Two best friends grow up on a frontier town with boyish dreams of glory. But invaders come to their land and their naivete must be discarded. They get caught up in what will be an absolutely amazing saga.

Anyone age 8 and up looking for a realistic fantasy story, not a fru-fru fantasy full of fluff. You understand the books on different levels at different ages. I remember reading when I was younger than the hero, next the same age, and then finally older than the hero.

The character development is completely unparalleled in any other book ever written. Ask anyone who's read this to "name your favorite" character, and they won't give you a list of less than six names. You will understand and care about every major and minor character in the book.

The series was released in 3 books in the UK. The first book (Magician) was split to 2 paperbacks (:Apprentice and :Master) in the USA. I wish I'd gotten a copy with the original cover.

Meet the author and live in his world. I've read this series once per year since age 10. I still get tingles.

Like a moral person. Unlike shallow or single-dimensioned people, all the book's characters are complex. Despite their flaws, they aspire to respectable, responsible actions.

Is a first-class person. I got to chat with him via email. He's intelligent and responds to thoughtful questions. He takes his time and doesn't turn out hack writing.

I love it so much. I hold the characters as role models for virtue. I want the people I care about to experience this joy.

If you live near me, you could borrow it from me instead of buying it. I have about 4 copies of every book, just from buying it every time I see it at book sales.

This isn't a dungeons-n-dragons fantasy with a party of four different races. It's not a hokey, flowery magic adventure. The story is completely realistic and serious, albeit in a world that doesn't exist.
The writing is also compelling and even thought-provoking at times.
In true epic sense, the scope widens as the story progresses, and there are aspects of family, friendship, romance, duty, action, battle, war, horror, drama, suspense, and mystery.
This was Feist's first story and it was a complete slam-dunk. It could not be woven more tightly or majestically.

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Created Sep 26, 2006 at 12:04pm • Submit your own review...