Honored Enemy

Legends of the Riftwar, Book 1

By: Raymond E. Feist, William R. Forstchen

Narrated by: Matt Bates

New York Times Best-Selling Author

In the frozen Northlands of Midkemia, Captain Dennis Hartraft’s Marauders have just had a disastrous encounter with their sworn enemy, the Tsurani. Wounded and disheartened, the Mauraders set out for the shelter of a frontier garrison. They don’t know that a Tsurani patrol is sent to support an assault on that same garrison. Arriving simultaneously, the Marauders and Tsurani find the outpost already overrun by a dark enemy whose ferocity is legendary in Midkemia. In order to survive, the foes must band together and fight as one. As they make their way across the inhospitable climate, the two batallions struggle not only with the elements and their enemy, but also their consciences. Can their hatred for their mutual enemy overcome their distrust of each other? And, with both sides carrying painful scars from past wars, what is more important: one’s life or one’s honor?

©2009 Raymond E. Feist and William R. Forstchen (P)2020 HarperCollins Publishers

Excellent story

I enjoyed the character and world building of this book. Another great story about the world of Midkemia.

A great tale of war and friendship among foes

I really enjoyed this story. A wonderful tale of the horrors of war, the comraderie, loss, duty, tension, and new found friends forged in the fires of danger of a common foe. A great friendship with tension that kept me anxious about the end of the book all the way through. Great book.

Happiness in misery

The gripping tale of two so totally different forces brought together by fate and able to flourish amidst the adversity.

Reliably Good--engaging and fast paced.

I was hesitant, the plot seemed trite or tired at first, but no, it was very good. All the characters are true to form, and the world of Midkemia is true to form. The books reads quickly (listens quickly?) you will be sad when it is over, but very glad you listened. I recommend this if you like the Riftwar books.

Expected it to be Good, got Fantastic.

Story brought me back to a world I spent a lot of time in as a youth. Nostalgic, true to the original books and a great jump back into earlier times on Midkemia if you've found yourself deep into later books in the timeline, but missing the earlier struggles of the original Riftwar.

great story

loved listening to my first Fiest audio book. great world building and loved the intense character interactions.

A Good Example of Fantasy

Another great book by Feist. I won't say it was one of the best books I have ever read, but it is still just a very well-written story. The story is about what the title says. There are times in the book where it starts to feel maybe a little too contrived until another fight or something happens. There are some things that didn't completely sit well with me at the end, but that was just because I wanted something different for the characters. The more times I've read a good book like this, the more capable I become at seeing the things I dislike in other books..

Easily summed up...

This book is about the relationship between two captains in opposing military forces. that have to band together to fight a common enemy. I really tried hard to get into this book. I am a huge fan of Tolkein, R.R. Martin, Gaiman, Rowling even Jemisin... however, this was just boring. Pretty much just one bitchy conversation after another. I don't know about everyone else, but stubborn egomaniacal troglodytes get old very quickly. I only finished this book because I kept hoping an actual story would develop. I do understand that this is a first book of a series. It is supposed to be the "Set-up" but man it was boring. The only character I felt the least bit interested in was the Elf guy that was vaguely reminiscent of Legolas and the whole issue with how their people "changed" from one species of elf to another. That was a tiny side story that the author never really gave any definition to. Let me see if I can get the comparison right here... This book is to The Hobbit, as an average kindergartener is to Stephan Hawking.
Last note; I feel as thought the narrator had a hard time sticking to the racial divisions (questionable choice) of voices, but I myself think that would be hard to achieve so I overlooked the obvious fake Asian accent and wanna be Celtic or whatever he was going for.

Grim

Very little respite from a desperate struggle. interesting that it's part of a trilogy and seems more or less standalone. I'll probably leave it at this volume though it wasn't bad. Even if the story wasn't what I prefer, the narration was good and carried the production.