"Exhilarating action packed fantasy"
Tal Hawkins the last of the Osoni people completed the
first step in his plan of revenge with the destruction of
the on sight leader of the massacre, the odious mercenary
Raven (see Talon of the Hawk). Now Tal sets in motion
part two with his plan to destroy the individual
responsible for ordering the carnage, Kaspar, Duke of
Olasko. However, getting close enough to destroy the nefarious
Duke will mean somehow gaining the duke's confidence that
Tal is a loyal supporter he can count on to do whatever it
takes even leading new massacres. Tal assumes his soul
was exterminated when his people died so though he has
some pangs of conscious concerning innocents becoming
collateral damage, he ponders a way of getting near enough
to kill Kaspar. Raymond E. Feist readers will appreciate this powerful
fantasy that showcases a different area of the author's
world than Midkemia as much of the action occurs in the
volatile Eastern Kingdoms. Tal's vengeance still remains
the center of the story line and he remains a torn
protagonist knowing that he will kill innocents to get at
his target. The support cast is incredible, as they add
to the understanding of the world and its hero--villain
depending on one's perspective of Tal). These secondary
players are so complete several could have served as the
center of their own novel especially the assassin Amafi
and Kaspar. Feist fans will be in frenzy with this
exhilarating action packed fantasy tale peopled with great
characters. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted March 10, 2004
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Young Tal Hawkins was the only survivor of the massacre of
his village -- rescued, recruited, and trained by the
mysterious order of magicians and spies, the Conclave of
Shadows. Already exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship, he
has since developed into one of the secret society's most
valuable agents, keeping ever alert for the opportunity to
arise when he can avenge the craven slaughter of his family
and friends. That time is now. Posing as a nobleman from the distant Kingdom of the Isles,
he gains entrance into the court of the Duke of Olasko, the
bloodthirsty and powerful despot whose armies put Tal's
village to the sword. But the enemy is cunning and well
protected -- in league with the foul necromancer Leso
Varen, dark master of death-magic -- and to gain the Duke's
trust and confidence, Tal Hawkins must first sell his soul. Only by swearing an oath of allegiance to his hated nemesis
can Tal hope to get close enough to kill the Duke and bring
his empire crashing down. But the tyrant demands that his
new acolyte prove his loyalty with blood. Sent off to do
his "master's" malevolent bidding -- each depraved mission
more odious than the last -- the Talon of the Silver Hawk
faces a spirit-crushing dilemma. Only through evil can his
vengeance succeed, yet his alternatives are more terrible
still: madness, torture, damnation, and a slow, lingering
death in the Fortress of Despair.
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