From Publishers Weekly
A usual problem with sequels?that they don't measure up to the original?applies to this follow-up to Shadow of a Dark Queen, which also suffers from unexpectedly stodgy prose and a paucity of action. Focusing on Rupert Avery's rise to power and influence in the mercantile class of the City of Krondor, the narrative follows "Roo" as he forms a business alliance with a merchant, Helmut Grindle, whose daughter, Karli, he marries for a multitude of reasons, none of which is love. Roo begins an affair of sorts with the nasty and calculating Sylvia Easterbrook but also manages to have two children with Karli. Meanwhile, his friend and compatriot Erik von Darkmoor travels back down to the land of Novindus to battle the Pantathians (the serpents referred to in the subtitle). Throughout, the pacing is slow and the characters less than persuasive. While Feist sows enough interesting seeds here to redeem this series in its next (and final) installment, this volume is up to neither snuff nor par. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.



"Has a natural talent for keeping the reader turning pages."



"Feist's new saga has a freshness of vision."


Book Description
Surviving the wrath of the fearsome Sauur -- a hideous race of invading serpents -- noble Erik and cunning Roo have delivered a timely warning to the rulers of the Midkemian Empire, and are now free to pursue their separate destinies. Erik chooses the army -- and the continuing war against Midkemia's dread enemies. Roo lusts for wealth and power -- rising high and fast in theworld of trade. But with luxury comes carelessness and a vulnerability to the desires of the flesh. And a beautiful seductress with her ruthless machinations threatens to destroy everything Roo has built and become -- summoning catastrophe into his future...and terror into his world.


About the Author
Raymond E. Feist's previous novels include Magician, Silverthorn, Faerie Tale, Prince of the Blood, and The King's Buccaneer, as well as the four books of his New York Times bestselling "Serpentwar Saga:" Shadow of a Dark Queen, Rise of a Merchant Prince, Rage of a Demon King, and Shards of a Broken Crown, and the first two books of his "Riftwar Legacy:" Krondor: The Betrayal and Krondor: The Assassins. He is the creator of the immensely popular computer game, Betrayal at Krondor -- which won Computer Magazine's Best Game of the Year Award -- and the follow-up game, Return to Krondor. Mr. Feist lives in Southern California.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Volume II of the Serpentwar Saga returns to the fantastic, perilous planet Midkemia. As the hideous Sauur continue their merciless conquest of Midkemia, the noble Erik fights in the army while his friend Roo rises as one Midkemia's most powerful citizens.

ANNOTATION

Feist continues his remarkable Riftwar Saga with this second volume of spectacular fantasy adventure. As the lizard-like Saaus attempt to annex their newest kingdom, two friends stand against them as members of an elite spy-corps. Years pass and one of the pair becomes a successful businessman and trader whose subsequent career is filled with treachery, betrayal, and numerous power struggles.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Surviving the wrath of the fearsome Sauur — a hideous race of invading serpents — noble Erik and cunning Roo have delivered a timely warning to the rulers of the Midkemian Empire, and are now free to pursue their separate destinies. Erik chooses the army — and the continuing war against Midkemia's dread enemies. Roo lusts for wealth and power — rising high and fast in theworld of trade. But with luxury comes carelessness and a vulnerability to the desires of the flesh. And a beautiful seductress with her ruthless machinations threatens to destroy everything Roo has built and become — summoning catastrophe into his future...and terror into his world.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly