Raymond E. Feist: Exile's Return

Well, it could have been worse.  It could have been book two with a new cover.

What didn't suck: Feist displayed at least a tiny bit of creativity here by having the main antagonist from the last book become the protaganist in this one.  While it's not exactly breaking new ground, I still found it tolerably interesting.

As for the plot, well, while it was still an exercise in predictability, at least it wasn't boring this time around.  People died, stuff blew up, magic spells flew everywhere. A new race of bad guys were introduced. Much more in line with what I expect from Mr. Feist.

What sucked: THE SAME FREAKING BAD GUY.  I am NOT joking.  Yes, Talon so valiantly broke his neck while he was incapacitated at the end of the last book, but nevermind that.  He's back.  Again.  Whats that, ten times with this same Big Bad, Feist?  Seriously.  It's time to let it go.

The main character, Kaspar, was Talon's nemesis in the last book, but apparently all the horrible things he did didn't really count.  Because he was brainwashed.  In fact, by the end of the book he and Talon reconcile and are well on the way to being friends, despite the fact that Kaspar was almost singlehandedly responsible for wiping out Talon's entire people.  Meh.  This did not ring true with me.  You sir, are a pisspoor barbarian, Talon of the Silver Hawk.

Deep Thoughts: While a marked improvement over book two, it still just barely irks ahead of the "sucked" tag.  I guess I'm feeling generous.

Rating: Meh

Raymond E. Feist - King of Foxes

In which Raymond E. Feist displays absolutely no creativity whatsoever.  Ugh.  I know in my last post I was ranting about what a lovely trait a bit of predictability can be, but seriously, I'm pretty stupid.  This book did absolutely nothing I haven't seen in another fantasy novel; furthermore, it did nothing I haven't seen in a FEIST novel.  It's pretty bad when you start cannibalizing your own plot lines.

What doesn't suck: Um.  Lets skip this part.

What sucked: In the first book, Talon actually developed a little.  In this book, he did not change even slightly - but at the end of the book, the reader is expected to believe he has undergone some sort of metamorphasis into a better person.  Bullshit.  There was no epiphany, no reason his entire outlook would so suddenly change.  His entire life revolved around vengeance, and just as he gets it he decides he wants to be the bigger man?  No.  That's just the author deciding he did in a few sentences.  LAME.

The plot was boring to the extreme.  Sometimes I don't think you're even trying anymore, Feist. It turns out it's the same Big Bad its been in half of his books, but this time only Talon can save him!  Because he doesn't have magic!  Or some such crap.  It doesn't really matter.

The worst part is I have to read the next one.  Thats what sucks the most.

Deep Thoughts: This book does not warrant any further thought.  Ever.

Rating:Sucked