Previously Garn consisted of five kingdoms, each as strong and noble as the next. Until the day Lodavico, King of Sandura, betrayed the great kingdom of Ithrace and murdered its king Steveren and all the flame haired Firemanes, heirs to Ithrace’s throne. Satisfied with his conquest, Lodavico and the three other remaining realms engage in a semi-peaceful treaty, leaving the fallen kingdom in disrepair, its people losing all but a tiny spark of hope. There was a rumour of a baby who was smuggled out, the last remaining Firemane, heir to all its power should he come of age and reclaim his rightful place.
Declan is a gifted apprentice, learning his craft from the legendary Edvalt, weaponsmith to the fallen Firemane regents and possessor of the recipe for the famed king’s steel. Growing up in a small village and seeing Edvalt as a father, his existence is quiet. Until the day Oncon is invaded by soldiers from Sandura and his life changes forever.
Hatushaly lives with a secret society alongside his friends Donte, son of a master assassin, and Hava, a gifted apprentice and formidable fighter. Together they have learnt the art of the assassins, existing in anonymity, hoping to be chosen as the newest sicari. While his friends thrive in their positions, Hatu has never felt like he truly belongs. Always standing out in a crowd with his fair skin and fire-red hair.
King of Ashes is Raymond E Feist’s, author of the Riftwar Cycle, newest entry into his extensive catalogue of bestselling novels. Following the completion and release of Magician’s End in 2013, Feist headed on hiatus after being plagued with health and personal setbacks. 2018 marked his re-entry into the publishing world, coming back with a bang in April.
Any fan of Feist’s previous works would recognise his signature style of storytelling, creating rich visuals and immaculately planned out worlds—King of Ashes is no different. Coming in at 545 pages, the world of Garn is filled with lush imagery, from bloody battlefields to rundown inns and stinky docks, the reader is immersed from the very first page. When travelling through the kingdom of Ithrace, the changing scenery is both beautiful and logical. One can feel the bustle of the markets and the serenity of the open road.
The narration of King of Ashes takes the form of two perspectives—that of Hatu undergoing his education as a future sicari and through the eyes of Declan as he strives for greatness in his chosen profession of weapon smithing. Initially one may feel as though the changing points of view have no purpose as the young men involved have never been associated. By the end of the story however, it is obvious that each man has his part to play in the restoration of their once great land.
As is a standard within any good fantasy, the primary characters were extremely well written. Declan, full of determination, is ever coolheaded, logical and practical in every task he undertakes. Although his background is relatively unexplained, Feist’s mastery of the written word leads the consumer to remain interested regardless of whether the weaponsmith is forging king’s steel or traveling through the countryside. Hatu, assassins apprentice, is as fiery of hair as he is in temperament. Ever adventurous regardless of his setting, he is forever met with hardship unknowing as to why. Ignorant to his position within the world, the flame haired heir is stubborn but loyal to those to whom he is closest.
Secondary personalities are also treated with the care of a seasoned author. Every person has their place, although it is not always obvious until pivotal points within the story as to their importance. Hava and Donte remain prominently featured throughout until the untimely demise of one at the hands of external forces. Declan’s love interest is even given a story arc of her own leading to a heart wrenching crescendo in the novels closing pages.
While I would have preferred the story to be faster paced, by the conclusion of this first instalment in the Firemane series, the slow burn allowed so many facets to be explored without skimping on the details. While not full of plot twists and murdery moments, the action within carried the story to a finale which was both fitting and confirmed the readers suspicions. Towards the end, our main characters meet, albeit briefly, and then head their separate ways, a point that may lead to frustration in some and elation in others. A word of warning though – the epilogue turns everything on its head and leads to a revelation the reviewer could never have envisioned.
Overall, King of Ashes is an excellent addition to Raymond E Feist’s repertoire of hard-hitting fantasy novels. Full of lush imagery, immaculately outlined characters and a narrative which will satisfy even the fussiest reader, the cessation of Feist’s hiatus from the written word could not have come at a better time.
King of Ashes is available for purchase from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
The first volume in legendary master and New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist’s epic heroic fantasy series, The Firemane Saga—an electrifying tale of two young men whose choices will determine a world’s destiny.
For centuries, the five greatest kingdoms of North and South Tembria, twin continents on the world of Garn, have coexisted in peace. But the balance of power is destroyed when four of the kingdoms violate an ancient covenant and betray the fifth: Ithrace, the Kingdom of Flames, ruled by Steveren Langene, known as “the Firemane” for his brilliant red hair. As war engulfs the world, Ithrace is destroyed and the Greater Realms of Tembria are thrust into a dangerous struggle for supremacy.
As a Free Lord, Baron Daylon Dumarch owes allegiance to no king. When an abandoned infant is found hidden in Daylon’s pavilion, he realizes that the child must be the missing heir of the slain Steveren. The boy is valuable—and vulnerable. A cunning and patient man, Daylon decides to keep the baby’s existence secret, and sends him to be raised on the Island of Coaltachin, home of the so-called Kingdom of Night, where the powerful and lethal Nocusara, the “Hidden Warriors,” legendary assassins and spies, are trained.
Years later, another orphan of mysterious provenance, a young man named Declan, earns his Masters rank as a weapons smith. Blessed with intelligence and skill, he unlocks the secret to forging King’s Steel, the apex of a weapon maker’s trade known by very few. Yet this precious knowledge is also deadly, and Declan is forced to leave his home to safeguard his life. Landing in Lord Daylon’s provinces, he hopes to start anew.
Soon, the two young men—an unknowing rightful heir to a throne and a brilliantly talented young swordsmith—will discover that their fates, and that of Garn, are entwined. The legendary, long-ago War of Betrayal has never truly ended . . . and they must discover the secret of who truly threatens their world.
