From Publishers Weekly
After destroying the vicious mercenary Raven and partially avenging his people wiped out in 2003's Talon of the Hawk, Tal Hawkins, last of the Orosini, sets his sights on the person who ordered the massacre, Kaspar, Duke of Olasko, in bestseller Feist's latest stirring fantasy. But to get close enough to Kaspar to exact his revenge, he must first win the duke's confidence—and accomplishing that may cost Tal his soul. Devoted fans will welcome the author's focus on Roldem and the Eastern Kingdoms, lands that barely figure in earlier books set in Midkemia. The unstable political landscape of the Eastern Kingdoms provides fertile ground for intrigues the like of which have not been seen in the Kingdom of the Isles. Despite his internal conflicts, Tal, an archetypal swashbuckling hero who's unbeatable with a sword, a brilliant tactician and handsome enough to make the ladies swoon, ranks among the least interesting of the characters who populate this part of Midkemia. Far more complex are the supporting cast, chief among them Petro Amafi, a former assassin and Tal's retainer; Quint Havrevulen, Kaspar's Special Captain who took part in the raid on the Orosini; and Kaspar himself—all of whom assume unusual depth as the plot progresses. The novel's relentless pace and explosive climactic battle will ensure another crowd-pleaser for Feist to add to his already impressive resume. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist
The second Tal Hawkins novel (after Talon of the Silver Hawk [BKL Ja 1&15 03]) expands the saga in Feist's usual deft fashion. Tal is now high up among what might be called the agents of the Conclave of Shadows and assigned to the duke of Olasko, his mortal enemy for destroying his family and people. To be effective, Tal must further disguise himself to enter the duke's service and there ferret out his secrets and find his weak points. Readers who remember how quickly Tal rose in Talon of the Silver Hawk will stop complaining that he hasn't earned the pleasures and privileges he then enjoyed once they get far into this book. Olasko's manners and morals would make the Waffen SS blanch, and they go totally against Tal's principles. Eventually, he rebels, betrays himself, is cast into the Fortress of Despair to die, and manages to escape in another sweating ordeal leading to a not-unexpected cliffhanger ending. The well-balanced pair of protagonists make this a particularly solid achievement for Feist. Roland Green
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Book Description

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.


Download Description
"

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. "


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.

FROM OUR EDITORS

The Barnes & Noble Review
In King of Foxes, the action-packed sequel to Raymond E. Feist's Talon of the Silver Hawk, Tal Hawkins -- an operative for a secret order called the Conclave of Shadows -- embarks on a mission to destroy Duke Kaspar, a power-hungry tyrant who, years earlier, needlessly slaughtered Tal's family. Tal is now the last of a strong and richly cultured people, the Orosini, with only one goal in life: vengeance.

The purpose of the Conclave is to battle the forces of evil that seek to spread chaos throughout Midkemia, and Tal's mission is to somehow enter the duke's service and learn more about his plans. Posing as a minor nobleman from a distant kingdom, Tal catches the duke's eye with his mastery of the sword, and it isn't long before Tal is working for Kaspar, doing his dirty work by wiping out nests of pirates, assassinating political enemies, etc. But Kaspar and his right-hand man, a necromancer named Leso Varen, are evil personified, and Tal is soon betrayed, arrested, and exiled to a remote prison reminiscent of Devil's Island, where his right hand is chopped off and he is left to die. But Tal's sole purpose in life is still unfinished. Somehow, some way, Kaspar must pay for his horrible crimes.

Simply put: The Conclave of Shadows series is classic Feist. With dozens of complex, engaging characters; nonstop action and adventure; and romance, betrayal, and dark magic, all set in Feist's signature realm of Midkemia -- King of Foxes is guaranteed to be thrilling readers for years to come. Paul Goat Allen

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"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.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

After destroying the vicious mercenary Raven and partially avenging his people wiped out in 2003's Talon of the Hawk, Tal Hawkins, last of the Orosini, sets his sights on the person who ordered the massacre, Kaspar, Duke of Olasko, in bestseller Feist's latest stirring fantasy. But to get close enough to Kaspar to exact his revenge, he must first win the duke's confidence-and accomplishing that may cost Tal his soul. Devoted fans will welcome the author's focus on Roldem and the Eastern Kingdoms, lands that barely figure in earlier books set in Midkemia. The unstable political landscape of the Eastern Kingdoms provides fertile ground for intrigues the like of which have not been seen in the Kingdom of the Isles. Despite his internal conflicts, Tal, an archetypal swashbuckling hero who's unbeatable with a sword, a brilliant tactician and handsome enough to make the ladies swoon, ranks among the least interesting of the characters who populate this part of Midkemia. Far more complex are the supporting cast, chief among them Petro Amafi, a former assassin and Tal's retainer; Quint Havrevulen, Kaspar's Special Captain who took part in the raid on the Orosini; and Kaspar himself-all of whom assume unusual depth as the plot progresses. The novel's relentless pace and explosive climactic battle will ensure another crowd-pleaser for Feist to add to his already impressive resume. (Mar. 30) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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