I would have liked this a lot when I was younger. It still had its enjoyable moments, but it also made me feel rather impatient at times. It felt too predictable to me. It was rather obvious that all the people in the prophecy would get together and save the day, and the details were not so interesting, nor the story so compelling that I cared exactly how it would happen. ( )

Really love the way Flewelling plays with gender and sexuality in her writing, especially as this genre is so lacking in both. I never thought I'd find that more interesting than necromancers, but in this particular book, I do. The necromancer angle was growing a little tired by the end of this one for me, but I'm really excited to see where the series is headed next!

This series is definitely worthy of your TO READ list! ( )

Love this book. At times joyful, at times dark. Great characters and a beautiful story. ( )

4.5 stars

Better than the first book, imo. There was more character development, more nail-biting tension and adventure, and finally, some romance between Alec and Seregil! ❤️ That drama at the end, though! ( )

Recensione in italiano qui: http://thereadingpal.blogspot.it/2017/01/recensione-58-stalking-darkness.html

Alec closed cold fingers over his own. "What is it? You look
like you've just seen your own ghost."
A desperate ache lanced through Seregil as he looked down
into those dark blue eyes.
if you let slip the slightest detail
Damn you, Nysander!
"I can't tell you, talí, because I'd only have to lie, [...]"


Do you know of book series that you love since book 1's first line? There, the Nightrunner series is one of those, at least for me. I started the series with Luck in the Shadows, that I adored, and I kept going with this second book, which would deserve not 5 starts, but a hounderd.
We find again Seregil and Alec, who are back to their spy-life after the first book. There is an imminent war against Skala's ancient enemies, Plenimarans. Mardus hasn't yet abandoned the search to find Seregil and Alec, to get revenge on them and make the god Seriamaius come back, to destroy Skala.
Nysander is still hiding a lot of stuff, but he decides to involve Seregil and tell him little or nothing to make the spy help him. Nysander è worse than Dumbledore in Harry Potter, seriously...
During a festivity, that Lynn Flewelling has described in great manner, and so creating one of my favourite passages in this book, a prophecy is stated and it will force Nysander to tell everything in the end; and it will involve Seregil, Alec, Micum... And Beka, that in the meanwhile is gone for the war.
In this book the fantasy element of the series is addictive and palpable, between quite some magic fights and Magicians and Necromancers whom use their powers, one one side to avoid the rise of the Dead God, and on the other to make him come back in the land of the living.
Sacrifical victims, bloody rites described with care, obscure creatures; you'll find all of it in this story, that kept me breathless.
Mardus is much more present here than in the first book, so that we can know him better. He's an ambiguous character under certain aspects, but completely evil under others. It was pretty disturbing to hear him (yes, because when I read, if the book is well written, I imagine the whole story as a movie) talk of tortures with a calm and fatherly voice with Alec.
As I said before, Beka too has an important role in Stalking Darkness , and so we follow her during her battles. I love her even more than before, and I admit I have a little crush on her!
During all of this, we also see Alec and Seregil as they understand their true feelings for each other, finally. Strong feelings, which make them fight to get back to each other, and to search each other for solace. Seregil's desperation was in symbiosis with Alec's, and I felt it as MINE. Their solace for being with each other's arms too.
I swear this is one of the best book series I ever read; It's truly a pity that the italian translation was interrupted! ( )