Again Feist has returned to the time of the Rift War, this time to nine years after its bloody beginning. Honoured Enemy is the story of two companies of fighters, both Kingdom and Tsurani that come together in the face of moredhel attack.
The books switches perspective frequently, for entire chapters at first, between the Kingdom commander (Dennis Hartraft) and the Tsurani Force Commander (Asayaga). However, this isn't distracting, but highly enlightening as we get to see both sides of the "conflict" and its evolution. I especially enjoyed the many allusions made to Tsurani society that could only come after the publication of the Empire Trilogy. Asayaga even muses over the murder of Mara of the Acoma's father and brother at one point, but believes that she is doing well, ;-).
Furthermore, as this book was written after the Riftwar Saga, but set during the beginning of it (before Silverthorn and Sethanon) it was possible for Feist and Forstchen to allude to future events, especially as we saw into the councils of the moredhel pursuing the humans. Enough is revealed incidentally that you have to read this book after the Riftwar Saga, not in the middle.
The books switches perspective frequently, for entire chapters at first, between the Kingdom commander (Dennis Hartraft) and the Tsurani Force Commander (Asayaga). However, this isn't distracting, but highly enlightening as we get to see both sides of the "conflict" and its evolution. I especially enjoyed the many allusions made to Tsurani society that could only come after the publication of the Empire Trilogy. Asayaga even muses over the murder of Mara of the Acoma's father and brother at one point, but believes that she is doing well, ;-).
Furthermore, as this book was written after the Riftwar Saga, but set during the beginning of it (before Silverthorn and Sethanon) it was possible for Feist and Forstchen to allude to future events, especially as we saw into the councils of the moredhel pursuing the humans. Enough is revealed incidentally that you have to read this book after the Riftwar Saga, not in the middle.
Even after they both flee the moredhel the Kingdom and Tsurani troops are constantly on edge, not sure if the enemy of their enemy is their friend, or merely their very temporary ally. As was Murder in LaMut, Honoured Enemy is a unique look onto the world of the Kingdom of the Isles. However, it was a most welcome divergent viewpoint, revealing much that Feist didn't have room to explore in the Riftwar Saga.
No comments:
Post a Comment