The Riftwar Saga #2

Magician: Master

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He held the fate of two worlds in his hands...

Once he was an orphan called Pug, apprenticed to a sorcerer of the enchanted land of Midkemia.. Then he was captured and enslaved by the Tsurani, a strange, warlike race of invaders from another world.

There, in the exotic Empire of Kelewan, he earned a new name--Milamber. He learned to tame the unnimagined powers that lay withing him. And he took his place in an ancient struggle against an evil Enemy older than time itself.

499 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1,1982

About the author

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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.

Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 99 votes)
5 stars
38(38%)
4 stars
25(25%)
3 stars
36(36%)
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99 reviews All reviews
July 15,2025
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I absolutely loved it!

From the moment I laid eyes on it, I was captivated.

The details were exquisite, and every aspect seemed to be carefully crafted.

It had a charm that was simply irresistible.

The way it made me feel was indescribable.

It brought a smile to my face and filled my heart with joy.

I couldn't get enough of it.

Whether it was the colors, the design, or the overall atmosphere, everything about it was perfect.

I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for something special.

It truly is a one-of-a-kind experience that you don't want to miss.

Loved it!
July 15,2025
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Wow, I truly loathed this.

All the charm that was present in the first novel is entirely absent here. In the first volume, there was a young magician engaged in combat with trolls, a meeting with a magnificent dragon, and a thrilling flight from a deadly wraith. However, in this book, it is nothing but people simply standing around and chatting for a whopping 500 pages.

There are no character arcs to speak of. People's personalities change abruptly and without any warning. The two main characters undergo a complete transformation and acquire entirely different personalities (and rather emo "I'm so dark and powerful now" ones at that) just through a throwaway "4 years later" line.

The state of the war is presented to us in extremely dull expositional dialog. Do we witness a series of exciting battles? No, we are merely informed that "The war goes badly for both of us" and then it is almost forgotten in favor of a "our king is crazy!" plotline that is resolved in about 10 seconds at the end (and in a rather ridiculous manner as well).

One of the main characters is killed off-screen, and hardly anyone seems to care. The person who cared about him the most simply says "oh, that's so sad" and then he is promptly forgotten. I have a sneaking suspicion that Feist had too many things going on and had to cut some plotlines because otherwise, this makes absolutely no sense.

Virtually nothing in the first book holds any significance. The love triangle? It is pointless. The boys' growth into capable warriors/magicians? It is accomplished in an instant. The war? It is an afterthought that is brushed aside with a mere wave of the hand.

In conclusion, I found this book to be a nonsensical and tiresome read that gave the impression that the author was either randomly deciding what happened next or writing himself out of difficult situations by simply ignoring and/or killing off any plotline or character that he didn't know how to handle.
July 15,2025
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4.5 Stars

I wrapped up book two in a rather quick manner. The first book was indeed good, but this particular one truly held my attention throughout the entire reading experience! It has come as a pleasant surprise to me just how well this series has held up over the years. I find myself eagerly looking forward to continuing this series next month.

I can't wait to see what new adventures and developments await in the upcoming books. The story has been engaging and the characters have been well-developed, making it a truly enjoyable read.

A full review is likely to follow once I have completed the entire series. I'm sure there will be many more aspects to discuss and analyze.

Overall, I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good book that can keep them hooked from start to finish.
July 15,2025
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Four years have passed since the siege of Crydree, and the war against the Tsurani continues. The friends follow different paths.


Pug is now a slave of the people of Kelewan. Through him and his new friend Laurie, the author introduces us to the other side of the war. Entering the enemy's territory, we get to know their customs, culture, political games, and hierarchy. Although Pug starts as a slave in the Tsurani world, over time he learns to understand and control his power, which he previously had so much difficulty with. This view that the author transmits to us of the previously unknown people is quite interesting.


Tomas is now a great warrior and is followed by the dwarf people as a captain. However, he has an internal struggle because with the artifact given by the dragon, great powers from very ancient times come, and the Elves (one of the oldest beings in the world) do not want to remember. But by winning his struggle, Tomas has an important role to play in the war against the Tsurani.


Unlike the previous book, Feist gives importance to Arutha from the beginning of the book. Arutha continues to try to keep Crydree safe from the Tsurani. However, he needs the help of the Kingdom and tries to ask for it from the prince of Krondor. But when he arrives in the city, he discovers that the Kingdom is on the verge of a civil war, and that it must be avoided at all costs. At the same time, the King of Midkemia believes that the nobles of Crydree are against him and want to remove him from the throne. Arutha has a long journey, from the beginning of the war until its end, where we can see the growth of the character. He becomes a man of strong convictions and with all the weight on his shoulders to take care of Crydree during his father and brother's stay at the front of the battle, only demonstrating the good governor he can become.


Unlike the first book, this one caught my attention from the beginning. The author continues to keep us in suspense regarding the story and its characters, making it difficult to stop reading. I was eager to know what had happened to Pug and Arutha, as they were my favorite characters. There are several events that the reader does not expect, and there are still answers to the previous book. It still leaves us a lot to uncover in the next books, maintaining all the mystery around the wizard Macros.


If the first book was considered excellent, this one is even better and exceeded my expectations.

July 15,2025
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This book truly made the events come to life.

The first book was mainly written to describe the lives and actions of Pug and Tomas, and also to establish the universe to some extent. So, it didn't have a very captivating side. That is, generally I liked it of course, but with this book, not only did we get to learn about the experiences on the other side of the Rift, but also the situations that our characters were in were very extraordinary. And the Tsurani society was also described very beautifully, making me feel like Asian societies. In short, I really liked the Riftwar Saga.

Yes, today's fantastic literature has gone beyond this series and its kind, but of course, nothing takes away from the extraordinariness of these Riftwar books.
July 15,2025
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An excellent follow-up to Magician: Apprentice, Feist's world truly begins to shine.

It showcases captivating court politics, remarkable character development, and a beautiful world populated by unique characters.

However, the most significant issue lies in the pace of the plot.

When I initially embarked on this series, I had the impression that it would be a slow-paced one, gradually fleshing out the characters and the world.

Nevertheless, there are numerous time jumps, and problems are both raised and resolved within single chapters.

This, at times, makes it feel overly fast-paced and challenging to keep up with.

Otherwise, it is an outstanding read!

Despite the pacing issue, the engaging story, well-developed characters, and richly detailed world make it a worthwhile addition to any fantasy lover's collection.

The court politics add an extra layer of intrigue, while the character development allows readers to form deep connections with the protagonists.

Overall, it is a great book that, with a few adjustments to the pacing, could have been even better.

July 15,2025
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The second part of this story is truly better than the first.

The world building is more complex and detailed than I initially anticipated.

It has drawn me in and made me eager to explore more of this fictional universe.

The characters are well-developed and their interactions add depth to the story.

I can't wait to see how the plot unfolds in the next installment of the series.

The author has done a great job of creating a captivating and engaging world that keeps me coming back for more.

I will definitely continue reading this series and look forward to seeing what else the author has in store for us.

Overall, I'm very impressed with this second part and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good adventure in a richly imagined world.

July 15,2025
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It has been four long years since Pug was enslaved and brutally thrust into the strange world of the Tsurani. During this time, he has endured countless hardships and challenges.

When he is unexpectedly chosen by their powerful magicians, known as the great ones, Pug decides to adopt a new name. This marks a significant turning point in his life, as he begins to develop powers and abilities that make him a force to be reckoned with.

Now, Pug faces a crucial question: Can he somehow find a way to return home and stop the impending Riftwar before it's too late and causes widespread destruction? The fate of both his home world and the Tsurani world hangs in the balance.

This installment of the Riftwar saga is truly a great one. It is filled with non-stop action, mind-blowing magic, and captivating storylines that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

If you have a passion for fantasy stories that transport you to otherworldly realms and are filled with adventure and excitement, then be sure to check out this book at your local library or wherever books and ebooks are sold. You won't be disappointed!
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