Now this is one puzzling book. It is kind of expected from the second volume to be a little break, to introduce events that will be developed in the last part but not too much. However, after reading 2/3 of the book I found myself thinking "but there's nothing happening here!". There was not much of character development, and the biggest change was this of the setting. I would say that only the last 50 pages brought about any engaging plot - and by that I mean one that potentially has a direct impact on the future and needs solving.

I'm not saying I didn't enjoy it because I did. It was a quite interesting read but... an odd one at the same time. Let's see how it all ends.

Another good Riftwar-universe story. I've been reading through all the Riftwar books and I think I've discovered what makes them good (for me, anyway). It's the introduction of new realms - sometimes entire worlds, sometimes new areas on an existing world. Every time one of these books takes us to a new realm, it's kept my attention. The books that try to set new stories in existing realms seem to fall a bit flat.

This particular story spends plenty of time in the worlds of Midkemia and Kelewan, but the really interesting stuff is a journey to another plane of existence. The realm of the Dasati is quite a distopia. Lots of plot I don't want to spoil, and even more coming in the third book of the Darkwar Saga, so suffice it to say that the journey into that realm is one of the more interesting places that Feist has sent his magician Pug.

The Dasati scenes are what made this one better than the last.

3.5 stars

There's nothing on this book to say it's part 2 of a new trilogy (if you pick it at random from a bookshop shelf), so takes a bit of getting used to what is essentially a whole new lot of characters than what you'd expect.
You're thrown in at the deep end as you work out whose who and what is going on.

Once past that, this is a good story with lots going on. More rifts are opening up on Midkemia and Pug and his friends and family have to work out what threat may be coming their way this time.

Characters are well written, and the places they have to go to are all unique.
Nothing is really achieved by the end of the book, other than everyone being in their places for the finale.

Another enjoyable escapade of Pug and the gang.

I really, really loved the descriptions of the Dasati people and their world - so much scope for stories and exploration.

Looking forward to book three.