Krondor the Assassins, written by Raymond E. Feist, is an engaging novel.

Published by Voyager (An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers) in 1999 with ISBN 0-00-648335–6, it features a cover illustration by Geoff Taylor.

This is the second book of the Riftwar Legacy series, and I found it far more enjoyable than the previous one. The first book, Krondor the Betrayal, which was based on a game, gave me the impression of a steel ball bouncing around in a pinball machine. However, don't misunderstand, I didn't dislike the first book; it's just that this one is much better for me. The story focuses on my favorite characters and progresses at a slower pace than the previous book, allowing for more in-depth character development and a more detailed exploration of the plot.

The main characters include Arutha, Prince of Krondor, and his wife Anita, Princess of Krondor. They have nine-year-old twins, Erland and Borric, and a four-year-old daughter, Elena. There are also James, the senior squire, and Locklear, the squire. Amos Trask is the Admiral of the Western Fleet, and Pug conDoin is a magician. William conDoin, Pug's son, is a cadet in the service of the Royal Household Guards.

Other characters include Lord Radswil Of Olaska, the younger brother of the Grand Duke of Vaclac, and his children Vladic, Kazimir, and Paulina. There are also Swordmaster McWirth, Master of Ceremonies Brain de Lacey, Housecarl Jerome, Chief Jailer Morgon of the Krondor Palace, and Father Benson of the temple of Prandur, who is Arutha's spiritual advisor.

In addition, there are Knight Lieutenant Gordon O’Donald, Knight Captain Treggar, Sergeant Mathews, Edwin of the Royal Pathfinders, and Captain Issacs, the commander of the Royal Household Guards.

The Krondor underground is home to characters like Limm, a young thief, Ethan Graves, one-time leader of the Bashers, and his partner Kat. There's also Wilfred Means, the Sheriff of Krondor, and Walter Mons, one of Mother's bashers, along with Josh and Henry, fellow bashers. Sophia is a trader in spells, charms, and magic potions.

Above ground in Krondor, we have Lucas, a former soldier and innkeeper, and his daughter Talia. Captain Guruth is the commander of the City guard, and Sherrif Wilfred Means makes an appearance again, along with his youngest son, Jonathan Means.

Finally, there are Jaquin Medosa, a Magician, and his companion Sidi.

Another excellent tale of Midkemia


This book is the second installment in a trilogy that is set immediately after the Riftwar. It is a masterfully crafted story that combines multiple storylines and complex characters in a seamless and engaging way. The author has done an excellent job of developing the characters, making them feel real and relatable. The storylines are equally well-developed, with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.


One of the things that makes this book so great is the way in which the author weaves the different storylines together. Each storyline has its own unique characters and plot, but they all intersect and interact in ways that add depth and complexity to the overall story. The result is a rich and immersive world that the reader can easily get lost in.


Overall, this is an excellent book that is sure to please fans of the Midkemia series. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys epic fantasy with well-developed characters and engaging storylines.

Feist has always managed to avoid the dreaded middle book syndrome. How does he do it? Well, this latest installment was an absolute adventure, albeit on a somewhat smaller scale than what we're used to from him.

One of the highlights was getting a story that centered around Jimmy. It was a great opportunity to delve deeper into his character and see how he has grown and changed.

And to top it off, seeing some of the old familiar characters make their return was an added bonus. It was like reuniting with old friends and added a sense of continuity and nostalgia to the story.

Overall, Feist has once again proven that he is a master storyteller, able to keep us engaged and entertained from beginning to end, regardless of the size or scope of the story.

Jimmy the Hand and his friends had a very enjoyable story. They were a group of mischievous yet kind-hearted individuals. One day, they decided to go on an adventure in the old forest. As they walked through the thick trees, they discovered a mysterious cave. Curiosity got the better of them, and they entered the cave. Inside, they found all sorts of strange and wonderful things. There were old paintings on the walls, and a chest filled with shiny treasures. Jimmy the Hand, being the leader of the group, decided that they should share the treasures with the poor people in the village. So, they carried the chest out of the cave and distributed the treasures among those in need. The villagers were very grateful, and Jimmy the Hand and his friends felt a sense of satisfaction and joy. Their adventure had not only been exciting but also meaningful.

The Midkemia stories are beginning to give off a sense of extreme repetitiveness.

The book has its merits, particularly in the first half where it shows some promise. However, it rapidly devolves into the standard, unremarkable fantasy cliches that we've seen countless times before.

The action sequences lack true excitement and fail to grip the reader. Moreover, there seems to be a lack of clarity regarding which characters should be the main focus.

I have a certain fondness for Arutha, but there's no need for him to make an appearance every single time there's a major battle to be fought.

Admittedly, it is an improvement over the last installment (at least this one doesn't come across as a blatant videogame adaptation), but it unfortunately retraces a significant amount of the ground that has already been covered.

It feels as if the author is recycling old ideas rather than presenting something fresh and innovative.

I'm truly glad to get back to some of the old characters of Krondor and Crydee.

Recently, I've come to realize that I made a bit of a mistake. I initially tried to read Feist's books in the order they were written instead of reading them chronologically. As a result, I ended up jumping ahead. But now, I've managed to make it to the middle of the story.

Among the characters, I have a special affection for Jimmy the Hand and Locklear. Their antics and adventures always manage to capture my attention. Moreover, I'm really glad that we're getting to know Arutha and William a little more. Their characters are developing in interesting ways, and I can't wait to see what further adventures await them in the pages of these books.

It's been a great journey so far, and I'm looking forward to delving deeper into this wonderful world created by Feist.

I was pleasantly surprised by Krondor: The Assassins.

My first encounter with Feist's novels was the preceding Krondor: The Betrayal. In that book, I felt that the plot wasn't particularly well-developed, and the characters seemed to have rather cookie-cutter personalities.

However, in The Assassins, it appears that Feist has put more attention into the development of the characters' personalities. Although he still spends relatively little time on visual descriptions, this makes for a more enjoyable light read.

The characters in this book have more depth and complexity, which makes me interested to follow their paths in the next book of the series. I'm eager to see how their stories will unfold and what new challenges and adventures they will face.

Overall, I'm looking forward to reading more of Feist's work and seeing how he continues to develop his characters and plots in the future.

This series has been a disappointment thus far.

I can scarcely recall anything that occurred in the first book, and my memories of this book are fading with each passing day.

There was very little, if any, climax, and it barely managed to capture my attention. Moreover, the character background was, at best, uninteresting.

The story seems to lack the excitement and depth that would make it truly engaging. It fails to create a lasting impression, leaving me feeling rather underwhelmed.

Perhaps future installments will offer more, but for now, I find myself struggling to maintain any real interest in this series.

I hope that the author will be able to turn things around and deliver a more captivating and memorable reading experience in the upcoming books.

Until then, I remain somewhat skeptical about the potential of this series.

This part is better than the previous one.

The previous part, "Het verraad" (The Betrayal), was an adaptation of a computer game.

This installment features interesting sub-plots and intrigues. The book has a good pace, and problems are solved through human wisdom and courage, rather than relying on Puc's magical powers. Finally, we get to see what happened in William's youth.

The character development is good, and the story is engaging, keeping you hooked until you've read the whole thing.

It's a captivating read that offers a more satisfying experience compared to the previous part.

The addition of the sub-plots and the focus on human qualities make the story more complex and interesting.

Overall, it's a great continuation of the series that will leave readers eager for more.

The upright man is gone. The mockers have been eliminated from the city, and something dark descends upon Krondor. Royal visitors from another kingdom, the prince, princess, and king of Oslako, have arrived in the city.

During a hunting trip, it soon becomes evident that these royals all bear a mark on their heads. At first, it appears that this is a prelude to a war between the Kingdom and Olasko, and it seems the nighthawks are behind it. However, nothing is as it seems in this novel.

After a series of assassinations within the city, Jimmy and Arutha discover the location of the nighthawk nest. Eager to eradicate their foes, they head straight for it, with the aim of destroying these assassins. When they arrive, it becomes clear that the nighthawks are involved with dark magic and evil magicians. Through clever strategizing and courage, Arutha, his men, Jimmy, and Will are able to defeat a significant number of nighthawks, as well as the demon they have summoned.

When Arutha returns to Krondor, the assassination attempt on the prince of Oslako is still ongoing. They manage to defeat a shadow assassin who emerges from a chest, but they do not uncover the source of the attacks. The princess and her family are sent back to their homeland, and the story concludes with a tantalizing epilogue of the dark magician who is plotting to take over the Kingdom.

The pacing of this storyline was excellent. Each plot point propelled the story forward in increasingly exciting ways, constantly keeping me on the edge of my seat, wondering what would happen next and who was responsible for the attacks. I appreciated that the complexity of the story was resolved through human intelligence and courage, rather than relying solely on Pug's magical abilities. The conclusion of the book was outstanding, with the inclusion of an epilogue that left the reader eager to continue reading the next installment, rather than neatly tying up every individual storyline. I particularly enjoyed that the omniscient narrator followed Jimmy in this storyline; in my opinion, he is the most captivating character.

"Read in one sitting because I'm a showoff" - Kirsten Barrett

This statement by Kirsten Barrett is both bold and interesting. It implies that she has a certain level of confidence and perhaps a desire to prove something through her reading. Reading in one sitting can be a remarkable feat, especially for longer or more complex works. It shows a high level of focus and concentration.

Maybe Kirsten Barrett wants to show others that she has the ability to engage deeply with a text and consume it all at once. It could also be a way for her to stand out or gain recognition for her reading skills. However, it's important to note that reading in one sitting may not be the best approach for everyone. Some people prefer to take their time and savor the text, while others may have limited time and need to read in smaller chunks.

Regardless of the reason behind Kirsten Barrett's statement, it does make us think about the different ways we approach reading and the various motivations that drive us. Whether we read in one sitting or over a period of time, the important thing is to enjoy the process and gain something from the experience.

New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist takes us back to a place filled with unrivaled wonders. It is a sprawling kingdom that is coveted by enemies from all directions. It is a bustling center of commerce and magic, vividly alive and constantly in conflict. This is Midkemia, where great heroes are born, and its glorious heart is Krondor.

Prince Arutha, who has just returned from battle, is worried about a series of unexplained assassinations that are plaguing his capital city. So, he commissions his most trusted agent, Squire James, formerly known as "Jimmy the Hand" in the criminal underworld, to uncover the source of this deadly epidemic. The answers seem to lie deep beneath the streets, in the damp recesses of Krondor, where a fierce war is being waged in secret between two rival criminal gangs: the Mockers and those in the thrall of a mysterious being called "The Crawler." But the deeper James delves, the closer he gets to the true nature of the horror that has left countless dead in its wake. And if he can't prevent one last, unthinkable slaying, the nightmare forces of corruption and deceit will destroy his liege and reduce his beloved Krondor to ruins.

In "Krondor the Assassins," the second book in the Riftwar series, Feist continues the action from "Krondor the Betrayal." James, now a squire, must use his knowledge of the sewers and his underworld contacts to solve the mystery and save the city. With the help of his friends William conDoin and Knight-Captain Treggar, he races against time to find the Nighthawks, the dreaded Guild of Assassins, and stop their evil plans. This exciting tale of adventure, magic, and mystery will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.