Een jongen wordt tijdens zijn naamgevingsrite getroffen door het noodlot. Zijn hele stam wordt uitgemoord, en hij zelf overleeft het maar ternauwernood. Zijn eer vraagt om een bloedwraak. Maar voordat hij dit kan bereiken, moet hij eerst vele ontwikkelingen doorstaan en jaren van trainingen ondergaan.

Hij ontmoet vele mensen die hem helpen om een krachtige strijder te worden. Meerdere malen kruipt hij door de oog van de naald. Dit was weer eens een Feist zoals ik die graag lees. Een verhaal dat zich rustig opbouwt om de lezer in de goede stemming te krijgen. De personages komen echt genoeg over.

Echter, er is weinig fantasy in het verhaal, daarom geen 5 sterren. De ontwikkeling van de personage 'Klauw' is goed. De jongen leert lezen/schrijven, zwaardvechten en wordt opgenomen in 'het conclaaf der schaduwen'. Jammer alleen dat 'Klauw' in alles zo heel erg goed is. Het zou realistischer geweest zijn als hij in sommige dingen wat minder goed was, maar dan hadden Puc, Robert, Magnus en Nakur hem waarschijnlijk niet op zijn missie gestuurd.

Dit boek heeft weliswaar zijn sterke punten, zoals de goede ontwikkeling van de hoofdpersonage en de aangename verhaalvoering, maar het ontbreekt aan die extra toets van fantasy die het tot een ware meesterwerk zou kunnen maken. Toch is het zeker een leesbaar boek dat voor veel plezier zorgt.

I was a die-hard fan of 'Magician' during my teenage years. After that, I devoured the rest of 'The Riftwar Saga'. However, as I approached the end of 'The Serpent War Saga', my interest gradually waned, and thus my Feist frenzy came to an end. I can't quite remember the exact reason why I stopped reading these fantasy novels. But I think it was a combination of fantasy fatigue and the ever-increasing complexity of the series, especially the political aspects that generally left me bored. It all just became too elaborate and convoluted for my liking. I much prefer a more focused and straightforward tale, which brings us to this book.

I had read somewhere (perhaps here) that you could skip 'Talon of the Silverhawk' and jump straight to 'King of Foxes', which was allegedly much better. But being a completest, I could never fathom such a radical move as starting at part 2 of a trilogy. So, I slogged through 'Talon', and now I understand why people say to skip it. Although I would never recommend doing so. In a sense, 'Talon' is an extremely long prologue to what I assume will be the heart of the story in the two sequels. But simply calling it an extended prologue does a disservice to this rather engaging origin story.

'Talon' gives the impression that Feist decided to return to the basics with a focused and simple tale of vengeance. This approach is something I appreciate after the complexity of 'The Serpent War Saga' wore me out. 'Talon' feels like a harmonious blend of all of Feist's favorite themes, scenes (and places) that he has been writing about all along. But it's all packaged together in such a nice, comforting way that I overlooked the slight sense of deja-vu that I had throughout.

So, if you prefer your fantasy to be stripped back, without excessive political complexity or a plethora of characters muddling the story, I would recommend this book. Just go into it with the knowledge that it's hardly going to rival the classics of the genre, and it's an origin story, with - I assume - more substantial material to come in the sequels.

I have been engaging in Buddy-Reading this remarkable series over the past couple of months with a dear ‘book-club’ friend. She had never delved into Raymond E. Feist’s work before. As for me, I have been a devoted fan of his writings for a long time. I have often compared his work to The Lord of the Rings books, yet I must admit that I have found this series even more enjoyable. When I shared this with my friend, her interest was immediately piqued, and she was eager to read the series. She managed to convince me to read along with her, and it wasn't a difficult task at all

I don't know why, but I seriously struggled with this book.

It's only the second Raymond Feist book I've read and they both felt like such hard work. It took me nearly 2 whole weeks to slog through this.

I think there's a lot of unnecessary pomp in this book. There is an excessive amount of description just for the sake of description. Talon, the main character, is a very lacking one. He seems to use vengeance as his only personality trait.

Overall, I didn't enjoy it, which is a real shame because I really wanted to. I had high hopes for this book, especially after having read another one of Feist's works. However, it just didn't live up to my expectations. The story felt convoluted at times, and the characters didn't seem to have much depth. I found myself constantly struggling to stay interested and motivated to keep reading. Maybe it's just me, but I really expected more from this author.

It has been quite some time since I last delved into a Raymond Feist novel. However, it was an absolute delight to once again immerse myself in his unique style of writing and the way he masterfully develops his characters.

This particular book marks the first installment in a series, and truly serves as the foundation upon which the subsequent books will build. The story centers around a single main character, Talon of The Silver Hawk. At the very beginning of the book, Talon tragically loses his entire clan. Subsequently, he is chosen to undergo training in order to prepare him for service to the Conclave of Shadows. This is a mysterious group whose full intentions remain somewhat unclear in this book. Nevertheless, it aligns perfectly with Talon's own burning desire to fulfill his debt of survival and seek vengeance for the downfall of his clan.

Throughout this book, Feist peppers the narrative with an abundance of action, even though it is evident that the complete story is yet to be revealed in future installments. He skillfully constructs vivid places, rich cultures, complex characters, and entire worlds, effortlessly drawing the reader in and leaving them eagerly anticipating the next book in the series. And it most definitely works! I, for one, am more than ready to leap into the next book. Fortunately for me, I already have it in my possession.

If you have a penchant for getting deeply engrossed in a captivating fantasy series, then this one is most certainly for you.

This particular work is quite excellent indeed.

It features engaging and likeable characters that draw the reader in from the very beginning. There is also a decent amount of thrilling elements such as swordfights, magic, and war, which add to the excitement and keep the pages turning.

This is the first installment of a trilogy, and while it may not quite reach the same level of excellence as the works of Robin Hobb, it could definitely be a great read for fans of her work. Additionally, it would also appeal to fans of Abercrombie.

Personally, I am extremely keen to read the other two books in the trilogy to see how the story unfolds and to further explore the world and characters that have been created.

I have high hopes for what is to come and am looking forward to delving deeper into this captivating trilogy.

A hopeful start for the Conclave of Shadows after the tragic experience of the Serpentwar, with a first volume that has elements of a "rite of passage with frustration" leading to a "greater rite of passage" or "rite of greater passage", and ultimately, as I hope you understand.

A young man, on the day he undergoes the coming-of-age ceremony to be accepted as a man by his mountain tribe, having received the totemic call, returns to find his village in flames and its inhabitants being slaughtered by raiders. He barely manages to escape alive, thanks to the kindness of some who pick him up half-dead and care for him.

From then on, his journey is almost pre-determined. The people who saved him have plans for him and equip him with knowledge and skills to serve a higher purpose later, if he decides to. However, in the back of his mind, there is always the need for revenge.

The book progresses pleasantly, with minimal magic (which turns out to be good), no demons/elementals/elves/dwarves/leprechauns (which is even better), and focuses on the more sword side of sword and sorcery, without lacking the sense of the greater scope that is slowly revealed to the novice in Midkemia (while those who have read the previous ones, seeing - familiar with the area, the power balances and the... "rules" - the story unfold).

The first part is better and more balanced. If it continued with the same inspiration and momentum, it might have received a somewhat higher rating, but in the second part, it gets a bit off-track (not much) and fizzles out (slightly, but not disappointingly) in early revenge and optimistic one-man-show military operations.

If nothing else, it gives hope for the continuation (because after the Serpentwar ordeal, I was very cautious about picking up Feist again).

I truly relished this book!

Set still in the captivating world of Midkemia, this new series commences with a young Orisini boy undertaking his manhood rites in the mountains close to his home. As he commences to think he will fall short in attaining his manhood name, he is paid a visit by a Silver Hawk - a bird solely witnessed in the mountains where he resides.

During that encounter, he deems he is merely imagining it all, as the bird seems to be imparting a message to him. However, just as the bird takes flight, he commences to smell smoke - and it is not the smoke of the cooking fires that would be preparing the food to commemorate his manhood ceremony.

Due to his fasting, he is light-headed and begins to make his way back down the mountain. Only to trip and injure his arm. But he realizes that something is seriously amiss with his village, so he persists in making his way down, despite his injury and lack of sustenance.

When he finally reaches the outskirts of the village, he witnesses that it has been assaulted by a band of mercenaries, led by a man who observes as his men massacre the women and children, as well as the men. Feeling an imperative to join in and combat with his people, the boy does all he can. But the men are well-trained and proficient in their killing.

As the village burns, the boy is struck down and left for dead.

When he awakens, he discovers himself being aided by diverse men, though not the mercenary band, who had found him near death and had done what they could for him.

From that moment on, he is no longer a boy. But, as the hawk had informed him when on the mountain, he is now Talon of the Silver Hawk. And after uncovering that he is the last of his people to survive, he embarks on a journey to learn everything conceivable, in order to avenge the deaths of his people.

How he initiates this quest is the remainder of the book, and the journey he has embarked upon will carry him far from his ancestral home and into a world he was hitherto unaware existed. He will learn numerous lessons, some beneficial and some arduous, but he will continue his journey until all of the men who had slain his people are dead.

The next book, King of Foxes, continues his journey!

Bubblegum pop fantasy is a unique and captivating genre that combines the lightheartedness and fun of bubblegum pop music with the imaginative world of fantasy.

It often features bright and colorful melodies, catchy hooks, and lyrics that transport listeners to a magical realm.

The artists who create bubblegum pop fantasy music have a talent for infusing their songs with a sense of wonder and playfulness.

Their music can make you feel like you're floating on a cloud, surrounded by fairies and unicorns.

Bubblegum pop fantasy has gained a significant following in recent years, appealing to both young and old alike.

It offers a refreshing escape from the stresses of everyday life and allows listeners to embrace their inner child.

Whether you're a fan of pop music or fantasy, bubblegum pop fantasy is sure to delight and entertain you.

Oh wow!

I had long drives in the last two days. During these drives, I started and finished listening to the audio related to this. You know what? I really like it.

Although it may not be absolutely great, I truly do love this world that it presents.

Now, let's talk about this new cast of characters. I would give them 3.5 stars.

They have their own unique charm and characteristics that make the story more interesting.

Each character seems to bring something different to the table, and their interactions add depth and excitement to the overall narrative.

Even though there might be some areas where they could be further developed, I still think they do a good job of engaging the listener and making the story come alive.

Overall, I'm quite satisfied with this new cast and look forward to seeing how they continue to evolve in future installments.

Magician was my very first paranormal fantasy read.

The moment I started reading it, I fell in love instantly. And as they say, the rest is history.

I have each and every book in this remarkable series. In fact, they are so old that the pages have turned yellow. However, that doesn't prevent me from rereading them all the time.

Raymond E Feist is an author like no other. His writing is captivating, his world-building is extraordinary, and his characters are vivid and unforgettable.

If you haven't read this series yet, do yourself a huge favour and get stuck into it now. You will absolutely love Pug and his fascinating journey through life. And that's not all! There are many other wonderful characters in the spin-off books that will also steal your heart.

So don't hesitate any longer. Dive into the magical world of Raymond E Feist's books and prepare to be amazed.

I hedged between 3 - 4 stars for this book and it could easily have been a 4.

First of all, I usually have a penchant for stories like this one, where a youngling is compelled to achieve some great feat, be it driven by revenge, noble ideals, or the pursuit of power, and so on. Here, we are dealing with revenge on a grand scale as the main character, Talon, has his family and country brutally murdered. I enjoy observing the development of the character as he matures in both age and abilities. Talon is adopted by members of the powerful Conclave of Shadows and taught swordplay, reading/writing, and introduced to the life of nobility, politics, and more. The abandoned orphan is transformed into a deadly tool.

However, the question arises as to why only 3 stars and not 5 stars if I was leaning towards a 4-star rating. While I truly appreciated witnessing Talon being tempered into a dangerous weapon, I never really felt that I got to know much about him to like him a great deal. There was a distinct lack of personal interaction between Talon and others. Members of the Conclave would come and go in his life, teaching him various skills and providing him with fake personas, but the interactions between the characters were only superficial. I don't have a problem following a solo mission, but if I do, I want to have at least a basic understanding and liking for the person.

In a book like The Lies of Lock Lamora, which is similar in the sense that you have younglings being taught and developed into more than they were, you had characters who were funny, clever, likeable or not likeable, and you really got to know them as they underwent their training to accomplish some great deed or mission. The conversations and interactions among themselves and with others truly developed the characters. Here, the character Talon, apart from a plan and a desire for revenge, doesn't offer much as a character (nor do the other characters in the Conclave of Shadows) for me to wholeheartedly root for or against him.

I liked the book (I'm reading the second book to conclude the storyline), but I would have preferred to have learned more about Talon and the others along the way. I would describe it as a very good story with excellent world-building, but populated by average characters.