"Walking the streets of Moscow, indistinguishable from the rest of its population, are the Others. Possessors of supernatural powers and capable of entering the Twilight, a shadowy world that exists in parallel to our own, each owes allegiance either to the Dark or the Light"
The Day Watch is the second book in the series by the Russian novelist, Sergei Lukyanenko, following on from The Night Watch. Lukyanenko has been described as Russia's answer to Tolkien and it is easy to see why. He has created an absolutely absorbing narrative in which you feel fully immersed in the fantasy world he has built up. Unlike in The Night Watch, where the story revolved around the unlikely 'hero' Anton and the forces of the Light, The Day Watch concentrates on the stories of the Dark and characters within the Day Watch. With the second book, Lukyanenko has spun a 180 degree angle on the story and allows the reader to look through the eyes of the 'bad guys'. This puts an interesting spin on the story of protecting humans and the truce of human interference in a world inhabited by magicians, were-creatures, vampires, and other such magical creatures
In The Day Watch essentially continues where The Night Watch left off, with most of the main characters making a reappearance. The story centres around an ancient sect of the Dark that is planning to attempt to resurrect one of the most ancient and powerful Dark wizards. This would eventually lead the Dark to gain the upper hand, and this is alongside the arrival of a mysterious Dark magician who shows powers superior to any that attempt to stop him. The novel follows this mysterious stranger and the Light's attempts to apprehend this sect in order to keep the equilibrium.
Luyianenko does not take the traditional approach where the Light is absolute 'Good' and the Dark is absolute 'Evil', but describes the considerable lengths they would go in order to gain dominance over the other. Lukyanenko sets the scene in a post-Soviet Moscow where the Watches battle each other in a "Cold War-like balance of power"
I felt I was as captivated with this book as I was with the last and the story just gets deeper and more involving. In order for this to be relevant I believe you have to have read The Night Watch or else the depth of character building will not be the same. However, I must say that I didn't have as strong a feeling towards the main characters as I did with the first book. The only reason I can think of for this to be the case was the fact this is taken from the 'Dark's' perspective and so I was always wanting the Light, and more to the point Anton, to succeed. Yet, if you have an interest in fantasy books or films then I would definitely suggest reading this book and enjoying Lukyanenko's magnificent work.
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Thanks for the review. Nicely balanced. Perhaps a bit more opinion, and details on how and where from you got the book, or can get the book. Have you seen the films? They have been well done.
Walking the streets of Moscow indistinguishable from the rest of its population are The ... more
Others. Possessors of supernatural powers and capable of entering the Twilight a shadowy world that exists in parallel to our own each owes allegiance either to...
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Advantages: Two exceptional and highly original fantasy novels Disadvantages: Not books for those looking for mindless entertainment; these are thinking fantasy novels
Advantages: Two exceptional and highly original fantasy novels Disadvantages: Not books for those looking for mindless entertainment; these are thinking fantasy novels
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