Book Description

The celebrated New York Times bestselling master of fantasy returns with the thrilling conclusion to his enthralling, explosive Darkwar Saga . . .

Wrath of a Mad God
Book three of The Darkwar Saga

"At this very moment, a dome of black energy is being expanded in a vale in the far north. This is not merely an invasion, but the beginning of a colonization, a process that will end with the complete annihilation of every life-form on this world."

Book Description

In the frozen northlands of the embattled realm of Midkemia, fate can form strange alliances.

Customer Reviews (19)

Not the Best but Still Fun
Unlike many of Feist previous efforts there is nothing creative about this except in the general story line.The characters and intriuge were all a little to formula but still interesting enough to keep me wanting more.If you are a fan of Feist you will enojoy but if this is your first time to read his books, start with another...

Honored Enemy was an Honor To Read!!
What happens when you combine two Best-Selling authors into one single fantasy epic?

You end up with classic fantasy that rivals those literary giants of sword & Sorcery and fantasy of the distant past but with more modernistic approach that lends Honored Enemy that fantastical and magical reading experience that will leave you totally satisfied.

So then why didn't we give it a 5 star rating, you ask? Only because the authors failed to give some desciptions to some characters and their type of armor and weapons. Yes, we know from Feist's past best-selling novels of Midkemia involves the invading Asian-like Tsurani, but what types of armor and swords to they wear and carry? We imagined the swords and short swords to be the traditional katana and dai-katana, but it was never told or shown to be that.

Other than that, this was the perfect fantasy novel that was enriched with colorful and believable characters of both Good and Evil, along with top-notch world-building of the frozen world of Midkemia to the rigors of war. Dark and Light elves were truly awe-inspiring to read about, and you will absolutely feel the love and respect the humans have for one Dark Elf who has turned from his brother, the leader of the Dark Elves, and their enemies the Tsurani, who all are forced to join forces in the frozen mountainous terrain to battle a horde of golblins, humans and Dark Elves, all bent on their destruction.

There is major action/adventure here, mixed with a huge bag of writing tricks that will endear you to a host og memorable characters, with even a solid love story that will enthrall and not bore you.

The teaming up here of Raymond E. Feist and co-author William R. Forstchen,(the author of the utterly fantastic Lost Regiment series), together write this new, exciting 1st in a series set in the Riftwar saga that Feist made into a best-selling legendary series. This is truly a magical, exciting read folks!

We are looking forward to purchasing and reading the next book in this series, co-authored by another great fantasy writer, Joel Rosenberg, who wrote another awesome fantasy series - Guardians of the Flame - and should add another new element to Feist's Riftwar saga.

Still good stuff
This is a great story, if you can't get enough of the Riftwar Saga.It maybe time for Raymond Feist to move on though. He's a great writer and I'm sure can come up with a new theme at some point.Although he has missed before!

Action and Adventure
Honored Enemy is a captivating, action-packed, adventrue story. It's about two sworn enemy forces temporarily setting aside their war in a desperate quest to survive the forcesof a third, mutually more dangerous foe. The author develops the key characters while maintainingthe active flow of the story. The reader can readily picture and feel the story as it unfolds. It is one of those books you can't put down until it's over and then you wish it wasn't.

Aesome
Exciting books. I have not reread this one yet, but I remember it from about 2 years ago. RF is a great writer. If you like a good story that keeps you turning the page, choose him. ... Read more

Book Description

The Conclave of Shadows has smashed the Nighthawks' dread plot to destroy the Empire of Great Kesh through civil war, putting an end to the murderous brotherhood's reign of terror. But there is no time for the victors to celebrate, for the mad sorcerer, Leso Varen, has taken refuge with the Magicians of the Assembly on the world of Kelewan, and is lost among the most powerful men and women of that empire. And a devastating new threat looms on the horizon: hordes of the Dasati&#8212the most vicious warriors in the known universe&#8212are massing to overrun both Kelewan and Midkemia.

Customer Reviews (25)

My favorite so far!!!
I've read this entire series over the past several months (I think there are what 20 books so far?).I have thoroughly enjoyed it, I had a hard time getting through the "Krondor" books, but they were interesting in their own way.

I absolutely loved this book though!I enjoyed how Mr. Feist fleshed out the people from this "2nd level of hell".It is to date my favorite of the series (even though I enjoyed them all).I can't wait until the next book in the series comes out.

This novel has a freshness to it that I appreciated.I have recommended this entire series to anyone who enjoys this genre.

The Darkwar Saga, Book 2
Feist has done it again and kept the pages turning to the end! Always wishing the next book was out and hating to wait. R. E. Feist is the best Sci-Fi writer I have come across in years and I have been reading for over 45 of them.

Good Book
This book reads fast and is action packed.I am looking foward to the third book in the series.

Most Original Feist Novel in Years . . . But Horribly Written
I feel a little bit like Jake Gyllenhal's character in 'Brokeback Mountain.'I've been reading novels of Midkemia for so long (my first grown-up chapter books in elementary school)that I just can't quit you, Raymond Feist, no matter how bad a writer you have become!

I went back to Feist's original Riftwar books to see if he was always such a bad writer.Nope.I re-read a few chapters of 'Magician,' and that book has tolerable prose, and the dialogue doesn't make me wince.Could it be that Feist didn't write the more recent novels of Midkemia?Could it be that he just jots down story ideas and hands them over to a high school Sophomore for fleshing out?The cheap, easy sentiment (Pug's son marrying an admirable young widow and adopting her impoverished-yet-cheerful sons into a life of privilege and opportunity) and teen-movie cliches (said sons going to boarding school, beating up the school bully, then becoming friends with the bully and the hero-worshipping nerd who ends up being the King's son) just ruin what could have been the best Feist book in years.

About a third of the novel is from the Dasati point of view.
When Feist first introduced the Dasati, it seemed a lame attempt to create new villains worse than the last villains the Midkemians overcame.But in this story, Feist takes us into the lives of the Dasati, and it is more engaging and unique than anything Feist has ever written.The author has really put some thought into what a culture of Evil would be and how such a culture in fact cannot really exist.

I was very happily surprised at the complexity of Feist's Dasati narrative, but it is not enough to save the book from the awful prose and paper-thin characters.

Into a Dark Realm
This is a good Feist piece of work.It does not live up the Riftwar Saga, but the Magician series was by far his finest works.However, Feist is beginning to introduce and utilize many new characters.For many this will be a welcome change.I enjoyed Feist's other series that leveraged new characters.The Tsurani series was great.

The Conclave is still at the heart of the book so those with attachment to Pug and Nakor will find them plenty to keep you interested.

All in all, I recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

Surviving the wrath of the fearsome Sauur—a hideous race of invading serpents—noble Erik and cunning Roo have delivered a timely warning to the rulers of the Midkemian Empire, and are now free to pursue their separate destinies. Erik chooses the army—and the continuing war against Midkemia's dread enemies. Roo lusts for wealth and power—rising high and fast in theworld of trade. But with luxury comes carelessness and a vulnerability to the desires of the flesh. And a beautiful seductress with her ruthless machinations threatens to destroy everything Roo has built and become—summoning catastrophe into his future . . . and terror into his world.

Customer Reviews (66)

Not Free SF Reader
Cash over swords.


The second book of the Serpentwar series follows Roo Avery as he gets involved in financial machinations, trying to bootstrap himself into the world of Midkemian big business, and all the deviousness and underhandedness that goes along with that. He still prefers this to people trying to separate parts of his body from the rest with weaponry or magic.

The conflict with the Dark Queen won't go away, and even rich businessmen will be needed in the war.

Excellent continuation of the Serpentwar Saga
Feist is well known for his strong characters and excellent battle scenes,
yet in this book, he focusses more on battle in the realm of commerce.

Rupert Avery, or Roo as he's affectionately known, has returned from the
journey to Novindus a changed man. For his service to the crown, along with
the remaining condemned who survived, he receives royal pardon and some gold.
With this gold, he embarks on a bold quest to make himself the wealthiest
man in the Kingdom, believing that trading in fine wine will be just the
ticket. However, a run-in with the thieves guild, known as the Mockers,
dashes his plan. After a stint working as a waiter in a coffee house
where traders meet, luck delivers into his hands some rare and valuable
silk. With this somewhat shady acquisition, he not only re-launches his
career in trading, but also acquires some powerful enemies.

So it is that through cunning, determination and fortune, Roo forms a
powerful trading company, discovering that while being a soldier might be
dangerous, the world of business can be equally deadly, the moreso because
you often cannot see the sword coming.

In the meantime, Erik, Calis and Bobby, who we met in the first book
(Shadow of a Dark Queen) return once more to Novindus, to try to eradicate
the evil serpent priests known as the Pantathians. Little do they realize
that a third, more powerful player is involved, who seems equally
determined to destroy the Pathatians, yet is an even greater threat to
the Kingdom than the serpent priests ever were.

Feist does an excellent job on this book, bringing alive the world of
commerce in a medieval setting, while bringing in enough swords, sorcery
and intrigue to keep those not inclined towards business fully hooked
on this book. Further, many old characters appear in the book, which should
appeal to both newcomers to the series and those who have stuck through
all his books from the beginning.

I highly recommend this book.

Different and good.
Mr Feist departs from his prior action/fantasy to deliver political and commercial intrigue in a fantasy setting. Quite good.

Roo's the Man!
When Roo kicked butt generating wealth in the market and put his enemies to shame, it was just too much for me. True, this isn't what you'd call classic style fantasy, but it still has many elements. I love it when they go back after coming from down under and Barrets Coffeehouse, the site of Roo's greates manipulation of the market. Man, what an awesome story.

**A book I would also recommend is The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. This, the first installment of The Morcyth Saga is a great beginning for a new author. Battles, magic, gods, secret passages and intrigue, all the elements of a classic epic fantasy! Any fantasy reader will enjoy it

Good continuation to a fantatic story
Rise of a Merchant Prince by Raymond Feist is the second book in the Serpent War Saga, the first book being shadow of a Dark Queen. This book seems to polarize fans of Feist, as they either love it or abhor it. Me, I really enjoyed this novel for several reasons. 1) It is a deviation from standard fantasy novels in that it doesn't focus on things that are `out of this world so to speak 2) the character development (mainly Roo's) is second to none, and 3) Feist can pen a tale with the best fantasy writers in the business today. With that said, there are a few things that I Wasn't overly fond of, but I will touch on those later in this review.

The main plot of this book is just as the title implies, which is the rise of a merchant prince who is Roo or Rupert Avery. There are a few sub-plots to continue the over-riding story of the saga as well, such as the Serpent's continuing domination of their continent and how that is being dealt with by the main characters Erik and the rest of the army. When I firs found out the plot centered on Roo and dealt a lot with being a merchant and trading etc, I was a little apprehensive as it didn't seem like all that interesting of a book to read. Yet, Feist MAKES it interesting. I have read some reviews on-line that say the pacing of this book is slow; but quite honestly, I didn't see that at all. In fact, I thought the book was hard to put down. There is just enough written about Erik and the army to move that story along, but this book is clearly written for Roo and the emergence he makes as a merchant and how powerful he becomes. With that said one of my complaints is it seemed almost to easy for Roo to advance as he does, but for fear of writing spoilers I won't say more.

As I mentioned above the character development of Roo is fantastic. Feist really does a great job at defining Roo and allowing the reader to see just what makes him tick. The character development of the rest of the cast of this saga seems to be lacking a bit in that nothing much new is really introduced for Erik or Calis. It almost seems like Feist was overly concerned with Roo that he may have `misplaced' the development of the other characters a bit. A minor detail, but none-the-less a little bothersome for those who really enjoy character development and the twists it can bring.

Overall, I thought this was a very good book and right on par with what I have become accustomed to when I crack open a Feist book. If you are a fan of Feist, I think you will enjoy this one if you know what to expect. If you are looking at starting to read a new series and are thinking about this series, I would caution you, and suggest you read Magician: Apprentice first and start from the beginning and get the background, you can't go wrong with that book. All in all a solid read and a enjoyable read for a fantasy reader.
... Read more

Book Description

It should have been so simple . . .

Customer Reviews (12)

Atrocious
I must say that this book is a MAJOR disappointment. I've read every other book that Feist has written and this is by far the worst. First the murder doesn't happen until near the end of the book. Second, the majority of the novel deals with the weather conditions of LaMut when the blizzard hit. I know it was probably cold but do we really need endless pages describing people not wanting to go out in the cold and standing around giving everyone the "evil eye" . Speaking of standing around that's all about what everyone does, stand around and try to figure out who's friends and who the next big shot is going to be. Finally of the main three characters talk about stereotypes...let's see we have the smart one, the big one , and and average guy who tries to be nice. If you are a Feist fan and want to read it all, go ahead but be warned.

Weak
Just never went anywhere.I am a big Raymond Feist fan but this was a big disappointment.

Why did Fiest let Rosenberg defile the Riftwar Saga?
There are three major problems with this book.

First, the three main characters aren't that interesting.

Second, the same problem I had with the last Rosenberg book I read - it's hard to tell what the plot is. Despite the title, it is not a murder mystery. The murder doesn't even happen until 3/4 of the way through the book. And then the main characters frame an innocent (on this issue, anyway) man so that they can claim the job is done, get paid, and leave town.

Third, most of the events in the book center around a non-issue: The identity of the next Earl of LaMut. This is a non-issue because most of the people interested in this book have probably read Magician, which has been out for decades, and gives the answer - someone who isn't in the group squabbling about it in this book. The fact that the most frequently brought up question in the book is one that the reader knew the answer to before he even picked the book up makes it hard to care about the book as a whole.

Not Free SF Reader
Mercenary detective work has less war, but is still nasty.


Three men, ex-mercenaries as such have basically run out of war, and have to decide what to do next. They end up being hired as investigators in what turns out to be a less straightforward case than they would have liked, involved the nasty local politics and nobles of the area.

Sorry, but ...
"Honoured Enemy" set the bar really high for this series. Too bad Book 2 isn't up to the challenge. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Shards of a Broken Crown is the final installment in Feist's hugely popular Serpentwar Saga--the first three books are Shadow of a Dark Queen, Rise of a Merchant Prince, and Rage of a Demon King. Winter is breaking, and the Emerald Queen's defeated army, led by a treacherous villain, plan a horrific final battle against the realm. Favorite characters like Pug, Roo, Duko, and Miranda return in this tale of the devastation of war in a land of magic.Book Description

The demon is no more. The enemy has been routed. But all is not well . . .

Customer Reviews (144)

Not Free SF Reader
Cleanup opportunities.


After going through a war with a demon, much of Midkemia has serious rebuilding to do. So, great time for an invasion an enterprising Keshian military leader things.

So, with the focus off epic fantasy and magic on the same scale as before we have something a little more similar to the previous novel with Borric and Erland, where a couple of the younger generation are the focus of the novel, and have to grow up fast to deal with a serious situation.

Dramatic conclusion of the Serpentwar Saga
The Serpentwar has ravaged the western realm of the Kingdom of the Isles,
on Midkemia. Patrick, Prince of Krondor finds himself without his city,
although it is mostly rubble and cinder at this stage. Worse, a full
30,000 invaders are annexing off large parts of his realm, the Keshians
are still threatening to invade the south, and there's a small matter
of a considerable number of the powerful race of Saaur trying to stake a
claim in his realm. Thrust into this situation, while tutored in theories,
he is untried and relatively young, and given to outbursts similar to a
child's temper tantrum.

The book largely revolves around James and Dashiel Jamison, grandsons of
the Duke of Krondor (formerly the once notorious Jimmy The Hand), working
either in the roles of soldiers or advisors to those in power. It is in
this book that they really come into their element, and step out from the
shadows cast by their famous and powerful forebears, although the
transition will not be easy.

At the same time, Pug, Nakor, Miranda, and to some extent Tomas, must face
the evil force behind the army of invaders. It is in this novel that Pug
comes to realize that he can no longer concern himself with just the
demands of the crown, but rather the defense of the world of Midkemia
against the forces of evil. In doing so, he severs his ties to the crown,
and initiates the founding of the Conclave of Shadows.

Feist's forte is in making characters seem alive, and he does not
disappoint in this novel. While there is much to be done to clean up and
heal his war-torn nation, he does an admirable job in tying up loose ends.

I highly recommend this book.

Highly recommended!
In this sequel to Rage of a Demon King, author Raymond Feist takes us back to his magical world of Midkemia. With the defeat of the Demon King, it appeared to all that all that was left was to roll up the remnants of the foreign army. But, the world is now a changed place, and old threats are ready to reassert themselves. And worse, something dark is left over after the fall of the Demon King, and swords and daggers won't be enough to resist it.

Overall, I thought that this was a great book. Yes, it does not have the scale of the earlier books of the Serpentwar Saga, but it still has a lot of action and adventure, not to mention a really great part that pits the great magical powers of Midkemia against their greatest foe.

So, let me just say that if you are a fan of Raymond Feist, you will find this book to be another great addition to your Feist library. And, if you are a fan of great fantasy literature, then you will also love this book - just make sure you read the other books of the Saga first. I give this book my highest recommendations!

Conclusion of the Serpent War Saga
Shards of a Broken Crown is book 4, and the conclusion of The Serpent War Saga, by Raymond Feist. This book picks up right where Rage of a Demon King left off and finishes up the tale of the Kingdom putting itself back together after the war. Now, if you have not read any other book in this series do not read this one. In order for this book to make sense you need to read the first three book, actually, in order for everything in this book to make sense you really need to start with the Rift War Saga the first book of that is Magician: Apprentice. Then the entire story arc will make more sense and be much more satisfying to the reader.

Overall I have mixed reviews about this book. There are many aspects I like, while there are still a few things that didn't sit well with me. For fans of Feist this is a typical work of his. The plot moves along at a good pace and keeps the reader interested, and there is a fair amount of character development as well. I have read several reviews of people who were disappointed in this book and some that think this was a waste of a book. If you consider how much happens in this book it's not a waste at all. But, I think I understand why people are not `happy' with it too.

This book is first and foremost about plot. There are many plot elements that Feist needed to include in this book to be able to make the just to his next set of books, The Conclave of Shadows trilogy. There are quite a few plot lines within this book and I won't rehash all of them, plus one or two would be spoilers and I won't do that. Suffice it to say that this plot is engaging and well thought out and certainly accomplishes what Feist was planning. To say anymore than that would ruin parts of the story though.

The character development in this book is again where Feist shines. Although this book is about moving the plot, the characters shine through at times. The biggest areas of development are Jimmy and Dash, two fantastic characters that really come into their own in this book.Also, the character of Prince Patrick fleshes out nicely. Erik Von Darkmoor has a strong presence as well. Actually, I could probably keep listing character after character, as Feist did a good job of moving each of them along, which is quite the feat considering how many characters are in this book.

Overall, I was satisfied with this book. I thought it was a fun read and stayed true to the characters. However, the ending disappointed me a little. It almost seemed like Feist was running out of room and quickly tied up all the loose ends as quickly and succinctly as possible. It doesn't really take anything away from the book, but it just doesn't `feel' like a Feist ending to me.

Fans of Feist's earlier work will want to read this just to complete that part of this grand story. People who are looking for some new fantasy to read should really start with Magician: Apprentice and go from there. Feist writes wonderful fantasy that is sure to please a broad spectrum of readers. I can't recommend his work enough.

Liked it
The first time I read this, I didn't like it. It had it's moments but it didn't star my favorite characters much from the first three. Mainly just the borothers Dash and James. But after reading it seveal times, I grew to like them and there are definitely superb moments in this work to get the blood stirring. Great book!

**A book I would also recommend is The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. This, the first installment of The Morcyth Saga is a great beginning for a new author. Battles, magic, gods, secret passages and intrigue, all the elements of a classic epic fantasy! Any fantasy reader will enjoy it ... Read more

Book Description

A loyal soldier and a wealthy merchant have served bravely in the flames of an enduring war that is ravaging their land. But swords, bows, wits and courage will no longer be enough to defeat the scourge that is descending upon their home. For a foul and terrible thing has escaped from a world already devoured to feed on one consumed by chaos—an insatiable nightmare creature of dark and murderous nature which seeks to own and corrupt the very source of life itself

The final conflict is joined, pitting serpent against man and magician against demon. For those who battle in the cause of good, there will be victory . . . or there will be doom for all.

There can be no other outcome.

Customer Reviews (108)

Not Free SF Reader
Invasion preparation.


Things are a bit worse than they seem as the Dark Queen is really a demon in disguise, and a large army is heading Erik's way as he desperately tries to train enough men to do something about it.

Roo is involved in high level economic issues, and even more importantly on the magic front, Pug and Tomas have to find Macros the Black if they are going to have any hope of stopping what is coming to Sethanon and the Lifestone.

Dramatic continuation of the Serpentwar Saga
I hadn't read the book in a while, but re-reading the entire saga has lent
me a greater appreciation of this brilliant series.

This book picks up from the end of Rise Of A Merchant Prince. Time is
running out, as reports indicate that the army of the Emerald Queen from
the continent of Novindus will reach the Kingdom in a matter of months.
Erik von Darkmoor, formerly on "death row" for the murder of his half
brother and now a Sergeant of Calis' Crimson Eagles, a special divison of
the Kingdom's armies, works hard to train soldiers and prepare for the
coming war.

Before long, 250,000 mercenaries arrive in Krondor, determined to destroy
everything in their path in their quest to reach Sethanon. Unbeknownst to
them, their leader known as the Emerald Queen had been killed months
before, and all are now under the influence of a mighty demon, who wishes
to take posession of the Lifestone. In the background, we see a short
return of Macros, to aid Pug, Miranda and Nakor in unravelling the mystery
behind the reason for the invasion, and the role of the demon.

Feist goes into some lengthy discussions on the structure of the deities
and the nature of both magic and the universe. Clearly he has put a lot
of thought into the logical structure of things. While it can be
somewhat confusing at times to follow, he uses Nakor's impish humour to
lighten the load, so we are not completely wallowing in academic
discussion.

As always, Feist does an outstanding job in the area of character
development, and his battle scenes are second to none. Further, he brings
vividly to life the ravages, destruction and heartache caused by such a
massive invasion. In short, he brilliantly draws the reader into the
horrific nature of medieval warfare, and makes you want to keep reading
without stop (I had difficulty putting the book down).

A brilliant book which I highly recommend, but would urge you to read
the first two books beforehand (Shadow of a Dark Queen, and Rise of a
Merchant Prince) for it to make more sense.

Great
Exciting books. I have not reread this one yet, but I remember it from about 5 years ago. RF is a great writer. If you like a good story that keeps you turning the page,choose him. Love the series aspect.

The death of all life or salvation for all
By: Trent Volkman

An army from across the sea, a demon king, a war of massive perportions.

This is Fiests third installment of the serpent war saga a 4 book series. It tells the story of Erick Von Darkmoor and his life training the many raw recruits for the special fighting force the crimson eagles. The story of Rupert Avery as he clashes with the mighty merchant Jacob Esterbrook and his seductive daughter Silvia for control over trade to Kesh. This also speaks about the magician Pugs part in this he is combating the mysterious third player Nalar the mad god of evil. My favorite part in this book is when the Marcos the black, magician, fights the demon king Maarg.

The theme of this book could be considered protect your heart don't give it away to anyone unless you know they are the right one for you. As far as I'm concerned this was a good book it had suspense, action, mystery, even a little romance everything a good novel needs.

Outstanding!!!!
This book is among many amazing stories that Feist has written. I love how he devolps everything. People need to be patient when they read his books. its not like u can " have an amzing tragic story, and still be homefor dinner " they take time. He doesnt rush his series, which, as long as he delievers like hes done every single time, then thats fine with me. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not Free SF Reader
Thief escapes.


The young Jimmy the Hand helps Anita and Arutha escape, and so is related to earlier books, but the main focus of this novel deals with the young thief, and what happens to him afterwards as a result of his actions.

Basically, he has to bail out into the countryside, and see what he can work out for himself and a friend there. Needless to say, there will be some trouble to be found.


2.5 out of 5

It's good, not great
I enjoy the world of Midkemia and everything that Mr. Feist has written.I enjoyed the other 2 novels in this series more than this one.I can tell you this, I have read novels by all three of the collaborating authors, and each novel is written in their own distinct style.I don't know if Mr. Feist gives a general outline to them, and possibly does some revisions, but this reads like a Stirling novel to me.That is all well and fine, but it didn't have the spark of Mr. Feist's usually work.All in all, it was enjoyable enough to read, and it does give you an even greater depth to the character, and the wonderful world of Midkemia.

Honour Among Thieves
First of all completely ignore what is written on the back of the book--I've seen publishers get information wrong before, but never this spectacularly.It explains that after running afoul of Guy du Bas-Tyra's secret police Jimmy the Hand flees north to Sarth where he tries to set himself up in "business" but finds "a dark secret."Actually Jimmy goes south to Land's End--Sarth is never mentioned.

I have enjoyed each of the collaborations of the Legends of the Riftwar series, and Jimmy the Hand was no exception.I'm sure Jimmy is a favourite of many readers of the Riftwar Saga, and I'm no exception.There is just something about the young thief that is endearing.However nice it was to see him in Prince of the Blood and the Serpentwar Saga it wasn't quite the same.Here Steve Stirling and Raymond Feist have managed to capture the youthful Jimmy and detail one of his adventures.

The story opens right as Arutha and Anita are escaping from Krondor with the aid of the Mockers.For several subsequent chapters we see the aftermath of the Crydee Prince's exploits through the city and Jimmy, of course, takes center stage.After matters get a bit too hot Jimmy and Flora, a fellow Mocker, make their way to Land's End.She is searching for her grandfather and a respectable life, while Jimmy just needs to get out of town.

The tale is well told and an engaging look at Jimmy.It does though switch perspective several times to Larrie (a young farming girl from near Land's End), the Baron of Land's End himself, and a couple others.These changes are disconcerting at first, but become understandable after a couple pages.Jimmy shows some flashes of nobility, perhaps inspired by Anita, but is still a pragmatic thief at heart, even when confronting dark magic.I was surprised at the level of magic in the book, but as it is something supposed to be used in Midkemia it was nice to see more than in Feist's other books where we generally just see Pug and others associated with him employ spells.

This really is what I've enjoyed most about the Legends series--we get the chance to see a coherent view of Midkemia (aided by Feist's collaboration) that is nonetheless different from his usual tack.If you've enjoyed Feist's works then you should definately check out this trilogy, and you can't miss this chance to learn more about Jimmy the Hand! ... Read more

Book Description

The dread plot to destroy the Empire of Great Kesh has failed. The Conclave of Shadows has ended the murderous Nighthawk brotherhood's horrific reign of terror and death. But the mad sorcerer, Leso Varen, has fled, taking refuge among the most powerful men and women on Kelewan—a world now threatened, along with Midkemia, by hordes of the most vicious warriors in the known universe. The great sorcerer Pug knows of no power that will vanquish these invaders. And now he, brave Magnus and Nakor, and a disturbing young stranger named Bek must venture into the poisonous heart of the Dasati realm—the most terrible place they have ever encountered—in a valiant, impossible attempt to turn the tides against the encroaching doom that would swallow their world.

Book Description

A dread darkness is descending upon a great land called Midkemia—a powerful and malevolent race of monsters that has slipped through a hole in the dimensions. And two unlikely young heroes—a bastard heir denied his birthright and an irrepressible scoundrel with a penchant for thievery—must take up arms in the struggle to protect their besieged world...two friends chosen by Destiny to stand at the fore of the battle that is to come against the gargantuan reptile army of the terrible Emerald Queen.

Customer Reviews (60)

Not Free SF Reader
Suicide mission better than hanging around.


When a couple of young men get into trouble and are goaded into some foolish action i.e. attacking rich guys when they get mad, it is execution for them.

After a nasty near death poo your pants scaffold experience they realise they have been given a reprieve of sorts. Time for a Dirty Dozen experience. So, horrible boot camp trainig for them and others like them, because there is a Dark Lordess that needs stopping.

War brews once more in Midkemia
With this book, Feist launches into a new trilogy - the Serpentwar Saga. The prior book (The King's Buccaneer) introduced us to the new continent of Novindus. In this novel we learn that war is brewing on Novindus. Although far away, it is caused by the fanatical Pantathian serpent priests. As they are behind this war, it doesn't take long to realize that they intend to invade the Kingdom once more, to try again to seize the Lifestone to free the trapped Dragon Lord Alma-Lokada, who they worship as a godess.

Into this war-torn continent gone mad, a group from the Kingdom must venture to learn more of the plot, and hopefully find a way to stop it. It is decided that "desperate men" must be found to go on this quest, those with nothing to lose, to try where so many others have failed. When Erik von Darkmoor, illegitimate son of the Baron, together with Roo, his oldest friend, manage to kill the Baron's son, after he rapes a girl both Erik and Roo care about, they find themselves bound for the gallows, and end up in this band of desperate men, on this seemingly suicidal mission. They are led by Calis, son of Thomas (the part-human, part Dragon Lord), and we also see several old familiar faces, such as Nakor, Praji and Vaja, along with a few brief appearances by James (aka Jimmy the Hand) and Prince Nicolas.

Feist does well, as usual, in bringing his characters to life, and making you root for them, even if this time some of them are cut-throats. Likewise he does an excellent job of portraying a land torn by war, the confusion, chaos, heartache and death.

Finally, those who like Pug (such as me) will be glad to see a few appearances by him, along with an introduction of the powerful and mysterious Miranda.

An excellent start to a new trilogy, and I recommend this book.

The worst book I've ever read
If I could, I'd give it negative 5 stars. Definitely the worst book I've ever read. Couldn't continue at all after chapter 3. Why? The main characters are so pathetic and hatable.

Thrilling trilogy
This trilogy is very well written. Maybe not as good as the first, but still a very entertaining read. It let's the reader follow the incursion of a small band of hand picked soldiers who are pardoned from their death sentences on the condition of joining the ranks and traveling to the far off continent of Novindus. If you like the Riftwar trilogy, you'll enjoy this. You meet new characters, as well as old, well known ones.

Big Fan of Feist, but not so much of the series
I am a very big fan of Raymond Feist, but not really of this series.I have read all of the books up to the Darkwar saga and have always found them good reads and full of interesting characters.

This Serpentwar Saga does not have the same spark that his other sagas have had.I found that the characters are less than interesting, even ones that I have liked in past books and the books are just hard to get through.I also found that these books are full of young teenage rapes and really graphic details on murder of children etc...I don't remember this so much in his other stories.I understand that in Sci-Fi/Fantasy books things can get a little gory etc... but this time his books seem to be full of things that made me very uncomfortable and seemed completely unnecessary.I think in his other books he was able to show the horrors of war and the horrors of what people can become and/or do etc... without raping every teenage girl in the book and graphically describing children being thrown from cliffs etc...
I just really felt that this series was not up to snuff when it comes to books written by Feist.I would actually have to say that this is the first time I would recommend a parent think twice before they allow children to read this series.

All in all, this series to me is just filler.The books are not as good as the books that came before and are not as good as the books that have came after.You should read them for continuity, but don't expect too much.
... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (15)

Puzzling
"Book 3" is a glaring misnomer of Exile's Return."Beginning of a new set" would be more appropriate.Billed as the conclusion of Conclave of Shadows it is terribly disappointing.Not only does it almost completely abandon the main characters of the first two books excepting the former Duke, it makes the least likable character it does retain the focus of the book.Perhaps if the Duke hadn't been such a black and white bad guy in the preceding books it might have been easier to believe his rehabilitation.Without any hint of conscience or conflict in him before, his complete change of heart is improbable at minimum.The conclusion is not only no conclusion at all, but the lead-in to it is too poorly developed to leave you any desire to find out what comes next, in other words, to pursue an actual conclusion to the story.

That said, his writing style is very readable and the pace was right.If you approach this book as a standalone, you might well enjoy it.My disappointment and frustration at the inaccurate description of what I should expect left too strong a taint for me to enjoy Exile's Return at all.

Good Read
I love the Midkemia books, and always look forward to reading more stories by Raymond Feist.I didn't enjoy this trilogy as much as many of his others though.I don't know if it's because the storyline seemed a bit stale, or maybe I just needed to take a break from the series for a while.

It was nice to have the continuation of the story of Midkemia though, and I wouldn't want the stories to stop... keep 'em coming!

Not Free SF Reader
Given the arse, revenge becomes secondary.


After Talon gets the better of Kaspar previously he is not happy, being stranded and penniless, and somewhat understandably, wants to get some of his own back.

However, events he discovers give him something more important to do with the whole evil magician and associated threats that the Conclave of Shadows wants to stop.

What a disappointment...
The third installment in the Conlave of Shadows series was a disappointing fizzle-out ending to a story which had been successfully wrapped up in the Second novel, King of Foxes.I'm not entirely sure why Feist went this direction with the novel, other than the overt reason of setting up his next series of novels.

For some reason, Feist abandons the character Talon of the Silver Hawk, a.k.a. Talwin Hawkins, and focuses on the vanquished Duke Kaspar of Olasko.The story starts out interestingly enough, and in many places I was truly drawn into the book.Unfortunately, It was too late when I began to realize that Feist had embarked with an entirely new set of plotlines in this novel which only vaguely relate to the prior novel of this series.The story seems forced most of the time, as if Feist was under contractual agreement to crank out three novels for this series, and he suddenly realized "Shoot, I finished the story in only two novels..."

I absolutely love most of Feist's work.I've read Faerie Tale, the riftwar novels, Prince of the Blood, King's Bucchaneer, Empire and Serpent War Series, so I can honestly inform that this novel is by far his most lackluster offering and I now hesitate to read his next Nighthawk centered series...

very good reading
A very fine finish to the Conclave of Shadows series.I look forward to the next series by Mr. Feist ... Read more

Customer Reviews (35)

A new Era
Raymond Feist was not the first author I read a book from when first coming into fantasy, but I wish it had been, he is by far the best in his class next to Tolkien. In the First book magician Pug And Thomas, I gat shivers thinking about it i have never enjoyed another book better then Feist's book's in my 20 years living I would say if you hadn't read this book you missed out on an experience. The transformation that Pug and Thomas go throw both being so unique and so original in thinking that i was blown away.; Arutha by far is the greatest charater in both a book world and someone you might meet on the street. Every character Feist introduces It's hard to explain it's almost like there real just coming out of the page and talking to you face to face he really makes it good and thr depth that the story goes into is almost feels like it could happen. The theres that deep family feeling that comes at you when you read about Duke Borric and Arutha and Lyme and of course Martin WOW!!!!!! Thats something only a Master of words can accomplish.

Epic fantasy.
Magician is the first book in Raymond E Feist's epic Riftwar series. Set primarily on the world of Midkemia, a medieval, rural type world, the story centres on two boys, Pug and Tomas. Pug's ambition is to be a magician whilst Tomas wants only to become a soldier. All is going well in their lives until war erupts, changing the boys' lives forever. The twist in this tale is that the invaders are from another world, a place called Kelewan that is medieval Chinese in style, populated by a harsh and cruel race. They have discovered a rift in space/time that allows them to cross to Midkemia where they cause havoc, murdering and enslaving the Midkemians. Naturally, as with all fantasy books, the two youngsters are, in their differing way, to become heroes and to save the day. One criticism could be that there is not much detail given regarding Kelewan but Feist (along with Janny Wurts) has brought out the Empire trilogy which is a series set on that world. For anyone wanting that extra information, they will find those books a real treat.
This book seems (judging by previous reviews) to be one that you will either love or hate. Many have tried to compare it to Tolkein whilst others belittle that view. It certainly isn't Tolkein, but is an original and interesting book in its own right. Sure, many of the staples of fantasy are there such as elves and dwarfs, swords and sorcery etc. but there is enough originality in this book to make it a very worthwhile read.
This is a big book to read (in the USA it has now been split into two volumes) but don't let that put you off, it's not so heavyweight that it becomes a chore to read, nor so lightweight it becomes boring. It's certainly worth the time of any lover of fantasy fiction.

A great starting place for sci fi/fantasy.
This is my favourite science fiction fantasy book of all times. Raymond E. Feist created a masterpiece in this book which he continued over his next set of books.

I loved the excellent character development in this book. Pug and Thomas are amazingly complex characters that you feel like you know after reading the book.

I find it very hard to believe that this amazing book has gotten so many bad reviews here. I don't expect everybody to like science fiction/fantasy but if you do, you will love this book.
In fact if asked to recommend a starting science fiction/fantasy book I will always recommend this book.

Myself I have read it many times and no doubt I will read it again. Although some of his later books were excellent none of them came close to this wonderful book until the daoughter of the empire series which was co-written with Janny Wurts.

Masterfully Written
This book was simply amazing. At times it felt like I was reading one of the Lord of the Rings books but besides that everything seemed creative and original. Feist threw many very good ideas together in the book. He did a good job in making everything nice and understandable. While I was reading the book I felt like I was actually connecting with the characters. If you like fiction books then picking this up would be no mistake.

Draining
Reading Magician took a lot out of me. I could only read it in 50 page bursts. There are so many threads to the plot that are woven, unraveled and rewoven together. For all of its details, descriptions, characters and plot developments, many of the most interesting threads I fear are left dangling. Book 1 held my attention better than Book 2. By about page 400 I was ready for the book to be over but I felt I had enough invested in it to finish. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Something is rotten in the state of Krondor: the Mockers, the gang of goons and bullyboys that were James's colleagues back when he was known as Jimmy the Hand, have been decimated in vicious fighting on the rooftops and in the sewers. That, and a seemingly random slew of murders, tips off the Crown that some outside concern is attempting an underworld power-grab right under the Prince's nose. Raymond E. Feist's second Riftwar book, Krondor the Assassins, continues the action of Krondor the Betrayal with Prince Arutha and Squire James back in the Midkemian capital, returning triumphantly from their campaign against the Tsurani magician Makala and moredhel headman Delekhan. But Arutha quickly sends James, née Jimmy, back into the city's seedy underbelly to investigate, and in the process he forms a sort of Krondorian secret service. Could the assassins of the Nighthawks be responsible, or perhaps some Keshian interest? James, naturally, begins to suss the situation out, which becomes even more complicated when a hunting party including the visiting Crown Prince of Olasko is beset by shape-shifting magicians.

James and Arutha, both classic feel-good-fantasy heroes--the type of guys with a twinkle in their eye who seem virtually indestructible--eventually track their enemies down to a deserted Keshian fortress, facing assorted assassins, demons, and evil priests in the process. Not the most imaginative or compelling fantasy around, but The Assassins is still a fun romp for fans of the Krondor band. --Paul HughesBook Description
Book Two of The Riftwar Legacy.

A place of unparalleled wonders -- a sprawling kingdom coveted by enemies on all sides; a bustling center of commerce and magic, vibrantly alive and eternally in conflict. This is Midkemia, where great heroes are bred, where a terrible war rages in secret between two rival criminal gangs, and where nightmare forces of corruption and deceit threaten to reduce the city of Krondor to ruins.Download Description
"New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist returns us now to a place of unparalleled wonders--a sprawling kingdom coveted by enemies on all sides; a bustling center of commerce and magic, vibrantly alive and eternally in conflict. This is Midkemia, where great heroes are bred, and its glorious center... KrondorPrince Arutha--newly returned from battle--is concerned about a rash of unexplained assassinations that plagues his capital city. And so he commissions his most trusted agent, Squire James--formerly the thief known as ""Jimmy the Hand""--to discover the source of the deadly epidemic. The answers seem to lie far beneath the streets in the dank depths of Krondor, where a terrible war rages in secret between two rival criminal gangs: those who call themselves ""Mockers"" and others in the thrall of a mysterious being known as ""The Crawler."" But the deeper the Squire delves, the closer he gets to the true nature of the horror that has left untold dead in its wake. And unless James can prevent one last, unthinkable slaying, the nightmare forces of corruption and deceit will destroy his liege and reduce his beloved Krondor to ruins." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (52)

Raymond - please - stop now.
Feist was once one of the very best authors in modern fantasy. The "Riftwar Saga" trilogy is a wonderful series, with well crafted plots, engaging and well defined characters, and textured and engaging world. I loved it. I've read those books countless times, and enjoyed them thoroughly.

However, after "A Darkness at Sethanon", everything went downhill ("Rise of a Merchant Prince" was appalling) and I gave up on Feist altogether. I picked up "Krondor: the Assassins" at a second hand bookstore the other day, and for a brief moment, thought that he may have regained some of his long lost craft. The story starts out entertainingly enough, with some interesting new-ish characters, a mildly intriguing premise, and a hint of the Krondor we got to know in "Silverthorn" and "Darkness"...but then its like he palms the book off to a 10-year old, and we're off to a fortress in the desert full of ninjas, evil priests and a demon. The writing descends to a horrific mish-mash of breathless "and then he....and then he..." dribble and pointless, derivative dialog - even sinking so low as to use the tired "I hate it when they do that!" and "Now I'm really mad!" lines.

Characters we know and love from earlier books are unrecognizable, flat caricatures of themselves, the plot goes nowhere, the only interesting story lines are forgotten, and the only relief I have is knowing that because I bought the book second hand, Feist won't be profiting from causing me this much pain.

It almost pains me to write like this about the author of the Riftwar books...but he put this junk out there, and so he's fair game, in my book. I'm giving this two stars, only because I want somewhere to go in future if i find a book so bad that when it opens, it shoots poison darts into your eyes.

Ray, please, PLEASE stop.

Better than Betrayal
*sighs* I already submitted a review of this book a week or two ago...
Amazon appears to have lost it, though :(

Krondor: The Betrayal was terrible - it read like a poor computer game
(which it was, oddly enough, based on). With Assassins, the second
installment of the Riftwar Legacy, Feist actually puts some thought and
effort into writing a cohesive book. It is still well below his Serpentwar
saga, but at least it was a step up from Betrayal.

James is charged with trying to find out who is attempting to destroy The
Mockers (the thieves guild of the city of Krondor), which leads him on
a chase to find out who is The Crawler - the person or group behind this.
Also in league with The Crawler are the Nighthawks, infamous assassins
thought defeated during the Riftwar. I've personally come to see the
Nighthawks as a crutch for Feist - if in doubt, bring back the Nighthawks
and blame everything on them...and if you destroy them, bring them back
elsewhere as something akin to a terrorist cell. I believe Feist dwelled
too much on the infiltration of the Nighthawks' lair by James, William
and Treggar.

However, at least there was structure, and not seemingly random,
computer-generated encounters.

Of note in the book - the introduction of Sidi, a powerful necromancer
who will become Pug's nemesis later on down the line, and the
establishment of James' future spy network. I believe this is also the
book where we can finally put a face to the mysterious Upright Man (which
was exciting for me).

I can recommend this book as a decent read (but not brilliant). However,
be forewarned - it is the only ok book of the trilogy.

Not Free SF Reader
Stop killing us please, we are only criminals.


The Mockers have problems with the return of the Assassins' Guild, in that, well, Assassins kill people quite well, including thieves.

James and some help get to do some of the more spook sort of policework to try and work out what is going on.

Being a Feist fantasy, not going to be that simple, so expect monsters and magic before it all works out.

Krondor the Assassins
Back to basic.Book number two has a a drmatic turn around frm book one.The charcter are realer and the seceray is real too.We stilll dont kno much about the man they call the Crawler cept he trying to run off the Gulid of Thevies: Mockers.Susspose the leader of the mockers is dead and leave that to nmuch question.Whle there that business a Duke stop by or well was passing by and wants to hunt.Well william(Pug son) is asked to take the Duke out for some hunting.As they are out there they get attcked with no warning.Almost seem that someone wantsboth the Duke killed and the Mockers gone too.Choas is runniing through Krondor and nothing can be done.

Much better than Book 1
More of those classic characters and rich geography that I was missing from Book 1: Krondor the Betrayal.
Book 2 centers around one of my fav Feist characters, Jimmy the Hand, and the wonderful :) sewers of Krondor.
Great read.
I recommend Feist from the beginning - Magician: Apprentice ... Read more

Book Description
"A sweeping drama unveiling a tale of love, hate and sacrifice against the panorama of an alien yet familiar society."--Publishers Weekly.



"Uncommonly satisfying."--Locus ... Read more

Customer Reviews (28)

Amazing Riftwar Series
If you are a fan of the Riftwar saga by Feist, you must check out this series.Its written not on Midkemia, but of a story on Kelwan.See it all from a totally different viewpoint.You will not be able to put this book, or the series, until its all read.

Not Free SF Reader
A spot of culture shock.


Mara continues to solidify her power base and attack the family she wants revenge against. However, things change for her, and the book looks more deeply at the society on this planet when she gains a slave who is from Midkemia.

When he becomes a bedwarmer for her, she considers that she has bought into a lot of what she has been told from any early age.

This gives her a few ideas and helps with her rise to a Lady of political influence.

Politics on a knife-edge!
This is the second installment to the Empire series - a trilogy, of which Daughter Of The Empire was first. I highly recommend reading the first book, as it will make this second book easier to follow.

We follow the adventures of Mara, Ruling Lady of House Acoma, in the Tsurani Empire situated on the world of Kelewan. This fictional society was first introduced to us during the Riftwar Saga, written solely by Raymond E. Feist. It is a complex society which heavily relies on a code of honour and caste system, and has a distinctly Asian feel to it. Further, political action is invariably translated directly into loss or gain, life or death, for the parties involved. The goals aren't necessarily material, but in the garnering of honour, firstly for your House (or family), Clan or political party.

In the first book, Mara neutralized a powerful foe - House Anasati - by marrying one of their sons, whilst also defeating the Ruling Lord of the powerful House Minwanabi. After defeat, the Lord took his life to expiate the shame, and his son, Desio, assumed the mantle of Lord. This second book revolves around the plotting and scheming of Desio, and his brilliant (in all things military) cousin Taseo. Lady Mara also finds herself falling in love with a "barbarian" slave from the Kingdom Of The Isles - the nation which the Tsurani are invading by way of a magical gate called a Rift. To further complicate matters, the book also takes place around the time of the "barbarian" magician's outburst at the Imperial Games, which has shattering repercussions for the entire fabric of Tsurani society and political system. The book brings us right to the edge of a civil war, with Lady Mara striving to both defeat her enemy and helping to defuse of the volatile situation which threatens to plunge this mighty empire into bloody civil war.

Again, Feist and Wurts do an outstanding job. Feist created the world, and his strength lies in characterization, while Wurts excels at plot development, helping to lead the reader into dizzying webs of intrigue. Believe me, politics has never looked this good!

I highly recommend this book.

Familiar somehow...
First up, I agree with everyone else who loves this book & series.

However, this book in particular echoes James Clavell's 'Shogun' to an amazing degree.Even many of the names are similar.I suppose it shouldn't be too surprising given how the world is set up, but it was a distraction while reading it, hence the 4.

fantasy meets feudal japan
I really enjoyed reading this book.The fantasy setting is based on feudal japanese society; highly stratified society, rigid social protocols, and mind-bending intrigue. The author does a great job in bringing the world to life.The story is also involving and the characters are well written. I loved all the intrigues and deceptions, the battles and descriptions of the world in general. ... Read more

Book Description
To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. But though his courage won him a place at court and the heart of a lovely Princess, he was ill at ease with the normal ways of wizardry. Yet Pug's strange sort of magic would one day change forever the fates of two worlds. For dark beings from another world had opened a rift in the fabric of spacetime to being again the age-old battle between the forces of Order and Chaos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (322)

Fantasy Lite (but entertaining)
"Magician: Apprentice" and "Magician: Master" were entertaining, but my impression is that Feist cares more for his characters than he does his story. If you want only virtuous, very likable characters, happy endings and G rated banter between hardened warriors then he's your kind of writer. He's very good at this "safe" epic fantasy genre though (and I don't mean that disparagingly), and he does manage to keep things interesting. I prefer a little more reality and darkness and moral flavor in my fiction, personally. "Magician" was like Star Wars without the Empire. Or rather, Star Wars with a misunderstood Empire that's really good, but just set in its ways and in need of reform. It's the kind of adventure fantasy that I imagine aging, virginal, matronly English professors would enjoy ... if it had a bit more shear literary merit.

Never-the-less, if you like the kind of fiction I've described or you just want a change of pace, it's at the very least entertaining reading. Feist is a good story teller, even if he plays softball with his main characters, protecting them from any real tragedy.

Must read if you like fantasy novels
Raymond Feist is one of my favorite fantasy authors.

In Magician: Apprentice, we watch the main character grow from a boy into a young adult while going through an epic adventure, discovering his magical talents along the way. Early on, we are thrust into the deep characters created by Mr Feist, and his detailed world of Midkemia.

Magician: Apprentice is the first of a great series of books set in the world of Midkemia. I found this book appealing because I seemed to be able to see through the characters eyes, and feel what they were feeling. There are many likeable characters and they grow and evolve throughout the book.

If you like a good fantasy read, Feist has your next book. You will be hooked on the entire series if you read Magician.

pretty good
Just finished Magician Apprentice (part1) of the Rift War Saga.
And I instantly fell in love with the story. The world is deep with mystery and magic. The plot is awesome.
Im glad I decided to red this book for sure

Id say its allmost as good as Lord of the Rings with a more modern form of writting.
It is a must for any fantasy reader looking for something new to get

More of the same(which is good)
This is a welcome addition to the world of fantasy.It does have heart and it is extremely well written.You guys know the formula so let me restate it for you

.Pug is an orphan boy (instead of a blacksmith or an innkeepers son) and you know he is going to be taken under the wing of the (master at arms or court magician) court magician but he is good friends with the master at arms and his apprentice who just so happens to be his best friend.When the plot finally gets going it is to battle the forces of an (evil wizard or alien invasion force) alien invasion force.Along the way Pug and company meets (elves and dwarves) BOTH elves and dwarves(along the way they met a magical dragon because we don't want dragons to feel left out)and proceed to kick evil alien butt.

Overall-I'm not saying I didn't enjoy this book I enjoyed it a great deal but I have read it a million times before and so have all you fans.Just know what your getting yourself into if you like the same old tried and true method then this story and its sequel should be just the thing for you.

Timeless
The Riftwar Saga was one of the very first fantasy series that I read and was partly responsible for getting me forever hooked on the genre.That was about 15 years ago, and I still felt like I remembered the entire plot, it had such an effect on me.I decided to revisit the world of Midkemia to see how the story holds up to my slightly more mature perception and much more critical nature.

Needless to say, I was most thoroughly impressed!For this to be Feist's first novel is incredible.IMO this story surpasses some of the great fantasy work of all time, including Tolkein.The first book introduces a familiar but complex world with characters that you can't help but fall in love with.The plot is so intricate and all-encompassing as to be almost mind-blowing.Watching as Feist flawlessly develops the story of a common seeming medieval town with a couple of normal seeming boys into a grand tale of war, magic, love, and tragedy is a joy.The overriding theme of this first book in the story is one of growing and maturing as a man.Watching as Pug and Tomas encounter hardships and trials, then come out stronger is the primary focus.

Remember this book from when you were young?Try it again, it will still impress! ... Read more

Amazon.com
The video game industry has always drawn upon works offiction for inspiration--sooner or later, the process had toreverse itself. Krondor the Betrayal began its life as thebestselling role-playing video game of all time, written byRaymond E. Feist for Dynamix Inc. Feist, whose SerpentwarSaga has sold millions of copies and established him as one ofthe most popular fantasy authors of modern times, also wrote thisnovelization which places the action of the game in the context ofhis fully-realized fantasy setting, Midkemia.

Feist's fans are legion. Longtime readers will be delighted atthe return of popular characters Pug the Wizard, Squire Locklear,and others, as they face the menace of a marauding elfwar-chieftain and a mysterious cabal of wizards. But first-time Feistreaders may find Krondor the Betrayal baffling andtiresome--without the momentum of the larger series, much of thestory's effect is diminished. The video game influence in thisbook is unmistakable--as evidenced by an encumbrance of swordfights, multilevel conspiracy, and two-dimensional characters.Anyone who enjoys reading about Midkemia will be thrilled to playthe demonstration version of the CD-ROM game (included with thebook). --Brendan J. LaSalleBook Description
The RiftWar is done. But a fearsome army of trolls and renegade humans, emboldened by the drug of destruction, has risen in strength from the ashes of defeat. There is one, however, who defies the call to battle...

New York Times bestselling fantasist Raymond E. Feist returns to a beleaguered realm of wonders and magic-where war is an enduring legacy; where blood swells the rivers and nourishes the land. Attend to this hitherto untold chapter in the violent history of Midkemia -- a towering saga of great conflicts, brave acts and insidious intrigues. It is the story of a traitor who rejects the brutality of his warlike kind and casts his lot with the human targets of their fierce aggression. It tells of mysterious deaths and sinister machinations -- and signs of a time when the fate of many civilizations rested in the able, unfaltering hands of RiftWar veterans Squire Locklear and cunning their-turned-squire Jimmy the Hand. It chronicles the powerful awakening of Owyn -- apprentice magician of untried strengths -- and celebrates the selfless achievements of Pug, the great sorcerer of two worlds. Welcome now to astonishing new corners of a world you have not yet fully explored-and prepare to experience true excitement, blood chilling terror...and the triumph born from the doom aimed at the beating heart of a kingdom.

Customer Reviews (117)

Feist should stick to books, not games
I've been a long-time fan of Feist's work, and I've recently been
re-reading his books again. About a week ago I finished the towering epic
Serpentwar Saga. Perhaps it is because I go from such a brilliant, well
written saga to this lame excuse for a book that I gave it just two stars.

Contrary to what some believe, the game was not written by Feist - it was
written by Neal Hallford and John Cutter of Dynamix, Inc., based upon
ideas by Feist, turning it into an award-winning, best-selling game.
Feist then took the basic premise of the game and tried to turn it into a
novel.

Tried being the operative word. The first half of the book reads exactly
as it is thinly disguised as - a computer game. Spin-off quests, random
encounters, characters with little depth, and a somewhat ambiguous plot.
The only reason I gave it two stars, and not one, is that it appears
Feist suddenly sat up and thought he'd better do something he is better
known for - writing books. He comes up with a decent seige scene, and
explains a few loose ends.

However, for all that, there are still many questions left open - who is
The Crawler? Or Patrus the magician, for that matter? And what happens to
this potentially powerful new magician Owyn, who we don't see in future
books?

Worse, the main villains are so poorly disguised it's laughable.

Try Magician, or Shadow of a Dark Queen, or the newer Flight of the
Nighthawks. All of these are brilliant. But please, if you are new to
Feist, do yourself a favour and avoid this one. I would hate to see
someone miss the brilliance of Feist based on this mistaken attempt to
turn a game into a book.

I do not recommend this book.

Not Free SF Reader
Dark elves and bad men.


Related to a computer game this book said when I read it, can't say how much, though. Those not so nice moredhel are returning, some years later, and the criminal guild has an exceedingly nasty new ruler.

It is up to the usual band of stalwarts, some new characters, and even a dark elf that helps the Kingdom side out to try and do something about it.

Another ok Midkemia adventure, pretty much what you would expect.

Yamabushi's mini reviews XXVIII
Dull and lazily written. Fiest, from what I read, apparently based this book off of missions for a video game that he helped plot. And it shows.

Books based on video games are no treat
Loosely based on the computer RPG "Betrayal at Krondor", this book is not up to par to the original trilogy or even the later sequels.More of a rehash than an original story. Worth it only if you are a fan, which unfortunately, I am.

I couldn't finish this book
This is the first book by Feist that ITRIED to read. Other reviewers seem to have much higher regard for his earlier books and I may give them a try. This book was unreadable and I quit half way through- which I NEVER do. The dialog was ridiculous "He said blah blah blah" "And then he said blah blah" "and then he said". It really seemed like a 7th grader wrote the entire book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (77)

Not Free SF Reader
A wonderfully creepy 'urban' fantasy.Probably his best book after Magician.A family moves to a house near a strange location.They get in out of their depth and need expert help when something that should not be real comes calling, and injures one them.An example of this sort of tale handled expertly.

From Ghoulies and Ghosties and Things that go bump in the night, Good Lord Protect Us.
First Sentence:Barney Doyle sat at his cluttered workbench, attempting to fix Olaf Andersen's ancient power mower for the fourth time in seven years.

Phil Hastings, his wife Gloria, his daughter Gabbie and their twin boys Patrick and Sean move from Sunny California to an old farmhouse in upstate New York whose land includes virgin forest.They soon find they have more to contend with than they expected.Unexpected, and unexplainable, encounters with strange creatures, the boy's acknowledgement of "the Bad Thing" living under a bridge and Gabbie's almost sexual encounter with a farrier who died over a hundred years ago are only some of the strange goings on which threaten the family.

I love this book and read it every year or so on Midsummer's Day (June 24th).However, this is not your child's faerie tale even though it involves brotherly love and courage.It is fantasy; it is horror. It is creepy, dark, at times violent, at times sexual and always a page-turner.Those who love Celtic myth and Shakespeare will recognize magical elements of The Fool, elf-shot, Trooping Faeires, and more.It is one of those rare books that makes you feel as though it "could" be possible and causes even non-Catholics to wish for a vial of holy water, a silver sword and a true faerie stone..Each time I read it, I find myself researching the legends and faerie folk involved, looking for erl-king hills and avoiding faeire rings at midnight on Midsummer's Night and All-Hallow's Eve.Next year, I'll remember to start earlier in the day so I'm not up until midnight finishing it.At least I wasn't in the woods.It's the blending of fantasy in contemporary life which, to me, makes this book so compelling, frightening and memorable.

Thank you Mrs. Lyle
This book was given to me by my high school biology teacher (and mother to one of my best friends) in the early '90's. I had zero interest in fairy or fantasy tales at the time, but I found this book to be very engaging. There are certain books that I can pick up at any time and instantly be transported. This is one of those books. The setting is quaint. The characters are realistic. The story is suspenseful.

It's hard to pinpoint what it is that is so attractive about a book like this. You know how a certain smell will sometimes trigger a memory that is very pleasant, and for a few moments you are suspended in that time and place? That's what this book does for me. I wish MR. Feist would try his hand at something like this again. I have not been able to get into any of his "High Fantasy" stories.

Pick it up sometime. You won't be moved to tears, and you're life won't change because of some profound metaphorical meaning buried inside. You will be entertained, though. This is a great one to read around Halloween!

A slight but welcome departure for Feist
I have long hailed Feist as the best author of fantasy, breaking through onto the scene with the stunning Riftwar Saga.

It was, then, that I started this book with a mix of excitement and trepidation, unsure of the outcome, given its more contemporary setting.

The book details the arrival of a well-off family to upstate NY (from California). After their arrival, sightings are made of strange creatures, stranger encounters take place with unsettling characters, and the sense of impending danger looms. Against this is the discovery of hidden areas of their new house containing items belonging to the previous owner, along with wild tales of buried treasure, and the nearby location of a fairy hill.

The book has something of a snowball effect, starting a little slowly, with enough of the unusual, fantastic or creepy to keep the reader's interest piqued. As it progresses, the reader finds him/herself increasingly involved in the story, to the point of not wanting to put it down. In short, the book is excellently paced.

True, Feist's normal strength is character development, and while it seems a little weaker this time, the wealth of celtic mythology that he throws our way more than makes up for it.

With the great concept, and the final epilogue hanging in the air, one has to wonder why no other books in this vein were ever written...

I thoroughly recommend this book :)

Long Time Reader
I have read all of Feist's Midkemia tales with great joy.This is the first time I have picked up Faerie Tale for a try.It certainly is not a typical Feist story.Certainly it is edgier with sex and violence.While it does have celtic mythology, it is a modern horror novel to be sure.Written with his natural good style, the story was easy to get into.While I wouldn't put it as high as some of my all time favortie horror novels, it was a good enjoyable read with plenty of creepy things.I woud love to see him give the dark fantasy field another go. ... Read more

Book Description
Return now to a kingdom in constant peril: a scarred land, both magical and wonderous. New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist continues his extraordinary Riftwar Legacy with a sweeping tale of conflict and intrigue. The vile sorcerer Sidi sets the murderous pirate Bear upon the high seas in pursuit of the kingdom's most holy object, the miraculous Tear of the Gods. And if it falls to Sidi, the future will hold naught but unending night.

The race is on to rescue the remarkable artifact from Bear and his despicable master. But it will take greater-than-human swiftness, courage, and skill to prevail, for the mysterious criminal known as the Crawler is preparing to wreak havoc to fulfill his secret agenda. The fate of an imperiled world is in flux, as dark creatures gather to hasten the destruction of Squire James and his companions and bring about the total corruption of the Tear of the Gods. Preformed by Sam TsoutsouvasDownload Description
"Return now to a kingdom in constant peril; a land magical, scarred, and wondrous, where great heroes rise up from adversity to battle fearsome enemies who covet the riches within its borders. New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist -- one of the world 's preeminent fantasists -- continues his extraordinary Riftwar Legacy with a sweeping tale of conflict, trial, and grim necessity, as the forces of good join together to staunch the golden lifeblood flowing from the pierced heart of Midkemia.The vile sorcerer Sidi plans to strike the kingdom a fatal blow, setting his creature, the murderous pirate Bear, upon the high seas in pursuit of the vessel that is transporting Midkemia's most holy object: the Tear of the Gods. It is from this miraculous stone that all magic power is believed to flow. And if the Tear becomes the mage's trinket, the future will hold naught but terror, death, and unending night.For Squire James, Lieutenant William, and the able magician Jazhara, the race is on to rescue the remarkable artifact from the bloodthirsty, unpredictable Bear and his despicable master who would use it to bring catastrophe down upon the world. But it will take greater-than-human swiftness. cunning, courage, and skill for the three to prevail. And the flight of her most peerless defenders will leave Krondor more vulnerable than ever to the terrible ambitions of the depraved.For the mysterious criminal known as the Crawler is preparing to wreak bloody havoc to fulfill his dastardly secret agenda. Once again the sewers of Krondor teem with assassins and monsters as the hour of destiny nears. The fate of an imperiled world is in flux, as all manner of dark creatures are gathered for one unspeakable purpose: to breed the chaos that will hasten the destruction of Squire James and his brave companions ... and bring about the total corruption of the Tear of the Gods." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

Here we go with computer games again....
I said it before, for Kronder: The Betrayal - Feist should stick with
what he knows best, namely writing excellent books, rather than trying to
emulate computer games.

Rather than the well-structured sagas we are used to with Feist (I'm a
long-time fan, having started reading his work in the 80's), this book...
and indeed most of this trilogy...reads exactly as what it is pretending
not to be - a computer game with one ultimate quest, riddled with a
number of smaller side quests...open the magic box in the right sequence,
destroy x-creatures before returning to npc character, etc., etc.

In a nutshell, the priests of Ishap transport a magical gem once every
ten years from a secret location to its mother temple in Rillanon, the
capital of the Kingdom of the Isles in Midkemia. The gem is called the
Tear of the Gods, and is said to allow the gods to hear the prayers of
everyone on Midkemia. Without the Tear, the world would become godless
(considering how many religious wars we have here on Earth, having a
world become godless doesn't seem such a bad thing) and magic might even
fade. Worse, if it fell into the wrong hands, it could be used as a
weapon of unmatched power wielded for unspeakable evil...or some nonsense
like that. Anyway, the ship transporting the gem is attacked and sinks.
The race is then on between James, Jazhara, a monk of Ishap named Solon,
and a guildsman who can raise the ship, named Kendaric, against the evil
necromancer Sidi and his henchman Bear, to recover the Tear. The outcome
will determine whether Midkemia will be plunged into eternal darkness or
continue on its merry way. Given that James appears later in the
Serpentwar saga (as does William) and the Kingdom is still intact, at
least at the start of the Serpentwar saga, it isn't giving much away
telling you that James and William survive this venture, and the Tear is
safely recovered. The how in all of that is the key, then, but I'll leave
you to decide for yourself whether dragging yourself through at least
2 terribly planned and executed books is worth it.

When I first read the book I was very disappointed and genuinely put off
by Feist's work. It took an effort of some will-power to start reading
Talon of the Silver Hawk (first book in the Conclave of Shadows series).
I'm glad I did continue on to Talon, as Feist returns to form. However, I
cannot in good conscience recommend this book or the Riftwar Legacy, as
much as it pains me to say, being a big fan of Feist's work :(

krondor the betrayal
i have all 3 books of the riftwar legacy and am still on the first book. I really enjoy this book as well as other books by feist. This wirter is very gifted. I love Pug, prince arutha,Locklear and the famous jimmy the had. thank you so much for these jems.

Not Free SF Reader
God stone sunk.


Or, the bad guys don't like our religion. Can't have that.

A temple raid by forces of your Dark God person sinks an important religious artifact. This leaves a bunch of Kingdom priest types lacking in power. Not so much of a problem for their opposition.

So, a bit of Raise the Titanic Stone to be accomplished, which requires the unique skills of a raising from the ocean practitioner, as well as your usual cast of Midkemian heroes and adventurers to be found in the earlier books in this series.

Only "Tears" of Joy!!!
Over the course of time, Raymond E. Feist has brought forth wonderful stories of the mystical land of Midkemia. Although non compair to the adventure, humor, or mystery of "Krondor: Tear of the Gods." The story focuses around Squire James, or "Jimmy the Hand." As the story unfolds, new characters are presented and a deep dark magic is uncovered. If you are looking for a thrilling tail of sword fights, underground societies, and the most evil vilians, then "Tear of the Gods" will catch your attention and rock your imagination.

Awesome
Exciting books. I have not reread this one yet, but I remember it from about 5 years ago. RF is a great writer. If you like a good story that keeps you turning the page,choose him. ... Read more

Download Description
"

A new evil threatens Midkemia, its web stretching from the deepest criminal underworld all the way up to the highest seats of power in ancient Kesh. And the Conclave of Shadows, charged unexpectedly with the training of two apprentices, must also best powerful agents of the darkest magic . . . for the fate of two worlds lies in the balance.

The New York Times bestselling author and master of fantasy Raymond E. Feist returns to his signature world of Midkemia in this first book in a gripping new trilogy that ushers in the third, and most dramatic, Riftwar yet: the Darkwar.

In the middle of the night on Sorcerer's Isle, the powerful sorcerer Pug is awakened from a nightmare that portends destruction for all of Midkemia. Disturbed by the dream, Pug calls for a convening of the Conclave of Shadows. Though Pug does not yet know it, his son Magnus has discovered the cause of Pug's prophetic dream: a beacon has been unleashed, directing a vast army of alien invaders to Midkemia, an army so formidable that even the might of the Tsurani Empire might fall before its fury.

Meanwhile, in far Stardock town, two boys are coming of age. But on the dusty path that leads them from home they are thrust by fate into a life undreamed of, becoming enmeshed in intrigue, murder, and treason. Though untrained and unready, they are called upon by the mysterious Conclave to travel deep into the heart of the Empire of Great Kesh, to confront a plot so dark and twisted it will implicate even the highest-ranking nobles of the Empire, even members of the royal family itself. And behind this plot they discover the ancient Brotherhood of Death, the clan of assassins known as the Nighthawks.

And Pug will find himself once again facing his old nemesis, the evil wizard formerly known as Sidi, now Leso Varen, in a confrontation with everything at stake: his honor, his life, and the future of Midkemia.

Customer Reviews (35)

Not Free SF Reader
Boys, blackguards and power armour army.


Pug and Nakor have more of a starring role here as they realise that the threat owned by the Talnoy (basically magic robot power armour battle suits) and their masters is bad news indeed.Pug's sons, both magical and non-magical are involved, as are the couple of kids they are mentoring, enabling Feist to bring in yet another pair of young brat identification characters, if you like.

Fans of the magical types specifically may like this one more.

more midkemia goodness
Feist does it again with this one. if you liked the rest of his works then definitely get this one. otherwise, this is about 20th in the series and not much would make sence. start with Magician: Apprentice first.

More formula
Mr. Feist is a very good writer. I started out with his
modern day "Faerie Tale", then "Shadow of a Dark Queen" and the
rest of the Serpentwar books, the went back and read the
rest of the Midkemia books in order. Mr Feist seems to follow
a typical 'Fantasy formula', but has an excellent talent for
making us care about the characters, much better than most
authors. I was glad to see a bit more about Kesh, too, though
it seemed to follow what one would expect from an 'Arabian Nights'
Aladdin saga. I get attached to characters, and with Mr. Feist's
talent for developing a rapport between reader and character, I
don't want too see people die....but in reality they do, and maybe Mr. Feist
gets a bit too attached to his own creations.
Nakor is great, obviously one thinks of veteran actor Mako in the role.
The Talnoys make me think of the Storm troopers from "Star Wars", though
that's just a vague visual connection in my own mind :p

Hurray Pug's back!
Finally, Fiest brings back Pug, one of my favorite fantasy characters, into an interesting new series that I'm looking forward to finishing. While the plot was interesting, it was a little confusing at first, but that is only a minor setback. This book also does a lot to set up for the rest, so it reveals only a little and keeps much shrouded in mystery.
Still, Fiest is a great writer, and this book, while not perfect and not nearly as good as Magician, is no exception.

The Saga Continues
I am a Feist fan, and as such this book is an automatic choice. It is not Feist's best work, but it is a worthwhile addition, and it does present some changes in that the conclave is the center of this book (and probably the series) and the magicians play a major role.

The book is set mostly in Kesh, which is a pleasing surprise. The creation of Midkemia is by now so well developed I was so far a little disapointed at not having all major nations covered by the plot. The previous series covered the region of Roldem and this one takes us further away, with possible extensions to Kelewan in the next installment.

It's certainly not a book I would recommend for new readers of Feist, but if you reached this far in the Midkemia series, it's a must.

... Read more

Book Description
Long recovered from the ravages of the Riftwar, the land and people of the kingdom of the Isles thrive.  Nicholas, the youngest son of Prince Arutha, is intelligent and gifted but vastly inexperienced.  In hopes of hardening him, his father sends him and his irreverent squire, Harry, to live at Rustic Castle Crydee to learn of life beyond the halls of privilege.  But within weeks of Nicholas and Harry's arrival, Crydee is viciously attacked by unknown assailants, resulting in murder, massive destruction, and the abduction of two young noblewomen.  The raiders have come from a pirate haven and are no ordinary foe . . . but an enemy connected to dark magical forces that threaten the lands Nicholas will someday rule--if he survives. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (51)

Not Free SF Reader
Pirate power time, matey.


Nicholas, the youngest son of Arutha has been forced to lead a sheltered life and not run around with wizards, thieves, murderers, dark elves and almost get killed a lot. Really missed out this kid.

However, when he goes on a trip to Crydee, all this changes, as it is Nakor and a sea life for him, from now on.

Again what you would expect from a Feist book, in general, with the focus on a minor character, even if the conflict is perhaps a little forced given some of the more major powers could have solved it much more easily.

The making of a royal pirate? :)
This book revolves around Arutha conDoin's youngest son, Nicholas, who stands third in line for the throne of the Kingdom of the Isles, on Midkemia.

Nicholas has always been sheltered, mostly because of a lame foot that he had been born with. He is sent to Crydee, along with Nakor and Ghuda (if you read the prior book in the series, Prince Of The Blood, you would recognize those two characters) to squire for Duke Martin, in part to get him out of the sheltered court, and to give him space to grow. He is also joined by Harry, his own Squire. While there, the town is viciously attacked, virtually every building is burned down, and only those handful mistaken for dead as surviving. There are reports that the attackers had taken many captives, including Margaret, Duke Martin's daughter, and her companion Abigail. So it is that Nicholas sets off on Amos Trask's ship in hot pursuit with a small group of men to rescue the captives, believing that they have been taken to the Sunset Islands.

Instead, they find themselves travelling across the Endless Sea to Novindus, a continent unknown and unexplored by those of the Kingdom. Stranded in this strange land after their ship sinks, Nicholas and his small band of men set out to free the captives, and discover that they have stumbled on an intricate plot by the Pantathian serpent priests, a death cult, to plunge the Kingdom into chaos, and seize the Lifestone (a relic which we are introduced to in A Darkness At Sethanon, as capable of destroying all life on the planet).

Feist does an excellent job of expanding his world once more, bringing us a colorful description of the exotic Novindus, a continent with a broad mix of cultures, with each area controlled by local militias.

The heart of the novel is the growth of Nicholas. With magic, his foot is healed physically, yet whenever he is faced with a challenge, his foot hurts - excrutiatingly at first, then less with each instance, till the pain is gone. This is all a psychological metaphor, for Nicholas - facing all his fears, and throwing away the psychological crutch he had been leaning on all his life, using his lame foot as an excuse for failure or to grant him excuse for exception.

As usual, it is the characters that are Feist's strong suit. Each character comes to life, and you feel saddened at the end of the book when you have to leave them behind.

I highly recommend this book.

one of the best books I've read!
I was hesitant to start reading Feist because I didn't want to get involved in such a long series, but I am so glad I did. This book in particular is my favorite from the Riftwar Saga. The changes you see in young Prince Nicholas from beginning to end are a joy to read. He matures from a young rogue of a boy to a battle hardened man, seeing things in his young life that most men never see. With his companion Harry by his side he learns what it means to be a leader and also about the perils of war and death and most of all the perils of young love. The most poingnent moment to me is his return home, the changes in him and the reaction of his father Prince Arutha. A definite must read!!!!!!

A good story with major flaws.
The underlying plot is good. Mr Feist brings likeable characters that develop over time in credible ways. If this were a stand-alone book in another setting it would be better.

This story fails when it starts foreshadowing the upcoming serpentwar. The biggest flaws are Pug and Tomas, the major characters from the prior series.Both are incredibly powerful. Both have very strong ties to characters in this story. Both inexplicably do not involve themselves in the events of this story. Of course we know why. They are far too powerful and would trivialize the entire "adventure". But it is ludicrous that either Pug or Tomas would allow events to unfold without interfering directly. Pug's adopted family is involved. Tomas's parents are involved. Their birthplace is involved. The excuses that are given are paper-thin. The idea that neither of them keeps an eye on the town in question stretches credulity past breaking.

If this story were consistent with the prior series, it would be 3 pages long. There would be the attack by the bad guys foiled by Pug and Tomas, followed by a thorough retaliation by Pug and Tomas on dragonback. The end. Obviously not a good story, but when you have god-like characters, you have to explain their absence, especially if you start blowing up their home town and killing their family.

Feist changes pace
When you look forward to action as in the previous novels and I actually read the Serpentwar before this one so I got to see what happened to him later on, I was a little disappointed in this one. Not enough to drop below a 4 star though, it still had enough to keep me going. I just wish he'd've stayed with the old formula, i much more enjoyed that.
If you enjoyed Feist, you may like The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt, a new but good up and coming author. ... Read more