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The Chaoswar Saga #2
A Crown Imperilled
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 Stephané 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 be orchestrating these conflicts. Can Pug and the Conclave of Shadows track down this source before Midkemia is destroyed?
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 Stephané 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 be orchestrating these conflicts. Can Pug and the Conclave of Shadows track down this source before Midkemia is destroyed?
469 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
About the author
Raymond E. Feist
344 books8,673 followersRaymond E. Feist was born Raymond E. Gonzales III, but took his adoptive step-father's surname when his mother remarried Felix E. Feist. He graduated with a B.A. in Communication Arts with Honors in 1977 from the University of California at San Diego. During that year Feist had some ideas for a novel about a boy who would be a magician. He wrote the novel two years later, and it was published in 1982 by Doubleday. Feist currently lives in San Diego with his children, where he collects fine wine, DVDs, and books on a variety of topics of personal interest: wine, biographies, history, and, especially, the history of American Professional Football.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 221 reviews
September 27, 2017
Unfortunately, A Crown Imperiled didn’t do much to improve my opinion of these later Riftwar books.
I’ve torn apart the first book in this trilogy (A Kingdom Besieged) for its lack of plot advancement and over-dependency on nostalgia for the original characters. The lack of plot advancement continues in the second book with a vengeance, where all notable events can be counted on one hand (made worse by diction that refuses to use contractions, making every sentence annoyingly drawn out… much like the story (ouch)). If Feist spent the same amount of effort developing these new characters as he did reminding us how great his past ones were, I might have been more forgiving about the pacing. The scenes where he was in the moment, focusing on the here-and-now were the best bits of the book and likely the only parts I’ll choose to remember. Overall, though, I found very little value in most of what was presented in the first 80% of the book.
And then he bomb-dropped a 5-star final chapter.
This pissed me off, frankly, because it’s more evidence towards my theory that he was just phoning it in at this point and the publisher was letting him get away with it. The last chapters prove to me that he still knows how to work his magic when he wants to. In fact, the last chapter was so interesting, I’m crossing my fingers that Magician’s End, the saga-ender, makes me eat crow about every negative thing I’ve said about this trilogy so far.
Please keep in mind that I’ve loved EVERYTHING (except for the Krondor Trilogy) up until these last several books. At this point, I’d advocate stopping after the Conclave of Shadows trilogy… maybe after the Darkwar Saga. However, the jury remains out until I finish the final book. Wish me luck…
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
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I’ve torn apart the first book in this trilogy (A Kingdom Besieged) for its lack of plot advancement and over-dependency on nostalgia for the original characters. The lack of plot advancement continues in the second book with a vengeance, where all notable events can be counted on one hand (made worse by diction that refuses to use contractions, making every sentence annoyingly drawn out… much like the story (ouch)). If Feist spent the same amount of effort developing these new characters as he did reminding us how great his past ones were, I might have been more forgiving about the pacing. The scenes where he was in the moment, focusing on the here-and-now were the best bits of the book and likely the only parts I’ll choose to remember. Overall, though, I found very little value in most of what was presented in the first 80% of the book.
And then he bomb-dropped a 5-star final chapter.
This pissed me off, frankly, because it’s more evidence towards my theory that he was just phoning it in at this point and the publisher was letting him get away with it. The last chapters prove to me that he still knows how to work his magic when he wants to. In fact, the last chapter was so interesting, I’m crossing my fingers that Magician’s End, the saga-ender, makes me eat crow about every negative thing I’ve said about this trilogy so far.
Please keep in mind that I’ve loved EVERYTHING (except for the Krondor Trilogy) up until these last several books. At this point, I’d advocate stopping after the Conclave of Shadows trilogy… maybe after the Darkwar Saga. However, the jury remains out until I finish the final book. Wish me luck…
Via The Obsessive Bookseller at www.NikiHawkes.com
Other books you might like:
March 22, 2020
This is the second-to-last book in the Chaoswar Saga, as well as the second-to-last book in the entire Riftwar Cycle. One book left!
I enjoyed this. There are a lot of interesting storylines in this subseries, although it didn’t hold my attention quite as fully as the previous book did. This one had some slow spots, but not too many and they never lasted too long. I really don’t have anything to say about the book though – a lot of things are left hanging at the end, so I need to find out how everything will be resolved before I can form any opinions about anything. I’m really looking forward to reading the final book and learning how everything gets wrapped up.
I enjoyed this. There are a lot of interesting storylines in this subseries, although it didn’t hold my attention quite as fully as the previous book did. This one had some slow spots, but not too many and they never lasted too long. I really don’t have anything to say about the book though – a lot of things are left hanging at the end, so I need to find out how everything will be resolved before I can form any opinions about anything. I’m really looking forward to reading the final book and learning how everything gets wrapped up.
March 17, 2023
Hmmm... Nisam imao neki poseban osecaj da je ovo predposlednja knjiga jednog ogromnog serijala (Riftwar Cycle) . Inace klasican Fajst, sto znaci jos jedna obra knjiga, u klasicnoj fastovskoj trilogiji (The Chaoswar Saga).
Previse novih likova po meni, a opet sa druge strane vracaju se neki stari vec prezaljeni karaktri. Borba za univerzum preplice se sa borbom ljudskih kraljevstava oko teritorije i oko krune. Ovo je vec veoma razradjen svet sa nekim svojim pravilima, Fajst se toga dobro drzi i polako nas vodi ka tacki razresenja gde ce se sve misterije okoncati. Ostaje samo da se vidi na koji nacin i koliko efikasno, nadam se sto magicnije i dostojno ovog maratonskog serijala.
Previse novih likova po meni, a opet sa druge strane vracaju se neki stari vec prezaljeni karaktri. Borba za univerzum preplice se sa borbom ljudskih kraljevstava oko teritorije i oko krune. Ovo je vec veoma razradjen svet sa nekim svojim pravilima, Fajst se toga dobro drzi i polako nas vodi ka tacki razresenja gde ce se sve misterije okoncati. Ostaje samo da se vidi na koji nacin i koliko efikasno, nadam se sto magicnije i dostojno ovog maratonskog serijala.
May 14, 2019
This second book in the last trilogy is pretty standard fare for Feist. War, politics, mages, and the mysterious duo (not so mysterious now that we got to know them in the previous novel) as they get to know all our favorite characters. The trust issue is very real. And rather disturbing. But fortunately for us, in Feistland, if characters are meant to be together, then all paths are paved. :)
Is this a bad thing? No. It is entertaining.
Streamlined, but entertaining. After all, we want to see the grand blow-out. Not just these Keshian horrors or Jimmy super junior losing his inherited spy network... but DEMONS BREAKING LOOSE. Come on!
Fortunately, it doesn't drag. Plenty of fun stuff happens even if I wouldn't call this the best Feist I've ever read. The stage is set, the beacons lit, and now we're finally to the END of the series.
Am I a bit frantic about this? Anxious? Frenetic? Maybe. :)
Is this a bad thing? No. It is entertaining.
Streamlined, but entertaining. After all, we want to see the grand blow-out. Not just these Keshian horrors or Jimmy super junior losing his inherited spy network... but DEMONS BREAKING LOOSE. Come on!
Fortunately, it doesn't drag. Plenty of fun stuff happens even if I wouldn't call this the best Feist I've ever read. The stage is set, the beacons lit, and now we're finally to the END of the series.
Am I a bit frantic about this? Anxious? Frenetic? Maybe. :)
August 8, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, but I found a big problem with the writing/editing of it. I believe that Raymond E. Feist somehow swapped two of the characters (Pug and Magnus) for an entire chapter. In Chapter 4 page 77-101 the characters Pug, Amirantha, and Sandreena are exploring the home island of the Pantathians (snake people). The chapter ends with a smallish cliff-hanger: "Pug took only a single step outside: confronting him was a completely unexpected sight. Six tall pillars of light in a diamond configuration stood in the middle of the garden. From each a faint humming, almost musical, could be heard.
`Sven-ga'ri,' said Pug."
The reader next sees Pug in Chapter 6 from page 138-144 on Stardock Island with no explanation to what happened with the Pantathians. Actually here I thought I'd screwed up, as at the end of the chapter Pug explains that he's sending Magnus to the island to check it out, something I skipped when I was reading. However, when I continued examining the book, I realized that it was possible that the little part in chapter 6 was added to try to make sense of the mix up earlier. So I'll continue, the next time we go back to the Pantathian Island it seems to pick off right where the 4th chapter ended in Chapter 15 page 308.: "Light exploded. The blinding display was accompanied by a thunderous boom that caused both Amirantha and Sandreena to flinch and fall back a step. Magnus stood outlined in the brilliance of an oval of light that had formed before him, his hand in front of his face, shielding his eyes." To me, this reads as the follow-up to the previous cliffhanger, especially since there is no set up, and this is actually the first time we see Magnus in the book.
A little after the previous quote, Magnus teleports Amirantha and Sandreena to the Academy so they can inform Pug about what's been happening on the Island of Snake-Men. This in itself was strange, but then it gets even stranger when they talk to Pug and he has no idea what had happened previously on the Pantathian home Island. On page 319: "'We found Pantathians, Pug, but unlike any we've met before according to Magnus.'
`Really?' said Pug leaning back in his chair. `At this point nothing should surprise me, but say on.'" Amirantha explains a little bit about the Pantathians here, but then he continues by explaining the story from the beginning to Pug, the person that was with him the entire time: "'Demons?'
`Let me start at the beginning.' Amirantha began, briefly telling of their travels to the Isle of the Snake Men, then in detail after the battle with the demons.'" Why would Pug need to be told about the entire adventure on the Pantathian Island when he himself was there? If as the few sentence said, he was there but then came back and sent his son Magnus in his stead, Pug would instead only need an update about what happened after he left.
A little bit later in this chapter Pug teleports to the Pantathian Island to join his son Magnus in studying the Sven-ga'ri construct. Here Pug meets the Snake-Men leader on page 327: "'You are Pug.' the Pantathian said.
`You are Tak'ka,' returned Pug.
`It would be false should I say you are welcome here, but we understand that your son's appearance and now yours are fated and accept that." It is obvious from this quote that this is the first time that these characters have met, yet they previously met on page 93: "'Well, then we have a great deal to discuss; until a few weeks ago, we were ignorant of them. Please, follow me. I am Tak'ka, elected Autarch of Pantathia.' He and his two companions turned and led Pug and his companions deeper into the city."
From the quotes that I listed previously, I have concluded that when Feist was writing the book, he mistakenly wrote Pug into Magnus' role in exploring the Island of Snake-Men. The editors later noticed the problem, but were too lazy to actually fix it as it wouldn't just be a name switch; the character in chapter 4 WAS Pug, not Magnus with the wrong name. So instead they included a paragraph in Pug's actual story at Stardock where he says he's going to get Magnus to teleport over to Pantathia since he's busy trying to convince the Sorceror's council about the coming threat of the Dread (Read this with air quotes: "Yes, Reapers"). The editors just thought that no one would notice or care, but I at least did and it bothered the hell out of me until I could figure it out.
This isn't the only case of sloppy or lazy editing, as this book has probably the most amount of spell-check errors I've ever seen in a published book. There were hundreds of instances of misspelled words that spell real other words, misused plurals/singulars, and general grammar problems. I really can't blame Raymond E. Feist too much, as I really liked this book. It still does feel a little inconsequential, with it really just setting up the next book, but I loved multiple parts of it. My favorite storyline was probably with Hal, Ty, Gabriella, and Stephane, it was one of the smaller parts of the book but I just really enjoyed the action and interplay between the characters. I don't know if the one book a year schedule is just too tight to properly edit a book, or if the editors just don't take pride in their work. Nonetheless, for the next book Feist needs some new editors and/or beta readers.
`Sven-ga'ri,' said Pug."
The reader next sees Pug in Chapter 6 from page 138-144 on Stardock Island with no explanation to what happened with the Pantathians. Actually here I thought I'd screwed up, as at the end of the chapter Pug explains that he's sending Magnus to the island to check it out, something I skipped when I was reading. However, when I continued examining the book, I realized that it was possible that the little part in chapter 6 was added to try to make sense of the mix up earlier. So I'll continue, the next time we go back to the Pantathian Island it seems to pick off right where the 4th chapter ended in Chapter 15 page 308.: "Light exploded. The blinding display was accompanied by a thunderous boom that caused both Amirantha and Sandreena to flinch and fall back a step. Magnus stood outlined in the brilliance of an oval of light that had formed before him, his hand in front of his face, shielding his eyes." To me, this reads as the follow-up to the previous cliffhanger, especially since there is no set up, and this is actually the first time we see Magnus in the book.
A little after the previous quote, Magnus teleports Amirantha and Sandreena to the Academy so they can inform Pug about what's been happening on the Island of Snake-Men. This in itself was strange, but then it gets even stranger when they talk to Pug and he has no idea what had happened previously on the Pantathian home Island. On page 319: "'We found Pantathians, Pug, but unlike any we've met before according to Magnus.'
`Really?' said Pug leaning back in his chair. `At this point nothing should surprise me, but say on.'" Amirantha explains a little bit about the Pantathians here, but then he continues by explaining the story from the beginning to Pug, the person that was with him the entire time: "'Demons?'
`Let me start at the beginning.' Amirantha began, briefly telling of their travels to the Isle of the Snake Men, then in detail after the battle with the demons.'" Why would Pug need to be told about the entire adventure on the Pantathian Island when he himself was there? If as the few sentence said, he was there but then came back and sent his son Magnus in his stead, Pug would instead only need an update about what happened after he left.
A little bit later in this chapter Pug teleports to the Pantathian Island to join his son Magnus in studying the Sven-ga'ri construct. Here Pug meets the Snake-Men leader on page 327: "'You are Pug.' the Pantathian said.
`You are Tak'ka,' returned Pug.
`It would be false should I say you are welcome here, but we understand that your son's appearance and now yours are fated and accept that." It is obvious from this quote that this is the first time that these characters have met, yet they previously met on page 93: "'Well, then we have a great deal to discuss; until a few weeks ago, we were ignorant of them. Please, follow me. I am Tak'ka, elected Autarch of Pantathia.' He and his two companions turned and led Pug and his companions deeper into the city."
From the quotes that I listed previously, I have concluded that when Feist was writing the book, he mistakenly wrote Pug into Magnus' role in exploring the Island of Snake-Men. The editors later noticed the problem, but were too lazy to actually fix it as it wouldn't just be a name switch; the character in chapter 4 WAS Pug, not Magnus with the wrong name. So instead they included a paragraph in Pug's actual story at Stardock where he says he's going to get Magnus to teleport over to Pantathia since he's busy trying to convince the Sorceror's council about the coming threat of the Dread (Read this with air quotes: "Yes, Reapers"). The editors just thought that no one would notice or care, but I at least did and it bothered the hell out of me until I could figure it out.
This isn't the only case of sloppy or lazy editing, as this book has probably the most amount of spell-check errors I've ever seen in a published book. There were hundreds of instances of misspelled words that spell real other words, misused plurals/singulars, and general grammar problems. I really can't blame Raymond E. Feist too much, as I really liked this book. It still does feel a little inconsequential, with it really just setting up the next book, but I loved multiple parts of it. My favorite storyline was probably with Hal, Ty, Gabriella, and Stephane, it was one of the smaller parts of the book but I just really enjoyed the action and interplay between the characters. I don't know if the one book a year schedule is just too tight to properly edit a book, or if the editors just don't take pride in their work. Nonetheless, for the next book Feist needs some new editors and/or beta readers.
March 9, 2015
Book Two in the series and this review will sound an awful lot like the last one which is...
Feist has held on too long to these characters and this world. Having him try to create a crisis that will top the previous 95 of them leads to confusion (on my part) as to what the hell is going on, why are these characters doing that or acting that way. You've got every country on the continent in war and yet there's actually no reason for the war (that's been explained). Maybe the war is a distraction but the way it's written just leads to amateur writing.
There are flashes of brilliance so I know Feist can still write but his book is an uninteresting, meandering mess. So why two stars and not one? I rounded up because of a fondness for the characters that I've grown to love over these past 30 years.
No spoilers here - not going to tell you about the plot because quite frankly it's too confusing and it really won't help my opinion. One more book to go and then the end of the Riftwar. I'll read it but only to have closure on the series that I've been reading for these past three decades.
Feist has held on too long to these characters and this world. Having him try to create a crisis that will top the previous 95 of them leads to confusion (on my part) as to what the hell is going on, why are these characters doing that or acting that way. You've got every country on the continent in war and yet there's actually no reason for the war (that's been explained). Maybe the war is a distraction but the way it's written just leads to amateur writing.
There are flashes of brilliance so I know Feist can still write but his book is an uninteresting, meandering mess. So why two stars and not one? I rounded up because of a fondness for the characters that I've grown to love over these past 30 years.
No spoilers here - not going to tell you about the plot because quite frankly it's too confusing and it really won't help my opinion. One more book to go and then the end of the Riftwar. I'll read it but only to have closure on the series that I've been reading for these past three decades.
February 27, 2012
So here we are at the penultimate entry in the epic Riftwar saga. I'm glad to see Feist is continuing his return to form with this book being strong from start to finish. Everything is finally starting to come together with (I believe) most of the major players appearing. I'm very glad for the return of Nakor, one of my favourite characters in the series.
The book had some flaws though. It needed a much better editor to go over it with a fine tooth comb. There were quite a few words missing, sentences had to be reread to make sure I understood what was meant. As well as some mix up with Pug and Magnus.
But for all that I loved it. At the same time I can't wait for the last book but dread it at the same time as it means the end has come.
Go Pug!
The book had some flaws though. It needed a much better editor to go over it with a fine tooth comb. There were quite a few words missing, sentences had to be reread to make sure I understood what was meant. As well as some mix up with Pug and Magnus.
But for all that I loved it. At the same time I can't wait for the last book but dread it at the same time as it means the end has come.
Go Pug!
May 5, 2012
OK, so, I don't think I've ever felt the need to include spoilers before (and I'll mention when I'm about to get into them), and I've never given Feist a rating below three stars. But, seriously, he was phoning it in on this one. It's billed as the penultimate book in the Riftwar...Cycle I think it was. And I think maybe he's finally fatigued with the whole Midkemia thing and is just churning these last ones out to be done with a contractual obligation. And before I get to a specific negative critique, let me say that, overall, I like the epic scope of the plot, but there were also places where he just seemed to be drifting along on the established history of the world and adding nothing new. So, specific negative, typos! Good gods but there were a lot. If it turned out to be an average of one per page I wouldn't be in the least surprised. Some were simply cases of getting the tense wrong, wrong plural vs. singular form, or other simple errors, but some were mangled sentences or, my favorite, and here I'm using a sentence that I made up to illustrate; we brought our the dogs. Both our and the work, just not together, and it's like he was deciding between the two and ended up writing them both, but where's the freaking editor. Even the grammar check in Word would catch things like that, so, what, this wasn't even computer-edited, let alone read by a human editor? Ok, so, spoilers. Multiple continuity errors. The most minor was this (and note, it will also relate to the largest): Pug returns from the Isle of the Serpent-Men, leaving Amirantha and Sandreena to later be joined by his son Magnus, to go see what help they can get from the Assembly. A magician he hasn't met stands up for his cause and before the matter goes to a vote Pug goes up to him and the other magician asks if he is Pug, and it is made clear that they have never met. And then Pug mentions the Conclave to him as a passing remark, and I think what the fuck but I let it go. But then a page or two later he wonders to himself if keeping mention of the Conclave from the Academy (unless that person is ALSO a member of the Conclave) is the right thing to do. And I have another what the fuck moment. But I put it down to this: maybe he's a Conclave member recruited by another that Pug had never met but was aware of. But then in a deus ex machina moment late in the book, that same magician shows up with two others (they are they deus ex machina) and in the ensuing events it is revealed that he is second in line to rule the Conclave after Pug's son Magnus. So, we are to believe that a magician Pug had never met until recently is suddenly so well trusted that he is to lead the Conclave if anything happens to Pug or Magnus? That's not how that first scene played out. And then another. Jim Jamison (whose last name is occasionally spelled Jameson incidentally) returns to Rillanon where his father is basically an invalid, bedridden and under heavy sedation most of the time. There is worry that he may be being poisoned, and mention is made of looking into it. No mention is made of the King's health. Then later in the book, the King is described as being poor of health, not sick, or on his death bed or anything, but explicitly someone who was always frail. Then, in the events immediately leading up to the deus ex machina, it is the king who is described as needing help, so sick he can barely stand, while Jim's father is bellicose, stands on his own, and takes matters in hand. And NO mention is made of the latter recovering or the former worsening. And then following the deus ex machina, the King dies from his weakened state and the events that transpired. But the biggest continuity error, and I said I would be getting back to this, surrounded Pug's visit, with Amirantha and Sandreena, to the Isle of the Serpent-Men. They found devastated Pantathian villages, tracked the destruction to a huge Pentathian city we would later learn was called Pentathia, besieged by demons. The three fight the demons, Pentathians come out to aid them as the battle goes on, the demons are routed, and eventually the three are invited in, discover that the Pentathians of Pentathia are of a type they'd never encountered, meet the leader, get a tour of the city. Pug wants to stay and explore but feels he has pressing business with the Academy as inferred above, so he tells the other two he will send Magnus to stand in for him. Later, Amirantha and Sandreena go to Pug to tell him what they discovered with Magnus on the Isle and the WHOLE thing is described as if Magnus had been in Pug's place. They tell Pug about the fight with the demons, meeting the new Pentathians, what they discovered. Pug reacts like that is interesting news and vows to go SEE IT FOR HIMSELF. And then he does. And then "meets" the Pentathian leader for the first time and so on. I was so flummoxed by it, that I had to go back and reread the earlier part and it is Pug, not Magnus, at the demon rout and first meeting with the Pentathians.
Conclusion: this book never saw editing at the hands or eyes of a human. I don't think it even got a grammar check. It was just spellchecked and sent to the printer.
Conclusion: this book never saw editing at the hands or eyes of a human. I don't think it even got a grammar check. It was just spellchecked and sent to the printer.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2012
after the stupid mistake of mixing pug and magnus up, i had to just skip thru the book... this story is just being rehashed over and over again... another jimmy, more characters coming back from the dead (remember macros).. its just a boring read now. hopefully, it will just end with the next book.. time for mr feist to write about another world cause this one feels like im reading the same trilogies over and over again... sigh.
August 2, 2020
The second part of the trilogy has less action, with our interest shifting more to politics and its great magical powers as it becomes apparent that behind what happened in the first part are much more complex aspirations. Our heroes try to understand what is happening but at the same time, they have to deal with more emotional issues, which in some cases are very complicated. Towards the end, almost out of nowhere, the setting of an apocalyptic battle is set in an impressive way, which makes the last part leave many promises. Apart from this end, however, I can not say that there is a particular improvement in my impressions, but it is definitely a book that does its job.
Το δεύτερο μέρος της τριλογίας υπάρχει λιγότερη δράση, με το ενδιαφέρον μας να μεταφέρεται περισσότερο προς την πολιτική και της μεγάλες μαγικές δυνάμεις καθώς γίνεται φανερό ότι πίσω από ότι συνέβη στο πρώτο μέρος κρύβονται πολύ πιο περίπλοκες επιδιώξεις. Οι ήρωες μας προσπαθούν να καταλάβουν τι συμβαίνει αλλά ταυτόχρονα έχουν να ασχοληθούν με περισσότερο συναισθηματικά θέματα, τα οποία σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις είναι ιδιαίτερα περίπλοκα. Προς το τέλος, σχεδόν από το πουθενά, στήνεται με εντυπωσιακό τρόπο το σκηνικό μιας αποκαλυπτικής μάχης που κάνει το τελευταίο μέρος να αφήνει πολλές υποσχέσεις. Πέρα από αυτό το τέλος, όμως, ιδιαίτερη βελτίωση στις εντυπώσεις μου δεν μπορώ να πω ότι υπάρχει αλλά σίγουρα είναι ένα βιβλίο που κάνει τη δουλειά του.
Το δεύτερο μέρος της τριλογίας υπάρχει λιγότερη δράση, με το ενδιαφέρον μας να μεταφέρεται περισσότερο προς την πολιτική και της μεγάλες μαγικές δυνάμεις καθώς γίνεται φανερό ότι πίσω από ότι συνέβη στο πρώτο μέρος κρύβονται πολύ πιο περίπλοκες επιδιώξεις. Οι ήρωες μας προσπαθούν να καταλάβουν τι συμβαίνει αλλά ταυτόχρονα έχουν να ασχοληθούν με περισσότερο συναισθηματικά θέματα, τα οποία σε κάποιες περιπτώσεις είναι ιδιαίτερα περίπλοκα. Προς το τέλος, σχεδόν από το πουθενά, στήνεται με εντυπωσιακό τρόπο το σκηνικό μιας αποκαλυπτικής μάχης που κάνει το τελευταίο μέρος να αφήνει πολλές υποσχέσεις. Πέρα από αυτό το τέλος, όμως, ιδιαίτερη βελτίωση στις εντυπώσεις μου δεν μπορώ να πω ότι υπάρχει αλλά σίγουρα είναι ένα βιβλίο που κάνει τη δουλειά του.
January 19, 2020
Pretty good story, distracted by typos
I can’t help but think that Feist is phoning this one in. As a conclusion to the Rift War saga it’s logical that it reflects some of the beginnings of the Rift War series, but there doesn’t seem to be much original plot. Instead, it’s an escalated repeat of previous plots. The characters are also pretty predictable, lower class noble falling for the beautiful although unattainable princess and several more predictable tropes.
All that said, I fell in love with these characters back in the Magician: Apprentice / Master books and still like them. This is made handier since most of the characters are essentially reflections of those former characters.
And I have to ask, was there no editor on this book? The typos and errors were quite distracting. Examples like using “moat” instead of “mote” and “yes” instead of “yet”. I expect a great deal more for a writer of this caliber.
I can’t help but think that Feist is phoning this one in. As a conclusion to the Rift War saga it’s logical that it reflects some of the beginnings of the Rift War series, but there doesn’t seem to be much original plot. Instead, it’s an escalated repeat of previous plots. The characters are also pretty predictable, lower class noble falling for the beautiful although unattainable princess and several more predictable tropes.
All that said, I fell in love with these characters back in the Magician: Apprentice / Master books and still like them. This is made handier since most of the characters are essentially reflections of those former characters.
And I have to ask, was there no editor on this book? The typos and errors were quite distracting. Examples like using “moat” instead of “mote” and “yes” instead of “yet”. I expect a great deal more for a writer of this caliber.
December 19, 2020
I've been waiting to see if Feist would ever get back to the quality of story telling seen in the first few books in this series and I think it might have just happened!
This book is well put together with a good mix of old and new characters. There are a few occassions where it feels a bit like it's repeating storylines from the early books, but you quickly start to think about the new characters rather than the old ones so it doesn't detract from the well built story.
I was pleased that the trend of killing off characters for no apparent reason seems to have ceased in this book but then having said that, there is still one more book to go!
This book is well put together with a good mix of old and new characters. There are a few occassions where it feels a bit like it's repeating storylines from the early books, but you quickly start to think about the new characters rather than the old ones so it doesn't detract from the well built story.
I was pleased that the trend of killing off characters for no apparent reason seems to have ceased in this book but then having said that, there is still one more book to go!
January 18, 2021
Actual rating: 3.5 stars!
An epic ending! I cannot wait to read the last book in this momentous series!
Onto Magician’s End!
Hannah xoxo
An epic ending! I cannot wait to read the last book in this momentous series!
Onto Magician’s End!
Hannah xoxo
May 26, 2021
Another great read, bit of a surprised ending, sad now that the end is near :( only one more to go
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2024
Not a fan. More fantasy than science fiction.
June 9, 2012
This book was terrible. Not terrible because of the re-hashed story line, but terrible because of the atrocious editing.
I tried to first ignore the errors. Then I tried to remember just to mention the errors in my review. But after a while the errors were too plentiful and my mind too soft. Besides that, I figured no one would believe me, so I grabbed a notepad and started keeping track of a few.
There are many more errors than the ones I list below. I guess there is a big continuity error that many have found, but that I seem to have slept through. It's something about Pug visiting an island only to mention a paragraph or page later on his second visit to the same island that he'd never been there before, or something like that. Like I said, I slept through that error. Thank God.
Here is my short list of what I found:
pg. 261--"She is making sure there are more no magicians..."
pg. 263--"If Kesh takes this city, the Kingdom will never regain the Far Coast and will lose Yabon into the bargain."
pg. 263--Nakor: "Well, I've seen a lot of fights, with worse odds than you're facing." Nakor two sentences later: "Well, maybe not many. Say, just a few." [The word "many" missing from the 1st sentence, shows up in the 2nd sentence.]
pg. 263--"You're not very good at this are you?" [Comma missing before "are you?".]
pg. 270--"He heard things and saw things, but mind did not retain those sounds and images."
pg. 277--"What news you consider valuable?" [It should read either It depends on what news you consider valuable? OR What news do you consider valuable?
pg. 345--"Both young men were wearing clothing that had been provided by the palace: to their amazement it fitted well,..."
pg. 444--"It is the Regent is commits treason."
Am I being picky? No. I know all books contain some errors. Even the Island of the Blue Dolphins once contained an error regarding the number of dogs on the island. I remember a kid winning an award for discovering the error after the book had been in publication for many years. I've tried a couple of times to find the story on the internet, but I guess it's not big news anymore.
The thing with the errors in this book is that it reads as if the editor(s) moonlight from day jobs at Engrish.com. The errors take away from the mediocre story I've read in several of Feist's other works. Such as, the Serpent War saga. (God, I hate that series.)
I'm giving this book 2 stars for 2 stupid reasons: 1) I still like Feist, even when he's bad; and 2) I love the cliffhanger ending.
That said, if book 3 doesn't develop the cliffhanger ending of book 2 or even the cliffhanger ending of book 1, I am going to be hard-pressed to pick up another Feist book. Without giving any spoilers, something really cool happens at the end of book 1. I open book 2 to read about it, but Feist absolutely does not develop the cliffhanger. Instead, he introduces a new cliffhanger and simply mentions the cliffhanger from book 1 at the end of book 2. Grrr.
I tried to first ignore the errors. Then I tried to remember just to mention the errors in my review. But after a while the errors were too plentiful and my mind too soft. Besides that, I figured no one would believe me, so I grabbed a notepad and started keeping track of a few.
There are many more errors than the ones I list below. I guess there is a big continuity error that many have found, but that I seem to have slept through. It's something about Pug visiting an island only to mention a paragraph or page later on his second visit to the same island that he'd never been there before, or something like that. Like I said, I slept through that error. Thank God.
Here is my short list of what I found:
pg. 261--"She is making sure there are more no magicians..."
pg. 263--"If Kesh takes this city, the Kingdom will never regain the Far Coast and will lose Yabon into the bargain."
pg. 263--Nakor: "Well, I've seen a lot of fights, with worse odds than you're facing." Nakor two sentences later: "Well, maybe not many. Say, just a few." [The word "many" missing from the 1st sentence, shows up in the 2nd sentence.]
pg. 263--"You're not very good at this are you?" [Comma missing before "are you?".]
pg. 270--"He heard things and saw things, but mind did not retain those sounds and images."
pg. 277--"What news you consider valuable?" [It should read either It depends on what news you consider valuable? OR What news do you consider valuable?
pg. 345--"Both young men were wearing clothing that had been provided by the palace: to their amazement it fitted well,..."
pg. 444--"It is the Regent is commits treason."
Am I being picky? No. I know all books contain some errors. Even the Island of the Blue Dolphins once contained an error regarding the number of dogs on the island. I remember a kid winning an award for discovering the error after the book had been in publication for many years. I've tried a couple of times to find the story on the internet, but I guess it's not big news anymore.
The thing with the errors in this book is that it reads as if the editor(s) moonlight from day jobs at Engrish.com. The errors take away from the mediocre story I've read in several of Feist's other works. Such as, the Serpent War saga. (God, I hate that series.)
I'm giving this book 2 stars for 2 stupid reasons: 1) I still like Feist, even when he's bad; and 2) I love the cliffhanger ending.
That said, if book 3 doesn't develop the cliffhanger ending of book 2 or even the cliffhanger ending of book 1, I am going to be hard-pressed to pick up another Feist book. Without giving any spoilers, something really cool happens at the end of book 1. I open book 2 to read about it, but Feist absolutely does not develop the cliffhanger. Instead, he introduces a new cliffhanger and simply mentions the cliffhanger from book 1 at the end of book 2. Grrr.
February 21, 2012
This book was initially going to get a 4 stars from me. It is an enjoyable Silverthorn-style story, where you follow many different characters on their various endeavors that are direct follow-up from the previous book. You get Martin trying to defend the city of Ylith, Hal and Ty escorting a princess in the woods while being harassed by pirates, and the magic users Pug, Magnus, etc trying to understand what the heck is behind all this.
However, this book came down to 3 stars for editing reasons. I understand the typos issue, Ray is dyslexic, fine. But can the publishing house not get a good editor for this?? When a native french speaking individual like me spots about a dozen of typos, how come an editor PAID to do it miss those?? And it gets worse.... Chapter 15 gets mixed up in characters, i.e. Pug was investigating an island in Chapter 4 and when we get a follow up of this in Chapter Pug has been changed with Magnus. This is one of the biggest editorial mistake I've seen, and shows quite a bit of carelessness. Ray himself admitted the mistake and was furious about it, he made the change prior publication but his modified chapter didn't make it through. Paperback versions will be corrected but still, this is in my opinion unacceptable from a publishing house. While these can be certainly blamed on the House instead of Ray, there are still irritating things in this books from his own writing, mostly repetitions. For example, on one page Hal "puts an injured princess on his back like a sack of grain" and then 1 page later, "Hal put the princess on his back like a sack of grain". I had the impression he forgot he used the same figure of style before that. Again, in one of the first chapters we get an explanation twice in the same 2-3 pages that Gorath did this and that, and it felt like he forgot he mentioned it the page before.
These repetitions wouldn't be so bad, there are few and the story *is* enjoyable. But with the addition of typos and that amazing mistake of Chapter 15, I can't give this book more than 3 stars. There is too much carelessness into it.
However, this book came down to 3 stars for editing reasons. I understand the typos issue, Ray is dyslexic, fine. But can the publishing house not get a good editor for this?? When a native french speaking individual like me spots about a dozen of typos, how come an editor PAID to do it miss those?? And it gets worse.... Chapter 15 gets mixed up in characters, i.e. Pug was investigating an island in Chapter 4 and when we get a follow up of this in Chapter Pug has been changed with Magnus. This is one of the biggest editorial mistake I've seen, and shows quite a bit of carelessness. Ray himself admitted the mistake and was furious about it, he made the change prior publication but his modified chapter didn't make it through. Paperback versions will be corrected but still, this is in my opinion unacceptable from a publishing house. While these can be certainly blamed on the House instead of Ray, there are still irritating things in this books from his own writing, mostly repetitions. For example, on one page Hal "puts an injured princess on his back like a sack of grain" and then 1 page later, "Hal put the princess on his back like a sack of grain". I had the impression he forgot he used the same figure of style before that. Again, in one of the first chapters we get an explanation twice in the same 2-3 pages that Gorath did this and that, and it felt like he forgot he mentioned it the page before.
These repetitions wouldn't be so bad, there are few and the story *is* enjoyable. But with the addition of typos and that amazing mistake of Chapter 15, I can't give this book more than 3 stars. There is too much carelessness into it.
November 8, 2012
First Off, Just to get it out the way. There was a LOT of errors in this book, I wont take the time to write them all out as I've seen other reviews doing, but yes the editing in the book is terrible, and I do hope some people get fired because of it.
Unlike other readers, I'm quite new to the world of Midkemia, But I've read them all quite recently and have it all fresh in memory. I really like how they have followed 'Hal' throughout the book, and always enjoy the references to their ancestors deeds in previous books.
Now to the real stuff. It's really amazing how Pug has been kept a main role throughout since the first book, and I loved how powerful they made him as well as him possessing knowledge well above others of the human race. Each time I read a new series of Raymond .E. Feist, I was astonished of how he keeps coming up with amazing new twists and enemy's throughout, this book has done it again. The majority of the book was simple filler and a massive build up to the next book, but the ending showed again things well beyond Pug or any other character well known's understanding. I loved the dramatic description of the dragons taking flight in anticipation of something we as readers know little about. It really burned me inside to not find out more, and I know i'm going to a little pissed over the next few days knowing the next book isn't out until 2013.
To sum up, Although I felt in some places it was just repeated material that's a few generations in the future. I enjoy how they keep the characters from the older books family lines still alive. And am secretly hoping Hal somehow becomes King and marries Stephane.
P.s - Please don't make such a bad job of the editing in 'Magicians End'.
Unlike other readers, I'm quite new to the world of Midkemia, But I've read them all quite recently and have it all fresh in memory. I really like how they have followed 'Hal' throughout the book, and always enjoy the references to their ancestors deeds in previous books.
Now to the real stuff. It's really amazing how Pug has been kept a main role throughout since the first book, and I loved how powerful they made him as well as him possessing knowledge well above others of the human race. Each time I read a new series of Raymond .E. Feist, I was astonished of how he keeps coming up with amazing new twists and enemy's throughout, this book has done it again. The majority of the book was simple filler and a massive build up to the next book, but the ending showed again things well beyond Pug or any other character well known's understanding. I loved the dramatic description of the dragons taking flight in anticipation of something we as readers know little about. It really burned me inside to not find out more, and I know i'm going to a little pissed over the next few days knowing the next book isn't out until 2013.
To sum up, Although I felt in some places it was just repeated material that's a few generations in the future. I enjoy how they keep the characters from the older books family lines still alive. And am secretly hoping Hal somehow becomes King and marries Stephane.
P.s - Please don't make such a bad job of the editing in 'Magicians End'.
February 7, 2012
I really loved this book but . . .
*SPOILERS*
I had one major problem with it. First, I readily admit that a friend emailed me a copy of the UK ebook. I'm not sure whether this ebook was a bootled, an ARC, or the actual released version, so my problem may be moot when it's released in the US. Let me start by saying, yes, I plan the buy a copy of this book once it's released in the US, but this friend knows I've been a fan of Feist's Riftwar Saga since the 80's.
In Chapter 4, we encounter Pug, Sandreena, and Amirantha on the Island of the Snake Men. We learn what has been going on there and encounter a non-Priest population of the Pantahians. The Pantahian leader of the city Pug and gang help save acknowledges Pug by name.
Later in the book, when the POV changes back to the Island of the Snake Men, Magnus is there and there is no reference to Pug or how Magnus got there. I was majorly confused how Magnus was now there and Pug was nowhere to be seen.
Still later, back on Sorcerer's Isle, Pug encounters Sandreena and Amirantha and is told of their story of the newly discovered offshoot to the Pantahian Serpent Priests and how Magnus is still in their city. Pug is very interested in the new discovery and eager to go there and meet up with Magnus.
I assume that instead of Pug being the character in Chapter 4, it really should have been Magnus, but that is just my assumption.
Other than that, it was a good read for longtime fans of Midkemia!
*SPOILERS*
I had one major problem with it. First, I readily admit that a friend emailed me a copy of the UK ebook. I'm not sure whether this ebook was a bootled, an ARC, or the actual released version, so my problem may be moot when it's released in the US. Let me start by saying, yes, I plan the buy a copy of this book once it's released in the US, but this friend knows I've been a fan of Feist's Riftwar Saga since the 80's.
In Chapter 4, we encounter Pug, Sandreena, and Amirantha on the Island of the Snake Men. We learn what has been going on there and encounter a non-Priest population of the Pantahians. The Pantahian leader of the city Pug and gang help save acknowledges Pug by name.
Later in the book, when the POV changes back to the Island of the Snake Men, Magnus is there and there is no reference to Pug or how Magnus got there. I was majorly confused how Magnus was now there and Pug was nowhere to be seen.
Still later, back on Sorcerer's Isle, Pug encounters Sandreena and Amirantha and is told of their story of the newly discovered offshoot to the Pantahian Serpent Priests and how Magnus is still in their city. Pug is very interested in the new discovery and eager to go there and meet up with Magnus.
I assume that instead of Pug being the character in Chapter 4, it really should have been Magnus, but that is just my assumption.
Other than that, it was a good read for longtime fans of Midkemia!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 27, 2012
Oh Mr. Feist, how you're slipping. light spoilers ahead.
I am a big fan of Feist's work, and I've read every book in the cycle. But the last six books have had some issues that took me some time to work out.
The biggest problem with this series is the lack of character development. In the earlier books, and even up into the Conclave of Shadows trilogy there is engaging and deep character development and growth.
In the past six books a combination of unoriginal characters and the great reliance of Pug to fix everything have really made the books feel cheap and without tension. Characters like Martin or Jim Dasher Jamison who are just exactly the same as there ancestors, with the same names, is quite upsetting. These characters are pretty much the same from the start of the book to the end of the book, with no change in character or growth. But that's understandable since they don't do anything remotely important. Its always Pug and his family that deals with the actual problems. Except in this book where he sits around and does nothing, but they keep coming back to him.
Even the return of my favorite character from the entire series can make this book as enjoyable as the penultimate book should be. IT just makes me glad there is only one book left, otherwise i'd probably leave it all together.
Hopefully the last book does justice to the earlier series such as the original Riftwar Saga and the Serpentwar Saga, but i have a feeling it'll feel just as cheap and superficial as the Demonwar and the Darkwar sagas.
I am a big fan of Feist's work, and I've read every book in the cycle. But the last six books have had some issues that took me some time to work out.
The biggest problem with this series is the lack of character development. In the earlier books, and even up into the Conclave of Shadows trilogy there is engaging and deep character development and growth.
In the past six books a combination of unoriginal characters and the great reliance of Pug to fix everything have really made the books feel cheap and without tension. Characters like Martin or Jim Dasher Jamison who are just exactly the same as there ancestors, with the same names, is quite upsetting. These characters are pretty much the same from the start of the book to the end of the book, with no change in character or growth. But that's understandable since they don't do anything remotely important. Its always Pug and his family that deals with the actual problems. Except in this book where he sits around and does nothing, but they keep coming back to him.
Even the return of my favorite character from the entire series can make this book as enjoyable as the penultimate book should be. IT just makes me glad there is only one book left, otherwise i'd probably leave it all together.
Hopefully the last book does justice to the earlier series such as the original Riftwar Saga and the Serpentwar Saga, but i have a feeling it'll feel just as cheap and superficial as the Demonwar and the Darkwar sagas.
May 20, 2013
I’ve been with Raymond Feist and the world of Midkemia almost the whole ride since 1982, and with the publication of “A Crown Imperiled” (Harper Voyager, $27.99, 469 pages), he is one book removed from wrapping up the saga of Pug the magician and the battle against the undefined evil known as the Dread.
“A Crown Imperiled,” which is book two of the Chaoswar Saga, is book 28 of the Riftwar Cycle, which actually began in the mid-1970s as a role-playing game at the University of California at San Diego. And even though one might expect Feist to be going through the motions at this point, the world has become so richly imagined that he is able to keep both his own and his readers’ enthusiasm going after 30 years.
So if you have liked any of Feist’s previous books, you’ll enjoy “A Crown Imperiled” – and if you’re a fan of high fantasy (that is, a pre-industrial world with magic and other races aside from human), then go back and start with “Magician,” as Feist has carefully crafted a long-running series that has evolved into one of the best of its kind.
Of course, some books are better than others, and in this one, Feist can’t resist bringing back some characters he already killed off -- but at least he doesn’t go the lengths Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson did in their sorry finish to the Dune series. Feist has never been great on the romance aspect of such novels, and “A Crown Imperiled” is no exception, but there are some surprises that keep the pages turning, and have me looking forward to the next, and supposedly final, volume.
“A Crown Imperiled,” which is book two of the Chaoswar Saga, is book 28 of the Riftwar Cycle, which actually began in the mid-1970s as a role-playing game at the University of California at San Diego. And even though one might expect Feist to be going through the motions at this point, the world has become so richly imagined that he is able to keep both his own and his readers’ enthusiasm going after 30 years.
So if you have liked any of Feist’s previous books, you’ll enjoy “A Crown Imperiled” – and if you’re a fan of high fantasy (that is, a pre-industrial world with magic and other races aside from human), then go back and start with “Magician,” as Feist has carefully crafted a long-running series that has evolved into one of the best of its kind.
Of course, some books are better than others, and in this one, Feist can’t resist bringing back some characters he already killed off -- but at least he doesn’t go the lengths Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson did in their sorry finish to the Dune series. Feist has never been great on the romance aspect of such novels, and “A Crown Imperiled” is no exception, but there are some surprises that keep the pages turning, and have me looking forward to the next, and supposedly final, volume.
April 24, 2013
I had read a lot of negative comments about this book, mainly regarding editing errors and typo's, which is why I waited until it was available on kindle for a cheaper price. Having read it, I can understand some of the complaints. There were some obvious mistakes, words missing here and there, etc. And also some places where the scene shifted in ways that simply did not make sense. This might have made a difference if it were the first or second book in the series, but it's like what, the twenty-something book? with only one more to go?
There's something about Feist's riftwar books that seems like dessert. I just gulp them down whole. Rarely do they last more than a few days, and this one was no exception. The characters are pretty much all archetypes, but the plots are always exciting and fast paced. There was one scene where the main character's son, Magnus, basically throws a hissy fit. That was a pretty weak and disappointing sequence, but other than that, it was the usual adventurous romp right through to the dramatic cliff hanger. I'm looking forward to the next, and final book in this series.
There's something about Feist's riftwar books that seems like dessert. I just gulp them down whole. Rarely do they last more than a few days, and this one was no exception. The characters are pretty much all archetypes, but the plots are always exciting and fast paced. There was one scene where the main character's son, Magnus, basically throws a hissy fit. That was a pretty weak and disappointing sequence, but other than that, it was the usual adventurous romp right through to the dramatic cliff hanger. I'm looking forward to the next, and final book in this series.
July 2, 2015
The second to last book in this epic saga. Feist is trying to come up with answers to all the hints and plotlines that have been dropped over the years.
I liked most of the books in this series (some more then others) and this one was no exception. Off course it follows the Feist manner of story telling with lots of capable young men, independent women and some magic to top it off.
Since the story is nearing it's end, some of the longer lasting characters start reminiscing events in previous books.
all in all, I really enjoyed this, and I will soon read the next (and last) book in this series
I liked most of the books in this series (some more then others) and this one was no exception. Off course it follows the Feist manner of story telling with lots of capable young men, independent women and some magic to top it off.
Since the story is nearing it's end, some of the longer lasting characters start reminiscing events in previous books.
all in all, I really enjoyed this, and I will soon read the next (and last) book in this series
March 26, 2012
Feist is my favorite author. The original Arutha and Jimmy are some of my favorite characters in the book world. This book though ... this book was absolute garbage. From spelling errors, grammar errors, and even an outright mix up of characters that throws the whole read off. Feist mixes up the characters actions from previous books, as well. Attributing the crèche destruction to Pug and Magnus instead of Calis and his Crimson Eagles.
Get your act together, Feist.
Get your act together, Feist.
May 4, 2012
As always, Raymond Feist keeps the pages turning, chapter after chapter, with amazing characters you never want to see die. Been reading his books for so long, his NEW books are as comfortable as a good cup of coffee in the morning or after a good meal. I am already wishing the next book was out so I can continue the story.
May 13, 2013
Amazing beginning, amazing end, but in the middle... not so epic. Arkam is a lovely character!
September 3, 2022
With this, the second volume of The Chaoswar Saga and the second-to-last volume of the entire Riftwar Cycle, Raymond E. Feist doesn't necessarily advance the story, but instead elaborates on the significance of the events in A Kingdom Besieged, and builds some necessary (and much-appreciated) depth on the part of the characters. While it left me impatient to move on with the story, to advance things towards the ominously titled Magician's End, it was largely satisfying in terms of securing the overall story arc.
A Crown Imperiled does three things exceptionally well. Number one, it reestablishes the Conclave of Shadows as a force to be reckoned with, giving them not only power, but a purpose. The period of mourning their losses is over, Pug is invested in the fate of Midkemia once again, and Magnus seems finally positioned to fulfill the critical role his family legacy has so long demanded. More than that, the psudeo-resurrections of Miranda and Nakor that had me groaning at the end of the first book are not only explained, but handled exceptionally well. The scene in which Pug is confronted with a demon who carries all of his dead wife's feeling and memories is one of the strongest emotional moments Feist has ever written.
Number two, the book sheds some light on those subtle political coups taking place across the land. I felt they were really underplayed in the first book - introduced and hinted at, but left very vague in terms of exactly what was happening any why. Here, we see that aspect of the tale really expanded upon, elevating a lackluster minor plot thread to a level of significance worthy of Midkemia's final chapter. Hal, Martin, and Brendan are drawn back into the heart of the conflict, elevating their tangential adventures into something as relevant as they are exciting. The entire flight sequence with Princess Stephané is probably the most exciting, swashbuckling event the series has seen in quite some time.
Number three, the book has some big . . . and I do mean BIG . . . moments. I won't spoil them here, other than to say there is a scene with dragons taking flight that has me grinning with excitement, and a world-ending cliffhanger that had my jaw dropping to the floor. It's not as strong of a book in terms of plotting as the first, but it does pull things together nicely, setting up what will hopefully be a fitting conclusion to the Riftwar Cycle.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
A Crown Imperiled does three things exceptionally well. Number one, it reestablishes the Conclave of Shadows as a force to be reckoned with, giving them not only power, but a purpose. The period of mourning their losses is over, Pug is invested in the fate of Midkemia once again, and Magnus seems finally positioned to fulfill the critical role his family legacy has so long demanded. More than that, the psudeo-resurrections of Miranda and Nakor that had me groaning at the end of the first book are not only explained, but handled exceptionally well. The scene in which Pug is confronted with a demon who carries all of his dead wife's feeling and memories is one of the strongest emotional moments Feist has ever written.
Number two, the book sheds some light on those subtle political coups taking place across the land. I felt they were really underplayed in the first book - introduced and hinted at, but left very vague in terms of exactly what was happening any why. Here, we see that aspect of the tale really expanded upon, elevating a lackluster minor plot thread to a level of significance worthy of Midkemia's final chapter. Hal, Martin, and Brendan are drawn back into the heart of the conflict, elevating their tangential adventures into something as relevant as they are exciting. The entire flight sequence with Princess Stephané is probably the most exciting, swashbuckling event the series has seen in quite some time.
Number three, the book has some big . . . and I do mean BIG . . . moments. I won't spoil them here, other than to say there is a scene with dragons taking flight that has me grinning with excitement, and a world-ending cliffhanger that had my jaw dropping to the floor. It's not as strong of a book in terms of plotting as the first, but it does pull things together nicely, setting up what will hopefully be a fitting conclusion to the Riftwar Cycle.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
August 1, 2021
This review covers The Chaoswar Saga, and perhaps some comments on the entirety of the Riftwar Cycle.
In this Chaoswar Saga, Feist closes the Riftwar setting which he began in 1982. The entirety of the Riftwar Cycle centers on the magician Pug, introduced in that first 1982 publication. Some thirty books later, Pug's story comes to an end. This Chaoswar trilogy sets that ending.
Feist's writing ranges from uninspired to amusing. There are two or three books in the Riftwar setting that are simply not very good, reading like the transcription of a DnD session, and not really connected to the rest of the series. Most of the books are amusing, with a good story at the core of stock characters and hackneyed conflicts. One or two of the books shine above the others, showing inspiration and focus that is lacking from the rest of the books.
The Chaoswar Saga shows more of that inspiration than most of the Riftwar books. I suspect actually getting to a finale was helpful in that regard. If this is actually the end, there's no need to leave open a plot for the next story. Feist also gave himself an advantage in writing characters that he actually likes to write. A sprawling universe like the Riftwar setting is bound to have some people in it that even the creator isn't fond of, readily apparent in some of these books. Feist brought back a couple of characters for their perspective (but possibly because he couldn't create other characters to take the place of these), and his connection to these characters allows a flow of better writing.
Overall, I think the Chaoswar Saga is a good story, and a fine resolution to the setting of the Riftwar Cycle. Within the cycle, the best series are the original Riftwar Saga, the Empire Trilogy (written with Janny Wurts), the Serpentwar Saga, and this Chaoswar Saga. These series share a scope and perspective that is lacking in the other books. The story is more engaging in these. I'm glad I experienced all of Feist's books in this setting, and I'm glad to see it brought to a final resolution.
In this Chaoswar Saga, Feist closes the Riftwar setting which he began in 1982. The entirety of the Riftwar Cycle centers on the magician Pug, introduced in that first 1982 publication. Some thirty books later, Pug's story comes to an end. This Chaoswar trilogy sets that ending.
Feist's writing ranges from uninspired to amusing. There are two or three books in the Riftwar setting that are simply not very good, reading like the transcription of a DnD session, and not really connected to the rest of the series. Most of the books are amusing, with a good story at the core of stock characters and hackneyed conflicts. One or two of the books shine above the others, showing inspiration and focus that is lacking from the rest of the books.
The Chaoswar Saga shows more of that inspiration than most of the Riftwar books. I suspect actually getting to a finale was helpful in that regard. If this is actually the end, there's no need to leave open a plot for the next story. Feist also gave himself an advantage in writing characters that he actually likes to write. A sprawling universe like the Riftwar setting is bound to have some people in it that even the creator isn't fond of, readily apparent in some of these books. Feist brought back a couple of characters for their perspective (but possibly because he couldn't create other characters to take the place of these), and his connection to these characters allows a flow of better writing.
Overall, I think the Chaoswar Saga is a good story, and a fine resolution to the setting of the Riftwar Cycle. Within the cycle, the best series are the original Riftwar Saga, the Empire Trilogy (written with Janny Wurts), the Serpentwar Saga, and this Chaoswar Saga. These series share a scope and perspective that is lacking in the other books. The story is more engaging in these. I'm glad I experienced all of Feist's books in this setting, and I'm glad to see it brought to a final resolution.
July 12, 2018
Book 2 in the trilogy, and keeps things moving along at a reasonably fast pace. Unfortunately have one of the copies with the editing issue, so does get a bit confusing at one point :/ The multiple threads going on make it a bit tricky to keep track of it all, with certain parts of the overall plot only briefly touched on a couple of times during the book. Certainly feels like building towards some sort of major confrontation, though while the book is reasonably fast paced, at the same time the plot doesn't seem to advance a great deal, though I think part of this is deliberate with motivations of some characters still being hidden. As it stands, some of the actions undertaken don't seem to make sense, but it does feel like there will be understanding on the horizon. I enjoy reading about Martin, Hal, Ty and Stephanie, hopefully we will continue to read about them in the next book as well. On the flip side, while interesting events happening for Magnus and Pug, we don't see them as much as I would like. Still, quite an enjoyable read I think.
January 14, 2023
As if it wasn't bad enough that Feist has been recycling character profile for the last ten plus books, we're now recycling trilogy arcs. And not in a subtle, deja vu kinda way either way.
If you were to replace Martin's name with Arutha, Hal's with Lyam and Brendan with Nick... you'd see just how much of this trilogy overlays with the first trilogy. Right down to Arutha/Martin defending Crydee against impossible odds as a teenager :/
The long-awaited 'suspicion' of Magnus's motives that has been publicised in the blurb's of the last 2 books finally arrived and.. it was less of a suspicion/distrust and more of a 2-page tantrum at how hard his father has tried to save people. Clearly, he shouldn't have in Magnus's opinion... But all was well in the next chapter as Magnus returns because he's required for the next part of the plot.
Thoroughly disillusioned after the poor writing of the demon / chaos wars sagas, I'm continuing to the final book just to put this series to bed really. Given how much I enjoyed the earlier novels, it's an incredible shame.
If you were to replace Martin's name with Arutha, Hal's with Lyam and Brendan with Nick... you'd see just how much of this trilogy overlays with the first trilogy. Right down to Arutha/Martin defending Crydee against impossible odds as a teenager :/
The long-awaited 'suspicion' of Magnus's motives that has been publicised in the blurb's of the last 2 books finally arrived and.. it was less of a suspicion/distrust and more of a 2-page tantrum at how hard his father has tried to save people. Clearly, he shouldn't have in Magnus's opinion... But all was well in the next chapter as Magnus returns because he's required for the next part of the plot.
Thoroughly disillusioned after the poor writing of the demon / chaos wars sagas, I'm continuing to the final book just to put this series to bed really. Given how much I enjoyed the earlier novels, it's an incredible shame.
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