Books › Flight of the Nighthawks
Flight of the Nighthawks
482 pages
A classic, sprawling epic fantasy where youthful innocence collides with ancient magic and shadowy political conspiracies.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like slipping into a comfortable, well-worn cloak of classic epic fantasy. The narrative unfolds at a steady, deliberate pace, carefully weaving the localized, coming-of-age struggles of two young boys with the grand, world-ending stakes of legendary sorcerers. There is a nostalgic earnestness to the storytelling, balancing the shadowy suspense of political assassinations with the bright thrill of magical discovery. The prose is straightforward and accessible, designed to pull you effortlessly through bustling empire cities and secretive magical conclaves rather than lingering on poetic flourishes. It is a deeply satisfying experience for readers who love the traditional trope of ordinary youths swept up in extraordinary destiny, offering a sprawling, immersive journey where the fate of worlds rests on the shoulders of the unlikeliest heroes.
- Mood
- shadowy
- epic
- suspenseful
- Tone
- earnest
- adventurous
- dramatic
- nostalgic
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- coming of age · burden of destiny · hidden corruption · brotherhood and loyalty
- The writing
- Straightforward and accessible, prioritizing clear action and expansive world-building over lyrical flourish.
- The arc
- Moves from the thrill of youthful discovery into the sobering weight of global responsibility and hidden dangers.
- Who it's for
- Readers who crave classic, sprawling epic fantasy where young protagonists are swept up in ancient magical conflicts and political intrigue.
Content notes
- fantasy violence
- assassination
- murder
About the book
A new evil threatens Midkemia, its web stretching from the deepest criminal underworld all the way up to the highest seats of power in ancient Kesh. And the Conclave of Shadows, charged unexpectedly with the training of two apprentices, must also best powerful agents of the darkest magic... for the fate of two worlds lies in the balance.The author and master of fantasy Raymond E. Feist returns to his signature world of Midkemia in this first book in a gripping new trilogy that ushers in the third, and most dramatic, Riftwar yet: the Darkwar.In the middle of the night on Sorcerer's Isle, the powerful sorcerer Pug is awakened from a nightmare that portends destruction for all of Midkemia. Disturbed by the dream, Pug calls for a convening of the Conclave of Shadows. Though Pug does not yet know it, his son Magnus has discovered the cause of Pug's prophetic dream: a beacon has been unleashed, directing a vast army of alien invaders to Midkemia, an army so formidable that even the might of the Tsurani Empire might fall before its fury.Meanwhile, in far Stardock town, two boys are coming of age. But on the dusty path that leads them from home they are thrust by fate into a life undreamed of, becoming enmeshed in intrigue, murder, and treason. Though untrained and unready, they are called upon by the mysterious Conclave to travel deep into the heart of the Empire of Great Kesh, to confront a plot so dark and twisted it will implicate even the highest-ranking nobles of the Empire, even members of the royal family itself. And behind this plot they discover the ancient Brotherhood of Death, the clan of assassins known as the Nighthawks.And Pug will find himself once again facing his old nemesis, the evil wizard formerly known as Sidi, now Leso Varen, in a confrontation with everything at stake: his honor, his life, and the future of Midkemia.
Description from Open Library.
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