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