An inspiring novel by renowned fantasy author Raymond E. Feist.
Part one of the Empire trilogy, Daughter of the Empire is an amazing book in the way that it looks at the Riftwar Saga from the *enemy* point of view. In brief, the Riftwar was a magic aided war between two worlds, Midkemia and Kelewan, and is from the Midkemian point of view. The Empire books (others are Servant of the Empire and Mistress of the Empire) are set in Kelewan, and by the end of this trilogy (and I would reccommend reading the Riftwar saga first), you realise how pointless and confused wars are, and that a misunderstanding can turn into the bloody deaths of hundreds of thousands.
In a quick plot summary, this book follows the story of Mara of the Acoma, a sixteen year old girl who, during her initiation rite into a temple, is suddenly picked up by her house's garrison and taken to the Acoma estates to rule. Her family have died due to a blood-feud with a rival house, the Minwinabi. Mara is young and inexperienced in the Game of the Council (political assassination system), and no houses will ally with her for fear of losing honour. The honour code within the Empire is strong, and it is considered better to commit suicide than lose face.
Mara has to save her house from destruction by all means necessary, from tricks to marrying a horrible man from an ememy house, the Anasati. Her will is strong, and her goals noble. But can she really save the Acoma from annihilation and avenge her family's wrongful deaths?
Daughter of the Empire is a very convoluted novel, but don't be put off by its size. An excellent read, and a full plotline. /me claps for Raymond E. Feist
Read it!