From Janny Wurts herself. "Nothing in between, except for his barely sketched out bits from Magician. He contacted me to collaborate based on my novel, Sorcerer's Legacy, a standalone with a female lead. After badgering me for two years, I agreed to co-write - we sat down and made an outline for what became Daughter and Servant, intending it to be one volume. We wrote chapter 1 face to face, then, since he lives in CA and I am on the east coast, we selected 'sections' of the story to draft. Then we exchanged those draft files and overwrote them, again and again, until the style was seamless. When the first book got too chonky, we also realized: Mara could not become that powerful without crossing the Assembly of Magicians. At that point, we contacted the publisher with a proposal to expand the original contract into a trilogy - and here we are. It was a 50/50 effort in every sense, with our collaborative effort to expand the world of Kelewan and Tsurani culture built off of what Ray had placed in Magician. Quite a bit of flavor was added by my travel to Korea."
Yes! This is such a great series. It's one of my all-time favorites. I read it about 10 years ago for the first time. I was actually pretty surprised, even back then, about how current it felt. It doesn't FEEL like a series published in the 80's to me.
Love this trilogy. I finished the third book, Servant of the Empire, a few months ago as I was waiting to pick up my granddaughter from school. I was on the last couple of pages of my thick paperback copy, when I realised it was time to get out of the car and into the school. Knowing I needed to hold her bag in one hand, and her hand in the other, I couldn't take the book with me because of its size. So I tore out the final pages and took them with me. I managed to finish it a minute before she appeared, beaming with life. Wonderful moment, wonderful book and series.
I grinned ear-to-ear that you read and liked it so much, Matt! Wurts and Feist write so well together. And this reminds me that it's probably been almost 10 years since I last read the trilogy, so thanks!
I first read this series a long long time ago and loved it. I reread it many times until the books were lost in a housemove. I have looked for these books in second hand book stores for many years but never found them. All three books are equally excellent and if you liked the first one so much then just go ahead and enjoy the rest of the story.
Oh man love getting hyped for this one, I picked up the whole trilogy from used bookstores a while ago but think I want to read Feist’s initial series first.
There was a lot to like about the series. Even Allen liked them. I did have some issues for parts of the next one but overall did enjoy the intrigue. But don't make a drinking game where you take a drink every time someone offers refreshments or asks if they are well.
If you loved Mara's arc in this book, wait until you read the next 2. I could argue that she has one of the most epic and believable arcs in fantasy. Very well done. You will love the next two books.
It's a great series, and it just keeps getting better from what I remember, having read it in the 90s. Absolutely loved the main character, and while the particulars of the story have more or less faded over the decades, the grand arc of it still feels wonderful.
Janny and ramond generally split chapters then they wouls edit back and forth for writing/feel. They were both writing other things at the time and doing promotion of other works.
It's great to hear your thoughts here and glad you loved it! I do feel Wurts raises Feist's writing to another level, and I do love this trilogy. Look forward to hearing your thoughts about the rest of the series!
Yes, I do love me old Feist, his worldbuilding is great, but I feel that in the Empire series Janny added an insane amount of character depth/development to it that made this such a gem!
Great trilogy! Read that series about eight years ago and I remember enjoying almost every detail of it. Strong female protagonist, good worldbuilding and excellent supporting characters. I'm not a fan of the Riftwar Saga, but Raymond and Janny did a superb job in the Empire series - above average fantasy books indeed.
I think Janny Wurts might be the best fantasy writer ever, and it's always a mystery to me that she doesn't get more attention. As an 80s guy, I'm a little embarassed to say I've not read any Feist yet. (I didn't even know they collaborated on this.) This is definitely going on my TBR.
I love Raymond Feist but along the way I skipped over this series. Heard good things about it, just haven't got around to it. I'll have to add it to the list. I'm reading Pillars of the Earth now. I like it, it's good, don't love it. Part of that may be because I'm atheist and it's largely about monks and the Catholic Church. But it's fine.
? I am not christian but I absolutely adore pillars of the earth. I don't see what being an atheist has to do with it, it's filled with corrupt Catholic officials and adulterous heroes
I hate catholic church but I really enjoyed POTE! You must understand that in middle ages catholic church was very powerful and deeply involved in politics and every aspect of human life in that times!
I enjoyed the series but the characters are such including Mara Sue are so cookie cutter. Every character is perfect for their role and always has the best of intentions.
From Janny Wurts herself. "Nothing in between, except for his barely sketched out bits from Magician. He contacted me to collaborate based on my novel, Sorcerer's Legacy, a standalone with a female lead. After badgering me for two years, I agreed to co-write - we sat down and made an outline for what became Daughter and Servant, intending it to be one volume. We wrote chapter 1 face to face, then, since he lives in CA and I am on the east coast, we selected 'sections' of the story to draft. Then we exchanged those draft files and overwrote them, again and again, until the style was seamless. When the first book got too chonky, we also realized: Mara could not become that powerful without crossing the Assembly of Magicians. At that point, we contacted the publisher with a proposal to expand the original contract into a trilogy - and here we are. It was a 50/50 effort in every sense, with our collaborative effort to expand the world of Kelewan and Tsurani culture built off of what Ray had placed in Magician. Quite a bit of flavor was added by my travel to Korea."
I think you should redact the end of her first sentence since that's spoilerish for book 2.
Thanks
@@akashas6012 NP
Yes! This is such a great series. It's one of my all-time favorites. I read it about 10 years ago for the first time. I was actually pretty surprised, even back then, about how current it felt. It doesn't FEEL like a series published in the 80's to me.
A series that I re-read every decade or so. Holds up superbly each time.
Love this trilogy. I finished the third book, Servant of the Empire, a few months ago as I was waiting to pick up my granddaughter from school. I was on the last couple of pages of my thick paperback copy, when I realised it was time to get out of the car and into the school. Knowing I needed to hold her bag in one hand, and her hand in the other, I couldn't take the book with me because of its size. So I tore out the final pages and took them with me. I managed to finish it a minute before she appeared, beaming with life. Wonderful moment, wonderful book and series.
Amongst my three top series ever. One of best female characters ever, glad another one enjoyed it. One of us. One of us.
I grinned ear-to-ear that you read and liked it so much, Matt! Wurts and Feist write so well together. And this reminds me that it's probably been almost 10 years since I last read the trilogy, so thanks!
I first read this series a long long time ago and loved it. I reread it many times until the books were lost in a housemove. I have looked for these books in second hand book stores for many years but never found them.
All three books are equally excellent and if you liked the first one so much then just go ahead and enjoy the rest of the story.
Oh man love getting hyped for this one, I picked up the whole trilogy from used bookstores a while ago but think I want to read Feist’s initial series first.
There was a lot to like about the series. Even Allen liked them.
I did have some issues for parts of the next one but overall did enjoy the intrigue.
But don't make a drinking game where you take a drink every time someone offers refreshments or asks if they are well.
If you loved Mara's arc in this book, wait until you read the next 2. I could argue that she has one of the most epic and believable arcs in fantasy. Very well done. You will love the next two books.
It's a great series, and it just keeps getting better from what I remember, having read it in the 90s. Absolutely loved the main character, and while the particulars of the story have more or less faded over the decades, the grand arc of it still feels wonderful.
So glad you enjoyed it, considering how you generally don’t like earlier fantasy
Janny and ramond generally split chapters then they wouls edit back and forth for writing/feel. They were both writing other things at the time and doing promotion of other works.
It's great to hear your thoughts here and glad you loved it! I do feel Wurts raises Feist's writing to another level, and I do love this trilogy. Look forward to hearing your thoughts about the rest of the series!
Yes, I do love me old Feist, his worldbuilding is great, but I feel that in the Empire series Janny added an insane amount of character depth/development to it that made this such a gem!
This is high on my priority list for next year! Political fantasy is my absolute favorite
Great trilogy! Read that series about eight years ago and I remember enjoying almost every detail of it. Strong female protagonist, good worldbuilding and excellent supporting characters. I'm not a fan of the Riftwar Saga, but Raymond and Janny did a superb job in the Empire series - above average fantasy books indeed.
I think Janny Wurts might be the best fantasy writer ever, and it's always a mystery to me that she doesn't get more attention. As an 80s guy, I'm a little embarassed to say I've not read any Feist yet. (I didn't even know they collaborated on this.) This is definitely going on my TBR.
Book has been on my TBR for a while, your 5 star review tells me I need to read it this year now haha 🤣
I'm already Wars of Light & Shadow so it'll be awhile before I get to this
Nice to see we actually agree on something. I like watching your reviews but we're pretty far apart in our reading preferences. Cheers!😀
I am not sure about thriller, but the Hythrun Chronicles from Jennifer Fallon are a good political fantasy trilogy.
The whole trilogy is great, I'm sure you're going to love the others.
That's basically why I'm reading riftwar rn (book 3 now) that I don't really like
I see that Redwall on your shelf 🙄 full series review?
Let's go niners! CMC back this week hopefully.
started this before but bounced off. At what point would you say it “gets good”/ i’ll know if it’s for me? I wasn’t hating it, it just seemed slow
I love Raymond Feist but along the way I skipped over this series. Heard good things about it, just haven't got around to it. I'll have to add it to the list.
I'm reading Pillars of the Earth now. I like it, it's good, don't love it. Part of that may be because I'm atheist and it's largely about monks and the Catholic Church. But it's fine.
? I am not christian but I absolutely adore pillars of the earth. I don't see what being an atheist has to do with it, it's filled with corrupt Catholic officials and adulterous heroes
I hate catholic church but I really enjoyed POTE! You must understand that in middle ages catholic church was very powerful and deeply involved in politics and every aspect of human life in that times!
😮😮😮🙏🙏🙏🙏
I enjoyed the series but the characters are such including Mara Sue are so cookie cutter. Every character is perfect for their role and always has the best of intentions.