Prince of the Blood

“Totally gripping … A fantasy of epic scope, fast-moving action and vivid imagination.” —
Washington Post Book World

“The best new fantasy in years … Has a chance of putting its author firmly on the throne next to Tolkien—and keeping him there.” —
Dragon Magazine

“Most exciting … a very worthy and absorbing addition to the fantasy field.” —Andre Norton

“As exciting and absorbing as
Magician
in every way.
The excellent characterization wedded to a tight and well-turned plot makes it one of the outstanding fantasy offerings of the season.”
—Andre Norton

“Feist writes skillfully and his imagination is prolific.” —
Rave Reviews

“Invites comparison with Tolkien’s
Lord of the Rings.”
—
Best Sellers

“A lively tale where engaging characters inhabit a well-rounded fantasy land.” —
Publishers Weekly

“A crackling good read for fans of medievaloid fantasy, with interesting characters and nice language.”
—San Diego Union-Tribune

“Has humor and tears and romance … just about everything a fantasy fan could ask for … This is a book to read whether or not you have read the earlier trilogy.” —UPI

“A superior, rousing adventure.” —
Publishers Weekly

“An entertaining tale of high-seas adventure and exotic fantasy.” —
Locus

“Discover the marvels that Feist has put to paper.” —SF Site

“Feist constantly amazes with his ability to create great casts of characters.” —SF Site

“Feist has a command of language and a natural talent for keeping the reader turning pages.”
—
Chicago Sun-Times

“Feist is without question one of the very best writers of fantasy adventure practicing today.”
—Science Fiction Chronicle

“Feist remains honorably in the forefront of fantasists who continue to create well-told tales out of the genre’s familiar elements.” —
Booklist

“[Feist’s] skill in depicting fully realized characters and fast-paced action scenes puts him in the forefront of contemporary fantasy adventure.” —
Library Journal

“[Feist] is a master storyteller who weaves exciting, sweeping epic tales.” —SF Site

“An action-packed story of intrigue and betrayal.”
—Library Journal

“Fine entertainment … Feist works his signature magic.… an absorbing and carefully crafted adventure with pleasing density of plotting, good characterization … This is populist Dickens out of Tolkien, and it works.”
—Sydney Morning Herald

“Originality and wit … A rollicking tale …Feist’s narrative skill, ingenuity at creating systems of magic, and eye for plausible military scenarios stand him in good stead. His many fans will be pleased.” —
Booklist

“A great read and a wonderful addition to Feist’s collection.” —SF Site

“This tale of shape-shifting magicians, human sacrifice, man-eating demons, and a little young love will satisfy Feist’s fans, and the ending will leave them waiting for another volume.” —
Publishers Weekly

“Sure to please Feist fans and win new ones.”
—Publishers Weekly

“This is a series that gets better as it goes along.”
—Science Fiction Chronicle

“Classic.” —
Chicago Sun-Times

“An epic reading experience … Unpretentious, fast-paced … 
Shadow of a Dark Queen
works admirably.”
—San Diego Union-Tribune

“A massive, entertaining tale.” —
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel

“A sensitive coming-of-age tale in which brutality and camaraderie are equally present, Feist’s newest saga has a freshness of vision that suggests it will avoid the staleness that often eats away at multi-volume epics.” —
Publishers Weekly

“Action and intrigue and evocative writing … Feist brings a new world alive
.”
—
Oregonian

“Fast action, appealing characters, and a splendid setting will delight readers of fantasy and leave them eager for the next battle.” —
Kirkus Reviews

“FUN … A place to start for those yet to discover Feist’s fantasy worlds.” —
Locus

“Sheer readability.” —
San Francisco Chronicle

“A fine yarn … vivid … suspenseful … the action is nonstop.” —
Booklist

“Feist is at his best.” —
San Francisco Chronicle

“Splendid …fast action, appealing characters … [It] will delight readers of fantasy.” —
Kirkus Reviews

“As usual, Feist brings this off wonderfully.”
—Science Fiction Chronicle

“Bestseller Feist does an impressive job of developing numerous characters and elaborate social structures while holding true to established history in this fantasy page-turner.… This effort is one of his best yet.”
—Publishers Weekly
(starred review)

“[Feist] begins a new series featuring a young man’s search for justice and honor. A good choice.” —
Library Journal

PRINCE OF THE BLOOD
A Bantam Spectra Book

PUBLISHING HISTORY
Doubleday edition published August 1989
Bantam edition / June 1990
Revised Bantam Spectra hardcover edition / July 2004
Revised Bantam Spectra mass market edition / July 2005

Published by
Bantam Dell
A Division of Random House, Inc.
New York, New York

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2004 by Raymond E. Feist

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2004274485

Bantam Books, the rooster colophon, Spectra, and the portrayal of a boxed “s” are trademarks of Random House, Inc.

eISBN: 978-0-307-41828-9

www.bantamdell.com

v3.1_r1

This book is dedicated with love to my wife
,
Kathlyn Starbuck
,
who makes everything make sense

Cover

Other Books by This Author

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Map

Afterword

About the Author

April Abrams, for giving me what she had of Kesh and letting me bend it beyond recognizable shape.

Pat LoBrutto, my editor, for putting up with one type of madness after another.

Janny Wurts, for letting me take care of one problem before giving me another, and for taking such good care of our horse.

Stephen Abrams and Jon Everson, for thinking up the entire mess in the first place.

The other “fathers and mothers” of Midkemia, for letting me play in their world again.

Peter Schneider, for his “usual” duty above and beyond.

All the fine people at Bantam Dell who work so hard at making things work.

Jonathan Matson, my agent and friend, for keeping me pointed north when I need to be and for letting me run amok when I need to.

And, most of all, Kathy, my wife, who is mentioned somewhere else in this work for making everything around me work.