King of Ashes

*Starred Review* Feist (Magician's End, 2013) is back on top of his game in this series starter. The world of Garn has had five kingdoms for centuries, until four of the kingdoms work together to eliminate the kingdom of Ithrace by destroying the ruling family, known as the Firemanes for their brilliant red hair. One of the powerful Free Lords, Baron Dumarch, who owes allegiance to no king, finds a red-haired infant abandoned in his tent, and he realizes the child needs protection. He makes a deal with the shadowy kingdom of assassins and spies to train the boy then return him when he comes of age. At the same time, another mysterious orphan is raised by a gifted weapons smith and by chance arrives in the baron's lands seeking work around the same time as the Firemane boy is returned, intertwining their fates. Garn is intricately described with medieval overtones, and alternating chapters following the two orphans as they come into manhood allow the reader to get to know them intimately. A delightful fantasy novel, full of simple magic, fighting, political intrigue, and religious strife.--Gerber, Rebecca Copyright 2018 Booklist

The opening volume of Feist's Firemane epic fantasy series, his first series launch since he began the Riftwar Saga with 1982's Magician, is not terribly impressive. The parallel story lines follow predictable paths, and the prologue is the book's strongest section, depicting the grim and bloody consequences of Baron Daylon Dumarch's betrayal of the king "known to all as Firemane, lifelong friend to any man of good heart." Daylon believed that assisting the rival monarchs conspiring against Firemane would keep his own family safe, but he is still haunted by his choice. He's given a chance for redemption when he arranges for an infant left in his tent, who appears to be Firemane's heir, to be raised safely in secret. The coming-of-age story of that child, unaware of his lineage, alternates with a narrative about a young smith apprenticed to Baron Dumarch's former armorer. The prose and characters are unmemorable, and the story is unoriginal; Feist, once a pioneer, has been leapfrogged by his genre. (May) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.