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32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantasy at its Best!, July 27, 2002
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....
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly Great!, December 1, 2003
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!
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Intense!, November 12, 2003
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!
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