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Silverthorn (The Riftwar Saga #3)

3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 · rating details · 22,393 ratings · 268 reviews

A poisoned bolt has struck down the PrincessAnita on the day of her wedding to Prince Arutha ofKrondor.

To save his beloved,Arutha sets out in search of the mystic herb calledSilverthorn that only grows in the dark andforbidding land of theSpellweavers.

Accompanied by a mercenary, a minstrel, and a cleveryoung thief, he will confront an ancient evil and dobattle with the dar...more

Mass Market Paperback, 432 pages

Published 1986 by Grafton Books (first published 1985)

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Apr 27, 2011 Jon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Jon by: FBCS March 2011 Selection

Shelves: fiction, fantasy, read-in-my-40s

(view spoiler)I wondered where Raymond Feist would take me in Silverthorn , the next novel in the Riftwar Saga series. The three brothers (Arutha, Lyam and Martin) spent a year touring the Kingdom and returned to Krondor to plan Arutha and Anita's wedding. Jimmy the Hand, a young full-of-himself thief and rising star in the Mockers, foiled an assassination attempt upon Prince Arutha. Because Jimmy aided both Anita and Arutha in...more

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Jul 26, 2012 Jonathan rated it 3 of 5 stars

Silverthorn continues the events from Magician, when no further events were necessary to write about. It features new characters, which operate on a lower scale from those in the first book, and is concerned with events which quite frankly seem insignificant when compared with the issues in Magician. As a result, despite being very well written, when compared with its predecessor, it is really quite boring at times (emphasis on the relative comparison).

Having said that, while not nearly as epic...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Tempo de Ler rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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A história de Espinho de Prata apresenta-se bastante diferente da de Aprendiz e Mestre. Embora as personagens sejam as mesmas Pug e Tomas passam a ocupar um papel secundário enquanto que o Príncipe Arutha e Jimmy Mãozinhas desempenham os papeis principais. Apesar de não ser tão original no seu conteúdo e bastante previsível do início ao fim, acabei por gostar mais de Espinho de Prata do que qualquer um do...more

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May 16, 2012 David Sarkies rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This is apparently the second book in Feist's Riftwar Saga, or at least it was when I read it. I always thought that Magician was a single book, but I have recently discovered that it has been divided into two books, Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master, though I suspect that the book was divided at a later date as opposed to have originally being two books. This story is quite different from Magician, and even though it stars the same characters as Magician, it is not the same as the firs...more This is apparently the second book in Feist's Riftwar Saga, or at least it was when I read it. I always thought that Magician was a single book, but I have recently discovered that it has been divided into two books, Magician: Apprentice and Magician: Master, though I suspect that the book was divided at a later date as opposed to have originally being two books. This story is quite different from Magician, and even though it stars the same characters as Magician, it is not the same as the first book.
The reason I say this is because this book simply did not seem to have anything to do with the riftwar or even the rift. The entire book was set on Midkemia and involved a quest to locate an antidote of a poison that had been administered to a princess. So, in a way, it is a race against time to travel to the frozen north, find the flower, and return before the princess died. In a way, the plot itself is quite substandard, and the book comes across more as a filler than as a story in its own right.
Unlike Lord of the Rings, in which the three books are interconnected and cannot be read independently or out of order, this book is what I would term semi-independent. It can be read alone, though unless you are familiar with the characters and the events of the first book, you are likely to get lost, at least initially. In fact, I suspect that it would be possible to read Magician, and Darkness at Sethanon without ever touching this book, though I would probably advise against it, simply because Feist does have a decent writing style.
Having glanced through some of the reviews, I do note that people seem to agree with me, and when I mentioned the characters, I did discover that Pug and Thomas seem to in the background, with the focus of the story being around Prince Arutha and the thief Jimmy the Hand. In fact, the more I remember this story, the more that it seems to run along a very scripted and cookie cutter mould. The story begins in the capital and seems to be a dance between the prince and a band of assassins, and it is only when one is a few chapters in that the fateful bolt is fire and the real adventure begins.
I do note that Pug does travel through a rift, however, once again, this is not a focal point of the story, but rather a side trip where Pug is attempting to learn more of the poison that has incapacitated the princess. Mind you, considering his final outburst on the other side of the rift, his reception is not all that welcoming. However, that is beside the point. This story really does not seem to have huge amounts of substance, or originality, though I did quite like Feist's world back when I first read this book.(less)

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Apr 20, 2011 Marta rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Quando começamos uma nova série, ou compramos um novo autor, nunca se sabe exactamente como vão ser os livros comprados. Com Raymond E. Feist foi assim. Os dois primeiros volumes lidos em pouco mais de uma semana. Uma história boa, cativante, terminada. E depois, só por passear pelas páginas habituais de livros, ver que afinal não estava assim tão terminada a história. Não estava a contar que O Mago continuasse em Espinho de Prata. E depois de o ter lido em duas viagens, arrisco-me a dizer que...more

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Apr 09, 2011 Mike rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: science-fiction-fantasy

There’s nothing like a day of traveling by plane (with a long layover) to help with finishing a book. And it’s a good thing I had the help, because I’m afraid that this was simply a bad book. I’m not 100% sure why, since I really did like the first two books, but this was just bad. I didn’t like the characters as much (and it was the same characters, so maybe it was the choice of focal characters and their lack of growth), and I found the book very hard to get into (particularly at the beginning...more There’s nothing like a day of traveling by plane (with a long layover) to help with finishing a book. And it’s a good thing I had the help, because I’m afraid that this was simply a bad book. I’m not 100% sure why, since I really did like the first two books, but this was just bad. I didn’t like the characters as much (and it was the same characters, so maybe it was the choice of focal characters and their lack of growth), and I found the book very hard to get into (particularly at the beginning). I would guess that at least part of it is the fact that many of the things I liked from the first book (world building, sweeping panoramic plots, interesting character progression) were missing, so I didn’t have a reason to overlook the flaws that existed in the first two books as well. And it certainly doesn’t help that the fantasy elements (magic, elder god’s, ancient evils, mythic creatures) took a distinct turn towards the dark, so that parts of the world that I found somewhat borderline in the first two books suddenly went galloping over the line in the third book.

To be honest, I probably wouldn’t even have finished this book if it hadn’t been book three in a four book series (and what’s more, a four book series that I remember liking). I know that the first two books were originally one book, and that at the time it was written the author didn’t know if he would be given the chance to write the subsequent books. That leads me to I wonder if this book is just suffering from an extreme case of the “middle trilogy” syndrome, where the plot and characters bog down before the final book, exacerbated by the fact that he had to give the first book a conclusive, climactic ending and now he’s trying to turn it around and extend it. So I was willing to finish the book, and I’m going to finish the series, but if the final book doesn’t deliver then I’m going to sell my copies of the third and fourth book. Because there’s no point in keeping them around if the series doesn’t turn out better than this.(less)

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Dec 31, 2010 Majanka rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, high-fantasy

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Although not as magnificent as Magician, neither in volume nor in plotline or character development, Silverthorn does stand its own in fantasy literature, maybe not when considered on its own, but definately when reviewed as part of the Riftwar Saga. By switching his perspective from the previous main characters Thomas and Pug, to former supportive characters Arutha, Laurie and Jimmy the Hand; Feist made an excellent choice that benefits the story massively. Gone are our over-powered leaders (al...more Although not as magnificent as Magician, neither in volume nor in plotline or character development, Silverthorn does stand its own in fantasy literature, maybe not when considered on its own, but definately when reviewed as part of the Riftwar Saga. By switching his perspective from the previous main characters Thomas and Pug, to former supportive characters Arutha, Laurie and Jimmy the Hand; Feist made an excellent choice that benefits the story massively. Gone are our over-powered leaders (although they do appear occassionally for brief appearance, and Pug even has en entire side-story going on) and welcome our normal, human characters!

WARNING! The following may include spoilers for those who have not read Magician by Raymond E. Feist.

With Magician finishing with end of the Riftwar between the worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan, it appeared that finally peace would arise. However, as Silverthorn picks up the tale shortly afterwards, we find that the rifts may have introduced a far greater threat to Midkemia, as a new evil begins gathering Moredhel (dark elves), goblins and vigilantes under his banner – this entity, known as Murmandamus, has the ability to resurrect his dead followers and use destructive magic unlike anything even the most powerful of magicians had ever witnessed. The plotline is way darker than Magician (walking corpses always tend to shed some angsty darkness) and the switch of main cast proves to be beneficial, especially when as a reader you suddenly realise you’ve stopped seeing Arutha as a silent, somewhat cold man, but finally view him as the leader he truely is. On his nearly hopeless quest to find the Silverthorn, Arutha displays all sorts of emotions we can expect from a normal man that carries such a burden: anger, loss of faith, but also an extreme amount of determination and courage, qualities that promptly made him go five spots up on my list of favourite Feist characters.

But the reason this book is impressive, is not because of Arutha or his quest, nor because of the rise of the evil Murmandamus and the walking corpses. There is one single thing that makes this book unlike any other fantasy novel: Jimmy the Hand. Not once, in any other book I have ever read before or after, have I come across a character as intriguing as Jimmy the Hand. The enigmatic fifteen year-old thief is interesting not only because of his remarkable stealth, observational powers and street savviness, but also because he is blessed with some of the wittiest and amusing dialogue you’ll ever come across in a fantasy novel. Just as you think he’s taking a backseat, he’ll drop a remarkable anecdote about his past to remind you that there’s more to him than meets the eye. He’s effortlessly likable, and there’s a great deal of depth to his persona, meaning whether it’s action, intrigue or back-story you’re reading about, chances are if Jimmy’s involved, it will be good. From all the books written by Feist that I have read so far (all up until the Demon Wars Saga), Jimmy the Hand is my favourite character. The only pity in this novel is that as a reader, you sadly realise one day Jimmy might grow up and become a more relaxed, responsible person, which would be terrible.

Overall, Silverthorn is quite an enjoyable novel. It lacks the epicness of Magician, but it does have its own vibe, an amazing set of characters with their own flaws and strength, an original, fast-paced plot and of course, Jimmy the Hand, thief extraordinaire and just about the best character ever written down on paper.(less)

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Dec 11, 2009 Saints 12-0 rated it 5 of 5 stars

Arutha has become prince of krondor and thinks he has found his soulmate princess anita. Meanwhile little jimmy has grown from a theif to now a squire and has left his clan of theifs to help prince against the assasians.The black hawks.When the prince is about to merry anita a attended for arutha strikes her.the bolt would not have been fatal but it was poisoned and they find out that the only cure for it was a plant that grew rarely by morelin. The dark elves forest. Pug the master magician put...more

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Dec 21, 2012 Patrick rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: book-series, reviewed

Silverthorn is the third (or second, depending how you look at it) installment in Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar Saga. Much like Magician: Apprentice, this installment is rather straightforward.

The main difference is that the main character is Arutha, not Pug. Arutha, the Prince of Krondor was to be married to Princess Anita, until there was an attempt on her life. She becomes poisoned and the clue to her recovery lies within one word: silverthorn. In his wish to save his beloved, Arutha undergoes...more Silverthorn is the third (or second, depending how you look at it) installment in Raymond E. Feist’s Riftwar Saga. Much like Magician: Apprentice, this installment is rather straightforward.

The main difference is that the main character is Arutha, not Pug. Arutha, the Prince of Krondor was to be married to Princess Anita, until there was an attempt on her life. She becomes poisoned and the clue to her recovery lies within one word: silverthorn. In his wish to save his beloved, Arutha undergoes a dangerous quest, into the land of the dark elves known as moredhel, in order to find a cure.

Silverthorn is another worthy installment in the Riftwar Saga. While it may be a rather simple adventure novel, it’s quite engaging and entertaining, much like the previous two installments. The story takes quite a while to set up. Feist takes his time slowly and deliberately revealing all of the characters. It isn’t until quite a while later in the book when the adventure finally starts.

Once off, the story picks up a lot. I can’t say that I found anything quite unique in Arutha’s story, but it was one that was quite entertaining. There is what you’d normally expect: a ton of battles, random obstacles in the main character’s way, some good dialogue and of course the occasional dark prophecy. Among all this, I think the history of the elvish people was the most interesting to read.

Pug’s side story was probably better than the main story. While we all know Pug as the great Milamber, he seems to have been a secondary character here. Nonetheless, his role is important. While Arutha and his band are finding the silverthorn, Pug seeks to uncover a sort of mystery. What he finds, I won’t reveal, but it sets up the groundwork for the next novel, one that promises to be epic.

The characters in this book are numerous and sometimes it gets hard to keep track of all of them. I know clearly that Arutha is the main character, Jimmy is a skilled thief, Martin is great at singing and archery and the last one (I think his name was Laurie.) I don’t remember quite well. There’s also half a dozen other characters whose names I don’t recall as well. Many of them seemed to be minor characters with no major role within the story.

The battles themselves are numerous. While I like a good action scene, it seemed like many of them came and ended rather suddenly. At certain points in the story, the battle felt randomly inserted and once resolved, not a big issue at all. A few of them seemed to end with “dues ex machina” – in other words something comes out of nowhere and saves the protagonists. Speaking of which, the protagonists seemed to have what a lot of protagonists in heroic fantasy seem to have: the ability to kill hordes of enemies like nothing and emerge totally or mostly unharmed from the battle.

Raymond E. Feist is a great fantasy writer and I look forward to reading more of his works. While his stories seem to linger at moments, they can also be very engaging. This novel had mixed reactions from me depending on the time, but overall it was enjoyable. For some reason, I never feel like I can write that much about these books, but I do like them.
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Jul 06, 2011 Matthew rated it 5 of 5 stars

The last 2 books of Feist's Riftwar Saga. Now that I've read them while a little older, I'm seeing them a little less rosily. The stories are still very compelling and exciting, and I still love the characters, but knowing what I know now about writing, I see how clunky he is. Feist writes in a loose 3rd person omniscient POV, and switches back and forth between POV characters willy nilly, even within the same paragraph. I still love the series. A Darkness at Sethanon - the siege of Armengar spe...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy

An excellent book in the series, although like the first two (which were originally one book & then published in the US as 2 paperbacks) this book reads as half of one. There is far too much left hanging, so plan on having A Darkness at Sethanon at hand when you finish.

The main characters shift & a new star is introduced, but story is better for it, IMO. The heroes of the previous books are around, but they're wrapped up in other matters. This allows the world to expand in a more believa...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars

On my first reading, I didn't particularly like it. It didn't live up to my expectations after reading Magician. However, it was only my second book within the genre and comparing it to the only benchmark I had (Magician) was a little remiss of me. I didn't come back to it until after having read a fair few more works (the majority of Eddings, a chunk of Feist, and other fantasy authors) and, I will say, that it is a much better read.

It was more interesting reading it from Arutha's point of vie...more

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Apr 01, 2010 Duffy Pratt rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

This book was a pure middle. Magician works as a standalone book. This one, however, would fall flat without first having read Magician. And it's clearly not over when the book ends. There's nothing wrong with that, and I actually liked this better than Magician. I thought it was a bit tighter, and I simply like the Jimmy the Hand character more that I liked most of the main players in Magician (excepting Pug).

I'm still a bit curious over Feist's treatment of evil. In this book, the main bad guy...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Matthew rated it 4 of 5 stars

In this book, Raymond E. Feist (the author) continued the Riftwar Saga (the name of the series) with a twisted introduction. Arutha conDoin (main protagonist) have to seek a cure for Anita (a story character) who was poisoned by silverthorn. The book picked up in fast pace action and is a good continuation from Magician (the prequel consisting of two parts).

Jimmy the Hand (a story character) is depicted fantastically here and is a character which we fondly can associate with.

The book, however, i...more

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Mar 06, 2011 Jennifer rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I've just finished this trilogy now, and its interesting to note how the trilogy as a whole is structured, I think. Whilst the first, Magician, concentrates on character development, this second is a quest narrative, where our now well known characters find there is an object, the silverthorn plant, which is essential to their happiness, so they seek it high and low. This leaves lots of room for further character development, as the various twists and turns of the pathway to find the Silverthorn...more

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Jul 12, 2010 Victoria rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-in-a-series, fantasy-science-fiction

What a fun continuation of the series! Jimmy the Hand is simply one of my favorite characters! And I must say, that in re-reading this one, I had remembered much more of it than either Magician: Apprentice or Magician: Master, but it still was quite an exciting and altogether fun read! I am just really excited to be re-reading this series, since so many books have been published since I last read them! I remember Amos Trask so well, so I suspect that the next book will involve more of him, which...more

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May 24, 2012 Andrew rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I enjoyed Silverthorn, the second book in Raymond E. Feist's fantasy trilogy, The Riftwar. The main characters from Magician are back to defend the kingdom from another enemy. One thing I liked about Magician was that it was a complete story. While Silverthorn does have a climax, several threads are left open for the final book of the trilogy (which I will, of course, be reading).

As I wrote about Magician, it reads a lot like a Dungeons & Dragons game: the thief climbs walls and hides in sha...more

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Nov 05, 2012 Penny rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, favourites, series

I found this book quite different to Magician. It spanned a far shorter period of time and concentrated on a smaller band of characters. I adore Jimmy the Hand and really enjoyed his role in the story. He made me laugh a lot :) The story was fun and well paced and kept my interest all the way through.

I took issue with the fact that the goodreads description gave away plot points that were only revealed one and two thirds of the way into the book, respectively. I'm not a fan of spoilers.

On to A D ...more

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Aug 04, 2012 Dan Cuzzo rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

So I get excited when Pug finally comes into the story. Aruthra is just ok. Jimmy is alright as well. The beginning scenes with them were good, but the near endless search for the silver-thorn was so boring! I felt like I was in a D&D style survival fantasy. I don't really feel the characters of Martin, Aruthra and especially the bard - I can't remember his name. I think my favorite part was when he was at his magic school (which was very brief). I can't really understand from these novels w...more

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Aug 25, 2011 Justin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: spec-fic

Silverthorn is either the second book in a trilogy or the third book of a tetralogy, depending on how you count (the first book, Magician, was split into two volumes to make room for previously cut world-building). Magician was so epic, though, and the final books such a dramatic departure in their own right, that the Riftwar Saga is perhaps best understood as two series closely tied together.

With Silverthorn, Feist returns to standard fantasy fare. The Riftwar is over, the Rift between the worl...more

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Sep 23, 2011 Trish rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I don't think I can get enough Pug... this book does not satisfy in that sense. We get just a bite before the book ends. We get plenty of Prince Arutha and Jimmy the Hand -- both worthy characters to follow around, but the muckety-muck they deal with just grossed me out. Still, when they finally get around to the dangerous mission, the fear is palpable enough to give you a cramp. The best line in the book is when Jimmy says something like, "When we get out of here I'm going to scream my head of...more

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Nov 25, 2011 Lee Skoyles rated it 4 of 5 stars

To start off, i have to confess i was very tempted to give this book only three stars. Not so much because the book itself was poor, but because it followed on from something so much BETTER.
I was disappointed to find that Feist had followed one of the best books (in my opinion) i have read, to something that felt like Lord of the Rings crossed with a zombie movie.
Having said that, once i got over my disappointment at what i felt was a drop in quality, i did still find the book an engaging and...more

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Sep 07, 2011 Lily rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading Magician this book is a big let down. The entire first part of the book is centered around Arthura, Anita and other minor characters from the first books. Jimmy the Hand's character is essentially neutered and made into a cartoon of himself. Pug doesn't make an substantial appearance until the last third of the book, which, not so coincidentally, is when the action actually picks up. This is one of those books that suffers from being the middle part of a story. In the end you are l...more

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Apr 14, 2010 Brandon rated it 5 of 5 stars

The very, very first fantasy novel I ever read! I didn't know that the fantasy genre existed before I happened to pick up this novel.

Actually, I tell a lie. I had read Narnia, The Chronicles of Prydain, and The Dark is Rising, and other books when I was younger, but this was different. It had more meat. Lots of plot, and peril, and danger, and two kinds of elves! Holey moley! I had to take notes!

Anyway, this began my love affair with fantasy novels, completely ruining the chance that I'd have...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Mathew rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hmmmmm. I have issues with this book, the best thing about it has to be the characters, and they're not great. Everything else is all just a bit willy nilly......

'would you be my friend?'

'yes I shall, and in return will you be my friend?'

'yes I shall'

.......something like that. The story line is decent but everything in between appears far too simple, someone needs to speak a different language, I'll cast a spell, job done. 2 forms of magic, higher path and lesser path. What's causing all the tr...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Peter added it

...Indeed...: As has already been said, this book is completely different to Magician. Silverthorn seems unnecessary...it drags out a story which had already ended satisfactorily and changes it into a typical fantasy slog. Great if you like that sort of thing, I suppose...Just not a patch on Magician.
The actual story of Silverthorn is your basic "save the princess" set up. There's not a great deal of substance to it, so it ends up feeling more like a segue into book three than an actual story...more

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Apr 29, 2010 [ A ] rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010, book-inventory, fantasy

This third book in the Riftwar Saga was excellent! I was actually surprised when I started reading it-- the two Magician novels were wrapped up quite nicely. This book starts a completely new story arc, with related characters/places/themes. It seems to me that the Riftwar Saga could really be two duologies.

This novel was a bit darker than the first two, and even seemed a bit pseudo-horrorish at times! Zombies in Midkemia?

Rather than concentrating on Pug, this novel is more about Arutha and a s...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, read-in-2012, fantasy-aficionados-top-100

We're back in the world of Midkemia for this part in the Saga, and this time some of our heroes are off on a quest to find a cure for a poisoned princess. Although the storyline is on less of an epic scale this time, we get to learn more about some of the characters from Magician, as well as meeting new people. I can't quite put my finger on what it is exactly about these books that makes them so enjoyable. The characters are well drawn and interact well with one another, the writing draws you i...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Sean rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned-books

Silverthorn picks up a year after Magician: Master and is non-stop action all the way through. I wish Pug had a slightly larger part within the story, but only because I love his character so much. The story, however, is centered on Arutha, newly crowned Prince of Krondor, and his search for a cure. Along with friends, both old and new, Arutha journeys to the heart of a hostile, growing power within the kingdom. The race for a cure while evading the constant threat of assassins is spellbinding t...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Andrew Leon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Silverthorn is a horrible book. Okay, horrible may be too strong of a word, but it was quite a challenge to get through it. It struck me as nothing more than a forced sequel to something that didn't need one. Basically, we want to see these characters again, so figure out a story for them. Whether that came from the publisher or the author not knowing what to write next, I have no idea. Whatever the cause, it was completely formulaic but without any of the charm of, say, The Belgariad, to make i...more Silverthorn is a horrible book. Okay, horrible may be too strong of a word, but it was quite a challenge to get through it. It struck me as nothing more than a forced sequel to something that didn't need one. Basically, we want to see these characters again, so figure out a story for them. Whether that came from the publisher or the author not knowing what to write next, I have no idea. Whatever the cause, it was completely formulaic but without any of the charm of, say, The Belgariad, to make it worth reading. A quest for an item while being chased by an all powerful enemy that the heroes manage to continually defeat without anyone ever getting killed.

Horrible.

That bit about being chased was the worst part of it. The bad guys always knew where the good guys were, always overtaking them and hounding them endlessly. Plus, there were zombies. Oh, yeah, the book has zombies, but it was written way before the whole zombie thing became big. The only way they can be killed is by fire, so, even when they hack them to bits, the pieces keep coming. The book has magic, but it's that kind of magic that conveniently only works when the author wants it to. The whole thing was rather infuriating.

Feist also suffered from "then-syndrome" while writing this one. "He did this, then he did this, then he did that, then he did this again, and then he did this and that." Then then then. Oh my gosh. He also suffered from "again-syndrome," because, after the characters did something, they almost always did it again. "Again he picked his nose." "Again he turned around." "Again he drove me crazy!" But the worst...

The worst was "suddenly-syndrome." At one point, during a two page battle scene, Feist uses the word "suddenly" more than a dozen times. In two pages! I think I never want to use that word again after reading Feist's book.

I kept expecting, "then, suddenly, he again...," or something of the sort. It didn't happen, but it wouldn't have surprised me.

The worst part of having read this book, though, is that it's kind of ruined the other books (Magician and Faerie Tale) for me. I'm left with this lingering question as to whether the other books are better than this one or if they were this bad, too, but I was just young enough when I read those not to be bothered by any of it. And I want to know! I want to go back and read Magician again just so I can see if they were better, but I know that I won't, so it's just going to bug me for who knows how long. Maybe, I'll re-read Faerie Tale and see how that one is; I've kind of wanted to re-read it for a while anyway.

Oh, and the editing is horrible, especially considering these were edited by a major publisher. The book was full of comma errors, for one thing, but errors that don't make any sense. For instance, there would be a sentence like "I went to the store, to buy some milk." Why is that comma there? There's never a reason for a comma in a sentence like that, yet the book was full of that type of error, like the editor just tossed them on the page and let them stay where they landed. And, then, there were the misspellings. Like the adventurers kept going up the trial. Not the trail, the trial. They did this more than once. They did it more than twice. Personally, I kind of want to see a story, now, about someone going up and down the trial or racing down the trial on his horse. That was not the only misspelling just the only one that happened again and suddenly again.

So I don't really know what to say about Feist, now. There was a time I would have suggested, at least, Faerie Tale to people that like that kind of thing, but Silverthorn leaves me more than reluctant to suggest anything by Feist to anyone.(less)

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About Raymond E. Feist

Raymond E. Feist was born Raymond E. Gonzales III, but took his adoptive step-fathers 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 19...more

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Books by Raymond E. Feist

Magician: Apprentice (The Riftwar Saga, #1)

A Darkness At Sethanon (The Riftwar Saga, #4)

Daughter of the Empire (The Empire Trilogy, #1)

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Quotes from Silverthorn

“Life is problems. Living is solving problems.” — 188 people liked it

“A hero is someone who simply got too frightened to use his good sense and run away, then somehow lived through it all.” — 68 people liked it

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Silverthorn (The Riftwar Saga #3)

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