Luck in the Shadows
Luck in the Shadows is the first book in Lynn Flewelling’s Nightrunner fantasy series. It follows Alec of Kerry, a young hunter who is wrongly jailed on a spying charge. In prison he meets Seregil, a clever spy from the exotic city of Rhiminee who can change his appearance. They escape together, and Seregil takes Alec on as his apprentice in thieving and spying. They travel south toward Rhiminee, where Seregil will report to the wizard Nysander and join a secret spy group called the Watchers. Along the way, Seregil falls ill from a mysterious magic tied to a wooden disk, and Alec must continue the journey on his own. In Rhiminee, Nysander heals Seregil and takes possession of the disk. Once recovered, Seregil resumes mentoring Alec. Alec also befriends Beka Cavish, a member of the Queen’s Horse Guard, and the two work on odd jobs for Rhiminee’s scandal-ridden nobility under the guise of the “Rhiminee Cat.”
A prophecy hints that Seregil will be “father, brother, friend and lover” to Alec, and Alec learns that Seregil is Aurenfaie, a long-lived magical people from Aurenen, the source of much of the series’ magic. After Seregil is jailed again for alleged treason, a plot to overthrow Queen Idrilain of Skala unfolds. Alec and Seregil, with Nysander, investigate, even briefly switching bodies to help uncover the conspirators. Their search leads to Lady Kassarie, a Leran ally who opposes Idrilain. They discover Lord Corruth’s decomposed skeleton—set up as a trophy by Kassarie—showing the Lerans’ involvement in Corruth’s disappearance and the strained relations between Skala and Aurenen. A fight erupts between Skalans and Lerans, but Nysander uses magic to transform Alec and Seregil into birds, allowing them to escape Kassarie’s fortress. Kassarie is killed and Idrilain’s throne is preserved, but Nysander has a vision of death and the Empty God, foreshadowing darker times to come.
The novel blends mystery with fantasy and was influenced by Sherlock Holmes, with Seregil and Alec echoing Holmes and Watson. It’s described as a “fantasy of manners” that focuses on a few key characters and features swashbuckling action. The book also explores sexuality and gender roles, presenting a world where bi- and homosexual relationships are normal and hinting at the romantic bond between the two male leads. Luck in the Shadows was well received, winning the 1997 Locus Award for Best First Novel. Critics praised its vivid settings and character dynamics, though one review found parts derivative. It is followed by Stalking Darkness and other installments in the series.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:23 (CET).