The Riftwar Cycle

Raymond E. Feist


Highly Recommend

Feist's Riftwar Cycle is classic in the sense that it is a tale of good vs. evil.  The story of a young boy named Pug who discovers within himself vast magical power and as he grows, must learn to tap his newfound ability to save his medieval world is hardly new.  But the similarities to other books ends quickly.

The story begins in Magician (originally a single book now rewritten as two).  It's here that Feist transitions from a common tale to one of unique style.  In the early part of Magician: Apprentice, the story seemed rushed.  Even a dragon, the last of its kind in Midkemia is there and gone in mere paragraphs.  But by Magician: Master, Feist is telling the story he wants to tell -- at  pace that's perfect.

As the sheer number of volumes may indicate, The Riftwar Cycle is epic in scope.  Battles cross worlds, theologies and time.  Lines are drawn and then crossed on maps, in politics, ethics and paths to magic.  Despite the scope, Feist has done an excellent job of telling the story in small sets of trilogies that wrap up their own plots, keeping new readers engaged while sparing them a complete read of all books to "find out what happens" to the characters.

I've read all of the published books, currently up to Wrath of a Mad God, which wraps up the entire tale fairly well.  It could well serve as the end of the series in my opinion. However, Feist plans to write at least one more trilogy.  I look forward to  reading the rest of The Riftwar Cycle, which is currently planned to conclude with the ominous title Magician's End.


The Riftwar Saga
  • Magician: Apprentice
  • Magician: Master
  • Silverthorn
  • A Darkness at Sethanon

The Empire Trilogy
  • Daughter of the Empire (Coauthored by Janny Wurts)
  • Servant of the Empire (Coauthored by Janny Wurts)
  • Mistress of the Empire (Coauthored by Janny Wurts)

Legends of the Riftwar
  • Honoured Enemy (Coauthored by William R. Forstchen)
  • Murder in LaMut (Coauthored by Joel Rosenberg)
  • Jimmy the Hand (Coauthored by S. M. Stirling)

Riftwar Legacy
  • Krondor: The Betrayal
  • Krondor: The Assassins
  • Krondor: Tear of the Gods
  • Krondor: The Crawler*
  • Krondor: The Dark Mage*
  • *Currently unpublished due to copyright issues

Krondor's Sons
  • Prince of the Blood
  • The King's Buccaneer

The Serpentwar Saga
  • Shadow of a Dark Queen
  • Rise of a Merchant Prince
  • Rage of a Demon King
  • Shards of a Broken Crown

Conclave of Shadows
  • Talon of the Silver Hawk
  • King of Foxes
  • Exile's Return

Darkwar Saga
  • Flight Of The Nighthawks
  • Into a Dark Realm
  • Wrath of a Mad God

Demonwar Saga
  • Rides a Dread Legion (future)
  • Return of the Demon King (future)

Chaoswar Saga
  • A Kingdom Besieged (future)
  • A Crown Imperiled (future)
  • Magician's End (future)