Once the power is detected, there are but two options, success or death.
Magician
by Raymond E. Feist
Genre: Fantasy
About: Pug is an orphan boy of Crydee with few prospects before him, but when his time to enter a trade comes he's chosen by the Duke's own magician. Becoming a magician's apprentice was never Pug's dream, and he has an unpromising start to it. Yet war is coming to Crydee and Pug's powers may be the deciding factor as an enemy from another world threatens to destroy all it comes by.
The Good
This is classic fantasy written in a nostalgic, comforting way. We have an orphaned boy who has magic that's beyond the norm, portals to other worlds, dragons gifting magical armour, elves falling in love with humans, a mad king, and prophecies guiding the pages. Not to mention pirates and princesses. Suffice to say: it has everything a fantasy reader could want. I loved the adventure it took me on. Book one takes the time to develop certain characters. Pug, Tomas and Arutha are the main focus: Pug has to learn the ways of magic, Tomas of the sword and Arutha the ways of command. But their journeys twist from the expected path. Tomas's storyline took me the most by surprise and I really enjoyed the darker history that came with it.
The Bad
Book two really opens the world up - quite literally taking us into another world. The politics becomes more interesting, but the characters undergo very quick and dramatic changes. Time elapses disconnect us from the characters we'd come to know so well. In particular, Pug's transformation into a master magician read a little abstract to me as did so many changes he goes through. From slave to Great One to father... there isn't much of a settling in period for these major events.
The Somewhat Iffy
The women do have some roles in this story which is something, but the way they're described is hard to read at times. Often the men are surprised at how 'complex' women can be. Any woman shown to be intelligent and strong-willed is seen as something special and worthy of the man's interest because of these surprising layers. Of course the women are only ever viewed in terms of being a love interest. Even the kickass scene Carline is given during a battle sequence is diminished quickly into her praising her love interest's bravery rather than her own.
Overall
An epic that's easy to enjoy. There are so many fantastic scenes that I'd love to see on the big screen one day. It's an adventure that's wholesome and familiar.
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