Despite being a fantasy aficionado, this has been my first foray into Feist's work (though the Riftwar series is on my to-read list). Given his reputation for interesting characters and detailed world building, it's perhaps not surprising that I very much enjoyed discovering the world of Garn through the eyes of Hatu, Declan and the supporting cast. While some of the world's constituents are typical fantasy elements, the detail Feist applies to brings them to life as well as the process of learning about them through the characters' own viewpoints were both very fulfilling.

My main gripe with the book is that it does seem like a bit of an extended prologue. Although there were certainly moments of excitement and climax, the plot mainly felt purposed to bring the characters together in preparation for something bigger that is yet to come. As happy as I was to have the backgrounds and personalities of Hatu, Declan, Daylon and others intricately teased out throughout the length of the book, I did feel the payoff to be rather lacking, especially with me just coming out of the Wheel of Time. Similarly, while refreshing to have a fantasy where the magical and otherworldly elements seem more subtle, they were also often unexpected and unexplored, so I hope we see more about their nature and their place in the world later. However, all of this does make me all the more interested to see how this all plays out in the rest of the trilogy.

All in all, I thought this was a solid start to a new series, and for me, as good an opportunity as any other to experience Feist's writing, and I look forward to the publication of the next book. ( )

{first in trilogy of Firemane Saga; fantasy}(2018)

This is the first book of a trilogy, from the author of the Midkemia books, which is set on the world of Garn. It focuses on four teenagers in alternating chapters, about 15 years after the prologue which is told (in the third person) from baron Daylon's point of view (he will do the wrong thing for what he thinks is the right reason) and opens with the carnage of war which I found hard to read. It tells us of the conquest of Ithrace, one of the five great kingdoms of this world, and the extermination of its royal family which may have long-reaching magical consequences for the fate of Garn. But it is rumoured that a newborn baby may have survived.

Some of the teenagers that the book then follows are Hatu - a red-headed orphan of uncertain moods - and his companions who are being trained as assassins. The other is also a red-headed orphan who has just completed his training as a master blacksmith specialising in Damascene swords. Leaving his village to prevent this precious knowledge falling into the hands of the king of Sandura - who initiated the war against Ithrace and who now aims to conquer the world - he finds his way to Daylon's barony.

I felt that this book could have used tighter editing (including basics like spelling, amongst other things). I found that some information tended to be repeated, which was wearisome; for example we're told more than once that someone notices that in a city buildings nearer the fort must be older because their builders would have wanted its protection. There were other small issues: often extraneous description was thrown in which didn't seem to add anything. And each chapter follows a different character without any indication who it is in the chapter heading. You can work it out within a couple of sentences but it's still a bit disorienting. Generally, the writing doesn't feel as mature as it should from someone of Feist's experience.

The story has a flavour of the tales of Ancient Greece. Overall, I thought this was okay but not gripping and I'm not in a rush to continue the series.

(July 2023)
3 stars ( )

Interesting book. It was well written, and the characters and setting were interesting, but it was most definitely the first in a series because many things were unresolved at the end. ( )

King of Ashes has a severe case of 'First Book Syndrome.' Introducing and maneuvering the main cast into position for Queen of Storms takes up the majority of the book. Thankfully, with the revelation of some of the political plotting at the end, Queen of Storms looks like it will be off to a good start. ( )

One of the worst books I've ever read ( )