The conclusion to the original RIftwar Cycle. Book 4 if you count that Magician was split into two parts in the later paperback editions. Arutha, Pug and Thomas must find who's behind the attacks from Kelewan, now that they know it wasn't just the idea of the Kelewan Academy. They must also discover what this mysterious enemy wants, and prevent it. I really enjoyed this book, as it showed the heroes finally coming into their own, and the end of the senseless war between Midkemia and Kelewan. The ending involves some super powerful forces, maybe a bit too powerful for the previous scope of the books, but its still a satisfying conclusion to the series. This is a classic fantasy trilogy, and recommended reading for all fantasy fans. ( )

Battle for the fate of everything.

With your good old Dark Lord type rising, it will require Arutha's sword, all of Pug the Magician's power and Jimmy the Hand's cunning and contacts to try and do something about it, as here in your classic high fantasy trilogy end the stakes get very high indeed.

In style and tone very much the same as the first two books, and that is a good thing.

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

This trilogy wasn't quite as good as the Empire trilogy but I still loved it and it was interesting to see the events unfold from the point of view of the Midkemians. ( )

Sword and sorcery, epic battles, kings and princes, blah blah blah. The Riftwar saga started reasonably well with 'Magician', but the sequels 'Silverthorn' and 'A Darkness at Sethanon' don't really add all that much. The destruction of the northern city booby-trapped with naptha is well-writen and captured, but really the whole book has left me feeling... so what? It doesn't help that 3 of the key protagonists are essentially immortal undefeatable magicians who can do anything the plot demands with no personal consequence. ( )

This book took longer to read that I would have liked, because I have been busy with other things. Its a good book though, and a fine conclusion to the Riftwar Series. I liked this book a lot, although I do think that Magician (Apprentice and Master) was a better book.

http://www.stillhq.com/book/Raymond_E... ( )