Kingdom of Shadows

Kingdom of Shadows is the sixth book in the Night Soldiers series by author Alan Furst. This is a classic horror movie favorite. The story follows Hungarian nobleman Nicholas Morath, an extremely charismatic hero, caught up in a daring and dangerous attempt to stop the Nazi war in Eastern Europe.

Here are the top 3 reviews and comments that readers love about this fascinating book.

Review 1: Kingdom of Shadows audiobook by Darwin8u

Furst’s grease between the gears of history

There were moments I absolutely loved this book, but then it would unravel and drop. The whole fabric of the novel was just a tad too rough. The narrative was beautiful, like all Furst novels, but it didn’t have much forward momentum. Other than the jumpy, rough plot — I loved it. You can practically fall asleep in the whole dark, smokey, Hungarian/French flavor. Furst is amazing at describing the grease between the gears of history

Review 2: Kingdom of Shadows audiobook by Plundered treasure

Historical facts

I read many reviews before I buy a book and even then get some rotten apples. But Mr Furst books are becoming a favorite & teaching me a lot about history. I fact checked this one all along & was amazed to learn many new true events of this period. He must have someone that lived these stories & then he is able to relay them back to us in wonderful prose. I know such a person whose story was never told and I thank Mr Furst in their behalf

Review 3: Kingdom of Shadows audiobook by Judith A. Weller

More a Series of Vignettes

Rather than a connected story this is more a series of vignettes about Nicholas Morath, a part time Hungarian spy. The setting is Paris in the last year before the beginning of WWII.

The book tells of Nicholas Morath’s various espionage missions – some very mundane like his trip to Amsterdam and others very exciting like his trip to see the Czech fortress emplacements. In between missions, we learn about Morath’s misstress, a firendship with a bartender at the Balalaika bar etc.

There is the feeling of events spinning out of control as Hitler gobbles up more of Europe and a small coterie of Hungarian Aritocrats make futile efforts to spare their country from Hitler and the Arrow Cross boys.

This is a very atmospheric novel, like all of Alan Furst’s book, but I did not find it quite as gripping as the more coherent books like Dark Star. Parts of the books, such as when Morath is imprisoned in Romania and the efforts made to release him, are thrilling in deed and hold the reader’s attention. But the parts, especially dealing with Morath’s personal life and mistresses, is not so interesting.

Neverthelss it is decent atmospheric book and it is not that long.But Furst has written better books which I would read ahead of this one. However, Furst is still the foremost writer about Europe on the eve of WWII. If you like that period and setting than Furst is a must read.

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