Su predecesora me dejó un estupendo sabor de boca de 5 estrellas. Ella ha hecho que la segunda parte sea sacrificada por la imposibilidad de mantener la novedad.

Aquí se mezcla la fantasía épica con espada y planeta, lo que es muy atractivo. Continúa siendo coral, desarrollando a los personajes en su moral y personalidad, pero poco como elemento de acción. La mejor parte son las del mago, que fue rastreado por los extraterrestres y llevado a su mundo. Esto me recordó mucho al de Edgar Rice. Su historia es al más puro estilo pulp y es muy divertida.

El tema amoroso necesario para rellenar y tocar la patata es empalagoso. Es demasiado tierno y no aporta nada realmente interesante al relato. Quizás hubiera sido mejor omitirlo o desarrollarlo de una manera más sutil. De todas formas, el libro tiene sus puntos fuertes y es una lectura entretenida para los amantes de la fantasía.

Stories of World Wars, Part Two.

The war is going on at its best. Once again, we will accompany the main hero, Pug, this time on the other side of the crossing, where the young mage has become a prisoner of the Tsuranich. He managed to survive, although the work of cutting trees in the swamps was not the easiest. The dispute with the overseer in the work camp almost ended tragically for Pug, but he managed to save his skin. Since then, the boy's life has changed completely, and his previously untapped abilities have begun to make themselves known.

Compared to the first part, the second one is much better. I started to get involved in the story and I am very curious about what will happen next. There is no trace left of the skinny orphan anymore. Pug has become a powerful man who can change the course of events and decide the fate of the war. I eagerly reach for the next part.

7/10

I absolutely loved this one.

It is significantly better than the first book.

The story has developed in a more engaging and captivating way.

My favorite scene by far is when Milamber gets mad.

His anger is so intense and palpable, it really makes the moment come alive.

It actually reminded me a lot of Rand in the Wheel of Time.

Just like Rand, Milamber has this inner strength and power that he unleashes when pushed to his limits.

The way the author describes his emotions and actions is truly masterful.

It makes me eager to see what else Milamber will do and how the story will continue to unfold.

I can't wait to read more and discover what other exciting scenes and developments are in store for me.

This book has definitely become one of my favorites and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good fantasy adventure.

The culmination of what was promised in Magician Apprentice is delivered tenfold here.

On reread, it's truly astonishing the vast amount of worldbuilding that Feist manages to pack into this volume.

To be sure, it's far from flawless, but it is absolutely perfect for me and for the kinds of stories that I have a penchant for reading.

It offers adventure that thrills, pain that tugs at the heartstrings, magic that dazzles, and the discovery of love, even when it's not the one you initially expect.

This is the very first story that has shown me all of these elements in such a captivating way, and it will forever hold a top position in my library, destined to be read by my kids and passed down through the generations.

It's a literary gem that I will cherish and recommend to others without hesitation.

Every chapter begins with a simple sentence.

Not only does the chapter begin with a simple sentence, but that sentence gets its own paragraph. This practice really intrigued me when I was in sixth grade and starting to explore literature and writing.

I was a new Dungeon Master then, and I was beginning to understand the importance of a good hook in a story. The simple sentence, standing alone in its paragraph, seemed like the most refined and effective hook imaginable.

It reached out and grabbed the reader, making it impossible not to read the next sentence. Sentences like "The dying slave lay screaming in the courtyard" were so powerful.

I still have a lot of admiration for this style. Although my tastes have changed and I now prefer more natural language, this approach to chapter openings is still very forgivable and not tiresome.

In fact, I would be happy to use a similar opening in my own writing from time to time. However, like a Vonnegut paragraph, it can get old if used too often.

Authors like J.R.R. Tolkien, Jane Austen, and Herman Melville have all used simple and powerful opening sentences. For example, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit" and "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."

These sentences set the tone for the story and draw the reader in. Feist also does a good job with his opening sentences, as seen in "Magician: Apprentice".

However, Feist's stories don't always end as elegantly as they begin. His first novel, "Magician", has some flaws, such as Marty Stu characters, Deus Ex Machina, inconsistent pacing, and anticlimaxes.

Despite these flaws, the story is still enjoyable and important in the fantasy canon. The character of Tomas Ashen-Shugar is especially well-conceived.

Another issue that has been raised about Feist's story is sexism. Some reviewers have pointed out that all the female characters in the story exist only as love interests for the male characters.

They argue that the story fails the Bechtel test and that no female character rises to the level of a protagonist. While I can see their point, I don't really care.

Feist is a heterosexual male, and it's natural for him to write about his own romantic desires. The female characters in his story may not be well-developed, but that doesn't mean the story is sexist.

In fact, many works of literature and entertainment are written from a male or female perspective, and that's okay. We shouldn't judge a story based on whether it passes a certain test or not.

We should instead focus on whether the story is engaging, well-written, and enjoyable. If a story can make us feel something, then it has done its job.

So, in conclusion, while Feist's "Magician" may have some flaws, it's still a great story that's worth reading. And we should stop being so uptight about things like sexism and just enjoy the story for what it is.

Magician: Master is a captivating story that unfolds in a straightforward manner from start to finish.

Basing on the novel's title and the actions in Magician: Apprentice, it's evident that the book centers around Pug's capture and his training to become a Master Magician. This installment involves more political intrigue and less action compared to Magician: Apprentice. However, the author manages to make the political aspect interesting enough to keep me engaged in reading the novel.

Nevertheless, one major issue I had with this novel is the somewhat lacking character development. At times, I found myself not fully engrossed in what was happening with the characters. In the first novel, there was significant development for all the major characters as they began to mature into adults. This doesn't seem to be the case in Magician: Master. For instance, when Tomas was dealing with his transformation from a human to a Valheru, I didn't care as much about what happened. I felt the author could have done a better job of making the characters more relatable.

Overall, I think Magician: Master is a good but not outstanding novel that serves as a fitting conclusion to the events initiated in Magician: Apprentice.

Check out the rest of the review below. [http://www.thefantasyreview.com/2007/...]

I'm not reading the last 50 pages.

I have this strong feeling that the writer is going to pull a really mean and unexpected move.

It's like I can sense something fishy is about to happen.

And I just won't tolerate it.

I don't want to be left frustrated or disappointed by some cheap trick the writer might play.

Maybe I'm being too cautious, but I'd rather stop reading now than risk having a bad taste in my mouth at the end.

Who knows what crazy twist the story might take?

I think I'll just leave it as it is and imagine my own ending.

That way, I can ensure that it ends the way I want it to.

*** 4 ***

A buddy read with the Fantasy Fans @ BBB!

This was an extremely captivating second installment in this series. Pug and his friends have endured 8 years since that fateful moment when the two best friends, Tomas and Pug, were separated and embarked on their vastly different paths. Tomas was bestowed with a magical armor, while Pug was whisked away to the world of the invaders. After spending some time as a slave, he was set on a journey to explore the boundaries of his magical abilities.

The war has been revealing the vulnerabilities of the royalty. Their numbers are not only dwindling, but also rifts and power struggles are emerging, causing division and sowing seeds of distrust among the already weary defenders.

I found the build-up of the story to be very thrilling. However, I felt that the small Ascension drama at the end was a bit of an anticlimax. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the story as a whole and eagerly anticipate the next book. :-)

Now I wish you all Happy Reading and many more amazing books in the future!!!

{From 2024}
Third read, second re-read and I have no issues with the review I penned below after my initial re-read of the book. My viewpoints and thoughts remain unchanged.
---------------------------------------------
{From 2000}
I have perused all 30+ volumes in the Riftwar series, so I was well aware that I adored these books. However, this was my first re-read of this specific novel since I first delved into it in the late 80's.

One of my beloved authors, and one of my favorite series.

The characters have always been the major allure for me in Feist's writing. I cherish them, their evolution, their interactions, and their growth. This book, in particular, compelled me to keep turning the pages deep into the night, not due to the plot alone, but because I was eager to discover what was transpiring with the characters.

It was also masterfully plotted, well-paced, and superbly written.

It is a superior book compared to the first in the series. We are presented with a far more intricate plot and truly delve deeper into the cultures on the other side of the Rift.

I'm not certain if I'll continue my re-read as I know all the stories and their conclusions. But reading these first few again during the chaos of the pandemic was enjoyable and cathartic.

If you've never read this series - it is highly recommended - some of the absolute best of old school fantasy.

After reading "Magician: Apprentice", I had high hopes that the second half of Feist's Magician series, "Magician: Master", would bring a satisfying conclusion to the numerous plot threads that were carefully constructed in the first part. However, to my great disappointment, this book failed to meet my expectations.

There are several issues with this book that seriously hampered my enjoyment. Almost every other page made me stop and wonder, whispering to myself, "What? Why? How can this be reasonable? Why am I forced to witness this scene? Why is the character I'm supposed to be cheering for acting like a spoiled brat?"

Let me break it down further. The main character, Pug, who was once an innocent and likable boy, suddenly transformed into a tyrant with an oversized ego. I despised him with a passion. He was handed everything on a silver platter: his latent powers, the affection of every "good" person in the book, the fortunate end of his enslavement (if he was truly enslaved, as I didn't see any real suffering on his part), the protection of a kind master, the respect of the Tsurani mages (for no apparent reason), and many other privileges. He found his soulmate without any effort, and she was completely devoted to him after just one night of passion. There was no real connection or romance between Pug and his wife. When Pug became a master magician, my empathy for him vanished completely. He treated those of his former social status the same way as every other arrogant noble, and yet we were expected to root for him? No way. The display of his power during the bloody arena event was so absurd and pointless that I had to force myself to slog through the pages, rolling my eyes in boredom. Once Pug was able to do anything he wanted without any consequences, there was no tension left in the book at all. Pug is the perfect example of a Gary Stu in fantasy writing.

Next, there's Tomas. He was also a complete jerk. His personality took a complete 180-degree turn from the good-natured and energetic lad we saw in "Apprentice". Like Pug, he too had everything handed to him: the adoration of the elves (even though he brutally killed his enemies and exuded a savage aura), the unquestioning loyalty of the dwarves (why? He was just a young and inexperienced human, and just because Dolgan liked him didn't mean the rest of the dwarves should), and the love of an unlikely character (again, there was no chemistry. It was all so shallow). His sideplot ended without any violence, consequences, or repercussions. It was like the author just intervened and solved the problem with a snap of his fingers. Boring.

Arutha, on the other hand, was a character I actually liked. But I didn't understand why a third of the book had to be told from his perspective, especially since he didn't get much attention in the first book. In fact, Arutha should have been the main character instead of Pug or Tomas. At least he wasn't an obvious Gary Stu cardboard character. His fall from grace as a prince to an adventurer actually earned my empathy, and I really enjoyed seeing his character development.

"Magician: Master" had the potential to be an epic fantasy, but it ended up being hollow, unbelievable, and boring. Even if one were to overlook the problem of the Gary-Stu-ness of many of the characters, the inconsistent pacing, pointless digressions, and anticlimactic emotional scenes still stood out like a sore thumb and left readers who actually cared about these things frustrated. I would only recommend this book to those who are new to the fantasy genre and don't know what to expect. Its simple and cliched plot might be suitable for inexperienced readers. Otherwise, I would suggest staying away.

Magician: Master sees Pug's remarkable journey. He starts as a slave in the Tsuranuanni Empire and rises to become a great magician of the Assembly, known as Milamber.

We are introduced to the captivating world of Kelewan, the Tsurani home world. Here, there are giant, intelligent insectoid creatures called Cho-Ja and six-legged bovine creatures called Needra.

The wildlife is also unique. Bees are bright red instead of yellow and black striped, eagles have yellow bands on their wings, and hawks are purple.

Unlike Pug's homeworld of Midkemia, which has flora and fauna more similar to our own.

The Tsuranuanni culture is very much influenced by Japanese and Korean cultures. We explore the fascinating politics of the five great families of the Empire, including the Keda, Tonmargu, Minwanabi, Oaxatucan, and Xacatecas, as well as the Warlord and the near godlike Emperor, the Light of Heaven. There are also 'political parties' representing the aspirations of the noble families, such as the Blue Wheel Party, the Jade Eye Party, and others.

Then there is the Assembly of Magicians or Great Ones.

Milamber plays a significant role in bringing about great changes that will lead to a climax in the war between the Tsurani and the Kingdom. He has become part of the Empire and is married to a girl from Kelewan, Katala.

Meanwhile, on Midkemia, Thomas dons the armor of the great Dragon Lord, Ashen Shugar, which he received in the cave of the dragon. He becomes a mighty warrior, but his new power causes concern among the Elves of Elvandar, where he lives, as they fear the return of Valheru domination. This is further complicated by the fact that the elf Queen Aglaranna has fallen in love with him.

Arutha must travel to Krondor to seek aid from the Kingdom forces to save Crydee, which is under siege by Tsurani armies. However, he discovers that Krondor has been seized by his father's scheming enemy, Duke Guy of Bas Tyra. He must rescue Princess Anita and escape the city.

Magician: Apprentice takes us on a deeper exploration of these two worlds and presents a dramatic climax for the saga, while also providing material for many more novels.

Good news!

It has been approximately 15 years, and yet, I still find great enjoyment in this story.

The passage of time has not dimmed its charm or appeal.

Even after all these years, the characters and the plot continue to engage and captivate me.

It's as if the story has a timeless quality that transcends the years.

Perhaps it's the way the author weaves the tale, or the emotions that are evoked within me as I read.

Whatever the reason, I'm glad that I can still turn to this story and be transported to another world.

It's a reminder that some things truly stand the test of time and can bring joy and entertainment no matter how many years have passed.

I look forward to many more readings of this wonderful story in the future.