A Crown Imperilled

By: Raymond E. Feist

Narrated by: John Meagher

The penultimate volume of the mighty Riftwar Cycle

War rages in Midkemia but behind the chaos there is disquieting evidence of dark forces at work.

Jim Dasher’s usually infallible intelligence network has been cleverly dismantled; nowhere is safe. He feels that the world is coming apart at the seams and is helpless to protect his nation.

Quiet palace coups are underway in Roldem and Rillanon; and King Gregory of the Isles has yet to produce an heir. In each kingdom a single petty noble has risen from obscurity to threaten the throne.

Lord Hal of Crydee and his great friend Ty Hawkins, champion swordsman of the Masters’ Court, are entrusted with the task of smuggling Princess Stephané and her lady-in-waiting, the lovely but mysterious Lady Gabriella, out of Roldem to a place of greater safety. But is there any safe haven to be found?

Meanwhile, Hal’s younger brothers Martin and Brendan are attempting to hold the strategic city of Ylith against an onslaught of Keshian Dog Soldiers, and a mysterious force from beneath the sea. The Kingdom might lose Crydee and recover; but if Ylith falls, all is lost.

An unknown player appears to orchestrating these conflicts. Can Pug and the Conclave of Shadows track down this source before Midkemia is destroyed?

©2012 Raymond E. Feist (P)2012 HarperCollins Publishers Limited

Pity about the change in narrator

After the entire series read by Peter Joyce why change to an American narrator?? Was very very frustrating.

Why change

Why change narrator on book 30....didn't enjoy that book fully due to that change I'm afraid

What an amazing imagination - you have to love it!

Epic scope, amazing characters, filled with many unexpected and pleasant surprises - a must read!

Nothing against John but...

After some 14 books to change narrator really made a difference. i used to know who was talking just by the sound of a voice...

shocking narrator

I have been listening to the entire Crydee series of books.
TWENTY SEVEN books in a row narrated by the same narrator - Peter Joyce.
He was reasonably consistent throughout the series and his voice became everything you expected in every character.
Suddenly the twenty-eight book is narrated by someone else.

Now it's not just that the narrator has changed, it's that John Meagher is a very poor narrator indeed. I keep screaming at him while listening!

What makes a poor narrator that ruins a story?
He talks way too fast. Every sentence is said like he is in a race, and there is barely a pause between sentences.

I cannot believe that this close to the end of such a huge series by such a well-known author, it can be totally ruined by anyone having paid money to such a poor narrator.

Bad narrator

Very bad narrator compared to previous books. Almost made me return the book. Glad they returned to the original narrator in the last book.

A great book, ruined by the narrator.

Great book by Feist as always, but dreadful narration. The guy needs to learn how read clearly and consistently. Sometimes staccato, other times in a sine-wave of speed, other so fast it's difficult to know when a breath would be taken. Also he needs to learn how to pronounce certain words, as he's clearly guessing. Loved the book, hated tge narration.

wow, I thought because I skipped a few ...

my mistake, this is part of the series, also works as a stand alone.
I was enthralled, love when there is so much intrigue that you have to read just one more sentence. ....

One or two small issues

Changing the narrator was the main issue with this, made it feel somehow childish and did not have the gravitas that the book should have had. Its a pity that one out of the whole series is different. Lots of issues with pronunciation, timing, changes between paragraphs/sections not being clear and at one point Magnus turned into Marcus. There is also an issue with this version of the book that is noted on the authors site. That is not the narrators fault but surely you could have used one of the copy's that are corrected. It is an obvious mistake and causes a lot of confusion in the story.
But the story is part of a much greater whole and thankfully plays into the next book that has gone back to the original narrator.

What? A new narrator?

Why change the narrator in the series? It just feels strange or wrong.

The new narrator, Jhon Meagher isn't bad, he just feels wrong for the book when his younger voice and different pronounciations are there in stead of what I expected. I hope Peter Joyce returns.

This mystery story was a thriller. Not what I expected. I have to start the next book now. Bye.