As Exile's Return is the conclusion of Feist's Conclave of Shadows trilogy, this review almost of necessity must incorporate some interpretation of the full trilogy and not only the one book.That being said, it is a bit odd to spend the first two books of a trilogy dealing with one character, Talon, and then switch to his nemesis, Kaspar, as the new protagonist. Of course, given where King of Foxes left Talon, I'm not sure I would have much enjoyed focusing longer on him, so while it was an odd decision, it wasn't entirely a bad one. Of course, better might have been to have focused on a different character for each book or not leave your protagonist in such an uninteresting state at the end of book two such that a change was warranted.That being said, Exile's Return was a much better novel than its predecessor. Feist went back to working on some character development with Kaspar, but rather than being a coming-of-age sort of development, it was a bit more psychologically mature in some ways. It was like watching someone coming off a sort of drug and realizing that he was not who he wanted to be as well as watching the struggle to adjust to painful circumstances and the realization of his own faults. Yet, I feel like I'm giving Feist a bit too much credit here, as his development, while present, was a bit spotty. I appreciated that it was there, but felt it needed a bit more detail to it.Unfortunately, the author did employ a few overly-coincidental plot points, just as was the case in King of Foxes. That all those who ended up attached to the artifact just happened to be foreigners to Novindus was too unlikely, and happening to dine at just the right establishment upon returning to Olasko was likewise too easy. A few other, similar circumstances could be noted, though those two were particularly flagrant, it seemed.The time on Novindus did feel like it dragged just a bit after finding the artifact, though not excessively so, and I was left somewhat confused as to the need to drag it to the mountains even after it was explained at the end. My teeth were also set on edge every time the text referred to him as "Talwin Hawkins" rather than simply "Talwin" or even "Tal", but that may be a very minor point.In the end, it felt as if the trilogy were really just a means of setting up the next trilogy rather than having a life of its own, which makes the books seem a bit unnecessary save for the last few chapters, though that still doesn't feel entirely a waste insofar as Feist dealt with people and their lives rather than filling space in order to reach the next event. Even when he's setting up a plot in the future, being character driven is more satisfying than event driven.Exile's Return isn't excellent, but it was still reasonably well paced and interesting to watch. Despite its flaws, I didn't mind whiling away time with it. 3.5/5.
This book is no longer about Tal Hawkins from the previous books, this book is about the man he defeated, Kaspar, the duke of Olasko. And Feist's fantasy saga continues.Kaspar has been sent by magic to the continent of Novindus instead of giving a death sentence. The former tyrant who murdered Tal's village seems to have no goodness in him, but this will change. He is caught by nomads but manages to escape and then start the long way home in order to seek revenge on Talk Hawkins. During his trip he will work as a farm hand, and slowly come to grasp the reality of his own people.But there is a dark power lurking in the shadows and the aim is to destroy Midkemia. The Riftwar or the Serpent war will not compare on the madness that would be unleashed.First, it was years since I read King Of Foxes, I have no idea what happened, or in the first book Talon of a Silver Hawk. I wanted to get the book in English but since it took forever I saw that they had it in Swedish...big mistake.I love Feist's books, I have re-read Magician every summer for 8 years, and it's the book I would take with me to an deserted island. But since I loved his books I tried them in Swedish, and the translation is bad. The translator writes them in a way like they are addressed to teens and kids. Which in this book is strange cos Feist gets into this philosophical discussion with a god, and it shouldn't be written so lightly.And yes I do love the cover, but then again it shows the market it's aimed at, the market all fantasy seems to be made at when it comes to Swedish books.If you have read it, do say and let me know what you thought. I have a hard time knowing if it's the translation that makes it so very boring, or if it's actually the book. I do have a hard time saying anything about this book.Well Kaspar redeems himself and I find myself liking him, then again I was never a big Tal fan. And we get to see Pug again and I do love Pug. The book leaves it open, or wide open for more and there is more. There is a war to be fought once more. I just hope I don't have to read that was in Swedish.
Do You like book Exile's Return (2006)?
I didn't find this book so much the end of trilogy as much as a spin off and set up work. First, this third book in the conclave of shadows isolated Kaspar, the former Duke of Olasko, and followed him in his exile. Now while this is a nice story of redemption it was almost a story that could have stood on its own. My last update mentioned that we don't see Talwin Hawkins, but as I finished the book, the reader does get to meet him again for a brief moment. He is used simply as a conduit for information and to let the reader see the struggles that Kaspar must go through as he begins his journey through his redemption process. I like the character of Kaspar of Olasko. He has flaws and isn't inherently evil nor over the top "born" again as a goody-two-shoes. This book sets up the next series for Feis, the Darkwar Saga. I have not decided if I am going to read that series or not. I wander if I had read all of Feist's books in order if I would have enjoyed these more. I have not read the Riftwar Legacy nor the The Serpentwar Saga. I didn't like the Conclave of Shadows enough to run out to the bookstore and purchase these books, but if I can pick them up at a used bookstore, yard sale or via bookmooch I might give them a try.
—Michael
Na dit boek ben ik een aantal jaar geleden afgehaakt met deze serie. Niet omdat het zo'n slecht boek was, maar ik had er even helemaal genoeg van. Er wordt een nieuw probleem ontdekt, wat weer ernstiger en groter is dan waar de serie daarvoor al mee te maken heeft gehad. En de personages spraken me ook niet zo aan, wat onder andere komt omdat er een aantal personages is uit eerdere boeken die ik veel leuker vond die nu dood zijn of niet (veel) voorkomen in dit boek.Ik denk nu dat ik deze serie ooit nog wel weer oppak, ergens ben ik wel nieuwsgierig hoe het verder gaat.
—Renske
The third book in the Conclave Of Shadows trilogy asks the question... can a man who has slaughtered many for his own personal gain, now find redemption and heroism in his heart? With the story of Talon/Talwin Hawkins concluded for the most part at the climax of book 2, book 3 needs to shift focus to a new hero. And in a bold and daring move, master fantasy writer Raymond E. Fiest chooses the villainous Duke of Olasko himself, Kasper. Having been spared by Talwin Hawkins,who's grown weary of all the blood on his hands, but, exiled halfway around the world by the magician Magnus, Kasper vows to return to his lands, regain control and avenge himself upon Talwin and Quentin Havrevulen for overthrowing his tyrannical rule. But, Kasper is no longer under the influence of evil magician Leso Varen and the more he reflects back,the more he questions his deeds and actions. And now fate has put Kasper in possession of something dark and powerful, that could spell doom for all Midkemia and the world. And the only ones who can help him be rid of it... are those who usurped and exiled him, Talwin Hawkins and The Conclave Of Shadows! Fiest is at the top of his game with this really enjoyable and fast paced read which is not only a traditional quest/adventure but, a journey toward redemption as well. The action never slows but, as the story progresses we see Kasper's change as events around him and his own personal reflections begin to peel away the selfish, cold blooded layers and slowly reveal the honorable and heroic man within. Exile's Return is a perfect example of the rich and multifaceted characters that Fiest brings to his tales and the way he is so deft at portraying their growth and/or change as a result of the events of the story they are in. A delightful and suspenseful book that is also a brilliant character study of a man who starts to see the error of his ways. And as we are left with the herald of an even grander tale on the horizon, one is filled with eager anticipation for Fiest's following Darkwar Saga.
—Joe Aguiar
