In Talon of the Silver Hawk, Ray Feist returns to his signature world of Midkemia to begin a new series, Conclave of Shadows. Set some years after the conclusion of the Serpentwar series, this new cycle gives readers a look at the mostly unexplored eastern kingdoms of the realm. Although some old friends pop up, the tale centers primarily on a new group of characters, headed by young Talon, sole survivor of a remote mountain tribe. Future volumes in the series are expected to be co authored with various other fantasy writers, including S.M. Stirling and Joel Rosenberg.

The book was an enjoyable and effortless read. Even in the uncorrected proof we reviewed, the prose was very cleanly constructed with few typographic or grammatical errors. The characters are solidly developed and the world in which they live and maneuver is believable and well crafted. The various subplots meshed together well, and the storyline flowed from one to the next without a hitch. Where some authors seem to want their readers to work, to labor over their books as diligently as they have in writing them, Feist allows them to be swept away and just enjoy the trip—a nice change of pace for readers wearied by the endless subplots and impossibly convoluted storylines of some of the more popular current epics.

As a series opener, Talon does its job admirably. We are introduced to the central characters and underlying conflict, and learn just enough about both to care what happens next. The volume ends at a logical point, as young Talon prepares to start another phase of his life, and although the story is clearly far from over, the reader has been given enough resolution in the various subplots to feel a sense of satisfaction and closure at the end. One portion of the story arc has clearly been completed, and we will now have a bit of a breather as we wait for the next segment. Again, this was a pleasant change from the trend toward multi volume epics that leave the reader dangling mid-plot, with no resolution in sight.

Fans who may have been put off by some of Feist's recent offerings (the Krondor series, in particular) will likely be pleased to see him returning to the sort of writing that first made him popular. While Talon is not quite as strong as, say, Magician, it is still well above much of the so-called "epic" fantasy being put out lately, and has the elegant storytelling fans have come to expect. Conclave of Shadows is off to an excellent start, and fans eager for yet another trip to Midkemia will definitely want to add Talon of the Silver Hawk to their collections.

Unlike the Serpentwar series, which really did need to be read after the Riftwar cycle to be appreciated, Talon of the Silver Hawk is suitable for newcomers to Feist's world. There are enough hints of things gone by to pique an interest in the earlier volumes, but enjoyment of the story is in no way dependent upon being a Midkemia scholar. If you've never tried Raymond Feist, this is a fine time to start, since you can pass the time as you wait for the next installment of Conclave of Shadows by catching up with the Riftwar and Serpentwar cycles.

We give Talon of the Silverhawk 3½ doors, and recommend it to all fans of high fantasy.