After the superlative RIFTWAR SAGA, I had no idea where this book came from and the writing style was really off in comparison.What happened? Maybe Feist didn't want to write another so soon after being on contract? I don't know.Whatever the case, the writing was totally off of his usual, brilliant style and after reading this and the BUCANEER'S TALE, I came to the sad conclusion that I would no longer get the emotional resonance I had gotten from the RIFTWAR SAGA. A true pity.I think this is an okay read but I can think of some 30 to 40 fantasy novels alone that are better. George R.R. Martin's A GAME OF THRONES, for instance, and THE LEGEND OF HUMA or NINE PRINCES IN AMBER or ELFSTONES OF SHANNARA.If his books got much better since, email and let me know with reasons.