This is the third volume in the Riftwar Legacy series, based loosely on the computer role-playing game “Return to Krondor”. It also happens to be the final published volume of the series, despite the fact that two concluding volumes were planned. This situations leaves the book in an odd position, and it’s unlikely that any reader would finish the book satisfied.
As with most of the Riftwar Legacy material, the migration from video game to novel was difficult. If the novel is any indication (especially the author’s notes), the story was the result of a fractious process, coinciding with business issues and the dissolution of Feist’s marriage. In the end, the resulting threadbare story reads less like a novel and more like a glorified online walkthrough. Complete with annoying sidequests; I kid you not.
Having played countless RPGs over the years, I can personally attest that there’s a massive difference between the storytelling demands of a game as compared to the storytelling demands of a novel. In fact, any RPG fan could explain the difference. Too much story in a game is a bad thing; it gets in the way of playability. You just need enough story to hang the active levels together and give the action a meaningful context. Quite often, plot holes abound, and character arcs are built on easily identified and manageable archetypes.
On the other hand, a novel needs to start with a solid premise and characters that can give the story a purpose. Once brought into the crucible, the character psychology dictates the path forward. Because this story was adapted from a game, the characters often act to preserve plot points that fail to evolve organically out of previous events. As a result, the book never quite makes sense and the reader is never given a reason to invest in what happens.
Rating: 5/10
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