The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks

I wanted a book about assassins and this book was recommended by several friends. However, this book does not feature assassins, it features "wetboys." To call them assassins would be a terrible insult - assassins can't use magic.

The Way of Shadows follows the journey of Azoth as he desperately tries to get off the streets and become an apprentice to the most feared wetboy in the city: Durzo Blint. To succeed, he must cast off his previous life and become someone new: Kylar, the killer. Probably the best part of this book is the balance between becoming a cold-blooded killer who doesn't value life and remaining human. Although Kylar isn't the same person as Azoth, he still values his friends and finds it extremely difficult to cut off all ties with them. As the story progresses, he also realizes that his master and hero, Durzo, might have a few secrets of his own.

This book is very long (688 pages print), but I blew through it in 3 days. It's an amazing story about a world on the brink of war, where Kylar is unknowingly right in the middle of the action. Although I was sometimes confused about all the history, politics, and the multitude of characters in power, it didn't stop me from greatly enjoying the story. There are some disturbing scenes, so it might not be best for younger readers, but I highly recommend it for an adult audience. It is the first book of a trilogy, which I will definitely be picking up. The Way of Shadows currently $7.99 on Kindle (or $19.99 for the entire trilogy).