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Title: Prince of the Blood ( 15th Anniversary Edition) |
Review of Prince of the Blood, 15th Anniversary Edition
- This Authorâs Preferred Edition of Raymond E. Feistâs bestselling coming-of-age saga celebrates the fifteenth anniversary of its publication. Feist introduces a new generation of readers to his riveting novel of adventure and intrigue, revised and updated as he always meant it to be written. It is a work that explores strength and weakness, hope and fear, and what it means to be a manâin a kingdom where peace is the most precious commodity of all.
If there were two more impetuous and carefree men in the Kingdom of the Isles, they had yet to be found. Twins Borric and Erland wore that mantle proudly, much to the chagrin of their father, Prince Arutha of Krondor. But their blissful youth has come to an end. Their uncle, the King, has produced no male children. Bypassing himself, Arutha names Borric, the eldest twin by seconds, the Royal Heir. As his brother, Erland will have his own great responsibilities to shoulder. To drive home their future roles, Arutha sends them as ambassadors to Kesh, the most feared nation in the world. Borric and Erland will be presented to the Queen of Keshâthe single most powerful ruler in the known worldâat her Seventy-fifth Jubilee Anniversary.
But they have not even left Krondor when an assassination attempt on Borric is thwarted. Aware that he is being provoked into war, Arutha does not rise to the bait. His sonsâ journey will not be deterred, for nothing less than peace is riding on it. Yet there is to be no peace for the young princes. When their traveling party is ambushed, Borric disappears and is presumed deadâsending Erland into spirals of rage and grief as he is forced to navigate alone the court intrigues at Kesh. But unbeknownst to anyone, Borric lives and has escaped his captors. In a strange land, with a price on his head, Borric must use all his wits and stamina to find his way back to his brother.
On separate paths, the two menâone a fugitive and one a future kingâmake their journey toward maturity, honor, and duty. For every step they take could sway the fragile peace of the land, as those who crave war rally against themâand become ever more daring.
From the Hardcover edition.
Product Description
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Comments for Prince of the Blood ( 15th Anniversary Edition)
- Posted on 2008-08-26
Adventure fun for Midkemia fans
At first I did not have high hopes for this volume, but now that I have completed it I must say that it was tremendous fun. Although I'm not sure that new Feist readers would appreciate it, if you enjoyed the Riftwar Saga you will enjoy this book. The exploration of Kesh is an exotic treat and the adventures of the princes are amusing. New characters compliment old ones nicely. Start with the Riftwar Saga, but definitely pick this up for an enjoyable read if you already have. It's not quite as serious as the Riftwar Saga, so it makes an excellent vacation book.
Score: 4
- Posted on 2008-08-09
Can't put it down!
After reading a few of Raymond E Feist's novels, I ordered all of the books that he has written, nearly all of them being related to Pug and the world of Midkemia. I have not been able to stop reading, I also had my fiance read Magician and now he is catching up to me. We would both recommend all of Raymond E Feist's novels, but I would suggest they be read in order as they are all connected; start with Magician:Apprentice and work your way through. The publishing order for the series can be found at: http://www.crydee.com/raymond-feist/reading-order/written
Score: 5
- Posted on 2007-10-27
Not Free SF Reader
Party boys and politics.
Arutha's sons are your typical rich brats, drinking, gambling, skirtchasing, etc. So, a bit peeved with them, they get packed off to a boring political function/celebration in Kesh.
It ends up anything but boring, as it seems them being dead suits some of the locals, and they get caught up in a serious civil conflict, and have to get help and try and survive.
Score: 3
- Posted on 2007-08-25
Diplomatic intrigue at its best
With this Midkemia novel, Feist brings us 20 years after "A Darkness At Sethanon". Arutha conDoin's twin sons, Borric and Erland are thrust into the limelight. Arutha is the Kingdom of the Isle's Prince of Krondor, second in line to his older brother Lyam who holds the throne in Rillanon. At the realization that Lyam has no sons and his aging wife will bear no more children, Arutha's sons will one day assume the throne...Borric, the first born will be king, Erland will be heir to the throne.
No sooner has this been determined, than someone attempts to assassinate one of the boys, shortly after Arutha has promised they would attend the neighbouring Empire of Kesh's birthday celebration for its Empress. On the journey to Kesh, the Princes, along with James (once Jimmy The Hand) and Locklear), make a short stop at Stardock where we get to see Pug, the powerful mage of the Riftwar saga, again. James falls in love with Pug's adopted daughter, Gamina, and marries her (rather far-fetched in my eyes, but that's the only thing I'll criticize Feist for on this novel), and they set off for Kesh once more, now with Gamina also. Just after crossing the border, the party is attacked by raiders, and Borric is kidnapped.
So we find Borric dragged to the slavers city of Durbin, a notorious hole for pirates, while Erland continues on to Kesh, weighed down with the presumption that his older brother is dead, and that he stands now in line for the thrown. The stakes are high as those around Erland suspect that a greater plot is afoot, and someone may attempt to take Erland's life too, thus causing war between the Kingdom and Kesh. From different places, and vastly different views of this foreign land, the brothers try to work out who wants them dead, who wants to cause a war...and how to stop it.
With each novel, Feist introduces us to new places, and this time Kesh comes under the microscope. He does well at creating a vastly different place from the Kingdom, giving the reader a vivid picture of the incredible size of Kesh, the varied people that live there, and the vastly different culture and society. If the Tsurani of Kelwan felt asian to the reader, the Keshian empire and its people are middle eastern.
Feist does well on the characters - his usual forte - and deftly immerses the reader in a gripping rendition of what diplomacy, murder and intrigue would have been like in a medeival atmosphere.
Finally, if you read this book for no other reason, this book introduces us to Nakor the Blue Rider - arguably the funniest, oddest, and most intriguing of Feist's characters - a powerful magician of great modesty, who I have long suspected of being the avatar of a deity in Feist's worlds.
I highly recommend this book.
Score: 5 - Posted on 2007-06-27
Love It
Exciting books. I have not reread this one yet, but I remember it from about 5 years ago. RF is a great writer. If you like a good story that keeps you turning the page,choose him.
Score: 5
