Release Date: 23/02/12
SYNOPSIS:
The penultimate volume of the mighty Riftwar Cycle War rages in Midkemia but behind the chaos there is disquieting evidence of dark forces at work. Jim Dasher's usually infallible intelligence network has been cleverly dismantled; nowhere is safe. He feels that the world is coming apart at the seams and is helpless to protect his nation. Quiet palace coups are underway in Roldem and Rillanon; and King Gregory of the Isles has yet to produce an heir. In each kingdom a single petty noble has risen from obscurity to threaten the throne. Lord Hal of Crydee and his great friend Ty Hawkins, champion swordsman of the Masters' Court, are entrusted with the task of smuggling Princess Stephane and her lady-in-waiting, the lovely but mysterious Lady Gabriella, out of Roldem to a place of greater safety. But is there any safe haven to be found? Meanwhile, Hal's younger brothers Martin and Brendan are attempting to hold the strategic city of Ylith against an onslaught of Keshian Dog Soldiers, and a mysterious force from beneath the sea. The Kingdom might lose Crydee and recover; but if Ylith falls, all is lost. An unknown player appears to orchestrating these conflicts. Can Pug and the Conclave of Shadows track down this source before Midkemia is destroyed?
REVIEW:
Having enjoyed the previous tales in the series, I was really looking forward to this story, until that is I was reading it and the sheer amount of editing problems as well as discontinuity error’s reared their head. You have to rewrite parts to make sense (as two of the characters get mixed up), you have to make sense of what the author’s trying to say and to be honest this is a bad enough thing to get through on a two bit operation, not a multinational company like Harper Collins. Whether a big part of this is due to loss of data and having to go back to earlier version’s I don’t know but when a company (as well as an author) relies on reputation it is taking things a little far.
That said, I did enjoy the parts that made sense, the tale is building up for a few additional revelations and the world of Midkemia really is in dire peril. All round, it did have some positive elements but the overall standard is sadly lacking especially when a friend of mine told me that “An Author is only as good as their last book.” If that’s the case REF has a hell of a lot to do to restore confidence in his brand and as a reader I would suggest that perhaps longer is taken to make sure that the fan’s don’t feel cheated.
Release Date: 03/03/11
SYNOPSIS:
Discover the fate of the original black Magician, Pug, and his motley crew of agents who safeguard the world of Trigia, as prophecy becomes truth in the first book of the last ever Midkemian trilogy. THE KINGDOM BESIEGED The Darkness is coming! The Kingdom is plagued by rumour and instability. Kingdom spies in Kesh have been disappearing - either murdered, or turned to the enemy side. Information has become scant and unreliable; but one thing appears clear. Dark forces are on the move! Since Pug and the Conclave of Shadows enforced peace after the last Keshian invasion, the Empire has offered no threat. But now factions are rising and Jim Dasher reports mobilizations of large forces in the Keshian Confederacy. As the men of the West answer the King's call to muster, Martin conDoin - left as caretaker of Crydee Keep - will suddenly be confronted with the vanguard of an invading army. He reminds himself that he is a year older than his legendary ancestor, Prince Arutha, was when he stood firm against the Tsurani invasion, but Arutha had an army to command, and Martin is left with old men and young boys. Massive events are about to unfold, events which threaten the future of all human life in Midkemia!
REVIEW:
The latest title in a new chapter of the world of Midemia has hit the shelves and to be honest its setting up to be one of the hardest and perhaps most epic wars in the lands to date. Raymond’s writing is wonderful, the prose delightful and when backed with solid action, political double dealing alongside some great twists it’s a title that will keep the established fan glued to the last page. Whilst old friends are about within, what the author has done very well in this title is bring some new perspectives alongside heroes in waiting to the fore in order to allow this series to be saved by the next generation with some wonderful backstory touches. All in great fun and a title that I was pleased that I picked up sooner rather than later. Great stuff.
BOOK BLURB:
The conclusion of the bestselling Demon War series, which began with Rides a Dread Legion. Recent events have devastated the Conclave of Shadows; the discovery of the Demon horde on the heels of the taredhel invasion of Midkemia, the threat of the star elves themselves, and the terrible personal cost paid by Pug and his family. But grieving must wait. At a deserted fortress in the Valley of Lost Men, the Conclave's agents witness horror beyond their imagination, orchestrated by a familiar enemy. But Belasco's motives are as yet unclear. The Conclave must regroup and discover the true meaning behind the chaos seeded by the evil magician if they are ever to find a way to stop the destruction of Triagia before the demon horde even arrives.
REVIEW:
When it comes to fantasy authors there are names that are recognised the world over. Perhaps, in the current market one of the best well known living writers is Raymond E Feist who manages to turn out novel after novel in his successful Midkemia series every year. What has won him fans the world over is his attention to detail, top notch characters and giving the readers what they want, a story to while away the hours with, accompanied with some wicked twists that leave them hanging on by their finger tips. Whilst this is certainly true of his epic debut, Magician, at this point in the series I really wouldn’t advise anyone new to start here, so in certain respects its only really fans who will probably read this review.
As such I’m probably wasting my breath but in an effort to save some their cash I feel its only fair to let people know about the problems. Firstly this doesn’t feel like a rounded novel, it feels rushed almost as if the author knows that because his name is on the cover it will sell no matter what dross is placed within. It show’s there’s massive errors grammatically which personally I felt should have been picked up upon and near enough identical passages of description repeated. The plot is pretty thin and a lot of interesting area’s that could have been explored have been left well alone just to get the story to a point where he wants to pick it up next time. Add to the mix a measly 322 pages and it feels like a pretty tight offering for the best part of £20. Definitely a book to get from the library if you have to read it.
BOOK BLURB:
The first book in a brand new series by the master of epic fantasy, Raymond E. Feist. Ten years after the cataclysmic events of Wrath of a Mad God took place, Midkemia now faces a new danger thought buried in myth and antiquity. A lost race of elves, the taredhel or 'people of the stars', have found a way across the universe to reach Midkemia. On their current home world, these elves are hard pressed by a ravaging demon horde, and what was once a huge empire has been reduced to a handful of survivors. The cornerstone of taredhel lore is the tale of their lost origins in the world they call simply 'Home', a place lost in the mists of time. Now they are convinced that Midkemia is that place, and they are coming to reclaim it. Ruthless and arrogant, the taredhel intend to let nothing stand in their way; but before long, Pug and the Conclave realise that it's not necessarily the elves, but the demon horde pursuing them where the true danger lies. And hanging over Pug always is the prophecy that he will be doomed to watch everyone he loves die before him!
REVIEW:
Having been a tad upset with the last series by Raymond, I really did not get round to this novel as quickly as perhaps I should have. For a few weeks, it sat there on my TBR pile just gathering dust and cat hair as they rubbed themselves up against it trying to give it the love that I obviously was not lavishing upon the novel. Much to my chagrin, I eventually got started and pretty much enjoyed the novel from the first page. Whereas with the last series he seemed a little lost as to what was happening, this time the Demonwar Saga is set to light the world of Midkemia in an inferno that will leave the reader wondering who will survive, who will fall and what the hell is going to happen. There are plenty of twists and turns with the final surprise going to be a GOT’CHA for most readers. However, this did feel a little rushed towards the final few chapters and it is starting to feel that I have read this book before as outlines feel like they are getting recycled. Still good fun and a must for all fans of Feist, yet for a new reader go for Magician, if you like that work your way through the series although this can be picked up as a first read you’ll have lost a lot of the history that made Feist a name to contend with.
BOOK BLURB:
The final book in The Darkwar series from the world-wide best-selling author of Magician. Wrath of a Mad God witnesses the cataclysmic end to one of Feist's best-loved worlds. The Darkwar has fallen upon the worlds of Kelewan and Midkemia; a time of heroes, trials and destruction. Following their dangerous mission to the realm of the alien Dasati, Magnus and the other members of the Conclave must now find a way to use what they discovered to help save their own people from the wrath of a mad god.
REVIEW:
A tale that continues in much the same vein as those that have come before in Firest world of Midkemia. Whilst this does continue the current epic in the series its is full of all the usual trademarks that we've come to expect from this author. Fast action paced storytelling with characters that just jump out of the page yet here, as opposed to having time to think, they have to hit the ground running as they have to stop the forthcoming war before it can begin as their opponents are not used to losing Yet unlike his earlier stories the tale wends its way down a darker road leading each character to not only have to face their own personal "demons" but also having to struggle to remember that what they do is right. A great story for fans, yet for the uninitiated you'd be best going for Magician to see if its to your taste.
Release Date: 23/02/12
