Customer Reviews

Legend of Nightfall (Daw Book Collectors)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This book was completely captivating and well written. I think this story shows how rumors and legends can overtake reality... Nightfall isn't quite the big, bad demon that legend makes him out to be; he's got weaknesses and strengths like anyone else. This made his character (and the story) very believable.

Prince Edward's incredible naivete was humorous, but as the story progresses, he begins to learn more and to grow up. At times in the beginning of the book, I wanted to throttle him because of that innocence, but as the story progressed, his character began to mature.

One thing that was completely unique was Nightfall's magical ability to change his weight, thus greatly contributing to his success as a thief. I don't recall ever seeing this ability used in any other book I've read, and I loved the uniqueness of it. His ability allows him to become heavier (to stand firm or balance) and become lighter (to lessen the impact of a fall or climb more easily).

I was completely involved in this book and could not put it down (even though that meant staying up past four in the morning to finish it!) Definitely glad I bought this!

There are books worth reading, really good books, and then there are great books; Nightfall is one of the last. I divide great books into those that are too heavy or emotional to re-read often - Lord of the Rings, Donaldson's Gap series, and The Unlikely Ones for example - and those i could read again within a year or 2 - like The Chronicals of Narnia, the Death Gate Cycle, and Nightfall. Awesome, love it, recommend it. You find yourself deeply invested in the characters, and you can really see the world they are in. A friend now asks for book recomendations by asking "any more like the Legend of Nightfall?"
I noticed a couple of reviews that were very poor. I find it hard to imagine a reader of adventure/scifi/fantasy seriously disliking this book; you see above some other books I've enjoyed to give context. I suspect the bitter ones should shop in the section about grain elevators.
i'm going to buy the sequel now. let you know in a couple weeks if it's good

I have been reading works of fantasy for a long time now, and this book ranks among the best. It is simply amazing. The character of Nightfall is intricate and believable. The situation into which this character is placed is fascinating, and it brings out all of the elements of his character. In short, the whole book's plot elements and character development is unmatched. More importantly, though, there is something undefinable about this book that is absolutely entrancing. Something about the way the whole book is written just pulls you in and involves you in a thousand ways at once. When I was done with this book, my skin was literally flushed. I just sat there and stared at the back cover for a few moments. This book is that amazinng. If you are reading this review, like fantasy, and do not buy this book, you are making a serious mistake. This book is that good.

I picked up The Legend of Nightfall a few days ago from Barnes & Noble because it looked like it had a neat plot. I had never heard of teh book or the author before, but within the first few chapters i was hooked. i read it until my eyes were blurry, then picked it up first thing in the morning and finished it. i loved it!

It was a very creative take on the cliche characters that Nightfall and Edward fell into.

I would like to disagree with the person who gave it two stars. okay, i know not everyone will love the book, and yes, some of it was wordy but hey, that's life.

Nightfall does indeed prove himself to be a competent, confident theif. We are also told, however, that Nightfall is not the natural-born killer that everyone thinks he is. It talks a lot about the character of Dyfrin, Nightfalls' father figure and advisor. Several times it mentions that Dyfrin could see through Mightfall to realize that he wasn't the demon-criminal, but merely he struggled very hard to fit that role that everyone assigned to him. Personally, I was not dissapointed in the character and skills of Nightfall.

Overall, I thought this book was excellent.

This is something unusual among fantasy books - a single volume story that is self-contained! And its a really good one too. This is the story of Nightfall, a thief, assassin, legend, and - unbeknonst to all - a user of Magic. But after he is captured by a king, he is forced by a magical geas to serve the king's son, a naive prince named Edward. Nightfall must act as the prince's squire - and not let anyone else know that he was once Nightfall. Naturally, the bitter, cynical Nightfall and the idealistic Edward do not get on. But Reichert smoothly shows how Nightfall and Edward both influence each other, and for the better. At the same time, Reichert delivers a breakneck-paced plot involving a nefarious scheme by the king's chanchellor (who is also an evil sorcerer) to kill the prince and take the throne for himself. There are echos of Don Quixote here, but this is a fast read, and thoroughly enjoyable. Very recommended.

This was the first book I read by Mickey Z. Reichert. I thought it was one of the better fantasy novels I've read in recent monthes. The pace moves along well, and the reader will not want to put it down!

This book is an awesome book that anyone who likes Fantasy books would love. It takes you into the personal life of Nightfall, a thief, an assasin, a person with magic abilties, and mainly a legend. It also goes and interweaves a new twist of sorcery. The sorcerors are portrayed as evil and Reichert gives them different powers then many books that go with the traditional magician who reads and studies books. This twist intensifies the book and a large piece of what makes the book so good. I became enthralled in Nightfall's adventures and terrors as inhuman sorcerors tracked him. If none of this convinces you simply must read the book. This book is simply unbelievable

the Eddie LaCrosse stories instead. Either of these is far better than this book. Nightfall began implausibly with a ridiculous chase scene aboard a ship at sea (where exactly was he going to run?), and the story did not improve from there. The character of Nightfall had potential, but in the 1/3rd of the book I read, he totally lacked charm and good sense. For an alleged very accomplished thief, a lack of good sense would be fatal, therefore the character was not believable. Beyond that, I felt the author skimmed along - no other characters are remarkable or memorable and none of the action sufficient to make an impact at all. I bought this book used for $2.00 and still feel I overpaid. If you want a good story about a gentleman thief who has charm and spirited adventures with interesting companions, read the Eli Monpress tales by Rachel Aaron The Spirit Thief (The Legend of Eli Monpress). If you'd enjoy a yarn by an interesting ex-mercenary now doing good, I'd recommend the Eddie Lacrosse stories by Alex Bledsoe The Sword-Edged Blonde: An Eddie LaCrosse Novel (Eddie LaCrosse Novels).

Character-driven fantasy, not too shabby. There are some interesting bits, like the concept of sorcery and the actions of the characters themselves. I like the fact that the prince(s) are portrayed as decent people who are at least fairly competent, if naive (this after reading Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy, where pretty much every royal person is a cretin).

What I didn't like was the contrived plot; the whole geas/oath-bond just sucked, and its constant presence only reminded me of its suckiness over and over again. Couldn't Reichert have come up with a better idea? I also wondered how Nightfall, for all his legendary prowess, was caught so easily. I also wondered why he got beat up so much, too, but I suppose that can be explained by the nature of his assignment and his oft-mentioned lack of fighting skill.

Overall, not too bad: it could have been better, and it could have been much worse. The character of Nightfall is likeable and interesting, and I might actually read the sequel.

I picked up this book at Half-Priced Bookstores on the clearance shelf one day and I'm so glad I did! I found it to be endlessly entertaining and well-written. I was captivated from the beginning and cheering Nightfall over to the good side the whole book.

The premise of the story is that there is a famous assassin named Nightfall who is considered the horrors of horrors. Nightfall is the name of our boogie-man, the old legend being the one used to keep children in bed at night. However, we learn that most of the deeds attribusted to Nightfall were not committed by him and that he is a normal man with an extraordinary birth-gift. When Nightfall gets caught one day, due to the scheming of a traitorous advisor unlikely circumstances pairs him with the idealistic and good Prince Edward (Ned) and sends the resentful, but still living, Nightfall on a journey to get Prince Ned landed. The situations that the two end up in are full of surprises and you will end up cheering for both men as they discover each other and themselves.

All in all, the story is about a young idealistic Prince who becomes a man and an assassin who finds that he is not the monster everyone believes he is. It is a story of growth and friendship, told in a VERY well-written and entertaining way. This book was one of those rare treasures you find. I'm so glad that I did, I would highly recommend it to readers of all types and ages.