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The Darkwar Saga #1

Flight of the Nighthawks

raymond e. feist

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Sorcerer Pug wakes from a nightmare that portends destruction for all of Midkemia, and his son Magnus learns the reason: a beacon draws an army of alien invaders, and nemesis Sidi, now Leso Varen. In Stardock town, two boys come of age and go deep into the Empire of Great Kesh. A dark plot implicates the highest-ranking nobles, and the Nighthawks clan of Assassins.

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,2004
Series
The Darkwar Saga
Places
kesh, midkemia, 

This edition

Format
368 pages, Hardcover
Published
April 11, 2006 by Harper Voyager
ISBN
9780060792787
ASIN
0060792787
Language
English
Characters More characters

More editions

About the author

Profile Image for raymond e. feist

raymond e. feist

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Raymond E. Feist was born Raymond E. Gonzales III, but took his adoptive step-father's surname when his mother remarried Felix E. Feist. He graduated with a B.A. in Communication Arts with Honors in 1977 from the University of California at San Diego. During that year Feist had some ideas for a novel about a boy who would be a magician. He wrote the novel two years later, and it was published in 1982 by Doubleday. Feist currently lives in San Diego with his children, where he collects fine wine, DVDs, and books on a variety of topics of personal interest: wine, biographies, history, and, especially, the history of American Professional Football.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
35(35%)
4 stars
33(33%)
3 stars
32(32%)
2 stars
0(0%)
1 stars
0(0%)
100 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
Icelham-kun
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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One of the authors I truly enjoy reading is Feist.

His books possess a unique charm that makes them not only highly entertaining but also incredibly easy to read.

Whenever I pick up a book by Feist, I am confident that I will be in for a great literary experience.

He has this remarkable ability to consistently produce stories that captivate my imagination and keep me engaged from start to finish.

Whether it's his well-developed characters, intricate plotlines, or the vivid worlds he creates, there is always something about his books that draws me in.

Feist's writing style is accessible to a wide range of readers, yet it doesn't sacrifice depth or complexity.

I can't wait to see what new and exciting stories he has in store for us in the future.

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Shinowabakadayo
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Since it reads a bit like an extended synapses of every other book the author has ever written, I am forestalling definitive judgement until I read his first book (or possibly books.)

However, since the author's focus seems to be equally divided between the book's plot and his past accomplishments, it's quite likely my rating will go down.

The way the story is presented gives the impression that it is more about reminding the readers of the author's previous works rather than presenting a fresh and engaging plot.

Amendment: I was correct in my assumptions. This book is equal parts fan service "Hey remember when that character did that cool thing you liked," intermixed with a tepid plot.

The fan service elements, while perhaps appealing to some die-hard fans, do not make up for the lackluster plot development.

It feels as if the author is relying too much on the nostalgia factor rather than creating a truly original and captivating story.

Overall, I was disappointed with this book and would not recommend it to others.

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YurippeXD
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This is one in a long line of books that Feist has written about his captivating fantasy world of Midkemia.

Many of the characters from the initial few books have now vanished into the annals of time, but a select few remain, including some of my personal favorites.

What truly intrigues me about this world is the presence of subtle hints of science fiction, which elevates it to a more interesting plane than a typical, pure fantasy setting.

This book, which marks the beginning of a new trilogy, also contains elements of that.

Feist does an excellent job of assembling a rather diverse cast of male characters. However, the female characters seem to be lacking or are more in the background.

Perhaps it's because I'm becoming more "woke" as I age, but this is precisely what prevents me from awarding it more stars.

Nevertheless, I still liked the story and enjoyed reading it almost as much as the other books I've perused in the series.

Overall, it's a worthy addition to the Midkemia universe, despite its minor flaws.
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Cetais
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This was my first encounter with a book by this particular author.

As I delved into the story, I found that the extensive backstory provided for each character, while adding depth, also made it a bit challenging to keep track of at times.

There were moments when I felt a bit confused, trying to piece together how all the different elements fit.

However, despite these minor hiccups, I have to admit that it was overall a thrilling read of its kind.

The author managed to create an atmosphere of suspense and mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat throughout.

The plot twists and turns were unexpected, and I was constantly guessing what was going to happen next.

Even with the initial confusion, as I got further into the book, I was able to better understand the relationships between the characters and how their backstories contributed to the overall narrative.

It was a unique and engaging experience that I would recommend to others who enjoy a good thriller.
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gryphonz
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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This book had a rather lackluster start. For a significant portion of it, it seemed as if Feist wasn't really putting in his full effort and was just going through the motions, almost as if he was mailing it in.

However, towards the end, the story started to pick up some momentum and became a bit more engaging.

It's important to note that this is the first installment of a trilogy. So, only time will tell how the overall story will play out.

At this point, it's fair to say that the book was just okay. It had its moments, but it definitely could have been better. There were areas where the plot could have been developed more deeply, and the characters could have been more fully realized.

Hopefully, in the subsequent books of the trilogy, Feist will be able to build on the foundation laid in this first book and deliver a more satisfying and engaging reading experience.
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TriGunMaster
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Book 23 in the captivating world of the Midkemia is truly a gem.

It is filled with an array of my favorite characters, which made the reading experience an absolute delight.

Leso Varen, the villain who just refuses to stay dead, is back and unleashing his evil magic upon the country of Kesh. The web of intrigue and conspiracy weaves its way deep into the noble lines, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat.

Although we are aware that Varen has resurrected himself in a new body, the mystery of whose body it is remains unsolved. Feist masterfully builds the tension throughout the story, right until the very end.

The writing style in this book brought back memories of my very first encounter with Feist's work. As I mentioned earlier, it was so much fun to read.

I can't help but think that when I finally complete this series, I will be at a loss, as these books have served as a wonderful escape for me.
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elite_aiyaan
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I'm inclined to suspect this was when Feist stopped returning his editor's phone calls.

The book, unfortunately, is disjointed and takes in far too much. It gives the impression of a live album where the band was so intoxicated that they couldn't recall how their greatest hits were supposed to go.

Perhaps Feist had lost his focus or was dealing with personal issues that affected his work.

Whatever the reason, the result is a book that lacks cohesion and fails to engage the reader as it should.

It's a shame, really, because there are moments within the text that hint at Feist's talent and potential.

However, these moments are overshadowed by the overall disjointedness and lack of direction.

One can only hope that Feist will take the time to address these issues and produce a more polished and engaging work in the future.
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JKrauser
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The cataclysm is not over...

In a childish start of a new trilogy, Feist manages to break every rule of good writing and present a half-baked "fantasy" mush to those who believed that the epic of Midkemia had a future.

In a unprecedented muddle, without a central protagonist and with new additions of various or "incredible" characters, we end up in Kes where "the evil" is about to be manifested in an apocalyptic way and bring chaos to the world.

Mages, pixies, warriors, courtiers, thieves, beggars, and whatever the human mind (of Feist) throws in, unite against the "nightjar", a dragon of assassins taken from a drunken nightmare of the "old man of the magic mountain", who are however just pawns in the hands of the "great evil".

In the end, the good will triumph again, while the evil (which is also crazy, as if evil wasn't enough) will escape to continue the fight another day.

Silly, boring and childish, with a completely pulp feel of cheap fantasy, it gets two stars mainly because it has no demonic presences and minimal cheap kits magic (and that at the end). The "downfall" of the series is becoming apparent and with horror I see the next two books of the trilogy coming over me...
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