Shadow Prowler (Chronicles of Siala) [Audiobook] [Englisch] [Audio CD]

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.

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.

Excellent fantasy novel, especially loved the Russian and semi-eastern European basis for the fantasy races, the elves are represented more as they were -before- Tolkien had his way with them, which is to say they are more like the Seelie/Unseelie from Irish folklore. Gnomes and Dwarves come across mostly as we know them with a few small twists (which I won't ruin for you).

The protagonists are enjoyable and decently fleshed out and the world has a good basis, although as the one reviewer mentions, it could use a map.

It should be remembered that the original tale is written in Russian though. Occasionally syntax and word choice is a little odd (only once did I ever find it actually jarring) but all in all its one of the best translated fantasy novels I've ever read.

Also, it doesn't (or didn't) make this immensely clear on the Amazon page, this is the first of three in a Trilogy. Those expecting a standalone fantasy novel will not be pleased.

Well worth the money.