Luck in the Shadows

I came for the promise of a high fantasy m/m, and I stayed for the Locke Lamorean thievery. Seriously, I didn't expect to find another gentleman thieves HF like LL (and yes, I'm aware that this one came WAY before LL), but I was pleasantly surprised that the book took that turn! I don't know why I thought it would be high fantasy, but I'm happy that it became a spy/thief thing instead (that's definitely my jam).

Seregil, whom I lovingly compare to Howl from Howl's Moving Castle in my head, was a delight to read and discover across the pages. I adored his quirky personality and his need to take a bath every two minutes, combined with his deep loyalty to his friends and strong emotions. Alec, our second protagonist, was equally charming, albeit slightly annoying with the overly emphasized modesty thing. Still, I really enjoyed seeing his progress as a Watcher under Seregil and Nysander's expert tutelage.

In my opinion, Nysander and Thero were the unsung heroes of this first volume. Thero was especially useful and endearing despite the fact that he and Seregil are mortal nemeses (not really, but they like to think so). As for Micum, well, I don't have much of an opinion really. He seemed to be just ‘there' and didn't really pique my interest all that much.

As for the m/m, the first half of the book had basically nothing in it in terms of romance, but I think that works well in showing how Seregil and Alec's relationship develops over time. I hate instalove stories, so this type of slow progression was much more realistic and believable. In the second half of the book, you can start picking up small clues here and there, especially from Seregil who slowly starts to see Alec in a different light. Ever since the prophecy, Seregil begins to notice small things about his companion, which makes the slow burning romance all the more delicious.

Naturally, the romance here is just a side plot to the bigger, political storyline that takes place. I loved the complex politics of the land, and all the different factions, governments, cities, etc. The fact that the monarch is, and always has been, a queen makes it all the more interesting.

Overall, this first book in the Nightrunner series was very enjoyable with lots of twists and turns, and I can't wait to tackle the next one!