King of Ashes: Firemane, Book 1

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)