Our story kicks off at Crydee, a tranquil frontier within the Kingdom of the Isles.

Here, two friends, Pug and Tomas, commence their apprenticeships upon turning 13. However, their lives take an unexpected turn when they come across a wrecked ship.

The fates of two worlds are forever altered as an invading army from another realm menaces the Kingdom. Pug and Tomas suddenly find themselves smack in the middle of the conflict.

Amidst the chaos, they both uncover that they are fated for something truly remarkable.

This inaugural book of the series is an absolute must-read for every enthusiast of epic fantasy. It offers a captivating blend of adventure, mystery, and the discovery of hidden destinies.

The richly detailed world-building and engaging characters draw readers in and keep them hooked from start to finish.

Whether you're a long-time fan of the genre or new to the world of epic fantasy, this book is sure to leave you eager for more.

So, don't miss out on this thrilling adventure and embark on a journey that will transport you to a world beyond your imagination.

I first read this book 30 years ago. At that time, I was completely immersed in its world. Now, I find myself wondering how it would hold up over time. As it turns out, it has aged rather well. There are a few elements that now seem a bit simplistic, perhaps something I didn't notice as much during my initial reading. However, in terms of storytelling, it remains a good epic fantasy yarn.

One thing that really stood out to me this time around is that the author was clearly a D&D player. A significant portion of this first book reads like a classic D&D adventure, complete with a dungeon crawl. Towards the end, the characters have grown up a couple of years, and there is a slight shift in the storytelling style. What began as simplistic starts to mature into a more complex nature. This reminds me somewhat of the transition that occurs in the Harry Potter books.

The first time I read the complete book, 'Magician', of which this is only the first half. This book ends with one of the main hero's AWOL for several years, so it's a bit like only reading 'The Fellowship of the Ring' and not the entire trilogy. Anyone who only reads this book and doesn't continue with 'Magician :Master' is truly doing themselves a disservice and only getting half of the story. The only reason I can think of for splitting this book into two is greed on the publisher's part. Nevertheless, I am eager to continue on with the second part of the story to see how the adventure unfolds.

Raymond E. Feist is widely renowned for crafting the Riftwar Cycle. With "Magician: Apprentice", he lays the groundwork for one of the most beloved universes in the fantasy genre. It's nearly impossible to navigate the world of fantasy today without being aware of the remarkable achievement he accomplished by penning the story of a boy who evolves into a magician. Having finally had the chance to read this classic, I must admit: I'm a devoted fan.

In "Magician: Apprentice", the orphan Pug is taken under the tutelage of the one and only master magician Kulgan during the Choosing ceremony. As he delves into the intricacies of becoming a magician, he soon begins to question his ability to cast spells in the manner he was taught throughout his apprenticeship. However, a fortuitous incident unlocks his latent potential, revealing that Pug's methods are vastly different from anything Kulgan has ever encountered. Armed with this newfound hope, Pug gradually endeavors to understand the mechanics of wizardry. Meanwhile, his fate intertwines with the onset of the Riftwar when strange portals materialize, triggering an age-old battle between the forces of Order and Chaos.

I approached this book with lofty expectations. I regarded it as one of those seminal works that shaped the genre and set the standard for stories set within the same universe. After completing the first book in The Riftwar Saga, I will say that I don't believe it's a series for everyone. It's a unique gem in the fantasy realm that delights in its simplicity while delivering profound complexity. Everything it presents feels genuine and succeeds in capturing the essence of a perfect fantasy narrative.

I was personally captivated from the moment I opened this book, and that's due to Raymond E. Feist's writing style. It transported me back to my childhood, and I'm not exaggerating. I felt like a child listening to one of those epic tales filled with magicians, kings, princesses, elves, dwarfs, and dragons. The author masterfully unfolds his story with a style that makes it all seem like a prophecy, a tale to be told in all its splendor. The narration was so expertly done that it had a rhythm that held me spellbound.

The story is also dialogue-rich, with a great deal of back-and-forth between various characters, and everything was executed flawlessly. Through these interactions, we not only witness excellent character development but also significant world-building. With Pug brimming with questions and constantly in the company of knowledgeable characters, readers are treated to a vivid, clear, and colorful description of the universe that Raymond E. Feist has created. It doesn't rely on flowery prose but instead succeeds in telling the story with absolute clarity.

The pacing might not appeal to everyone, but somehow I was completely immersed in the narrative, and there was never a moment that struck me as dull or unimportant. In all honesty, even the scenes that focus on everyday problems simply added more authenticity to the universe that was being constructed. It made it easier for me to connect with Pug and contributed to the overall nostalgic feeling. While reading, I envisioned the entire book as an animated movie - a very long movie - with each chapter精心 constructed.

The action is also limited but evenly distributed throughout the story. If you're expecting action scenes with massive explosions and copious amounts of gore, you might want to look elsewhere. There's even a beautifully developed romance in this story, and it actually serves a purpose in Pug's development. But the best dynamic in this book is the bromance. As if it weren't enough that our protagonist is a teenager, his close bond with his buddy Tomas is brilliant! Whether it's the romance or the bromance, these relationships highlight Pug's values of friendship, honesty, and all that is virtuous in life.

The moment the story presents the new potential threat to Midkemia, I became deeply invested in this series. It added an entire layer of complexity to the universe, rather than feeling contrived or off-base.

The writing style, the characters, the world-building, and the universe were all compelling. This isn't the typical fantasy story you come across nowadays. It is, however, a rare and seldom-explored territory by authors. I think it's a challenge to be simple in today's literary landscape, but I'm glad that there are still plenty of stories within this universe to discover. "Magician: Apprentice" is simply a story that all fans of fantasy should experience for themselves.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for providing me with a copy for review!

Yours truly,

Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer

Official blog: https://bookidote.com/

Here is the rewritten and expanded article:

This product has received a rating of 4 stars.

It has many great features that make it stand out from the competition.

The design is sleek and modern, and it functions very well.

Customers have been very satisfied with its performance and quality.

However, there are also a few areas where it could be improved.

For example, the battery life could be longer, and the user interface could be more intuitive.

Overall, though, this is a great product that is definitely worth considering.

4 stars

This book was not my favorite.

At times, it can be a tad slow, lacking the kind of rapid pace that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Moreover, it doesn't have a great deal of action. There aren't those constant heart-pounding moments that make you feel like you're in the middle of an adventure.

However, despite these drawbacks, I did like the world that the author has created. It's a unique and interesting place, full of details and atmosphere.

The story, too, has its charm. It has a certain allure that keeps you engaged and wanting to know what happens next.

Because of this, I will definitely read the second book. I'm curious to see how the story develops and how the characters grow in this fascinating world.

I'm hoping that the second book will address some of the issues I had with the first one and provide a more exciting and action-packed experience.

Overall, while this book wasn't perfect, it had enough good qualities to make me eager to continue the series.

What can one say about this book? Well, I understand precisely why it has achieved popularity. It is indeed well-written, with engaging characters and a story that progresses smoothly.

However, there is a caveat. There is nearly nothing truly remarkable or outstanding about it. It is good, no doubt, but I struggle to think of a single category in which it can be said to ascend to the level of greatness.

As a result, I find myself having enjoyed the act of reading it, but not in any way overly enthusiastic about Feist's writing or eager to read more of his works. (I will, nevertheless, read the second half, simply to be able to check this off on the BBC Big Read.)

Note: The remainder of this review has been removed due to the alterations in Goodreads' policy and enforcement. You can discover the reasons behind my decision here.

In the meantime, you have the option to peruse the entire review at Smorgasbook.

The Rift War Saga is truly one of my all-time favorite fantasy series.

Although I don't delve into the world of fantasy as frequently as I once did, I had a strong desire to return to the captivating world that I had explored so extensively in the past.

To my delight, this world immediately seized my attention just as it had before, and I found myself thoroughly enjoying the re-reading experience, perhaps even more so than the first time.

The greatest strength of this book (and the entire series) lies in its remarkable world-building.

The world is vividly portrayed and supported by a wealth of details that are gradually revealed, adding to its allure.

This is in part because the author bases the core tenets on familiar historical civilizations while also infusing each with something new and unique.

Moreover, it effectively captures a glimpse of the world beyond the boundaries of the story, leaving readers eager to discover more.

Since I have already read the rest of the series, I am well aware of how it expands and develops, and I am excitedly looking forward to re-visiting those subsequent installments as well.

Of course, a well-realized world alone is not sufficient.

The events of the story unfold into something truly epic, yet it manages to remain a deeply personal tale for the main characters.

These characters are as richly presented as the world they inhabit, with great care taken to describe their emotions and feelings, ensuring that they are not mere puppets of the plot.

However, I would perhaps offer one minor criticism of the writing.

I feel that the author sometimes tries a bit too hard in this aspect, which can slightly detract from the overall flow.

But this is indeed a minor complaint.

The writing is accessible without being simplistic, and for a relatively long book, the pacing is excellent, with the plot effortlessly drawing readers through the pages.

For me, this series will always remain one of the classics of modern fantasy.

This is an enjoyable and easy read that features incredibly likable characters. There is just the right amount of action, suspense, intrigue, and magic to keep me engaged and turning the pages.

In a typical high fantasy world inhabited by humans, elves, dwarves, and dragons, a rift has now opened. Through this rift, unknown people and creatures from another world begin an invasion. The book follows several point-of-view (POV) characters separately as they encounter and interact with these off-world invaders.

This is the start of an epic series. However, book 1 ends in a rather non-climatic way, leaving everything up in the air. Therefore, I find it difficult to provide a full review and rating at this point. Nevertheless, I believe the stage has been set for what could potentially be a great series. The fact that I like the characters so much will make it even more enjoyable (and likely) for me to continue reading any future books in the series.

As a side note, the characters are not only likable but also generally upstanding citizens with strong moral fiber. I really appreciate that. Additionally, there is fighting and death in the story, but the scenes are not written in a overly gruesome or gory manner. I like that as well. So far, I would feel comfortable recommending this book to a young adult (YA) reader.

A rare re-read for me.

Historians reading this post months and years from now will note the day I began my re-read. They may perhaps understand why I wanted to revisit a fond, nostalgic read from my impressionable youth. It was a way to escape the real world for a bit and lose myself in something I absolutely knew I would thoroughly enjoy.

I first read Magician back in 1985. This is a combined volume of the first two novels in what became known as the \\"Riftwar Cycle.\\" I still think that is a good way to read them, as a couplet. The reason is that this first book kind of ends with no resolution and there is a need to pick up the second book right away.

But my re-read served another purpose as well. Back when I first read \\"Magician\\", that's all there was and I never got back to reading any more in the series. Since then, I've collected almost all of the 30 or so books and have been itching to get started on them. Now, I've finally done so and have no excuses to put them off any longer. I expect to read a trilogy or so every year until completion. I don't want to burn out on them.

So mission accomplished. I've started the series and all those fond memories came flooding back. It was truly the right book to read at the right time.

I must admit, when I was really young, I did not read that much. I was a sports kid. In the fall, it was soccer. In the winter, basketball. In spring and summer, baseball. Many years straight through, and if I wasn't practicing or playing, I was playing sports with the neighborhood kids.

It was not until I was 10 or so that I started actually reading the books that the teachers told us to, rather than skimming them over or getting the notes from the diligent kid in the neighborhood to pass a quiz or test.

My first real read was Lloyd Alexander's The Book of Three when I was 10. Then, since I liked the movie Halloween so much (yes, at 10 years of age I had watched it about a dozen times), I started reading Stephen King, Lovecraft, and the cheesy 80's Dark Forces series at that time.

But, the fantasy genre appealed to me more. I finished Alexander's series, breezed through Narnia and Watership Down and then engaged Tolkien. Though my family and friends think that the Lord of The Rings is my favorite books of all time, it is not. I stumbled across Feist's Riftwar Saga later on, and I feel it is the best fantasy series I have ever read.

Magician: Apprentice is one of the cleanest, direct and at the same time emotionally involved books I have ever read. It reads easy, almost as if you are watching the movie on the screen unfold before your eyes. Feist has the ability, in my opinion, to give you just enough description to set the stage in your mind's eye, defining both the scene and the traits of the characters, to the point where you can map it out perfectly in your vision but at the same time he leaves enough open for you to add your own twists and scenery that existed from your past or childhood.

I fell in love with the characters in an instant and could not stop turning the pages to see what happened next. That was Feist's best characteristic as a writer: No character was perfect, no character in this work was without fault. All were...human. In a different world, in a different and simpler, but yet more complex world, those that were written about were the most human and the easiest to relate to.

Whether it was the time of my life that the story spoke to so well or just my own mentality, this book and series is my flagship of favorite works, and I still revert to reading them when I am depressed, happy, sad, joyous, lonely or content.

I've been engaging in some nostalgia reads lately.

This particular series was one of my absolute favorites during my teenage years.

However, I haven't revisited it for over 20 years.

While delving back into it initially felt comfortable and warm, much like wrapping myself in a familiar blanket, it also noticeably lacked the same intense excitement that it once held for my younger self.

There is a certain quaint charm about this series.

Here, all the good and bad characters are clearly and distinctly defined, leaving no room for ambiguity.

But at the same time, everything seems so derivative, almost as if it is following a well-trodden path without much innovation.

I believe this series was first published in 1982, which means that by now, it is a full 40 years old.

Sadly, it hasn't aged as gracefully as one might have hoped.

It seems to have lost some of its luster and appeal over the years.

Nonetheless, it still holds a special place in my heart as a reminder of a bygone era.

Pug is a young and ambitious boy who has the great fortune of being apprenticed to the highly respected Court Magician and Wizard Kulgan.

However, their peaceful lives are suddenly disrupted when the Outworlders launch a brutal invasion of their beloved home, Crydee, and the entire Kingdom.

Now, Pug and Kulgan must bravely take up arms and fight tooth and nail to survive against these ruthless and conquesting invader barbarians.

The question lingers: will they be able to succeed in this seemingly impossible battle?

Well, you'll just have to read on and discover the thrilling answer for yourself.

This book is not only a great sword and sorcery fantasy novel but also the exciting first installment of this captivating series.

If you have a passion for these types of books, make sure to check this one out at your local library or wherever books and ebooks are sold.

You won't be disappointed!