As an establishing book for a trilogy, I couldn't help but feel a little short changed by the end.

For those who enjoy reading fantasy novels, you may become a little irritated by the protagonist's long list of convenient talents. He is fluent in six (or more?) languages, has amazing eyesight, a philosophical mind, is a painter, a wine appreciator, a military strategist, has a lean, fit body, is a culinary chef, a super swordsman, has impeccable manners (yes, in my world this is a super power), is sexy-as a lady-killer, and is fashionable.

Not too bad for a Mountain Boy - particularly as he achieved all the above within seven short years.

As much as I liked Talon and believed his oath to his deceased family, I found his "talents" prevented me from immersing myself into the story. He was just a little too perfect.

Some of my favourite characters were those who recognised, or were brought down by, their own flaws. It'd send the heart racing as you'd flip page after page to see whether the character got away unscathed.

This time, I was unsurprised by Talon's conquests. He's a one-person army.

Given any challenge, I'm sure Talon would find a way to rise above. For example, if there's a whipper-snipper problem, no fear, Talon's razor sharp sword and brilliant eyesite will have your paths looking immaculate. If your baby is crying constantly, Talon will use one of his dozen languages to soothe Jnr to slumber. If the ironing is getting out of hand, Talon can press a complete shirt and pant set in under 5 seconds. If you need to impress friends for a get-together at your home, Talon will pose as your roomie, paint an outdoor mural, cook a decadent three-course meal from whatever is in your fridge, guide the group through a wine-tasting course before styling your friends and finishing with a philosophical discussion on warfare.

This man could be the new Oprah.

I am dearly hopeful the second book will pick up pace and offer a more engaging and believable story.

This is a five-star book, yet I initially considered giving it only four stars. The reason is that I have read a sufficient number of Feist books to be familiar with characters such as Pug, Mangus, Nakor, and Tal from other series. With a series like this one that covers a significant portion of Talon's life, from childhood to adulthood, I am entertained, as is always the case with Feist's works. However, it doesn't quite reach the same level for me because I had an idea of what Talon was going to become even before turning three pages.

Nonetheless, I did become engaged in the first three books of this series and would recommend them. There is still a certain charm and excitement in following Talon's journey, despite the predictability to some extent. Feist's writing style and his ability to create vivid worlds and interesting characters still shine through, making it a worthwhile read for fans of his work.

Overall, while it may not be the most outstanding installment in Feist's bibliography, it still has its merits and can provide an enjoyable reading experience.

It took me a while to make my way through the first chapter. However, once I managed to do so, I found myself completely hooked.

The overall story has this amazing ability to keep me fully absorbed. It doesn't waste time lingering in one place for too long. Instead, it has a fast pace, yet still manages to ensure detailed descriptions and effective build-ups to various events.

The main character undergoes a plethora of different changes. As a result, you become so deeply invested in his development and storyline. It's truly one of those special books where you feel like you're growing up right along with the character.

The fantasy/magic aspect in this book is not overly exaggerated. Instead, the book lightly hints at it throughout, without making it the sole power for the characters.

Overall, this is undoubtedly one of my favorite books. In fact, I've already gone ahead and purchased the next two installments in the series! I can't wait to see what adventures await in the following books.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book.

A while ago, I had the pleasure of reading King of Ashes. It was the very first book by Feist that I delved into, and I truly relished it. So, when I came across the Conclave of Shadows trilogy, I was filled with excitement. However, I must admit that I was a touch disappointed. I dare to say that it seems rather lazily written. In a way, it reminds me of Twilight. It has a good concept, but the execution is somewhat lacking.

This is a book where the story is predominantly told rather than shown. Everything appears a bit forced, and the characters come across as rather two-dimensional. The entire book gives the impression that it is merely written to establish a complex character for later in the series, without really developing "Tal" beyond his superficial traits. Due to this reason (and because I already possess the next two books in the trilogy), I will likely continue with the series. I am intrigued to see where it leads, and I also hope that now that Tal is established as a character, the story will improve in terms of quality.

Overall, despite my criticisms, I did mostly enjoy this book. I just found it a bit frustrating as King of Ashes had set the bar high, and this one simply failed to meet that standard of writing.