I have to say I read this by chance. I saw the book lying in my room for one reason or another so I just picked it up and began reading it. I don't even know how I have came to own it since I never did go out and buy it. 
 I have to say I was pleasantly pleased. I found myself turning page after page trying to see where the story will lead as Feist did a tremendous job in this one of creating characters you can really dive into. As worn as I am of elves and the traditional races you come across in fantasy I always said if the story is good I simply won't care because in the end it's the story that matters for me and this one delivered enough to have me look past my wariness. At some point I can say it dragged slightly but that never truly lasted too long and soon you found yourself plunged into the story once again. 
 Now I have heard some comments on Feist's more recent work but I can't speak on that as this was the first time I have read Feist. I believe though if one approaches this title they must understand the era that it was originally published. Are we as readers tired of the same ol' tropes? Yes, probably so. But sometimes we have to dig pass that and look at the foundation of the work presented to us and in my opinion this one delivered.