Customer Reviews

Magician: Master (Riftwar Saga, Book 2)

5 star:		(111)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In Magician: Master, Raymond Feist continues the story begun in Apprentice. The so-called "Riftwar" continues, and we find both Pug and Tomas (the two main characters from Apprentice) drastically changed. Both gain great powers in this book, and both began to develop into powerful forces to be reckoned with.
The intrigue in this book lies in that the story is told in both worlds, and from both sides. Being a slave of the Tsurani, Pug learns their ways, and makes many friends among them. True to Feist's style, there are so many prominent characters that it's hard to keep track of them all, yet each character is well-developed.
This is definitely a page-turner, with the story taking so many curves that it is impossible to anticipate. This is far from your normal, run-of-the-mill fantasy, this is a truly enthralling story.
When I began reading this book, I became so involved in the story that I couldn't put it down, and finished the book in less than two days. This is a great fantasy novel, and a thrilling conclusion to Apprentice. The story, of course, continues for two more books, Silverthorn and Darkness at Sethanon, but the war effectively ends here. Feist is a very able storyteller, one that will keep you involved from cover to cover.

I bought a copy of the original Magician (with no embellishments) for $2 on a bargain table more than 15 years ago, simply for the magnificent representation of a jewelled dragon on the cover (I've never seen that edition again). It sat on the shelf, unread for months. After all, I was far to logical and practical to want to get involved in reading fantasy (even though I could appreciate an elegantly designed dragon). But all impulse book buyers suffer those times of "all these books and nothing to read", so I eventually picked it up. I must admit for the first few pages I wondered if I could really be bothered, but before I realised, I was 30+ pages beyond the 20 page barrier (... if I can't get involved within 20 pages, it gets tossed...) and realised I'd been transported - I was there, in Crydee. Then began the marathon reading sessions, including about several Midkemia and Kelewan sequels. Within a short time, I progressed from fantasy to SF fantasy, straight on to "hard core" sci-fi. Me, who had previously never seen a purpose to speculative fiction! Suddenly I found I could open my mind to absorb all these wonderful, imagined realms. Even though I can take my sci-fi straight now, I always remember I came to it via fantasy, and to a very large degree, I have Feist to thank for that.

I lent the Magician out several times, but it didn't return from the last lending. So, when I was fortunate enough to attend a book signing by Raymond E Feist in Melbourne many years ago, along with the book he was flogging, I purchased another copy, personally dedicated to me. It has never been lent, and never will be. For me, it is one of "those" books; one that helped shape my reading habits.

I don't know if the book signing was badly publicised or Melbourne only contained about 10 Feist fans, but after our books were signed, along with the other 9 or so who turned up, I was treated to a wonderful little Q&A time with this storyteller. Those we admire often take on larger-than-life proportions, and the generousity this quite ordinary bear of a man showed his (disappointingly) small group of fans revealed a man of impressive stature.

My reading tastes changed and I didn't read any Feist for years, until a recent binge when I read from the Prince's Buccaneer (which I'd owned, unread, for about six years!) up to date (from the library) in about a month. (I was a bit sick of the endless highly detailed battle scenes, but that was a small criticism - after all, most of it was the SerpentWAR series!) I slipped back into Midkemia (and the other worlds - it doesn't stop at Kelwan!) like I'd never been away and picked up with all my old friends and met new; grieving at Arutha's death and falling in love with Calis along the way.

After browsing the reviews posted here, it seems people either love the Magician or hate it. Like a lot of other books, you can easily pick it full of holes if you have particular areas of expertise, or if you refuse to give yourself over to the fantasy (fantasy, remember, is where anything can happen). In the end, it's a just a story, fortunately for us entertainingly told by an enthusiastic storyteller, leaving you wanting more from the characters who somehow endear themselves.

With all the thousands of books out there, I rarely reread, and even with 15,000 extra words, haven't been compelled to read the embellished version. However, for the hours spent frantically turning pages (sometimes all night), for introducing me to the realms of fantasy via Midkemia and Kelewan, and through it, the infinite realms of sci-fi, I can only rate this a 5-star book.

In this sequel to Magician: Apprentice, we begin to see the effects that the great war between worlds is having. Pug, now a slave on Kelewan, has his talent recognized, and he begins his training in the art of magic. Thomas, wearing the armor of the long dead Velheru, Ashen-Shugar, becomes one of the greatest warriors of his age, but at what cost? Both the Tsurani Empire and the Kingdom are cracking under the strain, and it is up to someone to end the war.

This book is a great sequel to Magician: Apprentice, and is even better than that book! This book is sprinkled with high sorcery, fantastic creatures, and exciting battles. If you liked the first book of this series, then you will absolutely love this book! I highly recommend these books to any (and every!) fan of fantasy literature.

I just read this book for the fifth time. The second book in the Riftwar Saga could be the ending of the series but why would anyone not wish to continue to read about all the wonderful characters created by Raymond Feist. The story picks up with Pug as a slave in Kelewan who is soon discovered to have the ability to become a powerful magician. Thomas continues to grow into the powers of the Valheru. Prince Arutha's struggle against the Tsuranuanni encompasses a lot of this novel as well.

In deference to the negative reviews I must say that this is not a highly thought provoking book. However, it is a very fast paced enjoyable read. I have read hundreds of fantasy novels and this series is one that I have enjoyed more than most (Top Ten). I read novels in a series as some others read chapters, so it is a little hard to just review this book. I highly recommend any fantasy lover to read this series. There are also many novels that come after this series that are just as good (i.e. Serpentwar Saga).
One last note, don't listen to any of these reviews (including mine). If you enjoy fantasy, read it yourself and form your own opinion.

Magician: Master is the absolute most outstanding book I have ever read, second only to Magician: Apprentice, the prequel to Magician: Master. If I had my way, I would rate this book a six out of five stars. In Magician: Apprentice, the orphan boy known as Pug trains under the master magician, Kulgan. As fate would have it, he also rescues the Duke of Crydee's Princess, Carline, and obtains the rank of Squire. With his newly found position, Pug quickly makes a name for himself, though he still tends to play with his lifelong friend, Tomas. When an alien vessel crash lands on the jagged cliffs known as Sailor's Grief, Pug and Tomas investigate the wreckage. After several tense meetings and councils, the aliens, known as the Tsurani, eventually appear in Midkemia and commence their massive invasion. On the way to the Kingdom capital of Rillanon, Tomas is separated from the others, is found by a dragon,and obtains a mystical armor. At the end of the first chapter of the war, which is known as the Riftwar, Pug is captured. On the Tsurani homeworld of Kelewan Pug becomes a Great One, one who is a master magician of the Greater Path, and soon becomes the most powerful magician on both worlds. As the war drags, Tomas falls in love with the elven Queen, Aglaranna. Tomas soon merges with the Valheru who once donned the mystical armor, and they become as one. Like a flying beacon he flies through the Tsurani ranks, bestowing death upon all who are so unfortunate to have been caught in his path. The story comes to a surprising conclusion at the end, and Feist creates his characters with such depth and detail that it is easy to imagine the characters in the world that he creates through his books. Book II of the Riftwar four book set (it's really three, but the original Magician was separated into Apprentice and Master), Magician: Master is definitely one of the best books ever written . . . if you like fantasy.

Rating System:
1 star = abysmal; some books deserve to be forgotten
2 star = poor; a total waste of time
3 star = good; worth the effort
4 star = very good; what writing should be
5 star = fantastic; must own it and share it with others


The Good:
1) We see how Pug and Tomas develop into new "beings" after we are introduced to their plight in the first book

2) This really wraps up 95% of all the issues raised in the first book and was done in such a way that I felt like I read more than two books = an epic feel to the story. I like it!

3) We get to learn more about the other world of Kelewan and its history. This added a great new setting different from the first world introduced in the first book and created setup for future plot devices.

4) Awesome demonstration of magic and scenes well described so I could easily visualize the energies of power being displayed and wielded. Very cool!

5) Nicely paced between focusing on Pug in the first 75 pages, Tomas for the next 100 or so, then back again to Pug and some other characters intermixed throughout. Kept my interest and didn't make me feel like the author forgot about a character that became important to me but gave me enough to keep me reading

The Bad:
The only thing I didn't like about this book, which is why I knocked it down a star, is overall the ending of the war that has been raging for years now seemed a bit anticlimactic. Maybe because it is to be outdone by the battles in the next two books of this series, but that is neither hinted at and thus left me wanting. . .

Overall:
I have to remember that this is not the end of the series. This is only book 2 of 4. But even if I never get to the next two books I still liked the story a lot, felt it was a satisfactory sequel to the first book and most of all - as my tastes have changed since I first read this over 15 years ago, I was pleasantly surprised that the magic and sense of adventure of this book still remains and didn't leave me feeling that the writing was overly immature or trite. I can tell that he does get better as a writer and the Serpent War saga that follows the Riftwar Saga is in my opinion even better written and plotted, but you need to read the Riftwar first before moving to Serpent War.

I heard about Raymond Feist on the R.A. Salvatore message board. Someone there reommended that I read Magician: Apprentice. I took him up on the idea and was entranced by what I read. So, I felt safe reading the second book in this Rift-War saga.

I am extremely happy to have rad the second book Magician: Master, from the first chapter I was again caught up in the storya nd right away I found myself invested in the lives and well being of the characters. One thing I really like about Feist is that he has a knack for making a section on a sub-plot still seem like it directly affects the main plot. Some authors seem compelled to have sub-plots but when they write them it seems forced and doesn't mesh with the story. Feist's sub-plots go hand in hand with the main plot and seem like they belong.

I really enjoy Feist's writing style. It, to me anyway, is a nice laid back style that lends itself well to reading. It seems Feist put a great deal of effort into letting this story flow from the pages. The book is some 490 pages yet once you start reading it you find yourself at the end before you know it.

Before I read Feist I mainly read Forgotten Realms and Dragonlance books. Little did I know this gem was sitting out there. I fully intend to keep reading book set in this world by Feist. I now rank Feist up there with some of my personal favorites and I am confident if you give him a chane you will enjoy this book as well. I highly recommend these two books.

Magician is an excellent book, it tells of the boy Pug who is an orphan. On the day where all the 13 year old boys are chosen for a career by the head honcho's, Pug gets chosen by the magician. In the first half he has trouble with his magic, but in the second half he really kicks some ass and gets the girl. Once you read Magician you'll want to read all the books that follow it which are just as good. if you liked the book as much as I did please e-mail me at telerana@hotmail.com

Early in Magician-Apprentice, Pug joking "prophesies" that he will one day be the greatest Magician in the world. Then, when the action is reaching a peak, he disapears from the book, never to return.

In Magician-Master we discover why. Here we see Pug's growth to a Great One, a true Master of the arcane. Feist deftly tells the story of his character's growth and then returns him to the main storyline with a fluidity that is easy to follow and understand.

This book was so compelling I could scarcely put it down. Feist continues to amaze with his character development, and you truly share the characters triumphs and tragedies.

If you are a fan of high fantasy, this book will enthrall you.

I loved this book from beginning till end. A friend pulled me on to this series and I thought Apprentice was OK, not great, but a decent read. But Magician really stepped it up for me. I liked how each character stood up in the book and could carry their own section and keep it memorable and wanting to read. This is somewhat unlike Jordan in his saga, but this is just my opinion I guess. The book does come off as showing everyone kind of hooking up, but I liked it. I thought one of the best chapters I have ever read was between Tomas and his "self" I should say, trying not to ruin it.