Rating: 
Summary: Excellent story, makes us want more (literally)
Review: "Shards" is a bittersweet ending to an exciting series. Billed as the "conclusion to the Serpentwar Saga", it does indeed chronicle the end of the Serpentwar. Like life, however, it does not simply end "happily ever after".The end of the war leaves a lot of questions unanswered, although the turn of events between Nakor and Kahil certainly was an unexpected plot clincher. I for one am gratified that the stories of the characters we know best from this series (Pug, Miranda, Nakor, Gathis) will seemingly be back, as the end of this book certainly sets up the possibility of another book (or series) with them, and I fervently hope Feist produces the next chapters in their stories. Do not pick up this book thinking that all will be made right with everyone in Midkemia; it doesn't happen. Don't let this deter you from reading the book, however; it is stunning in its character development, and stunning in the changes wrought in many of the characters' lives. David Gerrold once wrote about certain Star Trek episodes being "good" or "bad" because they did or did not portray *definitive* episodes in the characters' lives. There are many, many definitive experiences here that happen to the characters, and for that reason I give the book four stars. It would be five, Ray, but your editors and/or proofreaders seem to have left you hanging in the breeze. The book is somewhat rife with grammatical mistakes, spelling mistakes, and out-and-out confusing constructions and simple gaffs. Sometimes I had a hard time even following who was doing what, so bad were the errors. Other than that, I find nothing to detract from a very high recommendation. Midkemia fans, enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: A necessary conclusion
Review: As Feist tells it, when he was halfway through writing 'Rage of a Demon King', he was having difficulty working out how to conclude with a quarter of a million enemy soldiers wandering around Midkemia. When he confided in his agent at a lunch meeting, his agent promptly responded, 'Oh you mean book FIVE...' Thus it is with Shards. Loose ends are tied up, in a believable and logical manner. After 'Rage', where titanic magical forces clash, it's not so much of an epic tale, but a well-sculpted conclusion to the Serpentwar saga and a setting up for the next series, which Feist says will be set some 50-100 years after this book. Lacking the larger-than-life characters (Arutha, Duke James etc.) that fleshed out the rest of the Midkemian books, and it can come across as something of an anti-climax; but taken on it's own, it is a thoroughly well written and enjoyable close to another chapter in Midkemian history. Meanwhile, fans of Midekemia are due for extra doses of Jimmy and Arutha in his 'gap filler' books, Betrayel at Krondor and Return to Krondor. Thanks, Ray.
Rating: 
Summary: Magic takes a turn for the worst...
Review: In this book, I found that I enjoyed the continued stories about Erik and Roo, and Jimmy and Dash, but I was continuously [ticked] about Pug and the whole magical side of the book. Pug might as well be completely powerless in this book for the world of good he does. I think Feist got tired of writing about magic and just tried to throw it together in something resembling a conclusion. The truth of the matter is, the Riftwar Saga was amazing, and the beginning of the Serpetwar Saga that concentrated on the military and financial side of the war was incredible, realistic, and intriguing. But then Feist tried to throw in the magic part of the series and just [messed] it up for all his fans. A disappointing end for what could have been a wonderful series. But don't give up hope yet... Feist could still produce a winner with his next series.
Rating:
Summary: Broken the spell
Review: Ready? Hold your breath on this one. I've been reading the other reviews for this book, and most people I think are dissapointed by something, and let me guess what it is. I know when I read a book that when I come to a certain point, I won't be able to put it down. Its where the climax starts. What many of you have overlooked in this one is that the whole BOOK is the climax, and where would normally start non-stop action, the denoumont is already beginning. The whole rest of the book was where the non-stop action was. I'm in the middle of re-reading "Magician" again, and its obvious that there has been a complete change in Feist's style of writing from the begining. And for those who love the dragons and dwarves, the trasition to constant warfare is going to be a tough one, and only the writing style and genius is what's similar from the two series'; but that's not hard to miss. As for characterization, I believe the introduction of the newer characters, Dash and Jimmy, was done as well as it could. Notice what's happened when old characters are too long kept with: I think many of us can say another of David Eddings' "Polgara" was not needed here. The intoduction of new characters was well chosen here, and they were so wonderful and interesting, was wisely chosen. And mind that he DID keep with the older characters. Though admitidly in a way the whole thing WAS a little sloppy, if you go back and read the attitudes of characters like Pug and Tomas from the first. But, if you're like me and have waited year after agonizing year for each book, the transitions are perfectly fine. Pug, as can be seen in the Epologue of "Shards" has had to drastically change his outlook on life: he's needed for more important things, now, stranger things. His change was necessary, and if anything the book shows this by letting the reader see how perfectly foolish the wars of men were, dispite the fact that Erik and Greylock and Jimmy and Dash are (were) perfectly honorable men. Perhaps this! revelation was setting the stage for somehting greater than politics? Ignoring the fact that the more classical elements of fantasy were left out, I thought Feist did a wonderful job of ending the series, leaving plenty open for his new book, "Krondor: Betrayal" which I've heard should be coming out in November, and has sucessfully snared his readers through his characters: you may not like the new ones when compared to the old, but don't doubt that after reading "Shards" you'll be dying for more.
Rating:
Summary: It's a good book, but it isn't Feist at its best
Review: I have been a big fan of Feist for ten years now. Since I read the Riftwar saga when I was 15, there has been no other author in the fantasy genre as good as Feist.
Sadly his last saga The SerpentWar, has not been up to Feist's usual quality. While the series starts with a bang, by the third book, Rage of a demon king, the story becomes more thin and the plot weakens. The final book has an incomplete feeling about it, and I hope that Feist can produce a better saga the next time around, with a Jimmy and Dash, Erik and Roo, Thomas and Pug characters more developed, with the story developing, maybe in the eastern part of the Kingdom. As a final word I must say that I did enjoy the book, I read it in one day, and I'm still a big fan of Feist, I own all of his books, that's the reason why I was critical of his last two books, in the hope that the next series of books can recover the magic, and the wonder of discovering a wondrous world like Midkemia.
Rating:
Summary: Magic takes a turn for the worst...
Review: In this book, I found that I enjoyed the continued stories about Erik and Roo, and Jimmy and Dash, but I was continuously (...) about Pug and the whole magical side of the book. Pug might as well be completely powerless in this book for the world of good he does. I think Feist got tired of writing about magic and just tried to throw it together in something resembling a conclusion. The truth of the matter is, the Riftwar Saga was amazing, and the beginning of the Serpetwar Saga that concentrated on the military and financial side of the war was incredible, realistic, and intriguing. But then Feist tried to throw in the magic part of the series and just screwed it up for all his fans. A disappointing end for what could have been a wonderful series. But don't give up hope yet... Feist could still produce a winner with his next series.
Rating: 
Summary: Oooh, oooh got them 90's blues . . .
Review: Well, this book is typical of the downturn in Feist's writing -- and that of fantasy authors in general. It seems as if the 1990's decade marked the beginning of a noticeable decline in the great fantasy authors' works. Feist is just one of them-- think Tad Williams, Mercedes Lackey, Melanie Rawn . . .You'll know what I'm talking about if you've read any of these authors. We won't even go into the world of Elfquest.
Anyhow, this book tied up some loose ends, but it was a rotten end to a rotten series. I read the first book of Serpent war in growing disbelief - this was a Feist novel!? He obviously has (...) out his work to some ghost writer, the characters are all blah and one dimensioanl and the world of Midkemia has taken a turn for the worst. If you like the depth introduced in the Empire trilogy, (Kelewan, the space travel . . .)you're in for a major disappointment. The developments in those novels are only briefly mentioned and they may as well not have been included in the mythos at all.
The most grievous complaint, however, is MIRANDA! Come on, Fiest, men like Pug might use this kind of gal for a night, but soul-mate potential she just aint! Having Pug besotted with this (woman) is just plain wrong, and doesn't jive with the character built up in the Riftwqar saga.
Plainly put, this book stank and I intend to avoid any further Feist novels as trash.
Rating:
Summary: Actually a pretty good book
Review: The only reason I didn't give this 5 stars is...the book really isn't a "conclusion" as the cover states. You know Raymonds not done with the Dash Character (The new jimmy the hand). Pug has his own gang set for a higher purpose. The bad guys just got more powerful. The next series will probably concentrate on Dash, Jimmy, Erik, Roo & Pugs gang against Nalar. Might be awhile before he comes out with another "series" since Feist is still working on the Krondor series with a followup to Tear of Gods.
Rating:
Summary: A great Ending to A Great Saga
Review: I have read all of Feist's books. This is not his best book but it is definitly good. It closes up the saga, but still leaves room for more books in the future. The book also has Feist great relaxed style. To sum up, if you read the first three then this one is as good as the others, if your thinking about buying the whole series I recomend it.
Rating:
Summary: Not as bad as everyone here says
Review: Yes, this book and series was not up to the very high standards Feist set for himself with the Riftwar books. Tough to do. Too many important characters not fleshed out, too many throwaways given too much time. I agree that this is not his best work. Pug is off getting laid while people die. Eric fighting a war that we all know will be over the second the Gods duke it out. Petty politics distracting from the important issues. Main characters dying left and right with little impact on the story line. What unltimately leaves me feeling good about how this wrapped up is that these 'problems' are not unlike how life is. Main characters DO die with little impact. Sometimes life has to go on without blinking. Leaders DO get laid while people die. Petty politics DO distract from real issues. Gods (those in power) do sit around, let people die, then sweep in at the last minute with the killing blow. What I love about Feist, and why I will keep buying his novels is because he brings a bit of life into a genre that revolves around the impossible. Science Fiction is all about the improbable, the impossible, the non-real. Dragons do NOT exist. And in Midkemia, the heroes sometimes don't act the way they should. I like that. My heroes are the same. For those that were dissapointed, well...they'll be hard pressed to find an author in this genre that will deliver a better product. I enjoyed this book. I will read the next.
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