Krondor - Tear of the Gods

Raymond E. Feist

Average Rating 7/10 (1 Review)

A drop in the ocean?

A raid upon the high seas signals an attack of unprecedented magnitude by the forces of darkness. For the holiest of holies, the Tear of the Gods has been lost to the Temple of Ishap. After a raid planned by Bear, one of the most brutal pirates to sail the Bitter Sea, goes dramatically wrong, the colossal gem sinks below the waves.

Only one man survives with knowledge of its exact location. But he's gone underground in Krondor. He is Knute, treacherous pilot of the pirate ship. Bear wants him alive - until he extracts the information he needs, by whatever means necessary.

So begins the story of the Tear of the Gods, the most powerful artefact known to theTemples of Midkemia, since it allows the temples to speak with their gods. Without it, they will be lost for a decade, until another gem is formed in the distant mountains.

Squire James, William, and Jazhara, new court magician, must seek out the location of this gem, with Brother Solon, a warrior priest of Ishap, and Kendaric, the sole member of the Wreckers' Guild with the power to raise the ship. They are opposed by the minions of Sidi, servant of the Dark God, who seeks to possess the Tear for his own ends, or to destroy it, denying it to the forces of light.

This third tale in The Riftwar Legacy is a breathless race for priceless treasure. It's a race against time, against the myriad sinister and competing evil forces desperate for the all-powerful prize, and ultimately against the fundamentals of nature, which in Midkemia can be as formidable as the Gods themselves...

Review by Chrissi (310301) Rating (7/10)

Review by Chrissi
Rating 7/10
As you will probably realise if you have wandered around this site in any depth, Feist is one of the authors whose back catalogue has a few more reviews. This is because I like the Krondor series and have enjoyed reading them and reviewing them.

To recap, Krondor is a place similar to Earth in the Dark to Middle Ages, with swords and gallantry left, right and centre. Tear of the Gods fits into the series after the Riftwar saga but before the Serpentwar, or something like that. Squire James and William are still young, at any rate.

I have to say that I like the bigger, more sweeping trilogies better than these one off stories but having said that, it is well written, and fits in well.

The Tear of the Gods is a jewel belonging to the Monks of Ishap, and is en route to its resting place when the ship is raided by pirates. Unfortunately the Tear is a cornerstone of the Religions of Midkemia, allowing the communication of the Temples with their respective Gods. If the Tear is truly lost, it means that they will be without the guidance of the Gods for at least ten years, until the next Tear may be generated.

So, chasing around after the bad guys and disobeying direct orders, Squire James, William and the new Court Magical Advisor Jazhara try to fathom the mystery and prevent the imminent disaster.
Chrissi (31st March 2001)