Honored Enemy (Legends of the Riftwar, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

by Raymond E. Feist (Author), William R. Forstchen (Author)
Key Phrases: dark elf, blood debt, Dark Brothers, Strike Leader, Force Commander (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"[A] compelling and profoundly moving tale. an invaluable addition to a beloved canon." (barnesandnoble.com )

Product Description

In the frozen northlands of the embattled realm of Midkemia, fate can form strange alliances.

It is nine long, bloody years into the ongoing Riftwar that is tearing Midkemia asunder. Having survived a disastrous encounter with their sworn enemy, the Tsurani, Dennis Hartraft's cold, hungry, and exhausted Marauders arrive at a frontier garrison—at the same time as a Tsurani patrol. But a more devastating threat resides within the stronghold: moredhel, a migrating horde of dark elves so deadly and vicious that the only hope for survival is if bitter enemies band together and fight as one.

Now two hostile groups must make their way to freedom, facing a common foe, braving the merciless elements, and haunted by the voice of conscience demanding, "what is more important, a man's life . . . or his honor?"

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Eos (May 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060792841
• ISBN-13: 978-0060792848
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,026 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( F ) > Forstchen, William
  #24 in	Books > Science Fiction & Fantasy > Authors, A-Z > ( F ) > Feist, Raymond E.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The BEST of the Legends of the Riftwar Series By Far!!!, March 24, 2006

By	Serial Entrepreneur "TheMump.com" (Texas, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Honored Enemy (Legends of the Riftwar, Book 1) (Paperback)

I first read Feist's Magician upon receiving it thru the Science Fiction Book Club back in the 70's. I have anxiously awaited each and every book in the Riftwar series ever since! I was skeptical of the quality of this book in the Legends series as it is co-authored by another-William Forstchen. While not familiar with Forstchen's work, I have become completely comfortable with the quality of Feist's writing and assumed that co-authoring would impact the quality of the book. My fears were unfounded though, as this book is phemonimal-I could not put it down! The character development of both the Dennis Hartraft, the head of Hartraft's Marauders, and the opposing leader of the Tsurani patrol, Asayaga, is amazing. The comparison between these two leaders and the worlds that they come from provides valuable insight into the different cultures of both the Kingdom and the world of the Tsurani. This is a MUST READ by all Riftwar fans and fantasy readers alike!!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a solid offering that was a long time coming to these shores, December 26, 2006

By	Joe Sherry (Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Honored Enemy (Legends of the Riftwar, Book 1) (Paperback)

Honored Enemy was originally only released outside the United States as part of the Legends of the Riftwar series that took place during and around the time of the Riftwar series. Feist was not able to come to a deal with his US publisher for more than 5 years until finally, the series is coming to the United States. First up is Honored Enemy.

Set 9 years into the Riftwar it features no characters we would know from the main series but instead tells of Hartraft's Marauders, a band of soldiers tied to Yabon, but with autonomy to operate behind the lines of the enemy and do as much damage as possible. The Kingdom men are fighting the Tsurani from Kelewan, but when a band of Moredhel (Dark Elves) pin down both the Marauders as well as a platoon of Tsurani under Asayaga, the enemies must join together in temporary truce or fall to the Dark Brotherhood.

I didn't expect much from this book. Feist's Riftwar Legacy, based on computer games, was rather bad and if it took five years to get published in the US how good could this one be?

Apparently, very. Honored Enemy is a strong story of two enemies working together through mutual distrust and cultural differences to stay alive. The story is told through the viewpoints of Dennis Hartraft, Asayaga, and occasionally from Borvai, a moredhel chief pursuing the humans.

Feist does well with collaborations as his Empire trilogy with Janny Wurts was very strong and this book with William Forstchen is also strong. There is good characterization and development of Dennis and Asayaga and the pace of the story is swift enough that we get past the fact that this is only a small episode in the scale of the Riftwar and features no major player. But it's a good story, perhaps even a ripping yarn which Feist so proudly told early in his career.

-Joe Sherry

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Enemy of my Enemy is My __________?, August 2, 2005

By	Matt Graubner "blackwolff" (Kentucky, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Honoured Enemy (Legends of the Riftwar) (Paperback)

Again Feist has returned to the time of the Rift War, this time to nine years after its bloody beginning. Honoured Enemy is the story of two companies of fighters, both Kingdom and Tsurani that come together in the face of moredhel attack.

The books switches perspective frequently, for entire chapters at first, between the Kingdom commander (Dennis Hartraft) and the Tsurani Force Commander (Asayaga). However, this isn't distracting, but highly enlightening as we get to see both sides of the "conflict" and its evolution. I especially enjoyed the many allusions made to Tsurani society that could only come after the publication of the Empire Trilogy. Asayaga even muses over the murder of Mara of the Acoma's father and brother at one point, but believes that she is doing well, ;-).

Furthermore, as this book was written after the Riftwar Saga, but set during the beginning of it (before Silverthorn and Sethanon) it was possible for Feist and Forstchen to allude to future events, especially as we saw into the councils of the moredhel pursuing the humans. Enough is revealed incidentally that you have to read this book after the Riftwar Saga, not in the middle.

Even after they both flee the moredhel the Kingdom and Tsurani troops are constantly on edge, not sure if the enemy of their enemy is their friend, or merely their very temporary ally. As was Murder in LaMut, Honoured Enemy is a unique look onto the world of the Kingdom of the Isles. However, it was a most welcome divergent viewpoint, revealing much that Feist didn't have room to explore in the Riftwar Saga.