Sorry, but how on earth is this simply described, one-dimensional book so highly rated? I'm already 200 pages into it, and I'm bored to death and completely fed up with the random lucky events that the characters experience.

The line that really stands out is: "Dragons were the hereditary enemy of dwarves."

Sadly, it's just poorly written, set in a second-hand Middle-earth, and I've seen better characters in the Mr. Men books.

I paid 95p for it from a charity shop, and yet I still feel robbed. This book seems to lack depth and originality. The characters are not well-developed, and the plot is full of coincidences that feel forced. It's a disappointment, especially considering the high ratings it has received. I expected more from a book that was supposed to be engaging and exciting. Maybe I'm being too critical, but I just can't seem to find anything redeeming about this novel.

Again, I would require a more detailed rating system. I rate books with 3 stars that are incompatible with me, but I recognize that it is my personal taste and not the author's fault. I feel it is unfair to rate them lower because of that. Also, there are 3 stars for books that I enjoyed reading but were not up to the level of those I gave 4 stars.

Magician: Apprentice belongs to the second kind. In fact, it was a nice and feel-good read. It is quite old-fashioned, containing all the elements of the typical sword and sorcery genre: an orphan becomes great, apprenticeship, a magician, dragons, dwarves, elves, a mighty foe, an all-boys likable cast, some beautiful princesses added for plotless decoration, a love triangle, and nobody is really flawed or mean-spirited.

There was nothing that I would object to. It has a charming dated quality. However, what I didn't know is that it is only half of a book, split in two for publishing. Therefore, for the rating of the whole story, I have to wait until after reading the second book.

FANTASY FANS PLEASE READ!

Updating this review in June 2016. I was just discussing this series with a friend I recommended it to, and we were both shocked at how few people have read it considering how good it is. It can be quite a challenge to find Feist's books in stores or at the library - but it really shouldn't be that way!

I'm not suggesting that everyone will end up loving this series, but I do think a lot of people are missing out. To give you a statistical perspective on how many people are missing out, I currently have 627 friends on Goodreads. Out of those, 135 have read A Game of Thrones. However, only 8 of them have read the first book in this series.

You might look at my book list and say, "Matthew, you hypocrite! You may be reading this series, but you haven't read Game of Thrones yet! How can you compare the two?" That's a valid point. Maybe Game of Thrones is indeed superior. I'm looking forward to reading it eventually and finding out for myself, but my main point is that I think Feist's series is really great and I want to spread the word. Also, it's important to note that this series is 30 books long, with two to four-book story arcs within it. The first arc is just 4 books. But the best part is that the series is complete, so there's no need to wait years for the next installment!

So, here's a challenge for fantasy fans (whether they're friends on here or not). As soon as 30 more people give this series a try because of this review, I will immediately start reading Game of Thrones. I understand that might not be a huge incentive for you, but I hope the joy you'll experience from reading this series will be enough. If this review prompts you to read it, please let me know in the comments. Or, I'll just keep an eye on how many of my friends have rated it, and as soon as it reaches 38, Game of Thrones is a go!

(Update: I have now read the first two GoT books and watched the series)

Note: In this series, I'm up to book 11 and it's still going strong!

Warning to readers! Book 1 and 2 are really the first part of a trilogy. Frequently, they are combined into one volume (Magician). If you only read the first book, you won't get the complete first part of the story. You really need to read at least the first two books before you can determine if this story is for you or not!

I was challenged/coerced into reading this by my Goodreads friend Matthew! (In his defense, it has been on my TBR list for months.)

* * * * *

What a great book! I finished it last night and plan to start the next one in the series today. I just have to find out what happened after the cliffhanger ending.

The story reminds me of _The Hobbit_, but without the poetry and flowery language. I'm too pragmatic to really enjoy poetical writing. And I was never very fond of Tolkien's _Silmarillion_, even though I'm a huge fan of the Hobbits. Feist's writing combines many of the elements that Tolkien used, but with a faster pace. And for me, it has a more streamlined and exciting story line. It's a great, great read, just the sort of thing I really enjoy.

This book has really captured my attention and kept me engaged from start to finish. The characters are well-developed and the world-building is excellent. I can't wait to see what else Feist has in store for us in the next book of the series.

Ah, yes. Finally, my sort of adventure to dive right into. I am so eager to read the next book in the series. It's really exciting to see that Goodreads.com members have given the next books excellent reviews! Yahoo!

Do you like Patrick Rothfuss? Do you like Peter Brett? Do you like Robin Hobb? If you answered yes to any of those questions, I highly suggest you read this book. It's filled with heroes, magic, and dragons! Yeah...

This book seems to have all the elements that I love in a fantasy novel. The adventure is waiting for me to explore. I can't wait to see what will happen next in the story. I'm sure it's going to be an amazing journey.

Feel Good Fantasy!

My first encounter with Feist's work and it's most definitely not going to be my last. I'm completely in for the long haul. Even if there are thirty sequels coming, it doesn't scare me one bit! This is a meticulously crafted world filled with honor, magic, mystery, passion, and adventure. The details are so vivid that it feels like you're actually a part of this fantastical realm. The story weaves together various elements seamlessly, keeping you on the edge of your seat from start to finish. If you've never picked up this book, you truly should. It's a captivating read that will transport you to a world beyond your imagination.

A Decent But Uneven Start to the Series

The beginning of this series shows promise, yet it is also marred by some inconsistencies.

On the positive side, it's only minimally derivative. While there are some elements that might seem familiar, like the journey through a Dwarven mine similar to Moria, it's not overly so. Additionally, the antagonists are not one-dimensional villains but a people with their own distinct culture, which adds depth to the story.

However, there are also several aspects that I didn't like. There is a large cast of characters, but only about half of them truly capture the reader's interest. What's more, the interesting characters completely vanish from the book around three-quarters of the way through, leaving the story feeling a bit flat.

Surprisingly, for a book about an apprentice magician with the word "magician" in the title, there is very little magic present. The pacing of the book is also a bit of a problem. It has big shifts where it goes from being really interesting to really slow, and then back again, which can make it a bit of a struggle to get through at times.

Overall, you really have to be patient and stick with this book to get the most out of it. It's not a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride, but rather a story that takes its own sweet time to unfold.

3.5/5; 4 stars; B+

While it is evident that the roots of this story are firmly planted in the era of the D&D role-playing games, it manages to stand on its own as an engaging fantasy narrative.

The characters are diverse and interesting, and the concepts surrounding the magic system and world-building are truly captivating. I found myself drawn into this fantastical world and eager to learn more about its inhabitants and their adventures.

However, on the downside, I couldn't help but notice that the female characters seemed rather weak and underdeveloped. Their roles and personalities felt somewhat one-dimensional compared to their male counterparts.

Despite this flaw, the overall plot was so engaging that it was easy to overlook this shortcoming. The story had enough twists and turns to keep me on the edge of my seat, and I was constantly eager to see what would happen next.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book to fans of fantasy literature. While it may not be perfect, it has enough strengths to make it a worthwhile read. I will definitely be picking up the next installment in the series to see where the story takes me.

The first book I ever fell in love with was a magical and enchanting one. It was like a portal that opened up a whole new world for me.

I remember picking it up one day, not really knowing what to expect. But as soon as I started reading, I was hooked. The story was so captivating, the characters so vivid and real.

I would lose myself in the pages, forgetting about everything else around me. It was a place where I could escape and let my imagination run wild.

The author's writing style was beautiful, flowing like a river. Every word seemed to be carefully chosen to create the perfect atmosphere.

This book had a profound impact on me. It made me fall in love with reading and showed me the power of words. It was a truly special experience that I will never forget.

This is an absolutely wonderful 80s fantasy book, truly a "gem". I'm shocked by how much I loved this story. I used to be a bit of a snob, thinking newer fantasy books were better than older ones. But this book completely changed my perspective. It has the classic old-school vibes while still keeping things fresh, perhaps even fresher than most modern fantasy works.

From start to finish, this book is amazing. It follows the classic trope of the main character learning he can cast magic and having to go on to do great deeds. But in my opinion, it does this better than all the rest, including "Wheel of Time" which I also love.

The writing is very well done and accessible. The characters are amazingly fleshed out. The story is absolutely marvelous and the pace is perfection.

I don't want to spoil anything about this book. But if you call yourself a fan of fantasy and have written this one off as "too old", then you are doing yourself a massive disservice.

\\n  Check out my YouTube channel where I show my instant reactions upon finishing reading fantasy books.\\n

Der einfach Burgjunge Pug wird zum Lehrling des Magiers Kulgan. Doch schwere Zeiten stehen bevor für Pug, Kulgan und die übrigen Bewohner von Crydee. Dazu gehören Herzog Borric, seine Söhne Lyam und Arthua, seine Tochter Carline, Pugs bester Freund Thomas, der Waldläufer Martin und ihre Verbündeten in den Reihen der Elfen und Zwerge. Eines Tages wird ein seltsames Schiffswrack an die Küste gespült. Als sie über die Herkunft des fremdartigen Schiffes rätseln, kommt ihnen ein schrecklicher Verdacht: Das Schiff und seine Besatzung stammen nicht aus dieser Welt, und sie sind nicht die Einzigen, die ihren Weg nach Midkemia gefunden haben.

Meine Meinung dazu ist, dass ich die Reihe "Die Midkemia-Saga" bereits vor über zwanzig Jahren gelesen habe. Mit Autoren wie David Eddings, Dave Duncan und Raymond Feist bin ich groß geworden. Daher war ich sehr gespannt, wie ich die Reihe von Raymond Feist beim erneuten Lesen nach einem so langen zeitlichen Abstand finden würde. Man merkt deutlich, dass der Fantasyklassiker Anfang der 80er entstanden ist. Ähnlich wie viele Fantasyromane der Zeit wurde er stark von Tolkiens "Der Herr der Ringe" beeinflusst und geprägt. In Midkemia leben neben Menschen auch Zwerge, Elben, Drachen, Kobolden und weitere Wesen. Die Helden des Romans sind Prinzen, Magier, Krieger und Waldläufer wie Martin, der zwar kein Elf ist, aber in seinen Eigenheiten sehr an einen Elfen erinnert.

Auch die Erzählweise mit einem allwissenden Erzähler, der die Ereignisse von außen beschreibt, hin und wieder in die Gedanken und Gefühlswelt der Figuren blickt und dabei zwischen den Szenen und Schauplätzen springt, ist typisch für die Zeit. Es wird alles etwas gemächlicher erzählt, als wir es heute gewöhnt sind. Es ist ein wenig gewöhnungsbedürftig, aber dann kam bei mir ein Gefühl der Nostalgie auf. Ich habe die Reihe und ihre Helden damals geliebt. Doch ich weiß, dass ich die Bücher, hätte ich sie heute zum ersten Mal gelesen, lediglich okay gefunden hätte. Heute tauchen wir beim Lesen stärker in die Figuren ein, identifizieren uns mit ihnen, bängen mit ihnen mit und verfluchen die Autoren für ihre fiesen Cliffhanger. Das ist nicht die Schreibweise von Raymond Feists Zeit. Man muss sich darauf einlassen, wenn man "Der Lehrling des Magiers" liest. Auch darauf, dass Pug, der für einen Großteil des Romans und der Namensgeber für den Titel des Reihenauftaktes ist, einfach mal die letzten hundert Seiten gar nicht auftaucht, weil andere Erzählstränge dran sind.

Dennoch möchte ich Fantasylesern von heute, die vielleicht zögern, sich auf die Geschichte einzulassen, raten, sie zu lesen. Raymond Feist ist ein Klassiker und es ist kein Wunder, dass seine Reihe auch über 30 Jahren nach ihrer Erstveröffentlichung neu aufgelegt wurde. Er hat die Fantasy geprägt, viele heutige Fantasyautoren sind mit ihm groß geworden. Auch wenn er vielleicht nicht mehr modern ist, so überzeugt Raymond Feist doch mit sympathischen Helden, gelungenem Worldbuilding, einer spannenden Geschichte und guten Ideen. Es ist auf jeden Fall lesenswert!

I finally managed to find the time to read this much-loved classic. And right from the start, I could see precisely why Feist has such a devoted following.

The narrative of this book flows with remarkable smoothness, and the world-building is truly excellent. It has the power to draw the reader in immediately. The relationship between the two main characters, Pug and Tomas, is developed to an extremely high level. I was thoroughly enjoying following their respective plot lines.

However, my only concern was the way this book concluded. The final few chapters did not involve them at all. I fully understand that these last chapters are laying the foundation for a much bigger picture and helping us to become more familiar with many of the supporting characters. But still, it left me feeling a little bit dissatisfied.

That being said, I am well aware that this is actually part one of two, so the ending isn't really a proper ending. I am looking forward to continuing with the next part without delay.