Krondor the Assassins: Book Two of the Riftwar Legacy (Feist, Raymond E. Riftwar Legacy, Bk. 2.) (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "The sounds of pursuit echoed through the dark tunnels..." (more)
Key Phrases: marshaling yard, poor quarter, Captain Treggar, Upright Man, Prince Vladic (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Something is rotten in the state of Krondor: the Mockers, the gang of goons and bullyboys that were James's colleagues back when he was known as Jimmy the Hand, have been decimated in vicious fighting on the rooftops and in the sewers. That, and a seemingly random slew of murders, tips off the Crown that some outside concern is attempting an underworld power-grab right under the Prince's nose. Raymond E. Feist's second Riftwar book, Krondor the Assassins, continues the action of Krondor the Betrayal with Prince Arutha and Squire James back in the Midkemian capital, returning triumphantly from their campaign against the Tsurani magician Makala and moredhel headman Delekhan. But Arutha quickly sends James, née Jimmy, back into the city's seedy underbelly to investigate, and in the process he forms a sort of Krondorian secret service. Could the assassins of the Nighthawks be responsible, or perhaps some Keshian interest? James, naturally, begins to suss the situation out, which becomes even more complicated when a hunting party including the visiting Crown Prince of Olasko is beset by shape-shifting magicians.

James and Arutha, both classic feel-good-fantasy heroes--the type of guys with a twinkle in their eye who seem virtually indestructible--eventually track their enemies down to a deserted Keshian fortress, facing assorted assassins, demons, and evil priests in the process. Not the most imaginative or compelling fantasy around, but The Assassins is still a fun romp for fans of the Krondor band. --Paul Hughes

From Publishers Weekly

Squire James, formerly known to the Guild of Thieves as Jimmy the Hand, is looking forward to some rest when he returns home from battle against the Morhedel and the Tsurani. But Prince Arutha gives him a new assignment: James must learn the cause of a spate of murders spreading across the city of Krondor. No one is safeAthieves and honest men alike are turning up dead. Who is the Crawler, the mysterious man who is wiping out the Thieves' Guild? What are Prince Vladic of Olasco and his uncle Radswil doing in Krondor? Whence the mysterious threat to their lives? And what do these matters have to do with the NighthawksAthe dreaded Guild of Assassins? James's knowledge of the sewers and his underworld contacts make him the man to find out. But as James forms his fledgling spy ring, the panic in the sewers continues, and the threat against Krondor itself steadily grows. Now, together with his friend William conDoin and the gruff veteran Knight-Captain Treggar, James must find the Nighthawks in their desert lair and prevent whatever it is that they're planning. This tale of shape-shifting magicians, human sacrifice, man-eating demons and a little young love, a sequel to Krondor: The Betrayal (1998), will satisfy Feist's fans, and its ending will leave them waiting for another volume. Author tour. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Eos; 1St Edition edition (November 9, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380977079
• ISBN-13: 978-0380977079
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #766,530 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Feist Plays Hookey in his own World, December 2, 1999

By	M. Allegra (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I gave this fluff a four - which it really doesn't deserve but...Jimmy and Arutha are my favorite characters in the Midkemia world...and Assassins is head and shoulders above Betrayal. And even though we are clearly set up for books 3, 4 etc., I'd rather have mediocre Feist than no Feist at all. Feist makes Assassins a stronger book by concentrating it's limited plot line on Squire James and his Prince. Betrayal had a 'Whoo! Where did that come from.' quality that...well...betrayed the reader. Assassins is much more tightly plotted. I can see how this novel is structured after a video game: fighting in the Nighthawks underground fortress is clearly level x...but it doesn't wack you in the head with it. And, for the most part, I didn't feel I was reading something written for computer geeks who want a further game fix. So I guess I'll be waiting for book 3... Krondor, the Misdemeanor?

33 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Whatever happened to Raymond Feist?, January 1, 2000

By	Andrew P. Lawler (Charlotte, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

During the Riftwar Saga, no one did it better than Feist. A brilliantly crafted world, vivid mature characters and crackling dialogue added up to one of the best series in modern fantasy. The series that ended with ...Sethanon was one for the century, putting the Jordans and Eddings to shame.

We were treated to a few more lovely novels in the series, but after Rise of a Merchant Prince, the quality just went downhill. Characters grew less vivid, actions seemed repetitive, and the underlying story of a greater evil underneath the ones we already knew only served to minimize the impact of the earlier books.

The 'Krondor Books' are simply the worst things he's ever written, and an embarassment to the series. They read more like, well, like adaptations of computer games than the mastery Feist used to show. It's almost as if he's working with a colloborator (and one who does most of the work) and that unknown just isn't up to snuff.

Maybe it's time for Mr. Feist to leave the world of Midkemia and strike out for fresher pastures. But as much as I love Jimmy, Cousin Willy and Arutha (who quite frankly is unrecognizable in this book), it's time to say goodbye before things get even worse.

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A novel that should more than satisfy paitent Feist Fans, January 16, 2000

By A Customer

Here we have a book that surely offers nothing new, but it does offer a further look into the past events prior to the serpentwar series. I feel that this novel is not as bad as some reviewers has put it as.

Granted we have a book that does not fully entertain some because we all have different ways we like books to be. I'll say this: if you are a previous fan of Feist's works you will not be dissapointed with this one if you just be paitent with it and realise it for what it is, a bridge the time book.

Keeping this in mind you'll easily be able to enjoy the writing style you have always been acustomed to. Feist retains his talent with description and dialogue, and I guarentee that you'll not put this one down until it's complete.

I certainly found this an entertaining read. We get to revisit familiar characters such as James the Hand and Locklear before they died in later books and we discover what the whole thing was with the Crawler and the Mockers.

My advice to those who still do not like these books: just be paitent with Mr. Feist. He is doing his best to write something we'll like. Just wait, soon enough the "Dark War Saga" will be upon us.