Tear's before bedtime! (Riftwar Legacy Series - Raymond E. Feist in general)

Member Name: knowkeys

Product:	Riftwar Legacy Series - Raymond E. Feist in general
Date:	09/09/02 (94 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Raymond Feist?

Disadvantages: RPG Based, Very linear storyline, Poorly Developed

The Riftwar Legacy is made up of three books:

Krondor: The Betrayal
Krondor: The Assassins
Krondor: Tear of The Gods

I have been an avid reader of science fiction / fantasy books since my late teens / early twenties when I was introduced to the works of Stephen Donaldson (The Excellent "Chronicles of Thomas Covenant ") and Michael Moorcock with his unusual outlook on history and the "hero/anti-hero" theme which runs through many of his books.

I discovered Tolkein and the "Hobbit" at this relatively old age and enjoy reading the Genre which has been devloped from "The Lord of the Rings".

Raymond Feist's writing can be compared with some of the classic authors and is of the same class. The outstanding "MAGICIAN" and superb "Silverthorn", "Empire" and "Serpentwar" are amongst the best Fantasy writing I have read.

The plots are well thought out and developed which race towards a final conclusion which made it almost impossible to put the books down. I have spent many a late night trying to find out what was going to happen next.

I suggest that you give this trilogy a miss and read the earlier works instead, so that you can appreciate what he is capable of, before returning to this trilogy and seeing the difference in standard.

In fact I suggest that you borrow the books from your local library, be careful though, you may put it down, forget about it and end up paying a fine!

I was looking forward to his Krondor "Riftwar" legacy books as it would be a follow on from the earlier books. I normally buy paperback, because by the time you take them on holiday and they are covered in 'sunscreen', they are only fit for putting in the attic.

I am so glad that I didn't spend money on the hardback versions of these books and almost regret spending the money that I did, particularly on t
he third book, "The Tear of the Gods", which to be honest is making me cry in my beer! But more of that later!

The "saga" is based around the Computer Game "Betrayal at Krondor", which is one of the better "games" of the Genre? If you can ignore the fact that they are based on "RPG" set pieces, the story in the first two books hold up reasonable well.

I get the impression that the main objective of the books was to promote the "Video" Game or am I just being cynical?

The marketing men seem to have got their way, the thread of the last book is so bad that I have serious doubts whether Feist had much input at all. So much so that I am having second thoughts on whether to buy more of his books. Only time will tell.

Krondor: The Betrayal

"It is nine years on from the aftermath of Sethanon. There has been peace for a while and it's been needed. But news is feeding through to the people of the Kingdom of the Isles that deadly forces are stirring on the horizon."

The book is based around the Video game scenarios and does actually sweep along at a fast pace. The characters aren't really developed and you just hope the characters can "throw a six" to get out of trouble, which is usually the case.

The plot is a bit threadbare and dialogue stunted.

Krondor: The Assassins

"With a wave of unsolved murders sweeping through his capital city, Prince Arutha sends Squire James --a former thief turned nobleman--to investigate the rash of mysterious assassinations."

This is a much better book, it is less obvious that it is based around a game and it was difficult to put it down until the conclusion. The dialogue improves and there is more of a plot to follow. It isn't that obvious where the book is going until the last few pages.

Krondor: Tear of The Gods

"After a p
irate raid, the Tear of the Gods is lost below the waves. Without it the temples cannot speak with the gods. Squire James, William and Jazhara must find a new one in the distant mountains, opposed by the minions of Sidi, servant of the Dark God."

What a disappointment!

I am struggling to read a chapter at a time. It is even worse than the "Betrayal" as the characters bundle from one set piece to another. The characters walk around, meet someone, are given quests and then go and have a fight.

I think the "dungeon master" has gone home and the characters are struggling to find their way!

The basic premise for the story is quite good, but it needs to be fleshed out more. I cannot get the book finished quickly enough so I can put in the darkest recesses of the attic.

There are very few subplots and the story is very linear.

The series does shed some light on some of the events in the Serpentwar Saga and I would recommend this series to devotees of Feist. The casual reader would be advised to read the Riftwar Saga or the Empires Trilogy.


Summary

Feist is the one of the most readable author in Fantasy being imaginative and bold. I have read all of his books with devotion. This series follows the confines of a plot defined for a video game, which makes the story a bit one dimensional and reduces the choices to be made. The books are readable except for the "Tear". However, by his standards it is poor.

The stories have been based around "Midkemia" which is an isolated place there are few stories left to explore. He maybe should move on, his excellent "Faerie Tale" show that he can.

Summary: