Long praised for his sprawling fantasy world of Midkemia and epic tales told therein, Feist has turned a page back in time with his latest series. The Riftwar Legacy fills in some of the history that occurred between the Riftwar and Serpentwar Sagas.

Feist has an almost mystical ability to draw readers into his works. Time seems to compress as you find yourself first starting and suddenly finishing a Feist novel with virtually no recollection of time passing -- only the sheer delight of the experience.

Krondor the Betrayal told the tale of a Morehdel uprising and a renegade magician. The latest book returns the reader to the city of Krondor and the character who is one of Feist's best, Jimmy the Hand.

Without giving away anything, Krondor: The Assassins tells of the rise of the Crawler, a shadowy, violent rival of the Mockers, Krondor's thieves guild. While investigating the cause of a rising number of murders in Krondor, Jimmy uncovers something much more sinister... and the excitement begins!

Krondor: The Assassins gives us a glimpse at the start of the transformation of Jimmy the Hand from Arutha's squire, just one step away from his days on the street, to the Duke James of the Serpentwar Saga.

Some fans may not like the author 'meddling' with the history of Midkemia. However, Feist has done a great job of weaving the tale into the existing fabric of his world without too many loose threads poking out. I'm sure there are eager, hyperactive, over-achievers who will find some, but if they are there, they weren't so noticeable as to impact a reader's ability to enjoy Krondor: The Assassins for what it is: a great read and a wonderful addition to Feist's collection.

Wayne MacLaurin is a regular SF Site reviewer. More of his opinions are available on our Book Reviews pages.