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A review by zaelle
Prince of the Blood by Raymond E. Feist
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.