Mistress of the Empire

Rating:
Summary: A very long book...
Review: This is a great book, but I almost cried when Mara went with Kevin- how could she leave a great guy like Hokanu?!??!?! THe worst bit was when she petitioned for a divorce and there was a " cry of pain" in his eyes. He was the best husband! My last words- WHY Mara, why? ps. The whole thing wiht Arakasi finally finding someone was sweet as well

Rating:
Summary: Brilliant Ending to a brilliant Triology
Review: This is fantasy at it's best, suspense, intrigue and magic, with interesting characters. Unfortunately you really have to read Magician to truly appreciate it, so it doesn't stand alone!

Rating:
Summary: Best of the awesome Kelewan series.
Review: This is the best of the Feist/Wurts series. Arakasi, House Acoma's Spy Master, plays his most significant role yet. One chapter in this book, where Arakasi storms the stronghold of the Hamoi Tong, an assassin's guild, stands out among all the countless chapters that I've read. It is so cool. A one man attack, YESS!!!!!!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Wow!!!
Review: This was a great ending to a wonderful trilogy. It is nice to have a true heroine to read about instead of the usual male-dominated series. I could not put this book down and lost much sleep to finish it. Now I'm sad it is over. You will not be disappointed. I have to add too that people who say this is just like other series must not read much. I have never seen the concept of the "game of the council" used in any other popular fantasy. If any had something even similar (which they don't) I am sure they would have been from a male perspective anyway. These books are unique!!!!

Rating:
Summary: Awe doesn't begin to express it
Review: Twists inside twists is the best way to describe the plot in this one. Not that it will shock you so much as that the action never seems to falter or fall short. There was only one point where I thought there was a plot malfunction, where the story seems to be heading somewhere, then goes somewhere completely different. But if you don't notice it, I'm not going to tell you where it is. Because the rest of the book is so good, I'm still giving it five stars. The final book of the series, Mistress gives us the ends we've all known that Mara and her associates deserved despite their sometimes ruthless means. In this episode, Mara travels far afield to a land she barely knew existed; Arakasi, Acoma Spymaster, takes on an entire fortress of trained assassins, and falls in love with a beautiful, but jaded girl; we see the fruits of Mara's constant labor to unite the Empire and protect the future of her family name. And if that isn't enough, maybe you just don't like fantasy.

Rating:
Summary: A Resounding Finale
Review: Wow! This book is a great finale to what has been a wonderful series (see my reviews for the previous two installments.)

One would have thought that upon being named Servant of the Empire and having defeated House Minwanabi once and for all, Mara and her family would once and for all be able to enjoy peace. However, right from the beginning of this third installment, Mara meets very personal tragedy.

House Anasati leads a powerful coalition of traditionalists who oppose the elimination of the Council and the office of Warlord. However, Mara discovers an even more powerful force against change, a force that has kept the Empire in stagnation for thousands of years.

To defeat that power, Mara will once again have to leave the boundaries of the Empire and seek help from a very unlikely source. Very difficult decisions are made right until the very end, and Mara will sacrifice much for the good of the Empire.

I have to admit that I like the way the cho-ja are portrayed in this novel and I am pleased that their history was developed to some extent in this final installment. The story as a whole is riveting, making the book hard to put down. One surprise after another keeps the reader engaged, tied together by the splended quality of the writing. This entire series has been a delight to read, and unlike some series that end on a lull, this one keeps you on the edge of your proverbial seat right until the final chapter.