Raymond E. Feist is back!

Read Talon of the
Silver Hawk and King of Foxes and become an honorary member of the
Conclave of Shadows, Feists eagerly awaited new series. And trust Lord
Winterborne when he says, If you like Feisty hell, if you like books
you won't be disappointed.

Where to start? Raymond E. Feist is
the author of the best-selling and critically acclaimed Riftwar Saga
(Magician, Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon). Anyone who has read
these books knows that little more needs to be said. You can depend on
Feist to tell a great story, and his epic, heroic fantasy novels of the
past have proven this.

More recent additions to the history of
Midkemia include The Serpent-War Saga and The Rift-War Legacy. Unlike
some authors who lose their touch after a while, Feist has continued to
write good books, and these series are no exception.

Excited
to see if he would continue this tradition of excellence, I delved into
Book One of the Conclave of Shadows headfirst. As is usual you get
swept along in a gripping narrative that is over before you're ready
for it.

This adventure begins in The Eastern Kingdoms, far from where the author would normally start-off the action


Kieli is an adolescent male of a mountainous people known as the
Orosini. Probably uncivilized and primitive by most standards, they are
nevertheless a strong, intelligent and majestic people.

As
he awaits his vision of manhood upon a remote peak, the Orosini are
being slaughtered on the steppes below. Passing out from fatigue and
exposure he is awakened by a rare silver hawk upon his arm:

Rise, little Brother: rise and be a talon for your people.

Given
his manhood name by the Gods, Talon of the Silver Hawk (no longer the
boy Kieli) returns to his village in time to see the last futile
efforts of his people as they are cut down man, woman and child.

Killing
one enemy he throws himself into the battle but knows it is useless,
and like his friends and family the bolt of a crossbow easily
dispatches him.

Talon alone survives and is salvaged from the destruction and taken in by an very interesting group of people:

You
were educated in the ways of your people to be a good and true man of
the Orosini. Now you must be educated in the ways of the world.

One day Talon, the last of the Orosini, would have his revenge.


Thus begins the Conclave of Shadows with Talon of the Silver Hawk. Fans
of Raymond E. Feist, prepare for some exciting new characters, a couple
of much loved older ones, and a few whispers of a past that is much
cherished.

Newcomers dont hesitate, regardless of whether you
have read Feist before or not this promises to be a great series in its
own right. Although saying that you should read his other stuff anyway
because its absolutely fabulous.

Unfortunately I have been too
busy to read Book Two: King of Foxes but a fellow fantasy buff and
expert on the genre, Matthew Wardle, promises it is a superb
continuation of the story.

Keep up the fine work Feisty!

Also by Raymond E. Feist:


  • Faerie Tale

  • Prince of the Blood

  • The Kings Buccaneer

  • With Janny Wurts:

  • Daughter of the Empire

  • Servant of the Empire

  • Mistress of the Empire