Riftwar Saga

Someone recommended this series on a forum I visit (I can't remember which one). I did not buy it immediately but while I was on a visit to Banglore I happened to find it at Crossword.
I was quite dissapointed by the first book part one(Magician: Apprentice) but since I can't leave any story unfinished I ordered the other three online. I even remarked on orkut that it was a watered down version of Tolkien. I was pleasantly surprised by part two of the first book (Magician: Master), which really kickstarted the story. It seems that the author had left most of the story for the second book, using the first one as a prequel.
Although the second (Silverthorn) and third (Darkness at Sethanon) tell a somewhat seperate tale they can not be read without the first book. The complete series on the whole is part of a much larger tale and hints at many more to come.