by Raymond E. Feist

 

This one kept getting recommended and after trying a sample, I decided to give it a read. It's my first Feist and possibly my only, as sampling another of his novels didn't impress me as much.

 

It's a very dark story that wraps folklore, especially Irish mythology, around a modern day setting. A family buys a farmhouse with woodland attached to the property and there are local stories about the woods and some sort of sleeping evil.

 

What I liked was that this isn't a standard monster story with one nasty critter causing all the problems. Various otherworld entities encounter the family members, some in harmless ways and others, well, you have to read to see what happens.

 

The story was more sexual in parts than I expected and not always in nice ways. People really sensitive to anything suggesting rape might want to steer clear. The strange experiences are fairly subtle at first and build as the story goes along.

 

Another thing I liked was short chapters! It's really easy to decide to read just one more, and just one more since it's only a few pages. I got 149 pages in on the first sitting! Then towards the end found myself getting through a lot of pages without realizing as things really heated up.

 

The family who are central to the plot are well defined characters and some of their close associates also come across strongly as individuals. Even the twins become distinctive as their part of the story develops. At times I didn't know where the plot was going and wondered if it was just meandering or if it was setting me up for something specific, but it all came together in the last couple of hundred pages.

 

My one niggle is the mixing of different cultural histories and mythologies. As it happens, I recently read an academic book on Persian Zoroastrianism/Magic and crossing that over with the Illuminati in Europe and a mix of Irish/English/Germanic folklore stretched believability a little far.

 

Putting all that aside, I enjoyed the story and fully approve of the ending. Highly recommended for dark fantasy fans.

Having read the first three books in this series, it only seemed appropriate to finish it. Like the previous volume, this novel is basically a lot of battles as a new foe takes on the forces of the Kingdom. The war takes place in a number of locations and involves all the main characters, focussing mainly on Jimmy and Dash, who both acquire new and exciting roles by the end of the book.

I could have done with more non-fighting plot but this book is OK as it stands.

3.5 stars

There's nothing on this book to say it's part 2 of a new trilogy (if you pick it at random from a bookshop shelf), so takes a bit of getting used to what is essentially a whole new lot of characters than what you'd expect.
You're thrown in at the deep end as you work out whose who and what is going on.

Once past that, this is a good story with lots going on. More rifts are opening up on Midkemia and Pug and his friends and family have to work out what threat may be coming their way this time.

Characters are well written, and the places they have to go to are all unique.
Nothing is really achieved by the end of the book, other than everyone being in their places for the finale.

Third volume of a four-book series, this novel is basically one long battle with some progress with Roo's and Erik's individual stories. Revelations and intrigue abound with some further character development.

It's worth reading the previous two volumes to fully comprehend what this book is about and, although not a great fan of books about battles and fighting, I found it important to see it through to the end (640 pages plus). The fourth part awaits.

The second part of a series called the Serpentwar, this novel is all about a fierce campaign between the human race and the Saaur, a race of serpent/lizard creatures hell-bent on conquest. This volume concentrates on Roo Avery, ambitious to become a wealthy man in Krondor and delves into his successes and failures. Meanwhile Erik and company continue to fight the Saaur and their allies.

Magic and fantasy creatures feature more in this book than in the previous one and it's engaging enough to want to know where this is going.

Not a bad read - and I'll plough through the rest of the series at some point. Enjoyed it more than the first volume although some of it was predictable.