At the Gates of Darkness audiobook

Well, I have to admit this book tickled so many of my fancies. I mean, big magic, bigger magic, OP characters, and enough demons to fill several realms AND we get to learn even more about them. :)This is a FAR cry from some of the earlier novels that started small and stayed small. The storytelling might have a lot more nuance, but if you're missing the big blow-outs, just look here. An interesting if slightly providential new character introduced in the previous novel continues to shed some light on one of the most interesting villains in the series. And the villain himself has gotten himself in DEEP this time. :)Worth it? Yep! The big stuff is here and while I may have a few quibbles they're nothing special. The plot must progress and all the loose ends need to be wrapped up, and if a loose end just happens to be the fate of all levels of this particular set of odd heavens and hells, then so be it. :)

Read Magician on family holiday in 1987 aged 14 and been a huge Feist and Midkemia fan since then and the magic remains with this the latest one I read.

Another reasonably enjoyable outing for Pug and his various friends in this book. I actually enjoyed it more than some others as it was captivating and nice to get to know some of the newer characters in a bit more depth. This book also has the added bonus of a lack of unnecessary deaths.My only real gripe in this book is that it's a little anti-climactic. The story moves through at a good pace without ever getting boring but then it just sort of ends with everyone knowing what needs to be done and no unexpected surprises or new bits of information to digest.All in all a worthwhile read but I'm really hoping there's an epic left in this series somewhere.

Another classic book onto the next!

I was so glad that I have read this!I don't know what the matter is with so many of the reviewers of this book - they've either not read the entire series, so haven't a clue what's really going on, or they think, for some erroneous reason, that they are better writers than Raymond E Feist is, and so

This was a Goodreads giveaway gift.Review:Great continuation of the Demonwar Saga. In this book, which I think takes place about one year after "Rides a Dread Legion", an agent of Pug's Conclave of the Shadows, Jim Dasher, stumbles upon the remnants of a horrific and bloody ritual used to summon demons. Reporting his finding back to the Conclave, Pug, Magnus, Amirantha, Sandreena, Gulamendis, Laromendis and others continue their search into the archives of the past to try and find out exactly what is happening in the Demon Realm. Their discovery proves to even the most learned Demon Masters that the Demon realms organization was far more brutal than what they could have ever suspected. With a little help from an ancient demon text and Pug's grandfather, the Conclave is able to discover where the rift to the Demon Realm lies. However once there, Amirantha's worst suspicions come true, not only is Belasco behind the newly attempted demon invasion of Midkemia, but he has actually allowed a demon to gain partial control over his body. The final battle ensures the power hungry demon's ability to infiltrate Midkemia is delayed, but more is yet to come. This book is a great read, quick paced, engaging, with some pretty witty dialogue.

I wish I had the books in between this series and the initial 4 books Feist wrote about Midkemia and Pug, but sadly our public library only has bits and pieces of most authors' series. I did at least get to read the first book in this trilogy, and Feist does a pretty good job of filling in readers who have missed earlier books in the sequence. In this trilogy Pug and his friends are faced with a whole branch of magic and magical creatures beyond Pug's knowledge and understanding, demons that have overrun several worlds already and that seem poised to invade Midkemia next. In addition to these demons, a small but deadly bunch of elves have appeared, descended from the elves that fled Midkemia many centuries ago. They are arrogant and narrow-minded, hell-bent on conquering or enslaving the races that occupy their ancestral home, so long as they can do so without the demons taking advantage of the chaos and destroying them all.

To protect their world the Black Sorcerer Pug and Midkemia's clandestine protectors the Conclave of Shadows forged an uneasy alliance of formidable magical talent's.Together they defeated Maarg the brutal Demon King and turned back the on rushing death tide. But Maarg's fall has not stopped the demonic onslaught. The fearsome Demo Dahun and the mad Ne cromaneer Belasco have joined force,s creating an unstoppable union of deathly black magic,s that even Pug and a united conclave may not be strong enough to with stand. And as evil, mayhem, and dark magic are unleashed, none can predict if they- and Midnomia itself will survive.

Once again Raymond Feist reminds me why he's my favorite Fantasy genre author. By killing off main characters, and by having a plot, only his serious followers would understand after reading all of his novels with his beloved PUG as the main character. I would equate reading this book to seeing "Empire Strikes Back," plot twists, and secrets all revealed. Loved it!

Apparently I've already reviewed this book. A demon must have been controlling me when I did, because I have no memory of (a) having read it before or (b) having written a review of it before.As I said of the first instalment of The Demonwar Saga, this demon invasion plot is getting a bit old now. How many more times will Midkemia be targeted by demons or other non-human invaders?What kept me going was the fact that I love some of these characters - Pug, Miranda, Magnus, the twin elves Laromendis and Gulamendis and Sandreena. I've known Pug and his family for a long time and reading about them feels like a reunion with old friends. The newer characters I've mentioned are also sufficiently interesting to make me care about them.The villains could have been better developed, I feel. I would have preferred to have more scenes with them, showing their personalities, instead of just letting it be known that they're the bad guys.Can Jim Dasher get any more annoying? Basically, he's a re-imagined version of Jimmy the Hand, who I loathed from previous novels set in this universe. Can't he ever fail abysmally at a task? I'd have more respect for him if he did. The closest he seems to come to failing is having to abort a mission early.A relatively short book and an easy read. Entertaining enough but I couldn't help feeling a little let down.

Apparently I've already reviewed this book. A demon must have been controlling me when I did, because I have no memory of (a) having read it before or (b) having written a review of it before.As I said of the first instalment of The Demonwar Saga, this demon invasion plot is getting a bit old now. How many more times will Midkemia be targeted by demons or other non-human invaders?What kept me going was the fact that I love some of these characters - Pug, Miranda, Magnus, the twin elves Laromendis and Gulamendis and Sandreena. I've known Pug and his family for a long time and reading about them feels like a reunion with old friends. The newer characters I've mentioned are also sufficiently interesting to make me care about them.The villains could have been better developed, I feel. I would have preferred to have more scenes with them, showing their personalities, instead of just letting it be known that they're the bad guys.Can Jim Dasher get any more annoying? Basically, he's a re-imagined version of Jimmy the Hand, who I loathed from previous novels set in this universe. Can't he ever fail abysmally at a task? I'd have more respect for him if he did. The closest he seems to come to failing is having to abort a mission early. A relatively short book and an easy read. Entertaining enough but I couldn't help feeling a little let down.

Masterful! Feist at, or very near, his very best. The edition I read had one or two errors in terms of the wrong name being used (Pug having a three way conversation with himself and then the two other characters appear halfway through) but that did not distract from a first rate fantasy novel. Some very nice new characters arrived and some old family members dealt with. Lots and lots of intrigue and a juicy setup to the big ending.

On the CuspWhile this book finished a battle and challenges, it really seems just the prelude for the final trilogy. Don’t get be wrong - I love it - but it leaves you knowing the real war awaits. I think it is a worthy launchpad to the final trilogy of the Cycle.

An excellent addition to Feist's Midkemia

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