50 Books 2013: Update [10]

Well, I have at least managed to finish two books this month, but this is starting to look more like a 25 Book Challenge for me!

Book 23
A Kingdom Besieged – Raymond E. Feist.
I have loved Raymond Feist’s books since I first read Faerie Tale. I quickly followed this with Magician (one of my all time favourite books) and the rest of the Rift War Saga (Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon). These books begin the Riftwar Cycle. I loved the Empire Trilogy (written with Janny Wurts), Krondors Sons (two books) and The Serpentwar Saga (another four books), but then came the Riftwar Legacy and Legends of the Riftwar series’, and I lost track a little. The books, for me, lost their way and didn’t grip me quite as the earlier ones had. So, when I came across A Kingdom Besieged, I was a little wary. Partly as I haven’t read the preceding books (that form the Conclave of Shadows, Darkwar Saga and Demonwar Saga) and partly as I was worried that this one wouldn’t draw me in either.

The books are set in the world of Midkemia, and follow the adventures of the magician Pug, his family and friends. The original series dealt with the invasion of Midkemia by an alien force, the Tsurani, and subsequent books have been about the effects of this war, along with battles against dark elves, an ancient force of Dragon Lords – the Valheru – and demons.

A Kingdom Besieged is the first in the last (!) series in the Riftwar Cycle. There are three books, the last of which is Magicians End. So, did I enjoy it? Yes, I loved it! It had the same pace and excitement that I enjoyed in the earlier books. There are still some of the original characters, despite 100 years passing since time of the first books – this is a magical series after all – and the newer characters are largely descendants of the originals. It all ties together nicely, and perhaps due to my familiarity with the characters and world, I have quickly caught up on the books I’ve missed – enough to understand the back story for this one anyway. A final battle with demons and the Darkness is coming… I will definitely be reading the next two books. And, I may have to return to the books I’ve missed!

Book 24
Resist – Sarah Crossan,
This is the sequel to Breathe which I loved when I read it earlier in the year and I have been eagerly awaiting the sequel. The book was released on 8 October and I pre-ordered it! I then of course didn’t have any time to read it! I only finished it a couple of days ago, and it was good – a fitting conclusion. We follow Bea, Alina and Quinn as they recover from the events of the previous book – the destruction of the Resistance’s home, the death of family and the failure of an initial rebellion again the Ministry. As they find each other again; plot a new rebellion; cross paths with another Resistance faction; make new friends and lose old ones; the battle to be free of the Ministry and to live without a reliance on manufactured air intensifies.

I have now started Allegiant by Veronica Roth (the final in the trilogy that began with Divergent and continued in Insurgent) and one chapter in, I am already hooked!

I am linking up with Julie over at Mama OWL for her 50 books challenge October round-up.