Returning to Raymond E. Feist's lengthy Riftwar Cycle is like coming back to an old stomping ground: I know what to expect, it's comfortable, and not much has changed.

Talon, the titular protagonist is, depending on how you count them, Feist's third or fourth protagonist who shares some commonalities. He, like Pug, Eric, and to some extent Roo (all from previous books): is a young man who comes from humble origins, is mentored by powerful and skillful men due to a tragic event that brought him to them, is an especially apt student at what they teach, and finds himself playing a central role against an evil, world-threatening conspiracy.

I actually liked this book a lot, but I'm sorry to say that Feist is coming across as a bit one-note to me. I don't really mind, but it's definitely jumping out at me with this book.

So, the story: Talon is a young man of the mountain Orosini tribe, which is attacked and slaughtered by a mystery army while Talon is away from the village on his name-day ritual. He returns and fights some of the soldiers before being struck and left for dead. A passerby happens to find him and and nurses him back to health. Said passerby happens to be a colleague of Pug, the most powerful magician in the realm. Talon is brought into the Conclave of Shadows, an organization devoted to fighting a mysterious evil that's spanned centuries.

I liked it! I do wish there could be a bit more variance in structure in this series, but I'll continue reading nonetheless.