Honoured Enemy (Legends of the Riftwar #1)

The first of a major new Feist acquisition, returning to his best-loved series. Written with Bill Forstchen, acclaimed writer of great military fantasy novels in the US. FREEDOM AT ANY PRICE? Hartraft's Marauders, a crack band of Kingdom raiders, are a special unit designed to infiltrate and fight behind enemy lines. They are currently heading for a frontier garrison, after a disastrous encounter with the Tsurani. Meanwhile, a Tsurani patrol is sent to support an assault on the same garrison. Both sides arrive at the same time and discover the garrison has been overrun by a migrating horde of moredhel (dark elves) and they are forced by circumstances to band together and fight as one unit to survive. The only problem is, who do they hate the most - their mutual enemy, or each other? As they make their way across the unknown Northlands to freedom, they have to struggle not only with the elements and their enemies, but also their conscience. For what is more important - one's life or one's honour?

This was my first book in this world, and first by either of these authors. It got off to a rocky start, with a few unbelievable scenarios in short order. For example, when Dennis Hartraft has his encounter with the Dark Elf scout while circling the burnt-out fort, the author tries to tell us that this battle-hardened veteran of nine years is recovering from his near-death experience and thus not so quick on the escaping part that his comrade urges him to. This really doesn't work. I did nearly give up on it, but it did get past those bits, and drew me in about halfway through. It still had bits that grated, where it seemed the author was simply trying too hard - "foot wrappings" instead of boots, "countenance" instead of face, etc - but these were small enough to overlook. I will try more Riftwar books, since I have them, but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone.