King of Ashes

Book One of The Firemane Saga

By: Raymond E. Feist

Narrated by: David Thorpe

The first volume in legendary master and New York Times bestselling author Raymond E. Feist’s epic heroic fantasy series, The Firemane Saga—an electrifying tale of two young men whose choices will determine a world’s destiny.

For centuries, the five greatest kingdoms of North and South Tembria, twin continents on the world of Garn, have coexisted in peace. But the balance of power is destroyed when four of the kingdoms violate an ancient covenant and betray the fifth: Ithrace, the Kingdom of Flames, ruled by Steveren Langene, known as ""the Firemane"" for his brilliant red hair. As war engulfs the world, Ithrace is destroyed and the Greater Realms of Tembria are thrust into a dangerous struggle for supremacy.

As a Free Lord, Baron Daylon Dumarch owes allegiance to no king. When an abandoned infant is found hidden in Daylon’s pavilion, he realizes that the child must be the missing heir of the slain Steveren. The boy is valuable—and vulnerable. A cunning and patient man, Daylon decides to keep the baby’s existence secret, and sends him to be raised on the Island of Coaltachin, home of the so-called Kingdom of Night, where the powerful and lethal Nocusara, the ""Hidden Warriors,"" legendary assassins and spies, are trained.

Years later, another orphan of mysterious provenance, a young man named Declan, earns his Masters rank as a weapons smith. Blessed with intelligence and skill, he unlocks the secret to forging King’s Steel, the apex of a weapon maker’s trade known by very few. Yet this precious knowledge is also deadly, and Declan is forced to leave his home to safeguard his life. Landing in Lord Daylon’s provinces, he hopes to start anew.

Soon, the two young men—an unknowing rightful heir to a throne and a brilliantly talented young swordsmith—will discover that their fates, and that of Garn, are entwined. The legendary, long-ago War of Betrayal has never truly ended . . . and they must discover the secret of who truly threatens their world.

Another amazing book by Feist

This is another fantastic book by an amazing prolific author. I've read every English work I can find by this author and every book is better than the last.

I haven't had this much fun in years.

One of the best storytellers of our time in top form. A true master of the genre.

Good Enough to Buy the Second Book😊

Good medieval fantasy. Basic "A baby is the heir to a kingdom. Some seek to find and kill him." Some parts are a bit brutal.

A new world, new characters, and new enjoyment.

I have been reading Feist since the early 80’s and was hooked from the first book of Midkemia. Now we have a new world to learn and explore, new characters to get to know and love or hate, and new intrigues to contemplate and wonder. The author does not disappoint. The world building that is now Garn lays out fresh for us and begin a new fondness to grow as we learn more about it and those that inhabit it.
I am very much looking forward to the volumes that will make up this series.

can't stand the narrator

The story isn't bad. it's classic Feist but you can tell he's succumbed to mainstream influences.the narrator is absolutely horrible half 9f the characters sound like a bad imitation of Lord farquat.