Really 2 1/2 stars.

Granted, I read this way too soon after the Kingkiller books which set a crazy high standard. However, this book really under delivered.

It started off promising. Although it lacked the poetry of Rothfuss, it did have some interesting concepts. Talon's culture, which is a pretty obvious analogue to Native American culture, set up an interesting character and premise. A revenge story? I was definitely in. Even when Talon started to become "trained" with logic games and such, I was still pretty interested. I liked the tension between Talon's assimilating "education" and his devotion to his native culture/identity. Feist also hinted at larger political games, and presented some intriguing secondary characters, and I was still on board.

But then he introduced the magic, and I was disappointed. It was the kind of magic with a staff, instant teleportation, and all that jazz. There was an all-powerful magician and some kind of secret, insidious, growing oppositional power, and it was just boring. The pacing of the story slowed way down (the beginning was also kind of slow, but I initially attributed it to exposition, only to find out that this entire book was exposition). There were temporal jumps and hops, and an effort to reveal more of some kind of web of power or political chess game or whatever, and it was still boring! Even the fencing battles felt clunky and slow compared to the thrilling, sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat feeling in both Kingkiller and Alera and Lynch's Gentlemen Bastards.

Ultimately, it's just run of the mill. I think I'll take a look at the second installment of this series to see if it gets any more exciting or different. But I would only recommend this if you haven't read fantasy for a while and are really just jonesing for a fix. It's like skunk weed - you read it just to get a little taste, but it doesn't really take you anywhere.

Returning to Raymond E. Feist's lengthy Riftwar Cycle is like coming back to an old stomping ground.

I know precisely what to anticipate. It's a comfortable experience, and not a great deal has altered.

Talon, the eponymous protagonist, depending on how one tallies them, is Feist's third or fourth protagonist who shares certain commonalities. He, much like Pug, Eric, and to some degree Roo (all from previous books), is a young man hailing from humble beginnings. Due to a tragic event that led him to them, he is mentored by powerful and skillful men. He is an especially adept student at what they impart and finds himself playing a central role in the face of an evil, world-threatening conspiracy.

I actually held this book in high regard. However, I'm sorry to state that Feist is coming across as a bit one-note to me. I don't truly mind, but it's most definitely standing out to me with this particular book.

So, the story unfolds as follows: Talon is a young man of the mountain Orosini tribe. The tribe is attacked and massacred by a mysterious army while Talon is away from the village on his name-day ritual. He returns and engages in combat with some of the soldiers before being struck down and left for dead. A passerby fortuitously discovers him and nurses him back to health. Said passerby happens to be a colleague of Pug, the most powerful magician in the realm. Talon is then brought into the Conclave of Shadows, an organization dedicated to combating a mysterious evil that has endured for centuries.

I liked it! I do hope that there could be a bit more diversity in the structure of this series, but I'll persist in reading nonetheless.

Raymond E. Feist is a renowned fantasy author hailing from Southern California and residing in San Diego. During his university years, he studied communication sciences. He achieved his greatest fame through his books set in the worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan. This series consists of more than thirty books. In this series, he frequently collaborated with other authors such as Janny Wurts, Joel Rosenberg, William Forstchen, and Steve Stirling.

The book "Claw of the Silver Hawk" is part of his Midkemia/Kelewan series and is the first book of "The Conclave of Shadows."
The story begins with Kiëlianapuna waiting for his initiation rite in his village to learn his adult name. However, all his relatives are slaughtered. As he rushes down the mountain to help, a rare silver hawk lands on his shoulder with a mysterious message.

When he arrives at his village, he catches a glimpse of the attackers but is then shot and left for dead. He is taken away by two unknown individuals who care for him and bring him to a place where he can be trained to achieve his goal: revenge. He vividly remembers the words of the silver hawk: "Rise up and be a claw for your people." From that moment, he knows his name will be Claw.

In this book, Feist does what he has done in several other books. He creates a character who has nothing or has lost everything and shapes him/her into a significant person as the book progresses.

This ensures that a bond is formed between the reader and the main character. In fact, all his characters are well-developed. Those who practice magic are well-described without the magic overwhelming the story. It is ideal for people who want to get to know fantasy without being immediately bombarded by an excess of magic.

The story reads very smoothly, with a great descriptive style. After reading, when you close your eyes, you can almost see the characters come to life in the described environment.

The tension is always sufficient to keep you wanting to read more. Something is always happening somewhere that is then redirected in a different direction by a twist in the story.

The ending is somewhat predictable, as you can anticipate what will happen from the beginning. However, a possible downside is that the sought-after revenge may seem a bit too easy. But this is not the end, as there are hints scattered throughout for the next part of this series about the Conclave of Shadows.

In conclusion, "Claw of the Silver Hawk" is a very smooth and beautifully written new addition to Feist's Midkemia/Kelewan series. With well-described characters, a well-shaped world, and a story with enough tension to keep you reading, along with enough twists to make it interesting and a believable story. Feist is an author who takes you into a fantasy world without the magic hitting you over the head.

At first, I was somewhat disappointed in the direction Mr Feist took in this latest foray into Midkemia.

After thoroughly enjoying The Serpent War Saga and falling deeply in love with Eric Von Darkmoor and Ru Avery, I was not overly fond of Tal Hawkins. The major reason being that at just 12 years old, he is much of what is now being termed a “Mary Sue”. He is simply too perfect. He knows an excessive number of things right from the start, and in the beginning, I did not appreciate the ease with which he achieved various milestones.

However, then he meets Allesandria, and that's when things started to take a slightly better turn. But by the end of the book, Talwin Hawkins is likened to James Bond. He has become a super spy, and this was a somewhat redeeming factor. It is quite evident that the author has always harbored a desire to write a spy novel. And while it may not be his strongest suit, it is acceptable for the setup of the next book.

Overall, despite the initial disappointment, there are still aspects of this latest installment that hold promise for the future of the Midkemia series.

Talon returns to his home after successfully completing his manhood ritual.

To his horror, he discovers that his family and the entire Orosini mountain tribe, the only people he has ever known, are under attack by ruthless mercenaries.

Talon attempts to assist them but is soon knocked unconscious and left for dead. Fortunately, he is rescued by a mysterious man named Robert and put to work in a tavern where Robert is staying. However, this is merely a test, and once Talon is deemed worthy, he commences his training. The training lasts for several years, and only then is he permitted to swear allegiance to the Conclave of Shadows.

This is Raymond E. Feist at his finest, or very close to it. As the first book in a series, it lacks the overall complexity and scope of his debut novel Magician. Nevertheless, it effectively introduces the characters and sets the stage for the story. It is a significant improvement over many of Feist's recent works, harking back to the style of the Riftwar and Serpentwar sagas. While reading this book, I felt completely immersed in the world, experiencing every moment as if it were real. This is a feeling that has been all too scarce in recent times. Highly recommended.

An enjoyable fantasy book that features an engaging and clearly multi-book story arc awaits readers. The main character, although seemingly a little overpowered as he is naturally good at basically everything he attempts with apparently very little effort, it's not in a terribly annoying manner. In fact, there are hints suggesting that this might have some sort of magical or destiny-related reason, rather than just being a random happenstance.

I'm not entirely sure if there's a whole lot that sets it apart from other books that also boast good worldbuilding and engaging storytelling. However, I'm definitely looking forward to delving into the rest of the series. Additionally, the name "Talon of the Silver Hawk" is truly a pretty cool one. It has a certain allure and mystery that makes one eager to explore the world and adventures that lie within the pages of this book and the subsequent installments of the series.

A truly compelling new trilogy has emerged, centering around an orphaned young man and his remarkable journey towards his ultimate destiny. The protagonist, Talon, is an incredibly engaging character. He is not only very pleasant and interesting but also caring, which endears him to the readers. However, he also has his flaws. At times, he can be slightly arrogant, which adds a touch of realism to his character. But this arrogance is balanced out by his playful nature, making him a complex and multi-faceted individual. I have truly fallen in love with this new series. It has captured my attention from the very beginning and continues to hold it with its captivating storyline and well-developed characters. I can't wait to see what adventures Talon will embark on next and how he will grow and evolve along the way.

So I was a bit disappointed in this book.

It was REALLY slow starting. Now, this is somewhat understandable with the first book in a trilogy, but by REALLY slow… I mean a full 85% of the book was all about character development. And it wasn't even exciting character development. Nope, the protagonist was just getting trained, getting laid, and having almost no adventures along the way.

And in all of that character development, the author failed to make me identify with or truly like his protagonist. I don't DISLIKE him, but the whole character archetype just seemed a bit artificial and one-dimensional to me (think SUPER assassin, ninja, philosopher, duelist - RaaRR!).

The last few chapters were definitely good, and I have hope that the next few books will be quite action-packed. All that time spent in training has transformed the main character into a powerful force to be reckoned with, and he's determined to pursue a path of revenge and intrigue.

So I have high expectations for the next two books and will hopefully be posting positive reviews here soon.

Rereading this after some years allows me to appreciate it more than previously :).

Following on from the serpentwar saga, at that time, I was longing for more direct participation from Pug, Nakor, Miranda and the others. I was rather disappointed when this didn't occur. However, now I have a greater appreciation for it. It offers a change of pace and introduces some fascinating new characters.

The eponymous Talon is an interesting figure. He is quite talented in certain aspects, yet not beyond the bounds of reason. Certainly, he makes a few mistakes that complicate his life.

It's a good read. It's a bit lighter than some of his other books, but still highly enjoyable. It provides a different flavor and keeps the reader engaged with its unique storyline and characters.

Nice to be back to the main story.

It's always exciting to return to the central narrative and see how the plot unfolds.

The main story often holds the key to understanding the overall theme and message of a work.

It can take us on a journey filled with adventure, mystery, and emotion.

As we delve back into the main story, we may discover new details and insights that we missed before.

It's like reopening a favorite book or revisiting a beloved place.

The characters and their experiences come alive once again, captivating our attention and imagination.

Whether it's a thrilling action sequence, a heartwarming romance, or a thought-provoking drama, the main story has the power to engage us on a deep level.

So, let's embrace this return and enjoy the ride that the main story has in store for us.

It is not that I didn't attempt.

I truly wanted to like this book. I was determined to force my way through the painstakingly slow character development and the undeniably predictable storyline.

However, I simply could not endure it any longer.

I had to give up a quarter of the way into the book.

Maybe another time, under different circumstances, I will be able to approach it with a more open mind and a greater tolerance for its flaws.

But for now, it just wasn't meant to be.

I hope that the author will consider making some changes in future editions to make the reading experience more engaging and less frustrating for readers like me.

Until then, I will look for other books that can capture my attention and keep me hooked from start to finish.

DNF at 60% :/

At the beginning, the story showed great promise. It started off strong, captivating the reader's attention. However, after a few chapters, it seemed to reach a plateau.

Reading about Talon repeatedly performing various tasks, without much detail, quickly becomes tiresome. Talon himself is a rather uninteresting character. His motivation for revenge against the men who slaughtered his people is vague.

Aside from one instance where he mistakenly attacks a man at an inn because he resembled one of the murderers, Talon is extremely passive in pursuing his goals. He fails to ask important questions about why he is being taught so many different things or who the people he is indebted to truly are.

Moreover, he doesn't seem to face any real struggles. He masters every skill almost instantaneously, and everyone around him simply comments on how great he is. Talon's passivity is frustrating. Things happen to him, and he barely reacts.

The most emotion we see from him is during his pity parties when the girls he sleeps with eventually leave him.

For a book of this size, the lack of description regarding what is going on is astonishing. Talon learns numerous new skills, such as sword fighting, logic puzzles, languages, and painting, but none of them are adequately described, which is highly annoying.

I truly attempted to give this book a fair chance, but unfortunately, it's just too dull for my taste. Sorry.