Review: Silverthorn by Raymond Feist

Silverthron (Riftwar Saga #3) by Ramond Feist Published in 1986 by Grafton Books 432 Pages Apprentice will always be my favorite Riftwar book, although I still have one more to read in this saga. However, this book still held my interest and was a fun read. I love these characters and the world Feist created. Just like the previous two books, the story is fairly simple, but I don't mind this because Feist is so great at what he does. I've said this before and I'll say it again, I LOVE the way Feist writes. He doesn't spend four pages about what someone is eating and I really do appreciate that in fantasy author. 

Okay, so on to the story. At first, I was a little disappointed that this book focused on Arutha instead of Pug and Tomas. They show up later in the story and Pug is a crucial part of it (yay!). But I'm glad this story focused on Arutha and his mates. Jimmy the Hand comes back and he is probably my favorite character besides Pug. He is slowly moving in to the #1 spot though. For most of the book, Arutha and his travelers are on a quest to save Princess Anita from dying. They must find the rare Silverthorn plant in order to save her. This leads them across Midkemia confronting new enemies. For about 3/4 of the book I was all in. I love Arutha and I enjoyed following him throughout Midkemia. We got to see new and familiar places and meet new people. Towards the end I was a little fatigued and ready for it to end, but the only major complaint I have is that there is still a lack of great female characters. Anita is just a major plot device and Queen Aglaranna basically just sits on her throne and has a baby. I hope in the next book this will change. I was very happy we got to see a new part of Kelewan and the ending with Pug made me want to jump right into the next book! Ultimately, Silverthorn is a great addition to the Riftwar Saga, but it still doesn't hold up to the first book. That's okay though, because the first book is one of my favorite fantasy novels of all time.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Magician: Master Review

Title: Magician: Master

Author: Raymond Feist

Series: Riftwar Saga

 

Holy cow, you guys.  I can't believe what Feist has done with this series.  I absolutely LOVED the first book and I was worried I wouldn't feel the same magic from the second book.  However, I was wrong.  Feist does an amazing job creating two completely different worlds feel so real and complex.  There is one scene that stands out to me the most is when Pug (who goes by another name) travels up a tall tower and has visions of the past.  I don't want to go into too much detail to avoid spoiling it, but Feist really painted a cosmic picture in my head and it is something I won't forget.

In the first book, Pug and Tomas are just boys who are charming and a fun group to follow.  However, in this book they are no longer boys.  We see these characters grow into powerful men.  Honestly, I was very sad when this happened.  They are both SO different from the first book.  But that should be expected because of the emotional and physical turmoil they have to face.  I mean, Pug becomes a slave for five years in a foreign land.  If anything makes you lose your innocence it is probably that!  Another part of this book that I really love is the political differences of Midkemia and Kelewan. Both see one another as barbaric.  Add in the complex political structure of the Tsurani and you've got one hell of a stand off.  It is fun to see each side's point of view.  Basically, this book is great.

In summation, if you like epic fantasy with great characters, fun battles, and two very different worlds to explore then this is the series for you.  It has been a LONG time since I've found a series that I can just DIVE in to and really get invested in the story.  I will take a break from this series so I don't get burnt out, but I definitely have plans to finish this series.

Rating: 4/5

Magician: Apprentice by Raymond Feist Review

Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga #1)
Author: Raymond Feist

To the forest on the shore of the Kingdom of the Isles, the orphan Pug came to study with the master magician Kulgan. His courage won him a place at court and the heart of a lovely Princess, but he was ill at ease with normal wizardry. Yet his strange magic may save two worlds from dark beings who opened spacetime to renew the age-old battle between Order and Chaos.

I will be honest.  I almost gave up on this book. I was only a chapter or so in, but I was bored and I thought this would just be another boring fantasy story.  However, I am SO glad I didn't stop.  As soon as the aliens and rifts in space and time were introduced I was IN.  I'm not sure what changed, but I was so invested in this story the whole time that I immediately started the second one after I finished Apprentice.  I love Pug as a main character.  He is brave, smart, and feels like a real person.  The surrounding characters aren't as fleshed out, but they are still a good supporting cast.  I love that Pug and his friend Tomas's adventures with the Duke across Midkemia to warn the King about the intruding aliens.  It felt epic.  We meet a dragon, Elves, Dwarves, and I can't forget the invaders the Tsurani. 


I feel like this novel shouldn't really stand out.  It's a fairly typical epic fantasy story, but there is something special about it.  The way Feist writes never feels verbose so the story keeps a good pace.  It is descriptive, but I never felt like it was too much.  The only real negative I have about this book is that the supporting female characters are pretty weak.  I would like to see some interesting ladies and Carline is just not doing it for me. 


Over all, this is a fun classic fantasy story and I was surprised I liked it so much.  I can't wait to continue the series and see what happens!

Rating: 8/10 Dragons 

Have you read this series? If so, let me know in the comments what you thought!