Läsning 2: I agree with the previously written thoughts, with the addition of similarities to the Cold War drama.

Läsning 1: A book type that is uncommon in today's fantasy-scifi, namely the one about the training of a secret agent or courier or diplomat (I can see the main character developing in all of these directions). The book is a meeting between Kim and The Last of the Mohicans. The main character, a young tribal member during the coming-of-age ritual, witnesses his people being massacred but survives. He is trained to become an agent through massive investments and, at the end of the book, avenges his people's end by killing the mercenary company that committed the deed - by creating his own. It is a good book, with enough developments to have some variation, but without much character depth. I appreciate it and would recommend it within its genre.

Overall, both readings offer interesting perspectives. The first reading presents a unique concept in the fantasy-scifi genre, while the second reading adds an interesting layer by drawing parallels to the Cold War drama. These readings can provide valuable insights for those interested in exploring different aspects of literature and its various connections.

This is truly one remarkable book that you should obtain.

Once you commence reading, it becomes extremely difficult to put it down as you are effortlessly drawn into the captivating world of the book. The story delves deep into a wealth of information regarding the character, who is about to embark on a life that is vastly different from before. The author has executed an outstanding job in creating this engaging narrative. His books have always been a pleasure to read, filled with vivid descriptions, well-developed characters, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Whether you are a fan of fiction or simply looking for a good read, this book is sure to satisfy your literary cravings. So, don't hesitate to pick up this book and embark on an unforgettable reading journey.

A Fascinating Tale That Sucks You In

I recently delved into a story that had such a captivating allure that I simply couldn't put it down. It had been a significant number of years since I last explored the previous installments of the Riftwar Cycle. However, this new addition served as an excellent gateway to reenter that enchanting world. It was like getting back on a bike after a long hiatus; everything came flooding right back to me. The vivid descriptions, the complex characters, and the intricate plot all combined to create an immersive experience that I thoroughly loved. I was completely engrossed from start to finish, eagerly turning each page to see what would happen next. This tale truly has the power to suck you in and keep you hooked until the very end.

Now that I am completely hooked on the Raymond E Feist stuff, I thought I'd give this a try.

Since it is in line with what happens after the serpent war saga, it has piqued my interest.

And just like the serpent war saga, I am finding myself reading this book very fast.

The story is so engaging that I can't put it down.

I am having a really good time reading it.

The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns.

It keeps me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out what happens next.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy novels.

It is a great addition to the Raymond E Feist collection.

The premise of this novel is truly great. A boy's tribe is brutally murdered, and as the sole survivor, he is resolute in his determination to avenge his people. As he embarks on this journey towards that goal, he discovers that the world is far larger and more complex than he ever imagined, and thus he realizes the need for training.

This could have been an outstanding story if only the main character had come to these conclusions on his own. But unfortunately, that's not the case. Everything he learns is force-fed to him. For two-thirds of the narrative, we are simply told that he has learned various things and that he is a quick learner. "Oh, you have mastered this card game? You have learned it quickly, Talon, well done!" Even when he faces struggles, it is always in a safe environment with no real consequences. So, in the final third, when he has to confront multiple killers of his people, I never once thought he would fail because he hadn't failed before. That's the result when your protagonist is constantly showered with praise and never experiences failure.

I can only remember him making two decisions by himself; all the other decisions are made for him. A passive character is simply not interesting! And there were numerous opportunities to make him more engaging, but the author stubbornly chose to make them dull.

First, there is the culture shock he experiences. However, this falls flat because the world he is thrust into is essentially our own culture, which holds no oddities for us.

Second, there is his recovery after narrowly surviving the massacre of his people. The author, instead, opts for a time skip, after which he appears fully recovered.

I could continue to list more reasons, but the most significant one why this character is uninteresting is that he has no meaningful relationships with other characters. People simply come and go in the story, and we get to know them for at most a few chapters. There is no main cast or anything similar to really get to know.

To give the author some credit: kudos for the fact that the soft magic didn't solve all the problems, forcing the protagonist to take action. However, the plot armor was really blatant at times.

Why did I buy the whole trilogy in one go? That's a question I'm still asking myself.

Recommended to me Dave as "possibly the best Feist ever". It starts out with a tribal kid on his day of naming, which is basically when he becomes a man. He reflects on all his loving family members and his great life growing up. He is up on a mountain all alone. By page 3, I had a hunch that his village was going to be wiped out by some murdering, cruel thugs. And sure enough, on page 8, he sees smoke and circling carrion birds in the distance.

Of course, if you're looking for an original fantasy story, you don't read Feist. His tendency to reuse and recycle elements is both a plus and a minus. However, it's usually in the narrative that he excels. Anyway, the kid gets left for dead by the thugs but is picked up, cared for, and taught many things. He's good at everything, like most orphans in Midkemia. He then joins the good guys. But for 300 pages, almost nothing happens.

Then, he saves another tribe from a similar fate as his and tracks down and kills one of the leader thugs. But that guy's leader is still around, setting the stage for book #2. It was a boring book, but sigh, I feel like I have to complete the series now.

Feist is an artist who never fails to disappoint.

Right from the very beginning with the song "Magician", he has managed to completely enthrall me.

The new release is no different in this regard.

Feist has this unique ability to create music that is both captivating and deeply moving.

Her lyrics are often thought-provoking and her melodies are simply enchanting.

With each new song, she takes the listener on a journey through different emotions and experiences.

This latest offering is no exception.

It has all the elements that make Feist's music so special.

The instrumentation is top-notch, the vocals are beautiful, and the overall production is excellent.

Feist continues to prove that she is one of the most talented and innovative artists in the music industry today.

I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Alright, this is a significantly better Feist book than the one I read prior to this, namely Murder in LaMut.

This particular book contains the kind of action that I truly adore about Feist's works. It's filled with thrilling sequences that keep you on the edge of your seat.

Moreover, I was extremely pleased to witness more of Pug and Miranda's story unfold. Their characters are so engaging and their adventures are always captivating.

I simply can't wait to continue reading and discover more about the Conclave of Shadows and this new and menacing threat, the evil magician who serves the Duke of Olasko. The anticipation is palpable, and I'm eager to see how the story progresses and how the heroes will deal with this formidable adversary.

Overall, this book has reignited my passion for Feist's novels, and I'm looking forward to what lies ahead in this exciting series.

I truly relished this one.

It presents the classic hero's journey. A young lad unfortunately loses his family, and in this instance, his entire village. He then grows up with a burning desire for vengeance. However, he is taken in and trained by a mysterious group of people. Through their guidance and teachings, he begins to realize his destiny as a champion.

This is the first installment of a three-part series, and I am eagerly looking forward to reading the next two. I can't wait to see how the story unfolds and how the hero progresses on his path.

I have a feeling that the subsequent parts will be just as exciting and engaging as this one. The concept of the hero's journey always intrigues me, and I'm curious to see how the author will develop the character and the plot in the upcoming installments.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure story with elements of mystery and self-discovery.

Keli has been on the peak of Shatana Higo for four days, waiting for a sign from the ancestors of the tribe that will mark his entry into adulthood, determine his destiny, and give him his new name (and if not, he is free to choose it himself, we are told). He is alone, hungry, and cold, but his wait seems never-ending until an argent falcon appears in front of him, inspiring him to become a talon for his people.
Keli decides to change his name to "Talon of the Argent Falcon", making him the new winner of my personal YA protagonist names competition. However, the message he receives is rather obscure until, in a hurry, he returns to his village and sees black smoke rising from it. He discovers that all the people he loved and cared for have been massacred by unknown invaders, and he engages in a battle with a predictable outcome. Then, before losing consciousness and waking up in the company of a mysterious secret organization (which, as far as I understand, is related to a previous saga of the author) that will help him get back on his feet and carry out his plans by training him to become a war machine, the argent falcon reappears (as if the first time wasn't enough), urging him again to become a talon, and thus a复仇者, of his people.
This is his destiny, the driving force that will push him forward.
*
I cannot hide the disappointment I felt while reading this book, as Raymond E. Feist was presented to me as an author who would be to my liking, and this was supposed to be a novel where the protagonist's formative growth, inseparably linked to the vengeance of his people, and the action would take center stage.
I must say that I did not see all this attention to the character's growth and psychology: I found myself in front of a very long remake of the scene that follows the destruction of Alderaan in Star Wars IV - A New Hope, with Princess Leia who has just seen her world destroyed before her eyes but still manages to be sarcastic when Luke and Han arrive to help her. Talon has lost everything he held dear, all his affections, and his life as he knew it will never be the same again, and he seems to have lost against the final boss of Metal Gear Solid. The descriptions I find rather aseptic, superficial, and not very engaging, and, among other things, Feist's attempt to tell us every little detail of Talon's life from now on (which does not automatically mean doing a good job of character development, at most it means you are a decent DnD player), at the expense of all the other characters in the novel (who, again, I assume had their space in the previous novels of the writer, so this point did not affect my rating too much - although I think that for each new saga, a person should not necessarily have to read 50 novels to have a clear picture of what is happening), makes the action rather slow and tiresome.
Virtually nothing happens until almost the end, when perhaps out of a sense of compensation, the author turns on the turbo and the action becomes so frantic that it is hard to keep up. In short, a decent disappointment for me.

Talon is an excellent jumping-on point that appears about midway through the sprawling Riftwar series. It introduces its eponymous character as a young boy who is completely oblivious to the greater struggles of the world. Gradually, it brings him (and the reader) into these complex affairs, presenting new characters and new lands along the way. It provides just the right amount of reference points from previous stories, enabling long-time fans to easily orient themselves.

Compared to the previous books in the series, Talon is lighter and funnier, and it is also decidedly bawdier. At times, it reads more like Joel Rosenberg's works than Ray Fiest's. However, this is not necessarily a drawback. Instead, it adds a new dimension to the series, attracting a wider range of readers and keeping the story fresh and engaging.

Overall, Talon is a great addition to the Riftwar series, offering an exciting and entertaining adventure that both new and old fans can enjoy.

This is an outstanding 3.5. It truly leaves a lasting impression.

I will most definitely check out the next installment in the series without a doubt.

Not only that, but I am also eager to explore more of Feist's remarkable work.

The story presented here is a captivating and escapist adventure that draws the reader in from the very beginning.

It takes you on a thrilling journey filled with excitement, mystery, and unexpected twists.

The characters are well-developed and engaging, making it easy to become invested in their fates.

The writing style is流畅 and engaging, keeping the reader hooked until the very end.

Overall, this is a great read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an exciting and entertaining adventure.

I can't wait to see what Feist has in store for us next.