"Lord of the Rings with Aliens"

In a world far beyond our imagination, the epic tale of "Lord of the Rings" takes an unexpected turn. The familiar landscapes of Middle-earth are now inhabited not only by elves, dwarves, and humans but also by strange and otherworldly aliens.

These aliens have arrived from distant galaxies, bringing with them their own unique cultures and technologies. Some of them form alliances with the races of Middle-earth, while others pose a threat to the fragile peace.

The Fellowship of the Ring now faces new challenges as they must navigate this strange new world and find a way to defeat the evil forces that seek to destroy it. Along the way, they encounter alien creatures with extraordinary powers and abilities, and must use all their skills and courage to overcome them.

With the addition of these alien elements, "Lord of the Rings with Aliens" offers a fresh and exciting take on the classic story, transporting readers to a world of magic, adventure, and the unknown.

Almost a month has passed since I started reading this book. I initially planned to breeze through it in one go, but I failed miserably because I underestimated the sheer density of this single 690-page tome.

“Some love comes like the wind off the sea, while others grow slowly from the seeds of friendship and kindness.”

The story has similarities to other fantasy tales, from the chosen one trope to multiple political storylines. However, it stands out with a SciFi element of parallel universes and different worlds that I haven't seen much in the few fantasy books I've read. This unique premise intrigued me, and I had to see how the author would handle it. I was completely engrossed at the beginning, but the middle section threw me off. I was eagerly waiting for a magical spark to occur, and that's when I felt like I was stuck in this book for five years. Fortunately, as the story progressed, the separate story arcs began to form a big picture, and we witnessed incredible character growth and stunning magical scenes. I originally thought the book was average, but the author did something towards the end that made the entire long experience worthwhile.

Dolgan: ’Tis a wise thing to know what is wanted, and wiser still to know when ‘tis achieved.
Rhuagh: True. And still wiser to know when it is unachievable, for then striving is folly.”

I wouldn't even attempt to explain or summarize the plot due to its overlapping storylines that mesh together to form one big epic story, like most in the fantasy genre. But if you enjoy Epic Fantasy like Lord of the Rings or A Song of Ice & Fire with a hint of SciFi, you'll be eager to give this a try.

Epic tale set in Crydee, a town that belongs to the Kingdom of Isles.

An orphan named Pug becomes the apprentice of a master Magician.

Simultaneously, a rift opens up between the worlds, and there is an attack on Crydee.

The war between the two worlds shatters the peace.

Tomas, Pug's best friend, is determined to become a warrior.

However, when facing the other worlders with their strange magic and war rules, Crydee is left in a state of confusion.

In the end, Pug is taken by the Tsuranuanni (from the other world) people.

****4.0****


The story is set in Midkemia, a world created by Feist.

This first part serves as an introduction to the world, its people, and their customs.

Not much of great significance occurs, and there is very little magic.

Nevertheless, the presence of Dwarfs, Elves, Trolls, Goblins, etc., makes the setting highly interesting.

I have a great affection for this world.

I have always preferred a slow-paced story with a small town and simple-minded characters.

Although this is only the first part of the first book (which I was initially unaware of), it is understandable that there is relatively little action here.

It is a very well-written book with many excellent elements.

Perhaps it could have been shorter, considering there are two parts.

But overall, it is a worthy read.

Happy Reading!!!

*** 4 ***

A buddy read with the Epic Fantasy aficionados at BB&B!

I can't believe I waited so long to read this series! It's truly astonishing. I have this strange habit of only starting a series when the last book is published. But then I realized that if I continued with this trend, there would be countless amazing books that I might never get to enjoy in my lifetime. So many authors, for various reasons, take decades to finish a story. Instead of starting the series as I wanted to in the 80's (oh, I'm really dating myself here), I finally read the first volume in the first week of 2017.

\\n  \\"...“- Nisi se ružno ponela prema meni, Karlina. Ja sam se ponašao kao tupan.
- Ne, ti si se samo ponašao kao prijatelj Rolande. Rekao si mi istinu, a ne ono što sam želela da čujem.”...\\"\\n

Thankfully, I was raised on the Fantasy genre like mother's milk. There are clear trends from the time this work was written that were more typical then. The most prominent one is the mostly linear story line, which seems to have disappeared in today's storytelling. We have about 4-5 POV's, and they're not as disorienting as the way contemporary writers often use them. I like to call Feist's way a classic fairy tale for adults. And I absolutely love it! It feels cozy, comfortable, and despite a certain predictability, it's like an adventure you embark on with your best friend, with no limits.

I'm not very good at explaining why I feel a certain way about what I read. Different books affect me differently, and that's the beauty of the diversity out there. But I'm not blind to the weaknesses in the writing either. Still, I'm going to rate this based on how it made me feel, and I thoroughly enjoyed and loved it!

\\n  \\"...“Dolgan: ’Tis a wise thing to know what is wanted, and wiser still to know when ‘tis achieved.
Rhuagh: True. And still wiser to know when it is unachievable, for then striving is folly.”...\\"\\n

The story is mainly about a young orphan boy who becomes an apprentice to an old magician, and the community where he grows up and has to defend against invading forces from a faraway place. The world is filled with humans, Elves, Fae folks, Dwarfs, there's a Dragon, and a distant cousin of it, the little Drake, which is no bigger than a dog and loves to cuddle. Oooo...

\\n  \\"...“Some love comes like the wind off the sea, while others grow slowly from the seeds of friendship and kindness.\\"...\\"\\n

I would highly recommend this book and series to everyone who loves the Fantasy genre, those who are interested in getting to know it, and even those who are just starting to show an interest in reading. A story like this is sure to get anyone addicted to the magic of reading!!! I adored this book and I'm looking forward to delving into the next one. What a wonderful journey it promises to be!!!

Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you find joy in every book you read!!!

By chance, a mysterious rift across the vast universe unexpectedly connects two distinct worlds.

One planet is inhabited by a diverse range of beings such as humans, elves, dwarfs, trolls, and goblins, each with their own unique characteristics and cultures.

The other world, on the other hand, is populated by fierce warmongers who seem to thrive on conflict and aggression.

Interestingly, both worlds are home to powerful magicians who possess extraordinary abilities.

"Magician Apprentice" is an exciting and action-packed fantasy epic that delves into the realms of war and politics. I found myself thoroughly enjoying this book.

With well over 500 pages, it is a substantial read, yet it is still only half the length of the renowned "Lord of the Rings."

Since I have mentioned "LotR," there is a good possibility that if you have a penchant for that book, you will also find "Magician Apprentice" to your liking.

However, while "LotR" has etched itself deeply into my consciousness, "Magician Apprentice" will most likely fade from my memory after a few months.

Nonetheless, it offers an engaging and entertaining escape into a fantastical world for a period of time.

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3.5/5 stars

Magician: Apprentice is a familiar and enjoyable start to a beloved classic fantasy series. I've heard great things about Riftwar Saga and Riftwar Cycle by Raymond E. Feist for years. It's a series that has sparked many readers' passion for fantasy. However, I don't have nostalgia for it. I wanted to read Riftwar Saga to understand Riftwar: Empire trilogy better. I'm not always a fan of pre-1990 fantasy books as the writing can seem outdated or the story too clichéd. But Magician: Apprentice is a bit of both. After rereading it, some parts I struggled with before were more tolerable.

The book is the first half of The Magician. It ended awkwardly, but I understand why it was divided. The Magician as a single book would be very long. Dividing it gave readers a chance to take a break before Magician: Master. Also, Magician: Master shows a big change as Feist makes the series his own while still being influenced by Tolkien.

One of the purposes of Magician: Apprentice is to introduce the characters, world, and premise. None of the main characters were infuriating. The friendship between Pug and Tomas was a favorite part. Feist is good at portraying genuine friendship. The highlight is Tomas and his conflict with the power of Ashen-Shugar.

From stories, tropes, and execution, Magician: Apprentice is a classic fantasy. I love classic fantasy elements but prefer a modern narrative structure and pacing. The writing still felt outdated at times, like the progression of chapters. The action scenes also had issues. Arutha's storyline felt overwritten, and Pug's and Tomas's battle scenes ended too quickly. But for a 40-year-old book, the writing was relatively accessible.
The book ended unsatisfyingly. Pug and Tomas weren't in the last few chapters. But after rereading it after Riftwar: Empire trilogy, I'm more hopeful for Magician: Master. Magician: Apprentice served its purpose as an introduction. Despite its issues, I expect a better reading experience on my reread of Magician: Master. I hope this reread of the entire trilogy will improve my reread of Riftwar: Empire trilogy.

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This was truly an extremely challenging book for me to rate. It fluctuated from being an amazing 5 stars to a rather disappointing 2. After much thought, I ultimately decided on a solid 3 stars.

I'm still uncertain about how to pen this review as my feelings towards the book are, to say the least, mixed. So, I'll go with the old approach: the things I liked and the things I didn't like.

Let's commence with the aspects that I liked. Firstly, the amazing world that Feist constructed. I believe the world-building was my absolute favorite part of the book. Secondly, the interesting characters, especially Thomas. I really wish we could have heard more from him. Thirdly, the amazing first half of the book. If only it had remained that way throughout the entire novel.

Now, onto the things that I didn't like as much. There was a lack of action. I truly desired that we would have had more fighting scenes in the book. Additionally, there was a lack of magic. I was hoping that this book would at least have one fight scene involving magic, but magic was scarcely utilized in it. I truly hope that we'll get more of that in the next book. Moreover, the middle part was slow. After an amazing beginning, we transitioned to a not-so-amazing middle, and it remained that way until the end. In the end, things did pick up to some extent, but I still enjoyed the beginning of the book far more.

Even though this book didn't completely astound me, I'm definitely going to continue with the series, perhaps not immediately. Hopefully, I'll like the next one significantly more.

DESCUBRIMIENTO

If you are waiting for the classic fantasy of the orphaned child, with special abilities, who has the luck that the powerful wizard will take him in as an apprentice and has to go on a journey to obtain something, that's what you'll find. It's quite typical, isn't it?

But here comes the surprise! It's a novel with a multi-character storyline, and this is just one character. There will be another boy who will obtain something that will make him very, very strong. And a prince who will fight to protect his kingdom from a siege.

But be careful! This siege will be carried out by EXTRATERRESTRIALS, who have come to conquer that world.

It's a very engaging novel.

P.S: There are 4 main storylines.

I’m really conflicted about this one.

On one hand, I felt like a significant number of the characters were rather one dimensional. There was an abundance of opportunity for drama and tension that unfortunately wasn’t fully capitalized on.

The relationship between Pug and Tomas was truly great, and so was the dynamic between Pug and Carline. But when it comes to the rest of the characters, they seemed to be lacking in depth.

I also have the feeling that a lot of the most interesting aspects of the story were simply glossed over instead of being expanded upon. There was a particular point in the middle where I was quite confident that I wouldn’t read any other books in the series.

However, once the story managed to get moving again after that lull in the middle, it managed to capture my attention to a greater extent. I can definitely see the appeal that lies within the many, many books that are left in the series.

And by the end, I had actually come to like quite a few of the characters. I think I’ll at least make an effort to finish the Magician series, although I’m not entirely sure if I’ll pick up the next one right away.

Sterne - This book requires time to build up the plot and take effect, and I don't really mind that at all! Because it has worked wonderfully and the writing style is really incredibly good

You know how people often claim that Dune is a science fiction work with fantasy elements? Well, Riftwar is the opposite - it's a fantasy with sci-fi elements. (I'm not making any other comparisons between them, by the way. In fact, I haven't even read Dune yet. I know, it's like not reading The Lord of the Rings in the sci-fi world.)

While I didn't think the first book in the Riftwar saga was overly original (and there's something strange about the book's publishing?? I read the "author's preferred version" as it seemed like the best option), and all the different fantasy races were pretty similar to human society in general (which makes me really appreciate how well Tolkien did it), I still enjoyed it. And yes, I'm willing to give the sequel a try. But there are heaps more books after that, so... we'll see.

(Oh, and just a random side note: I really don't like the word "pug" and my eye involuntarily twitched every time I read it. Okay, not really, but I was really close.)

Rating: 3.25 stars

DNF

I gave this a try for a month, but I just found myself gradually losing interest and drifting towards other things.

To be honest, it felt a bit bland and generic. There wasn't really anything that stood out and grabbed my attention.

However, the major problem for me is that the Riftwar series is just too large of an undertaking at the moment.

Take "Magicians: Apprentice" for example. It's 500 pages long, and that's only half of what the full "Magicians" book is. The American publishers broke it up, and the whole "Magicians" book is actually 1000 pages.

And this is just the beginning of a trilogy. There are two more novels in this trilogy, and then this trilogy is part of a much larger series involving more characters.

In fact, there are at least three more trilogies after this one.

I do like the underlying concept of a medieval dimension war. It sounds really interesting and has a lot of potential.

But right now, the series is just too daunting. There's so much to read and so many characters and storylines to keep track of.

I think I'll come back to it later when I have more time and mental energy to devote to it.