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The Demonwar Saga #2
Пред вратите на мрака
ВТОРА КНИГА от „Войната на демоните“
Край вратите на мрака дори сенките таят сенки...
Нови премеждия отправят предизвикателство към Конклава на сенките. Демонска орда следва по петите таределите и заплашва да връхлети Мидкемия. Самите Звездни елфи също са угроза за мира и стабилността, а Пъг е измъчван от жестоката цена, която е бил принуден да плати, изгубвайки любим човек.
Но скръбта ще трябва да почака. В изоставена крепост в Долината на изгубените, агенти на Конклава стават свидетели на ужасяващи сцени и зад всичко това прозира ръката на един отдавна познат враг.
Край вратите на мрака дори сенките таят сенки...
Нови премеждия отправят предизвикателство към Конклава на сенките. Демонска орда следва по петите таределите и заплашва да връхлети Мидкемия. Самите Звездни елфи също са угроза за мира и стабилността, а Пъг е измъчван от жестоката цена, която е бил принуден да плати, изгубвайки любим човек.
Но скръбта ще трябва да почака. В изоставена крепост в Долината на изгубените, агенти на Конклава стават свидетели на ужасяващи сцени и зад всичко това прозира ръката на един отдавна познат враг.
272 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2009
171 people are currently reading
4165 people want to read
About the author
Raymond E. Feist
300 books9,613 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 178 reviews
December 23, 2022
Read Magician on family holiday in 1987 aged 14 and been a huge Feist and Midkemia fan since then and the magic remains with this the latest one I read.
March 7, 2020
At the Gates of Darkness is the last book in the Demonwar Saga, the second-to-last subseries in the very large Riftwar Cycle. Only 3 books left.
This was better than the previous book, where I complained that the large amounts of recaps in the first half became tedious and boring. This book had minimal recaps and more action, and I did enjoy the story, but for some reason I never became as engrossed in it as I have with many of the other books in the series. I did enjoy it, though. There were some interesting new characters and situations introduced, and more questions raised that I look forward to seeing answered in the final subseries.
Major spoiler for the previous book, not so much for this one:
I’ve started to feel a slight bit exasperated when certain writing tactics Feist likes to use show up repeatedly, so maybe I’m finally starting to experience this mysterious author fatigue that some people talk about! This was book 28 of 31, after all. I’ll probably go into a little more detail on his general writing style and what I liked/disliked if I have the energy for it when I review the final book. I’m rating this one at 3.5 stars, but rounding down to 3 on Goodreads.
This was better than the previous book, where I complained that the large amounts of recaps in the first half became tedious and boring. This book had minimal recaps and more action, and I did enjoy the story, but for some reason I never became as engrossed in it as I have with many of the other books in the series. I did enjoy it, though. There were some interesting new characters and situations introduced, and more questions raised that I look forward to seeing answered in the final subseries.
Major spoiler for the previous book, not so much for this one:
I’ve started to feel a slight bit exasperated when certain writing tactics Feist likes to use show up repeatedly, so maybe I’m finally starting to experience this mysterious author fatigue that some people talk about! This was book 28 of 31, after all. I’ll probably go into a little more detail on his general writing style and what I liked/disliked if I have the energy for it when I review the final book. I’m rating this one at 3.5 stars, but rounding down to 3 on Goodreads.
May 12, 2019
Well, I have to admit this book tickled so many of my fancies. I mean, big magic, bigger magic, OP characters, and enough demons to fill several realms AND we get to learn even more about them. :)
This is a FAR cry from some of the earlier novels that started small and stayed small. The storytelling might have a lot more nuance, but if you're missing the big blow-outs, just look here. An interesting if slightly providential new character introduced in the previous novel continues to shed some light on one of the most interesting villains in the series. And the villain himself has gotten himself in DEEP this time. :)
Worth it? Yep! The big stuff is here and while I may have a few quibbles they're nothing special. The plot must progress and all the loose ends need to be wrapped up, and if a loose end just happens to be the fate of all levels of this particular set of odd heavens and hells, then so be it. :)
This is a FAR cry from some of the earlier novels that started small and stayed small. The storytelling might have a lot more nuance, but if you're missing the big blow-outs, just look here. An interesting if slightly providential new character introduced in the previous novel continues to shed some light on one of the most interesting villains in the series. And the villain himself has gotten himself in DEEP this time. :)
Worth it? Yep! The big stuff is here and while I may have a few quibbles they're nothing special. The plot must progress and all the loose ends need to be wrapped up, and if a loose end just happens to be the fate of all levels of this particular set of odd heavens and hells, then so be it. :)
April 14, 2010
I really hate the way all fantasy series need to be trilogies these days. When this happens, you end up with things like this book, a placeholder where nothing particularly interesting happens. This book, and others like it, are designed to kind of tread water until the author can pull together a decent end to a trilogy.
Anyway, that's kind of a meta-complaint. My specific complaints about this book in particular are 1) that it is boring, 2) that it is really short, 3) that things that seemed like they were going to be interesting from the first book, like the confrontation between the Star Elves and the rest of Midkemia don't happen in this book, and 4) that the book, as written, is totally unnecessary.
The minimal story progression in this book could have been taken care of at the beginning of the final book instead of being stretched to fill a novel-length work, and that would have made for a better story. But something like that, you know, giving the consumers something they would actually enjoy reading, wouldn't line the publisher's pockets, so we are stuck with crap like this book.
Anyway, that's kind of a meta-complaint. My specific complaints about this book in particular are 1) that it is boring, 2) that it is really short, 3) that things that seemed like they were going to be interesting from the first book, like the confrontation between the Star Elves and the rest of Midkemia don't happen in this book, and 4) that the book, as written, is totally unnecessary.
The minimal story progression in this book could have been taken care of at the beginning of the final book instead of being stretched to fill a novel-length work, and that would have made for a better story. But something like that, you know, giving the consumers something they would actually enjoy reading, wouldn't line the publisher's pockets, so we are stuck with crap like this book.
March 8, 2023
Jos jedna zanimljiva knjiga i osecam jos jedan dugacak uvod u poslednji serijal (The Chaoswar Saga) u Riftwar ciklusu. U ove dve knjige (The Demonwar Saga) Fajst nas je upoznao sa dosta novih i jako bitnih likova. U pricu je vratio Demone, prosirio njihovu ulogu i zainteresovao me da vidim sta to donose poslednje tri knjige o carobnjaku Pagu, njegovom prijatelju Tomasu ali i sta ce biti sa svim ostalim meni dragim karakterima. Da li ce se Midkemija udruziti pod nevidljivom palicom Konklave Senki i opstati.... Lets find out....
April 18, 2024
Τραγικό. Βαρετό. Αναίτο. Ανούσιο. Κακογραμμένο. Φτηνό.
Είναι απορίας άξιον πώς καταφέρνουν τέτοια τραγικά βιβλία να αποσπούν βαθμολογίες κοντά στο 4. Ιδίως, αν αυτοί που τα διαβάζουν έχουν πάρει την σειρά από την αρχή και έχουν εικόνα των εξαιρετικών πρώτων βιβλίων.
Για να μη μακρηγορώ. Είναι ένα βιβλίο όπου πρακτικά τίποτε δε γίνεται. ΟΚ, βλέπουμε ένα δαίμονα να έρχεται, αλλά σε αυτή τη σειρά είναι σα να λες «είδα κάποιον να ανεβαίνει σε λεωφορείο» και να ξεμπερδεύουνε με αυτόν, που επίσης σε αυτή τη σειρά είναι σα να λες «είδα κάποιον να κατεβαίνει από λεωφορείο». Κατά τ’ άλλα, ένα άθλιο χάος, κακή γραφή, δαίμονες να ουρλιάζουν και να τσιρίζουν, ημίτρελοι μάγοι που στο τέλος εξιλεώνονται (μπορεί και όχι), χώματα και μπάζα που καλύπτουν περιοχές, ρήγματα που κλείνουν και ο Παγκ να ξοδεύει σε μαγικά περισσότερη ενέργεια απ’ όση χρειάζεται για να φωταγωγηθεί το Παρίσι. Για ένα χρόνο.
Γραμμένο αποκλειστικά για να εκμεταλλευθεί το όνομα του συγγραφέα και το εύρος της σειράς, δεν προσφέρει απολύτως τίποτε, εκτός από το να γεμίσει λίγο ακόμη τις τσέπες του Feist και του εκδότη και να κλείσει το μάτι ότι και καλά «τίποτε δεν έχει τελειώσει». Για μένα όμως, ο Feist τέλειωσε. Εγκαταλείπω μετά από αυτή την άθλια και φτηνιάρικη ξεπέτα που φάσκει και αντιφάσκει και αναλώνεται σε αναμνήσεις περασμένων, αστείες/τραγικές αποστολές, ηλίθιες αλληλεπιδράσεις (αδιάφορων) χαρακτήρων που δεν ενδιαφέρουν κανέναν, και γελοίες μαγικές μάχες με δαίμονες.
Mike drop and out.
Είναι απορίας άξιον πώς καταφέρνουν τέτοια τραγικά βιβλία να αποσπούν βαθμολογίες κοντά στο 4. Ιδίως, αν αυτοί που τα διαβάζουν έχουν πάρει την σειρά από την αρχή και έχουν εικόνα των εξαιρετικών πρώτων βιβλίων.
Για να μη μακρηγορώ. Είναι ένα βιβλίο όπου πρακτικά τίποτε δε γίνεται. ΟΚ, βλέπουμε ένα δαίμονα να έρχεται, αλλά σε αυτή τη σειρά είναι σα να λες «είδα κάποιον να ανεβαίνει σε λεωφορείο» και να ξεμπερδεύουνε με αυτόν, που επίσης σε αυτή τη σειρά είναι σα να λες «είδα κάποιον να κατεβαίνει από λεωφορείο». Κατά τ’ άλλα, ένα άθλιο χάος, κακή γραφή, δαίμονες να ουρλιάζουν και να τσιρίζουν, ημίτρελοι μάγοι που στο τέλος εξιλεώνονται (μπορεί και όχι), χώματα και μπάζα που καλύπτουν περιοχές, ρήγματα που κλείνουν και ο Παγκ να ξοδεύει σε μαγικά περισσότερη ενέργεια απ’ όση χρειάζεται για να φωταγωγηθεί το Παρίσι. Για ένα χρόνο.
Γραμμένο αποκλειστικά για να εκμεταλλευθεί το όνομα του συγγραφέα και το εύρος της σειράς, δεν προσφέρει απολύτως τίποτε, εκτός από το να γεμίσει λίγο ακόμη τις τσέπες του Feist και του εκδότη και να κλείσει το μάτι ότι και καλά «τίποτε δεν έχει τελειώσει». Για μένα όμως, ο Feist τέλειωσε. Εγκαταλείπω μετά από αυτή την άθλια και φτηνιάρικη ξεπέτα που φάσκει και αντιφάσκει και αναλώνεται σε αναμνήσεις περασμένων, αστείες/τραγικές αποστολές, ηλίθιες αλληλεπιδράσεις (αδιάφορων) χαρακτήρων που δεν ενδιαφέρουν κανέναν, και γελοίες μαγικές μάχες με δαίμονες.
Mike drop and out.
February 10, 2026
While not among the best of the Midkemia series, this is still worth the reading. It is a typical fantasy novel saved from mediocrity by good characterization and a strong ending. The last 50 pages make the book so much better. Makes me wonder if that part was already plotted and then the beginning back-filled. 3.5/5.0
January 30, 2014
...Although the books of Feist have never been at the high end of the scale when it comes to literary quality, his early work was first step into the fantasy genre for me. His novels gave me a taste of fantasy before tackling the heavy-hitters of speculative fiction. At the Gates of Darkness however, is nowhere near Feist's best. The story is more or less what we've come to expect from him but the execution is sloppy and feels rushed. From the Demonwar books I really get the impression Feist can't wait to get to the end of this series. With three more books to go, assuming Feist will not write the two additional Krondor books, I certainly hope he does better in the Chaoswar trilogy. It would be a shame to let the series fizzle out in a number of uninspired novels.
Full Random Comments review
Full Random Comments review
June 5, 2010
This was an ok read, apparently finishing a two book arc in Midkemia. It tied up the story fairly well, almost surprisingly in some sense. However, I also find Feist's writing to continue to degrade and I may have to just give up on him at some point.
One of the biggest issues is the book had extremely poor editing. There were at least two occasions on which I just shook my head at very basic errors in the text. One toward the end was particularly impressive: a group of about 9 people splits into two parties and separate, but for some reason one character is simultaneously in both groups. There is a paragraph that essentially reads: "A, B, C, and D walked up the hill. As they disappeared from view, E turned to B and said..." Hmmm...didn't it just say B walked up the hill and disappeared from view? This was one of the more egregious errors, but by no means the only one.
One of the biggest issues is the book had extremely poor editing. There were at least two occasions on which I just shook my head at very basic errors in the text. One toward the end was particularly impressive: a group of about 9 people splits into two parties and separate, but for some reason one character is simultaneously in both groups. There is a paragraph that essentially reads: "A, B, C, and D walked up the hill. As they disappeared from view, E turned to B and said..." Hmmm...didn't it just say B walked up the hill and disappeared from view? This was one of the more egregious errors, but by no means the only one.
April 20, 2018
Oh, Raymond E Feist with your sprawling Riftwar saga, how do I love thee? Well, not hugely with this effort. When Ray started his epic I eagerly devoured Magician, Silverthorn and Darkness at Sethanon; the one-off novels and the serpentwar saga. I have read damn near everything set in this world and I love it but, I have to say that this book is underwhelming and far too reliant on people remembering characters from the previous books. With King's Buccaneer and Prince of the Blood, you still had Arutha, Jimmy and co. but it didn't feel like you had to have read those novels in order to proceed. Likewise with the Serpentwar Saga, long time readers of the series could drift in and fall into the plot without feeling the weight of baggage. The later books and this one in particular feel bogged down. The endless parade of world-ending plots feels a little bit wearisome and while I appreciate the addition of Sandreena (I think that's how you spell it) her backstory is lazy.
Pug is always good to read but there isn't the connection that Feist has placed in him before. He feels like a placeholder and in fact so do most of the characters and the book in general. It feels like this addition could have been skipped over without detriment to the overall story. It's short and despite yet more peril landing on Midkemia, it still feels bland.
I didn't hate it despite the above, but I didn't love it. There's no-one like Arutha or Martin Longbow or Jimmy. For that matter there isn't an Erik Von Darkmoor or Roo. The characters are pale shadows of greater creations. The new Upright Man is called Jimmy and is an imitation of his ancestor.
It's still Feist and I would give him a pass because I love his world, but the Demonwar part 2 is disappointing.
Pug is always good to read but there isn't the connection that Feist has placed in him before. He feels like a placeholder and in fact so do most of the characters and the book in general. It feels like this addition could have been skipped over without detriment to the overall story. It's short and despite yet more peril landing on Midkemia, it still feels bland.
I didn't hate it despite the above, but I didn't love it. There's no-one like Arutha or Martin Longbow or Jimmy. For that matter there isn't an Erik Von Darkmoor or Roo. The characters are pale shadows of greater creations. The new Upright Man is called Jimmy and is an imitation of his ancestor.
It's still Feist and I would give him a pass because I love his world, but the Demonwar part 2 is disappointing.
March 9, 2014
The only reason I finished this book is because I have read all the others in the entire series. I will power through the rest of the books in the series, but I will never reread any of them past Talon of the Silver Hawk ever again...for some reason it was there that the whole setting took a turn for the worst.
Sorry.
Sorry.
July 14, 2020
Our heroes reach the heart of darkness to face increasingly powerful demons, learning along the way that things are much more difficult and much more complicated. Of course, the author conveys this confrontation in his well-known fascinating way and gives a lot of interest to this book.
Οι ήρωες μας φτάνουν στην καρδιά του σκότους για να αντιμετωπίσουν όλο και ισχυρότερους δαίμονες, μαθαίνοντας στην πορεία ότι τα πράγματα είναι πολύ πιο δύσκολα και πολύ πιο περίπλοκο. Φυσικά αυτή την αναμέτρηση ο συγγραφέας την μεταφέρει με το γνωστό του συναρπαστικό τρόπο και δίνει αρκετά ενδιαφέρον σε αυτό το βιβλίο.
Οι ήρωες μας φτάνουν στην καρδιά του σκότους για να αντιμετωπίσουν όλο και ισχυρότερους δαίμονες, μαθαίνοντας στην πορεία ότι τα πράγματα είναι πολύ πιο δύσκολα και πολύ πιο περίπλοκο. Φυσικά αυτή την αναμέτρηση ο συγγραφέας την μεταφέρει με το γνωστό του συναρπαστικό τρόπο και δίνει αρκετά ενδιαφέρον σε αυτό το βιβλίο.
April 8, 2021
My thoughts on this are pretty similar to the previous book. This two book set doesn't really have enough weight to it to warrant being called a "saga". Could have easily been edited into a single book.
While it introduced some interesting new characters, overall, The Demonwar Saga felt pretty hollow. After the cataclysmic events that ended the previous series...events that are essentially completely forgotten in these books, the events of this story seem...petty. It might have worked better if this series had come prior to the Darkwar Saga.
As it is, I don't see myself revisiting this part of Feist's work again.
While it introduced some interesting new characters, overall, The Demonwar Saga felt pretty hollow. After the cataclysmic events that ended the previous series...events that are essentially completely forgotten in these books, the events of this story seem...petty. It might have worked better if this series had come prior to the Darkwar Saga.
As it is, I don't see myself revisiting this part of Feist's work again.
December 14, 2011
Dreadful - I'll admit that I actually stopped reading this book a bit less than halfway through. If Magician had been this bad, Feist would never have been published. Magician still rates in my top one or two fantasy books of all time, and prior to this, I've read all of Feist's work. Barring some sort of spectacular return to form, however, I believe this book marks the last work by Feist that I'll read.
August 10, 2025
I enjoyed this one! There have been a few in this world that have been ok, not great. I loved the characters that were in this one. There were a few of my favorites. This book felt like more action packed than several others. There seemed to be a lot more action. There was a lot of war/fights going on in this one and Feist sure can write those scenes! There are only a few books left in the world and I’m very excited to see what happens and how every thing is going to be wrapped up.
December 6, 2014
I love Raymond Feist. At the same time, I find his later books regularly peppered with continuity errors (was the the elf or the dwarf talking? Who was it getting punched that time?), and large sections of seat-of-the pants writing that belongs in a first draft. Pug and his crew are supposed to be really smart, but they fall backwards through obvious clues, and in the final battles, wander from place to place with no plan, depending on Pug's super-magic to save the day. This book was one of the worst.
I like the premise of the star elves running from a hoard of demons and landing on Midkemia. I like the magician elf brothers, the new characters, the old characters returning. They are all interesting enough, and the potential for a story is there, but really, this book was just tossed together with entire, large plots dropped on the floor after being half developed. I think Feist didn't really know what to do with them, so fobbed them off to either another book (I haven't read any later than this), or just decided to drop them.
There has been more and more of this sort of thing after his first set of books, which were classics. It's not uncommon to see spelling mistakes (waste instead of waist), weird inconsistencies within what Pug and other magicians can do with their magic, random, off-screen deaths of former major characters and so on. This was amateur hour for a writer who has written some of the very best fantasy in his original Magician series.
I will continue reading, since I am only three more books away from the end of the Midkemia saga. I hope the last three are better orchestrated and not cobbled together in a brain dump of half thought out ideas.
I like the premise of the star elves running from a hoard of demons and landing on Midkemia. I like the magician elf brothers, the new characters, the old characters returning. They are all interesting enough, and the potential for a story is there, but really, this book was just tossed together with entire, large plots dropped on the floor after being half developed. I think Feist didn't really know what to do with them, so fobbed them off to either another book (I haven't read any later than this), or just decided to drop them.
There has been more and more of this sort of thing after his first set of books, which were classics. It's not uncommon to see spelling mistakes (waste instead of waist), weird inconsistencies within what Pug and other magicians can do with their magic, random, off-screen deaths of former major characters and so on. This was amateur hour for a writer who has written some of the very best fantasy in his original Magician series.
I will continue reading, since I am only three more books away from the end of the Midkemia saga. I hope the last three are better orchestrated and not cobbled together in a brain dump of half thought out ideas.
February 19, 2023
An improvement over the last book, but still not as good as many of the books in Riftwar. Still, I'm glad to see it's not just a total spiral as the series wraps up.
On to the next!
On to the next!
May 10, 2019
Aardig boek, maar niet een van de beste van de schrijver. Het leek een hele lange introductie te zijn naar een marginale uitkomst.
De enige reden dat ik dit boek uitgelezen heb, is dat ik de andere delen ook gelezen heb, en graag wil weten hoe het allemaal afloopt.
Sorry, maar snel vergeten dit boek., en op naar een volgend deel, want ik zal de serie uit lezen, ook al moet ik me er door heen worstelen.
De reden dat ik zo lang over deed om dit boek uit te lezen was dat in de tussentijd mijn e-reader de geest gaf.
De enige reden dat ik dit boek uitgelezen heb, is dat ik de andere delen ook gelezen heb, en graag wil weten hoe het allemaal afloopt.
Sorry, maar snel vergeten dit boek., en op naar een volgend deel, want ik zal de serie uit lezen, ook al moet ik me er door heen worstelen.
De reden dat ik zo lang over deed om dit boek uit te lezen was dat in de tussentijd mijn e-reader de geest gaf.
October 23, 2020
Another reasonably enjoyable outing for Pug and his various friends in this book. I actually enjoyed it more than some others as it was captivating and nice to get to know some of the newer characters in a bit more depth. This book also has the added bonus of a lack of unnecessary deaths.
My only real gripe in this book is that it's a little anti-climactic. The story moves through at a good pace without ever getting boring but then it just sort of ends with everyone knowing what needs to be done and no unexpected surprises or new bits of information to digest.
All in all a worthwhile read but I'm really hoping there's an epic left in this series somewhere.
My only real gripe in this book is that it's a little anti-climactic. The story moves through at a good pace without ever getting boring but then it just sort of ends with everyone knowing what needs to be done and no unexpected surprises or new bits of information to digest.
All in all a worthwhile read but I'm really hoping there's an epic left in this series somewhere.
November 11, 2020
Another classic book onto the next!
January 8, 2021
I liked the multiple stories during the first half of the book and how they intertwined towards the end.
I will hopefully finish this huge series by February!
Happy reading
Hannah xoxo
I will hopefully finish this huge series by February!
Happy reading
Hannah xoxo
March 29, 2024
This book takes place a year after the traumatic events at the end of the previous book.
Most of the book is the cast is scrambling for clues as to what is going on with the demons and how to deal with them. The Star Elves are hardly in the book other than the Demon master and his brother, which l found kind of surprising after their presence in the first entry.
The majority of the action is too fast and is the final 40 pages.
Most of the book is the cast is scrambling for clues as to what is going on with the demons and how to deal with them. The Star Elves are hardly in the book other than the Demon master and his brother, which l found kind of surprising after their presence in the first entry.
The majority of the action is too fast and is the final 40 pages.
April 29, 2020
I was so glad that I have read this!
I don't know what the matter is with so many of the reviewers of this book - they've either not read the entire series, so haven't a clue what's really going on, or they think, for some erroneous reason, that they are better writers than Raymond E Feist is, and so have the right to criticize his writing!
This second book of the Demonwar Saga was a page turner from beginning to end for me and, far from going away from his style of writing that he has had from the beginning, Feist stuck to doing what I love best - making his characters believable!
He kills off major characters, and had those affected by this grieve for them, even while still having to save the world once again, and while risking those he loves, when all he wants is to keep them safe.
Once again, I was thrilled to be on an amazing roller-coaster of a ride, as I followed old favourites, along with some new characters, and still got a buzz at not being able to totally guess where the plot was leading me!
I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series: 'A Kingdom Besieged', and hope I learn some more of the mystery that ended this book!
If I have to have one criticism of these later books, though, it's not in the writing, or the style, or the plots - but in something as basic as the constant typos I keep finding - obviously, whoever proof-read the manuscripts, kept missing quite glaring mistakes, which has been a shame, as I'm very OCD about stuff like that 😕
But, apart from that, I'm totally loving these books!
I don't know what the matter is with so many of the reviewers of this book - they've either not read the entire series, so haven't a clue what's really going on, or they think, for some erroneous reason, that they are better writers than Raymond E Feist is, and so have the right to criticize his writing!
This second book of the Demonwar Saga was a page turner from beginning to end for me and, far from going away from his style of writing that he has had from the beginning, Feist stuck to doing what I love best - making his characters believable!
He kills off major characters, and had those affected by this grieve for them, even while still having to save the world once again, and while risking those he loves, when all he wants is to keep them safe.
Once again, I was thrilled to be on an amazing roller-coaster of a ride, as I followed old favourites, along with some new characters, and still got a buzz at not being able to totally guess where the plot was leading me!
I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the series: 'A Kingdom Besieged', and hope I learn some more of the mystery that ended this book!
If I have to have one criticism of these later books, though, it's not in the writing, or the style, or the plots - but in something as basic as the constant typos I keep finding - obviously, whoever proof-read the manuscripts, kept missing quite glaring mistakes, which has been a shame, as I'm very OCD about stuff like that 😕
But, apart from that, I'm totally loving these books!
May 23, 2010
This was a Goodreads giveaway gift.
Review:
Great continuation of the Demonwar Saga. In this book, which I think takes place about one year after "Rides a Dread Legion", an agent of Pug's Conclave of the Shadows, Jim Dasher, stumbles upon the remnants of a horrific and bloody ritual used to summon demons. Reporting his finding back to the Conclave, Pug, Magnus, Amirantha, Sandreena, Gulamendis, Laromendis and others continue their search into the archives of the past to try and find out exactly what is happening in the Demon Realm. Their discovery proves to even the most learned Demon Masters that the Demon realms organization was far more brutal than what they could have ever suspected. With a little help from an ancient demon text and Pug's grandfather, the Conclave is able to discover where the rift to the Demon Realm lies. However once there, Amirantha's worst suspicions come true, not only is Belasco behind the newly attempted demon invasion of Midkemia, but he has actually allowed a demon to gain partial control over his body. The final battle ensures the power hungry demon's ability to infiltrate Midkemia is delayed, but more is yet to come. This book is a great read, quick paced, engaging, with some pretty witty dialogue.
Review:
Great continuation of the Demonwar Saga. In this book, which I think takes place about one year after "Rides a Dread Legion", an agent of Pug's Conclave of the Shadows, Jim Dasher, stumbles upon the remnants of a horrific and bloody ritual used to summon demons. Reporting his finding back to the Conclave, Pug, Magnus, Amirantha, Sandreena, Gulamendis, Laromendis and others continue their search into the archives of the past to try and find out exactly what is happening in the Demon Realm. Their discovery proves to even the most learned Demon Masters that the Demon realms organization was far more brutal than what they could have ever suspected. With a little help from an ancient demon text and Pug's grandfather, the Conclave is able to discover where the rift to the Demon Realm lies. However once there, Amirantha's worst suspicions come true, not only is Belasco behind the newly attempted demon invasion of Midkemia, but he has actually allowed a demon to gain partial control over his body. The final battle ensures the power hungry demon's ability to infiltrate Midkemia is delayed, but more is yet to come. This book is a great read, quick paced, engaging, with some pretty witty dialogue.
January 21, 2016
I wish I had the books in between this series and the initial 4 books Feist wrote about Midkemia and Pug, but sadly our public library only has bits and pieces of most authors' series. I did at least get to read the first book in this trilogy, and Feist does a pretty good job of filling in readers who have missed earlier books in the sequence.
In this trilogy Pug and his friends are faced with a whole branch of magic and magical creatures beyond Pug's knowledge and understanding, demons that have overrun several worlds already and that seem poised to invade Midkemia next. In addition to these demons, a small but deadly bunch of elves have appeared, descended from the elves that fled Midkemia many centuries ago. They are arrogant and narrow-minded, hell-bent on conquering or enslaving the races that occupy their ancestral home, so long as they can do so without the demons taking advantage of the chaos and destroying them all.
In this trilogy Pug and his friends are faced with a whole branch of magic and magical creatures beyond Pug's knowledge and understanding, demons that have overrun several worlds already and that seem poised to invade Midkemia next. In addition to these demons, a small but deadly bunch of elves have appeared, descended from the elves that fled Midkemia many centuries ago. They are arrogant and narrow-minded, hell-bent on conquering or enslaving the races that occupy their ancestral home, so long as they can do so without the demons taking advantage of the chaos and destroying them all.
March 30, 2011
To protect their world the Black Sorcerer Pug and Midkemia's clandestine protectors the Conclave of Shadows forged an uneasy alliance of formidable magical talent's.Together they defeated Maarg the brutal Demon King and turned back the on rushing death tide. But Maarg's fall has not stopped the demonic onslaught. The fearsome Demo Dahun and the mad Ne cromaneer Belasco have joined force,s creating an unstoppable union of deathly black magic,s that even Pug and a united conclave may not be strong enough to with stand. And as evil, mayhem, and dark magic are unleashed, none can predict if they- and Midnomia itself will survive.
December 26, 2017
This is probably the weakest of all of Feist’s rift war books. The good: as usual his characters are amazing. Well written, well rounded characters that you grow to love quickly. It’s not a bad story either. The expansion of the Sidi character into his three brothers and their back story is great. The bad: The Star Elves are the focus of the previous book in this two part series but they just fade away to nothing by the end of this. There’s no resolution to their story or even much attention given to it. Loose ends are fine, but this just ignores them. I almost feel there should have been a third book and Feist got bored and stopped writing.
May 19, 2010
Once again Raymond Feist reminds me why he's my favorite Fantasy genre author. By killing off main characters, and by having a plot, only his serious followers would understand after reading all of his novels with his beloved PUG as the main character. I would equate reading this book to seeing "Empire Strikes Back," plot twists, and secrets all revealed. Loved it!
May 24, 2011
While I simply adore Raymond Feist's works, it appears he phoned this one in.
Sure, there was some good stuff. The new characters were mildly interesting and the big battle at the end, while a bit confusing, did hold my interest. But this book simply lacked the hallmark captivating story that I've come to expect from a great author like Feist.
Sure, there was some good stuff. The new characters were mildly interesting and the big battle at the end, while a bit confusing, did hold my interest. But this book simply lacked the hallmark captivating story that I've come to expect from a great author like Feist.
August 20, 2011
Just see my review of part one. I just don't see why Feist himself keeps writing stuff about increasingly powerfull enemy's for pug while he's strong point was creating down to earth characters and throwing them into the madness.
Anyway, after 12 years or so since I first read a Feist and all those books I will finish it so 3 more books to go
Anyway, after 12 years or so since I first read a Feist and all those books I will finish it so 3 more books to go
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