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The Darkwar Saga #3
Wrath of a Mad God
The celebrated New York Times bestselling master of fantasy returns with the thrilling conclusion to his enthralling, explosive Darkwar Saga . . . Wrath of a Mad God
Book three of The Darkwar Saga
The Darkwar rages upon Midkemia and Kelewan, bringing bleak days of destruction and despair. To save the future of both worlds, the powerful sorcerer Pug and select members of the secretive Conclave of Shadows must journey deep into the dangerous realm of the bloodthirsty Dasati, there to carry out an audacious mission that has little, if any, chance of succeeding. In Midkemia, young warriors Tad and Zane, and their fellow soldiers, protect the Kingdom from raiders. And Pug's beloved wife, Miranda, finds herself a prisoner of the Dasati and, even more ominously, of Pug's nemesis, the evil sorcerer Leso Varen. Salvation may come from a friend thought long dead, an unlikely ally whose remarkable powers will be sorely needed in the momentous battle to come . . . a final, fevered onslaught against the most malevolent agents of evil ever known.
Book three of The Darkwar Saga
"At this very moment, a dome of black energy is being expanded in a vale in the far north. This is not merely an invasion, but the beginning of a colonization, a process that will end with the complete annihilation of every life-form on this world."
The Darkwar rages upon Midkemia and Kelewan, bringing bleak days of destruction and despair. To save the future of both worlds, the powerful sorcerer Pug and select members of the secretive Conclave of Shadows must journey deep into the dangerous realm of the bloodthirsty Dasati, there to carry out an audacious mission that has little, if any, chance of succeeding. In Midkemia, young warriors Tad and Zane, and their fellow soldiers, protect the Kingdom from raiders. And Pug's beloved wife, Miranda, finds herself a prisoner of the Dasati and, even more ominously, of Pug's nemesis, the evil sorcerer Leso Varen. Salvation may come from a friend thought long dead, an unlikely ally whose remarkable powers will be sorely needed in the momentous battle to come . . . a final, fevered onslaught against the most malevolent agents of evil ever known.
612 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
166 people are currently reading
4051 people want to read
About the author
Raymond E. Feist
299 books9,582 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 218 reviews
May 8, 2019
Rare and wonderful is the book that can tie together nine or more other books into one huge and satisfying tapestry and give us something truly satisfying.
This one does it. Even those side novels from before got woven into this. Hell, even Jimmy the Hand, an old man by this time, while not doing anything here, has his many adventures come back to haunt everyone in this dire time. :)
A whole world of terrible fighters, a mad god, and the full destruction of a world. This is what we have here. Millions displaced. Whole realities eaten.
Oh, yeah, and while I'm not going to spoil it for anyone here, there is one super-delightful twist that colors SO MUCH that has happened over 20 books in a brand new and wicked light. :) I think I might be enjoying this aspect more than all the rest.
Epic fantasy? Epic, EPIC fantasy.
I won't ever call it as good as WoT or a handful of other series, but by no means is this a slouch. :) I've read whole huge series faithfully that doesn't strike my fancy half as much as this. So, yeah, I like it very much. :)
This one does it. Even those side novels from before got woven into this. Hell, even Jimmy the Hand, an old man by this time, while not doing anything here, has his many adventures come back to haunt everyone in this dire time. :)
A whole world of terrible fighters, a mad god, and the full destruction of a world. This is what we have here. Millions displaced. Whole realities eaten.
Oh, yeah, and while I'm not going to spoil it for anyone here, there is one super-delightful twist that colors SO MUCH that has happened over 20 books in a brand new and wicked light. :) I think I might be enjoying this aspect more than all the rest.
Epic fantasy? Epic, EPIC fantasy.
I won't ever call it as good as WoT or a handful of other series, but by no means is this a slouch. :) I've read whole huge series faithfully that doesn't strike my fancy half as much as this. So, yeah, I like it very much. :)
September 11, 2013
Ray, I love you, man, and I admire the size and scope of your creation, but damn, this one was perfunctory.
February 23, 2020
This is the final book in the Darkwar Saga, the third-to-last subseries in the very large Riftwar Cycle. 26 books down, 5 to go!
I had mixed feelings. There were a lot of parts where I was very interested in what was going on, and there were a few parts (particularly during the battles) where things felt a little tedious. A lot of big stuff happened and there were some interesting revelations that tied back to all the earlier books, much of which I had mixed feelings about.
Most of what I have to say about this book needs to go in spoiler tags:
I’m rating this at 3.5 stars, but this time I’m rounding up to 4 on Goodreads because it did hold my interest well and moved the plot along significantly. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next subseries.
I had mixed feelings. There were a lot of parts where I was very interested in what was going on, and there were a few parts (particularly during the battles) where things felt a little tedious. A lot of big stuff happened and there were some interesting revelations that tied back to all the earlier books, much of which I had mixed feelings about.
Most of what I have to say about this book needs to go in spoiler tags:
I’m rating this at 3.5 stars, but this time I’m rounding up to 4 on Goodreads because it did hold my interest well and moved the plot along significantly. I look forward to seeing what happens in the next subseries.
January 1, 2026
One of the best fantasy trilogies I’ve read.
I discovered Feist late in 2025, thanks to a complete trilogy I found in a charity shop in Blackburn for £1.75. Being from Leeds, and tight with my money, I thought phwoar, I need to get this.
After gorging myself on the first two books, I was eager to start and finish this fantastical, magic-soaked fantasy, with Wrath of a Mad God.
It did not disappoint and I stand by my assertion above that it is one of the most consistently strong fantasy trilogies that I've had the pleasure of reading.
Feist's writing is just something else. He takes a highly complex world, lore, and history, and writes about it with such simplicity that it just feels right. Elongated descriptions, heavy character and world building are non-existent, he shows the reader, he doesn't tell.
From magic to war, dragons to elves, Gods to Demons, alien worlds, and a host of characters that I was genuinely invested in and consistently found myself thinking "I hope they survive". That's something - as a jaded reader - I don't find often, but Feist got emotional connection out of me and he actually got it relatively early into the series.
I kind of hate myself for jumping into the world of Midkemia so late into it's conception with this trilogy, as I know quite a few plot points of other stories now - but that said, I think this is a great jumping off point.
As I said earlier, because Feist doesn't beat you to death with lore, I think there's so much I'll still be able to take from the other books in Pug's story that it'll be well worth me reading them.
Genuinely, superb.
Everyone knows I love Sanderson, but I think Feist is very plausibly coming for the top spot in my fantasy author list. Sorry, not sorry.
5.0/5.0
I discovered Feist late in 2025, thanks to a complete trilogy I found in a charity shop in Blackburn for £1.75. Being from Leeds, and tight with my money, I thought phwoar, I need to get this.
After gorging myself on the first two books, I was eager to start and finish this fantastical, magic-soaked fantasy, with Wrath of a Mad God.
It did not disappoint and I stand by my assertion above that it is one of the most consistently strong fantasy trilogies that I've had the pleasure of reading.
Feist's writing is just something else. He takes a highly complex world, lore, and history, and writes about it with such simplicity that it just feels right. Elongated descriptions, heavy character and world building are non-existent, he shows the reader, he doesn't tell.
From magic to war, dragons to elves, Gods to Demons, alien worlds, and a host of characters that I was genuinely invested in and consistently found myself thinking "I hope they survive". That's something - as a jaded reader - I don't find often, but Feist got emotional connection out of me and he actually got it relatively early into the series.
I kind of hate myself for jumping into the world of Midkemia so late into it's conception with this trilogy, as I know quite a few plot points of other stories now - but that said, I think this is a great jumping off point.
As I said earlier, because Feist doesn't beat you to death with lore, I think there's so much I'll still be able to take from the other books in Pug's story that it'll be well worth me reading them.
Genuinely, superb.
Everyone knows I love Sanderson, but I think Feist is very plausibly coming for the top spot in my fantasy author list. Sorry, not sorry.
5.0/5.0
January 28, 2026
Stayed up for too late into this morning to read the excellent conclusion of this book and series. The end had the sort of surprises that, looking back upon it, shouldn't have been so surprising. They were subtly foreshadowed and I missed them, which speaks better of Feist's writing than my reading. Definitely not a stand-alone novel, Wrath continues the story from Into a Dark Realm and ties up the storyline very well while leaving enough peril to the world of Midkemia to support the future books. 4 out of 5
April 5, 2013
Raymond Feist's original Magician was in many respects such a gem of a book because it used a world that was normal enough to be relate-able with just a few twists to make it interesting. Feist has been twisting and tweaking that world ever since, and it has come to a point with Wrath of a Mad God where it is essentially broken, disfigured beyond any semblance of reality. There is little way for the reader to relate to the world any longer, and nearly everything dealt with is simply alien. I suppose this is fine if you're seeking utter escapism, but it almost forces you to sink into the action rather than the universe this way, which is like trying to be entertained by non-stop explosions instead of finding a way to enjoy whatever life offers.
Moreover, initially Feist wrote in such a way as to follow characters with some depth, flaws, and layers, but he has increasingly turned away from character-driven to event-driven plots and populated the world with generic figures that even he doesn't know what to do with. This trilogy began with Tad and Zane, but by the end, Feist had all but forgotten about them and turned them to shells of people. Then, for what seems little reason, he introduces from nowhere yet one more semi-phenomenal player with amazing abilities in Jim Dasher, whose one weakness poses no actual threat to him. Wrath of a Mad God's characters are simply flat.
The previous novel began to devolve at the end so that the narrative kept jumping from setting to setting and character to character every two to three pages. One might argue that this was to heighten the sense of urgency and action, but Wrath of a Mad God uses this same technique in the middle of the book, and it just feels choppy. I felt like I was getting literary whiplash from being jerked from scene to scene.
And let us not forget the random side-plot that was thrown in at the Peaks of the Quot that had only the most tenuous connection to the rest of the book. It might have been set up for later books, but what I can find suggests that Feist completely dropped it. I must admit, though, that dropping it was a positive considering that it is nothing but a rehashing of the lifestone plotline in a new form, making me question whether the author's creativity has simply run out. Plus, with the introduction of the anoredhel, it feels as if when Feist grows uncertain of what to do, he just adds another race of elves like a floundering chef, tossing spices into the pot with the hopes that they will enhance the quality of the dish. I understand that this is the foundation for the following trilogy as well, compounding the problem.
Finally, various plot points were problematic in of themselves. First, some were contradictory to previous books in the series. For example, the Minwanabi ominously are returned to the series despite their destruction, though don't actually end up causing any problems. Other plot points were simply confusing. I still don't really understand what happened at various fairly important points despite reading the paragraphs several times before giving up and moving on. Things were often wrapped up quickly and in unclear prose with little reflection following. Even the characters seemed to feel little emotions in response to the closing events or at least no impetus to talk about them with one another. It felt like the author knew what was happening but wasn't concerned with communicating it clearly and simply wanted to finish up and move on.
The narrative to the book was, ignoring the sections where it pinballed from scene to scene, sufficiently good to keep me reading, but after it ended, upon reflection, I grew more and more frustrated with the book. I'll not insult Feist by saying it was a tale told by an idiot, but I'll definitely aver that it was full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Moreover, initially Feist wrote in such a way as to follow characters with some depth, flaws, and layers, but he has increasingly turned away from character-driven to event-driven plots and populated the world with generic figures that even he doesn't know what to do with. This trilogy began with Tad and Zane, but by the end, Feist had all but forgotten about them and turned them to shells of people. Then, for what seems little reason, he introduces from nowhere yet one more semi-phenomenal player with amazing abilities in Jim Dasher, whose one weakness poses no actual threat to him. Wrath of a Mad God's characters are simply flat.
The previous novel began to devolve at the end so that the narrative kept jumping from setting to setting and character to character every two to three pages. One might argue that this was to heighten the sense of urgency and action, but Wrath of a Mad God uses this same technique in the middle of the book, and it just feels choppy. I felt like I was getting literary whiplash from being jerked from scene to scene.
And let us not forget the random side-plot that was thrown in at the Peaks of the Quot that had only the most tenuous connection to the rest of the book. It might have been set up for later books, but what I can find suggests that Feist completely dropped it. I must admit, though, that dropping it was a positive considering that it is nothing but a rehashing of the lifestone plotline in a new form, making me question whether the author's creativity has simply run out. Plus, with the introduction of the anoredhel, it feels as if when Feist grows uncertain of what to do, he just adds another race of elves like a floundering chef, tossing spices into the pot with the hopes that they will enhance the quality of the dish. I understand that this is the foundation for the following trilogy as well, compounding the problem.
Finally, various plot points were problematic in of themselves. First, some were contradictory to previous books in the series. For example, the Minwanabi ominously are returned to the series despite their destruction, though don't actually end up causing any problems. Other plot points were simply confusing. I still don't really understand what happened at various fairly important points despite reading the paragraphs several times before giving up and moving on. Things were often wrapped up quickly and in unclear prose with little reflection following. Even the characters seemed to feel little emotions in response to the closing events or at least no impetus to talk about them with one another. It felt like the author knew what was happening but wasn't concerned with communicating it clearly and simply wanted to finish up and move on.
The narrative to the book was, ignoring the sections where it pinballed from scene to scene, sufficiently good to keep me reading, but after it ended, upon reflection, I grew more and more frustrated with the book. I'll not insult Feist by saying it was a tale told by an idiot, but I'll definitely aver that it was full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
May 5, 2018
The Darkwar Saga ends.
Pug and his supremely annoying wife Miaranda struggle to save their world from Mass invasion of the Dasati. But there is a far more insidious threat underlying the Dasati invasion- their Dark God hungers for the very fabric of life in Pug's world. What follows is a slow motion catastrophe as the world becomes a battleground for the Dasati versus the Tsurani.
I was very interested in the developments with Bek and Nakor. I won't give it away but the explanation for their abilities was rather cool as it ties in neatly with the background of the first book. Well done. I enjoyed this series overall. While not the groundbreaking series some have hyped it to be, I found it rather a typical fantasy story. An interesting world, though Pug and Miranda are getting a little long in the tooth-sheesh let the younger kids have shot. As far as Miranda, I find her supremely smug and irritating. BUT I have a respect for power and those who can use it well. Her escape from the Deathpriest's lair and some of the magic she pulls off is worthy of respect and my admiration for her skills has gone up several notches, though as far as her personality? I wish she'd fall in a pit and just stay there. *sighs* Likely not. A magus as powerful as she would just levitate out. But I digress.
Fesist's trilogy was a fun read and while not groundbreaking, per se, it IS entertaining. That's really all I ask of my fantasy-entertain me!
Pug and his supremely annoying wife Miaranda struggle to save their world from Mass invasion of the Dasati. But there is a far more insidious threat underlying the Dasati invasion- their Dark God hungers for the very fabric of life in Pug's world. What follows is a slow motion catastrophe as the world becomes a battleground for the Dasati versus the Tsurani.
I was very interested in the developments with Bek and Nakor. I won't give it away but the explanation for their abilities was rather cool as it ties in neatly with the background of the first book. Well done. I enjoyed this series overall. While not the groundbreaking series some have hyped it to be, I found it rather a typical fantasy story. An interesting world, though Pug and Miranda are getting a little long in the tooth-sheesh let the younger kids have shot. As far as Miranda, I find her supremely smug and irritating. BUT I have a respect for power and those who can use it well. Her escape from the Deathpriest's lair and some of the magic she pulls off is worthy of respect and my admiration for her skills has gone up several notches, though as far as her personality? I wish she'd fall in a pit and just stay there. *sighs* Likely not. A magus as powerful as she would just levitate out. But I digress.
Fesist's trilogy was a fun read and while not groundbreaking, per se, it IS entertaining. That's really all I ask of my fantasy-entertain me!
February 4, 2023
Veliko finale Darkwar sage, ali takodje i kraj za nekoliko kljucnih karaktera koji se vec dugo pojavljuju u Riftwar serijalu. Ovo je knjiga epske sadrzine jer u njoj se bore bogovi, madjionicari, vanzemaljske rase, nestaju civilizacije i citave planete. Ovo je knjiga koja oznacava kraj ali i pocetak za sve one koji su kolateralna steta u vecnoj borbi dobra i ludila.
October 20, 2013
Via Book Reviews by Niki Hawkes at www.nikihawkes.com
Feist’s books have a special place in my heart as they were the novels that introduced me to the world of fantasy. I love his plots, his settings, and his characters. They are all memorable and dynamic and the main reason why I pick up each new book. These later works by Feist contain a great balance of new and old, which I love because it keeps the story both fresh and nostalgic at the same time.
As sad as I am to say it, I think Wrath of a Mad God was my least favorite novel so far in the 20+ list of books from him that I’ve read. I loved the premise for this story, but I had a little trouble with the concepts. They seemed a bit self-indulgent, requiring a great deal of explaining. When you need it fifty or more pages to explain to your audience what’s going on (especially so far in a series where the framework of the world and its realities are already pretty well-established) your concepts might be a bit too convoluted.
Another thing I noticed with this book (which I can’t decided if it’s a good or bad thing) is the fact that the series as a whole has slowly transformed from fantasy to science fiction. There is no space travel, but people from different worlds still find ways to interact through magical rifts and wrinkles in dimensions. While this shift in genre is interesting, part of me misses the epic fantasy feel of his earlier works.
Overall, I am slightly dissatisfied, but only when comparing it to the standard of other Feist novels. Nostalgia aside, I should also mention (without spoilers) that the ending of this book blew my mind and I genuinely can’t wait to see what happens next!
Recommended Reading: I usually hand the first book (Magician: Apprentice) to anybody wanting to try fantasy. It’s an excellent representation of the genre, and one I think fans of Terry Brooks and David Eddings would enjoy. Also, for any Feist fans who haven’t yet made it this point – keep reading, it’s worth it!
Feist’s books have a special place in my heart as they were the novels that introduced me to the world of fantasy. I love his plots, his settings, and his characters. They are all memorable and dynamic and the main reason why I pick up each new book. These later works by Feist contain a great balance of new and old, which I love because it keeps the story both fresh and nostalgic at the same time.
As sad as I am to say it, I think Wrath of a Mad God was my least favorite novel so far in the 20+ list of books from him that I’ve read. I loved the premise for this story, but I had a little trouble with the concepts. They seemed a bit self-indulgent, requiring a great deal of explaining. When you need it fifty or more pages to explain to your audience what’s going on (especially so far in a series where the framework of the world and its realities are already pretty well-established) your concepts might be a bit too convoluted.
Another thing I noticed with this book (which I can’t decided if it’s a good or bad thing) is the fact that the series as a whole has slowly transformed from fantasy to science fiction. There is no space travel, but people from different worlds still find ways to interact through magical rifts and wrinkles in dimensions. While this shift in genre is interesting, part of me misses the epic fantasy feel of his earlier works.
Overall, I am slightly dissatisfied, but only when comparing it to the standard of other Feist novels. Nostalgia aside, I should also mention (without spoilers) that the ending of this book blew my mind and I genuinely can’t wait to see what happens next!
Recommended Reading: I usually hand the first book (Magician: Apprentice) to anybody wanting to try fantasy. It’s an excellent representation of the genre, and one I think fans of Terry Brooks and David Eddings would enjoy. Also, for any Feist fans who haven’t yet made it this point – keep reading, it’s worth it!
April 10, 2023
If you're looking for a book that will take you on a wild ride through a fantasy world filled with non-stop action and madness, then 'Wrath of a Mad God' is your ticket. Just be sure to hold on tight - this book is like a rollercoaster, except instead of loops and drops, it's filled with dark magic and deranged deities.
As a horror fan, I especially loved the dark world of the Dasati - their madness and cruelty really got my heart racing. The images of a mad god devouring endless lines of living beings warmed my desiccated heart. That's why I was a little bit disappointed that the whole Dasati world was put a little bit in the background. Sure, events are happening there, but there is much less information about their world and culture. Valko is still there, but his storyline is overtaken by the mighty Pug, which was a little bit disappointing. I really feel that Pug is a little bit overpowered to be really worried about him. And let's not forget Miranda, the screamer. Several chapters start with the same sentence - 'Miranda screamed.' - but I quickly realized that every chapter starts with the name of the main character. It's a simple but efficient way to inform the reader which storyline we're jumping to. Hamilton, take note!
However, it falls a bit short of the second book, 'Into a Dark Realm'. I mainly disliked the information dump at the end. If you're reading the whole series from the beginning, then it may be a good conclusion to some major story arcs. But for me (since I started with the book 'Flight of a Nighthawk'), it was a little overwhelming with all the new names and concepts to wrap my head around.
And let's be real - Raymond is in desperate need of a good editor. There are a lot of errors, including some seemingly wrongly placed passages (it seemed like a whole flying paragraph was in the wrong place) and even some silly mistakes like double periods. Overall, it's a very nice and enjoyable fantasy. I'll probably digest it for a year or two, but I know I'll revisit Riftwar, and this time I may even start from the beginning.
As a horror fan, I especially loved the dark world of the Dasati - their madness and cruelty really got my heart racing. The images of a mad god devouring endless lines of living beings warmed my desiccated heart. That's why I was a little bit disappointed that the whole Dasati world was put a little bit in the background. Sure, events are happening there, but there is much less information about their world and culture. Valko is still there, but his storyline is overtaken by the mighty Pug, which was a little bit disappointing. I really feel that Pug is a little bit overpowered to be really worried about him. And let's not forget Miranda, the screamer. Several chapters start with the same sentence - 'Miranda screamed.' - but I quickly realized that every chapter starts with the name of the main character. It's a simple but efficient way to inform the reader which storyline we're jumping to. Hamilton, take note!
However, it falls a bit short of the second book, 'Into a Dark Realm'. I mainly disliked the information dump at the end. If you're reading the whole series from the beginning, then it may be a good conclusion to some major story arcs. But for me (since I started with the book 'Flight of a Nighthawk'), it was a little overwhelming with all the new names and concepts to wrap my head around.
And let's be real - Raymond is in desperate need of a good editor. There are a lot of errors, including some seemingly wrongly placed passages (it seemed like a whole flying paragraph was in the wrong place) and even some silly mistakes like double periods. Overall, it's a very nice and enjoyable fantasy. I'll probably digest it for a year or two, but I know I'll revisit Riftwar, and this time I may even start from the beginning.
February 1, 2025
The final book in The Darkwar Saga, a great finish on the series.
Pug and Nakor, two of my favorite characters, ever, are featured heavily in the story. A terrible darkness has come into the world of Midkemia and unless it is stopped life will cease to exist. Stopping the darkness entails Pug and friends traveling beyond their realm, into the world where darkness has already taken over. There is a lot more violence in this series, than in previous books, but Feist' s writing was some of his best.
Only 5 more books in this world and I am already thinking that is too few! It has been a great ride through Feist's library and I thank my fellow reader Aaron for being there to discuss it all.
Pug and Nakor, two of my favorite characters, ever, are featured heavily in the story. A terrible darkness has come into the world of Midkemia and unless it is stopped life will cease to exist. Stopping the darkness entails Pug and friends traveling beyond their realm, into the world where darkness has already taken over. There is a lot more violence in this series, than in previous books, but Feist' s writing was some of his best.
Only 5 more books in this world and I am already thinking that is too few! It has been a great ride through Feist's library and I thank my fellow reader Aaron for being there to discuss it all.
July 26, 2009
Everything's too easy.
Lots of people die, and lots of them of course die heroically, but that's nothing new in Feist's world.
Leso Varen just keeps on going on and on, for no apparent reason other than that he's necessary in the end as a plot device. Nakor's final scenes and explanations are incoherent, apparently incomplete, and otherwise badly fleshed out, so as to make me wonder what exactly I was supposed to glean from reading 'his' final thoughts. Too little of the how and why surrounding the 'vessels' was explained compared to the number of casual allusions made.
Pug just keeps on going, even though he's constantly exhausted, while the chronology of the final 2 chapters is murky at best. Where is he getting the energy?
I've seen enough Sympathetic People die by now.
Too many paragraphs consist of "Magnus would in the future become more powerful than his pop&mom combined, but for now, and probably forever, he would implicitly trust daddy." or "miranda loved and trusted her hubby dearly (the implied slight misogyny makes me queasy.), but she was really frustrated/emotional".
The story is interesting, but by the time it's over there are so many holes that I have a very hard time being satisified by the outcomes, even though I really like the universe as a whole. Wherever there are numbers mentioned of the number of people that were involved, there seem to be inconsistencies, either within this one cycle, or between this cycle and the Serpentwar cycle (this book mentions 20-40k people, whereas the SWS mentions 200-400k).
Similarly, the population figures for the Dasati keep switching between millions, tens of millions and billions, and there is no real reason given for why the Dark One would want to not first eat billions of Dasati before continuing onwards to the next world, as he does at the end of this book (Apparently choosing to leave them alive for no apparent reason other than 'haste').
All in all, it struck me as badly redacted, and very intent on thrill-mongering through mentioning big figures. In stead of 2000 Great Ones (Riftwar saga), there apparently only are 400 by the time of this series (Why would there be fewer magicians if there is a bigger pool to draw from?), nobody is able to deduce beforehand whose body Varen might have possessed when he came to Kelewan, etc.
Too many of these kinds of questions remain, although the author seems to think that they've all been answered. Sure, you can play around with literal deus ex scenes, but too much is left unexplained for reasons other than "the gods won't tell you (the reader) everything".
Lots of people die, and lots of them of course die heroically, but that's nothing new in Feist's world.
Leso Varen just keeps on going on and on, for no apparent reason other than that he's necessary in the end as a plot device. Nakor's final scenes and explanations are incoherent, apparently incomplete, and otherwise badly fleshed out, so as to make me wonder what exactly I was supposed to glean from reading 'his' final thoughts. Too little of the how and why surrounding the 'vessels' was explained compared to the number of casual allusions made.
Pug just keeps on going, even though he's constantly exhausted, while the chronology of the final 2 chapters is murky at best. Where is he getting the energy?
I've seen enough Sympathetic People die by now.
Too many paragraphs consist of "Magnus would in the future become more powerful than his pop&mom combined, but for now, and probably forever, he would implicitly trust daddy." or "miranda loved and trusted her hubby dearly (the implied slight misogyny makes me queasy.), but she was really frustrated/emotional".
The story is interesting, but by the time it's over there are so many holes that I have a very hard time being satisified by the outcomes, even though I really like the universe as a whole. Wherever there are numbers mentioned of the number of people that were involved, there seem to be inconsistencies, either within this one cycle, or between this cycle and the Serpentwar cycle (this book mentions 20-40k people, whereas the SWS mentions 200-400k).
Similarly, the population figures for the Dasati keep switching between millions, tens of millions and billions, and there is no real reason given for why the Dark One would want to not first eat billions of Dasati before continuing onwards to the next world, as he does at the end of this book (Apparently choosing to leave them alive for no apparent reason other than 'haste').
All in all, it struck me as badly redacted, and very intent on thrill-mongering through mentioning big figures. In stead of 2000 Great Ones (Riftwar saga), there apparently only are 400 by the time of this series (Why would there be fewer magicians if there is a bigger pool to draw from?), nobody is able to deduce beforehand whose body Varen might have possessed when he came to Kelewan, etc.
Too many of these kinds of questions remain, although the author seems to think that they've all been answered. Sure, you can play around with literal deus ex scenes, but too much is left unexplained for reasons other than "the gods won't tell you (the reader) everything".
February 20, 2020
In the last part of this trilogy, the author raises the bar as he describes the epic battle. The slaughter reaches gigantic proportions and the level of confrontation and its significance touches on Lovecraftian points. This exaggeration gives a special interest in the story, but in the end, I think the author overdid it without being able to convey a similar level of intensity. I can say that most interesting was the curious theological discussion that accompanies all these events. But okay, even with all these objections, the writer has the experience and ability to always write something that stands on a decent level, and that's what I think he did throughout this trilogy.
Στο τελευταίο μέρος αυτής της τριλογίας ο συγγραφέας ανεβάζει τον πήχη καθώς περιγράφει την επική μάχη. Η σφαγή φτάνει σε γιγάντιες διαστάσεις και το επίπεδο της αναμέτρησης και η σημασία της αγγίζει Λοβκραφτικά σημεία. Αυτή η υπερβολή δίνει Ένα ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον στην ιστορία αλλά τελικά νομίζω ότι ο συγγραφέας το παρακάνει χωρίς να καταφέρνει να μας μεταδώσει μία ένταση ανάλογου επιπέδου. Μπορώ να πω ότι περισσότερο ενδιαφέρον είχε η περίεργη θεολογική συζήτηση που συνοδεύει όλα αυτά τα γεγονότα. Αλλά εντάξει, ακόμα και με όλες αυτές τις ενστάσεις, συγγραφέας έχει την εμπειρία και την ικανότητα να γράφει πάντα κάτι που να στέκεται σε ένα αξιοπρεπές επίπεδο και αυτό νομίζω ότι έκανε σε όλη αυτή την τριλογία.
Στο τελευταίο μέρος αυτής της τριλογίας ο συγγραφέας ανεβάζει τον πήχη καθώς περιγράφει την επική μάχη. Η σφαγή φτάνει σε γιγάντιες διαστάσεις και το επίπεδο της αναμέτρησης και η σημασία της αγγίζει Λοβκραφτικά σημεία. Αυτή η υπερβολή δίνει Ένα ιδιαίτερο ενδιαφέρον στην ιστορία αλλά τελικά νομίζω ότι ο συγγραφέας το παρακάνει χωρίς να καταφέρνει να μας μεταδώσει μία ένταση ανάλογου επιπέδου. Μπορώ να πω ότι περισσότερο ενδιαφέρον είχε η περίεργη θεολογική συζήτηση που συνοδεύει όλα αυτά τα γεγονότα. Αλλά εντάξει, ακόμα και με όλες αυτές τις ενστάσεις, συγγραφέας έχει την εμπειρία και την ικανότητα να γράφει πάντα κάτι που να στέκεται σε ένα αξιοπρεπές επίπεδο και αυτό νομίζω ότι έκανε σε όλη αυτή την τριλογία.
February 1, 2023
A disappointing three stars for the conclusion of a trilogy that started strong. This book started well but was bogged down by an ending that managed to be both a little boring and depressing simultaneously.
Tad, Zane, and Johnny, characters that I enjoyed following in the previous two books, continued fading from focus, until I think Feist nearly forgot about them, and certainly had nothing for them to do. Even in their own narrative thread they were supplanted by Jimmy the Hand 2.0, who was a decent enough character in his own right, but far too similar to others and a seemingly unnecessary addition this late in the trilogy.
While Pug is and should be the lynchpin of the larger Riftwar Cycle, Feist is at his best when he's writing about the "ground-level" people: Eric, Jimmy, Roo, and yes, Tad, Zane and Johnny. That this book focused almost exclusively on all-powerful gods and magicians battling and scheming against one another and is one of my least-enjoyed books that I've read by him is no coincidence.
The world and culture of the Dasari, which I found compelling in the last book, didn't end up being so, and the mysterious Bek likewise ended up not making a whole lot of sense.
Still, this remains a compelling universe nonetheless and I look forward to seeing its conclusion.
Tad, Zane, and Johnny, characters that I enjoyed following in the previous two books, continued fading from focus, until I think Feist nearly forgot about them, and certainly had nothing for them to do. Even in their own narrative thread they were supplanted by Jimmy the Hand 2.0, who was a decent enough character in his own right, but far too similar to others and a seemingly unnecessary addition this late in the trilogy.
While Pug is and should be the lynchpin of the larger Riftwar Cycle, Feist is at his best when he's writing about the "ground-level" people: Eric, Jimmy, Roo, and yes, Tad, Zane and Johnny. That this book focused almost exclusively on all-powerful gods and magicians battling and scheming against one another and is one of my least-enjoyed books that I've read by him is no coincidence.
The world and culture of the Dasari, which I found compelling in the last book, didn't end up being so, and the mysterious Bek likewise ended up not making a whole lot of sense.
Still, this remains a compelling universe nonetheless and I look forward to seeing its conclusion.
October 1, 2012
A really good book, on par with many of Feist's other works. I had one moment of "WTF" near the end,
I thought that the unveiling of how many of the secrets to how things came to be the way they were in this setting was really cool (you'll have to read it to find out).
Pug is of course awesome, but I have to wonder how these events will change him and where he will go from here? I could use a bit more of Pug throwing down, but I don’t think that Feist’s magic system is as clearly defined as others I have read about. Not that I don’t like it, but as a reader, you don’t know what he can and cannot do or how elements of his magic work.
I thought that the unveiling of how many of the secrets to how things came to be the way they were in this setting was really cool (you'll have to read it to find out).
Pug is of course awesome, but I have to wonder how these events will change him and where he will go from here? I could use a bit more of Pug throwing down, but I don’t think that Feist’s magic system is as clearly defined as others I have read about. Not that I don’t like it, but as a reader, you don’t know what he can and cannot do or how elements of his magic work.
August 10, 2024
When you read such a long series, you have your ups and downs with it and you have your moods with it. Great story, typical endings. I have one trilogy left of the series before the new series starts later this month, but I need a break of this world for now there are new world to explore new authors to tweet, ignite my imagination.
The only reason they dropped down to a three for me is only because rehash of characters that died previously comes back, even though this one character has been back for a while sometimes hard to swallow. I’m dealing with this with the forgotten realms with as well, but does mean I’m just being a tad picky ?
The only reason they dropped down to a three for me is only because rehash of characters that died previously comes back, even though this one character has been back for a while sometimes hard to swallow. I’m dealing with this with the forgotten realms with as well, but does mean I’m just being a tad picky ?
August 28, 2010
Wow! A lot happened in one book! In many ways, strands of the plot started all the way back in Magician: Apprentice were tied up - so much so that I am very curious to where the future of this series will head. But, really, in other ways, this was my least favorite book... while I was relieved to FINALLY have questions about my favorite character, Nakor, answered, this book involved some real tragedies...
Mostly, I am nervous about the characters in the next books... Pug has never been one of my favorite characters, and while I initially liked Miranda (more out of relief that there was finally a strong female main character), she has become trite and stereotypical (and WHY does her eye color change so often?) and to be honest, I can't stand Magnus (I can't exactly put my finger on it, but there is something just... off about him). Truly, the only character from the beginning on that I still like is Tomas, and even he is beginning to show some serious flaws. His ever-so-convenient Valheru flashbacks have become an over-used plot device to validate information. Also, his powers have been so strong in previous books, his absence in other books makes little sense.
Mostly, what upset me about this book was that it was rife with errors. More so than Miranda's fluctuating eye color, Kaspar claimed to have never met elves before, and Tomas only once in passing, when in Exile's Return he was in Elvandar... and even shared an ale with Tomas... So, his whole experience with the Sun-Elves really frustrated me!
Also, it is mentioned in passing that Erik never married... but he DID get married! In secret, to the ex-thief! In fact, I had been wondering about her ever since Erik was brought back into the series. I realize that series construction and continuity is difficult, but even if the author did not catch these errors, it is the job of the editors to do so... Really, all in all off-putting.
So much so, that unless something terrifically exciting happens in the next two books, I think it will be another decade or more until I re-visit Feist's epic series again.
Mostly, I am nervous about the characters in the next books... Pug has never been one of my favorite characters, and while I initially liked Miranda (more out of relief that there was finally a strong female main character), she has become trite and stereotypical (and WHY does her eye color change so often?) and to be honest, I can't stand Magnus (I can't exactly put my finger on it, but there is something just... off about him). Truly, the only character from the beginning on that I still like is Tomas, and even he is beginning to show some serious flaws. His ever-so-convenient Valheru flashbacks have become an over-used plot device to validate information. Also, his powers have been so strong in previous books, his absence in other books makes little sense.
Mostly, what upset me about this book was that it was rife with errors. More so than Miranda's fluctuating eye color, Kaspar claimed to have never met elves before, and Tomas only once in passing, when in Exile's Return he was in Elvandar... and even shared an ale with Tomas... So, his whole experience with the Sun-Elves really frustrated me!
Also, it is mentioned in passing that Erik never married... but he DID get married! In secret, to the ex-thief! In fact, I had been wondering about her ever since Erik was brought back into the series. I realize that series construction and continuity is difficult, but even if the author did not catch these errors, it is the job of the editors to do so... Really, all in all off-putting.
So much so, that unless something terrifically exciting happens in the next two books, I think it will be another decade or more until I re-visit Feist's epic series again.
June 3, 2019
Het einde van de 'duistere oorlog'. Na al die boeken waarin hij een rol speelde, komen we nu eindelijk wat meer te weten over Nakur. Op sommige momenten werd het verhaal ingewikkeld, maar in het algemeen was het vrij logisch. Het verhaal speelde zich voornamelijk af op een andere wereld (en zelfs een andere 'realiteit').
Een aantal verhaallijnen die begonnen in Magiër (19 boeken geleden) worden nu afgesloten.
In het begin van deze reeks (of was het de vorige, ben een beetje de tel kwijt) introduceerde Feist een aantal personages (Jimmy, Tad, Zane, Jommy, Servan and Grandy), maar heb het idee dat die later meer werden gebruikt als bladvulling. Af en toe kwamen ze eventjes voor, maar waren daarna al gauw weer vergeten.
Beetje teleurgesteld in de dood van een paar karakters , maar misschien was dat wel nodig voor de volgende reeks.
Net als alle andere boeken van Feist aan het einde van een reeks, bouwt ook dit boek weer naar een volgende reeks toe.
(sorry als dit een beetje chaotisch overkomt, maar dit zijn zo de dingen die nu bij mij opkomen, terwijl ik gammel achter het toetsenbord zit te typen).
Een aantal verhaallijnen die begonnen in Magiër (19 boeken geleden) worden nu afgesloten.
In het begin van deze reeks (of was het de vorige, ben een beetje de tel kwijt) introduceerde Feist een aantal personages (Jimmy, Tad, Zane, Jommy, Servan and Grandy), maar heb het idee dat die later meer werden gebruikt als bladvulling. Af en toe kwamen ze eventjes voor, maar waren daarna al gauw weer vergeten.
Beetje teleurgesteld in de dood van een paar karakters , maar misschien was dat wel nodig voor de volgende reeks.
Net als alle andere boeken van Feist aan het einde van een reeks, bouwt ook dit boek weer naar een volgende reeks toe.
(sorry als dit een beetje chaotisch overkomt, maar dit zijn zo de dingen die nu bij mij opkomen, terwijl ik gammel achter het toetsenbord zit te typen).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2021
While this book was still a very enjoyable read, there are a number of inaccuracies/retcons compared to previous books in the Riftwar Cycle.
At one point it is stated that Kaspar never interacted with Elves before save one instance where he met an Elven messenger, which is untrue as his stay in Elvandar was throughly detailed in a previous book.
Also bothersome is the fact that the Minwanabi clan are retconned back into existence whereas they were previously exterminated at the end of the Empire trilogy.
The most infuriating retcon in my opinion is the statement that Erik von Darkmoor never wed, while his wife was often mentioned and interacted with previously in the series.
In hindsight I'd still have read this book, but the various retcons, or perhaps, mistakes, needlessly detract from the overall quality of the story.
At one point it is stated that Kaspar never interacted with Elves before save one instance where he met an Elven messenger, which is untrue as his stay in Elvandar was throughly detailed in a previous book.
Also bothersome is the fact that the Minwanabi clan are retconned back into existence whereas they were previously exterminated at the end of the Empire trilogy.
The most infuriating retcon in my opinion is the statement that Erik von Darkmoor never wed, while his wife was often mentioned and interacted with previously in the series.
In hindsight I'd still have read this book, but the various retcons, or perhaps, mistakes, needlessly detract from the overall quality of the story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2020
Im a big Feist fan but for me this book tries too hard to be epic. It's a bit contrived and shoe horns in the end of lots of familiar characters almost like there was a specific desire to close off an entire generation.
Im not certain whether the author intended to leave any plot twists in the book or not because although some things were unexpected, in comparison to your thoughts at say the serpentwar saga, for the most part things seemed to me to be pretty predictable.
An important part of the overall series but definitely not as gripping as many others so far. I would have given it 3.5 if i could.
Im not certain whether the author intended to leave any plot twists in the book or not because although some things were unexpected, in comparison to your thoughts at say the serpentwar saga, for the most part things seemed to me to be pretty predictable.
An important part of the overall series but definitely not as gripping as many others so far. I would have given it 3.5 if i could.
July 4, 2009
Feist did an excellent job of tying in old favorites, and setting the stage for the next series. Only now as I am typing this review do I realize that a major plotline was left unaddressed ... so that will certainly show up in the next book! Regardless, I didn't feel like I was missing that thread, because the end tied up all of the crucial, immediate elements very neatly. I resist saying anything else, as it would be considered a spoiler, and I know I avoid reviews that give away details!
January 30, 2025
I’ll give this 3.5 stars
Well after reading the previous book in this series, for once I wasn’t really sure I wanted to read this one. I wasn’t really looking forward to jumping in. This book started off bad for me. The “torture” (in quotes because it wasn’t graphic) didn’t sit well with me. Just imagining how it would make a person feel was enough for me. Because of this I really was skeptical about the rest of the book. It just put me back to the feelings of the previous one. Well let me tell you I’m glad I decided to continue. Overall it was good, had battles which I like and a lot of my favorite characters. I’m going to continue in the world, and with only five books left I’m wanting to see how this world is wrapped up.
Well after reading the previous book in this series, for once I wasn’t really sure I wanted to read this one. I wasn’t really looking forward to jumping in. This book started off bad for me. The “torture” (in quotes because it wasn’t graphic) didn’t sit well with me. Just imagining how it would make a person feel was enough for me. Because of this I really was skeptical about the rest of the book. It just put me back to the feelings of the previous one. Well let me tell you I’m glad I decided to continue. Overall it was good, had battles which I like and a lot of my favorite characters. I’m going to continue in the world, and with only five books left I’m wanting to see how this world is wrapped up.
January 28, 2026
incredible ending to the trilogy, and an excellent catalyst for the larger series! the scope of the world just keeps getting more epic and he did a great job of upping, or maybe just revealing, the stakes. the climax of this novel was fully 250 pages and i could not stop reading, it was executed flawlessly.
minor gripe - could have done with some proofreading! just small errors and inconsistencies that should’ve been caught
still five stars and has me eager to read the demonwar saga as soon as i can get my hands on it
minor gripe - could have done with some proofreading! just small errors and inconsistencies that should’ve been caught
still five stars and has me eager to read the demonwar saga as soon as i can get my hands on it
January 29, 2025
What a totally epic finale to this trilogy. I’d argue this is my new favourite book since the original trilogy. I’m left open-mouthed at the events portrayed. Plus it’s always nice to be back with some of the old favourite characters. I loved the concept of the Dasati and their culture versus the humans.
April 7, 2020
Another classic tbh I can’t put the series down!!
June 1, 2020
3 1/2 stars. The final book of a long sequence where some answers are finally given. An epic end to an epic fantasy series. Enjoyable.
May 31, 2025
pas le meilleur
January 18, 2019
Wrath of a Mad God is book 3 in Raymond Feist’s Dark War Saga. The book, and a series as a whole, follows a number of characters, some old favorites like Pug and Nakor, as well as some new additions to the cast. While this review will mostly pertain to the final book in the series, it would be impossible to critique it without talking a little bit about the previous books. All in all, both the final book and the larger Dark War Saga are a decent plot-driven story with professional, but sometimes lazy writing, and characters that are well-developed in other books but that have no growth or added depth in the Dark War Saga.
I’m a big fan of Raymond Feist. I’ve read about 80% of his lengthy list of novels, but this series ranks on the bottom tier of his impressive portfolio. A big part of this is the new characters, Tad and Zane, two generic teenage boys that form about half of the narrative of the first two books. They are not interesting, and their storyline doesn’t drive the plot. I’m hard pressed to understand why they are present in the storyline. They were a big detractor. Thankfully Feist seems to have realized that they were just getting in the way for the final book, in which they are virtually nonexistent. It makes for a stilted narrative, having them be such a major percentage of the POV chapters, but I got a second wind when I realized they had been cut from book three. We do get a healthy dose of our favorite characters from previous books in the setting, namely Pug, Nakor, and Miranda.
By the time we reach the Wrath of a Mad God, Pug has followed the trail of the deadly Nighthawk assassins and discovered the involvement of the nefarious necromancer Leso Varen, as well as discovering an ominous connection to another dimension, where a race known as the Dasati are ruled by a dark god. While Miranda fights their inroads of invasion back home on Kelewan, Pug journeys to the Dasati homeworld. The novel has a pulpy action adventure quality that is entertaining, and keeps you turning pages. This is one of Feist’s strong suits. The setting is also unique and intriguing, delving into a strange new world that is almost inconceivably dark and dangerous. Plot and setting really buoy this novel and make it worthwhile for anyone interested in a light, fast-paced read.
Earlier I mentioned that the writing felt lazy, which is harsh, but I think justified. There is a lot of telling as opposed to showing. A lot. We get quite a few info dumps, areas where the author just unloads big chunks of exposition or back story. It happens over and over again. There is even like a five or six page back story for a minor character all in a lump. This is balanced out by the fact that the world building and back stories are interesting, they just aren’t delivered optimally.
In the end, Wrath of a Mad God and the Dark War Saga are an easy, plot- driven read, that is entertaining but not particularly memorable. Tad and Zane are not interesting characters, and they clog up the first two books for no good reason. It was only my faith in Feist that got me past their portion of the narrative. In fairness this is a review for Wrath of a Mad God, which is decidedly better for their absence. As any fan would expect, there is some really awesome magic, an interesting setting, and some fun characters that we met many books ago, but the conclusion was a little anti-climactic, and the writing was phoned in. The Wrath of a Mad God is a decent, pulp adventure, set in a deeply detailed world, that has hosted more interesting stories than this particular installment.
3/5 Stars
I’m a big fan of Raymond Feist. I’ve read about 80% of his lengthy list of novels, but this series ranks on the bottom tier of his impressive portfolio. A big part of this is the new characters, Tad and Zane, two generic teenage boys that form about half of the narrative of the first two books. They are not interesting, and their storyline doesn’t drive the plot. I’m hard pressed to understand why they are present in the storyline. They were a big detractor. Thankfully Feist seems to have realized that they were just getting in the way for the final book, in which they are virtually nonexistent. It makes for a stilted narrative, having them be such a major percentage of the POV chapters, but I got a second wind when I realized they had been cut from book three. We do get a healthy dose of our favorite characters from previous books in the setting, namely Pug, Nakor, and Miranda.
By the time we reach the Wrath of a Mad God, Pug has followed the trail of the deadly Nighthawk assassins and discovered the involvement of the nefarious necromancer Leso Varen, as well as discovering an ominous connection to another dimension, where a race known as the Dasati are ruled by a dark god. While Miranda fights their inroads of invasion back home on Kelewan, Pug journeys to the Dasati homeworld. The novel has a pulpy action adventure quality that is entertaining, and keeps you turning pages. This is one of Feist’s strong suits. The setting is also unique and intriguing, delving into a strange new world that is almost inconceivably dark and dangerous. Plot and setting really buoy this novel and make it worthwhile for anyone interested in a light, fast-paced read.
Earlier I mentioned that the writing felt lazy, which is harsh, but I think justified. There is a lot of telling as opposed to showing. A lot. We get quite a few info dumps, areas where the author just unloads big chunks of exposition or back story. It happens over and over again. There is even like a five or six page back story for a minor character all in a lump. This is balanced out by the fact that the world building and back stories are interesting, they just aren’t delivered optimally.
In the end, Wrath of a Mad God and the Dark War Saga are an easy, plot- driven read, that is entertaining but not particularly memorable. Tad and Zane are not interesting characters, and they clog up the first two books for no good reason. It was only my faith in Feist that got me past their portion of the narrative. In fairness this is a review for Wrath of a Mad God, which is decidedly better for their absence. As any fan would expect, there is some really awesome magic, an interesting setting, and some fun characters that we met many books ago, but the conclusion was a little anti-climactic, and the writing was phoned in. The Wrath of a Mad God is a decent, pulp adventure, set in a deeply detailed world, that has hosted more interesting stories than this particular installment.
3/5 Stars
June 20, 2021
The Darkwar Saga is another installment in the adventures of the magician Pug, and a continued exploration of the universe within which Feist sets his novels.
One of the things I find most interesting about Feist's universe is how expansive it is, covering not just planets and space but also realms of existence, higher or lower dimensions. This is one of the original concepts of his work, in the connection between Midkemia and Kelewan through the the Rift (as explained in the Riftwar Saga). Here in the Darkwar series, the conflict comes in a potential invasion through a rift from not just another planet, but from a wholly different realm (somewhat analogous to a different dimension).
One of the things I find most frustrating about Feist's universe is how expansive it is, with poorly explained connections between realms or levels of reality or suchlike. This is a difficult concept to convey and only works as a setting with magic and suspended disbelief. I really like Feist's idea of the Hall of Worlds, a magically accessible connection to wide-flung planets and places. I don't quite understand why we have to change realms to find a new disaster for Pug and Midkemia. A lot of words were spent trying to explain the setting and how changing realms will impact the characters.
That said, the imagined culture of the Dasati invaders is interesting, and the story brings plenty of engaging action and heroics. Favorite characters from previous stories show up. The Darkwar Saga is a fun series for fans of Feist's writings.
One of the things I find most interesting about Feist's universe is how expansive it is, covering not just planets and space but also realms of existence, higher or lower dimensions. This is one of the original concepts of his work, in the connection between Midkemia and Kelewan through the the Rift (as explained in the Riftwar Saga). Here in the Darkwar series, the conflict comes in a potential invasion through a rift from not just another planet, but from a wholly different realm (somewhat analogous to a different dimension).
One of the things I find most frustrating about Feist's universe is how expansive it is, with poorly explained connections between realms or levels of reality or suchlike. This is a difficult concept to convey and only works as a setting with magic and suspended disbelief. I really like Feist's idea of the Hall of Worlds, a magically accessible connection to wide-flung planets and places. I don't quite understand why we have to change realms to find a new disaster for Pug and Midkemia. A lot of words were spent trying to explain the setting and how changing realms will impact the characters.
That said, the imagined culture of the Dasati invaders is interesting, and the story brings plenty of engaging action and heroics. Favorite characters from previous stories show up. The Darkwar Saga is a fun series for fans of Feist's writings.
April 12, 2010
This book has interested me to the very edge of my expectations. Interesting as it may be, I dislike the way how he switches plots from one to another. It is a cliff hanger and I do not enjoy them very much. Even so, this book has interesting me and compelled me so much, that I stayed up until 1:57 am just to finish the book. It filled me with irony, action, justice, but mostly irony. This book doesn't make sence if you don't read the other books related to this one or others. The way that Feist emits the story in the reader's mind is amazing. He keeps you locked within the pages and makes you keep turning them. His method of making readers, like me, glue to the book/series are unique for they are one that I have seen or read little of. Every single character of this book plays an important part of the event or situation in the story line. If you ask who the main character is, the only answer to that question is all of them.
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