is not everyone's cup of tea. The romance elements are quite muted and subservient to the high fantasy components (any mention of M-M sex is of the fade-to-black variety). The first three books are especially good and the second three take a divergence in setting away from the city of Rhiminee and the 'night-running/spying' activities - and some readers are not happy with this. I personally am quite happy to have Seregil and Alec running all over the countryside being attacked and pursued by all manner of folk.

PaperMoon wrote: " The romance elements are quite muted and subservient to the high fantasy components (any mention of M-M sex is of the fade-to-black variety)."

Yes, it is subtle. The first time I read Luck in the Shadows, I wasn't expecting any gay reference. I picked it up as a science fiction and fantasy fan.

I had forgotten about seeing the book mentioned on a gay site. It was a pleasant surprise, and I wasn't sure if I was reading into the relationshp at first.

Coming out stories or gay romance are great, but I also like books where some of the characters just happen to be gay or bi and it isn't a big deal or the focus of the story.

If you can't say something nice about this series, come on over and sit by me. *Ste, holding this reccy over your head to infinity...and beyond!* :-)

Chuck wrote: "If you can't say something nice about this series, come on over and sit by me. *Ste, holding this reccy over your head to infinity...and beyond!* :-)"

I accept culpability Chuck. You can count my rec of Jasper Dorgan's book as my way of making it up to you LOL.

Duane wrote: "PaperMoon wrote: " Yes, it is subtle. The first time I read Luck in the Shadows, I wasn't expecting any gay reference. I picked it up as a science fiction and fantasy fan. "

I started Flewelling's series as an online tip-off that it had gay-themes - I had finished Mercedes Lackey's 'Vanyel' trilogy and all six books of Storm Constantine's Wraethu series (https://www.goodreads.com/series/4242...) and was desperately looking for more gay fantasy characters (which was heretofore unknown to me throughout my teen and young adulthood years).

Have you read Jim Grimsley's Kirith Kirin?

Ste, "The Open Arms of the Sea " does, you're right, make me forgive and forget all things "Nightrunner." In fact, MAYBE (accent on the maybe), I'll give the series another chance. Er, no, NO! Can't go that far, but I've had so much fun holdig the "Nightmare", um "Nightrunner" boys over your head (and don't forget that there are others who deserve equal blame *cough* Octobercountry:" *cough*.)

I've heard about Jim Grimsely for years and still haven't read him. Kirith Kirn is definitely one I want to read. I love Storm Constantine.

Duane wrote: "I've heard about Jim Grimsely for years and still haven't read him. Kirith Kirn is definitely one I want to read. I love Storm Constantine."

Ah another Constantine fan - nice to know.

Well Shards of Time did not give me any further details/information on Alec's ancestry or Sobrahn (sniff). But I did get an exciting (and at times scarey spine-tingling) tale where our boys get to leave Rhiminee once again (by order of the young Queen) to solve a paranormal murder mystery located on the island of Kouros (where it is told the forefathers of those who settled on the three lands first landed).

The ghostly elements were well done, and Flewelling does not fail to give a thoroughly nasty evil baddie (lurking in the background for the first half of the book at least). For those who appreciate the spooky - there's necromancers, malevolent faceless spectres and demons to satisfy the 'blood-lust'.

Not a great deal get's explored further WRT to MCs relationship. We do get another junior character to get fond of - Mika (apprenticed to Thero) ... and he's definitely adorable. Thero and Klia's relationship gets a further development boost with some rather startling news on this at book's end. I must say, for a secondary character who started out as a pompous snit, Thero has been developed into one hell of hero-figure by this series' end. Good old solid Micum also gets to come along with our MCs for this fantasy ghost-busting ride.

I'd give this engaging final book in the series a four and half stars, but I'm sad that the night-running adventures are over (maybe just for now).

As much as I love you, I still hate this series with the heat of 10,000 suns. I just don't get the damn thing's fascination; but I do love your proselytizing for the series. Bless your little heart.