KING OF FOXES picks up the story begun in TALON OF THE SILVER HAWK as the main character, now styling himself Talwin Hawkins, continues his work for the Conclave of Shadows, and seeks vengeance for his destroyed society.
Feist's minimal prose continues, and the weaknesses of the style becomes more evident in this second book of the series. The central concept of the story is that Talon is forced to swear allegiance to his sworn enemy in order to try and bring him down. The crisis of conscience and moral turmoil of this are a great concept, but Feist breezes through it with such speed that it loses much of it's drama. Similarly, a lengthy stretch in prison passes in such a rush, that the reader is left trying to catch up.
Despite this, the book is still quite enjoyable. Feist spins a good yarn despite the flaws, and it comes to a very satisfying conclusion. This book has settled it for me - I've got to go read the previous Midkemia books. If they are all this good, I'll be a happy reader.
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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