Shadow Prowler [Hardcover]

Alexey Pehov (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 16, 2010

After centuries of calm, the Nameless One is stirring.

An army is gathering; thousands of giants, ogres, and other creatures are joining forces from all across the Desolate Lands, united, for the first time in history, under one, black banner. By the spring, or perhaps sooner, the Nameless One and his forces will be at the walls of the great city of Avendoom. 

Unless Shadow Harold, master thief, can find some way to stop them.

Epic fantasy at its best, Shadow Prowler is the first in a trilogy that follows Shadow Harold on his quest for a magic Horn that will restore peace to the Kingdom of Siala.  Harold will be accompanied on his quest by an Elfin princess, Miralissa, her elfin escort, and ten Wild Hearts, the most experienced and dangerous fighters in their world…and by the king’s court jester (who may be more than he seems…or less).

Reminiscent of Moorcock's Elric series, Shadow Prowler is the first work to be published in English by the bestselling Russian fantasy author Alexey Pehov.  The book was translated by Andrew Bromfield, best known for his work on the highly successful Night Watch series.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Initially, Shadow Prowler bears some similarities to Tolkien’s trilogy about great evil burgeoning to threaten the order of the world. While well developed, the story is often inconsistently told, jumping from first to third person, sometimes within a single paragraph, which jars the reader and detracts from an otherwise admirable performance. Detailed description abounds as we follow master thief Harold, whose character develops during a great quest to save humanity. The world Pehov conjures is filled with other memorable characters, too, including the king’s court jester, Harold’s old thieving mentor (now a priest), and an elf who looks more like a vampire. Those who like fantasy novels offering ogres, elves, undead creatures, wizards, and the like joined in an epic quest will be delighted once they get past the inconsistent narration, for such genre fodder as pitched battles are described so well that they seem to unfold before one’s eyes. A first book in a series that piques interest for the others, especially if they’re more smoothly translated. --Rebecca Gerber

Review

“An exciting take on classical themes as a professional thief finds himself reluctantly cast into the role of a hero to save his homeland from destruction. The story is engrossing, the characters intriguing and dynamic; there are mysteries galore and the very real sense as we set out that far creepier things are waiting down the road. In short, a book I didn’t want to put down and want to see what comes next.”
--Chris Claremont, bestselling writer of the X-Men and Wolverine

"Toothy, gritty, and relentless. Alexey Pehov sneaks up on you and fascinates with the wry voice of a young Moorcock. Clear space on your shelf--you'll want the whole series."
--E.E. Knight, bestselling author of the Vampire Earth series

"Shadow Prowler is a fresh, exuberant take on territory that will be familiar to all fans of classic high fantasy. Alexey Pehov introduces a cast of charming, quirky, unsavory, even loathesome characters in a fast-paced, entertaining adventure."
--Kevin J. Anderson, co-author of the bestselling Dune books

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Tor Books; First Edition edition (February 16, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0765324032
• ISBN-13: 978-0765324030
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #764,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Russian Fantasy, March 31, 2010

By 

Blodeuedd "Blodeuedd" (Finland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shadow Prowler (Hardcover)

This book and series is very popular in Russia and has now been translated into English. For that I am grateful. This is great epic fantasy and just what I like to read.

It is the story about Shadow Harold, a thief in Avedoom, the capital of a Northern kingdom. He lives his lief like he always have when things suddenly change. he has two choices, get the horn or rut in jail. The choice is not as easy as it seems. The horn is hidden far away in caves filled with dangers and magics from different races that have buried their dead there. With him he has an elite band of warriors, a Princess, and a jester.
This world has all sorts of races, the elves (dark and light) who are not as fair looking as you would imagine. Orcs that wants the world for their own as they are the first race of Siala. Ogres, gnomes, goblins, dwarves and of course men. In the far north there is the danger of the Nameless one, but there are more dangers than just him stirring. This world is heading for a war, and this time the orcs might just win.

I liked Harold, but then I do have a soft spot for thieves and assassins. He is an unwilling hero, and they are the best. But my fav is by far the jester Kli-Kli, a goblin who is more than he seems. And I can't wit to see what he really is about, until then I will laugh in amusement. Miralissa, the princess most be some sort of love interest, cos Harold is interested, fangs and all. But I just have to wait and see. The wild hearts are a great bunch too, the constant bickering between the dwarf and the gnome being what i enjoy the most.

Negative part, I love maps, and there was no map. I like to see where everything is located, and where they are going. It gives me a sense of direction that is useful in fantasy. But I am well aware that many forget about those maps.

This had everything I need, a quest, danger of war, and war that is surely coming, a bunch of characters that are both amusing and likable. There was danger, there was darkness, and there was history. Which I of course always want.

Now, oh sighs, why didn't I take that course in Russian in high school instead of German. If I would have I could have read the next book in Russian. Now I just have to wait to get hold of book 2 whenever that one comes out. Because this was a good start to a fantasy trilogy, and it made me want more.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Fresh Twist on an Epic Fantasy Adventure, April 23, 2010

By 

A. Lee (L.A., CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shadow Prowler (Hardcover)

In the great city of Avendoom on the shores of the Cold Sea, Shadow Harold, Master Thief, goes about his business, accepting commissions from clients, at home in all parts of the city, in the darkness and the light. Like everyone in the city he's aware of the growing threat of war. A dark human sorcerer who was temporarily vanquished years ago has been slowly overcoming his magical restraints. More and more, demons are seen about the city, making unsafe streets hazardous even for the criminals. Harold is approached with a commission he cannot refuse: the king along with his non-human allies need his skills to recover an artifact that is crucial for the coming battle with the Nameless One.

This is an epic quest fantasy and no mistake, but Pehov twists the common tropes just enough to keep it fresh and exciting. It starts with Harold, who, thank goodness, is the farthest thing from a naive farm-boy or an inexperienced everyman. He IS an unlikely hero, nonetheless, but he's grown and experienced and can take care of himself, and definitely has his own ideas on how things should be done. He also has an engaging voice, so it is a pleasure to follow him along on his adventure.

The city of Avendoom, which features largely in this first book of a series, will also seem very familiar to fantasy readers, however, there are new and quirky things to explore, between the demons and the guilds and the goat-people with their religious cult and the God of Thieves, the lively descriptions of the various quarters and their inhabitants, the magical hazards of the Forbidden Territory, and the unusually nondescript King. There is a sense of humor that can be ridiculous at times, but not quite over-the-top enough to be annoying. It keeps the tale from bogging down under its own seriousness (as some epic fantasies are wont to do), and the nicely paced plot also helps. There are serious and deathly aspects, of course, but it's not Overdone As In Some Epic Tales Where Everything Must Be Very Dire And Meaningful.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, in other words. There are elves and dwarves and sorcerers, but they are not at all typical and the hints of their strange societies makes one want to know more about them. This book was not perfect, but it was a LOT OF FUN to read and I will definitely be looking forward to the next book.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for True Fantasy Fans, March 2, 2010

By 

W. Bentrim (Bucks County, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shadow Prowler (Hardcover)

Shadow Prowler by Alexey Pehov

Pehov may be well known in his native Russia but I had never heard of him until I read this book. I think the quality of this book will insure that Pehov will be known far and wide as well as in Russia. Shadow Harold, a master thief, finds himself enmeshed with the establishment to save the world as they know it.

Shadow Harold is an enjoyable rogue. Harold is a master thief of exceptional skill and a healthy interest in avoiding heroics. Pulled into quest to avoid the doom precipitated by The Nameless One, Harold finds himself surrounded by highly unlikely allies. The interplay between the allies, their likes, dislikes and individual peccadilloes provides both amusement and tension. Pehov provides suitable mystery and excellent action.

I highly recommend the book and am looking forward to the sequel.