I would classify this as more of a 3.75 star book.

It was indeed fun and interesting to read. The story had its engaging moments that kept me turning the pages.

However, when it came to the villain's "grand scheme," there was never a genuine sense of danger for me.

The build-up to the villain's plan didn't quite create that palpable sense of threat that would have elevated the story to a higher level.

Despite this, the overall narrative was still enjoyable, with well-developed characters and a good plot.

It just lacked that extra oomph in the danger department to make it a truly outstanding read.

Nonetheless, it's a book that I would recommend to others who are looking for an entertaining read that doesn't take itself too seriously.

A good book is like a precious treasure that holds within it a world of knowledge, imagination, and inspiration. It has the power to transport us to different times and places, introduce us to diverse characters and experiences, and expand our understanding of the world around us. Whether it's a thrilling adventure story, a thought-provoking novel, a captivating memoir, or a useful reference book, a good book has the ability to engage our minds, touch our hearts, and leave a lasting impression. It can be a source of entertainment, a means of escape from the daily grind, or a tool for personal growth and self-discovery. So, if you haven't picked up a good book lately, I highly recommend that you do so. You never know what wonderful surprises and insights it may hold for you.

I had sort of held out hopes for this particular one. Oh boy, what a huge mistake that was! So, naturally, I ended up being extremely disappointed. The premise initially seemed as if it had the potential to be really interesting. But alas, it just plodded along in a completely predictable manner. The characters were so dreadfully boring that they failed to capture my attention at all. There was pretty much nothing in the entire book that could manage to pique my interest.

Usually, whenever I don't take a liking to a book, I am able to pen down a long and detailed review highlighting all the things that irritated me. However, in the case of this book, it didn't even have anything remotely good to begin with. It wasn't overly obnoxious in any specific regard. But at the same time, it was most definitely not something that I would ever choose to read again, or even bother to give a second thought to.

It's truly a pity that a book with such a seemingly promising premise could turn out to be such a dud. It goes to show that looks can be deceiving when it comes to literature.

A mystery set in a D&D setting.

I was initially quite skeptical about how it could be successfully executed. The reason being that I thought the lack of familiarity might undermine the "mystery" aspect.

However, to my great surprise, I found out that I was completely wrong.

This book takes the reader on an exciting adventure through Eberron's largest city, Sharn. It involves the criminal gangs that lurk in the shadows, light political intrigue that simmers beneath the surface, and highlights various parts of the city that are mentioned in the source books.

The characterization in the book is quite decent. Cutter's backstory plays a crucial role in the plot, tying every character together in a meaningful way. However, Torin, who is supposed to be Wren's Watson, seems a bit underdeveloped.

Another interesting aspect to consider is magic. In a mystery setting, one might assume that magic would be used extensively to simplify the investigation. But in this book, magic isn't as prevalent as I initially thought.

Overall, this is a pretty good book that offers an engaging and entertaining read for fans of the D&D setting and mystery novels alike.

I have a deep affection for reading pulpy novels, and this particular one truly stood out as being really quite good.

The engaging plotlines and vivid characters in pulpy novels always manage to draw me in and keep me hooked from start to finish.

In this instance, the story was filled with twists and turns that I never saw coming, which made it all the more exciting to read.

The author's writing style was also very accessible, making it easy for me to lose myself in the world of the novel.

Whether it's a thrilling mystery, a steamy romance, or an action-packed adventure, pulpy novels never fail to deliver the entertainment I'm looking for.

And this one was no exception - it was a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a good page-turner.

So far, I have a deep affection for this book.

Essentially, it is like Sherlock Holmes set in Sharn, with the addition of fantasy tropes.

The story is extremely interesting and the writing is engaging.

It manages to combine the elements of mystery and fantasy in a seamless way, creating a unique and captivating world.

The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Overall, this book is a great read for anyone who enjoys mystery and fantasy novels.

I would highly recommend it to others.

I can't wait to see what else the author has in store for us in the future.

The nights of the long shadows are the three nights of the year when the dark powers of the world gain strength and rise to prey upon the unwary.

So, what does that have to do with a viciously murdered professor, his courtesan and her boyfriend? Enter Abraxis Wren, inquisitive of House Medani, and Torin, his dwarf partner. You will follow them as they stumble, sleuth and bicker their way through the nights (and days) of the long shadows. They encounter crooked politicians, dark clerics, and a rampaging warforged. They even team up with a couple of unlikely people.

The mystery is very engaging and inventive, encompassing more than just one simple murder. However, it is the characters that steal the show. Each one is unique and well thought out. From the halfling mafia enforcer to the owner of an upscale brothel to a brilliant (if mad) artificer. Not to mention the dwarven female that is never seen, but that I hold quite a clear image of in my head.

Wren makes a perfect main character. His intelligence (and just a drop of flightiness) provides in him the perfect foil for Torin's more grounded manner. The characters are very vibrant and fit in the story well. Sharn was shown in all its grime and glory. This novel has a bit more of a gritty feel to it than most other Eberron novels that I have read, which works for it very well.

Though it is the second in the Inquisitives Series, it can be read as a standalone novel. First, you might want to read a short story by the author in Tales of the Last War titled Death before Dawn as it's a bit of a prequel to at least one of the characters. Mr. Crilley's second Abraxis Wren novel (titled Taint of the Black Brigade) was released in August of 2010. Originally the third Wren novel was slated for release in 2013, but I am unable to find mention of it. I do hope that it is still slated for this year because I look forward to seeing what our favorite (only?) half-elf inquisitive does next.

4 stars: slight room for improvement, though very addictive.

Night of the Long Shadows by Paul Crilley is the second book in the stand-alone novel series The Inquisitives and the first in The Chronicles of Abraxis Wren, set in the Eberron setting of Dungeons and Dragons. The series includes other novels like Bound by Iron by Edward Bolme. The sequel to Night of the Long Shadows is Taint of the Black Brigade. Paul Crilley has also co-written Oracle of the Morrigan and has another novel in the Invisible Order series coming in 2010.

In the story, a professor at Morgrave University is killed and a man with dragon tattoos is found over the corpse. The witness, Torin, is a partner of Abraxis Wren, who investigates. As they uncover more, the motives seem off.
The story has some criticisms. The editing is a major problem with a repeated paragraph and a name mix-up. The dialogue flow also had a minor issue where it was hard to track who was speaking.
However, there are many praises. The characters are great, especially Cutter and Wren. Wren, in particular, is a refreshing and humorous main character. The humor in the story makes it easy to read and balances the serious scenes. The murder mystery is interesting and unpredictable, keeping the reader engaged.
There are also some side notes. There are many characters who only appear briefly, which is okay for this type of story. The Eberron setting may require some research for new readers. The cover art is just okay.
Overall, Night of the Long Shadows is a fun and exciting murder mystery with a few editing issues. The humorous dialogue and great characters make it worth a read. I would definitely recommend it.

Night of the Long Shadows is an excellent choice for casual reading among veterans of the fantasy genre who have a penchant for franchises such as Forgotten Realms or Shadowrun.

It may not be a revolutionary or genre-defining work, but it offers a quality reading experience.

Paul Crilley does a remarkable job in bringing the characters to life and propelling the narrative forward. His technical prowess in controlling the page flow and hitting all the appropriate dramatic beats is truly impressive.

However, the content does sometimes suffer from an overabundance of clichés, which I consider typical for a multi-book franchise like Eberron.

The story centers around Cutter, a dangerous bodyguard who has transformed into an anti-hero and will stop at nothing to locate his lost love. Alongside him are trademark characters like Wren (and his dwarven sidekick) as they traverse the fantasy world, solving crimes and ridding it of a few evils.

Initially, it all seems rather ordinary until the introduction of several franchise-specific villains, accompanied by a surprisingly good mystery that holds the narrative together throughout all three acts.

In conclusion, it is well worth reading!

Abraxis Wren is truly so full of himself, and it is absolutely AWESOME!!!

It all starts out as what seems to be just a simple case of someone stealing some dreamlily supposedly. However, it quickly evolves into something else entirely.

Wren is an extremely inquisitive detective. His assistant, Torin, walks in on a human standing over the corpse of a professor in the University where he is looking through books for Wren. After the constables show up, Wren is asked to look into the case.

The bickering between Wren and Torin is truly great. It adds a lot of humor and charm to the story.

Really liked how the author fleshed out Cutter in the book as well. He was just a bruiser whose lady friend was unfortunately at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Overall, this is a really engaging and enjoyable read with interesting characters and a captivating plot.