Mistress of the Empire: Riftwar Cycle: The Empire Trilogy, Book 3

I have read all 3 books in this trilogy so many times that I have lost count of the actual number. Each time I read them is just as enjoyable as the very first time I did so. The characters take on a life of their own, the storyline makes you feel like you are actually viewing the story in real life and the intricacies of the plots leave you hating to see them and the overall story end. I was so happy when the books finally became available in e-book format. I highly recommend buying the trilogy, reading it and then reading it as many more times as possible. Kudos to both of the authors!

After Mara's complete victory over her family's ancient political rivals at the end of  Servant of the Empire , it was hard to imagine what could challenge her supremacy in Tsurani politics. The answer comes in the form of one of the most feared and powerful groups on Kelewan, the Assembly of Magicians. It turns out that the Great Ones don't appreciate having the ancient traditions of their rigid society challenged, and fear the change that a liberal leader like Mara would mean for the Empire. Among other serious challenges, like surviving assassination attempts by the hateful Jiro of the Anasati, Mara must learn to outmaneuver the almost-unified will of the Assembly of Magicians. Accustomed to complete submission and unquestioned loyalty, the magicians are offended and surprised by Mara's willingness to go her own way and question the Tsurani way of life. The confrontation between Mara and the Assembly represents the final challenge along Mara's road to total supremacy and her goals of abolishing the cruel and reason-less Game of the Council.Well-accustomed to heart-ache, Mara nonetheless is pushed to her limits by some of the losses she endures in this final book of the trilogy. Readers will be surprised by the unflinching harshness the authors show in the treatment of their protagonist, but it does make for a more powerful story. For part of this book, Mara appears much like she did in SERVANT OF THE EMPIRE, worn down and self-pitying. But at some point, she reclaims the awesome and unflinching determination that made her such a favorite in the first book of the series,  Daughter of the Empire . Much of MISTRESS OF THE EMPIRE centers around Mara uncovering the secret history of Tsurani customs and of the ties between the Assembly of Magicians and the enigmatic Cho-ja. She travels to distant lands and faces challenges unlike any she has been up against before. Along the way, she relies on her steadfast companions, mainly Arakasi and Lujan, both of whom mature and characters in this book.In all, the book provides a very satisfying conclusion to the Empire Trilogy, leaving the reader with a complete story and a clear idea of what the future holds. It is a triumphant ending, and one that will leave most readers happy. While long, I recommend this trilogy to fans of fantasy looking for a good story with wonderful characters in a unique setting.

Well, I tend to be a little picky and choosy when getting new books to read. I had quicky devoured anything that had to do with Midkema, buying books one after another, and then I ran out of books. So I started looking around and noticed this series. I was a little dubious at first, I didn't think it was 1. possibly to create a story that combined all of the already know facts or 2. Create an entertaining story out of the seemingly flat and blase Tsurnani People. I mean in reality how much honor and code can you listen to before it getting really really old and 3. I was never a big fan of combining writers, thinking that Feist's style would be impaired by collaborating with someone else. I was wrong on all three counts.This three book series is by far one of the most entertaining things I've read. I find it very refreshing to have a female heroine in a fantasy story. Not to mention the general lack of magic. Huge battles are not won by some spectacular magic display. They are won by incredible intelect and talent. The manuevering in this book is amazing, and all the twists and turns are fantastic. I never know what to expect next. You "know" the characters will prevail somehow, but I didn't find it to be the same predictable stuff you've read in a thousand other fantasy series. It is so far removed and the code of honor is so abstract that it is hard to predict anything that happens. These people aren't like you or I, they are completely unique and alien and it adds a new element to the story.So yes, I was a bit reluctant to move over to the Tsurnani side of the story, but I am more than happy I did and I suggest you do to. If you do decide to read this series, you should probably read them after the riftwar books, but before the prince of blood and the serpantine war books. It will make the most sense then however you might feel a bit of a break hoping between worlds. They aren't integral to the midkema story so you can completely skip over them, but that is more or less where they are placed in the timeline.

I've been a fan of Feist for many years, having read most of his trilogies and "in between" novels, but somehow his collaboration with Janny Wurts escaped my notice. I always knew it was there, but I suppose I figured since it was a collaboration it wouldn't have the same Feist feel that I love. However, after just having finished the trilogy I'm happy to say my fears were unfounded. I couldn't put Mistress of the Empire down, and I actually got a little teary eyed reading in the closing chapters as the intrigues and pressures of the 2k pages in this trilogy came to an end.The pacing was noticeably different, and of course since the main character is a female noblewoman, the fears, struggles, and triumphs you enter into are different than those of the various young men Feist typically leads with. It was a refreshing change, but belaboring the worries of our victorious Mistress throughout the trilogy (this book included) got a bit much.In the end, it was great to get a glimpse at life on the other side of the rift and to see the monumental changes the Great Freedom wrought in the Empire. Pick this up but start with book one, and be prepared for characters you love to suffer pain, loss, and death. The stakes are high in the Game of the Council, but Mara's victory is made all the (bitter-) sweeter for it.

I just like Raymond E Fiest books and read this by mistake and now have read all of these series, it just takes you to another place in time and you get hooked.

Dans la même lignée que le 1er tome. J'ai bien accroché et je me suis pas ennuyée. La fin est un peu dur pour les romantiques.

Le roman de trop peut être. Les 2 premiers étaient franchement excellents. Maintenir la qualité dans une trilogie n'est pas facile.

If you've read Raymond E. Feist before, you won't be disappointed, wonderful story. Condition as described.

This is an excellent series and a great conclusion. An excellent author and book