The third novel in Feist's highly successful collaborative series is a captivating adventure. It emerges from the infinitely creative mind of one of fantasy's all-time greats, Raymond Feist. This time, in partnership with Steve Stirling, the master of alternative US history, Feist delves into the full story of Jimmy the Hand, a beloved and colorful character from the Riftwar series. Jimmy, a pickpocket and confidence trickster, lives in the shadows of Krondor. The sewers are his passageways, and a flea-ridden, rat-infested cellar is his home. Despite being just a street urchin, he is gifted beyond his peers and has great potential. His life takes a turn when he meets Prince Arutha and helps him rescue Princess Anita from Duke Guy du Bas-Tyra. However, this brings him into conflict with Black Guy's secret police, and he flees to Sarth. There, he discovers that the village has its own share of danger and a dark secret that even the local thieves and smugglers are unaware of. Jimmy's youthful bravado and courage lead him into the heart of chaos and death.

In this novel, Feist and Stirling bring both humor and pathos to Jimmy the Hand's adventures. The story is a simple and charming fairy tale that will appeal to adult fans of the Riftwar books as well as mature teens who enjoy a bit of romance in their sword-and-sorcery. The first book in this series, Honoured Enemy, has sold an impressive 50,000 copies in hardback, and the final volume in the Tales of the Riftwar sequence maintains the energetic invention and excitement of its predecessors.

This story occurs immediately after Jimmy bids farewell to Prince Arutha and Princess Anita, facilitating their escape from Krondor. Del Garza is extremely enraged and humiliated by this act. Jimmy has defied a direct command from the Upright Man and is instructed to depart from Krondor and never come back, or else he will be made an example of. Flora manages to persuade him to journey to her grandfather's place in Land's End. Subsequently, Jimmy becomes embroiled in some truly serious trouble and magic.

This particular installment is my favorite among the Legends Of The Riftwar books. I have an absolute passion for it! The way the plot unfolds, with Jimmy's adventures and the introduction of various elements of danger and magic, keeps me on the edge of my seat. The characters are well-developed, and their relationships add depth to the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a thrilling fantasy adventure.

I'm not happy with this piece of work.

There are simply too many gaps in the story, which makes it feel disjointed and not flow well at all.

The storyline seems to be rather平淡无奇 and fails to truly involve me or have any real impact on me.

It lacks the excitement and engagement that would make it a truly great piece.

Overall, it comes across as lacklustre and in need of significant improvement.

I hope that in the future, more attention will be paid to filling in the gaps and creating a more engaging and dynamic storyline.

Only then will this work be able to truly shine and capture the interest of its readers.

This book had an ending that was rather satisfactory.

I truly relished the final chapter or two. However, prior to that, it was dreadfully uninteresting and lacking in imagination.

Surprisingly, Jimmy didn't even have as prominent a role in the book as I had anticipated.

Overall, it was just okay, nothing out of the ordinary. Certainly, it can't be regarded as a great read for the fans of Jimmy.

It seems that the author could have done a better job in developing the story and giving more importance to the character of Jimmy.

Perhaps with some improvements in these aspects, the book could have been more engaging and enjoyable for a wider audience.

As it stands now, it is a mediocre effort that fails to live up to the expectations set by the initial premise and the anticipation of Jimmy's fans.

Hopefully, the author will take these criticisms into account and produce a more captivating work in the future.

Please provide the article that needs to be rewritten and expanded so that I can help you.

It has been a significantly long time since I last delved into Raymond Feist's books.

Consequently, there were several references to characters and events that I was able to discern as being from other books within his oeuvre, yet I could not recall them with precision.

Nonetheless, this particular work functioned quite well as a standalone piece.

Perhaps at some point in the future, I will decide to go back and re-read the original series.

This would not only help me to refresh my memory regarding the various characters and events but also enable me to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the overarching narrative and the connections between the different books.

Re-reading the series could potentially offer new insights and perspectives that I may have missed during my initial reading.

It would be an opportunity to immerse myself once again in the rich and imaginative world that Feist has created.

Overall, while this book was enjoyable on its own, the thought of re-reading the original series holds great appeal.

EDITORIAL REVIEW:

This is the third novel in Feist's highly successful collaborative series. Emerging from the endlessly inventive mind of one of fantasy's all-time greats, it presents a spellbinding new adventure filled with high magic, treachery, and bloody war. This time, in conjunction with the master of alternative US history, Steve Stirling, Feist comes back to tell the full story of one of his fans' favorite and most colorful Riftwar characters, Jimmy the Hand.

Jimmy the Hand, a boy thief from Krondor, dwelt in the shadows of the city. The sewers served as his byways, and a flea-ridden, rat-infested cellar was his home. Despite being gifted beyond his peers, he was still just a nimble street urchin, a pickpocket with potential. That all changed the day he met Prince Arutha. While aiding the Prince in rescuing Princess Anita from imprisonment by Duke Guy du Bas-Tyra, Jimmy ran afoul of Black Guy's secret police.

Fearing reprisal and seeking an opportunity to improve his lot in life, Jimmy fled the city and journeyed north to the relatively safe haven of Sarth. He suspected that the rural villagers had never encountered a lad with his talent and nose for finding wealth - other people's wealth. However, Jimmy was unprepared for what awaited him. Sarth was home to others who walked the dodgy path, and even more, it held a darker secret, a dangerous presence unknown even to the local thieves and smugglers. Jimmy's youthful bravado and courage would soon plunge him deep into the maw of chaos and death.

A real fun adventure with a great character

Embarking on a real fun adventure is an experience like no other, especially when it involves a great character. This character becomes the guiding light, leading the way through unknown territories and exciting challenges.

The adventure unfolds with a sense of anticipation and excitement at every turn. The great character brings a unique charm and charisma, making the journey even more engaging. Whether it's facing fears, solving mysteries, or simply enjoying the beauty of the surroundings, the presence of this character adds an extra layer of depth and enjoyment.

As the adventure progresses, the bond between the adventurer and the great character grows stronger. They share欢笑 and tears, learn from each other, and create memories that will last a lifetime. This real fun adventure with a great character is not just a story but a truly unforgettable experience.

This book was okay.

At the beginning, it took a rather long time to really get the story moving and capture my interest.

It was fine for filling up some time when I had nothing better to do.

However, it was nowhere near as good as some of the other books that I have read.

The plot seemed a bit slow-paced and lacked the excitement and depth that I usually look for in a great book.

The characters were not as well-developed as they could have been, and I found it difficult to really connect with them on an emotional level.

Overall, while it wasn't a terrible book, it definitely didn't live up to my expectations and I would not highly recommend it.

Well, it was better than I expected.

I read it more for the sense of completion than any desire to read it. Jimmy is probably Feist's best character, and the prose itself is superb. One can clearly see the Dickensian influence from a mile away.

The plot is a variation on common fairytales, yet it still manages to seem original. The dialogue has improved significantly – no, leagues – since "Magician". It's witty and subtle. Everyone gets a happy ending, the kind you cheer for, and it doesn't feel annoyingly cliché.

But.

There is always something lacking in Feist's books, and that is the complexity of interpersonal relationships. While Jimmy is Feist's best character, he still feels like a caricature of a more well-intentioned Artful Dodger. It's a wonderful and impressive caricature, but a caricature nonetheless.

That being said, I was pleased to find more active and plausible female characters than have ever before existed in a Feist novel in "Jimmy the Hand". I actually really liked Flora and Lorrie. I hope to see this continue as a trend in his later books.

I look forward to seeing how Feist develops his characters and stories in the future, and whether he can overcome the limitations that I feel are present in his current works.

Overall, "Jimmy the Hand" is a good read, with many strengths and a few weaknesses. It's not a perfect book, but it's an enjoyable one, and I would recommend it to fans of Feist's work or anyone looking for a light-hearted and entertaining fantasy novel.

A great story told from the perspective of a secondary character truly has its own charm. It offers a unique vantage point that allows us to see the events unfold in a different light. We get to experience the story not through the eyes of the main protagonist, but through someone who is perhaps on the periphery, yet still plays an important role. This secondary character may have their own motives, desires, and fears that add depth and complexity to the overall narrative. We may find ourselves sympathizing with them, or perhaps even being surprised by their actions. Loved it!

I was really hoping for an outstanding finale in this installment.

To be honest, I had (mostly) relished the previous two "Legends" novels. However, this particular one unfortunately left me with a rather lackluster "meh" feeling.

The beginning starts off quite promisingly. We are treated to some more in-depth character development for Jimmy and the Mockers/Thieves Guild, which was quite engaging.

But then, as the story progresses into the second half of the novel, it disappointingly devolves into a rather generic "Rescue kids from the bad guy" plot.

After reading the afterword, my assumption that these books were largely written by other authors was indeed confirmed. Feist mentions that he simply provided the outlines and the authors were essentially given free rein.

I did like the concept overall. It was nice to have these "Slice of Life" stories set within the Midkemia universe. So, in general, I did enjoy this trilogy.

Nevertheless, I just wished that Feist had chosen a more accomplished author for this final volume.

Overall, it's a decent book, but it definitely isn't one of my favorites in the Riftwar Cycle. I would rate it 3.4 Stars.