Rage of a Demon King: Volume III of the Serpentwar Saga (Serpentwar Saga , Vol 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "Erik signaled..." (more)
Key Phrases: demon realm, serpent priests, second barricade, Emerald Queen, Duke James, Prince Patrick (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Feist's fantasy saga continues (Shadow of a Dark Queen, 1994; Rise of the Merchant Prince, 1995) as the folk of Midkemia, already battling the snaky Saaur and their Emerald Queen, face an invasion of hungry demons seeking new wellsprings of toothsome lifeforce for their insatiable leader, Great Maarg. Returning to the fray are the familiar magicians Pug, Miranda, and Macros, along with soldiers Erik von Darkmoor and his sidekick, Roo Avery--and they will still need help from their former enemies, the Black Robes of Kelewan. There's probably a kitchen sink in here somewhere, too. Somehow, Feist always manages to wring out another plot twist or scrape together a new and improved gaggle of bad guys to keep the stew bubbling; the real puzzle is how the fans tolerate his graceless, often downright inept prose and limping dialogue. (First printing of 100,000) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"A fine yarn...vivid...suspenseful...the action is nonstop." -- --Booklist

"An epic reading experience." -- --San Diego Union-Tribune

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
• Publisher: Eos; 9th printing edition (February 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380720884
• ISBN-13: 978-0380720880
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #112,866 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A satisfying conclusion (?) to another great Feist saga, May 8, 1998

By	Lance M. Gentile "SubEffect" (Willowick, Ohio USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is a difference in this saga than the former, and many have already mentioned that it seems to hurry along too much.

I thoroughly enjoyed this series, but thought the ending was a little "too easy" and just too expected. I was hoping for something more.

I disagree with others that say the characters were not interesting, i was happy to re-visit Pug, Calis and Tomas all over again.

Alot of people also gripe about the revelation of mysteries previously proposed in the previous series. Well, as a long-time reader of sagas that just never die (DragonLance), I was thoroughly happy to finally learn WHO Macros, understand Miranda's history and I love the "Simpkin-like" (Weis/Hickman reference) character in Nakor.

Everyone is a bit too critical, but i agree that it was sad to see Midkemia reduced to ruin. Parts of the story were EXTREMELY SAD, but then, all characters cannot live to be realistic.

I feel Raymond's goal in this series was to put to rest an excellent era of life on Midkemia. Some have mentioned the posibility of another book, I feel one could be written, but this ROADK really seemed like an end-all to everything.

Also, this has to be the most reviews I have ever seem on Amazon... wow!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a unique book in the series, April 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Rage of a Demon King (Feist, Raymond E. Serpent war Saga, Vol. 3) (Hardcover)

This book was a truly quick read, especially for the big fansof Mr. Feist. It can easily be finished in 2 days or less. I willadmit that I have been eagerly awaiting the (what I thought would be) conclusion of the Serpentwar series and I think we will have to keep on waiting. There are a myriad of loose ends left lying around, such as the changes wrought by the destruction of the Lifestone, a huge invading army still present, and Roo and Erik's new positions.^M

This book hits the ground running and it is a struggle to keep all the plotlines and side stories straight. It is definitely one that requires a second or even third read for true understanding. ^M

The plot starts with the swiftly progressing invasion of the Emerald Queen's horde from the sea. It is easy to feel a sense of urgency and despair for our well-loved characters as everything they throw at the invading force is turned aside with contemptuous ease. The subplot involving the possible invasion of the demons also adds another possible disaster into the mix. The fight scenes are great, much better than in any previous novel.^M

However, the novel does have some disturbing things about it as well. The explanation we are given for what is really behind the invasion force shatters many precepts which have been accepted by fans of this series from the beginning, and comes way too quickly to be comprehended with any ease. Some things are explained with the simple words "I lied about..." which is difficult to understand. Also (and many may disagree with me on this), I hated seeing so many of my favorite characters end their earthly tour of duty here. When the book is over, you are bound to wonder if anybody will be left alive in the kingdom to write about in the future.^M

Still, it was a good book that all the fans of this great series will enjoy. Hopefully we won't be waiting quite as long for number 4 to come along.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars I really wish I hadn't read this book!!!!, June 20, 1999

By A Customer

Let me get one thing straight from the start: up to now I have been a major Feist fan, and bought up all of his books. I followed the Riftwar saga with bated breath and great satisfaction. At that time he was my number one author. But when I read this book, I was unbelievably disapointed with it. Not only is it pathetic compared with the previous work of such a hitherto great author, it also cheapens and spoils the previous books. For example I liked the Valheru. They had an interesting character of cultured ruthlessness, and were all very well developed. They were understandably angry at being shut away from their homeworld, and were prepared to do anything to return. Now I can relate to that. It is something I can understand. But now they are relegated to the pawns of some vast evil god, who wants to destroy the world just 'because he can'. Evil for Evil's sake is the worst motivation that any author can use for his charachters. Also the altering of Macros the Black from the great sage and mystic, and doomed wanderer that we knew, into merely a Keshan magician who gained his powers through a link with the dead god of magic, and the revealing of the identity of the Upright man was unforgivable. Take my advice readers: Don't read this book, stick to the first five, and try to forget that the new series ever started. And for the author: I think it is time for Midkemia to be closed off as a setting for your novels and a new one be developed. Midkemia is just to overused, and it seems to have been 'milked for all its worth'. A new world, with new charachters, and a return of the level to that of mere mortals would be great, and I for one would certainly read it.