Stalking Darkness - Chapters Fifty-One and Fifty-Two

[kalinara]

Last time, we saw the end to the climactic battle. It was...pretty traumatic, all things considered. Now, we're at the last two chapters.

Let's see how it ends!

( Epilogues are a-go! )

Stalking Darkness - Verdict

[kalinara]

So there we have it. We've finished the second book in Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series. And things have finally gotten a little bit gay. Or bi. Close enough.

Does it pass the test of time?

Absolutely! So let's talk about it!

Plot:

So the plot is definitely crisper and tighter than Luck in the Shadows was. The pacing is better, we don't have that odd narrative redundancy. Everything is fast moving and exciting. The relationship, while a slow burn, doesn't drag.

The tonal shift for Alec's plotline is a little much though. And I said in one of the reviews, it reminds me a little of the Golden Queen. Flewelling's execution is better, but we still have this random part in the middle that suddenly goes very dark, disturbing and violating for one of the characters, to great detail.

It's notable because it only happens to ONE character. (Well, Thero's there, but the narrative focus is on Alec.) The other lead characters, while not having a blast, are experiencing their worry and angst in a very matter-of-fact adventure novel way.

It balances better than Gallen having a pleasant day at the park when Maggie's getting mentally violated. But it's still comparable. Especially as, like Maggie's trauma afterward, we don't really ever address Alec's lingering trauma beside some minor lip service.

I feel like it would have been just as effective to have faded to black for the worst of the scenes, given how relevant the torture and aftermath was later. And maybe I'd be less bitter about it. Because as a reader, I get to vicariously experience what Alec and Maggie did. The more detail, the more intense. Which means, as a reader, I expect some kind of emotionally fulfilling follow up.

And yet, I was left hanging.

Seregil's emotional aftermath is very well-written, but I resent that he's the only one whose emotional aftermath seems to matter.

But the rest is good enough that I'll forgive it.

Characters:

Well, it's the same folk from last time. They're just getting to do more!

It's definitely fun to see Alec and Beka go from clueless kids to experienced thief and soldier respectively. I feel like I've watched them grow up a bit before my eyes.

Seregil got to shine more in this book than he did in Luck in the Shadows. The solo mission for the crown was really valuable, because it finally showed us what Seregil can really do, and why he's Nysander's best agent. It also makes him look better as a mentor, as we kind of get the impression that Seregil's been simplifying his missions and assignments for Alec's benefit. It's nice.

Micum gets more of a part in the action which is nice. And as much as I like to bitch about him, I think Nysander got a bit more humanized here too. He feels more like a person now...albeit an occasionally irritating one.

I also enjoyed Thero a lot. Both before, when he and Nysander's conflict was becoming more apparent, and after he was kidnapped. I might complain about the amount of torture, but it was nice to see Thero get a heroic moment. He's Seregil's rival, but he's not a bad guy.

Still not sure what I think of Ylinestra and that whole nonsense. I'm not opposed to a dubiously consensual sex scene if there's a point, but I'm not sure there was one here. Except that Alec gets another trauma to never ever address.

And well, it is a hint that she's worse than she seems, I suppose.

But anyway, I very much enjoyed this book and I might, some day, do Traitor's Moon as well.