So this book was okay.

But then all of Feist's first books to a series are okay to good. They have a certain charm that sucks you in just enough to make you want to continue reading the series.

However, usually the series goes downhill with each subsequent book.

I started reading these books because one of my brothers lent me many of the books set in this world. He said it was a great series that I would probably really like.

And as I mentioned earlier, in the two mini-series that I had already read, the first books were not bad.

So when he had this next installment, I decided to give it one more try. I was really hoping to be amazed and wowed.

Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I've already made up my mind not to read the later books of this world.

But now the big question is, did "Talon of the Silver Hawk" pull me in enough to get past the probable letdown that the other two books will bring?

For now, I am going to put those books aside and try to catch up on some of my other to-be-read (TBR) books on my bookshelf.

I'll see if there are any hidden gems among them that can satisfy my reading cravings.

The Plot Armor is Too Thick

In the first stage, Talon's home and friends were all wiped out. So in this story, he seems like a blank slate, and his personality can be changed according to the needs of the plot.

Most of the story describes Talon's training in the secret society: how to use a sword, how to cook, how to make love, how to sense the reaction of magic, how to imitate the royal family, and so on. When he starts to use these abilities, only a few chapters describe how he uses his diverse abilities. However, I like to read books about learning because this story is similar to my own life.

Later in this book, the most troublesome aspect is that Talon seems invincible. His plot armor is too thick.

The 94th Book in 2023

Talon's journey in this story is quite complex. After the tragic loss of his home and friends, he embarks on a path of transformation through the training of the secret society. The detailed descriptions of his learning process in various skills are quite engaging. However, as the story progresses, the fact that he appears almost invincible due to the thick plot armor becomes a bit of a drawback. It makes the story lack a certain sense of tension and unpredictability. Nevertheless, the overall theme of learning and growth still holds some appeal, especially for those who can relate to the process of self-improvement.

Despite the issue of the overly thick plot armor, this book still has its merits. It offers a unique perspective on a character's development and the acquisition of various skills. The combination of different elements such as action, romance, and magic makes it an interesting read. Whether or not it will be a favorite among readers depends on their personal preferences for storylines and characterizations.

Overall, "The Plot Armor is Too Thick" is a book that has both its strengths and weaknesses. It manages to capture the reader's attention with its engaging narrative and diverse set of skills that the protagonist learns. However, the lack of a real challenge for Talon due to the thick plot armor may disappoint some readers who are looking for a more thrilling and unpredictable story.

This is the Raymond E. Feist that I like. He is the author who tells an epic story without haste, taking his time to set the right mood for us.

This is especially true at the beginning of the story. We meet a young man, a member of a tribe with a unique culture. In the middle of a maturation ritual, he is faced with tragic events and devotes his life to revenge.

However, to reach that point, he has to go through many stages and meet people who will turn him into a powerful and brilliant warrior. Most of the book is dedicated to describing this process in a very good way, although in some cases it progresses very quickly.

This leads us to an action-packed finale in a field, where the writer is at his best. Of course, there are some exaggerations, but if you don't make a big deal out of them, you will enjoy some very dramatic moments.

In other words, this trilogy starts off well with an interesting and enjoyable book. I do have some objections to the excesses of the plot and to some points where the author could have provided more details. This would, of course, make the book longer but would be even more interesting for me.

On the positive side, there is a touch of politics at the core of this story that seems more down-to-earth and not so much based on magic. With this, the second part seems to me to be just as interesting, so I will start reading it immediately.

Back to form!

This is truly a fascinating one, with numerous echoes of Magician. It's rather irritating that Talon seems to be effortlessly proficient in everything. However, one has to wonder - perhaps the Conclave experimented with this on ten thousand other war orphans, and his was the sole story that turned out well enough to be recorded?

Maybe there were countless others who failed to meet the mark, their tales lost to history. But Talon's success stands out, like a shining star in a dark sky.

It makes one question the nature of talent and destiny. Is it simply a matter of luck that Talon excelled where others did not? Or was there something more, some intangible quality within him that set him apart?

As we delve deeper into this story, we are left with more questions than answers, but that's what makes it so engaging and captivating.

I first delved into the beginning of this captivating saga, Magician: Apprentice, back in 1994. At that time, I was serving in the military and residing in Florida. I was truly enthralled by it. The story was imaginative, beautifully written, and filled with action-packed high fantasy set in a truly compelling world.

However, in 2002, I read a part of the series starting with Krondor: The Betrayal, and to my great disappointment, it didn't meet my expectations. I believe these three books in this particular series were somehow associated with a video game. Not being aware of that, I simply loathed the books and promptly stopped reading Feist's works.

The other day, I decided to explore his series once again and took a chance on this one. And what a delight it was! I can't accurately recall the details from the previous series, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of this book in the slightest. Feist is a masterful writer and a great storyteller. As I read, memories of how much I adored his other books from decades ago came flooding back, such as The King's Buccaneer and Shadow of a Dark Queen, and so on. So, Mr. Feist, you have successfully regained my attention! Now, I'm determined to read the rest of your series. Well done, sir. Well done indeed.

For some unknown reason, I had been delaying reading more of Feist's books.

Looking back now, that was truly a blunder.

The moment I picked up one of his books again, I was instantaneously plunged back into the captivating world of Midkemia.

The action that unfolds within those pages is nothing short of thrilling.

It's as if I am right there in the midst of the adventure, experiencing every twist and turn along with the characters.

Feist has this remarkable ability to create a vivid and immersive world that draws the reader in and refuses to let go.

I am now eager to explore more of his works and see what other amazing stories and adventures await me in the land of Midkemia.

It's a world that I can't seem to get enough of, and I'm glad that I finally overcame my initial hesitation and delved back into it.

It is truly a pleasure to witness the return of some of the characters from the other series. Mr. Feist has an extraordinary talent for spinning tales, rivaling the best in the business. His ability to create captivating stories and bring characters to life is simply remarkable.

Each character he introduces adds depth and complexity to the narrative, making the reader fully invested in their journey. Whether it's the heroic protagonist or the cunning antagonist, Mr. Feist's writing ensures that they all have their own unique charm and personality.

The return of these familiar faces not only adds a sense of nostalgia but also enriches the overall story. It allows the reader to reconnect with beloved characters and see how they have evolved over time. Mr. Feist's skillful storytelling keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, eagerly turning the pages to discover what lies ahead.

Overall, the return of these characters and Mr. Feist's masterful storytelling make for an engaging and enjoyable read. It is a testament to his talent as a writer and his ability to create a world that readers can't help but get lost in.

Talon of the Silver Hawk is the first installment in Conclave of Shadows, yet another captivating subseries within the extensive Riftwar Cycle penned by Raymond E. Feist. After the previous seven books that delved into earlier time periods of the series, this one resumes our chronological journey forward, set approximately 30 years after the Serpentwar Saga.

This book offers a solid and highly entertaining read. It predominantly focuses on brand new characters and less familiar settings. I found the characters, especially the main character, Talon, to be truly engaging. Although Talon might have seemed a bit overly talented with an array of diverse skills, making him perhaps not entirely believable, I still thoroughly enjoyed him and his story. The book doesn't present anything revolutionary or outlandish for the epic fantasy genre. In fact, it leans on several tried and true tropes. However, Feist's masterful writing ensures that I never lost interest.

I had been eagerly anticipating some follow-up regarding Jimmy the Hand’s grandsons, Jimmy and Dash. Regrettably, the 30-year time jump means we skipped over the events I was keen on witnessing at the conclusion of the Serpentwar Saga. The characters were only briefly mentioned and not actually seen. I'm unsure if we'll encounter more of them in subsequent books. However, based on the subseries titles of the remaining books, it seems unlikely that we'll return to fill in that 30-year gap unless there are some flashbacks. Nevertheless, I'm still looking forward to seeing what unfolds next for the characters introduced in this book.

Feist has once again crafted a brilliant introduction to a series. His beginnings are truly some of my favorites.

I thoroughly enjoyed witnessing our main character encounter a culture clash and then learn to adapt to the new situations and surroundings. It was a captivating experience to watch the character's growth and development as they navigated through the unfamiliar.

The YouTube review provides even more detail. You can check it out at http://youtu.be/7WP07ibLonw. This review offers valuable insights and perspectives that enhance the overall understanding and appreciation of the series.

Feist's work continues to impress, and I can't wait to see what else he has in store for us in the upcoming installments.

Feist's works are rather typical. All the characters seem to be just copy and paste from other generic fantasy books. However, it is still mildly entertaining. I have read 8 books in the Riftwar Cycle so far, and I keep hoping that it will get better at some point. I skipped the Serpent War saga, thinking that by now it would have improved. I'm aware that during the Serpent War saga, he changed publishers and his style shifted slightly. But alas, unfortunately, it's still the same old Feist. The quality is average to good. There is a lack of true innovation and originality in his character development and storylines. It feels like he is relying too much on the tried and true formulas of the fantasy genre. While it can be enjoyable to a certain extent, it doesn't really stand out among the众多优秀 fantasy works out there.

I know that a great many people truly have a deep affection for Feist's work. However, for some reason, I have never been able to fully engage with his writing. I read "Magician" several years ago, and yet, somehow, I just couldn't quite connect with it.

Nevertheless, I came across "Talon of the Silver Hawk" for a mere 80p in a charity shop. So, I thought to myself, why not give it a try? If you happen to be one of those people who absolutely adore Feist, then by all means, feel free to ignore this. After all, this is simply a completely personal response to the book.

"Talon of the Silver Hawk" is the first installment in a trilogy. I found it to be...alright. It presents an interesting enough story, and there are indeed some captivating characters. There are inklings of a broader conflict between good and evil, but unfortunately, not enough was disclosed about it to truly pique my interest (at least not for me). The central character's mentors are rather stingy with the information they share about their plans for him, which means that the reader also learns far too little in that regard.

Moreover, there is some rather sloppy writing as well. For instance, in the third paragraph of chapter 10, we see three characters waiting for Talon to reach a decision, with "their faces revealing nothing of their thoughts." Yet, in the very next three sentences, it then proceeds to describe in great detail what these three characters seem to be thinking. This is a relatively minor point on its own, but such things really should be caught by an editor.

All in all, this is not a book that made me feel as though my time had been completely wasted. At the same time, I'm not likely to be actively seeking out the remainder of the trilogy.

Beautiful writing as always.

However, it feels like this is a throw on, an addition to a series that was done but didn't stop there.

If that makes any sense. It's as if the author had this extra idea or concept that they just couldn't let go of, so they decided to tack it onto the end of the existing series.

Maybe it was a last-minute inspiration or a desire to explore a different aspect of the story or characters.

While the writing is still of high quality, there's a sense that this addition doesn't quite fit as seamlessly as the previous installments.

It stands out as something a little different, a bit of an afterthought.

But perhaps that's what makes it interesting, as it challenges the reader's expectations and adds a new layer of complexity to the overall narrative.

Only time will tell if this addition will be embraced by fans of the series or if it will remain a bit of an oddity.

Either way, it's another example of the author's creativity and willingness to take risks with their writing.