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The Chaoswar Saga #1-3
The Chaoswar Saga: A Kingdom Besieged / A Crown Imperilled / Magician's End
Return to a world of magic and adventure from bestselling author Raymond E. Feist. This bundle includes the complete Chaoswar Saga.
The bundle includes: A Kingdom Besieged, A Crown Imperilled, Magician’s End.
A KINGDOM BESIEGED: The Darkness is coming…
The Kingdom is plagued by rumour and instability. Kingdom spies in Kesh have been disappearing - either murdered, or turned to the enemy side. Information has become scant and unreliable; but one thing appears clear. Dark forces are on the move…
A CROWN IMPERILLED: War rages in Midkemia but behind the chaos there is disquieting evidence of dark forces at work.
Lord Hal of Crydee and his great friend Ty Hawkins, champion swordsman of the Masters’ Court, are entrusted with the task of smuggling Princess Stephané and her lady-in-waiting, the lovely but mysterious Lady Gabriella, out of Roldem to a place of greater safety. But is there any safe haven to be found?
MAGICIAN’S END: The dragons are calling…
Civil war is tearing apart the Kingdom of the Isles, for the throne lies empty and rivals are converging. Hal – now Duke of Crydee – must turn his attention to the defence of the ancient realm so that a king can be anointed by the Congress of Lords, rather than by right of might.
ebook
First published November 20, 2014
163 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
About the author
Raymond E. Feist
289 books9,540 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 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 19, 2018
The Ending so totally befitting The Beginning and The Middle
I have grown from childhood to manhood to fatherhood with Mr Feist’s wonderful world, and although I will miss the thrill of a new story, I will enjoy reading of Pug, Tomas, and Midkemia over and over again, and can’t wait to introduce my children to a lifetime of this particular joy
I have grown from childhood to manhood to fatherhood with Mr Feist’s wonderful world, and although I will miss the thrill of a new story, I will enjoy reading of Pug, Tomas, and Midkemia over and over again, and can’t wait to introduce my children to a lifetime of this particular joy
August 16, 2022
I’m still not entirely convinced Feist won’t start churning out prequels and spin-offs or even just more sequels in a few years.
But let’s assume for the sake of argument this is in fact the end. And to be fair, it does provide a pretty conclusive end to most of the main arcs and does an admirable job of wrapping up one of the most bloated and unwieldy fantasy series in existence.
No small task, either. This series started in the early 1980s. It has sprawled across nearly thirty novels. It’s lost its groove, got it back again, lost it again, got it back again, kind of lost it again, kind of got it back… The weight of expectation for a conclusion is rather crushing.
By necessity, this review will continue some spoilers.
As is tradition for Midkemia books, the story is split between vast, cosmic conflict involving the characters who have been there from the start — Pug, Miranda, Nakor, Tomas, and Macros — and a far more mundane story that seems pretty much irrelevant. In this case, it’s a civil war in the Kingdom of the Isles starring Hal, whom I still couldn’t tell you anything about.
Normally I enjoy the incredibly in-depth examinations of the abstracts of magic and the fundamentals of this imaginary universe, but this time Pug and Company’s story ended up treading into the realm of “trying too hard.” I suppose this was inevitable when you have to keep one-upping yourself over this many books.
A map of Midkemia's Triagia continent, setting of the Riftwar novelsThis does have the side effect of making Hal’s otherwise dull story a little more interesting — it is at least a welcome counterpoint to the somewhat ponderous meditations on the true nature of reality.
My biggest complaint, though, is how it tends to abandon or under-serve previously established storylines.
Most notably, most of the Riftwar Cycle has painted all the bad stuff happening in Midkemia as being the work of the imprisoned god of evil, generally referred to only as the Nameless One. Magician’s End just sort of brushes that idea off and instead paints the Dread as the hand behind all that’s gone wrong. I like the Dread, but the last minute change of direction for the entire plot of the series is incredibly jarring.
I was incredibly excited when the first book of the Chaoswar series introduced another reborn Dragon Lord — and not just any Dragon Lord, but the most wicked Valheru of all, Draken-Korin — but he’s hardly a footnote in the story. There’s some side-arc with the Dark Elf chieftain introduced in the last book, but it plays such a small role in the story I have to wonder why it was included at all.
But to be fair, I suppose some loose ends was inevitable with a series this vast.
And in favour of Magician’s End, the actual ending it provides is quite satisfying. It’s got a lot of tragedy, but there’s also a lot of hope for the future. It hits that perfect bittersweet balance I like.
Similarly, there’s room for more sequels — not every problem everywhere has been solved — but it also feels conclusive enough to be satisfying should there be no more books in the series.
Considering all the stumbles this series has had over the years decades, and considering the massive weight of history and expectation pressing down on it, Magician’s End does a fairly admirable job, though it remains a book with significant flaws.
But let’s assume for the sake of argument this is in fact the end. And to be fair, it does provide a pretty conclusive end to most of the main arcs and does an admirable job of wrapping up one of the most bloated and unwieldy fantasy series in existence.
No small task, either. This series started in the early 1980s. It has sprawled across nearly thirty novels. It’s lost its groove, got it back again, lost it again, got it back again, kind of lost it again, kind of got it back… The weight of expectation for a conclusion is rather crushing.
By necessity, this review will continue some spoilers.
As is tradition for Midkemia books, the story is split between vast, cosmic conflict involving the characters who have been there from the start — Pug, Miranda, Nakor, Tomas, and Macros — and a far more mundane story that seems pretty much irrelevant. In this case, it’s a civil war in the Kingdom of the Isles starring Hal, whom I still couldn’t tell you anything about.
Normally I enjoy the incredibly in-depth examinations of the abstracts of magic and the fundamentals of this imaginary universe, but this time Pug and Company’s story ended up treading into the realm of “trying too hard.” I suppose this was inevitable when you have to keep one-upping yourself over this many books.
A map of Midkemia's Triagia continent, setting of the Riftwar novelsThis does have the side effect of making Hal’s otherwise dull story a little more interesting — it is at least a welcome counterpoint to the somewhat ponderous meditations on the true nature of reality.
My biggest complaint, though, is how it tends to abandon or under-serve previously established storylines.
Most notably, most of the Riftwar Cycle has painted all the bad stuff happening in Midkemia as being the work of the imprisoned god of evil, generally referred to only as the Nameless One. Magician’s End just sort of brushes that idea off and instead paints the Dread as the hand behind all that’s gone wrong. I like the Dread, but the last minute change of direction for the entire plot of the series is incredibly jarring.
I was incredibly excited when the first book of the Chaoswar series introduced another reborn Dragon Lord — and not just any Dragon Lord, but the most wicked Valheru of all, Draken-Korin — but he’s hardly a footnote in the story. There’s some side-arc with the Dark Elf chieftain introduced in the last book, but it plays such a small role in the story I have to wonder why it was included at all.
But to be fair, I suppose some loose ends was inevitable with a series this vast.
And in favour of Magician’s End, the actual ending it provides is quite satisfying. It’s got a lot of tragedy, but there’s also a lot of hope for the future. It hits that perfect bittersweet balance I like.
Similarly, there’s room for more sequels — not every problem everywhere has been solved — but it also feels conclusive enough to be satisfying should there be no more books in the series.
Considering all the stumbles this series has had over the years decades, and considering the massive weight of history and expectation pressing down on it, Magician’s End does a fairly admirable job, though it remains a book with significant flaws.
September 12, 2020
The Journey
I absolutely love fantasy as it transports you to worlds you can only imagine. This journey with some of the most in depth characters who are heroes and heroines in their own right but can be flawed. That it is ok to be flawed as it is actually a different stance, different aspect/perspective to learn and develop. Fantasy it is this that allows people to dream to be more than maybe what they believe in their general life constraints. Through good and bad times, with enough belief you can move beyond small thinking. Whoever you are when someone says no because of their small minded thinking keep going the magic in you could be what we all need to change and be better. Be that hero or heroine no one expected it’s what magic is really about. Thank you so much Mr Feist for the journey, it will definitely be a journey I want my kids to experience as they decide what character they will be. Always keep dreaming and use these so called to fly. Sorry for the rant but loved this journey.
I absolutely love fantasy as it transports you to worlds you can only imagine. This journey with some of the most in depth characters who are heroes and heroines in their own right but can be flawed. That it is ok to be flawed as it is actually a different stance, different aspect/perspective to learn and develop. Fantasy it is this that allows people to dream to be more than maybe what they believe in their general life constraints. Through good and bad times, with enough belief you can move beyond small thinking. Whoever you are when someone says no because of their small minded thinking keep going the magic in you could be what we all need to change and be better. Be that hero or heroine no one expected it’s what magic is really about. Thank you so much Mr Feist for the journey, it will definitely be a journey I want my kids to experience as they decide what character they will be. Always keep dreaming and use these so called to fly. Sorry for the rant but loved this journey.
February 2, 2019
Unfortunately, Feist now fits into a certain category of authors who; develop a good concept, write a great initial couple of books, then they flog their creation until only the bones of the4 dead horse remain.
His series now appear to be done by rote, follow a tired and repetitive routine, and deliver nothing new.
Feist fans will probably like this. But, I used to be a Feist fan and I pretty much yawned the whole way through it
His series now appear to be done by rote, follow a tired and repetitive routine, and deliver nothing new.
Feist fans will probably like this. But, I used to be a Feist fan and I pretty much yawned the whole way through it
September 9, 2021
Great read sad the journey is over
It’s a great read I have read every book in the series and this one finished it off brilliantly loved all the books sad it’s over would recommend as a great read
It’s a great read I have read every book in the series and this one finished it off brilliantly loved all the books sad it’s over would recommend as a great read
March 1, 2020
Epilogue was the best!
June 18, 2022
A fine conclusion to the tales of Pug, Tomas and all the subsequent characters that have sprawled across Midkemia and beyond. A truly deserving end to a most massive story collection.
December 30, 2022
read the series from start to finish.
I think there is enough said, I have thoroughly enjoyed these books. Now to find another author to keep my mind occupied
I think there is enough said, I have thoroughly enjoyed these books. Now to find another author to keep my mind occupied
March 29, 2023
As alway A gripping trilogy I laughed and cried throughout the Magician’s End
Went into a lot of detail about Time, strand and perceptions but that’s Feist’s style.
Will miss all the characters.
Went into a lot of detail about Time, strand and perceptions but that’s Feist’s style.
Will miss all the characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2023
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I completely change my mind on a series, so want to change my scoring down a lot)
3.75*
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see 3* differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
------------
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes even though I didn't enjoy these as much as the first few series in this setting.
3.75*
How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author)
4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author).
3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series)
or
3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them!
-
2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.)
1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see 3* differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
------------
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Yes
Would you recommend?: Yes even though I didn't enjoy these as much as the first few series in this setting.
November 3, 2024
Excellent!! What a page turner! Can't remember the last time (if ever), I read this many books (29!) in a little over 4 months. All because I couldn't wait to find out what was to happen next. I'm officially a Raymond E. Feist fan.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews