In my search for other fantasy novels, I stumbled upon the Riftwar Saga, a set of 4 books (it was trilogy, now split into 4 books).
The books are Magician:Apprentice, Magician:Master, Silverthorn and The Darkness at Sethanon.
The series is not about a single hero, but a set of good characters against a bad set. Let me review each book briefly.
Magician:Apprentice - This book opens with one of the central characters, Pug the Magician, being shown as a child. He struggles to learn magic, being able to use it only in times of great stress. Tomas, Pug’s closest friend is lost and saved by dragon, the importance of which is known only in later books. The other principal characters are also built slowly - Lyam, Arutha and Martin (3 brothers). Other characters are referred to in passing, but some of them assume great importance in the later books. The first major twist is when it is discovered that another world, Tsurani, has found a portal to this world and have landed in Midkemia. The war between the two worlds begin, where Pug is captured and taken to Tsurani.
Magician: Master - Pug’s magical abilities are discovered by the Black Robes, magicians of the Tsurani, who are outside the law, since they have a great duty. after rigorous training, he becomes a Great One himself. Meanwhile, Lyam becomes the king, discovering meanwhile that Martin, fathered by Lyam’s father by a serving maid is elder to him. tomas becomes the commander of the elves, because of a gift of the dragon (Yes, all the races are there: elves, dwarves, goblins) The war ends, but at a cost. Pug is forced to close the portal because of a deception by the greatest sorcerer living, Macros the Black. Macros has a very strong reason for the deception.
Silverthorn: A great Enemy has arrived, seeking the death of Arutha to fulfill a prophecy. Arutha’s wife is fatally injured and the only thing that can save her is a herb called Silverthorn, that grows in the lake controlled by the Enemy’s minions in the Kingdom. This is a story of Arutha’s quest to retrieve Silverthorn and how he discovers friends who are ready to die for him. Pug goes back to Tsurani to lean more about the Enemy.
The Darkness at Sethanon: The secret about the Enemy is revealed. All the characters converge on to a small city called Sethanon for the final battle. victory is snatched from the jaws of defeat, but every one is left scarred by the power and might of the Enemy.
Raymond writes in a style that is easier to read tha Lord of the Rings. Central characters are only a few, but only in later books do you realise the importance of certain events/characters that you dismiss at first. The pace is quick, with almost no digressions on philosophy etc. Every word builds the story.
Recommend as a must read for anyone who loves this genre of fiction.
Regards
Sridhar