Rating: 
Summary: fascinating fantasy
Review: High in the ice capped mountains live the peaceful Orosini. The villagers celebrate the Midsummer ritual, while a boy by himself seeks his vision before returning to Kulaam Village as a man. A couple of days have passed when he notices carrion flying over a nearby village, which means many people are dead and no one is removing their bodies. He rushes back to his village, but falls. When he regains his equilibrium, a hawk is perched on him seemingly informing Kieli he can protect or seek vengeance. The lad knows he is now a man, TALON OF THE SILVER HAWK. At his village, he finds genocide before the assailants severely injure him.When he regains consciousness a few days later, he learns that Robert de Lyis saved his life. Talon begins paying his life debt to Robert by performing simple chores like serving guests properly. Robert knows that Talon has one objective in life: avenging the destruction of his people by Raven and his horde. Unknown To him is that Robert has hopes that Talon will prove to be the world savior. Raymond E. Feist returns to his trademark Midkemia (see the Riftwar Legacy) with an exciting first book in the "Conclave of Shadows" series. Once the slaughter is complete, the plot relocates to Kendrick's establishment. There the story line slows down with no epic adventure, but as it did during the opening action laden mountain chapters and the latter "Mercenary" sections of the book the tale enables the audience to comprehend the essence of Talon. Mr. Feist's feisty fans will feast on this fascinating fantasy. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Agent of Retribution
Review: Talon of the Silver Hawk is the first novel in the Conclave of Shadows series. Kielianapuna is an Orosini boy who is undergoing his manhood ritual. Waiting on the mountainside, fasting and with only herbal infused water to drink, Kieli longs for a vision to show his adult name. On the third day of the ritual, he has not yet had a vision and he must leave soon, for he only has a few sips of water remaining. Then he notices the vultures gathering over Kapomi village and realizes that raiders are within the hills and that his village, Kulaam, will probably be the next target. He drinks his remaining water and takes a few wobbly steps down the hill, but slips and falls, injuring his left arm. Trying to stand, he becomes nauseated, falls back, vomits, and loses consciousness. Almost immediately, a sharp pain on his left arm arouses him and he finds a silver hawk perched on his side, flexing its talons on his arm. As he stares into the black eyes of the hawk, he receive a message in his mind telling him "Rise and be a talon for your people". The bird launches itself over his shoulder and Kieli stands and starts for his village. When he arrives there, hie finds the raiders killing all within the village. He takes a sword from one raider and kills him, then rushes the raid leaders from their rear, but is shot with a crossbow before he can quite reach them. He faints from the loss of blood from his various injuries, but his last sight is on the silver hawk circling above, telling him "Linger, little brother, for your time is not yet". The boy awakes in the village as he is attended by two men and several times later as they journey down to the lowlands. He finally regains full consciousness in a stable and learns that he has told the men during his previous periods of brief consciousness that he is Talon of the Silver Hawk. The men are Robert de Lyis and Pasko and the stable is part of an inn owned by Kendricks. Others working at the inn include Leo, the cook, and his wife, Martha, the baker, as well as Lela, Meggie, Lars, and Gibbs, the kitchen help and servers. Two other men, Magnus and Caleb, are brothers and associates of Robert. After reminding Talon that a life debt is owed, Robert tests Talon's skills and orgainizes a course of training while he is at the inn. Kendricks teaches him the rudiments of sword fighting, Caleb adds to his hunting and tracking knowledge, Pasko teaches everyday wisdom, Robert teaches him reading, Leo teaches him cooking, and everybody teaches him to speak Roldemish. After some time, Talon is magically transported by Magnus to a far off island. There Talon lives in a hut with a transforming interior while he continues his lessons, now including magic. One day, while Magnus is away, the hut is visited by death-dancers, shadows darker that the night, who nearly kill Talon, although he gets in a few good licks. After his rescue, Talon learns that the other occupants of the island are part of the Conclave of Shadows. Although many are magicians, others are agents without magical talents, and the Conclave wants him to become such an agent. Since the alternative is to lose all his memories and become someone else, Talon accepts the offer, swearing loyalty to the Conclave. Despite this, Talon still doesn't know why they selected him or what they expect him to accomplish. He is told, however, that the next step is to make him the greatest swordsman in the world. This novel takes place in Midkemia, the same world as the Krondar and SerpentWar series. However, the action takes place fifty years or more after the Riftwar and most of the people have changed. The Nameless One is now working through Kaspar, Duke of Olasko, who wants to conquer the Kingdom of the Isles. His agents have killed Talon's people and have other targets in mind. Everything Talon knows is driving him to kill the Duke, but first he has to kill the Duke's minions, for he probably will not survive the Duke's death. In some ways, this novel moves very slowly. Like the story of young Pug, much of the plot involves Talon's training and experiences. The only real action that occurs is a few minutes during Talon's matches in the Tournament of Masters and the attack on the Orodon village. Thus, it is fairly obvious that this novel is establishing the characters and scenery for the rest of the series. Talon is naive and ignorant, but readily absorbs everything taught to him. Overall, he is a very interesting and admirable young man. Nevertheless, he almost too patient with his mentors, trainers and handlers. Sinc Talon is the last living Orosini, I keep being reminded of Cooper's The Last of the Mohicans, but Robert is no Leatherstocking. Recommended for Feist fans and anyone who enjoys tales of noble savages adjusting to civilization.
Rating: 
Summary: Better than recent Feist, not as good as classic Feist
Review: In "Talon of the Silver Hawk," Raymond E. Feist returns to the saga format of his classic novels after several disappointing novelizations of computer games. The Riftwar Saga ("Magician," etc.) introduced his main characters and the world of Midkemia, and the Serpentwar Saga ("Shadow of a Dark Queen," etc.) added new characters and brought the next phase of the epic battle to a raging climax. Feist then wrote three novels set after the Riftwar, two as book versions of video game plots set in his world but created by the game developers. Perhaps due to the non-linear nature of video game plots or the distraction of a divorce, none of these had the storytelling skill of his previous work. "Talon of the Silver Hawk" starts a new saga with a new main character, Talon, and as such draws comparison to Feist's two other saga founding books, "Magician" and "Shadow of a Dark Queen." The boy Talon survives the massacre of his isolated tribe, and he is raised by strangers in a more developed society that he must learn to understand. This takes the entire first part of the novel, well told from Talon's point of view, but the narrative plods along as this boy learns the dull lessons of childhood crushes, respect, and social status. This part of story is set in a far eastern area of Feist's world that has not been used before, a chance for the author to develop and describe something completely new, but this region comes off as an ordinary, quasi-medieval fantasy kingdom. The second half of the novel focuses on Talon's integration into the Conclave of Shadows, the evil-fighting group founded by Feist's heroes at the end of the Serpentwar Saga. The view from Talon's eyes of previous Feist heroes like Pug and Nakor shows a different side of these long-time characters, but they are appropriately relegated to minor roles. Talon's coming of age predictably traces through trials of combat and adolescent love. His few friends are thinly drawn characters present only for short sections of the novel, too short to establish any meaningful relationship with Talon and further develop either character. Finally, Talon is sent out into the world on a mission, taking up residence in Roldem and fighting in a dueling tournament. As with the far Eastern kingdoms, Feist misses the chance to make this second newly featured locale unique and different, and it feels like a stock medieval city. The action continues afterwards as Talon returns to his homeland to exact revenge, in a typically fantasy hero way, upon the mercenaries who massacred his people. The duels and battles are classic Feist combat narrative, exciting and skillfully written, especially the long finish to the final battle. However, ultimately these clashes don't go anywhere or stir the reader to the larger cause that is being championed. "Talon of the Silver Hawk," solid on its face, unfortunately falls flat in starting this new saga compared to "Shadow of a Dark Queen" starting the last one. In "Shadow," the new characters Erik and Roo were more thoroughly drawn, their motivations more concisely developed, and their coming of age / training phase didn't have the monotony of Talon's Tarzan-like integration into society. In addition, after this growing phase, the places and tasks Erik and Roo went off to were far more exciting and better detailed than the rather simple and brief mission that Talon is sent on. Also, the greater purpose behind the actions in "Shadow" was clear to the reader and also the characters. "Talon" only sets up a minor villain, with virtually nothing on the major villain who is assuredly behind the scenes, who was trumpeted as such a dire threat when the Conclave was founded. This vague coverage of the ultimate reasons for the Conclave's existence and Talon's actions leaves all his struggles seeming poorly justified. "Talon of the Silver Hawk" sees Feist returning to the epic fantasy saga, outclassing his mediocre recent video game novelizations, but as an introductory novel, it still cannot compare to the opening book of his last saga, "Shadow of a Dark Queen," and nothing he's written since can compare to the opening book of his first saga, "Magician."
Rating: 
Summary: Finally...
Review: I must admit that I never got into Feist's fictions because they seemed the same old thing but maybe it's because I never pressured myself into picking it up and giving it a chance. This book, I did and I'm glad I did too. This book intriqued me and had me laughing during every page. I also admit that I didn't enjoy his many "conquests" with women. For once, I would like to read about a man who doesn't just think of women as game. Nevertheless, this book took the reader and carried them away into a land that was full of shady people and changed an ignorant boy into a deadly weapon against evil humanity. I do recommend this book to anyone who likes to get their feet wet in battles and twisted in a plot of a vengeful spirit. Talon is one of those people that you love to hate and you hate because you love him. He's a great character!! I can't wait to get back to the U.S. to get the second book!
Rating:
Summary: You have to read this
Review: This was a wonderful book. I just kept turning the pages. Not a whole lot of time waisted on describing the sword fighting. A page and that was it. I hate when they drag it out for 3-4 pages. Very nice ending too. The last 50 pages were great. I can not wait to get the next one. Maybe this weekend.
Rating:
Summary: Good continuation of the main story, but could be better
Review: first review, it wont be too indepth but I'll add my two cents. for those that have read Feist's work since magician, you will obviously read this particular book without my suggestion, as this continues on the 'main story line' and it did a decent job of keeping things interesting, introducing new characters.. and giving more depth to the world of Midkemia. The book's a bit short, although numbered 370~ pages, the text are extra large, and margins are extra long too. The previous book I read before this, Shards of Broken Crown, was definitely much more story packed, with plenty of events going on, and plenty of characters involved. The story revolving around this book's main character felt more like a short story after I've finished reading it. After finishing the book, I realized that the Serpentwar books were definitely much more eventful and the character developments were definitely better. Compare to each of the beginning titles of each series (Riftwar series, Krondor's Son series, or Serpentwar series).. this one was weaker in many aspect.
Overall this is a good continuation of the main story line, its essential to whats going on overall unlike the Krondor or Empire series. I suppose I would only recommend this book base on that fact alone, that its essential. As an individual book though, it does leave more to be desire.
Rating:
Summary: Not his best
Review: This is the beginning of another trilogy based in the world of Midkemia, but with a new set of characters. The book follows the adventures of the young man Talon of the Silver Hawk, who is the last survivor of a race of people slaughtered by a power seeking nobleman. He is saved by a group of people opposed to this nobleman, and they train him to become a weapon for the cause of good.
The Good: The book never really slows down, and Feist keep the reader interested in the core story. He creates some interesting characters, and I like what he was attempting to do with this tale. Unfortunately...
The Bad: This remined me more of a movie script than anything resembling his older work. From the start of every chapter, this book reads like Feist is picturing a camera on his heroes...or maybe a computer game? Anyway, this really wore on me after a while. I've never felt so beaten over the head with the feeling of a book being written for a purpose other then just telling a story. The whole thing smacked of commercialism.
The characters, while interesting, came across as wooden to me. In past Feist books, I was drawn deeply into the characters, and they were the strength of the story. In this book, I got the feeling that the plot was the main focus, and while the story is about the life of Talon, I never really saw his deeper self, and couldn't really like his character.
The plot itself was imaginative for the genre, but the story itself was predictable. While it was obvious Feist telegraphed his motivations (maybe to make the cutscenes work better or limit the character choices on a dialog screen?), I wasn't very surprised at how the book flowed. Think James Bond in Midkemia, and you can probably guess how the story will end.
I wasn't terribly impressed with this book. I know he can do better, because I've read better. There was a time when I thought Feist was one of the best in the genre. This book wasn't the type of work I expected from him. I may read the second and third book, but only if I see them on a bargin rack.
Rating:
Summary: Sweepingly grandiose
Review: After reading the opening thirty pages or so of Kieli's fortunate sojourn in the mountains as he under went his Orsini rite of passage I was instantly redrawn into Feist's Midkemian world with a sense of familiarity given I have spent considerable time away from this author. In this new series he moves us to the further East of Midkemia, to the Eastern Kingdoms.
After Kieli's entire village and way of life is destroyed by the mercenary band headed by the enigmatic Raven, and he nearly loses his own life, the reborn Talon of the Silver Hawk finds himself in true Garion style mopping out the kitchens at Kendrick's homestead and generally learning about the world outside his village which also includes several amorous run-ins with the ever cheerful Lela.
All the while, in true Keill Randor fashion, he recognises he must avenge his people whilst being under the burden of life-debt to Robert who saved his life. His tutelage is begun by the huntsman, Caleb and it is quickly discovered that his patient demeanour reveals an acutely discerning eye for detail and a later aptitude for swordsmanship. All of which is useful to Robert as he seeks to craft Talon into Midkemia's finest assassin. A visit to the nearby town of Latagore widens Feist's characterisation as we learn of the Duke of Olasko's greater schemes.
On returning to Kendrick's and learning of Lela's departure Talon is taken away to the Bitter Sea, to the Sorceror's Isle, to be honed even more into the weapon Magnus and Robert want him to become. After swearing fealty to the Conclave of Shadows, headed by the ever inimitable Pug and Miranda, having yet another amorous adventure with Alysandra (there's a lot of love in this novel for Feist) he escapes three deathwalkers and is then sent back to the Eastern Kingdoms to become a Roldomian nobleman and the finest swordsman in the world. A title gained by winning the tourney. The novel turns to focus on Tal Hawkins' (as he is now known) acceptance into society, his winning of the tournament, escaping a suicide Keshian assassin and eventual wholehearted defence of an Ordini village against overwhelming odds headed by Raven. Eventually the denouement comes, Tal gains his first vengeance and is then assigned to the Duke of Olasko to continue the deadly, yet hidden, mission the Conclave has set him.
Feist's penmanship is of the highest quality and this new series set in Midkemia provides all the glossy punch that every other novel has done. Continuity of favourite characters, yet with a new generation to follow and marvel at sets Feist as an author at the height of his powers. Long may it continue.
Rating:
Summary: Nice new addition to the Midkemia realm
Review: For all those fans of Feist this is a good start to what promises to be a good trilogy. I wasn't too impressed with the Krondor books, but this series is right on the money.
Feist once again starts moving forward in time again instead of going back and rehashing old ground. The writing is solid, the new, old villains(Midkemia readers will know what I mean) are great, and the further expansion to the knowledge of the different lands and peoples of Midkemia is grteat.
If you haven't read any of Feist's previous work I wouldn't neccesarily recomend this book as a starting point. You would probably still enjoy the book, but many of the supporting characters and situations and past events the characters talk about would be unknown to a new reader and since Feist doesn't spend time rehashing old ground you would probably want to go buy "Magician: Apprentice" instead.
Rating:
Summary: good read
Review: Raymond Feist has written a fun and entertaining read again. This time he has introduced the reader to Talon, a country boy whowatched his family slaugtered on his day of manhood. Talon swears revenge and joins the Conclave of Shadows in his quest. the conclavbe turns thsi young man into an expert swordsman, lover, and nobleman to slip him into upper society for his revenge. The conclave if fighting and ancient enemy of their own and Talon is a pawn in a larger game.
Feist has once again written believable characters who have been flushed out nicely. The story is not new, but it is still entertaining. This is a fast a and enjoyable read.
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