9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyable read - but not as good as the first, October 28, 2004
This review is from: The Return Of NightFall (Hardcover)
"The Return of Nightfall" plunges us back into the swashbuckling world of high adventure Reichert created in her original, stand-alone "Nightfall" novel. The story picks up where the previous book left off, with the outwardly enthusiastic servant Sudian -- actually the cynical master assassin known as "Nightfall" -- recovering from wounds while trying to adjust to the demands of both his new fiance and his new position as chancellor of the realm. Unfortunately, the very first crisis Sudian faces is the mysterious disappearance of the king he has sworn to protect. To add insult to injury, the prime suspect is... Sudian. Rather than stand around and let his head get chopped off by bickering nobles, Sudian escapes the royal dungeons and procedes to fight, steal, and manipulate his way around the globe in desperate bid to find his lost king.
I don't think it's necessary to have read the previous novel to enjoy this one: Reichert has created an enjoyable, fast-paced action adventure that will please fans of the genre, even if it does not quite match the heights of the first book. Fans of the first book will be pleased to know that "Return" is a solid sequel: it's a fun page-turner that doesn't match the heights of the first book, but won't detract from your memories of that novel either. Probably the biggest disappointment I have with this book is that, like Robin Hobb's "Fool's Fate," the conclusion reads like the author is slamming the door on any more sequels: everything is tied up so neatly at the end that it's hard to see where more adventures could come from.
That's not to say there aren't problems with this novel: it's clumsily written at times, and I found the court scenes with Sudian's character to be inconsistent with his behavior elsewhere. Readers who are new to the series may be turned off by Sudian's ultra-competence at just about everything - he's a master of disguise, languages, blades, sailing, etc. - but Sudian's cynicism and the dramatic tension keeps him from becoming irritatingly perfect. Fans of the series may be disappointed with the near-absence of certain major characters, but the new characters Reichert introduces are likable and interesting.
Overall, I would recommend checking out this book, both if you're a fan of the original, or if you just like fantasy assassin / adventure novels. If you want a comparison on the "swordplay" front, than I'd say this novel is several cuts above the Salvatore "Dark Elf" and D&D novels, but a cut below more complex fantasies like Martin's "Song of Ice and Fire" and Hobb's original assassin trilogy. It's worth buying, particularly of you liked the original, but it's not one you're going to reread again and again.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Return of Nightfall, August 2, 2005
This review is from: The Return Of NightFall (Hardcover)
Although a little predictable, it became a "can't put down" saga.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Return, January 20, 2005
This review is from: The Return Of NightFall (Hardcover)
It was great to get another chance at following this character. I was really impressed by the complex human/character development. Sudian struggles with his own inner demons more then ever, the story line and plot are almost a backdrop to his own internal discoveries.
The story is well written and a pleasure to read. I'd love nothign more then to see him appear again.
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