Prince of the Blood
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Summary
Prince of the Blood is a novel by American author Raymond E. Feist in the Midkemia series, set roughly twenty years after the end of the Riftwar. Borric and Erland, the twin sons of Prince Arutha of Krondor, have grown up in comfort, lacking neither skill at arms nor learning, yet they spend their energies on brawling, gambling, and disrupting the court. When the King's son dies unexpectedly, the burden of succession falls on Borric, and Arutha resolves to stop indulging his sons: he sends them as envoys to the Empire of Great Kesh to convey congratulations on the Empress's seventy-fifth birthday, and secretly to test whether the two young men can bear future responsibility. They are accompanied by Baron Jimmy the Hand and Baron Locklear. Even before departure an attempt is made on Borric's life; inside Kesh the delegation is attacked in a sandstorm, Borric is carried off by slavers, and his companions, believing him dead, press on sorrowfully to the imperial capital. The story then splits in two: Erland navigates the Keshian court alone, while Borric escapes from the slave market, befriends the swindler Nakor, the mercenary Ghuda Bul, and others along the way, and gradually uncovers a conspiracy aimed at the Empress herself and at igniting a war. The two ordeals finally converge, driving the brothers toward maturity, honor, and responsibility.
Editor's review
菲斯特的“美凯米亚”系列以《魔法师·学徒》《魔法师·大师》起家，在国内奇幻读者中有一批忠实拥趸，而《血之皇子》正是这条主线在“时空裂隙之战”之后的续章。它把宏大战争换成了外交与宫廷暗斗：一边是凯许帝国寿典上的联姻、密谋与刺杀，一边是奴隶商队穿越沙漠、逃亡者沿途结友的公路冒险，两条线一冷一热，读起来节奏明快。老读者会为一众旧人回归而会心——吉米、帕格、加米娜都各有戏份，纳科尔这样的小角色更是全书最鲜活的笑点；新读者也几乎不会因为没读过前作而卡壳，本书主线自成一体，是一段完整的两兄弟成人礼。它不走精雕细刻的人物心理路线，胜在冒险、幽默与权谋的平衡，适合当作进入菲斯特世界的轻快入口，也适合老读者补完主线。
Who it's for
A good fit for
- 读过《魔法师·学徒》《魔法师·大师》，想继续追美凯米亚主线的读者
- 喜欢宫廷阴谋、使节出访、沙漠逃亡这类冒险桥段的奇幻爱好者
- 偏好节奏明快、幽默感强、不追求沉重哲思的长篇奇幻读者
- 想找一本几乎不用前置知识就能读的史诗奇幻入门作品
Not a good fit for
- 期待《魔戒》式厚重语言与深描人物的读者，会觉得笔法偏轻
- 不能接受青春期王子狎游、赌斗、情事描写较多的读者
- 只爱硬科幻或严格设定向作品的读者，本书魔法与地理设定偏松散
Reading tips
- 若未读过前作，可先看《魔法师·学徒》《魔法师·大师》，对帕格、吉米、阿鲁沙有印象后读本书会更有滋味。
- 留意艾兰德与博瑞克两条线的对照：同在陌生土地，一个在宫廷里学说话，一个在荒野里学活命。
- 书中人名、地名翻译各版本不一，读时以手中版本的译名为准，不必纠结与网络译名对照。
- 读完可接着找同系列的《国王的海盗》（The King's Buccaneer），故事时间线紧随本书。
FAQ
这本书和《魔法师·学徒》是什么关系？
《血之皇子》是同一“美凯米亚”世界中的独立长篇，故事发生在“时空裂隙之战”结束约二十年后，主角换成了克朗多亲王阿鲁沙的双胞胎儿子博瑞克与艾兰德。它并非《魔法师》两册的直接续篇，但人物与事件多有承接。
没读过前作能直接看这本吗？
可以。本书主线围绕两兄弟出使凯许展开，自成完整故事；只是帕格、吉米等旧人登场时的一些前情与情感分量，读过前作体会更深。
这本书是科幻还是奇幻？
它是典型的史诗奇幻：虚构的美凯米亚大陆、魔法、精灵与异世界“时空裂隙”。国内一些电子书站把它归入“科幻小说”栏目，是分类上的宽泛用法，并非科幻作品。
中文版是谁翻译的？
目前可查到的简体中文版信息有限，网络流传的电子文本未见公开可核实的译者与出版信息。建议以手上纸书的版权页为准，购书前先确认版本。
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