Flight of the Nighthawks

Darkwar Saga, Book 1

By: Raymond E. Feist

Narrated by: Peter Joyce

Length: 14 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's Summary

The New York Times best-selling author revisits his signature world of Midkemia in this first title in a new trilogy that ushers in the third, and most dramatic, Riftwar yet: the Darkwar.

Flight of Nighthawks picks up two years after Exile's Return as Pug, the powerful sorcerer, awakens from a nightmare that portends destruction for all of Midkemia. Disturbed by his dream, Pug calls for a convening of the Conclave of Shadows.  

Meanwhile, in a small town on the other side of Midkemia, two young brothers are coming of age. As they travel away from home, toward apprenticeships and adulthood, the boys are attacked by bandits and mistakenly transported to Sorcerer's Isle, the home of the Conclave of Shadows.

Though they are untrained and unready, the brothers will join the powerful, mysterious Conclave to confront Midkemia's most looming evil yet - the Nighthawks, assassins feared throughout the centuries. And Pug will face his old nemesis, the evil wizard formerly known as Sidi, now Leso Varen, in a confrontation with everything at stake: his honor, his life, and the future of Midkemia.

©2009 Raymond E. Feist (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

A most disappointing book from Feist

All in all, a pretty forgettable effort. Now that all of the Riftwar books are finally available through Audible, I've taken it upon myself to finally finish Pug's grand story. Though, books like this certainly make it difficult. I can't remember if I've actually read this book previously, or if I had stopped with Exile's Return.

Ultimately, this story is a pale imitation of much better books that Feist wrote earlier in his career, especially Prince of the Blood, the first grand adventure into Great Kesh. The boys, Tad and Zane, are the least interesting and most poorly developed pair of best friend/brothers that Feist has introduced yet. The recycling of old locations and old villains also really makes it hard to gear up for a "new" series.

I'm going to keep going, in part because I became invested in the original characters almost three decades ago and because the earlier books of Midkemia and Kelewan that Feist produced in the 80's and 90's still hold a special place for me. I hear they do get better toward the end, and I dearly hope so.

Narrator can't pronounce

The story is fine but nothing compared to the earlier works of Feist. It's unfortunate that there is no other choice for narrators because it affects the imagination quite a bit. Peter Joyce appears to be the only option for the rest of the series except the Magician and the Empire. Ugh!

Can’t go wrong with Feist

I listened to this book in ONE DAY. From start to finish .. in a single day. I couldn’t stop listening. Normally I try to space them out but if it is a Feist book, I just can’t put it down.

amazing story, I love these characters

can't wait for my next credit to continue the series!!! things are really starting to heat up.

Excellent

Great writer & excellent storyteller. Very easy to be present with the characters and story being artfully woven

Great book!

Spellbinding. Great story line. The narrator was excellent. I enjoyed reading Fiest' s books and find listening to them a great experience.

Takes me back!

I've read several of the books (in order) to this one. Not all of them but a lot of them. This one made me feel like I did when I read Magician for the first time. Maybe it was because of the beginning and how it starts but it carried through the whole book. I'm looking forward to the others in the series if this is what book 1 is like.