The King's Buccaneer [Paperback]

Raymond E. Feist (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1994

Long recovered from the ravages of the Riftwar, the land and people of the kingdom of the Isles thrive. Nicholas, the youngest son of Prince Arutha, is intelligent and gifted but vastly inexperienced. In hopes of hardening him, his father sends him and his irreverent squire, Harry, to live at Rustic Castle Crydee to learn of life beyond the halls of privilege. But within weeks of Nicholas and Harry's arrival, Crydee is viciously attacked by unknown assailants, resulting in murder, massive destruction, and the abduction of two young noblewomen. The raiders have come from a pirate haven and are no ordinary foe ... but an enemy connected to dark magical forces that threaten the lands Nicholas will someday rule -- if he survives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Feist's fifth book in the Riftwar series, begun in 1982 with Magician , is a lively coming-of-age adventure. Prince Nicholas, youngest son of the prince of Krondor, becomes a man and a leader while foiling ancient enemies of his people and his house. Nicholas, who has a club foot, is sent to his uncle the duke of Crydee to learn the responsibilities that accompany privilege. He and his squire, Harry, fall in love with two well-born girls and enter into rivalry with Marcus, the duke's son. When Crydee is invaded, slavers take the survivors of the slaughter, including Marcus's sister, Margaret, and her companion, Lady Abigail, who is the object of Nicholas's and Marcus's rivalry. To rescue them, Nicholas leads a small band to the pirate stronghold of Freeport. Here they discover deeply sinister motivations behind the attack and kidnapping, and Nicholas and Harry must quickly confront adult worries and judgments. Carefully developing his characters, their societies and their rules of magic, Feist once again delivers a superior, rousing adventure.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Set in the fantasy world of Midkemia, Feist's popular fantasy saga enters its second generation as an inexperienced prince faces dark magics as "the king's buccaneer." Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 7/92. Commemorating the tenth anniversary of its first publication, the expanded volume of Magician presents the definitive version of the story that launched the novels of the Riftwar.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Spectra (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553563734
• ISBN-13: 978-0553563733
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1.1 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (59 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,194 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #95 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Fantasy > Epic

More About the Author

Raymond E. Feist's previous novels include the first volume in the Darkwar Saga, Flight of the Nighthawks, as well as the Conclave of Shadows: Talon of the Silver Hawk, King of Foxes, and Exile's Return; Magician; Silverthorn; Faerie Tale; Prince of the Blood; and The King's Buccaneer; as well as the four books of the 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 three books of his Riftwar Legacy: Krondor: The Betrayal, Krondor: The Assassins, and Krondor: Tear of the Gods. Feist lives in Southern California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of Feist's better efforts, November 25, 2000

By 

rainsong (New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The King's Buccaneer (Paperback)

It isn't the Riftwar saga, but it sure is better than Prince of the Blood. Prince Nicholas is far more likeable than his brothers, and in Buccaneer we get to have a look at Crydee twenty years after the war. Set thirty years after the end of the Riftwar, this book provides a set up for the Serpentwar by describing a trip to the continent of Novindus beyond the Endless Sea, after Crydee is attacked by sea.

Other old characters are Ghuda and Nakor the Isalani, Amos Trask and Duke Martin. I thoroughly enjoyed King's Buccaneer, and I recommend that you read it before reading the Serpentwar Saga.

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great swashbuckling adveture.Not his best, but close, May 18, 2001

By 

Blah (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The King's Buccaneer (Paperback)

After the first two pages of the Riftwar saga I was hooked. I quickly developed what I can only think of now as an obsession and finished the four book saga in week. The first two books were by far the best. I was engrossed by the magnificent idea of a boy forced to become a magician who despite his apprehensions becomes one of the greatest magicians the world(that is the fantasy world) has ever known. The saga is a must for all fantasy fans.

I was thirsty for more and so I decided to read Feist's next book Prince of the Blood. It was horrible. No it was worse then horrible it was so bad I wanted to burn it (for those of you who are appalled and rightly so fear not the feeling only lasted for a short time I would of course never actually burn a book no matter how bad it was)

A month later I decided Magician was good enough that I would give Feist another try despite Prince of the Blood, so I purchased The King's Buccaneer. I loved It. I couldn't put it down. I feigned sickness so I could stay home and read. If you are a fantasy fan you have to read this book and if you are not a fantasy fan read this book anyway.

While it is not quite as good as Magician it is close. So read the Riftwar Saga and love it. Then skip the Prince of Blood and don't give it a second thought not even for a milisecond. But whatever you do don't miss this great adventure.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The King's Buccaneer, December 7, 1999

By 

Kenneth Rutherford (Knoxville, Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The King's Buccaneer (Paperback)

The King's Buccaneer was simply a great book. It was the best one that I have read that was wrote by Raymond Feist, and that is saying alot. All I wanted to do was to finish the book, everytime I got a free minute I was reading this book. If you are looking for a good series of books to read I would definently recommend the Rift War saga. It was a great series and I loved all of the books that I have read so far.