Although I was first drawn into Feist's work through the Betrayal at Krondor video game in the mid-90s, I now recognize that the Riftwar Legacy is a very weak series by Feist's normal standards. If you were a fan of the game or if you are just a Riftwar junkie, you will enjoy revisiting old characters. Although Assassins is the best of the three (and the only one not based on a video game), it lacks the quality and epic nature of the Riftwar series itself. Do yourself a favor and read the Magician books, Silverthorn, and A Darkness at Sethanon before you read Krondor the Assassins. If you fall in love with Midkemia, then consider this book a fun little romp that is worth reading. Still, it's near bottom of the barrel by Feist's normally high standards.

I like Jimmy the Hand and Prince Arutha, which is why I at least liked reading Assasins. However, the first two books on this series have the feel of a video game, which they are adapted from. The story moves from situation to situation and I never really got caught up in the story. By the end, I was just reading because I enjoy when Jimmy is on the page. I've been a fan since Magician, but everything since then has not measured up to that debut effort.

Feist was once one of the very best authors in modern fantasy. The "Riftwar Saga" trilogy is a wonderful series, with well crafted plots, engaging and well defined characters, and textured and engaging world. I loved it. I've read those books countless times, and enjoyed them thoroughly.

However, after "A Darkness at Sethanon", everything went downhill ("Rise of a Merchant Prince" was appalling) and I gave up on Feist altogether. I picked up "Krondor: the Assassins" at a second hand bookstore the other day, and for a brief moment, thought that he may have regained some of his long lost craft. The story starts out entertainingly enough, with some interesting new-ish characters, a mildly intriguing premise, and a hint of the Krondor we got to know in "Silverthorn" and "Darkness"...but then its like he palms the book off to a 10-year old, and we're off to a fortress in the desert full of ninjas, evil priests and a demon. The writing descends to a horrific mish-mash of breathless "and then he....and then he..." dribble and pointless, derivative dialog - even sinking so low as to use the tired "I hate it when they do that!" and "Now I'm really mad!" lines.

Characters we know and love from earlier books are unrecognizable, flat caricatures of themselves, the plot goes nowhere, the only interesting story lines are forgotten, and the only relief I have is knowing that because I bought the book second hand, Feist won't be profiting from causing me this much pain.

It almost pains me to write like this about the author of the Riftwar books...but he put this junk out there, and so he's fair game, in my book. I'm giving this two stars, only because I want somewhere to go in future if i find a book so bad that when it opens, it shoots poison darts into your eyes.

Ray, please, PLEASE stop.

*sighs* I already submitted a review of this book a week or two ago...
Amazon appears to have lost it, though :(

Krondor: The Betrayal was terrible - it read like a poor computer game
(which it was, oddly enough, based on). With Assassins, the second
installment of the Riftwar Legacy, Feist actually puts some thought and
effort into writing a cohesive book. It is still well below his Serpentwar
saga, but at least it was a step up from Betrayal.

James is charged with trying to find out who is attempting to destroy The
Mockers (the thieves guild of the city of Krondor), which leads him on
a chase to find out who is The Crawler - the person or group behind this.
Also in league with The Crawler are the Nighthawks, infamous assassins
thought defeated during the Riftwar. I've personally come to see the
Nighthawks as a crutch for Feist - if in doubt, bring back the Nighthawks
and blame everything on them...and if you destroy them, bring them back
elsewhere as something akin to a terrorist cell. I believe Feist dwelled
too much on the infiltration of the Nighthawks' lair by James, William
and Treggar.

However, at least there was structure, and not seemingly random,
computer-generated encounters.

Of note in the book - the introduction of Sidi, a powerful necromancer
who will become Pug's nemesis later on down the line, and the
establishment of James' future spy network. I believe this is also the
book where we can finally put a face to the mysterious Upright Man (which
was exciting for me).

I can recommend this book as a decent read (but not brilliant). However,
be forewarned - it is the only ok book of the trilogy.

Stop killing us please, we are only criminals.


The Mockers have problems with the return of the Assassins' Guild, in that, well, Assassins kill people quite well, including thieves.

James and some help get to do some of the more spook sort of policework to try and work out what is going on.

Being a Feist fantasy, not going to be that simple, so expect monsters and magic before it all works out.