Ramond E Feist Book Review: Conclave of Shadows Book Three: Exile's Return

All of Feist's stories take place in the world of Midkemia; For the most part, on a continent split between multiple nations balanced on the blade of a sharp political knife. The Gods have been at war in the past and the balance between good and evil is precarious.

This trilogy gives readers the chance to see inside the workings of the Conclave of Shadows, established by the center character of all books; a powerful magician who goes by the simple name of Pug. The members of the conclave have banded together in secret. Magicians and those of a more physical nature alike, devote their lives to ensuring the safety of their world's existence.

The series includes three books.

• Talon of the Silver Hawk
• King of Foxes
• Exile's Return

The trilogy does not require any previous knowledge of the stories before it, but it does help to give the reader a much deeper understanding of many of the characters involved.

Additionally, you don't even need to read the three books in order. Some how, Feist has an amazing talent for making the story flow beautifully through all the books as a whole while removing all dependency on its predecessor. Each book is a story within a story and each of those stories is a story within an even greater story.

So without further ado, I present to you: Exile's Return.

The riders came at him. Kasper, who had until the day before held the title of Duke of Olasko, waited, holding his chains ready. Moments before he had been deposited on this dusty plain by a tall white-haired magician who, with only a few words of farewell, had vanished, leaving the exiled nobleman to face an approaching band of nomads.

This epic follows straight on from the exact moment where King of Foxes left off. All of a sudden, there is a complete change of setting and characters for most of the book. The focus is now on Kasper after he loses everything but his existence. 

The book starts off as an interesting tail of his survival and ambition. Only the desire for revenge keeps him going at first. That is, until he discovers something much more powerful than he could imagine has been at play. 

Slowly, Kasper begins to uncover a threat to Midkemia like none before. The Dark Empire. The only thing currently standing between such a threat and the destruction of not only his homeland, but also the world as it is known; is the Conclave of Shadows. 

Now he has an even more important reason to get home. He must warn his previous enemies of the looming threat before it is too late.

Even though Exile's Return continues exactly where the previous book left off; it is actually a completely new story in itself. Its the prelude to the plot lines of Feists books: Into a Dark Realm and Wrath of a Mad God. As usual you don't have to read it to understand those books. However, it gives Feist fans a look at how the threat to Midkemia was actually discovered, where as the following novels are about investigating it and fighting it respectively.

Personally, when I reached this book I was a little sad to leave the theme I had just spent a good 700 pages one. After a few chapters I was absorbed in it and couldn't pt it down. Its interesting how easily Feist makes you begin to respect, if not like a character who you previously would have despised. 

As usual, a great book well worth reading.