Rating: 
Summary: Feist like he used to be.
Review: Largely Entertaining.
Rise, continues the adventures of Roo and Erik after returning from their trip to Novindus.
With a strong warning from Duke James to remain silent about his experiences in Novindus - as well as a sizeable bonus - Roo leaves His Highness' service
to begin finding his fortune. After a disasterous first venture in Wine brokerage, Eoo finds himself in the cutthroat world of High Stakes commodity trading.
Meanwhile Erik joins Calis for another dangerous mission to Novindus and the home of the Pantathian serpent people. Where
they find indications of yet another evil, and this one has begun
killing the serpents themselves?
Like SILVERTHORN in the first series, this book serves to widely
foreshadow, what is yet to come. Introducing several new charcters - Including Duke James 2 grown grandsons -
and catching us up on others, the book is a wonderfull adventure from beginning to end.
For me, I can't wait for Rage of a demon king to come out. Where Mr. Feist has promised even more surprises.
Rating: 
Summary: A fairly well written Fiest novel.
Review: Rise of A Merchant Prince is the sequel to the great book, "Shadow of a Dark Queen." It is a fair continuation of the first novel of the Serpentwar Saga, but lacks the exitement of its predecesor. Shadow of a Dark Queen had more suspence and action to it that made it a great book, one that once started, could not be put down. I did not however, have that much trouble putting down his new book. While good it was not what I had expected of Feist, not the usual great adventure in the tradition of the Riftwar Saga. I recommend this book to all loyal fans of Raymond E. Feist books, and any who enjoy a fairly well written story, but that is all. I hope that Feist's next book is better and more like the first novel in the near-epic Serpentwar Saga
Rating:
Summary: Something new from the swashbuckling action
Review: This book is good, although lacks some of the action of the
previous books from the Riftwar and Serpentwar Saga. No doubt
for all ardent fans this should be the book to continue
reading but for newer people I don't really suggest this book as it may get quite boring at parts.
Rating:
Summary: Very Good
Review: After being used to the quality of Feist's writing, I found this novel to be not quite matching the fast-paced yet detailed novels previously written, particularly when compared to 'The Kings Buccaneer' and 'Shadow Of A Dark Queen'. It was refreshing to take a look at the kingdom from
a different perspective, namely its trade and commerce instead of its military situation, but I must admit I was more interested in the chapters concerning Erik and Calis' mission to Novindus. The impending confrontation with the demons is going to be explosive, and I cannot wait for the next novel.
Rating: 
Summary: this IS classic FEIST!
Review: The title says all you need to know...
This is almost exactly in the tradition of the King's Buccaneer
and Prince of the Blood.
Amazingly, there is a bit of Jeffrey
Archer's "As the Crow Flies" plot thrown in for good measure...
This involves the rise of a poor young man to prominence and fame
through the economic channels of trade and acquisition, with some
assistance from long-time characters and some competition from
others in the same position.
Your only problem is that you'll be dying to read the next book,
which isn't released yet!
Rating:
Summary: Fast-paced and involved...
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed this one. I couldn't put it down. The
chronicle of a boy who rises in stature and wealth is interwoven
beautifully with the dark, foreboding shadows of evil...
Again, great stuff..
Rating:
Summary: Brilliantly strategic
Review: "Rise of a Merchant Prince" is exactly what the title portrays it to be: the rise of Roo from a common person (who narrowly escaped a death sentence in the previous book and was merely friend to Erik whilst off soldiering in Novindus) to the one of the richest people in Krondor. Roo's tale is captivating and a refreshing change in the world of Midkemia. Feist, in showing the commercial side of Midkemia, portrays a maturity rarely found in the fantasy world. It completes Midkemia like no other adventure story could have. Roo's financial exploitives are realistic and believable, and Barnett's is more than another name to the reader - although I still don't pretend to understand options and futures, despite Feist's portrayal. Erik also continues to mature (in the military world) in this book and we are reacquainted with members of the Royal family and other favourites from Feist's first series. Strategically speaking, this book is brilliant: it definitely sets the stage for more: you just know that something (bad) has to happen to Roo's wealth, or at least to his marriage ... Roo's mistress, Sylvia (daughter of the other richest person in Krondor), has him completely wrapped around his finger. If all else fails, there's always the impending war by the Saaur or the mysterious third dark player ...
Rating:
Summary: A fairly well written Fiest novel.
Review: Rise of A Merchant Prince is the sequel to the great book, "Shadow of a Dark Queen." It is a fair continuation of the first novel of the Serpentwar Saga, but lacks the exitement of its predecesor. Shadow of a Dark Queen had more suspence and action to it that made it a great book, one that once started, could not be put down. I did not however, have that much trouble putting down his new book. While good it was not what I had expected of Feist, not the usual great adventure in the tradition of the Riftwar Saga. I recommend this book to all loyal fans of Raymond E. Feist books, and any who enjoy a fairly well written story, but that is all. I hope that Feist's next book is better and more like the first novel in the near-epic Serpentwar Saga
Rating:
Summary: Necessary Setup to Rage of a Demon King
Review: If Shadow of a Dark Queen described the board, Rise of a Merchant Prince placed the pieces. Rage of a Demon King played the game, and Shards of a Broken Crown put everything back in the box.
Rise of a Merchant Prince basically tells Roo Avery's story upon returning from Novindus. It details his coming to power as a merchant, and outlines subtext that will become the main focus of the next book, Rage of a Demon King.
I liked this book. It was a bit of a departure from Feist's usual fare, as this particular one concentrated more on business and political intrigue on a much smaller scale than we're used to with Feist. That being said, there's not much action or adventure happening here. Most of this book is a record of Roo's errand-running, as he tries to deal himself into the Merchant game.
You find yourself becoming familliar with a host of newer characters in this book; getting to know Dash and James better. Getting to know Arutha Lord Vencar better.
I myself had a difficult time coming to care for these characters. The recycling of names can lead to confusion about "Who's kid was this again?", and many characters in this book I just didn't like. I found myself wanting to be back with the original gang: Arutha, Jimmy the Hand, Laurie, etc. Even after finishing the Serpentwar Saga, I can't say that I find any of these new guys memorable. I had to keep looking back in the book to keep Dash and Jimmy straight; who was doing what. Both characters are written exactly the same way, and might as well indeed be one character. I ended up feeling a lot of that type of vibe with this book, and the books in the series that follow. It's as if the lines that define the characters have become blurred, and they're all the same person. It's just personal taste, and maybe I'm still sore about Feist sending Prince Arutha out like a sucker. ;)
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: That is when it finally got off its rocker and decided which direction it was going in(it takes a signifigant amount of time). I like Roo less than I like Erik so I found this book a lttle hard to get into at first. Than about halfway through the book I started to realize that the charecter of Rubert Avery was starting to grow on so I ended up not minding all that much. This is all coupled with the fact that there was some very cool "Power behind the throne" stuff, an approach in fiction that I have always been partical to. Overall-Thew most redeming quality of this book for me was that if left off at exactly the point where the book should have ended. You know, when you read a book and you feel that the book should ended ten chapters ago? There is none of that feeling here, I can't wait for my chance to read book 3.
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