3.5 stars
I have a great fondness for Mara. I truly like the characters and the incredibly rich world that the authors have constructed. However, in contrast to the first book, the story in this one gave the impression of being dragged out and slow, much like the endings of the Lord of the Rings movies, but unfortunately, it occurred right in the middle of book 2.

In other words, to some extent, I lost my interest in what was going to happen next. It felt as if the narrative had lost its momentum and was just meandering along.

Nevertheless, I did manage to finish the book. And to my relief, the last chapters were more satisfying. They brought a certain degree of closure and resolution to some of the storylines.

But despite this, I have decided that I won't be reading the 3rd book. (Unless, of course, some friend who reads this review is able to convince me otherwise :-) ) I just don't have the same level of enthusiasm and anticipation as I did for the first book.

“Life would be so dull without enemies.” This statement holds some truth, especially when it comes to the world of literature. In the book "The Servant of the Empire," we are once again plunged into the complex and intriguing world of the Tsuranuanni Empire.

This book is twice the paging and half the plotting of the Daughter of the Empire, and it also features a love triangle. Do you remember Mara? The girl who had to grow up quickly after her father and brother were killed and had to lead her family. In the first volume, Daughter of the Empire, Mara endured humiliation and abuse but managed to overcome many adversities and defeat the enemies of the Acoma family through a whirlwind of intrigue and plotting.

The Servant of the Empire picks up almost immediately after these events. Lord Minawanabi solemnly swears bloody revenge against Lady Acoma and her family. Mara, although having gained influence in the Empire, is well aware that her position is not secure. However, my first problem with this book is that it's really hard to play the same trick twice. While the Acoma family was on the verge of extinction in the previous book, this time things are much better both politically and economically thanks to Mara's ingeniousness. And yet, the opening chapters try to convince the reader of a looming disaster of epic proportions, which seems rather incredible.

The only thing that saves the book is Mara herself. Her character is built very artfully and in great detail, offering a fully multidimensional figure. It would seem that after the events of the previous book, Mara would not be able to develop further, but here the novel is a pleasant surprise. Mara decides to buy a group of barbaric slaves who arouse both her irritation and fascination. Among them, there is one who will open her eyes to the world around her and her heart.

What I also liked was the fact that the world presented is much richer than in the previous volume. There are more families, more names, and more places, although it may bring some chaos. However, the intrigues in this installment are rather puerile, and in some ways, Feist and Wurts seem to have lost their strength. The second volume is still of a good level but definitely misses something.

In conclusion, while "The Servant of the Empire" has its strengths, such as the well-developed character of Mara and the richly detailed world, it also has its weaknesses, such as the unconvincing plotting and the rather puerile intrigues. Overall, it's a decent read but not as good as the first volume in the series.

”Life would be so dull without enemies.”

This book is twice the paging and half the plotting of the Daughter of the Empire. And a love triangle.

A Stellar Model in the Writing of Epic Political Thrillers

Servant of the Empire offers truly outstanding writing, which is only to be anticipated from a combination of two of the genre's greatest writers. Considerable effort has been expended on the characters. We witness the expansion of the plot as additional threads emerge. The cast is significantly larger, and the situation is more intricate. There is also a plethora of events occurring simultaneously. The characters are evolving, maturing, and the story is becoming more tightly woven around them.

We encounter far more world-building here than in the first book, as the authors painstakingly detail the worlds and cultures of Midkemia and Kelewan. The structure of the Tsuranuannani society becomes much more transparent as we are permitted to explore its involution and the finer aspects of its socio-political construct. It is an extremely complex yet extraordinarily detailed system, complex enough to rival some of the finest structures, such as those in the WoT series.

The conclusion is a bit unexpected, as I had anticipated a more significant showdown. However, it is a political thriller, so no real surprises. Let's拭目以待 and see how it all concludes in the final book. 4/5

\\n  'Servant of the Empire' (The Empire Trilogy #2; Riftwar Cycle #6) by Raymond E. Feist and Janny Wurts.\\n

\\n  'Informants can be helpful, but they are never infallible. All tools can break, or be turned into weapons.'\\n

Rating: 4.0/5.



Review:
This book, 'Servant of the Empire', has twice the page count of its predecessor. However, it has only half the political intrigue and scheming. But don't be too quick to judge. The raised stakes and battle sequences manage to save it from the dreaded "middle-book syndrome".

It was always going to be a challenge to top the first book, and this one comes close. While not better, it's almost as good. The book is facilitated by a cast of well-developed characters and wonderful prose. However, it suffers from uneven pacing. There are certain insufferable chapters where nothing relevant happens, draining the enthusiasm from the story. I had to put the book down and read something else for a while. But if you persevere through these slow chapters, you'll be rewarded with an excellent plot, clever political scheming, and intense battle sequences.

The book roughly covers a decade after the events of the first one, with several time skips that are seamlessly integrated into the narrative. The characters grow naturally through various trials and tribulations. Once you get past the slow parts, you'll realize the book is fast-paced and full of action and political scheming. The best parts are the two battles in the first half of the book.

Although the first book was nearly perfect, the Tsurani culture's attitude towards slaves was a problem. This is addressed with the introduction of Kevin, a barbarian captive. His perspective opens Mara's eyes to the deficiencies of the Tsurani culture. Mara's acceptance of these deficiencies and her willingness to reform the rigid societal structure form the backbone of the book.

One gripe I had was that sometimes Mara and her advisors seemed incompetent to drive the plot forward. For example, Mara's insistence on not believing the desert tribes' tactics were motivated by something hidden was rather foolish.

Overall, the second book in the Empire trilogy is good, but it can't match the first one. It's not a disappointment, but the first one was just so good. Despite its shortcomings, 'Servant of the Empire' is an entertaining book with a brilliant plot, action, political intrigue, and excellent themes.

\\n  ‘It is to our shame,’ she murmured unthinkingly loud, ‘that a captive might gain freedom and begin a noble house that might someday rise to greatness among his former enemies – those we call barbarians – and yet many equally worthy sons taken prisoner into our Empire could become no more than slaves. I fear we are the barbarians, and not the Midkemians.’\\n

Mara is getting better and better each time.

She is an incredibly amazing woman.

Her progress is truly remarkable and it's a joy to witness.

With each passing day, she seems to shine brighter and achieve more.

Her determination and hard work are paying off handsomely.

Everyone around her is in awe of her capabilities and the way she keeps improving.

Mara is a force to be reckoned with and there's no doubt that she will continue to reach great heights.

Her story is an inspiration to all those who know her, showing that with perseverance and a positive attitude, anything is possible.

We can't wait to see what the future holds for this amazing woman.

One of the best fantasy series I've read! And one of the few books I like to re-read... LOL.

The third installment of this series is truly a masterpiece. It takes the readers on an exciting journey filled with magic, adventure, and unforgettable characters. The author's vivid descriptions bring the fictional world to life, making it easy for the readers to immerse themselves in the story.

The plot is full of twists and turns that keep the readers on the edge of their seats. The character development is also excellent, as each character grows and evolves throughout the story. The relationships between the characters are complex and add an extra layer of depth to the narrative.

Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy. It's a must-read for fans of the genre and will surely leave you wanting more.

I'm still relishing this arc of the Riftwar Cycle fantasy epic to the fullest.

The connection between Mara and Kevin had started to seem a touch too ideal / overly sweet for my liking. So, I was rather glad when it came to an end, and in a manner that was logical.

I wasn't too fond of the sections regarding Mara's son as he simply struck me as a spoiled child. Thankfully, that wasn't the main focus of the majority of the book.

The battles were masterfully described, full of energy and gore. The political intrigues were fierce. Quite a few named characters met their demise, which I truly value in a fantasy epic.

I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Rereading n+1: The first part of the book is more readable than the second. Although it is over 800 pages long, it feels rushed.

Rereading n: Like most series books, the second volume is worse than the first. However, in this case, it is not an enormous difference. I am convinced that most genre readers would appreciate this. It is highly recommended.

Upon further examination, the first part of the book truly stands out for its engaging nature. Despite its substantial length, the narrative flows at a brisk pace, keeping the reader hooked. In contrast, the second part, while not bad, lacks the same level of intensity and charm.

Nonetheless, when comparing it to other series books, the difference between the first and second volumes here is relatively minor. This book still has much to offer to genre enthusiasts. The story is well-crafted, and the characters are developed enough to draw the reader in.

Overall, it is a book that I would warmly recommend to those who enjoy the genre. It may not be perfect, but it definitely has its merits and is worth a read.

This is an outstanding piece of fantasy that truly captivates the imagination.

The story unfolds in a world filled with magic and wonder, taking the reader on an exciting adventure.

The characters are well-developed and each has their own unique charm and personality.

The plot is full of twists and turns, keeping the reader on the edge of their seat from beginning to end.

The author's writing style is engaging and descriptive, painting a vivid picture of the fantastical world they have created.

I can't wait to write a more in-depth review of this amazing book and share my thoughts with others.

Overall, this is a must-read for any fan of fantasy literature.

The second installment in the series was truly a captivating page-turner, surpassing even the first. It was disheartening to note that only this trilogy was created by the two authors. I firmly believed that if the potential of Feist-Wurts could be further explored, they could rival the partnership of Weis-Hickman.

In many aspects, it was both similar and different from the first. All the main characters from the book made a comeback, and a great addition was Kevin, a prisoner of war who became a slave according to the tradition of the Kelewanese.

I detected a significant influence of James Clavell's Shogun in this book, and I couldn't deny that it still had a hint of the 'East in the minds of the West'. This implies that at times, western authors overlooked certain aspects of eastern ways.

The plot was excellent, filled with numerous climaxes. The storyline picked up precisely where the first book concluded. Mara's minor victory against House Minwanabi had consequences. In the first book, she had to battle against an established power, but this time, she had to contend with brilliant long-term planning, and even her own resources were turned against her.

The barbarian slave opened up new possibilities for Mara, enabling her to view things from a fresh perspective and allowing her to manipulate, bend, and skirt around honor, tradition, and rules even more than in the first book.

I would rate this book a solid five stars. Everything was placed almost perfectly, perhaps with the intention of laying the groundwork for an outstanding finale in the third book.

A wonderful book, rich with feeling. It easily earns 5 stars.

The second installment in the Empire trilogy pits Mara and her classy team of experts against the despicable villainy of Tasaio and the powerful Minwanabi family.

I absolutely love the characterization in this book. It is rich and nuanced, making the characters ones that you can truly care about. The narrative is extensive and broad, perfectly suiting the Epic Fantasy genre. The story grabbed me from the start and I was completely immersed, even though I've read this book multiple times before.

I found myself often smiling while reading this book. It has that kind of charm. Although, there are also heart-rending moments that tug at your emotions.

There is romance in the story, and at times it gets quite physical. However, the narrative context is always strong, and the scenes are very tastefully written. There is nothing gratuitous about it.

In conclusion, this is a fantastic part of "The Empire Trilogy." I would happily recommend it to anyone to read, provided they read "Daughter of the Empire" first.

More intrigue, politics, and a fraught romance add to the allure of this story. The machinations of the powerful families, who are striving to rule, create a web of complexity. There is an Asian slant with the honor theme that was prominent in early China and Japan. Interestingly, the "families" also bring to mind the City States that once held sway in Italy.

Feist and Wurts prove to be a great writing duo. Their collaboration results in a captivating narrative that keeps readers engaged. Now, we are onto the last installment of this trilogy, which is based upon "The Riftwar" sagas.

This final book is sure to tie up loose ends and provide a satisfying conclusion to the story. Fans of the series will be eagerly awaiting to see how it all ends. With the combined talents of Feist and Wurts, there is no doubt that it will be a thrilling ride.