Rating: 
Summary: A fun read, but left ends hanging
Review: This book was obviously conceived as part of a series. Although many plot threads are begun, few are tied off. Those that are are strangely rushed and unsatisfying. However, the fun and adventure of the first 7/8 makes up for the disappointment of the last 1/8. The characterization is well done; as a reader I was really interested in what the characters were thinking and feeing.
To others reading their way through the Tamir series - this book has a one paragraph summation of her reign which may be a slight spoiler. I'm not sure because the events discussed have not happened yet in the series, but she is definitely talking about the same queen.
Rating: 
Summary: Wow. This was overrated.
Review: I am a bit confused why so many of you thought this was so good. I'll grant that the first 100 pages were good; the characters were interesting and there actually was a bit of a plot, although it was thin.However, that ended quickly and by pg 200, I was thoroughly bored. The characters became predictable and what little bit of plot was there, was quickly forgotten. For example, they are traveling to a city but it's never firmly established why. The author does a great job describing the environment, but much of the time the characters seem to be bathing, which adds nothing to the plot. There is no intrigue in this book, and very little action. What there is, however, is two men who do a lot of whining about their feelings. Alec in some cases talks about how he's "confused" about his feelings and he's moody but he doesn't know why. To me, this is not interesting fantasy. Unfortunately, this book reads more like a romance novel set in some fantasy world. Apparently some of you like this, which is cool, but it's not for me. If you like Salvatore, Martin, Hickman, Weiss, etc., avoid this disaster at all costs. Also, please do not label me a bigot because I did not like this book. That title is thrown around too easily.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting beginning.
Review: It seems like people tend to either really love or hate this book. Not me-- I found myself coming down firmly in the middle. I liked the take on the orphaned prodigy. I liked the characters and the adventure. I found the plot a little bit less and the political landscape felt a bit abbreviated, if not actually derivative. Perhaps the worst thing of all, the book slipped very quickly from my mind. I had to actually work to recall what it was that I had read. I'm curious to see what's going to happen in the next book in the series, and I may rethink my judgement after that. We'll see.
Rating:
Summary: Damn fine start
Review: Nice start to the series. I would have liked to see the author flesh out the background of the characters a little more, but maybe that's for another day. If you can get around the homosexuality implications, you have a great story, and a different but very well done take on the "orphan boy" deal.
Rating: 
Summary: unimpressed
Review: Having thoroughly read this book, I honestly fail to see the reason for all the hype surrounding it. Magic is handled and represented in a juvenile fashion, most of the characters are so forcefully likeable (or unlikeable) to the point of making the reader cringe, and the world is derivative. The civilized South and the primitive, nigh barbarous North, with a nice matriarchal society vs an evil, vile patriarchal nation at the plot's center. The (thankfully few) fight scenes are described by someone who clearly has no idea of combat. One of the major writing guidelines was obviously forgotten here: write what you know. If you don't, stick to quick, abbreviated descriptions a la Feist or Eddings. That way, at least it won't detract from the plot. The same goes for weapon descriptions. Folding longbows and a sword guard intended to break blades? Please... The homossexual relationship between the two main characters has two edges to it: Flewelling might be applauded for her daring, or the reader will lose any and all possibility to relate with the characters, which makes for an appreciable loss of reading enjoyment. Maybe both. Oh, and after the sole interesting part of the book, when one of the characters is cursed by an evil artifact (good writing here), the plot just seems to somehow "happen along" in pure happenstance, lacking rhyme or reason of any sort, a veritable literary merry-go-round ride.
Final statement? It might not be your usual fantasy fare, but that does not necessarily make it good.
Rating: 
Summary: Engrossing doesn't quite cover it...
Review: A trick of fate brings Seregil of Rhiminee into the dungeon cell of falsely imprisoned Alec one night; Seregil chances his escape, and brings Alec along with him. One wrong step and a small wooden disk draw Seregil and the bewildered Alec into a conflict as old as the Three Lands, and dark magic beyond either of their reckoning. From the first page of the prologue, the story is moving, keeping a quick pace, only slowing down to touch on tiny details. This leads to entertaining, engrossing reading, reading that doesn't let your attention sway for a moment, while still allowing you to appreciate the intricacies of the main setting, Rhiminee, and all the characters' little quirks. When I finished this book the first time, I didn't have the sequel, Stalking Darkness, on hand. I had to wait several days for it, in fact. I reread the book several times, speculating driving me crazy... Don't make this mistake. Order both at the same time.
Rating:
Summary: An Incredible Tale of Adventure
Review: Luck in the Shadows, the first book of Flewelling's Nightrunner Series, is, quite simply, a masterpiece of modern fantasy. It rocketed to the top of my list of all-time favorite books and cemented Flewelling as one of my favorite authors. Subsequent reading of her others books has only confirmed that initial impression. Luck tells the story young Alec of Kerry, a poor peasant taken prisoner by a mad lord for a crime he didn't commit. He fully expects to be tortured to death, but his fate takes a sudden unexpected turn when his fellow cellmate turns out to be Seregil of Rhiminee, a master spy, thief, and noble. When Seregil escapes, he takes Alec with him, although he's not even sure why himself. Alec eventually becomes Seregil's apprentice and they find themselves embroiled in a plot by a neighboring warring country to invade Seregil's home kingdom of Skala. Seregil is on a mission for the Queen and after a "routine" break-in in which Seregil steals some innocuous seeming tokens; they find themselves on the run from an army with Seregil being affected by some sort of dark magic. As Seregil slowly slips into madness, Alec tries desperately to get his new friend to the wizard Nysander, who Seregil had told him was his only hope. Nysander manages to save Seregil, but there is still much intrigue to unravel, as there are spies and turncoats within the Skalan nobility to be uncovered, dark magic to thwart, and a war to avoid at all costs. Flewelling has created a richly detailed world that is very different from many other fantasy depictions. It is completely plausible and she's left nothing out. But even more impressive than her world-building, is her character development. With Seregil and Alec, she has created two of the most three-dimensional and thoroughly likeable characters I've ever had the pleasure of meeting in a book. They are completely realistic and by the time you come to know them, you feel they are old friends. Her secondary characters are just as well-drawn and fully-realized. Even her bad guys are richly detailed, not the mere one-dimensional "evil people" to which so many fantasy writers resort. Her plot more than lives up to the world and its characters, delivering a rip-roaring adventure filled with magic and mystery, all the while deftly weaving in the beginnings of a very subtle romance. She even manages the difficult task of writing a satisfying ending while leaving the door open to continue the series. I believe time will prove Flewelling to be a giant in the genre. I look forward to reading her books for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: Great debut novel!
Review: Lynn Flewelling has created an amazing world with rich, three dimensional characters, places, and a plot that keeps you on your toes page after page! This is a fantastic fantasy novel. The instant connection between Seregil and Alec is refreshing and a joy to read. Every character brings something to the table and you find yourself only wanting to get to know more about them. The last page will only leave you wanting more and more. I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone looking to sit down and read something that's just good.
Rating:
Summary: Seregil and some other people
Review: I really did like this book. Really. It's not the best book in the world, but I don't think I've read the best book in the world, and if I had, probably no one would agree with me. However, I do think that there were some things the author could have done to build on the strengths the book offers. As you might have noticed from the title of my review, I did like Seregil. In places he came close to being the rogue archetype, but in others he displayed what I thought was an endearing mix of traits. In particular I liked that he didn't hang around waiting for Nysander to Explain Everything, and that he was as angry and frightened about what had happened to him as most people in the situation probably would be. It makes a great change from passive heroes who are told 'You aren't ready to understand the Great and Terrible Secret yet,' and who basically say "All right!" and hang around making eyes at the heroine. That was another thing. I didn't mind the focus on homosexuality at all. I've read a few extraordinarily awful gay-focused fantasies, but this wasn't one of them. Above all, homosexuality was represented as something integrated into the society, neither strenuously disapproved of nor promoted as the norm. Very nice. I just wish Seregil could have had a better partner than Alec. Notice what I said above about Seregil sometimes coming too close to archetype status? That was Alec to the core. He's the Wonderful Innocent Boy. More, he didn't seem to have any *faults.* At least some of the other dangerously innocent teenage boys that show up in fantasy (say, Simon from the Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn Trilogy) have faults like clumsiness or ignorance to balance out their perfections. Alec is perfectly loyal, perfectly innocent, and perfectly trusting. Blech. Nysander was another archetype. Even the actions that might make him more of a gray character are presented as part of the 'greatest good for the greatest number' philosophy (which I wish fantasy authors would turn their backs on forever). Hey, it would be horrible if the bad guys did it, but since you're the Wise Old Wizard, it's fine! And the bad guys. Oh, the bad guys. Of *course* they're necromancers. (I want a necromancer hero, for once). Of course they're ruled by a man, in direct opposition to the pure and good kingdom ruled by a woman. Of course they're pure evil. Make them human! Please! So: this book is not without its flaws. The characters could have used more of them. I really wished Seregil would demand some answers from Nysander and get them. But, considering that Flewelling is hardly the only author to employ such cliches, what she did make out of them is admirable.
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites!
Review: This (and the other books in the series) have quickly become some of my favorite books. I find Seregil to be completely fascinating, as is the world he lives in. Alec is the young, naive son of a reclusive woodsman and hunter. He is shocked into the "real" world after his father dies and he is captured as a supposed spy. It is in prison that he meets Seregil and is vaulted from the world of solitary animal trapping and hunting to the life of a thief and spy. The adventures the two find themselves in are well written; the friendship they come to share is touching and and playful. Seregil rarely speaks of the past, and while this does test their relationship, they grow closer as the story progresses. The way Seregil treats money (he is a highly successful thief and sees no reason not to spend his wealth) is amusing, as is Alec's reaction to his generosity. Definitely at the top of my recommendations, as is the rest of the series.
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