This took a turn that I wasn't expecting.

At first, I was rather weary of the revenge episodes. They made it hard for me to read this story.

I even thought about giving up. But then, something amazing happened.

The story suddenly got good!

It became so interesting that I couldn't wait to finish it and move on to the next book.

I was completely hooked and eager to see what would happen next.

It just goes to show that sometimes, you have to push through the difficult parts to get to the really great stuff.

Now, I'm looking forward to exploring more of the author's works.

Who knows what other surprises and delights await me?

I can't wait to find out!

As with the first two books in this "trilogy", it offers easy and enjoyable reading.

However, it felt more like the first two were a duology, and this book serves as a link to the next trilogy.

I embarked on "The Conclave of Shadows" approximately 20 years after reading the "Serpentwar" saga. Consequently, I can only vaguely recall the past history and the characters that were brought up.

I do like the story, but I found Kaspar to be a rather bland character. He seemed to be more real and almost likeable as a villain in the previous two books. In this book, he just seems to go with the flow and get dragged along without making too many decisions on his own.

To be fair, he has awakened from the spell he was under and is perplexed by his previous actions. However, I find his switch from villain to a basically good man a little too quick and easy. This is also the case with the forgiveness and acceptance by all the people whose lives he tried his hardest to completely ruin for no real reason.

Anyway, it's time to move on to the next trilogy....

I have been engaged in Buddy-Reading this remarkable series over the past couple of months. The friend I'm reading with, from my 'book-club', had never delved into Raymond E. Feist's work before. As for me, I have been a devoted fan of his for a long time. I have often compared his work to The Lord of the Rings books. However, to my surprise, I have found that I actually enjoy this series even more. When I shared this thought with my friend, her curiosity was immediately piqued, and she expressed a strong desire to read the series. What's more, she managed to convince me to read them along with her. And let's face it, it wasn't a difficult request to comply with

Wow, and wow! I truly loved this book!

I approached this book with a bit of caution. The first two books were centered around Talon, and the third book focused on the villain Kaspar Duke of Olasko. It detailed his journey from being taken by Magnus to the other side of the world with nothing, to evolving into a crucial figure in uncovering evil and aiding the Conclave of Shadows.

For me, the most wonderful part of this book was reuniting with some old friends whom we hadn't seen in a long while, namely Thomas and the Elves! Their presence added a special charm and depth to the story.

Saying that I am excited about starting the next books in this series is a huge understatement! I can't wait to delve further into this captivating world and see what adventures await. The anticipation is palpable, and I'm eager to continue following the characters and their stories.

Traveling through books still requires trust in the travel guide. Okay, yes, sometimes you also have to dare to take a leap with an unknown guide, otherwise you'll never get to know a new country or city. But with some travel guides, I'll go on vacation with them without looking at the price or where we're going. Raymond E. Feist is one such person. I would love to visit all parts of Midkemia and Kelewan with this man.

The author
For those who don't know him. Raymond E. Feist is an American author (yes, I know, another American author.) who designed the worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan to use in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. When he became unemployed, he wrote the book Magician, which would be the start of a long-running series of books.

Why?
What makes Feist stand out as a favorite in the fantasy genre for me is his world-building. His own lands, populations, religions, and especially a lot of political games. Magician remains the best part because it was the beginning of the series and thus the start of the magic.

The book?
In The Return of the Banned, we follow Kaspar. Kaspar was transported to the other side of the Midkemia world by Magnus, a magician, at the end of the previous book. There he has to defend himself immediately against attackers. Where he was a big man in Olasko, he is a insignificant person in Novindus. His only goal is to return to Olasko and take revenge on Claus Haviks. When he meets some merchants who are wandering around with a kind of armor, he is no longer sure if he will be able to start his return to his homeland. He crosses almost all of Novindus, but gets more and more involved in the struggle between good and evil on Midkemia. It makes Kaspar stop and think about the choices he has made in the past.

My thoughts
As already said, a big fan of this author. In this part of the series, there is a bit less politics than usual in his books. What he does play with in this story is the fact that Kaspar stops and thinks about his past and as the story progresses, he realizes more and more that he wasn't doing so well. Character building is important to be able to take the story to higher levels and that is something Feist has managed well again.

The story moves away a bit from Claus Haviks, who had the main role in the previous two books, and thus follows more of Kaspar and a lot is also clarified about the workings of the Conclave of Shadows.

The story is exciting throughout the whole book. There are quite a few battles and chases, intrigues and there is sometimes a bit of room for more amorous affairs. That can also happen in a fantasy story.

The ending is well and excitingly put together. Although this is the last book in the trilogy around The Conclave of Shadows, the door is left wide open for the next series The Saga of the Dark War. The built-up tension really comes to an explosion here.

Conclusion
Let me also be honest. Not all of his books in these series are equally good. I suspect that this is also not possible in such a long-running series. But this book is one of the better ones again. The end of one series and the lead-up to the next. Well written, easy to read and exciting throughout.

Are there other authors with whom you would leave on a trip without thinking? There will probably be at least one more book by Feist this year because I'm rereading a book now and then to then continue reading in his new series. Although I'm a bit scared of that. What if I'm addicted to the old series after all these years and therefore like the new one less? The last book I bought by Feist does connect the old to the new series by bringing certain characters to the fore in the new story.

If anyone was still interested in numbers, here they are.
Feist is my fifth American author in a row but my first fantasy story of this year. I took twelve days over 288 pages, so that's an average of 24 pages per day. Just a bit less time to read and since this month I started a photography course again on Thursday evening. So I can't read anything one evening a week. A book written in 2004, the oldest book I've read so far this year. This book is also my third LUEK-book of 2025.

I'm not happy with my review structure at the moment, so it will most likely be adjusted regularly as the year progresses. (That's just me never being happy.)

Wish everyone a lot of reading pleasure. If you want, feel free to answer the question with which author you would leave on a trip without thinking.

The final book in the Conclave of Shadows trilogy is here.

The prior Duke Kasper, who was an important character in books 1 and 2, now takes the front and center stage. His journey is truly unexpected.

He is literally dropped onto the other side of the world and gets involved in an ominous adventure. In the prior books, Kasper was a character that was easy to hate.

However, his new misfortune has humbled him, and as a result, I found myself enjoying his character much more in this installment.

Thankfully, our Magician friends are back, which is always a great thing to see.

The next series is promised to be action-packed, and I can't wait to see what adventures lie ahead.

Overall, this final book in the trilogy has been a great conclusion and has left me excited for what's to come.

Not gonna lie, I was a bit upset to find out this book makes Kasper the main character.

At first, I had my own expectations and preferences, but as I delved deeper into the story, it became interesting to learn more about him.

His character has many facets and hidden depths that I hadn't anticipated. Also, I feel a bit sorry for him

The former Duke of Olasko, Kaspar, undertakes a journey that fills in the gaps of character development that were lacking in Talwin Hawkins.

He is a man consumed by the desire for revenge. However, as he progresses on this path, he gradually realizes that he is nothing more than a tiny cog in a much larger and more complex game.

The most engaging aspect of this story is the journey he takes with the traders. Together, they must carry a secret all the way to Sorcerers Isle.

The anticipation and mystery that surround this secret keep the reader hooked from start to finish. It's a truly good read that offers a unique perspective on revenge, self-discovery, and the power of secrets.

Overall, the story of Kaspar's journey is one that will stay with you long after you've turned the final page.

This was the concluded part of the Conclave of Shadows, and it was entirely different from what I had expected. However, that in no way prevented it from being an enjoyable read.

Firstly, the book is not really about Tal Hawkins at all. He only appears briefly towards the end as a restaurateur and is mainly used to facilitate meetings. Instead, the bulk of the book follows Kaspar, the former duke of Olasko, on his journey of redemption.

After his magical displacement, Kaspar finds himself stuck in the middle of nowhere. He first becomes a prisoner, then a farmer, and finally joins a group of merchants who have a strange tale to tell and a piece of evil cargo. Struggling to get home, Kaspar embarks on a journey that includes a meeting with the gods, a meeting with the Conclave of Shadows, an audience with the Queen of the Elves, and at the end, Midkemia finds itself on the brink of a trouble not seen since the start of the Riftwar.

I am very much looking forward to what comes next.

In the first two books, the simple story presented through a single character suddenly deepened.

And it became very beautiful. In fact, its transformation from a shallow narrative to a bombardment of information all of a sudden was a bit tiring.

However, it still managed to arouse a strong curiosity about the subsequent books.

The development of the story in this way added a new dimension to the overall plot.

It made the readers eager to know more about what would happen next and how the character would deal with the complex situation.

This change also showed the author's ability to handle different narrative styles and levels of depth.

Overall, although the sudden change had its drawbacks, it also brought many positive aspects and made the series more engaging and interesting.

Räsning 2: I my opinion, I was a bit too harsh last time. This one is not excellent, but it's really not bad either, except when compared to the rest of the Feist series. It has its own charm and unique qualities that might appeal to some readers. However, it doesn't quite reach the same level as some of the other installments.

Läsning 1: This is a rather uninteresting story about how the archvillain from the previous book is rehabilitated through suffering and contact with those who are also suffering. I can't really recommend it. The plot seems a bit dull and predictable, and there's not much excitement or innovation to keep the reader engaged. It feels like a missed opportunity to explore more complex themes and character development.

Feist is back at his best, and it's truly a remarkable achievement.

This series is nothing short of sweeping, taking readers on an epic journey that spans across generations. We witness the growth and development of characters over time, their stories intertwined in a complex and engaging web.

Not only does it traverse generations, but it also crosses continents, introducing us to different cultures, landscapes, and societies. The vivid descriptions make it easy to imagine oneself in these far-off places.

But that's not all. The series goes even further, venturing into different worlds and universes. Feist's imagination knows no bounds as he creates these fantastical realms, each with its own unique rules and characteristics.

Overall, this is a series that has something for everyone. Whether you're a fan of adventure, fantasy, or just a good story, you're sure to be captivated by Feist's latest offering.