Flight of the Nighthawks

Infobox Book |
name = Flight of the Nighthawks
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = "Flight of the Nighthawks" first edition cover.
author = Raymond E. Feist
illustrator =
cover_artist = Dominic Forbes
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = "Darkwar Saga"
subject =
genre = Fantasy novel
publisher = Voyager Books
pub_date = September 30, 2005cite web | url = http://www.crydee.com/raymond-feist/publication-information/uk/darkwar-saga | title = Release date | publisher = Crydee.com |language = | date = | accessdate = 2008-06-01]
english_pub_date =
media_type = Print (Hardback & Paperback)
pages = 420 pp "(first edition)"
isbn = ISBN 000713374X
oclc =
preceded_by =
followed_by = Into a Dark Realm

"Flight of the Nighthawks" is a fantasy novel by Raymond E. Feist. It is the first book in the "Darkwar Saga" and was published in 2005. It was followed by "Into a Dark Realm" which was published in 2006.

Plot introduction

Leso Varen is still at large and the Conclave of the Shadows must find a way to neutralize ten thousand magical warriors thatare hidden in a cave on the other side of the world. In Kelewan, Magnus and the Tsurani magicians are studying a Talnoy and discover that is a beacon for a huge army of alien invaders. Meanwhile Kasper, Talwin and Caleb have been sent to The Empire of Great Kesh to uncover a nest of Night Hawks who are plotting to overthrow the government.

Plot summary

"Flight of the Nighthawks" describes the adventures of two young boys, Tad and Zane, and their parent organization, the Conclave of Shadows. This book picks up from "Exile's Return" (2004), the final book in the preceding Conclave of Shadows series by Feist. The book begins in the town of Stardock, where the two boys have grown up with Marie, the mother of Tad, and self-proclaimed mother of Zane. (Zane's parents died years earlier during an attack by trolls on the town). Both boys have a tendency to get into trouble, and when Marie's lover from her childhood, Caleb (son of the Magician Pug), comes back to Stardock, she begs him to take the boys to be apprenticed. Caleb consents and travels with the boys to The Empire of Great Kesh. Along the journey they are ambushed by bandits and Caleb is gravely wounded. The magic of his parents saves him but also links the boys to the Conclave of Shadows.

As the plot unfolds the Conclave hears of an impending conflict in the capital of Kesh. They discover that the necromancer, Leso Varen, has entrenched himself and intends to use the secret band of assassins, the Night Hawks, to cause chaos in Great Kesh. On the eve of Banapis, the popular festival of the summer harvest, Varen reveals himself (he has taken over the body of the current emperor of Kesh) and attempts to kill the members of the royal court. He is stopped by the magicians of the Conclave of Shadows, including Pug, Miranda, Pug's wife, and Magnus, Pug's eldest son and Caleb's older brother. In the end Varen manages to escape again through a rift into the world of Kelewan.

Publication history

Since its release "Flight of the Nighthawks" has been published in over five countries and five languages. cite web | url = http://www.crydee.com/raymond-feist/publication-information | title = Publication info | publisher = Crydee.com | date = | accessdate = 2008-06-01]

Note: Australia, New Zealand and South Africa have the same release dates as the UK.

*2005, NLD, Luitingh Fantasy ISBN 9789024556298, Pub date October 2005, Hardback
*2005, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 000713374X, Pub date September 30, 2005, Hardback
*2006, CZE, Wales ISBN 808693926X, Pub date September 7, 2006, Paperback
*2006, DEU, Blanvalet ISBN 3442244064, Pub date May 2006, Paperback
*2006, HUN, Beholder ISBN 9789638428325, Pub date July 21, 2006, Paperback
*2006, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0007133758, Pub date May 31, 2006, Trade paperback
*2006, UK, HarperCollins ISBN 0007133766, Pub date September 4, 2006, Paperback
*2006, USA, HarperCollins ISBN 0060792787, Pub date April 11, 2006, Hardback
*2007, USA, HarperCollins ISBN 0060792795, Pub date March 27, 2007, Paperback

References