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zaelle's review
3.0
Again, I had read this before, but I'm rereading it for a Feist reread.
I liked this book much better on a reread than when I first read it. The Kingdom is a very different place without Arutha, and following non-noble protagonists for the first time brings a completely different, less fantastical feel to things. It's somehow grittier and real. Erik and Roo are more flawed than any of the previous protagonists we meet (except maybe the twins) and we see them grow a lot in this story. It is important to note that the feel is completely different from the 5 books that came before though. If you aren't expecting that change in tone, it can be jarring.
I wish Miranda was fleshed out as a character more, but part of her allure I guess was how mysterious she is. We get to know all the other new characters fairly well, but for how big Miranda will eventually be in the series, I feel like I never really got to know her very well at all. It's a pleasure to see James as the Duke of Krondor, and seeing how as an adult, he is influenced by so many of the people he had met/known as a boy.
I liked this book much better on a reread than when I first read it. The Kingdom is a very different place without Arutha, and following non-noble protagonists for the first time brings a completely different, less fantastical feel to things. It's somehow grittier and real. Erik and Roo are more flawed than any of the previous protagonists we meet (except maybe the twins) and we see them grow a lot in this story. It is important to note that the feel is completely different from the 5 books that came before though. If you aren't expecting that change in tone, it can be jarring.
I wish Miranda was fleshed out as a character more, but part of her allure I guess was how mysterious she is. We get to know all the other new characters fairly well, but for how big Miranda will eventually be in the series, I feel like I never really got to know her very well at all. It's a pleasure to see James as the Duke of Krondor, and seeing how as an adult, he is influenced by so many of the people he had met/known as a boy.
thereadingmum's review against another edition
4.0
The start of a new branch of The Riftwar Cycle, The Serpentwar Saga, Shadow of a Dark Queen follows the story of Eric Von Darkmoor, the illegitimate son of a Baron, who is pulled into the kingdom's fight against the Pantatheons.
I found this book to be much more interesting plot-wise and there weren't any distracting romances that tends to be cringey.
I found this book to be much more interesting plot-wise and there weren't any distracting romances that tends to be cringey.
kristamccracken's review
3.0
Not a bad read, but definitely not up to the quality of some of Feist's earlier work. The main character Erik is agreeable enough but I didn't feel particularly drawn to him. Nakor makes another appearance in the series in this book and is as quirky and enjoyable as ever.
Despite not being drawn into the plot all that much, I am interested to see how Pug (still one of my favorite characters created by Feist) fits into the story.
Despite not being drawn into the plot all that much, I am interested to see how Pug (still one of my favorite characters created by Feist) fits into the story.
robertalllan's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
cslwoodward's review against another edition
3.0
This is a military book with some fantasy and magic sprinkled here and there. A lot of the book is spent on an army unit and their quest travelling across the land to complete a mission. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the biggest fan of that.
It’s well written for the most part. What is given is enjoyable writing and descriptions with a few weak spots here and there (a rape scene within 20 pages of the protagonist losing their virginity? Okay then) and plot points that are incredibly specific that would only work in the situations provided by Feist (The big camp gathering about 60% into the book). There was some hint towards moral ambiguity near the end but it didn’t reeeally deliver like I was hoping.
A number of characters feel incredibly weak in the story, so much so that I found I could likely swap them out with each other and not have much change in the narrative or story. Nakor came into his own a bit later, becoming a Sho Pi 2.0. Better in basically every way. Hatonis, Jadow, Praji and Luis could all be removed from the story and I doubt I would remember any of them - I only know their names because I wrote them down. Having more depth in these side characters other than a different name would have been a welcome addition.
When the military stuff took a pause for the magic stuff to happen, that’s when I enjoyed it most. Hell, even then I was still waiting for something cool to happen and was only rewarded in the last 100 or so pages.
With this said, there are some glowingly fantastic moments throughout: the gallows walk, the execution of the climax, the giant demon during the prologue (sans lore drop)? All master class moments of tension and keeping the reader interested throughout the section.
It’s just a shame it’s so military based because I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I was hoping. Let’s see how book 2 turns out.
It’s well written for the most part. What is given is enjoyable writing and descriptions with a few weak spots here and there (a rape scene within 20 pages of the protagonist losing their virginity? Okay then) and plot points that are incredibly specific that would only work in the situations provided by Feist (The big camp gathering about 60% into the book). There was some hint towards moral ambiguity near the end but it didn’t reeeally deliver like I was hoping.
A number of characters feel incredibly weak in the story, so much so that I found I could likely swap them out with each other and not have much change in the narrative or story. Nakor came into his own a bit later, becoming a Sho Pi 2.0. Better in basically every way. Hatonis, Jadow, Praji and Luis could all be removed from the story and I doubt I would remember any of them - I only know their names because I wrote them down. Having more depth in these side characters other than a different name would have been a welcome addition.
When the military stuff took a pause for the magic stuff to happen, that’s when I enjoyed it most. Hell, even then I was still waiting for something cool to happen and was only rewarded in the last 100 or so pages.
With this said, there are some glowingly fantastic moments throughout: the gallows walk, the execution of the climax, the giant demon during the prologue (sans lore drop)? All master class moments of tension and keeping the reader interested throughout the section.
It’s just a shame it’s so military based because I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I was hoping. Let’s see how book 2 turns out.
sammystarbuck's review
4.0
Unlike the Riftwar books, I'd only gone adventuring with Erik and Roo once before, about 20 years ago. Despite that, I remembered everything quite clearly, except for the fact that while the story is enjoyable, the pacing is terribly uneven in this one. Not that that it all that unusual for Feist - the otherwise fantastic [b:Magician|43916|Magician (The Riftwar Saga, #1-2)|Raymond E. Feist|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1391464462l/43916._SY75_.jpg|2960376] also sags a bit in the middle - but it was enough to make this a lot less fun to read than most of his other books.
charlottemelusine's review against another edition
3.0
This is man's book, with wars, fighting, battles, soldiers and so on.
It features, Goodess of Death (lesser know as Khalisi, but this name is mentioned in passing), birth companions, Saaurs who reminds of Dothraki, bastards sons of nobles, dragons, magic, morbid jokes, rape, sailing, hanging, and lots, lots of camping and camp rutine.
I gave this story 3 star review because endless camp rutine, which was time consuming. I will try next installment, I usually love boring stories.
It features, Goodess of Death (lesser know as Khalisi, but this name is mentioned in passing), birth companions, Saaurs who reminds of Dothraki, bastards sons of nobles, dragons, magic, morbid jokes, rape, sailing, hanging, and lots, lots of camping and camp rutine.
I gave this story 3 star review because endless camp rutine, which was time consuming. I will try next installment, I usually love boring stories.
excelsius's review
4.0
A good book, but compared to its predecessors it doesnt live up all the expectations.
joabroda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
3.0
The next book/series in Feists Rift War Universe and I have to say his writing and storytelling just keep getting better. I am reading Feist's entire library with a fantasy buddy and it is great to see an author grow and tighten up his style.
The main protagonists, Roo and Erik, get into a heap of trouble and end up prisoners of the kingdom, accused of murder. However, the prison camp appears to be more a training base then a prison and whatever the future holds does not look good. There is a war brewing on the other side of the known world, There are strange coming and goings in the camp, and the prisoners are kept in the dark, as to what is in their future.
As I said above, Feist's writing has improved, and the story moved quickly and kept me entertained. It appears that in the coming books, in this series, there will be some male/female relationships for Feist to tackle. I hope he learned a few things from Jenny Wurts|when he co-wrote with her. His previous solo attempts at these types of relationship did not cut it for me. Moving on to book 2 to see what happens with that and the folks caught up in brewing troubles.
The main protagonists, Roo and Erik, get into a heap of trouble and end up prisoners of the kingdom, accused of murder. However, the prison camp appears to be more a training base then a prison and whatever the future holds does not look good. There is a war brewing on the other side of the known world, There are strange coming and goings in the camp, and the prisoners are kept in the dark, as to what is in their future.
As I said above, Feist's writing has improved, and the story moved quickly and kept me entertained. It appears that in the coming books, in this series, there will be some male/female relationships for Feist to tackle. I hope he learned a few things from Jenny Wurts|when he co-wrote with her. His previous solo attempts at these types of relationship did not cut it for me. Moving on to book 2 to see what happens with that and the folks caught up in brewing troubles.
angelahayes's review
5.0
I have been Buddy-Reading this series over the last couple of months with a ‘book-club’ friend who had not read Raymond E. Feist’s work before. As I have been a long-time fan of his work, I have compared it to The Lord of the Rings books but have actually enjoyed this series more. When I mentioned this to my friend, she immediately wanted to read the series, and convinced me to read them with her- not that it was a big ask 😊.
It is an epic fantasy saga- with wonderful world building and scene setting, and dynamic, vivid and detailed descriptions that will transport you right into the story.
Take some time to explore Mr. Feist’s work, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed- and the best part is that all the books are available now to read- no waiting for books to be released! #WINNING