Good finish to a pretty enjoyable series. The main series wraps up in a satisfying fashion, yet leaves a few things open ended to allow for further series and a universe rich enough that many other stories could arise. At the time that this series was written, it would have ranked up there with the top of fantasy epic stories. While still good, I'm not sure how well it would have fared if released today against the Jordans, Martins, and Ericksons who have taken epic fantasy too a whole new level. By all means read this series as it is quite enjoyable and all four (or three whichever edition you find) books are easy reads and worth the minimal effort. ( )

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... ( )

Although this series is a fairly typical fantasy story, it still manages to be engaging and interesting over multiple readings. A Darkness at Sethanon is still my favourite of the riftward saga; I love how this book builds all the previous events into a wonderful climax, while yet leaving some characters in a place of uncertainty--a situation perfectly leading to more stories told in the world. ( )

So this one ends what started in -Silverthorn-. It keeps up the pace and is loaded with "impending doom". I could do without the time-travel and other dimensional stuff but I did like the overall background plotting. My biggest problem is that none of the characters really stick out with unique personalities other than Amos Trask. At times it gets hard to remember the differences between some of the characters.

Overall this series was better than I thought it would be but I think it's time to move on to another author and another universe. I read too slow. But eventually I'll probably return to read the 5th book and it will bring back fond memories of the other books. ( )

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... ( )

I personally felt that A Darkness at Sethanon is a very good book and a fitting end to a very good fantasy series. The author stepped up the action quite a bit and the battle of Armengar is just amazing. If there is one thing about The Riftwar Saga that I will always remember, it is the battle of Armengar. The rest of the action is very well written and the author's use of the character Guy was superbly done. While I really enjoyed the battle scenes in the novel, I was really confused by some of the events that occur with Pug and Tomas. The part of the storyline that revolves around Pug and Tomas reminded me more of a science fiction novel rather than a fantasy novel. I know that using rifts might be considered science fiction but the space and time traveling portions of the book just made me think that the author did not have a clear idea whether he wanted the premise of the novel to be fantasy or science fiction. Besides this little issue I thought the novel was very well written and the ending can only be described as fitting.

To check out the full review click on the link below.
http://www.thefantasyreview.com/2007/... ( )

The explosive conclusion to the riftwar... well, it might be the end of the riftwar, but only the beginning of the troubles surrounding the people of Midkemia.

The three books together form a trilogy (quadrilogy as seen elsewhere), although for fuller appreciation of later books, familiarity with these works yields much more than reading them in isolation or outside of order.

As it stands, this final part of the trilogy wraps up most of the events that occurs in the other two books, but leaves enough questions unanswered and enough of the world unexplored to warrant reading of his other books - the end to his 'ripping yarn'. ( )

Powerful and thrilling finale! Highest rating for the series. ( )

Book 3/4 of the Riftwar Saga (if Magician is 1 or 2 books). I read the Serpentwar Saga first and there were many things hinted at but I did not know the story behind until I read this book.

Prince Arutha has his hands full with reports that the dark brothers are massing agian in the north to attack the Kingdom. The Black Hawks are back and trying even harder to end Aruthas reign. Jimmy the Hand stays close to do his best to prevent any regicide. It is discovered the plot is bigger than a Princes life, every life on the planet is in peril. ( )

Easily one of my favortie books

Third in the Riftwar saga after 'Magician' and 'Silverthorn'. Better than Silverthorn, it still can't be read as a standalone novel. It's the final book in the trilogy (sometimes referred to as book 4, as Magician was originally split into 2 parts in the US) although there are other books and other series' set in the same world with some of the same characters which can be read after it.

Good, fun high fantasy with all the usual cliches but a whole lot more besides, told in a fun and enjoyable way. ( )

Book 4 of the Riftwar Saga ( )

I love the theology in this book, though I must say that Jonathan Carroll does a much more eloquent job with a very similar idea in White Apples. ( )