The Silent Enemy

Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures: A Soldier's Quest Trilogy #3

by Richard A. Knaak

On the eve of his wedding, Nermesa Klandes uncovers a plot to kill Conan. And to his horror, he soon learns that the man chosen to do the murderous deed is a man whom King Conan trusts more than anyone—Nermesa himself.

Genres: Fantasy

288 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 28, 2006

About the author

Richard A. Knaak is the bestselling author of Dragonlance novels, the Dragonrealm and Black City Saint series (his own creations), six novels for Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo series, and six works in the Warcraft universe. He has also written several non-series fantasy books.

Reviews

[João Batista · Rating 4 out of 5]

A frenetic fight with Conan's loyal friend from Poitain to open the book... and another secret mission to Nermesa. After some ordeals, he has no rest to find out about another conspiracy against the throne, which takes him into a hot pursuit to the borders of his liege's Cimmeria. Legendary beasts; nobility's treachery - again; magic of the Gray Lotus; a glimpse of King Conan fighting his enemies... this is all worthwhile to end the trilogy.
Just one problem: the stupid reviewer revealed the plot on the back cover! We only discover that important part of the plot after some 220 pages.

[Robert Risher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knaak's work is like a two-handed Viking axe cutting a swarth through grunt bodies. He isn't delicate, he isn't precise, but if you know what to expect, he will impress every time. The Silent Enemy continues to build the legend of Nermesa Klandes, friend and body guard to Robert Howard's Conan the Cimmerian, and by book's end, his importance to Conan's kingdom is solidified through indubitable characterization that Knaak has proven time and again to be adept at building in his heroes. Plotting in the Silent Enemy lacks the endering quality of character development, but the action moves at such a break-neck pace that the book serves as much more of a summer blockbuster than anything award-winning. This book serves as well as any of Knaak's stories to continue my guilty fascination with his work. It may not be Pulitzer material, but it does keep me coming back, and the next time I see a new Knaak book on the shelf, I'll be sure to pick it up.

[Vincent Darlage · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked his descriptions, but he has a problem with telegraphing his punches - if a character treats the main character badly to start with, this character will be a great boon and friend; if the character treats the main character with friendship to start with, this character will be an enemy. Every time.

Also, as often as the main character is knocked unconscious, he would have suffered brain damage.

I do get tired of the accidental heroism of the character.

[Daniel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Last in the trilogy and I was glad for it. These books were ok,but as bad as I hate to admit it, they ki d of pushed me away from reading anymore Conan books for a bit. Years later of course I went back and read the original books again, and was amazed, as I always am by Robert E. Howard's works. I wanted these to be far better books than they are. The author, Mr. Knaak has written some good books, but these just, in my opinion were not him at his best.

Danny

[Randall Uerkvitz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This last book of the three book series was the strongest one of them all. Suspending your belief is manditory to enjoy the series.