This particular piece might not be regarded as the absolute pinnacle of his literary achievements. However, it has undeniably managed to extricate me from the rather unproductive and frustrating rut of attempting to read five books simultaneously yet failing to bring any of them to a conclusion.

Each day, I found myself eagerly looking forward to delving into its pages. The story had such a captivating charm that it held my attention firmly, compelling me to keep reading. Now that I have finished this one, I am already filled with anticipation to pick up the next installment in the series.

I am truly excited to see where the author will take the plot and the characters in the subsequent books. It's rare to come across a work that can have such a profound impact on my reading habits and enthusiasm.

I am still enjoying this series.

It has been a great source of entertainment for me. The storylines are engaging, and the characters are well-developed. Each episode keeps me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what will happen next.

The production values are also top-notch, with beautiful cinematography and excellent special effects. It really adds to the overall experience and makes me feel like I'm part of the story.

I can't wait to see what the future holds for this series. I'm sure there will be more exciting adventures and surprises in store.

Overall, I highly recommend this series to anyone who is looking for a great show to watch. It's definitely one of the best I've seen in a long time.

This is the lowest rating I’ve ever given to a Riftwar cycle book.

And that’s not to say I didn’t enjoy reading it because I still did. However, I do feel like of all the Riftwar cycle books, this one seemed to have the fewest plot elements to it.

Tad and Zane, for example, were set up as new young protagonists early in the book in much the same way that Talwin was in the prior saga. But unlike Tal, Tad and Zane don’t actually have any integral part to play in the story.

Yes, they saved Caleb’s life and act as companions to him, but if they weren’t there, the story could result in the same way. Which makes me feel like the pages of the book dedicated to their backstory is just not really necessary.

Raymond Feist has always been one to relish in the backstories, and I love that about the author. It makes the universe feel full of lived-in characters. This book just seemed to miss a bit of a point to the backstory.

But there are still two more titles in this saga, so it might well be the backstories are more relevant there.

Overall, while I did enjoy reading this book, it didn’t quite live up to the standards set by the other books in the Riftwar cycle. I’m still looking forward to seeing how the story concludes in the remaining two titles.

Always a fan of Pug, this book is carrying on the tradition of good stories. It presents a great new fantasy series that has the potential to captivate readers. However, all the references to previous books did slow it down a little for me, especially since I had read those books. But if one were to ignore those passages, the story itself was truly great. Pug, as always, is a character that readers can't help but root for. The addition of Caleb adopting 3 boys and getting married was an unexpected bonus that added more depth and heart to the overall narrative. It's a story that combines elements of adventure, magic, and family in a way that makes it both engaging and enjoyable. Whether you're a long-time fan of the series or a newcomer, this book is definitely worth a read.

This is a rather solid beginning to the next chapter of the Conclave of Shadows series. Throughout the story, it was generally quite enjoyable.

However, I have to admit that I feel as if Tad and Zane were somewhat shortchanged in the spotlight. This is mainly because the focus was once again on the main characters from the last series fighting Leso Varen. It seems a bit overdone to have them face off against the same antagonist yet again.

Nevertheless, I am hopeful that we will see more of Tad and Zane's development in the next book. Their characters have a lot of potential, and I'm eager to see how they grow and evolve.

Another aspect that I found a bit lacking was the convenience of Tal finding Varen's strange soul hoister object in the sewer. It felt a bit too coincidental and almost lazy on the part of the author. It would have been more interesting if there was a more logical and developed way for Tal to come across this important item.

Overall, despite these minor flaws, I still found this installment of the Conclave of Shadows series to be an engaging read, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the next book has in store.

I completed reading this book approximately a year ago, and to be honest, I did enjoy it at that time. However, upon reflection, I find myself completely at a loss as to why.

There are so many random events that occur within the book. The two main characters come across as forced and are utterly uninteresting. Moreover, the world in which the book is set is essentially the most clichéd thing one could imagine.

(Midkemia is such a bad name. Why on earth is the Kingdom simply called 'the Kingdom'? Couldn't the author have thought of something more creative? And what about the Empire of Great Kesh? What's the deal with that? Oh, and there's a magical island with wizards on it. And let's not forget the elves and dwarves in other installments of the series.)

The sole reason that this review isn't a 1-star rating is that I did have some enjoyment when I initially read it, and it is one of the factors that led me to get interested in the fantasy genre.

I believe one of the main reasons why I am truly relishing these later books in Feist's Midkemia series is that I have only read some of them once. As a result, I am uncovering new details that I might have overlooked during my previous reading. Don't misunderstand me; books like Magician, Silverthorn, and Sethanon are old and cherished friends. However, I have read them four, five, or perhaps even more times. And although there has been a significant gap between readings, these newer series feel almost brand new to me.

So, once again, Great Kesh is on the verge of disaster and civil war. A small group of men from the Isles and other places are attempting to thwart the plans of the evil magician Leslo Veran, also known as Sidi, and the dark brotherhood of assassins, the Nighthawks, who have returned to carry out murders and plunge the country into turmoil. The story is fast-paced, filled with plenty of action and intrigue. There is even a brief but heartwarming visit with Erik vin Darkmoor, the last of Bobby's desperate men and over 80 years old. It's all good stuff.

It took me a considerable amount of time to recall who each and every person was once again, as well as some of the events that had occurred in the previous series. However, once I managed to do so, I became completely engrossed in this story.

Basically, it commences after Exile's Return, with the Conclave striving to uncover more details regarding the Tannoys and the whereabouts of Varen. Additionally, a couple of new characters are introduced.

The overall mythology within these books is truly fascinating. Nevertheless, at certain moments, the philosophical discussions seem a bit incongruous when compared to the remainder of the narrative.

All in all, it is a highly enjoyable read that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

In "Flight of the Nighthawks", there are multiple storylines unfolding simultaneously.

They all come together as the sorcerer, Pug, and his Conclave of Shadows group of magicians, along with various undercover agents, attempt to foil a plot to undermine the government of Kesh, the mightiest nation in their world.

It all begins when powerful nobles in Kesh start dying mysteriously. Meanwhile, rumors circulate that the brothers in the line of succession of the emperor are ready to battle it out for the throne, despite their seemingly amicable relationship.

There were many aspects of this novel that I relished. It progressed at a brisk pace, filled with intrigue and action.

It wasn't overly encumbered by lengthy descriptions of the setting or complex world-building, and the writing quality was commendable.

Based on these factors, I give this novel a favorable rating. I initially thought that starting with the first novel in a series would mean no difficulties in following it, as there were no previous novels to catch up on.

However, even though this was the first in the series, it turns out there were numerous other related novels that I had never read.

Consequently, it often felt as if I was missing out on crucial details, as there was a significant amount of backstory that I was unfamiliar with, and the explanations provided weren't always sufficient to fully understand everything.

Despite this, I was still able to enjoy the novel and would recommend it even to those who haven't read the other installments in the series.

Carl Alves - author of The Traveler's Door

I only managed to get to page 258 before I truly stopped caring.

I'm counting this as finished. This writing style doesn't work for me, and to be honest, I couldn't care less about the characters.

Don't get me wrong, it's not awful. I did manage to get over half way. But then I put it down one day and it's been months since I even bothered to pick it back up.

I tried again tonight and I just don't care enough to keep trying.

Maybe it's because the story didn't grip me from the start. Or perhaps the characters weren't developed enough for me to feel any connection.

Whatever the reason, I know that this book just isn't for me. And that's okay.

There are so many other books out there waiting to be discovered, and I'm sure that I'll find ones that I love.

So for now, I'm moving on and looking forward to my next reading adventure.

One of the best "bridge" novels I have ever read is truly remarkable. It clearly and distinctively marks the end of the previous cycle, bringing a sense of closure and finality. At the same time, it masterfully sets up the next one, creating anticipation and excitement. The author's skill in seamlessly transitioning between these two phases is outstanding. The story flows smoothly, and the characters are well-developed, making it easy for the reader to become fully immersed. It's not just a novel that fills a gap; it's a work of art that engages the mind and the emotions. Whether you're a fan of the previous cycle or new to the series, this "bridge" novel is sure to captivate you and leave you eagerly awaiting what comes next.

Feist's Darkwar Saga is commencing in a more promising manner than his Riftwar.

It is set in the future. Pug has now aged, and his first wife, whom the author favored, has passed away. For some reason, he has married the irritating shrew Miranda. However, the true narrative now centers around his sons - Caleb, a non-magical boy, and his brother Magnus, a powerful magus.

In the Kesh Empire, something peculiar is occurring. Nobles are being slain, and there are whispers of a secret group operating from the shadows. The story revolves around Pug and his sons uniting to journey to Kesh and eradicate this mysterious assassin's guild known as Nighthawks.

The pacing is rapid and engaging, and the author relished this first book in the series. The character of Bek shows great potential, and this "fragment of the Namless One" is rather intriguing. The Nighthawk operation and the endeavors of Pug and his Conclave were skillfully executed. It is a fine first book in this trilogy.

Overall, the Darkwar Saga has a strong start, with an interesting premise and well-developed characters. Fans of Feist's previous works will likely enjoy this new installment, and it sets the stage for an exciting continuation of the story.