This is the second book in the 'Darkwar' saga, following on from Flight of the Nighthawks, and is set in Feist's fictional fantasy world of Midkemia.

Although I no longer read a great deal of fantasy, I remain a huge Raymond E. Feist enthusiast and have perused all his books prior to this one. It should be noted that it cannot truly be read as an independent novel. This book was an extremely enjoyable read, similar to most of his others. It showcases Pug, Nakor, and other beloved characters from previous installments, along with a few new ones. My sole critique is that it is too brief, and to discover what occurs next, one has to endure a whole year's wait!

In essence, if you are a Feist aficionado, you will cherish this book just as you did the others before it. However, if you have not read his previous works, do not commence with this one - instead, opt for Magician (his first).

The Second book in the Darkwar saga was truly quite entertaining.

The Conclave of Shadows, having successfully foiled the plot to destroy the Emperor of Kesh, is still actively seeking the mad mage - Leo Varen. It appears that there is a devious plan afoot to open a portal to the world of the Dasati. The Dasati, who bear a striking resemblance to the Drow, the dark elves of the Forgotten Realms mythos, are a race born and bred for war. They tolerate no weakness and worship an evil deity. It's pretty damn cool until one realizes that they are on the verge of launching an invasion of Midekmia. The Conclave is thus engaged in a desperate struggle to prevent this calamity. That's all I'm willing to say for now.

The two characters that have really caught my eye are Bek and Valko. They both possess their own unique charm and are interesting in their own ways. The Dasati realm is also an absolute delight to read about, and I'm sincerely hoping that it doesn't meet the same fate as Tsurani society did post-Pug. However, with the "White" forces gathering, it seems that this might be the future. I won't say any more than that. Still, this was a very enjoyable read, and I must admit that the Darkwar saga seems to flow much better than the last series of his that I read. Any fantasy fan should definitely give this one a try. By the way, why is Miranda so damn annoying? Pug could have done a whole lot better.

This book presented several truly fascinating elements. However, it gave the impression that it was predominantly laying the groundwork for the subsequent installment in the series. As a result, it was a bit of a laborious read to get through.

The Dasati and their empire were captivating, and the plot twist at the end involving Macros was sufficient to pique my interest and make me eager to continue with the series. Additionally, the anticipation of finally seeing what transpires with Pug at the very end has me hooked. I'm already too deeply invested to stop. Moreover, I'm also curious about the character arc of Ralan Bek in the next book or books.

It seems that although this particular volume had its drawbacks in terms of pacing and being more of a setup, the intriguing aspects and unresolved storylines have successfully lured me into wanting to explore further. I'm looking forward to seeing how the author will develop the plot and characters in the upcoming installments.

Hopefully, the next book will build on the foundation laid in this one and offer a more engaging and satisfying reading experience. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will deliver on the promise shown by the end of this book and keep me on the edge of my seat until the very last page.

It is a very interesting setup indeed. I find myself extremely curious about what the finale of this trilogy has in store. Additionally, with the reveal about the Chaos Wars in this installment, I'm eager to know how the Riftwar Cycle is going to come to an end. This is especially because the final trilogy in the Riftwar Cycle is named The Chaos War Saga. Moreover, the titles of the final five books are now starting to gain context, which makes the whole situation even more fascinating and intriguing to me. I can't wait to see how all of these elements will come together and play out in the remaining installments. It's like a complex puzzle that I'm excited to solve as the story unfolds.

This book is truly one of my absolute favorites in the series up to this point.

From the moment I picked it up, I was completely engrossed in its captivating story and well-developed characters.

The author has done an amazing job of creating a world that is both rich and detailed, making it easy for me to lose myself within its pages.

Every chapter brought new surprises and twists that kept me on the edge of my seat, eager to see what would happen next.

I found myself completely invested in the lives of the characters, rooting for them through their challenges and celebrating their victories.

Now that I've finished this book, I can't wait to dive into the next one and continue this wonderful literary journey.

I have a feeling that it's going to be just as精彩 as this one, if not more so.

I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good adventure and a great story.

I truly relished this book. The idea of constructing a brand-new world and formulating a social structure that is entirely distinct from any other I have come across in my readings is simply fascinating. The Dasati, although perhaps not the absolute best among those new worlds, still held my interest to an enormous extent. It was captivating to explore the unique characteristics and dynamics of this fictional realm. The author's vivid descriptions and imaginative portrayal made it easy for me to envision the Dasati and its inhabitants. I found myself completely immersed in the story, eager to discover more about this strange and wonderful world. Overall, this book provided me with a highly enjoyable and engaging reading experience.

I feel almost cheap giving these Feist books five stars after five stars, but I'm truly hooked and a dedicated fan. Feist has masterfully continued the through plot from the previous book, which is also intricately tied to the plot of the prior trilogy. However, in this book, he takes it a step further by drawing on characters and events that harken all the way back to the very beginning of the series, namely "Magician", and through the numerous books that have followed.

You will only be able to fully appreciate this book if you've read the entire Riftwar Cycle up to this point. But if you have, it is immensely satisfying. The tie-ins to the past are not mere fan homage; they are meaningful continuations for both the characters and the places. It shows Feist's great skill and attention to detail in crafting this expansive and engaging world. Well done!

I enjoy most Feist books, and this one truly stands out as the best in a long time.

The series has previously only lightly brushed upon the higher concepts of different circles of realities and deities. I have often found myself longing for more in-depth exploration of those chapters. Now that it has become a central part of the storyline, I am thoroughly enjoying it.

The inclusion of a Dasati point of view significantly enhances the world-building. Their society and norms are so vastly different that it makes for a truly captivating read. Feist does an excellent job of explaining their motives in a way that is understandable to the reader. This addition also serves to heighten the stakes for our main characters, adding an extra layer of excitement and tension to the story.

Overall, this book is a must-read for fans of Feist's work and anyone who enjoys a well-crafted, immersive fantasy world.

I found this quite enjoyable.

The first book in the trilogy, while introducing some new characters, wasn't overly memorable. It seemed more like a setup for the characters and action in the subsequent book(s).

In the previous book, I was curious about the introduction of Tad & Zane and how they would factor into the future. It appears that Feist had similar thoughts and introduced Jommy as their third wheel. Jommy is quickly taking over their storyline as he has a lot more personality, while the other two I find rather underwhelming.

This book is building anticipation. There's an interesting new world and society entering the game, with multiple players and a sense that they'll all be involved in the final climax.

I hope there's at least a mini-resolution in the final book of this trilogy. I think it's the last one I own, and I'll probably take a short break to read something else before delving into the next chapters of the story.

I'm looking forward to seeing how all the loose ends are tied up and what kind of conclusion Feist will bring to this trilogy.

I have been engaged in Buddy-Reading this remarkable series over the past couple of months with a dear 'book-club' friend. She had never delved into the work of Raymond E. Feist before. As for me, I have been a devoted fan of his literary creations for a long time. I have often compared his works to The Lord of the Rings books, yet I must admit that I have actually derived greater enjoyment from this particular series. When I shared this sentiment with my friend, her curiosity was immediately piqued, and she expressed an eager desire to read the series. Moreover, she managed to convince me to embark on this reading journey with her - not that it was a difficult task for her to persuade me

The Darkwar series progresses as our valiant heroes gear up for the upcoming war. In this installment, we are introduced to a fearsome Dasati warrior and witness their brutal and violent ways.

The middle part of the book weaves parallel stories involving the three boys, our Dasati acquaintance, Pug and his comrades, and Miranda. All of them are essentially undergoing training to prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. Pug and his group ultimately reach the dark realm and begin to uncover the secrets and motives behind his arduous quest.

I found this book quite enjoyable, especially the author's seamless transition between different locations, almost as if he is continuing a single thought. For example, when he writes "they dropped off to sleep" and then immediately follows it with "a sound awoke them in the early hours", but has switched the focus from one set of characters to another. He employs this technique frequently throughout the book, and remarkably, it continues to be effective even after several repetitions.

However, I did notice one peculiar error in the Kindle version that I read. The word "die" had been repeatedly substituted with the word "the". For instance, the sentence "he knew he would the tonight" should have been "he knew he would die tonight". It's a strange editing glitch, but I'll be curious to see if the Kindle reporting function proves useful in getting this error corrected.

Good Read

A good read is like a magical portal that transports you to different worlds, introduces you to diverse characters, and exposes you to a plethora of ideas. It has the power to captivate your attention from the very first page and keep you hooked until the last. Whether it's a thrilling mystery, a heartwarming romance, or a thought-provoking non-fiction piece, a good read has the ability to engage your emotions and stimulate your mind. It can make you laugh out loud, shed a tear, or simply leave you in awe. Moreover, a good read can also expand your vocabulary, improve your writing skills, and enhance your overall knowledge. So, the next time you pick up a book, make sure it's a good read that will take you on an unforgettable journey.