Synopses & Reviews
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.
Review
"The second Tal Hawkins novel expands the saga in Feist's usual deft fashion....The well-balanced pair of protagonists make this a particularly solid achievement for Feist." Booklist
Synopsis
The second installment in Conclave of Shadows, the latest multivolume epic of adventure, danger, magic, and intrigue from New York Times-bestselling Feist.
Synopsis
The second enthralling installment in the highly praised Conclave of Shadows series--an epic saga of adventure, danger, magic, and intrigue from the New York Times bestselling master
Rescued, recruited, and trained by the mysterious Conclave of Shadows, Tal Hawkins, hero of Talon of the Silver Hawk has become one of their most effective operatives. But to destroy the nemesis who annihilated his people, the evil Duke of Olasko, Tad must sell his soul. Masquerading as a noble from the far western territory of the Kingdom of the Isles, he must insinuate himself into the duke's confidence and carry out his most heinous and dangerous commands--even though it means betraying his own moral code.
Driven to the brink, Tal eventually defies the duke--and is imprisoned and left to die in the Fortress of Despair. But the determined young man will not be beaten. Alone, armed only with his courage and wits, Tal makes a daring escape. Returning to Olasko, he will finally brings revenge on his hated enemy.
About the Author
Raymond E. Feist's previous novels include Magician, Silverthorn, Faerie Tale, Prince of the Blood, and The King's Buccaneer, as well as the four books of his New York Times bestselling Serpentwar Saga: Shadow of a Dark Queen, Rise of a Merchant Prince, Rage of a Demon King, and Shards of a Broken Crown, and the three books of his Riftwar Legacy: Krondor: The Betrayal, Krondor: The Assassins, and Krondor: Tear of the Gods. Feist lives in Southern California.