Customer Reviews

Silverthorn (Riftwar Series)

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Buy, rent, steal, whatever you have to do to get a copy of this book, do it! The third installment of Raymond Feist's Riftwar Saga, Silverthorn is by far the best. If you like a fast-paced, finely constructed plot with excellent characterizations, this is your book! Usually I don't recommend reading novels in a series out of sequence, but I'll make an exception in this case. I bought Silvertorn used and was so impressed that I hunted down the other three books ( 1. Magician: Apprentice; 2. Magician: Master and 4. A Darkness at Sethanon-all that were out at the time) and devoured them as well. The concept of this series revolves around a Medieval European-type kingdom known as the Kingdom of Isles, on a world known as Midkemia, that is invaded by armies from a distant world known as Kelewan ( sort of a cross between Medieval Japan and the Aztec Empire ), through a magical rift created by magicians on Kelewan. The series centers around the adventures of the young lads Pug and Thomas, of Castle Crydee and their adventures during the Riftwar and their subsequent fortunes. ( The mysterious wizard Macros the Black, featured throughout the series is an interesting character ). Books three and four are set at the close of the Riftwar and involve a sort of sub-plot Feist keeps running throughout the series involving the Elves and their lost cousins, the dark elven Moredhel. The main character in Silverthorn is Prince Arutha of the Kingdom city of Krondor, whose lovely wife Anita is struck down by the posion arrow of assassins; the novel involves Arutha's quest for the mystical herb, Silverthorn, that can heal his bride. Joining the Prince on his quest are some very well-written characters (who recur in most of the later books ). On the journey we meet the young Jimmy the Hand, a thief in Krondor's thieves guild, The Mockers, their secretive, mysterious leader the Upright man, the evil undead assassins, the Black Slayers, pirate captain Amos Trask, Baru, the Hadati Hillman, and others. Feist gives us some masterful characterizations, paricularly the thief Jimmy the Hand. Not only the characters but the worlds themselves are finely crafted; the thieve's guild of Krondor is superbly crafted; this is what a thieves guild should look like! You could roleplay a great campaign out of Krondor itself. I was literally not able to put down this book! If they ever make a roleplaying game based on Midkemia I'd buy it in two seconds! Hint, Hint, know what I mean, nudge, nudge, say no more, say no more, wink, wink. So, get the Riftwar books, particularly this one. And while the second series, set several decades after the end of the Riftwar in the original books is very good, it is not quite as good as the first series. But basically, get anything you can by Raymond Feist. Don't REALLY steal it....

Prince Arutha and Princess Anita are to be wed. Dark plots and ancient prophecies conspire against the Prince and his beloved Anita is terribly wounded during an attempt on the Prince's life. A magical poison courses through her veins and Arutha must discover it's nature and where/how to obtain a cure. With aid of friends and family and some new characters we have not yet met, he sets off on his quest for Silverthorn.

The story of Prince Arutha's quest to save his beloved is a powerful one. You're drawn into his quest and feel the pain, anguish, and hope. The foundation is laid for the stuggle between good and evil in the next book and we get to meet a few new characters in Feist's world: Baru the Serpentslayer and Laurie's friend, Roald. Jimmy the Hand emerges and takes his place as a major player in Feist's works. We are given more insight into the Mockers, the thieves guild of Krondor, and to the temples and theology of Midkemia. Pugs abilities as a magician are further explored as are the problems he left behind on Kelewan.

This is the second book in Feist's Riftwar Saga. The first being 'Magician' and the final being 'A Darkness at Sethanon'. Actually, 'Magician' was split into two paperback books, 'Magician: Apprentice' and 'Magician: Master', so this is actually the third of four books in the paperback saga.

Be sure to read the conclusion: A Darkness at Sethanon!

This book is the second book in Raymond Feist's Riftwar Saga, and picks up after the accession of the conDoin family to the throne of the Kingdom of the Isles. When Jimmy the Hand stumbles upon a Nighthawk (member of the guild of assassins), preparing to kill Prince Arutha, it becomes apparent that something strange is going on. But, when the Prince and his men confront the Nighthawks, it soon becomes apparent that a creature of limitless power, and equally limitless evil, is on the march and wants Arutha out of the way. The situation goes from bad to worse, when Arutha's bride is shot with a poisoned arrow during their wedding. The poison is from a plant named Silverthorn, and to effect a cure, Arutha and a band of compatriots must venture into the lair of this evil and snatch one of the plants. But, there is more danger on the path than anyone could ever have expected...

This is a great book. It has a different feeling than the first book of the series, Magician, but includes many of the same characters. The action is intense, even more powerful than in the previous book, with scenes that will make the hair on the back of your neck stand up! I loved this book, don't hesitate to recommend it to Fantasy lovers everywhere!

If I was someone intent on focusing on Feist's unorthodox style or his logical flaws, I would probably not have enjoyed this book as much. As can be seen from the five stars posted next to this entry, that was certainly not the case. Yes, Feist has an odd habit of beginning each chapter with a simple sentence, but that is only one of the unique traits of this highly imaginative and skilled writer. Yes, there are even flaws in the logic...but it must be kept in mind that one cannot be an expert in everything, nor is this some sort of detective story or nonfiction where everything has to be precise and sensible. Lastly, why should this not be written in the style of a movie? Many books are made into movies, and by using movie-making techniques, Feist merely facilitates the transition into a movie, which I would love to see become a reality. These techniques need not be confined to movies, and when used in books, I think, produce a very interesting and dramatic effect.

That having been said, I think that Silverthorn is a marvelous book, and as stated before, an almost worthy sequel to Magician. The plot was skillfully and originally developed, and the vivid descriptions provide a very clear view of the action. This continuation of the Riftwar leaves much that can be developed and yet provides an appropriate conclusion to the series if that be necessary. Silverthorn, along with Magician, was highly absorbing, and the reader could easily transcend from reality into the reality of the book, all thanks to the lucid descriptions provided by the author. Feist introduces tension, excitement, fear, and other feelings skillfully, and the reader feels throughout the book to be firmly in the character's boots.

As to recommendations, I would definitely recommend this to anyone in search of a good fantasy story. However, I also recommend that Magician be read before this, and that A Darkness At Sethanon be read after. Enjoy the book, and don't pay too much attention to insignificant things.

I'll never claim the Riftwar series to be complex or profound, but I believe it is a magical story. Thanks to the fantastic setting of Midkemia, this simple story takes on an aura of mystique and romance unrivaled in the genre.

The second book in the series, however, is not up to par with either Magician or A Darkness at Sethanon. Still, it is at once enthralling and rapturous.

There is no doubt that more sophisticated fantasy abounds, but the Riftwar Saga is still a good place to begin your journey.

Silverthorn doesn't particularly advance the greater storyline of the Riftwar struggle, but it brings new characters to life even as it maintains the fullness of existing ones.

In Silverthorn, Prince Arutha's fiancee is poisoned, and the quest, among good friends and new friends, is to find the cure to the poison and in the process discover a few more tidbits regarding the greater evils involved in the overarching Riftwar saga plotline. Silverthorn is sometimes too "travelly" as Tolkien was wont to get upon occasion, but the story continues to move along and there are no boring parts. Of course, there's no need to mention Feist's ability to write a gripping tale. -=- The BilFish

In many respects, Magician (now sold as two books) was a saga unto itself - the time span, events, war, political intrigue, and heck even the physical length of the book. Coming out with a next installment worthy of the first, must truly have been daunting for Feist.

However, with Silverthorn I think he did well. He built upon some fine, solid characters, while introducing a few more. The pace is a little more frenetic, owing to the shorter time period which the book covers. Feist, as usual, laces his work with enough to intrigue us to keep us turning the pages (and wishing to skip pages too, so we can find out what happened next).

The novel centers around Arutha, Prince of Krondor, whose wife, in a failed attempt upon his life, falls to a poisoned crossbow bolt. The cure for the toxin is from a rare flower found only in the north, in the heart of moredhel country - these are the elves of the Dark Path who hate all others with a passion. The mastermind behind the attack is a mysterious and terrifying moredhel named Murmandamus. When Pug, the sole Greater Path magician of Midkemia, learns of this creature and the powerful force, the seat of true power, behind Murmandamus, he sets out for Kelewan to seek answers. This is a bold move, considering the trouble he caused in the Tsurani empire before he fled back to his homeworld of Midkemia.

So the story unfolds on two tangents - one following Arutha in his quest to find the Silverthorn flower (and in doing so, gauging to some degree the army being assembled in the north) and Pug to uncover the truth of this new and powerful foe out to destroy his world.

Against all of this arises the possibility of the existence of the eldar, and the question of whether the powerful sorcerer Macros the Black is truly dead...

I highly recommend this book, but would urge you to read the Magician novels first to understand the events in this one a little better.

Silverthorn by Raymond Feist in the 3rd (or 2nd depending on how you read Magician) book in the Riftwar saga. With this installment Feist picks up where he left off. The best thing about books like this is the author doesn't need to invest as much time and energy setting up the players, as we already know who they are and what they stand for.

On to the book.

Characters first. I love how Feist writes his characters. To me not one of his characters are all powerful,w ith the exception of Pug. They all have doubts and flaws that effectively make them 'normal'. Jimmy the Hand easily steals almost every scene he is in (at least for me anyway) I really enjoy reading about that character. The other characters in this book all serve a purpose and are well written. Feist has a knack for writing his characters in seemingly simplistic terms, but yet complex outcomes.

The plot lie(s) in this book are fairly straight forward. Aurtha is on a quest to save his beloved all the time dogged by a power that he doesn't know. This journey makes for some interesting scenes as well as some harrowing times. I really like how Feist doesn't have his characters just run into a place and start swinging a sword to kill everything, some times stealth serves a better purpose and Feist does this perfectly. The other major plot line is that this rising power in the north and a prophecy the centers around the young prince. The prophecy is hinted at and we are given bits and pieces, but I think it will all come to fruition in the last book. While the plot is straightforward, there is still enough varation to make you want to read and find out what's going on.

I try to end the most of my reviews with either recommending the book or not. This book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys fantasy. While these books aren't difficult reading they are still a blast to read. I would be willing to bet most people will enjoy this series. Give it a shot, it's worth it.

Silverthorn was very well written. It's very easy to understand. If I was to just pick it up, (not knowing that it was part of a saga) I would still be able to enjoy it. It's interesting to me that Mr. Feist brings out the best in his characters. For instance, in the begining of Silverthorn you get to know a young boy named Jimmy. All at once you know that Jimmy is more than he seems to be. The Novel Silverthorn isn't lacking much of anything. You get that little touch of romance and that aching feeling in your heart for Arutha, who is momentarily denied his true love. Then, it jumps right into the action of going into enemy territory. This novel is excellent. As are all of Mr. Feist's other novels. To anyone who is interested in a good adventure... here it is!

In the Netherlands,this book is part two because the English part 1+2 are combined in one book. Part two is (in its own way) even better then part one.It's far more sinister then the other book.Dead people are turned to life with some sort of black magic. You must read this perfect book its worth the money.