A satisfying follow up to the wonderful Magician
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It was always going to be difficult to follow on from Magician, which was a truly astounding read, but Feist has made a worthy attempt. Don't expect anywhere near the truly epic nature of his debut novel, Silverthorn's scope is far narrower both chronologically and geographically. In fact this would almost work as a standalone book, and doesn't seem to fit in the same saga as Magician. That said, the characters are lovingly portayed as always. Feist takes the spotlight away from the main characters in Magician- a move that might upset some fans- and instead focuses on Arutha, Laurie, and Jimmy the Hand. We follow them on their journey into the 'lions den' so to speak, the only place they can find the antidote to the poison dart which has struck the Princess Anita!
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Good for its time
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As an example of early Feist work, it is very good and follows magician nicely. I would only ever read this particuarly trilogy from the author and wouldn't bother with the rest.
It is just plain escapist fantasy that was relatively unusual for its time. I am not convinced that it would have been as successful in the present enviornment.
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Gripping!
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Silverthorn is the second part of the Riftwar saga and is another belter from Feist. Where Magician was an epic story that spanned many year's, Silverthorn is a much shorter tale but is also packed with non stop action.
Set a year after the previous novel, Jimmy the Hand take's centre stage early on and stumble's into an assassination attempt on Prince Arutha's life. This turn of event's culminate's in Anita being struck with an bolt which carrie's the poison 'Silverthorn'.
The race is on to find an antidote for the poison and to find who is behind these attack's. The search goes from Krondor, Sarth, Elvandar and deep into the Northland's in another gripping tale of good versus evil.
Great charecter's, amazing scenery and a strong plot, Feist give's reader's another great story from the world of Midkemia.
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A Heroic, white and shiney Prince!
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I like the "Magician" better, but this sequel is also ok. It is taking a different path from the Magician story, only merging again at the end. It is a story of a Prince who is trying to save his Princes. Pretty intense, almost scary many times.
Not as good as the previous book, a little bit more classic story.
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Great
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This is book II in the Riftwar saga, which follows mainly the lives of Arutha, Jimmy and Pug after the events of the first book, Magician.
Silverthorn is definately a darker, nastier book than its predecessor. The theme of the "undead" being controlled by an unknown "enemy" is not similar to anything which was found in the first book. The characters have developed well, and are independent. Arutha is the quiet, often brooding but intelligent Prince, Jimmy is the rough-cut, crude yet incredibly quick witted thief-cum-squire, while Pug has become almost cryptic in his role as the greatest magician ever to grace Midkemia.
However, the book lacks the depth and scope that was present in Magician. From the first contact to the resulting war took a long time, it kept us waiting while it slowly uncovered this race to us like a slow, sly disease. In Silverthorn, there is obviously less mystery surrounding the worlds, and the new main story was not as compelling as that which was centrepiece to Magician.
That aside, it is a good, solid sequal which has good points which far, far outweigh the bad.
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