Flight of the Nighthawks : Book One of the Darkwar Saga

From Publishers Weekly This first of a new fantasy trilogy from bestseller Feist (_Exile's Return_) reintroduces a now ancient but well-preserved Pug (the juvenile hero of Magician ) plus numerous generic situations, not the least of which is the return of Pug's old nemesis, the evil wizard Sidi, and a further menace that threatens the land of Midkemia. All the characters talk in completely 21st-century vocabulary, and while some of the inhabitants of the imaginary setting have unusual names suggestive of alien language and culture, we also meet folks named Miranda, Tomas, Magnus, Caleb and Zane. The result does not add up to any sense of a real, other place like Middle Earth or Earthsea, in which mythic events might plausibly occur. Those looking for the numinous wonder of Tolkien or the beautiful language of Ursula Le Guin will have to look elsewhere, but readers seeking to move one step up from adventure-gaming tie-in novels will find this a good starting place. (Apr.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Feist expands the _ uber_ -saga of Midkemia again with a new trilogy, The Darkwar Saga. In it eventual arch-mage Pug (see _ Exile's Return,_ 2005) is much younger, his vast powers are still forming, and he hasn't yet acquired the array of family ties that will make him so wonderfully human later on. Right now he is trying to contend with evil sorcery and win the tolerance, if not allegiance, of the emperor. Reinforcing him are two fugitive farm boys, Tad and Zane, and their mentor, Caleb, whose aid proves invaluable as all three youngsters mature, the farm boys with the additional help of another mage's daughters. The boys' growth entails some of Feist's most notable feats of characterization, feats that testify to the substantial improvement he has made as a writer during a career now approaching the 20-year mark. He leaves us curious, even eager, to see what the succeeding two books will reveal about Midkemia's history and what parts Tad and Zane play in it, though perhaps under new and different names. Roland Green Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved A new evil threatens Midkemia, its web stretching from the deepest criminal underworld all the way up to the highest seats of power in ancient Kesh. And the Conclave of Shadows, charged unexpectedly with the training of two apprentices, must also best powerful agents of the darkest magic . . . for the fate of two worlds lies in the balance.The New York Times bestselling author and master of fantasy Raymond E. Feist returns to his signature world of Midkemia in this first book in a gripping new trilogy that ushers in the third, and most dramatic, Riftwar yet: the Darkwar.In the middle of the night on Sorcerer's Isle, the powerful sorcerer Pug is awakened from a nightmare that portends destruction for all of Midkemia. Disturbed by the dream, Pug calls for a convening of the Conclave of Shadows. Though Pug does not yet know it, his son Magnus has discovered the cause of Pug's prophetic dream: a beacon has been unleashed, directing a vast army of alien invaders to Midkemia, an army so formidable that even the might of the Tsurani Empire might fall before its fury.Meanwhile, in far Stardock town, two boys are coming of age. But on the dusty path that leads them from home they are thrust by fate into a life undreamed of, becoming enmeshed in intrigue, murder, and treason. Though untrained and unready, they are called upon by the mysterious Conclave to travel deep into the heart of the Empire of Great Kesh, to confront a plot so dark and twisted it will implicate even the highest-ranking nobles of the Empire, even members of the royal family itself. And behind this plot they discover the ancient Brotherhood of Death, the clan of assassins known as the Nighthawks.And Pug will find himself once again facing his old nemesis, the evil wizard formerly known as Sidi, now Leso Varen, in a confrontation with everything at stake: his honor, his life, and the future of Midkemia. The New York Times bestselling author revisits his signature world of Midkemia in this first book in a new trilogy that ushers in the third, and most dramatic, Riftwar yet: the Darkwar Flight of Nighthawks picks up two years after Exile’s Return as Pug, the powerful sorcerer, awakens from a nightmare that portends destruction for all of Midkemia. Disturbed by his dream, Pug calls for a convening of the Conclave of Shadows. Meanwhile, in a small town on the other side of Midkemia, two young brothers are coming of age. As they travel away from home, towards apprenticeships and adulthood, the boys are attacked by bandits and mistakenly transported to Sorcerer’s Isle, the home of the Conclave of Shadows. Though they are untrained and unready, the brothers will join the powerful, mysterious Conclave to confront Midkemia’s most looming evil yet—the Nighthawks, assassins feared throughout the centuries. And Pug will face his old nemesis, the evil wizard formerly known as Sidi, now Leso Varen, in a confrontation with everything at stake: his honor, his life, and the future of Midkemia.

a Portent Of Annihilation Awakens The Powerful Sorcerer Pug In The Dead Of Night—a Dread Vision Warning Of A Vast And Terrible Army Descending Upon The Exposed Heart Of Midkemia. Even The Formidable Might Of The Tsurani Empire Will Not Beat Back The Alien Invaders. And In Far Stardock Town, Two Boys—untrained, Unready, And Barely Come Of Age—will Be Called Upon By The Mysterious Conclave Of Shadows To Confront A Sinister Plot That Implicates Even The Highest-ranking Nobles In The Land. For A Nightmare Of Treason, Intrigue, And Murder Is Brewing Among An Ancient Brotherhood Of Death—a Clan Of Merciless Assassins Whose Name Is Spoken Only In Fearful Whispers . . .

san Diego Union-tribune

“a Promising Start To What Looks Like A Strong, Dire Trilogy Of Fantastic Adventure.”

The first volume in an all-new trilogy set in the world of Midkemia follows Pug, the sorcerer, as he searches for the meaning of a prophetic nightmare that portends the destruction of Midkemia, while two young brothers, untrained and unprepared, become a part of the Conclave of Shadows, and Pug must confront his archenemy Leso Varen Pug, a sorcerer, searches for the meaning of a prophetic nightmare that portends the destruction of the world of Midkemia, while two young brothers, untrained and unprepared, become a part of the Conclave of Shadows