The Conclave of Shadows trilogy continues, again with the focus on Talon, one of a new generation of heroes. I like what Feist has done with this trilogy, he has recaptured some of the freshness and interest of the very first Midkemia books. By constantly coming up with new heroes, with different personalities and motivations, backed up by the familiar Pug and his family, he makes a connection between the new and the old while making it fresh again. Good stuff. ( )

This is the second book (after Talon of the Silver Hawk) that closely follows Talon as he further infiltrates himself into Duke Kaspar's inner circle. It is fast-paced, includes more hints of the larger war of good vs. evil, and shows a somewhat less perfect and thus more believable life for Talon. Rather than the nearly novel-length "making of" a super spy that was Talon of the Silver Hawk, this book is more tightly focused, which is a good thing. It is still a less epic tale than most of the others in the various Riftwar series, but serves its part in setting up the next trilogy. ( )

Cooking a way out.

Tal, now fit for upper class society and an expert swordsman is playing his role. However, it is not all fencing and fun as he ends up in prison in a very isolated location, and some rather severe punishment.

His cooking skills enable him to get the bored guards onside and start plotting a way out of a bad situation, to further his revenge on Kaspar.

http://notfreesf.blogspot.com/2007/10... ( )

The further adventures of Talon of the Silver Hawk.- And despite the publisher's blurb, the end of the first part of the Conclave of Shadows. This could quite reasonable have been published as one book with Talon. Still seeking vengance for the murderof his village and his people. Talon owes a debt to the Conclave of Shadows a secretive organisation of magic users that have helped him, for thier own ends against an unspecified threat to the world. The Conclave requires that Talon work for Duke Casper and learn as much as he can about the magician Loren in his retinue. The only problem? Kasper is the very man Talon has sworn vengance against, not just to kill, but to bring low and take away all that he holds dear. Fortunetly Talon knows that his oath is only valid while Kasper maintain his side of it too....

Sent around the world promoting Kaspar's goals, Talkon learns yet more of royal politics and petty power plays (not forgetting the role beatiful women have behind the scenes) - though there seems ot be a shortage of the average or ugly women that one finds in real life! Then the assassins find him, and his world changes again.

Still told in Feists light reading style the characters are colourful the world intense. An enjoyable read. ( )

Tal Hawkins, believed to be the last survivor of his tribe works with an order of magicians to combat the ones responsible for the death of his tribe and other evil. He joins the evil to fight it, but has problems.