A Darkness at Sethanon - the final book in this trilogy - truly redeemed the The Riftwar Saga for me. At the beginning, it perhaps benefited from the fact that Prince Arutha was supposedly murdered. However, I didn't believe my luck for a second. Around that time, things took a turn for the better for me, and I became invested in the story once more. It reminded me of my earlier moments of laughter with Carline and Laurie, the sense of adventure from Thomas and Pug, and of the real Enemy. There were also a few surprises in there especially the return of Guy du Bas-Tyra and another small借鉴 from “Wheel of Time”. Well, I suppose one can't always reinvent the wheel.

I have already read the next trilogy of the Riftwar Cycle, so I think this book marks the end of my adventure in this multi-world. My enjoyment has been rather inconsistent, but I'm certain there must have been some positive developments over the years!

One of the classic series in the field of high fantasy that is considered very important in the formation of the genre and its subsequent development. It is, in other words, like a kind of intermediate link between the classic Tolkienian fantasy and the more complex and rather "darker" modern works. The expected elements such as the medieval setting, the absolute opposition of good and evil, the references to mythology exist and are particularly intense. At the same time, however, we also encounter things like the complex politics and the even more complex theology, the diverse characters and many other things that we find in more recent books. With these... historical elements, let's now turn to the books themselves and the reading experience. I admit that I found the beginning a bit subdued and lacking in that the writing style fails to put me in the mood despite the action that starts already from the first chapters. Perhaps this is due in part also to the mediocre translation. As the story progresses, however, and especially from the middle of the second book and onwards, the situation improves dramatically until the extremely exciting end. In short, it is an excellent series that manages to convince me to continue with the remaining 26 books that complete the cycle so far.

It is a series that combines the best of both worlds, the traditional and the modern, creating a unique and captivating universe. The characters are well-developed and the plot is full of twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Although the beginning may be a bit slow, it is well worth persevering as the story builds and becomes more and more engaging. I highly recommend this series to all fans of high fantasy.

This book had enough going for it to be enjoyable. There were some interesting plot twists and engaging characters that kept me turning the pages. However, it is sadly the worst of the series by a decent margin.

The story seemed to lack the depth and complexity that the previous books had. The pacing was a bit off, and some of the subplots felt rushed or underdeveloped.

For the last book of a series, this is really disappointing. I was hoping for a grand finale that would tie up all the loose ends and leave me satisfied. Instead, I was left with a sense of dissatisfaction and a feeling that the series could have ended on a much stronger note.

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Overall, while this book had its moments, it ultimately fell short of my expectations.

The final book in the Riftwar Trilogy is truly a remarkable piece of work. I have thoroughly enjoyed this entire series, and it has firmly established itself as one of my all-time favorites.

My favorite storylines within the series center around Arutha and his companions. Their adventures are filled with excitement, danger, and complex character development. In contrast, the journeys of Pug and Tomas seem to be more focused on rather abstract concepts such as multiverses, the beginning of time, the cosmos, and the mysteries of life and death.

While these concepts are undoubtedly fascinating, Feist's descriptions of what is happening in their scenes can often be too abstract for the reader to fully grasp. It feels as though he is trying to cover an incredibly vast amount of ground, including the entire history of time and all of the universes. As a result, the storytelling can sometimes seem surface-level, confusing, or not entirely relevant to the main storyline.

Despite these minor drawbacks, I must say that I really appreciate Feist's overall storytelling ability. He has created a rich and immersive world that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged from start to finish. The Riftwar Trilogy is a must-read for any fan of fantasy literature.

A fitting conclusion to the series indeed. This time, two distinct groups of boys/men embark on arduous travels and face numerous trials, all with the ultimate goal of defeating the ‘big bad’. The story is set in a classical fantasy world, which makes it a great choice for a mental holiday. However, it must be noted that these books unfortunately suffer from the ‘male gaze’.

Every single woman in the story seems to be nothing more than an object to be ogled at, to be married off, and to be taken to bed as soon as possible. It's a rather disturbing aspect that can't be ignored. So, while reading this, it's essential to be aware of this issue, especially if you happen to have an ‘inner raging feminist’.

Despite the engaging plot and the allure of the fantasy setting, the treatment of women in these books leaves a lot to be desired. It's a shame that such a potentially great series is marred by this particular flaw.

Epic fantasy - this is the simplest way to describe this book. An extremely engaging story, filled with tension, battles, magic, mysteries, and races against time, against enemies, against good people from whom we expect help, and against death. Perhaps the most interesting of the three (four, if we consider that the first book is not one but two books) novels. Of course, I also give weight to the naivetes in the book, such as our heroes being pitted against heartless villains and their raging as a fury without particular regard for the size of their ranks, but this we write off as a minus of the time in which the book was written and the way the author writes. Another thing that is typical of 1986 is the style of describing and outlining armies. However, aside from that, this book is a whirlwind of battles, magic, and interesting plot twists. For fans of battle scenes like me, this book is a whole treasure, especially from the middle to the end, where there is a non-stop battle, constant charges, the splitting of swords, and the unleashing of deadly magic. I'm almost certain that I won't start the next two books in the series, which describe the events 20 years after those described in this book, but I recommend all fantasy fans to give a chance to the first three (four) books, which tell the story of Midkemia in an extraordinary way. It's easy to get attached to the heroes and even easier to experience what happens to them. I rank this book in the top 10 fantasies that I have read.

Wow! This is truly very clever! :D All of the elements from the previous two books (or three, depending on which versions you have read! :D ) are vividly on display here! :D The events that unfold on Midkemia are simply astonishing! :D The action scenes are on a truly massive and epic scale, with events spiraling out of control for numerous characters and nations involved! :D

The ending of the book is truly great and rounds off a volume that is simply brilliant! :D The way in which the converging armies all arrive to take on an enemy army that had proven to be a tough nut to crack is not only a clever character moment but also an epic battle. You get to witness how all the different characters (on the good side! :D ) have come together to face the big bad! :D

Characterization, as always, is very much present, along with the epic events that are so vividly portrayed! :D The ruthless nature of 'The Enemy' is gradually revealed, while at the same time, many of the characters continue to develop and grow! :D

Moreover, many of the races and peoples of the worlds featured are given far more spotlight time, from snake people to shape-shifting dragons! :D This adds a whole new layer of depth and interest to the story. :D

Overall, this is excellent stuff! :D It is highly recommended for all fans of epic fantasy! :D

4,5 stars.

This is the third part of this saga. Yes, I am a huge fantasy fan. So don't bother me when the prince and Robbie the Hand are just fighting with the gnomes and countless brothers.

The prince and Anita have had twins. When they present the sons to the people during the festivities, they discover that the nightravens are back in the city.

As they try to drive the nightravens out of their lair and question them, and a number of people (in their own way, at least Robbie the Hand's way) are met and the prince is stabbed.

The land is in mourning. But through a backdoor, the adventure begins again. Meanwhile, Puc and Tomas are fighting on other worlds against THE ENEMY. They try to find the wizard Marcos together with a dragon. He would possess knowledge that could defeat THE ENEMY. And where is the life stone?

I was immediately fully immersed in the story again, which was not a problem. Only the edge-of-the-seat scenes were a bit less this time. Hence the 4,5 stars instead of 5 stars. I'm curious what other readers think.

What an epic finish to an equally epic series!

This series truly caught me completely by surprise with regard to how much I enjoyed it. The storylines, the characters, and the overall world-building were all so engaging and captivating. It's rare to come across a series that can hold your attention from start to finish and leave you craving more.

I'm already excited for what's to come as I've got the next trilogy lined up to begin next month. I've heard really good things about it as well, so I'm hoping it will live up to the hype. I can't wait to dive into the new adventures and see what new characters and storylines await me. It's going to be another great reading experience, I'm sure of it.

It was just okay. The story did have an appropriately huge climax, which was quite exciting. However, I can't help but think that it hasn't aged well over time.

Feist is indeed a competent writer, but I found that part of the story was dragging and it was hard for me to be really interested in it. Notably, Pug and Tomas' adventures in time and space seemed rather tedious. Besides, I also found the whole premise to be rather ridiculous. I felt that both characters were absurdly over-powered. For example, Pug's ability to bend time back to the beginning of the universe was just too much for me to swallow. I can understand that it was important for the climax, but every time the story switched back to them, it made me roll my eyes. I found the questing and besieging parts of the story to be far more interesting. Of course, this is just a personal preference, and I'm sure there are some people who really loved the sections that I didn't.

If you like or are curious about old-fashioned fantasy, then you might want to give this book a read. However, if you only read modern fantasy and prefer fast-moving plots with plenty of action, then possibly this book won't suit you.

This book is truly for all of you who initiated this series. It serves as a worthy and eloquently written, adventurous conclusion to an epic saga that I have relished being a part of.

The aspect I most appreciate about Raymond's writing is the numerous truths he skillfully weaves into his stories. These not only pertain to the narrative I'm engaged with but can also be applied to real-life situations. It provides a perspective on his plot and makes the struggles that our beloved characters must overcome relatable, regardless of the abundance of magic and interdimensional evil involved.

Admittedly, I do feel that Raymond sometimes gets diverted, which led me to occasionally skim a passage or two (or perhaps more). I enjoy epic tales, but not those that are overly bloated with irrelevant information. I believe even the most accomplished writers are prone to this at times, so he can perhaps be forgiven.

Overall, I am extremely content with how 'A Darkness at Sethanon' concludes a saga that I began so unexpectedly over 2 years ago in a hostel on the Isla del Sol in the Lago of Titicaca, Bolivia. I wouldn't want to miss Pug, Tomas, Jimmy, and the rest for anything. Raymond employs the trusted fairytale formula that sends our heroes on missions with the promise of reward and adheres to the belief that good will always prevail over evil time and time again, yet it never grows tiresome.

What's happening is that despite the insignificance of the individual, collective efforts can be the key to successfully combating even the most formidable enemy. And so, Tomas, Pug, Arutha, Martin, and the others once again embark on separate journeys, physically apart but united in heart, to fight and defeat the great Murmandamus once and for all.

4 STARS. I would stay up beyond my usual hours to finish it. Although I found some minor details that I didn't like or agree with, or that seemed lacking in some way, overall, this was an enjoyable and extraordinary read.

Thank the gods of Midkemia - an ending truly worthy of the name.

The final book of the Riftwar Saga masterfully brings all the disparate threads together and weaves a seamless conclusion to the multi-level conflicts, filled with intense drama and emotional power.

After enduring some truly abysmal endings lately (yes, looking at you JKR and Netflix), this one is a welcome relief.

As is characteristic of Raymond E. Feist, the story is imbued with rich emotions, the characters are splendidly developed (except for the antagonists, which we'll touch on shortly), and the narrative remains consistently robust.

Feist is an incredibly talented writer.

However, his one shortcoming is his inability to depict true evil as anything other than a form of insanity. While this is a limiting factor in his otherwise outstanding storytelling prowess, I'm not docking a star for it. It seems to me more of a cultural issue rather than anything else, and JKR also suffers from the same lack of vision in this regard.

That being said, Feist is in the same echelon as Tolkien, Wurts, and Erikson. If you have a passion for Epic Fantasy, you simply cannot overlook Mr. Feist's books.