Raymond E. Feist Janny Wurts Empire Riftwar 3 Books Collection Pack Set RRP: £27.97 (Mistress of the Empire, Servant of the Empire, Daughter of the Empire) Paperback

I have genuinely never been as sad to finish a book or series of books as I was when I read the last pages of this trilogy. I didn't want it to end! I loved the first trilogy in the Riftwar series but this trilogy took my breath away - the writing is just incredible. So absorbing, so descriptive I felt I was there watching events unfold and so very, very clever with incredibly intricate political plots and machinations. The characters are so well written they become almost real, and that they are fallible and not always traditionally likeable or "bad guys" makes them appear even more so.If I may make one tiny criticism, and it is miniscule, I find that the author doesn't mark time sufficiently to make it clear events are unfolding over years and even decades. Months are purported to have passed between paragraphs but this isn't always obvious and at times can be a little confusing until you get to the next explicit marker of time passed. That is the one and only niggle I found and I am really, really nit-picking to mention it.I honestly defy anyone not to fall in love with these books and not to be just a little bit gutted when they've finished them. These are quite possibly the best books I have ever read.

I think I've read pretty much everything by both these authors, but nothing beats the masterpieces they crafted together. The worldbuilding had depth and breadth, the detail is sumptuous, and the characters live and breathe. I think Mara was one of the first truly 3 dimensional female characters I ever read about, and it was a delight to return to these books decades later and still find them absorbing.

This is a re-purchase. I have hard copies that have been read twenty times. I already had the Audible of Daughter of the Empire, but I neeeeeded the other two, so I bought the set as cheaper, then got the ebooks too!It is an amazing story, amazing characters, amazing world.If you haven’t read their other works, please do. These are excellent authors.

Great book. I don't usually write reviews but I can't speak enough. It's got drama, political intrigue, romance, tragedy. Its based on Japanese politicical system as far as I can tell. Got inspiration from Asian myths and religion. Additionally, I has Western influences too, as magicians can create portals between world where a country at war with Mars is western and European based.Strong female lead that's relatable, wise, strong willed but not perfect.Amazing read for those bored of traditional fantasy novels.HBO or amazon should really make a series out of this. Easily rivels game of thrones.

Finishing the Empire Trilogy should come with a medal of some sort - it's the marathon version of reading. The full three novels weigh in at 2201 pages, the equivalent of twice as many average length books. At times, I felt it was too long. At others I wished there was even more.Raymond E Feist is an excellent writer who is able to absorb and grip a reader even when the page count is high. He writes action as well as any author I can think of. I've never read anything by Janny Wurts but certainly the two authors have managed to write in a way that is seamless - you never feel like there are different people writing. The trilogy is set in Feist's 'Riftwar' universe, on the planet of Kelawan. The action takes place in the same timeframe as his original 'Magician' trilogy, and continues after its end, and some characters from those stories have small parts in this saga.The central character is Mara, who starts the series as a young girl from a noble family who is about to become a nun when her father and brother die in battle, leaving her to rule the House. Society is full of arcane rules about behaviour, and the various family houses are locked in an endless deadly political battle. Honour and saving face are critical concepts, and human life is valued very lowly. In order to survive, Mara must learn to play the 'great game' of inter-house politics. The books chart her gradual rise from obscurity to a powerful position in the empire, but always at great cost and risk. As she gains in confidence, Mara begins to change the world and challenge the status quo - and in doing so makes extremely powerful and dangerous enemies. Hence three long, action packed novels about her exploits.Mara is - most of the time - a likeable character, and I particularly liked a lot of the supporting characters. The story is written from multiple viewpoints, including that of Mara's enemies which gives the reader an insight that can be frustrating at times. It's always very readable - easy to pick up, hard to put down - and despite its great length I'd often want to read 'just one more chapter'. The action sequences are always the best, with the parts about politics less interesting. I was also never very interested in Mara's love affairs. At times the rituals and rules of Tsuaranni society really got on my nerves as it all seemed so silly and restrictive. But on the whole these were minor irritations in a long saga.It's not as good as the Riftwar trilogy, but it's also quite different in some ways with its setting in the strange feudal society of Kelewan. 'Riftwar' is more your traditional sword and sorcery, whereas 'Empire' is more political and has an east Asian feel to it with its concepts of honour and Japanese-sounding names. If you enjoy fantasy books and want something that is long and satisfying, it's a really good option. Just bear in mind how long it takes to read - if you're really short on reading time you might think twice before taking it. Because once you start it, I think it's hard not to want to finish.

This trilogy follows a young girl, Mara, who becomes the ruling lady of her house following the deaths of her father and brother, which came about due to political scheming by another rival house.Mara has to quickly learn how to play this political game, both to save her life and ensure the survival of her house. However, when she buys some Midkemian slaves she slowly comes to realise the detrimental effect that the political game and her cultures honour code are having on her society.This spurs her to try and effect change which puts her in direct confrontation with the assembly of magicians.I found this to be a fascinating and compelling read with characters whose fates pulled at my heartstrings, political schemes that were complex, action pieces that got the heart-pounding, magical battles that are stunning and world-building that is exquisite.

I have loved rereading this story again and again, it didn't matter to me that the hero would be a womanIt's just really good reading a story that shows how some one can make it against all the oddsI recommend this to any wonE

Feist does it again. Great writing and well rounded Empire.A joy to read for the second time, noticing intricacies that past by the first enjoyable time.