Once again, Feist has managed to draw me in with this second book of the Darkwar trilogy.

His use of alternate points of view is truly captivating. One of these perspectives belongs to a young Dasati warrior, Valco, who resides in the second plane and lives a life that his people have adhered to for millennia.

Valco's people are under the control of a Dark God, who governs every aspect of their lives and instills in them a loathing for any kind of finer feeling. Such emotions are to be eradicated or exploited if found within their ranks.

The richness of detail in Feist's world-building is simply breathtaking. It was this very aspect that initially attracted me to his writing many years ago. Although the world he has created is dark, both physically and in terms of character, there is still a sense of a civilization that understands the importance of following certain rules for the survival of all, albeit their perception of this may be highly skewed compared to our own.

The second point of view is set in the first plane, back on the world of Midkemia. It follows all the characters who were present at the conclusion of 'Flight of the Night Hawks', including Caleb's adopted sons and their friend Jommy, who has become like a brother to them.

One of the characters introduced earlier, Bek, in whom Nakor has taken a great interest, seems to hold the key and may even be the solution to their problem with the impending invasion by the Dasati. He, along with Nakor, Pug, and Pug's son Magnus, must embark on the most dangerous journey they have ever attempted and descend to the second plane, to the Dasati world, in the hope of saving both Midkemia and the Tsurani world from the deadly invasion of a people devoid of compassion and mercy.

I am now eagerly looking forward to reading the third book of the trilogy, 'Wrath of A Mad God'!

Into a Dark Realm, the second installment of the Darkwar Saga and the penultimate subseries in the extensive Riftwar Cycle, presents a significant improvement over its predecessor. In the previous book, I found myself mired in what seemed like an overabundance of recaps and a touch of tedium due to an overly familiar storyline. However, this book's narrative is far more captivating. There are multiple storylines in play, with frequent changes in point of view (POV), and I relished most of them. While there was one POV (Tad, Zane, Jommy, etc.) that appeared somewhat superfluous, I still enjoyed it and thus didn't mind. I was particularly enthralled by the storyline featuring Valko on one of the Dasati worlds. It was a delight to explore a culture and character that deviated significantly from Feist's typical style. Even the segments centering on the magicians, which usually strike me as the least interesting aspects in each book, had their moments of intrigue.

This book leaves numerous loose ends, which has piqued my anticipation for the next installment. I have ambivalent feelings about Macros' return. While I'm curious to see what he'll contribute, I do have some reservations regarding the gaps in his memory. These gaps seem a bit too convenient, allowing him to know precisely what he needs to advance the story while remaining ignorant of details that might propel the narrative too rapidly.

Tad, Zane, and Jommy's educational journey takes an exciting turn when they are assigned to the Royal University of Roldem.

Here, they form friendships with the prince and cousin of the king, further expanding their social and intellectual horizons.

As the story of Valko unfolds, the team consisting of Pug, Magnus, Nakor, and Bek is busy making preparations to meet him in Kosridi.

Feist has crafted a truly curiously dangerous new world, the Dasati, which holds a wealth of information.

As the reader delves into this new reality along with the characters, they discover more and more about its mysteries and perils.

Meanwhile, Miranda is grappling with the task of searching for Leso on Kelewan, whether she is handling it well or not remains to be seen.

This book is a captivating read that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. I truly love it!

This is definitely some of the best Feist out there.

Between the previous book and what I expect to happen in the next, we're finally ramping up a conflict between another realm.

And not just another realm like what we've had before, but a lower circle of hell and everyone else. :)

However, not everyone there is precisely evil. They are just so heavily influenced by madness and evil that it may as well be Darwinian. :)

What? Does Feist seem to have an ulterior motive here? lol

I'm going along with it. And why not? The epic fantasy is truly epic, the magic is awesome, and the training of the kids is as fun as I could hope.

Moreover, the worldbuilding is especially good here. We're getting in deep to the second realm.

And while Pug and Magnus and friends are exploring it, we're learning a lot more.

Is this a game of chess between gods? Yep. With the stake of all that is good versus evil in the balance? Yep. And I'm having a great deal of fun.

The story is unfolding in a captivating way, drawing me further into its rich and imaginative world.

I can't wait to see what will happen next and how the characters will develop and face the challenges ahead.

Feist has truly created a masterpiece that keeps me on the edge of my seat, eager to turn the next page.

Via Book Reviews by Niki Hawkes at www.nikihawkes.com

Feist’s works have always been of the highest quality, and it is extremely difficult for me to pinpoint anything that I don't like in his stories. “Into a Dark Realm” was no different. In fact, it surpassed my expectations with its remarkable creativity and complexity.

What truly appealed to me was the complete immersion into another realm. It offered a cultural experience that I hadn't encountered since his “Daughter of the Empire” trilogy written with Janny Wurts. This time, however, the world we got to explore was of a different dimension - that of the Dasati. By following a male warrior from that evil and distorted world, we were able to understand the mindset behind their rather brutal lifestyles. I was completely captivated by the fascinating culture presented within this book, and I found it to be one of my favorites in the entire saga.

As always, the characters were well-developed, with a nice balance between long-time beloved characters and the introduction of new ones. The story seamlessly alternated between multiple plot-lines, maintaining my interest with each transition.

Overall, for the middle book in a trilogy, it advanced the plot very well - revealing just enough to build the momentum towards what promises to be an amazing conclusion!

by Niki Hawkes

Other books you might like:

“Pawn of Prophecy” by David Eddings

“Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss

“The Eye of the World” by Robert Jordan

“Dragon Wing” by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

“The Crystal Shard” by R.A. Salvatore

Are these books getting good again?

Feist is indeed at his prime when delving into new worlds and societies. His ability to create vivid and intricate fictional landscapes is truly remarkable.

One can't help but wonder where this exploration will lead. Will he uncover hidden gems within these new settings? Will he introduce us to characters that will stay with us long after we've turned the final page?

The anticipation is palpable as we wait to see what Feist has in store. His previous works have shown his talent for world-building and storytelling, and we can only hope that this new endeavor will be just as captivating.

So, let's sit back, relax, and embark on this new literary adventure with Feist. Who knows what wonders await us?

The original article might be: "This product is great. It works well and I like it a lot."

Here is the expanded version:

This product is truly outstanding.

It functions extremely well, exceeding my expectations.

The quality is top-notch, and it has become an essential part of my daily life.

I have been using it for a while now, and I have not encountered any issues.

The design is sleek and modern, adding a touch of elegance to any setting.

Overall, I would highly recommend this product to anyone in need.

I would rate it a solid 4.5 stars out of 5.

It is definitely worth the investment.

Once more, Feist makes his return to Midkemia, the very setting that had me completely enamored with the world of fantasy. It's truly a place that holds a special charm.

However, while this book is an enjoyable read, I must admit that it doesn't quite rank among his best works. Right from the start, we are reacquainted with a character from earlier in the trilogy. Just as we begin to form a connection with him, he is suddenly abandoned. He then only makes brief appearances as an aside much later in the book.

As the middle book of a trilogy, it does fulfill its role to a certain extent. But the pacing is a bit slower than what I'm accustomed to seeing in Feist's writing. The constant back and forth between different characters following their own plot threads is also a bit more disjointed than usual. This ultimately leaves me longing for more substance and more time spent with each of the characters. Each of the plot threads feels somewhat unfulfilled. Presumably, all of these loose ends will be tied together in the third book. But at this moment, rather than eagerly thirsting for more, I simply find myself wishing for it to be over. This is a feeling that I'm not at all used to having when reading Feist, and I truly hope that the final book in the trilogy doesn't leave me with the same sense of dissatisfaction.

The second book of the Darkwar trilogy is yet another disappointment for the reader (at least for those who can count above 10 without taking off their shoes).

The same not particularly likable heroes who tortured us in the first one are here again. As if the cheap and bad writing wasn't enough, Feist decides to resurrect a dead character whom we had killed, buried, and forgotten. He resorts to cheesy salvations in an attempt to make his bad book more interesting.

You can say what you want about George Martin, but usually when he kills a (or forty) character(s), he keeps them dead and doesn't pull them out of the bag after a few books. He may not have Twitter («X», now, like the «stuck» my former one) because... he killed all 288 characters, but all the POVs are interesting. Something that does not apply to the current trilogy of Feist.

The world continues to run back and forth in an annoying parody of AD&D. The bad guys we knew until now are overshadowed by arch-villains, who will be overshadowed by triarch-villains, and so on, in an attempt to escalate the drama. But in the end, only the result is a drama. A childish attempt to resurrect the greatness of the Riftwar series, which not only fails but also attacks... the memory of the original books. Indifferent trinkets that perform magical tricks and are cordoned off, humble heirs to the throne and rogues who become underlords (unfortunately not to get lost in Albania), another reality full of very bad people, so bad that they don't even have a word for «good», but... guess what, among them there are some who secretly oppose and want the «white» (maybe they love «ROL» too or wash with chlorine, I don't know) and we have reached 2/3 of the... era (maybe the first two letters should be swapped) tired, annoyed, disgusted, imprisoned solely by reading compulsions for the continuation.

Another good one in this series

This particular installment in the series truly stands out. It offers a unique perspective and engaging content that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish. The story unfolds in a captivating manner, with well-developed characters and a plot that is full of twists and turns. The author has done an excellent job of creating a vivid and immersive world that the reader can easily get lost in. The writing style is流畅 and easy to read, making it accessible to a wide range of audiences. Whether you're a fan of the series or new to it, this book is definitely worth checking out. It continues to build on the success of the previous installments and leaves you eagerly anticipating the next one.

Leso Varen failed to create chaos in Keshi.

The conclave finally thought that it had ended his existence.

However, that is not the truth and Leso escapes through a crack to Kelewan, the second world of Feist, where he can cause some confusion and kill some people.

On Kelewan, Leso finds himself in a new and unfamiliar environment.

He begins to plot his next move, determined to continue his reign of terror.

With his dark powers and cunning mind, he starts to gather followers and plan attacks.

The people of Kelewan are unaware of the danger that is about to befall them.

Leso Varen lurks in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike and spread chaos once again.

The author may not be entirely original in the second part of the trilogy, but this doesn't stop him from achieving an interesting outcome.

Once again, the focus is on the impending invasion of a violent and aggressive empire that our heroes take on the task of preventing, first attempting to understand it.

This understanding adds a great deal of interest as this empire has numerous special characteristics, being dominated by violence and selfish behavior, which gives the writer the opportunity to discuss all the good aspects of human nature.

Beyond that, the book is perhaps more of a preparation for the next installment, with some twists and some interesting new elements to offer something more.

So, I'll be waiting for the next one to write more.

Δεν πρωτοτυπεί ο συγγραφέας στο δεύτερο μέρος της τριλογίας, χωρίς αυτό να σημαίνει ότι δεν δημιουργεί ένα ενδιαφέρον αποτέλεσμα.

Για άλλη μία φορά το θέμα είναι η επικείμενη εισβολή από μία βίαιη και επιθετική αυτοκρατορία που οι ήρωες μας αναλαμβάνουν να εμποδίσουν, προσπαθώντας αρχικά να την κατανοήσουν.

Αυτή η κατανόηση προσδίδει αρκετό ενδιαφέρον καθώς αυτή η αυτοκρατορία έχει πολλά ιδιαίτερα χαρακτηριστικά καθώς κυριαρχείται από τη βία και την εγωιστική συμπεριφορά και αυτό δίνει την ευκαιρία στον συγγραφέα να μιλήσει για όλα αυτά τα θετικά της ανθρώπινης φύσης.

Από εκεί και πέρα το βιβλίο είναι μάλλον περισσότερο μία προετοιμασία για το επόμενο με κάποιες ανατροπές και κάποια ενδιαφέροντα νέα στοιχεία να δίνουν κάτι περισσότερο, έτσι και εγώ περιμένω το επόμενο για να γράψω περισσότερα.