Silverthorn

A very fun, rousing adventure.

But–and this isn't a revolutionary insight–there's no actual female characters in the book, and in the previous entries as well. It's just something I've noticed while reading back through a lot of old fantasy novels I loved when I was younger.

The second book (yes, I read them before Magician was split into 2 books) focuses on Prince Arutha's quest to save his beloved. The tale is a powerful one; enough to make you feel the prince's pain, anguish, and hope. You'll grow to love all of the characters that Feist superbly brings to life, and you'll meet Jimmy the Hand for the first time as a youth with an incredible future ahead of him. There's also more on Pug, as the story explores his growth and the consequences his changes has caused on Kelewan. Book 2 very nicely sets up everything for a finale in book 3: A Darkness at Sethanon.