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Product Description
Product Description
The second book in Raymond Feist’s super-selling quartet: The Serpentwar Saga.
Triumphant but overconfident after his defeat of the reptilian Sauur army, Roo must resist a beguiling seductress who threatens to undo him and all of Midkemia.
Roo Avery, recently returned from a harrowing brush with the armies of the Emerald Queen, is now free to choose his own destiny and his ultimate ambition is to become one of the richest and most powerful merchants in Midkemia.
But nothing can prepare him for the dangers of the new life he has chosen, where the repayment of a debt can be as deadly as a knife in the shadows. Even those closest to him are suspect and as Roo struggles to build his financial empire, betrayal is always close at hand.
But while Roo works towards achieving his goal, memories of the invasion haunt him still. For the war with the Emerald Queen is far from over and the inevitable confrontation will pose the biggest threat yet to his new found wealth and power.
From the Author
When did you start writing?
If you mean when did I seriously start writing, that was in 1977, the year I graduated from University. I really got serious a year later which was when I took a rough coming-of-age story and started turning into Magician, my first published novel.
Where do you write?
I have a home office.
What are the pros and cons of being a writer?
The same as with any self-employment: you’re your own boss, you set your own schedule, you determine the quality of the product, etc. The downside is you have no corporate safety net, no unemployment insurance, no health care benefits, no retirement plan, so you bear responsibility for all of those things. It is not a job for the timid.
What writers have inspired you?
Too long a list to cover them all. Anything good, in one fashion or another influences. There are some very obvious names, to begin with: Shakespeare, Marlow, Dickens, the Russians, Twain, Melville, and some slightly less obvious, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexander Dumas, Anthony Hope, and the other "boy’s adventure" authors. Also, historical authors like Mary Renault, Rosemary Suttcliff, and Thomas Costain. And the pulp authors: Arthur Conan Doyle, H. Ridder Haggard, A. Merrrit, and among fantasy writers, Fritz Lieber. Toss in as diverse a range of writers as Zane Grey and Louis L’amour in westerns to Dashel Hammett , Raymond Chandler, and John D. McDonald in mystery, to comedic writers like Max Schulman and Dan Jenkins. I could keep going, but that’s the tip of the iceberg.
How important is a sense of place in your writing?
Tough question to answer in brief; every element in a fantasy has to “make sense” to the reader. You can not condescend to your art because it’s “make believe,” so even though the place in which I set my work is a fantasy world, it has to feel “real” structurally, else the reader will ultimately be unhappy.
Do you spend a lot of time researching your novels?
Only enough to convince the reader the characters know what they’re doing. I don’t have to be the expert; I just need to be persuasive.
Do your characters ever surprise you?
All the time. In fact, as I get older, more and more often. I suspect this is a function of my subconscious coming up with better story notions than I had originally planned.
How much of your life and the people around you do you put into your books?
In specific, none of it; in general, all of it. The old saw is that writers write what they know. It’s like what actors call “sense memory.” You have to sell emotion and there has to be a foundation of validity or it will not work. How did it feel when you saw your book in print for the first time? A little disbelieving, and very pleased.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing now?
Probably looking for a job, given this economy. My last one was in the health field as an administrator.
If you mean when did I seriously start writing, that was in 1977, the year I graduated from University. I really got serious a year later which was when I took a rough coming-of-age story and started turning into Magician, my first published novel.
Where do you write?
I have a home office.
What are the pros and cons of being a writer?
The same as with any self-employment: you’re your own boss, you set your own schedule, you determine the quality of the product, etc. The downside is you have no corporate safety net, no unemployment insurance, no health care benefits, no retirement plan, so you bear responsibility for all of those things. It is not a job for the timid.
What writers have inspired you?
Too long a list to cover them all. Anything good, in one fashion or another influences. There are some very obvious names, to begin with: Shakespeare, Marlow, Dickens, the Russians, Twain, Melville, and some slightly less obvious, Sir Walter Scott, Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexander Dumas, Anthony Hope, and the other "boy’s adventure" authors. Also, historical authors like Mary Renault, Rosemary Suttcliff, and Thomas Costain. And the pulp authors: Arthur Conan Doyle, H. Ridder Haggard, A. Merrrit, and among fantasy writers, Fritz Lieber. Toss in as diverse a range of writers as Zane Grey and Louis L’amour in westerns to Dashel Hammett , Raymond Chandler, and John D. McDonald in mystery, to comedic writers like Max Schulman and Dan Jenkins. I could keep going, but that’s the tip of the iceberg.
How important is a sense of place in your writing?
Tough question to answer in brief; every element in a fantasy has to “make sense” to the reader. You can not condescend to your art because it’s “make believe,” so even though the place in which I set my work is a fantasy world, it has to feel “real” structurally, else the reader will ultimately be unhappy.
Do you spend a lot of time researching your novels?
Only enough to convince the reader the characters know what they’re doing. I don’t have to be the expert; I just need to be persuasive.
Do your characters ever surprise you?
All the time. In fact, as I get older, more and more often. I suspect this is a function of my subconscious coming up with better story notions than I had originally planned.
How much of your life and the people around you do you put into your books?
In specific, none of it; in general, all of it. The old saw is that writers write what they know. It’s like what actors call “sense memory.” You have to sell emotion and there has to be a foundation of validity or it will not work. How did it feel when you saw your book in print for the first time? A little disbelieving, and very pleased.
If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing now?
Probably looking for a job, given this economy. My last one was in the health field as an administrator.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
One of the great things about Feist is that you never get two dimensional characters. One moment you are reading this book admiring Roo's merchant manouvers and at others nearly despising his total lack of interest in his family. You certainly believe that the driving force behind Rupert is entirely selfish, but his wit and humour and in the end his brotherly love for Erik show that Roo has the capability of being more. Whilst the story concentrates on Roo we do follow the 'Captain' and Erik to Novinous again and whilst this is a relativly small part of the book it is still able to grab you by the throat and you just won't be able to put the book down until you know the fate of all involved. A perfect second book that adds depth and colour to the story and sets the stage for the breath taking action found in the next book.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
In this sequel to Shadow of a Dark Queen, author Raymond Feist takes us back to his magical world of Midkemia. Now that they have returned to the Kingdom of the Isles, Erik von Darkmoor has decided to reenlist in the fight against the dark powers that threaten his world, while Rupert Avery has decided to follow his original plan of marrying a rich merchant's ugly daughter and building a mercantile empire. But, life is going to prove interesting to both. Becoming a merchant prince is no cakewalk, and Roo will find his abilities taxed to the limit. And, the dark power rising in Novindus has not been deterred from its purpose.
Raymond Feist's Riftwar books were great, with epic adventure and magic, while his later books enjoyed a somewhat smaller scope. This book succeeds in walking on both sides of the street. While armies marshal and wizards weave great spells, we also follow the life of a man trying to build up his wealth and his personal life. And, I must say that it succeeds in doing both admirably.
I love stories of wizards and armies, and one gets a bunch of that here. But, I must say that I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Mr. Feist's tale of Roo Avery. I was captivated by the choices he made, both for good and for ill.
I am surprised to say that I enjoyed this book as much as I did the Riftwar books and Shadow of a Dark Queen! The action is gripping, grabbing you right on the first page, and drawing you along. Yep, this is a great book, and a wonderful addition to my fantasy library. I loved to presence of Boldar Blood, and hope that Mr. Feist will consider writing a book that develops the Hall of Worlds more!
I loved this book, and highly recommend it to you!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
After the introductions of new characters and the action in the first volume of the serpent war saga this initially seems an odd way of following on.
The focus shifts from Erik to his friend Rupert "roo" Avery who's ambition is to become a horribly rich merchant.
The emphisis of this volume is on Roos clever deals to make money, his loves and losses and struggles as he gradually makes his dreams a reality.
The main storyline is pushed to the back burner as it develops slowly as we learn much about the inner workings of Krondor, the capitol of the western realm.
A different book to the first volume, but equally as enjoyable.
The focus shifts from Erik to his friend Rupert "roo" Avery who's ambition is to become a horribly rich merchant.
The emphisis of this volume is on Roos clever deals to make money, his loves and losses and struggles as he gradually makes his dreams a reality.
The main storyline is pushed to the back burner as it develops slowly as we learn much about the inner workings of Krondor, the capitol of the western realm.
A different book to the first volume, but equally as enjoyable.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
FAB read!
Number two of this saga,i enjoyed the first book and couldn't wait to read this one! It didn't let me down it was a super read! Read more
Published 20 months ago by janpix
Moves the story along nicely...
Book 2 of a 4 part series it may be, but it advances all the story arcs well and is, in my opinion, just a good as page turner as all the others. Read more
Published on 2 Jun 2010 by G. James
Mr K R Northmore
The second "Serpentwar Saga" book. This book captivates you from the first pages, just as the first book, Roo and Erik have made it back to the Kingdom, Roo decides he wants to... Read more
Published on 4 May 2009 by Mr. K. R. Northmore
It's Feist but a little different
Rise of a Merchant Prince is the second installment of the Serpentwar saga and is quite different from the book's that Feist has written before. Read more
Published on 15 Dec 2007 by G. Peters
Unusual but flimsy.
This book is what it say in the title, it is about the rise of a merchant so it is light in battles and action. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2007 by plot hound
a bit slow
I couldn't put Shadow of a dark Queen down and read it all through the night, and I expected Rise of a Merchant Prince to be just as breathtaking, but all through the book, I felt... Read more
Published on 10 April 2006 by cK
hmmm..
this book was not as gripping or as action packed as shadow of a dark queen, but none the less i enjoyed it and hope the preqels will be just as good.
Published on 17 Oct 2004 by A. Farrow
Making a fantasy world as real as our own
Rise of a Merchant Prince is one of the more inspiring books of this author. It deals with two fairly ordinary guys who are caught up in extraordinary events, and make the most of... Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2004 by Justin Russell
Another page-turner from Feist
Despite focusing on Roo and his rise to the dizzying heights as the richest man in Krondor (if not the Kingdom), this is a worthy sequel to "Shadows of a Dark Queen" and... Read more
Published on 23 Jun 2002 by Kevin S. Aspery
A bad book that should'nt be under the title of Serpent war.
Now I don't understand why Feist wrote this book at all.It has nothing to do with the Serpent war, except for a few chapters. Read more
Published on 21 July 2000
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