Publishers Weekly
★ 07/13/2020
Feist displays his mastery of epic fantasy in this impressive second installment to the Firemane Saga (after King of Ashes), which sees newlywed innkeepers Hatu and Hava forced to rely on their childhood training as assassins and spies after calamity upends their lives. Hatu was raised by a criminal syndicate, but his true parentage marks him as the sole heir of the Firemanes and the destroyed Kingdom of Ithrace, putting a target on his back for those who see him as a threat and others who would use him as a pawn in their political machinations. On the day of his wedding to Hava in the remote town of Beran’s Hill, an overwhelming armed force attacks, leaving few alive and razing the town. Hatu is spirited away from the fighting by members of the Flame Guard, a secret society devoted to protecting his family line. Hava also survives and tracks Hatu to Port Colos, where she is seized by forces speaking an unknown language. Hava must escape captivity to find Hatu, who slowly learns more of his Firemane heritage. Feist fans will recognize his hallmarks here—quiet moments of a common life interrupted by sweeping battles, and high seas journeys to distant continents. Fantasy readers of all sorts will appreciate his command of both subtle characterization and vast, panoramic story. This is a knockout. (July)
From the Publisher
Feist displays his mastery of epic fantasy in this impressive second installment to the Firemane Saga… Feist fans will recognize his hallmarks here—quiet moments of a common life interrupted by sweeping battles, and high seas journeys to distant continents. Fantasy readers of all sorts will appreciate his command of both subtle characterization and vast, panoramic story. This is a knockout.” — Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Master storyteller Feist takes time to develop the complex relationships among his many characters as he continues to expand the world in the second epic book of the Firemane series.” — Booklist
Booklist
Master storyteller Feist takes time to develop the complex relationships among his many characters as he continues to expand the world in the second epic book of the Firemane series.
Booklist
Master storyteller Feist takes time to develop the complex relationships among his many characters as he continues to expand the world in the second epic book of the Firemane series.
Library Journal
06/19/2020
Hatu and wife Hava have settled down in the town of Beran's Hill with plans of rebuilding the blaze-ravaged Inn of Three Stars and spending time with friends. Everything seems golden—which means their lives are about to turn very bad, indeed. As the lone survivor of the powerful Firemane family, Hatu has a price on his head and a potential for magic he doesn't yet understand. His allies are scarce and his enemies are everywhere. Fortunately, Hava is smart and determined to save her husband, although at any moment her Coaltachin masters may order her to kill him. Feist slowly developed the worldbuilding and his characters in the first book in the series, King of Ashes. Now he throws them into the deep end, while dropping vague hints about the larger story arc that we can't see, resulting in a novel in which little happens to move the story along. VERDICT Overall, a perfectly standard epic fantasy with a payoff seemingly far off in the distance of future installments.—Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib.
