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A review by millese2
Mistress of the Empire by Janny Wurts, Raymond E. Feist
5.0
The first book of this series was a fantastic, fast-paced accoutrement to the original Magician quartet. The second slowed down a bit, but continued the spellbinding world building and character development of the first. I wouldn’t say that it was a let down, but it failed to grip me as much as any of Feist’s earlier material had.
When it came for the conclusion of the Empire trilogy, I was excited, to say the least. So it was astonishingly agonizing to read through the first few chapters. Lady Mara was a neat character with plenty of tricks up her sleeve, but it wasn’t until the cutting personal tragedies at the beginning of this final piece of the Empire puzzle that she became human to me. The witticism of Kevin the barbarian was replaced by court intrigue and developing interpersonal relationships and casting aside the chains tradition in favor of hope and freedom. Which are ultimately more rewarding themes, I might add.
The terrible opening makes sense in the grand scope of this work. Feist’s imagination works wonders as Wurts adds finesse and believability to an alien, yet strangely familiar landscape. The bittersweet ending sees sorrow, yes, but also unbridled joy surmounts as hope for the future is palpable... and in a society that was once bound by traditions of staunch caste roles and haughty inhumanity, isn’t that truly the best ending one can hope for?
When it came for the conclusion of the Empire trilogy, I was excited, to say the least. So it was astonishingly agonizing to read through the first few chapters. Lady Mara was a neat character with plenty of tricks up her sleeve, but it wasn’t until the cutting personal tragedies at the beginning of this final piece of the Empire puzzle that she became human to me. The witticism of Kevin the barbarian was replaced by court intrigue and developing interpersonal relationships and casting aside the chains tradition in favor of hope and freedom. Which are ultimately more rewarding themes, I might add.
The terrible opening makes sense in the grand scope of this work. Feist’s imagination works wonders as Wurts adds finesse and believability to an alien, yet strangely familiar landscape. The bittersweet ending sees sorrow, yes, but also unbridled joy surmounts as hope for the future is palpable... and in a society that was once bound by traditions of staunch caste roles and haughty inhumanity, isn’t that truly the best ending one can hope for?