Customer Reviews

The Long Hunt: Mageworlds #5

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I enjoyed reading it. BUT... The biggest problem I had with The Long Hunt was that it seemed too sparse. After the depth and fullness of the original trilogy, I felt cheated that it was so short and shallow in depth. It seemed as if there had been a level of story that had been left out. Unlike the tale of Beka Rosselin-Metadi, in THE LONG HUNT we never really get into Jens' skin; we don't get enough of his character to put ourselves in his place. Instead of acting upon the universe like his parents did, Jens is acted upon, ambling along with the flow. Except for a rather hair-raising hovercar ride, he doesn't really do anything himself nor really appear to be in true danger. I never felt the pitch of excitement while reading THE LONG HUNT that I experienced when I read THE PRICE OF THE STARS, STAR PILOT'S GRAVE, BY HONOR BETRAY'D and THE GATHERING FLAME. While I liked the basic plot and the basic characters in it (particularly some of the background ones), I felt like the story was lacking something... like making bread and leaving out the salt. Still good to eat but not as flavorful. THE LONG HUNT was a pleasant read that lacks the savor of its predecessors.

The Long Hunt (1996) is the fifth book written in the Mageworlds series, but is the seventh, and last to date, in internal chronological sequence. It takes place a couple of decades after By Honor Betray'd.

Faral Hyfid-Metada has completed his Long Hunt and must leave Maraghai soon to gain honor, but the elders don't seem to be in any hurry to kick him off-planet. Then his cousin Jens Metada-Jessan decides to go off-world, so Faral and their Selvaur friend, Chaka, go with him. They first head toward the Mageworlds, but are diverted to Khesat, Jens native planet, after an kidnapping attempt on Ophel. Jens and Faral are pursued on Ophel and off-world by members of the Green Sun gang and following behind them are Klea Santreny, an Adept, and Mael Taleion, a Mage, tracking down a disturbance in the eiran. Meanwhile, the Highest of Khesat has been poisoned and the political maneuvering is complex and fierce.

This novel is a coming of age story, in which Jens has his own Long Hunt to pursue on Khesat. It differs greatly from the other Mageworlds novels, with more resemblance to The Three Musketeers in tone and scope, but with enjoyments and charms of its own. Recommended for Mageworlds fans and anyone who enjoys tales of youthful adventure and political intrigue.

-Arthur W. Jordin

One of the many good things about these two authors is the fact that each book is different. They don't rewrite the same story over and over. This novel, about the "second generation," is witty and fast-paced and shows bright young people (particularly bright young people who have grown up in the shadow of very famous parents) to a nicety. I've read this book four times, and love it more each time. I really, really want more about Jessan, who is my kind of hero!!!

the other books in this series are very good (4 to 5 stars). however, this one slipped into the mediocre rut that affects many sequels or prequels.

I enjoyed reading it. BUT... The biggest problem I had with The Long Hunt was that it seemed too sparse. After the depth and fullness of the original trilogy, I felt cheated that it was so short and shallow in depth. It seemed as if there had been a level of story that had been left out. Unlike the tale of Beka Rosselin-Metadi, in THE LONG HUNT we never really get into Jens' skin; we don't get enough of his character to put ourselves in his place. Instead of acting upon the universe like his parents did, Jens is acted upon, ambling along with the flow. Except for a rather hair-raising hovercar ride, he doesn't really do anything himself nor really appear to be in true danger. I never felt the pitch of excitement while reading THE LONG HUNT that I experienced when I read THE PRICE OF THE STARS, STAR PILOT'S GRAVE, BY HONOR BETRAY'D and THE GATHERING FLAME. While I liked the basic plot and the basic characters in it (particularly some of the background ones), I felt like the story was lacking something... like making bread and leaving out the salt. Still good to eat but not as flavorful. THE LONG HUNT was a pleasant read that lacks the savor of its predecessors.

Two kids trying to save the galaxy? Right! They did it. With style and Panache. Encore! Encore!

Although the novel starts out being interesting, with some plot involved, it slowly progresses into being a common, not so pleasant experience. MacDonald & Doyle seem to have some possible talent, which only appear every so often. I think that they should re-edit this book again

What could have been an exciting sequel just sinks into a real mediocre blah. It's so formula it could be pablum. OK as sophomoric english exercise but not as art.