The enemy has arrived! In this thrilling conclusion to the Rift War Tetralogy, quests, magic, intrigues, passion, mystery, and revenge all come to a head in an explosive battle. The images described are of terrible beauty, with magnificent beings of astonishing power, clad in armor of bright color and splendid form, riding on the backs of ancient dragons. It's a sight that sends shivers down one's spine. After four books, this ending is a real first pump, leaving readers on the edge of their seats. And the excitement doesn't stop there, as there are thirty more books to look forward to. As the characters say, "Then we can celebrate. Damn me, but if we don't have a reason, no one ever has." It's a promise of more adventures and excitement to come.

“They were images of terrible beauty, magnificent beings of astonishing power, in armor of bright color and splendid form, riding upon the backs of ancient dragons.”

The Enemy is here!

Quests, magic, intrigues, passion, mystery, and revenge culminate in an explosive battle to close out the Rift War Tetralogy.

Did I mention the DRAGONS?

After four books this was a real first pump of an ending! And there are thirty more books!

“Then we can celebrate. Damn me, but if we don’t have a reason, no one ever has.”

A thrilling conclusion to the Riftwar Saga awaits in this incredible book. It is filled with fantastical world-building that transports you to a realm beyond imagination. The engaging characters draw you in, and the compelling storyline keeps you on the edge of your seat. And let's not forget the megalomanic villain who adds an extra layer of excitement.

While Silverthorn left off on a quiet note, it was evident that the adventure was far from over. Right from the very beginning of A Darkness at Sethanon, you are sucked right back into the action. The story has a magnetic pull that makes you want to read more and more, and it becomes incredibly hard to put down.

Unfortunately, it is not without its flaws. Elements of power-creep do come into play, with Pug and Tomas being the main offenders. Suddenly, they have transformed from mere boys a few books (and years) ago to world-saving heroes with near-godly powers. However, this does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

Overall, I still highly recommend this book, and by extension, the entire series. It is a captivating and immersive experience that will leave you longing for more.

I really relished this conclusion!

All of the characters that I adored from the series were there, and the plot had one thrilling twist after another!

It was truly magnificent!

Reading it was a great deal of enjoyment, but I have to confess that there was an abundance of minor editing mistakes, mostly typos.

I was rather astonished.

I'm aware that new editions have come out since my 1994 edition, so I sincerely hope that those errors were rectified!

Aside from that, it was a fun read.

I hope these amazing characters will keep showing up in the rest of the books set in this exquisitely detailed land!

A good book with a satisfying ending, truly worth reading if you wish to complete the series!


As the series unfolds, Feist's writing shows remarkable improvement. In many respects, "A Darkness at Sethanon" appears to be the finest book in the series. The plot itself may be rather foreseeable, yet the world-building truly comes into its own. This is especially evident in Pug's and Tomas's odyssey through the cosmos and space-time, where one gets to envision crazy places and creatures. Frankly, this was overly abstract for me and somewhat difficult to follow. However, it undeniably added an uncommon element to the story. I adored the Armengar part, with its very interesting society, an extremely unexpected leader, and an ingenious siege-defense of the lost city beyond the Kingdom. I liked the magic and some of the fighting scenes, especially those involving the archers, which were well-crafted. But I always had the sense that it could have been so much more, as if it felt like a somewhat lite-version of most contemporary fantasy. I'm not sure; perhaps I prefer hard-fought, bloody battles where the main characters have a chance of dying, but this is not as common in this series. This makes me realize that this series is probably more suitable for young adults than an older crowd.



Conclusion

Overall, it is a good series, mainly recommended for a younger target group (young adults). And I definitely would like to read the remaining 25 books in this world at some point in time, but probably not too soon!

The final installment of the Riftwar Saga series was filled with page-turning action that kept me on the edge of my seat. It also provided most of the answers to the mysteries and questions that had been posed earlier in the series. However, there was a surprise twist that left me with even more questions.

While I did enjoy reading A Darkness at Sethanon, I couldn't help but feel that the characters didn't experience as much growth this time around. They seemed more reactive to the harsh circumstances that were thrown at them on their quest to stop Murandamus.

The chapters featuring Pug, Tomas, and Macros in cameo roles intrigued me the most. These chapters provided more background information about themselves and the other elves, and also offered glimpses into rift space and the end or beginning of the universe, adding to the worldbuilding.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this series and feel that it provides a good solid fantasy adventure story. It has its flaws, but the action, mystery, and worldbuilding make it an enjoyable read.

I'm truly overjoyed that I managed to fit this in at the end of the year. :) Reading "A Darkness at Sethanon" once again after so many years, and having adored the series both times, I experience a tinge of sadness upon its completion. I could just keep reading forever.

Fortunately, there's a glimmer of hope. Feist has continued writing since I first finished these books. :) :)

In this installment, we encounter a great deal more of the dragons, Pug, and Thomas. But let's not overlook Jimmy the Hand! And Martin Longbow! Getting to know former enemies and clashing with new ones is just as exciting now as it was then.

I think I had forgotten about all those twisty, time-bending, multiversal adventures! Riding a dragon, journeying to the halls of the dead, and defeating the eater of worlds... but above all, it's witnessing all the transformations in every single character. So much occurs, so much intrigue unfolds, and there's so much mind-blowing magnitude. It's something I'm accustomed to in science fiction but generally don't encounter as frequently in fantasy... yet it suits this genre perfectly. :)

All in all, I'm extremely, extremely happy to be delving back into Feist's works. Now I can catch up on all the books I've been missing. *rubs hands together hungrily*

The final installment of The Riftwar Saga serves as the conclusive chapter for the malevolence that was brewing in the previous book. Here, Murmandamus emerges in full strength after a year of hibernation. Arutha continues to be plagued by Murmandamus in various ways.

Arutha encounters the traitor, Guy du Bas-Tyra, who is now the protector of the city Armengar, which is under threat from the dark army of Murmandamus. Together, they uncover the true motives behind Murmandamus' actions. As a result, they form an alliance to combat him.

Meanwhile, Pug, who was stranded in Edder (an Elvan province in Kelewan), has returned and, with Tomas' assistance, is on a journey to find Marcos the Black. There is a wealth of lore and legends surrounding the battle against the darkness or evil that is attempting to invade Midkemia. Pug, Tomas, and Marcos join forces with Arutha and his party in Sethanon to take on Murmandamus. The plot is captivating, the characters (especially Jimmy) are engaging, and the magic is spellbinding. The series comes to a close with style and grandeur.

Happy Reading!!!

This series comes to a great conclusion.

I'm truly impressed by the distinctiveness of all three books. Each one was self-contained in numerous aspects, yet they jointly told an overarching story. The character arcs of Pug, Tomas, and Arutha were executed superbly by the end.

Although from a pacing perspective, the narrative had a few moments of slowing down in this book, the plotting was very well done. There were some fantastic set pieces that are highly memorable. I adored the overall world-building, which extended beyond the limitations of just one world in this fantasy tale.

Among all the fantasy works I read in the '80's and have reread years later, Feist's world is the one that most strongly calls to me to read more. It definitely deserves a 4.5/5 rating.

The detailed character development, engaging plot, and expansive world-building make this series a must-read for any fantasy enthusiast.

I'm perhaps being a touch overly critical with my ratings as of late. However, this book rated a 2 - 2.5 stars for me. What truly irks me is that I'm unable to precisely pinpoint what it is that I've disliked about this series thus far. I simply know that it hasn't managed to completely win me over. I did enjoy the storylines, the lore, and even the majority of the characters. But perhaps it's the absence of surprises and twists that I've been missing throughout these four books.

I've been spoiled by the absurd number of recently published fantasy novels that I've read. And it's extremely challenging for a series written 40 years ago to be compared to these modern works. In fact, I'm quite surprised that it holds up as well as it does.

Arutha has effortlessly become my favorite character. I would absolutely love to read more about his adventures. Although the number of books in the Riftwar Cycle is rather intimidating (30???). Someday, I might decide to continue, but for now, I'll take a bit of a break.

The story maintained a certain level. I think this series is a series that should be read before moving on to the more "famous" ones. It is a classic adventure.

It takes the readers on a thrilling journey filled with excitement and mystery. The characters are well-developed and the plot is engaging from start to finish. The author has done a great job of creating a vivid and immersive world that the readers can easily get lost in.

Whether you are a fan of adventure stories or just looking for a good read, this series is definitely worth checking out. It will keep you on the edge of your seat and leave you wanting more.

Undoubtedly, my least favorite of the Riftwar Saga, yet still a banger.

What a wild 25-year journey this has been for me. A junior high sweetheart introduced me to both Magician books, and I immediately fell in love.

I identified strongly with the cast of children in Apprentice. Between 1996 and 2022, I would reread that book every few years, instantly transported back to warm memories of simpler times, growth, and exploration.

The sophomore book, Master, changed those characters beyond recognition. This ultimately upset me, yet also deeply resonated with me for the same reason. It was masterful storytelling, and I could never read one without the other. They formed such a complete circle, seemingly perfectly bookended. For most of my life, I avoided finishing the saga, fearing that the remaining two installments might not measure up and sully the magic of these books that allowed me to relive my childhood.

In a way, they did, but not necessarily negatively. Finally diving into Silverthorn was a climactic achievement for me in my Goodreads and self-care-via-a-return-to-reading journeys. It inspired me to check in on my old friend who had first urged this series upon me. Through all those years of being scared to advance the story, her personal story had been tied up in a long and difficult struggle against cancer.

I never did reach out to say I conquered Silverthorn, but there’s a particular irony. The original adolescent characters fade from the narrative almost entirely, as do most secondary roles who support them, in favor of a handful of remaining secondary characters who rarely interacted with the mains. The path of the story organically flowed in an entirely new and brilliant direction, yet again I was scared. This time, to selfishly share how I had grown while others suffered.

Now, in putting a wrap on the series, I found so many flaws in Darkness. Typos, vagaries, the author’s willingness to test our disbelief with random omnipotent abilities bestowed on old characters, hundred-page sidebars on creationism, heavily borrowed tropes of visits to the afterlife, not having a set point of view, reserving the only drama for safely killing off brand new characters introduced in the same book so we have zero emotional tie, a totally phoned in final battle and its aftermath… I mean… I can’t be alone on this, right?

The best part was seeing all my favorite side characters from the first two books come back and tie in, and we finally see a badass female character or two. So it’s now hit me that books are just books. This stuff isn’t real, but cancer is. And that’s what really sucks. So I’m going to reach out and tell her I hope everything turns out okay, and let her know I finally finished this series and each one made me feel something, and that was cool. So thanks for that.

Lord have mercy! At one point, I truly thought one of my beloved characters was dead. I was like, "Don't be doing this to me today! Don't make me go all cray up in here!" But, thank goodness, it all turned out to be okay =).

This book and the one before it were my absolute favorites. The entire series is just sooooooo good.

Everyone is back in this book, even if it's just in little parts here and there.

There's some serious evilness out to kill Arutha again. I mean, seriously, leave him the hell alone! So, off we go to see the wizard again. <-- Heh, I didn't even realize how that sounded because, you know, Pug is in it and he's a wizard and, oh, forget it.

Arutha, Jimmy, Gardan, and some others set off to figure out what's going on.

In the meantime, we have Pug (yay!) and Tomas (yay!) back together. I remember when they were just little boys =). But now, they're all grown up. Pug is a masterful wizard, and Tomas has some issues since he put on this armor. It was way back when he was in a mountain tunnel with Dolgan the dwarf <-- remember him! He's back too. Anyway, Tomas put on this armor for some reason, and he changed. He changed into something a little bizarre and went to live with the Elves.

Well, in this book, we finally get to find out why Tomas changed, and it's cray, just like everything else.

AND THERE BE DRAGONS! I love Ryath ♥.

Oh, and there's a wonderful revelation behind the dragons <-- pun intended for those who've read the book and know what I'm talking about.

Pug and Tomas have to travel to a place (with Ryath's help) to find Macros. Yes, it turns out you can find that which you think is lost. They need his help to conquer some evil.

I loved the ending with the exception of one thing. :-/

They had a little battle, and things went well for the most part. I just hate to see it end. I do have the other books in the Riftwar Saga and will get to read about some others, but still, it makes me sad.

Recommend to all fantasy peeps!

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