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purple_sunglasses_101's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
shanelh's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sleightholme's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
katlem's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
zaelle's review against another edition
2.0
I just reread this book as part of a community reread and it was...alright. I read the original, not the revised version (now I'm curious about the revised version), so the challenges that Feist had with writing this book are more evident. Long story short, Arutha's sons - Borric and Erland - are useless. This is a problem, because after an unexpected tragedy, Borric will be the next King. So what to do? Send the boys on a diplomatic mission to the Kingdom's largest neighbor and oldest rival - the Empire of Great Kesh. Politics are abound, as are desert adventures.
There seems to be build up for a lot of complex plot points that we never see materialize - one gets the sense that more is happening behind the scenes in the Keshian palace, but that there's never a means of Erland, James, and Gamina finding out. It's like James was supposed to find something when he went prowling on the rooftops...and then for some other reason such as time etc, he didn't find anything or make contact with Locklear. It could have been a more intriguing story if we were given access to Locklear's POV, the way we are given access to James, Borric, Erland, and occasionally, Suli and Pug. But maybe because this was such a problem book, it was decided to just finish it at soon as possible. It's hard to say, because Erland is one of the most clueless characters in the book, not because he's dumb, but because he's not in any position to find things out unless someone tells him, or he infers it. Also because he is constantly being distracted by sex, and pretty much takes part in incestuous orgies in the palace, where he's probably popular because he's not a cousin (only people of the Keshian blood are allowed to live in the palace, including servants - they're just lesser royals, and there's a cultural openness to having many bed partners...except the young royals hardly ever leave the palace).
The strongest side of the book is Borric's story - so the twins are separated part way through their journey, and Borric is kidnapped by slavers. Erland has to continue as the heir to the throne. Borric's story shows us more of Kesh on the ground - life in the slavers city, life on Kesh's ships, life on the caravan. The supporting characters he meets are classics who stand out not just in the book but the entire series. Nakor stays with us until the end of the whole saga, Ghuda steals the scene with every little line he utters, Suli is adorable and deserves so much better. Borric is...hmm...Borric. I kinda feel bad for Arutha and Anita, because they were such amazing people...and these were their firstborns. Anyway, Borric is actually good at judging the characters of people and convincing them to help him and follow his lead - very good Kingly characteristic to have.
Erland shows more political awareness given the sensitivity of his situation. He's not a terrible diplomat and it's easy to see how this training enables him to later deal with the other nobles in the Kingdom, but for the most part nothing much happens to him. It is extremely tragic to lose Locklear but we don't really get to process it. In fact, Locklear's character hardly makes an impact, it's almost as if he exists until his best friend gets married and then there's nothing for him to do anymore. Even James and Gamina, as lovely as they are, was really rushed, and Gamina is so arrogant about her skills (and sheltered) that for all her power, she is rendered useless save as a means to secretly communicate.
The ending is also strange. I feel like we were supposed to get to know Diigai better, or at least the party in the palace was supposed to become more intimately involved in the politics. When James correctly guesses that the Queen will crown Diigai it comes out of nowhere - he turns up once as the guy who maybe couldn't pass his own manhood ritual (we don't know, who can say?) and then he is set to become the next emperor? It's strange and really makes you question what scenes got dropped, what ideas went missing.
Overall though, if you love Ghuda and Nakor, it's a worthwhile read. Between the two 'Krondor's Sons' books, the King's Buccaneer is much much better. It's a pity that Nicholas isn't set to be the next King of the Isles.
There seems to be build up for a lot of complex plot points that we never see materialize - one gets the sense that more is happening behind the scenes in the Keshian palace, but that there's never a means of Erland, James, and Gamina finding out. It's like James was supposed to find something when he went prowling on the rooftops...and then for some other reason such as time etc, he didn't find anything or make contact with Locklear. It could have been a more intriguing story if we were given access to Locklear's POV, the way we are given access to James, Borric, Erland, and occasionally, Suli and Pug. But maybe because this was such a problem book, it was decided to just finish it at soon as possible. It's hard to say, because Erland is one of the most clueless characters in the book, not because he's dumb, but because he's not in any position to find things out unless someone tells him, or he infers it. Also because he is constantly being distracted by sex, and pretty much takes part in incestuous orgies in the palace, where he's probably popular because he's not a cousin (only people of the Keshian blood are allowed to live in the palace, including servants - they're just lesser royals, and there's a cultural openness to having many bed partners...except the young royals hardly ever leave the palace).
The strongest side of the book is Borric's story - so the twins are separated part way through their journey, and Borric is kidnapped by slavers. Erland has to continue as the heir to the throne. Borric's story shows us more of Kesh on the ground - life in the slavers city, life on Kesh's ships, life on the caravan. The supporting characters he meets are classics who stand out not just in the book but the entire series. Nakor stays with us until the end of the whole saga, Ghuda steals the scene with every little line he utters, Suli is adorable and deserves so much better. Borric is...hmm...Borric. I kinda feel bad for Arutha and Anita, because they were such amazing people...and these were their firstborns. Anyway, Borric is actually good at judging the characters of people and convincing them to help him and follow his lead - very good Kingly characteristic to have.
Erland shows more political awareness given the sensitivity of his situation. He's not a terrible diplomat and it's easy to see how this training enables him to later deal with the other nobles in the Kingdom, but for the most part nothing much happens to him. It is extremely tragic to lose Locklear but we don't really get to process it. In fact, Locklear's character hardly makes an impact, it's almost as if he exists until his best friend gets married and then there's nothing for him to do anymore. Even James and Gamina, as lovely as they are, was really rushed, and Gamina is so arrogant about her skills (and sheltered) that for all her power, she is rendered useless save as a means to secretly communicate.
The ending is also strange. I feel like we were supposed to get to know Diigai better, or at least the party in the palace was supposed to become more intimately involved in the politics. When James correctly guesses that the Queen will crown Diigai it comes out of nowhere - he turns up once as the guy who maybe couldn't pass his own manhood ritual (we don't know, who can say?) and then he is set to become the next emperor? It's strange and really makes you question what scenes got dropped, what ideas went missing.
Overall though, if you love Ghuda and Nakor, it's a worthwhile read. Between the two 'Krondor's Sons' books, the King's Buccaneer is much much better. It's a pity that Nicholas isn't set to be the next King of the Isles.
ricksilva's review against another edition
3.0
For purposes of disclosure: This is the first book I have read from this world/series (actually, the first book I have read by this author at all). So I am not precisely the target audience, as this story plays the nostalgia card quite a bit, as it serves as a kind of soft reboot, bringing back (presumably) beloved characters from previous stories, now in middle age and serving in more of a mentor role to a new generation.
In this case, the new generation consists of the twin Princes of the Isles, Borric and Erland, who are charged with undertaking a diplomatic mission in the hopes that they will begin to settle into their roles as future leaders and mature a bit from the spoiled-brat troublemakers that they are presented as at the beginning of the book.
The mission takes them to the great empire of Kesh, where everything is bigger, more impressive, and wears less clothing. Fate quickly separates the young princes and all manner of peril and intrigue follow.
As a sword and sorcery adventure, this is completely serviceable, with good escapes (a really clever sailing chase scene was far and above the best thing in the whole book) and fight scenes, some fairly complex palace intrigue, a sprinkling of magic, and a climax the ties together the loose threads handily.
It's also full of so much male gaze. It felt less nostalgic for me, and more just awkwardly out of date.
It dwelled a bit too much on hints of the previous stories, and I didn't feel like it was always using the returning characters to their full potential. It also introduced a trickster/magician character who was a kind of walking deus-ex-machina with a bag of holding, and proceeded to use him as too easy a solution in too many crucial moments.
It did succeed in showing some decent growth with the two protagonists, and the supporting cast included some fairly interesting characters. The descriptions and worldbuilding were well-crafted, if a little familiar, and the book certainly had a good sense of fun from start to finish.
In this case, the new generation consists of the twin Princes of the Isles, Borric and Erland, who are charged with undertaking a diplomatic mission in the hopes that they will begin to settle into their roles as future leaders and mature a bit from the spoiled-brat troublemakers that they are presented as at the beginning of the book.
The mission takes them to the great empire of Kesh, where everything is bigger, more impressive, and wears less clothing. Fate quickly separates the young princes and all manner of peril and intrigue follow.
As a sword and sorcery adventure, this is completely serviceable, with good escapes (a really clever sailing chase scene was far and above the best thing in the whole book) and fight scenes, some fairly complex palace intrigue, a sprinkling of magic, and a climax the ties together the loose threads handily.
It's also full of so much male gaze. It felt less nostalgic for me, and more just awkwardly out of date.
It dwelled a bit too much on hints of the previous stories, and I didn't feel like it was always using the returning characters to their full potential. It also introduced a trickster/magician character who was a kind of walking deus-ex-machina with a bag of holding, and proceeded to use him as too easy a solution in too many crucial moments.
It did succeed in showing some decent growth with the two protagonists, and the supporting cast included some fairly interesting characters. The descriptions and worldbuilding were well-crafted, if a little familiar, and the book certainly had a good sense of fun from start to finish.
kristamccracken's review against another edition
3.0
The next generation of the Krondor nobility is introduced in this book. We meet Arutha's sons Borric and Erland. Despite the story revolving around the adventures of Borric and Erland, I enjoyed the introduction of segments with James (Jimmy the Hand), Pug, and Nakor the best.
The book also allows for the reader to learn more about the Kesh culture and heritage. As always, Feist does an excellent job of creating a vivid civilization full of traditions and unique cultural quirks.
The book also allows for the reader to learn more about the Kesh culture and heritage. As always, Feist does an excellent job of creating a vivid civilization full of traditions and unique cultural quirks.
leapais's review
4.0
Apesar de se poder ler este livro sem ler primeiro os quatro livros que compõem a saga “O Mago”, a verdade é que se desfruta melhor “O príncipe herdeiro” se for lido na sequência dos anteriores.
No livro em apreço reencontramos algumas das personagens mais emblemáticas do Mago: Arutha, Anita, Jimmy, Pug e Gamina. E também algumas novas personagens, nomeadamente os dois gémeos que dão o nome ao livro, os herdeiros à coroa de Kondor, os gémeos Borric e Erland e que, para além de herdeiros à coroa, são uma das fontes de preocupação dos pais, Arutha e Anita, por serem despreocupados, desligados, verdadeiros adolescentes sem a menor noção de que, um dia, serão eles a governar o reino.
Quando Borric e Erland regressam duma missão nas fronteiras, são, literalmente, retirados duma escaramuça na vila e obrigados, pelos pais, a começarem a assumir as suas funções enquanto herdeiros. E a primeira missão leva-os a Kesh. Antes de lá chegarem, Borric é raptado para ser vendido como escravo e Erland tem de, apesar do desgosto por causa do irmão, de se assumir como herdeiro.
É através do percurso que ambos tomam, a partir do momento em que se separam, que acabam por crescer e se preparam para o que o destino lhes reserva.
Raymond F Feist criou, no Mago, um mundo novo, um mundo fantástico, onde quase tudo pode acontecer. No Príncipe Herdeiro voltamos a esse mesmo mundo. E que bem que sabe lá andar. É definitivamente um livro a ler pelos fãs da literatura fantástica.
também em http://bookreview.blogs.sapo.pt/
No livro em apreço reencontramos algumas das personagens mais emblemáticas do Mago: Arutha, Anita, Jimmy, Pug e Gamina. E também algumas novas personagens, nomeadamente os dois gémeos que dão o nome ao livro, os herdeiros à coroa de Kondor, os gémeos Borric e Erland e que, para além de herdeiros à coroa, são uma das fontes de preocupação dos pais, Arutha e Anita, por serem despreocupados, desligados, verdadeiros adolescentes sem a menor noção de que, um dia, serão eles a governar o reino.
Quando Borric e Erland regressam duma missão nas fronteiras, são, literalmente, retirados duma escaramuça na vila e obrigados, pelos pais, a começarem a assumir as suas funções enquanto herdeiros. E a primeira missão leva-os a Kesh. Antes de lá chegarem, Borric é raptado para ser vendido como escravo e Erland tem de, apesar do desgosto por causa do irmão, de se assumir como herdeiro.
É através do percurso que ambos tomam, a partir do momento em que se separam, que acabam por crescer e se preparam para o que o destino lhes reserva.
Raymond F Feist criou, no Mago, um mundo novo, um mundo fantástico, onde quase tudo pode acontecer. No Príncipe Herdeiro voltamos a esse mesmo mundo. E que bem que sabe lá andar. É definitivamente um livro a ler pelos fãs da literatura fantástica.
também em http://bookreview.blogs.sapo.pt/
sammystarbuck's review against another edition
4.0
It had been a long time since I first read this (and this is the first time I've read the re-written version), and I was surprised at the quick pace of this one compared to the original Riftwar trilogy.
Honestly? this one is fluff. But it's fun, exciting fluff that makes for engaging reading. Also, there's Nakor, who is one of the most memorable characters in Feist's entire universe.
Honestly? this one is fluff. But it's fun, exciting fluff that makes for engaging reading. Also, there's Nakor, who is one of the most memorable characters in Feist's entire universe.