The short version
Years after leaving the Six Duchies behind, FitzChivalry Farseer is called back when the heir to the throne disappears.
Quick answers
What to know before you start
- Where does it fit?
- Book 1 in Tawny Man Trilogy.
- Can I start here?
- Yes — this is the indexed first volume in the series.
- Is the series complete?
- Yes — the indexed series is complete.
- When was it first published?
- 2002. Edition publication dates may differ.
- How long is it?
- 656 pages in the Del Rey US trade paperback (2024).
- Is an audiobook indexed?
- Audiobook edition details are still pending.
What it's about
A spoiler-light premise
Fitz has lived in seclusion for years when old allies and the Fool draw him back into Farseer affairs. Prince Dutiful has vanished, and Fitz is asked to find him before the disappearance becomes a political crisis.
You'll probably like it if
Pending.
Maybe skip it if
Pending.
Ways to read
Formats & editions
Print edition
Del Rey US trade paperback (2024)
- Publisher
- Del Rey
- Length
- 656 pages
- Edition date
- Apr 16, 2024
- ISBN-13
- 9780593725399
Edition details verified Oct 5, 2026. Page count and cover can differ between editions.
Audiobook
Edition details pending
Narrator, runtime, and regional availability have not been verified yet.
Sources & verification
Where the edition facts come from
Publisher, format, ISBN, page-count, narrator, and runtime details are kept at edition level because they can vary between versions and markets.
- Penguin Random House / Del Rey Del Rey US trade paperback (2024) · checked Oct 5, 2026
At a glance
Fantasy Index scorecard
Continue in order
Tawny Man Trilogy
The full series is available.