thebernie's review against another edition
5.0
It has been over 2 years since I last read a book by Feist but the world of Midkemia is so instilled in my memory that it was like coming home. This story set once again in the duchy of Crydee is a great place to start the final trilogy of the riftwar series. Set over a hundred years after the initial story it harkens back to those stories of Arutha and Martin when the rifts first opened and Pug was merely an apprentice. So much may have changed since but so much will be revealed by the end that shows that so much has stayed the same. I just might re-read the first trilogy before book two so I can refresh my memory of all that's transpired.
mpaulwhite's review against another edition
2.0
This book badly needed more editing. Also used a style of 3rd person omniscient where the narrator switches viewpoints mid-scene. I know we all used to do this, but it feels really jarring after reading so many great epic fantasies where each chapter has a viewpoint chapter and the reader has to figure out what other characters are thinking in those scenes without the narrator's help.
laura_darroch's review against another edition
1.0
I'm really angry that I wasted my time reading this. Fuck you, Feist. You suck.
rossdent's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
peter_xxx's review against another edition
3.0
This is the first book in the trilogy where Feist will end the saga he started in 82 with Magician.
The previous books in the series suffered from the author not really knowing which way to go with his story, but now that he took a decision the book benefits from that.
There are a lot of characters in this book, most of them are known to the readers from the previous 100 or so books. :-), although there are some new promising young characters as well.
I spend a lot of time in the last days to read in this fast paced and captivating book. 2 more books to go, and I will know how the whole Puc saga ends.
The previous books in the series suffered from the author not really knowing which way to go with his story, but now that he took a decision the book benefits from that.
There are a lot of characters in this book, most of them are known to the readers from the previous 100 or so books. :-), although there are some new promising young characters as well.
I spend a lot of time in the last days to read in this fast paced and captivating book. 2 more books to go, and I will know how the whole Puc saga ends.
sylectra's review against another edition
4.0
Very high quality fantasy with all the right elements - brave princes, bold and powerful women, magic users, demons, and spies! As always, Feist's monsters are very scary, but this time they are also interesting. I am almost more interested in the story if Child, a demon female, as in my old friend the magician Pug and descendants of Jimmy the Hand. You want to be here for this.
ferrisscottr's review against another edition
3.0
I love the way Feist writes. So why not a higher rating? Because in order to make a series top the one before it you have to have a bigger bad guy, a bigger end of the world, a bigger everything and to tell you the truth after 30 years of Pug and the Kingdom it's just not as believable anymore. It also was hard to keep all the references and past characters straight (we are talking about 30 years and probably at least 25-30 books) and having to sort them out in my head took me out of the story.
But
Still a good tale and Feist can still write - I'll take any one of his books over the writers that came after him (Martin, Abercrombie, etc. etc.)
But
Still a good tale and Feist can still write - I'll take any one of his books over the writers that came after him (Martin, Abercrombie, etc. etc.)
shirezu's review
4.0
To me this book felt like a well needed return to form for Feist. The Demonwar saga was a let down for me but this, the start of the end, really got things back on track.
The action was good and varied, Pug wasn't wallowing so much and started to seem like himself again, the story of Child was great and the pieces are all moving into place.
There were some negatives of course. The amount of characters is starting to get confusing, especially with Feist's love of naming them the same thing. I need a full family tree to wrap my head around it.
Tomas was missed. He is a good character and at least should have had an appearance.
I'm glad Feist is getting back on track and I'm looking forward to seeing how this epic series ends. With the twist at the end of this book I'd say it will be very interesting.
The action was good and varied, Pug wasn't wallowing so much and started to seem like himself again, the story of Child was great and the pieces are all moving into place.
There were some negatives of course. The amount of characters is starting to get confusing, especially with Feist's love of naming them the same thing. I need a full family tree to wrap my head around it.
Tomas was missed. He is a good character and at least should have had an appearance.
I'm glad Feist is getting back on track and I'm looking forward to seeing how this epic series ends. With the twist at the end of this book I'd say it will be very interesting.
literary_han's review against another edition
4.0
Actual rating: 3.5 stars
This ended with an absolute BANG
This ended with an absolute BANG
joshuacaps's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0