Average customer rating:
- One of the better series in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting
- Salvatore Kicks Off Another Great Series
- The team is no longer invincible
- Drizzt's past comes back to haunt him.
- The Drow Strike Back
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The Legacy (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book VII)
R.A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0786939842
Release Date: 2006-04-11 |
Book Description
Because of the friends I have known, the honorable people I have met, I know I am no solitary hero of unique causes. I know that when I die, that which is important will live on. This is my legacy; by the grace of the gods, I am not alone.
–Drizzt Do’Urden
Customer Reviews:
One of the better series in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.......2007-08-20
Series review: Legacy of the Draw
This series is a 4-part sequel to The Dark Elf Trilogy, which introduced the character of Drizzt Do'Urden, the exiled drow-hero swordmaster (and ranger). In this series, Drizzt undertakes an epic reverse journey back to Menzoberranzan, into the very heart of evil, in order to try to put an end to the hit squads and assassination attempts that threaten him and his friends on the surface.
I enjoyed the series very much, but it didn't quite feel up to the same level as the original series. Still, it's a very solid read for those who are fans of The Forgotten Realms Genre, and Role Playing Games in general. There's action and drama aplenty, and plenty of new information on Drow culture for hardcore gaming fans.
Salvatore Kicks Off Another Great Series.......2007-01-07
After finishing The Icewind Dale Trilogy I was addicted to Drizzt and his companion's adventures. I got my hands on The Legacy and was more-than-pleased. This book brings back Artemis Entreri from the previous trilogy and Jarlaxle from his relatively minor role in The Dark Elf Trilogy. We get to see a little more of Menzoberranzan and bit more of the drow way of life. The Legacy has all the fights and adventure from the previous books and you won't be disappointed.
The team is no longer invincible.......2006-12-19
The Legacy, the 7th book in The Legend of Drizzt (read in order, not by release date), takes the gang of Drizzt, Bruenor, Catti-Brie, Wulfgar and Regis back to Mithril Hall and facing Drizzt's kin, the drow, for the first time in the series. The remainder of Drizzt's house Do'Urden is out for vengance and attacking the dwarfs in their homebase is part of the plan.
Normally winners of almost every battle to date in the series, the team and the army of dwarves run up against a huge challenge in fighting the drow, as hardened warriors as the dwarves and much crueller. It is good to seem them challenged and even beaten in a skimish or two.
This book features the return of Artemis Entreri (did he ever really leave?), Drizzt's main enemy. Though their banter gets old (with Drizzt taking the high moral ground and Entreri the competitive) the fight scenes are well written as always.
Though disheartnening when it happens, the team finally loses its aura of invincibility as one of their members falls in battle (no name will be given, as I hate spoilers). This brings a bit more realism to the story, and hints at future strife for the team.
Not as good as the first three (Homeland, Sojurn, Exile) but well worth the read.
Drizzt's past comes back to haunt him........2006-07-25
In this first novel of the Legacy of the Drow series, Salvatore picks up the tale where it left off in the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Bruenor has conquered Mithral Hall and Catie-Brie and Wulfgar are set to be married. Soon after Drizzt and the rest of the crew assemble for the occasion, trouble begins. The few left in Drizzt's family (sister Vierna and brother Dinin) are tasked by the Spider Queen to capture him for sacrifice.
This story is typical of Salvatore's style, with fast-paced action and fight scene after fight scene throughout the book. As usual, this makes for a very quick and exciting read that you'll probably read in just a couple of days. With Artemis Entreri back in the picture (and fighting Drizzt multiple times) the sword play is top-notch and Salvatore does a great job of bringing it to life. New tensions between the heroes have developed in this story that were absent in the previous books that provide a deeper level of personality to the characters. The companions go through some tough times in this book, including Wulfgar being lost, but that isn't unusual for Salvatore's work.
Overall I'd say that this book fits in nicely with The Legend of Drizzt, and if you liked the others in the series, you'll like this one too.
The Drow Strike Back.......2006-07-19
Following up on the heels of the Dark Elf trilogy(published order) or The Crystal Shard Trilogy(chronological order) we have a return to what made the first two books of the Dark Elf Trilogy a success. The Underdark and the drow society. We also finally have a terminal change in the status of one of the formerly untouchable compadres.
What makes the book is the delightful convoluted intrigues of the drow society as Matron Baenre and a surviving daughter of Drizz't's house engage in an offensive against the dwarves of Mithril Hall. On top of that treachery add in the new character of Jarlaxle, a conniving drow mercenary owing no allegiance to any but himself and his band of merry men.
There are some weaknesses, character wise many of the drow suffer from inexplicable monomania which blinds them fatally to other goings on. The battle-rager Pwent, probably meant for comic relief proved to be only annoying, not funny.
The battle scenes as always are superb, and after the weak Sojourn it is a welcome return to the Underdark and some solid light entertainment. Unforunately, tragedy isn't necessarily permanent in epic fantasy which reduces the emotional impact as the reader wonders "Really?".
Book Description
Elminster's tower lies in ruins, and the town of Shadowdale has been conquered by evil Sharrans and the nefarious forces of Zhentil Keep. To drive the villains out of Shadowdale, the heroes must organize and lead a desperate revolt of Dalesfolk against their conquerors, as well as thwart the sinister designs of Shar's servants and the Zhent garrison.
Shadowdale: The Weave Unwinding is an adventure designed for characters levels 8-13 and is the second part of a three-part series set in the
Forgotten Realms, although it can easily be played as a stand-alone adventure. In addition to encounters, this book contains detailed source material on the town of Shadowdale and it's environs.
Customer Reviews:
Great advanced campaign.......2007-09-04
Finally, a well written campaign with twisted plots that actually come together. The Scouring Of The Land covers day and night scenes and best of all, in the winter. Based on what your group accomplishes you gain sort of influence points, get enough of these points and recruit the help of the entire town.
Great Adventure! .......2007-07-23
The second module of this trilogy is better than the first (Cormyr' Tearing of the weave.)It contains a lot of lore for the realms and Shadowdale. IT is like Red Hand of Doom, but with big NPCs attached to the adventure. The only complaint are the dungeons, to many of them, but as a DM you can change that with no problem.
Average customer rating:
- as I have askethed, so I have been giveth
- sets a great and believable stage for life above ground for drizzt
- BEAUTIFUL!
- A Great Conclusion.
- Enjoyable tale that brings Drizzt out of the underdark
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Sojourn: The Dark Elf Trilogy, Part 3 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book III)
R. A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Devil's Due Publishing
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1932796738 |
Book Description
Collecting the adaptation of R.A. Salvatore's New York Times-bestselling novel! Drizzt DoUrden has forsaken his subterranean home for the harsh unknown of the surface. The young warrior begins a sojourn through a world utterly unlike his own - and finds that acceptance among the surface-dwellers will only come at a great price...
Customer Reviews:
as I have askethed, so I have been giveth.......2007-07-20
an excellent book, all that I was hoping for in a great conclusion, and yet an amazing lead into the crystal shard book.
we have asked and Salvatore has given, a great book for one who loves fine characters, great plots, and above all, a good story.
sets a great and believable stage for life above ground for drizzt.......2007-02-23
again, enjoyed the book, nothign spectacular, but enough creativity, action, and drizzt to make it 5 stars. one of the most likable charatcers ive ever read about it, i like his silent sidekick also.
BEAUTIFUL!.......2007-01-08
The graphic novel adaptation of R.A. Salvatore's monumental Dark Elf Trilogy comes to an exciting conclusion in Sojourn from Devil's Due Publishing. Drizzt Do'Urden has fled from his home deep under the surface with his faithful companion Guenhwyvar, the magical black panther, always on the run from his Drow who wish to kill him. Despite the sun weakening him, Drizzt cannot help but stare at each new dawn in his strange new world. He comes upon a village of peaceful farmers, observing them from afar, and even killing the Gnolls who want his aid in attacking the small settlement.
But when a family of farmers is murdered, Drizzt is blamed sending a vengeful hunter named McGristle on his trail. Drizzt slays the real killers, two Barghests from the lower planes but finds himself on the run from McGristle, and a party of adventurers led by the Ranger Dove Falconhand. When Drizzt aids them in battle against a group of stone giants, Dover realizes that Drizzt is a friend and ends the search for him. McGristle, though, is driven by hatred and presses on, trailing Drizzt all across the Forgotten Realms. Will Drizzt ever find acceptance in a world that is conditioned to believe that all Drow are evil?
Devil's Due sparkles with the final part of Salvatore's trilogy. One of the main themes of his story was that pall of isolationism. Drizzt is not only an outcast among his own kind, but he's an outcast among all kind. He's constantly harassed and driven away by those who fear him for no good reason often times other than the (much deserved) evil reputation of the Drow. Andrew Dabb's script does a great job of keeping this a focal point of the tale.
The pencils of Tim Seeley, a great team of inkers, and colors by Blond are once again a strong point to the book. Outside of the confines of the Underdark the artists are given a little more freedom to open up their expanse and create a more vivid and rich setting for Drizzt. Fans will be happy to know that Drizzt's adventures will continue in The Crystal Shard and Devil's Due will be presenting more of Salvatore's work with their adaptation of his DemonWars series. Devil's Due pulled off another great win!
A Great Conclusion........2006-12-03
Sojourn is the last book in the Dark Elf Trilogy and a great conclusion. Drizzt, after all his adventures in the Underdark, has finally made it onto the surface. This book introduces us to some great new characters, one of whom will eventually become one of Drizzt's most powerful enemies, and tells us how he ended up in Icewind Dale. This book is a great note to go out on and leaves you wanting more.
Enjoyable tale that brings Drizzt out of the underdark .......2006-09-02
This is the last book in the Dark Elf Trilogy that tells the tale of how Drizzt fares in the surface world. I think its a great follow up to Exile, and really puts into perspective the challenges a dark elf faces in the eyes of surface dwellers that do not want to accept him. Once again, Salvatore creates memorable characters that heavily influence Drizzt's life. He learns and gains much wisdom in this book and I think its a necessary bridge to Icewind Dale.
Although I admit I missed the underdark, Sojourn is still a very enjoyable read. Salvatore presents the material in a very believable manner and we really get to see inside the struggling character Drizzt Do'Urden. By the end of this book, he finally comes into his own and moves onto bigger and better things in the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Welcome home :-)
Book Description
“Finding someone to finish a series after five novels from five different authors is no easy task. He’s got to be willing to find all the open roads the others have left for him. He’s got to do his homework, and quickly. And given the quality of his predecessors’ work, he’s got to be good . . . Enter Paul Kemp. Whew! Writers like this don’t come along every day.”
–R.A. Salvatore
The New York Times best-selling author of The Two Swords
THE SPIDER QUEEN LIVES AGAIN
But something is different, something her priestesses can hear in the winds, feel in their spirits, and for a select few see with their own eyes. The Demonweb Pits, removed from the Abyss to take its place among the lower planes, is more dangerous, more horrifying than anyone has ever imagined. Teeming with feral spiders bent on ripping each other to pieces– killing, eating, and killing again–the blasted landscape of Lolth’s personal hell is still forming.
Quenthel Baenre, with the tattered remnants of her expedition continuing to plot against her, crosses that spider-infested killing ground in hopes of answering the call of her reborn goddess. If she can make it to Lolth’s side, can she even imagine what plans the Queen of the Demonweb Pits has had for her all along?
The final novel in an epic six-part series from the fertile imaginations of R.A. Salvatore, and a select group of the newest, most exciting authors in the genre. Join them as they bring an end to a devastating war, and give birth to the greatest horror the Realms has ever known.
Danifae Yauntyrr, former battle-captive of House Melarn, has come too far to stop now. She has regained her freedom after years of servitude, but has yet to exact her revenge. Though she has gained much, grown in both power and ambition, and enjoys the protection of the powerful draegloth Jeggred Baenre, Danifae still needs to kill Halisstra Melarn. But how can she when she’s followed Quenthel and Pharaun into the heart of Lolth’s reformed domain, a hellish world of demonic spiders bent on eating each other, and anything else stupid enough to get in their way–including the chosen vessel of Lolth herself.
While Danifae wonders how she’ll ever take vengeance on a woman she left behind on the surface of Faerûn, the very target of her burning hatred is close on her heals. Halisstra has come to the Demonweb Pits with a very different agenda. In her hands she holds the fabled Crescent Blade, a sword she believes will grant her the power to kill Lolth herself–but only if they find her before she fully completes her own mysterious
RESURRECTION
The War of the Spider Queen comes to an end.
Customer Reviews:
Kemp's very disappointing ending to a great series...........2007-08-24
I was very disappointed in seeing Kemp advocates the survival of the least interesting characters (of males and females) of the whole series.
SPOILER ALERT:
I was particularly annoyed with Pharaun's end since he was one of the few character (maybe also Hallistra) I would have liked to read about in a future book. Quenthel's character degraded through out the last two books to point that she lost her stature as a Banrae. Valas was one of the least interesting character that emerged from the Bergen Dearthe (made me miss Jarlaxle) and as well as among the males of the group. Thank Lolth for Gromph making it through. He is probably the last enjoyable male character left in Menzoberranzan (especially with the lichdrow, Pharaun, Jeggred and Ryld dead).
On a positive note, I like to see more of Gromph in the future. Pity his character was always playing second fiddle to the Banrae priestesses in the Salvatore's Drizzit series. Drizzt might not had it as easy if Kemp's Gromph was on the job back then.
Good and then bad and disjointed - this final edition was all over the place.......2007-07-08
To start, I really wanted to like this book. In fact, for the first 2/3 of it I truly did! This book had me thinking 4 stars until it took a complete turn toward the disconnected skips and hops. The last 1/3 of the book doesn't flow well and feels very disjointed with minimal resolution. It almost feels as if he squandered most of the space in the book and then said to himself "oh man, I only have about 100 pages left and nothing is resolved! I better cram this stuff together and wrap things up fast!".
On a positive note, Kemp does a good job of describing scenery and specifics. I give him credit for that. Another element I did enjoy was the characterization and the fact that nearly everyone seemed true to character, especially Pharaun and Danifae. Contrary to some of the reviews here, I believe the characters were handled well and stayed true to form.
On the contrary, what the characters were doing and some of the results of actions were handled oddly near the end of the book. Without spoilers really...There is a portion that contains some form of "dream sequence" or foreshadowing by the priestesses Quenthel, Danifae and Hallistra where they see incorrect visions of the future or truly believe they are living the result of Lolth's Resurrection. Later you see that all of this was false and was NOT the result of what happened. This part didn't hold water and made absolutely no sense once you finish the book! I have no idea what Kemp wanted to accomplish with that.
The actual ending and completion of Lolth's Resurrection was not much of a surprise, although there are a few interesting twists. Its a shame certain characters had to die, although that is to be expected with drow nature and didn't leave me shocked or upset.
All in all this book had its moments, was really good up until about 2/3 of the way through and then just lost the connectivity and felt crammed in an effort to wrap things up. It could have been much better.
Dissapointing Finale.......2007-05-23
I hate this book with a passion. I hate it because it destroys everything the previous ones have weaved so carefully with blatant disregard to good storytelling. Why? Instead of clevery creating an unexpexted, yet clever resolution, finally paying off on all the setups, it squanders all its potential on the senseless killing of all but one interesting character while cheating the reader out of any meaningful confrontations. It's like in a videogame. Oh, sorry your party got eaten by a bunch of low-level, but numerous monters. In earnest. Only no pressing continue here. Paul S. Kemp should be put on the writers blacklist for this.
Here, good = stupid.......2007-03-12
This was a very disappointing ending for an initially exciting series.
1) No one familiar with the Forgotten Realms expected Lolth to be defeated here. However, at the end of Resurrection, everything is 100% back to business as usual for the drow city of Menzoberranzan.
2) I didn't expect good to triumph over evil, but that the good guys would at least put up a decent fight. Boy, were the good drow stupid compared to the evil ones. Halisstra, the divinely ordained champion of good here, was so ridiculously naive in Book 5 and this one that it's impossible to believe she survived to adulthood in a cutthroat drow city. The goddess Eilistraee, Lolth's daughter no less, gets the supreme bad judgement award for her poor choice of erratic, traitorous champion.
What's all of this complaining about?.......2007-03-09
I just finished Book 6 of this series and I'm wondering why there is all this complaining about people being disappointed? Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion and such, but face it - this is DROW society we're talking about - the ending isn't going to be like so many of these happy Hollywood endings we're all used to where everything works out in the end. I thought Kemp wrote fantastically well - excellent descriptions, especially Gromph's magical attack on House Dyrr, as well as the descriptions of Lolth's Demonweb Pits. And you can't forget the visual of Corpsehaven and Vhaerun's visit with Inthracis.
*SPOILER* Yes, I was disappointed when Pharaun was killed, and a bit surprised as one would think that Quenthel would have wanted him back in Menzoberranzan, but for her own reasons - remember, drow are by nature chaotic - there is no rhyme or reason for their actions - she left him for dead.
All in all, I thought the series was very well written, and having different authors made it more interesting. Again, this is drow society we're talking about, so it isn't going to be all rainbows and butterflies. In fact, just when everyone thought that Hallistra was going to stay with Elistrea's faith, then turned on her, that was a great move on behalf of the author, as Kemp didn't follow the normal "Hollywood" storyline template - he changed it up and surprised me. The irony of Halisstra's fate even further solidifies this.
To sum it up - great series - sorry it had to end. I look forward to more series (hopefully) from these authors.
Average customer rating:
- A good read
- Disappointing
- I Got It
- Very Bad
- Damnit! Why'd you do that??
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Blackstaff (Forgotten Realms: The Wizards)
Steven E. Schend
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
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Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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The Ruin (Forgotten Realms: Year of Rogue Dragons, Book 3)
ASIN: 0786940166
Release Date: 2006-07-11 |
Book Description
Khelben Arunsun, Chosen of Mystra, Archmage of Waterdeep, is as close to a demigod as you're likely to meet on the streets of Faerûn's mightiest city. But when the skies rain lightning and a long-forgotten city arises from the earth, he can seem like just another wizard.
Customer Reviews:
A good read.......2007-07-28
I think what I liked most about this book was the LACK of the bizaare, unique, characters that have been so prevelant of late in Forgotten realms books. No half golem humans, dragons that spend that the bulk of their time in human form, or exiled goliaths. Good old basic half elf wizard apprentice, her familiar, a human thief and of course a few Chosen of Mystra.
The story flows well at a steady pace. A couple minor editing errors, the worst of which was a paragraph that was printed twice.
It was nice to see another author's take on the Blackstaff. Mr. Schend did an excellent job, I think, of expanding this character without radically changing anything that previous authors have done with him.
Disappointing.......2007-04-12
The Blackstaff seemed like a hollow character.... only retained his good humor. Had difficulty in staying with the story line. Currently reading the other books in this series and they seem far better.
I Got It.......2007-03-26
Perhaps, because I tend to judge it on its own merits than comparing it to other things I have read. The Moonshaes Trilogy was crap, boring and tedious, IMHO. This, the first of the Wizard series, was not.
I liked Khelben since the first time I read of him in the Avatar trilogy, lo those many years ago. He intrigued me. More than Elminster ever has. As one of Mystra's chosen, I wanted to understand him and see where he stood in the overall gist of the Forgotten Realms. To be honest, I still don't know, but I do understand HIM better.
First off, Khelben has always been listed as a human in the character guides. He's actually helf-elf. He's lived much longer than we knew, and most of his long life has been in preparation of this one story. The one thing that does fry my eggs is that I'm really not sure where the end of this story leaves Faerun. Is his apprentice the New Blackstaff? Will she become a Chosen? I want more information!
Another thing I noticed about this series is that they all take place in the same year in geographically diverse places in Faerun, but they all seem to appear to involve some ancient empire returning to the surface. It was the only thing I could see that tied them all together.
Very Bad.......2007-03-19
Again, we see a novel written by a game-designer-wannabe-novelist, and again we see a difference between those two professions (notable exception being Richard Baker). Wizards of the Coast publishing decided to give some new names a shot with their series of stand alone novels named "Rogues", "Fighters", "Priests" and "Wizards", respectively, and I can say some very bright new stars emerged after that move, Erik Scott de Bie and Kameron Franklin among them. However, there were two total fiascos, "Lady of Poison" by Bruce Cordell, and this book by Steven E. Schend (although I feel obliged to say that this book is nowhere nearly as bad as Cordell's).
First, I'll say something about the few things I liked about this book. There is a good story in this book, if you succeed and decipher the entire hodgepodge the author throws at you. Besides that, the book is loaded with realms lore, but again, it is presented in a bleak and uninteresting way.
Writing style can't be called amateurish, but it is unimaginative, dull and tiring. The flow of the book is totally disrupted, never allowing the reader to get into it. Numerous characters are all the same, differentiated only by brief physical description, race, name and gender.
This book is all wrong. Avoid it.
Damnit! Why'd you do that??.......2007-03-07
4 stars for the writing. 0 stars for the story's end result.
The book's certainly not an easy read. I found myself flipping back and forth quite a bit to understand earlier parts of the book and discerning their significance. It's a complex but enjoyable read.
Author doesn't fill in all the details, and there's a lot that left dangling, but you can only do so much in a single book.
My biggest complaint however is leveled towards the WofC and whoever's in charge of the Forgotten Realms series. I've read this series since Waterdeep and followed the franchise since I was a kid. Why the hell would you kill off one of the best (and my favorite) characters in the series? Wasn't Azoun enough a few years back?
Khelben's been there from the beginning, and has always stuck in my mind since making an appearance in the Eye of Beholder games. It would be shallow to kill him off and suddenly resurrect him in a later story, as well.
To the WotC and Greenwood, stop recycling Salvatore's crap, write some more stories, invent some new arcs, and stop killing off favorites. You've pushed your loyal audience to the very edge of quitting.
Book Description
Swords of Eveningstar is the first title in an exciting new series by author Ed Greenwood, the creator of the
Forgotten Realms campaign setting. This series explores the youthful adventures of the much-loved heroes, Florin, Islif, and Jhessail, as they battle to win a name for themselves and then to defend it against the machinations of a more insidious and devious evil than they ever thought to face.
Customer Reviews:
Good Read But Too Many Subplots.......2007-07-12
Let me go ahead and get my criticism out of the way. Subplots are a big pet peeve of mine. I like them, but too much of a good thing is not always good. There is so much spying, backstabbing, and going about in disguise that I had to read sentences and paragraphs several times just to keep up with who was doing what to who.
I think a glossary of names and places in the back of the book or at least chart or tree depicting how the power or rulers in Cormyr is divided would have been very helpful. Also, a good old fashioned map of the specific areas of the Forgotten Realms in question is always helpful.
Okay, as I said, there are too many subplots to this novel for my own liking, but the main storyline is very strong. I think what I most liked about this novel is that we get to see these adventurers growing in their experience as the story unfolds. I believe the D&D players who enjoy starting characters at level one will really enjoy the story.
The main character Florin is a ranger of some experience, but the rest of the party's lack of experience prevents him from being as effective as he could be.
Even though I found all of the back stabbing confusing, I really enjoyed the base storyline. I plan on reading the second novel in this trilogy as soon as it is available.
Swords of Eveningstar: A Good Beginning.......2007-03-01
Ever since I first read "Spellfire," I've wanted to know some of the backstories of the Knights of Myth Drannor. So when I saw this book, I just had to have it - even at hardcover prices. I have been a fan of Ed Greenwood's works for a long time, and have read a lot of Forgotten Realms fantasy and gaming material. Therefore I was prepared for Mr. Greenwood's signiture style of writing. The story is overloaded subchapters where the story changes focus to other characters, sometimes in the middle of the main action. This can be distracting to some readers, and I would say it is the only real fault I find with this book. As a fan, however, I can only look forward to the next installment to this new series. As a gamer, I feel it was a great depiction of a band of adventurers on their first journey for fame and fortune. Lastly, I hope the next book, "Swords of Dragonfire," introduces my favorite Greenwood character: Torm. I can only hope that this good beginning is followed by an even better second volume!
The Beginings of the Knights.......2006-11-27
Ed Greenwood takes us back on a trip down Faerun's memory lane, showing us the start of one of the most well known adventuring bands. Swords of Eveningstar comes across more like a dungeons and dragons campaign, played in true Ed Greenwood style.
This novel (first of the trilogy) does jump quite a bit throughout, changing view point and setting, but that seems to just add to the book's charm. Greenwood commands his character's well, no voice seems flat, nor does a single plot fall by the way side.
The development of the Knights allows one to connect instantly with them, each of us has had our own Dungeons and Dragons characters, and a resemblance is felt. This is quite apt, since these characters are of Ed Greenwood's own Dungeons and Dragons group.
Yes, this story perhaps is the kind that requires you to take notes, following the twisting plot lines; but is that not the essence of a great book? One that you wish to pursue on a quest of knowledge finding more as you dig deeper. I personally found myself listing the characters presented, taking notes on places, ideas, that I could use within my own Dungeons and Dragons campaign.
The master of the Forgotten Realms has presented us with a wealth of knowledge on the past, giving us readers almost a source book with which to formulate our own fantasy ideas from. A must read for any Forgotten Realms or Dungeons and Dragons fan. And even if you don't classify yourself under those labels, Swords of Eveningstar still presents itself as a strong fantasy novel, from a master within his field.
Ed Does It Again.......2006-11-07
This book is your typical "good" Ed Greenwood. Like most of his books, there's plots within plots, but he does very well in not making them too twisted that you lose track. Like most of Greenwood's novels, it is all character driven, and everyone is fleshed out.
The Forgotten Realms from the begining.......2006-09-08
This is a good book and one of Ed Greenwood's best so far. He is the man who created the Realms and these are the adventures that forged it.
Now, you must be warned that Ed Greenwood does have an "interesting" writing style. It is a lot like watching college football on Saturday with my dad as he clicks back and forth watching every game being broadcast. While reading one of Ed's books, you might want to keep notes as to which, wizard is which ;)
Another good aspect of this book is that we get to see an group of novice adventures. Far too many Forgotten Realms books start off with epic characters who challenge gods and rewrite the rules of the game during the book. One aspect of the book I do have a problem with is the timeline Without any dates, it is hard to get a feel of just how much time passes in this book. It "feels" like very little time has passed, but judging by the spells being cast and of the area that Narantha traveled, at least a few months must have passed, if not most of a year.
Overall, a very good begining to a what I hope will be a very good series of books.
Average customer rating:
- Classic Salvatore
- The Underdark awaits!
- great series
- Another Great Book!
- Great follow up to Homeland, and another underdark masterpiece
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Exile: The Dark Elf Trilogy, Part 2 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book II)
R.A. Salvatore
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
Salvatore, R.A.
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Sojourn: The Dark Elf Trilogy, Part 3 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book III)
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ASIN: 0786939834
Release Date: 2006-03-07 |
Book Description
As I became a creature of the empty tunnels, survival became easier and more difficult all at once. I gained in the physical skills and experience necessary to live on. I could defeat almost anything that wandered into my chosen domain. It did not take me long, however, to discover one nemesis that I could neither defeat nor flee. It followed me wherever I went–indeed, the farther I ran, the more it closed in around me. My enemy was solitude, the interminable, incessant silence of hushed corridors.
–Drizzt Do’Urden
Customer Reviews:
Classic Salvatore.......2007-09-16
What more to say than, GET THIS BOOK, IT'S ONE OF THE BEST SALVATORE BOOKS OUT THERE!! LOVE IT, LOVE IT, AND LOVE IT!!
The Underdark awaits!.......2007-08-31
Exile is book 2 in The Dark Elf Trilogy.
Exile tells the story of Drizzt outside of the Drow Cities in the open wilderness of the Underdark. For the ten years following his abandoning his house, he is left with no one but his faithful Guenhwyvar, a magical Panther he had acquired in Homeland. He is also met with great dangers that he meets with the business ends of his scimitars. Struggling with conflicting emotions, which involve his failure in Menzoberranzan and a deep grief for his father and friend Zaknafein, he makes his way to the surface to face newer dangers.
As always, Salvatore writes an amazing adventure.
great series.......2007-02-23
just a thorughly enjoyable book, series, main charatcer. drizzt is very likeable and learning about the world he lives is very interesting and intriguing.
Another Great Book!.......2006-12-03
Exile, the second book in the Dark Elf Trilogy and a great follow-up novel to Homeland. Drizzt's epic tale only becomes better as it goes on. After reading Homeland, I was very eager to get my hands on Exile. So, the next day I went to my local library and checked out a copy. This book introduces us to new places in the Underdark other than Menzoberranzan. I finished the book and could not wait to read the last book in the trilogy. This book was just as good as Homeland and provided more insight into the Drow way of life.
Great follow up to Homeland, and another underdark masterpiece.......2006-09-02
This book follows well the footsteps of Homeland. It continues the story of our favorite dark elf and goes further than Homeland in the sense that it breaks out into the vast underdark beyond Menzoberranzan. While I thouroughly enjoyed this book, I did somewhat miss the house politics and negative energy that filled the pages of Homeland. Trust me though, this book does not dissapoint. There is still plenty of Drow deceit to be wrought here, and its told in amazing fashion by one of fantasies best authors.
The characters are well developed and very interesting. One of the most interesting characters in the book may be Clacker, a Pech turned Hook Horror that becomes an intricate part of the story later on in the tale. Zin-Carla is also an amazing "character" if you will, as it takes on a form that we all know well from the previous book. Overall Exile was a fun read that showed me a side of Drizzt Homeland did not. A Drow succumbing to his dark side, the hunter, in an effort to survive the wraths of the underdark without his kin. Recommended! A must read in the bridge from Homeland to Sojourn.
Average customer rating:
- Not Good
- Woefully average "pulp"
- whiney
- Grade: D
- Complex & Gritty. Awesome Book,
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Bladesinger: The Fighters
Keith Francis Strohm
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ASIN: 0786938358
Release Date: 2006-04-11 |
Book Description
They are the half-bloods, the broken, the unforgiven.
They failed themselves and their people.
They are outcasts.
Then, in the bitter wilds of Rashemen, they receive a desperate plea they alone can answer.
If they succeed, it could mean their redemption. But if they fail, a troubled past will be the least of their problems.
About the Author
Keith Francis Strohm is the current Chief Operating Officer of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and the Publisher of Dragon and Dungeon magazines. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of Pokemon®, the Director of the Roleplaying and Miniatures categories, and the Brand Manager for Dungeons & Dragons®--all at Wizards of the Coast. He is the author of the Greyhawk® novel The Tomb of Horrors, and he has written three short stories for the Forgotten Realms. This is his second novel.
Customer Reviews:
Not Good.......2007-01-17
Bladesinger features a Half-Elven outcast getting pointlessly involved in an internal struggle in the land of Rashemen. The book has two distinct parts, the Rashemen part (75% of the book ) taking place in year 1372 DR, and five flashback chapters dealing with main character's past, taking place earlier.
The protagonists in this book are fairly interesting, especially the main character Taen the Bladesinger. Actually, those five flashback chapters are the only thing I enjoyed in this book. It is an interesting but tragic story of his past. The author does a decent job of describing the land of Rashemen, and that is about it on the good side.
The plot is totally pointless, and the mentioned bladesinger acts as a sidekick for the most of the book. The plot has all elements of pulp fantasy: lots of pointless fighting, a silly romance, weak attempts of comic relief, villains that are evil just for the sake of it, and of course, a cliché ending. What this book does not contain, on the other hand, is a single plot twist, believe it or not. Actually, for the most of the book, I had a feeling of reading a transcript of someone's poorly written D&D dungeon-crawling session. And even the traditionally good WotC editing has disappeared from this book, leaving a number of plot inconsistencies and logical errors.
I still can't believe that this book is written by a single person. The difference between terrible Rashemen chapters and interesting history chapters is enormous. Unfortunately, the good chapters take only about a quarter of this novel.
If not for the main character and his history, this would have been a clear one star book. As it is, it barely gets two stars. Enjoy!
Woefully average "pulp".......2007-01-02
The villains are more suited to one of those Saturday morning kid shows that takes footage from bad Japanese TV shows and splices it with pretty kids in California who can't act. The pacing is so rhythmic and formulae that nothing surprises. Taen's thoughts read like the lyric sheet for an half-elf Emo band and his fellow angsty adventurers are as wholly uninteresting as the book's plot. Finally: Whoever edited this book deserves to be drawn and quartered.
whiney.......2006-12-13
the main character is whiney. the hero is annoying and their attemp at a love story fails. not a good book at all.
Grade: D .......2006-08-24
This is not a terrible book, but it's not great either. Is their a plot and was there and editor? Well, maybe a plot, it was slow, and failed to grab hold, nor did it make much sense, and what there was well used and done before. An editor, I think not, too many logic errors, the pacing was weird, the dialogue disjointed and insipid. Taen's close to the witch when she cast a spell at him, but he has to run across a cavern floor full of stalactites to hit at her? AND WHY IS THE COMBAT TURN BASED, IT'S A BOOK, NOT A COMPUTER GAME!
OVERALL SCORE: (D)
PLOT: (C-), CHARATERS: (D-), DIALOGUE: (D-), SETTING: (C-), ACTION/COMBAT: (F-), ANTAGONISTS: (C-), ROMANCE: (C-), AGE LEVEL: (PG)
Complex & Gritty. Awesome Book,.......2006-06-05
I found this book riveting and full of complex characters. The main characters are not your cliche heroes. They are gritty and rough around the edges. Taen, the main character, has a background that unfolds throughout the story that really makes the book hard to put down. His companions are not portrayed as deeply, because they are side characters, but they are also not your run of the mill happy go lucky heroes.
In addition to the quick moving plot and complex main character, the action in the book is purposeful. Not only that, but Taen's character behaves differently from major battle to major battle as he handles his own inner conflicts. Another thing I liked was that the heroes actually got hurt during battles - I don't think they came out of any fight completely unscathed.
In all, I hope all FR and fantasy readers give this book a chance. It features a main character who is very interesting, and I sincerely hope Wizards writes more about him.
Average customer rating:
- Give it a chance
- Unique and readable!
- Meh
- Good, but should've been better
- Excellence
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Bloodwalk (Forgotten Realms: The Wizards)
James P. Davis
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
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Shadowbred (The Twilight War, Book 1)
ASIN: 0786940182
Release Date: 2006-07-11 |
Book Description
This novel focuses on a sorcereress with the hellish magic of a blood magus at her command and a mounting ambition for territory and domination in her heart, and a ghostwalker’s attempts to defend a village from her seemingly inevitable success.
Customer Reviews:
Give it a chance.......2007-09-05
This book gives you a peak into a different kind of hero and although we don't learn alot of Quin, James P. Davis pulls off a good read. Beginning to end its a solid book. Give it a chance and you will be surprised.
Unique and readable!.......2007-06-09
I've been a Forgotten Realms reader for almost 20 years and consider myself very picky when it comes to the genre. I have found many of the new authors lacking when it comes to backstory and character development. However, Bloodwalk gives me new hope. Davis has created compelling characters, each with their own story. I look forward to reading more about Quin and how he came to his current "occupation." Another strength of this book is its uniqueness. Davis has created an imaginative story line that doesn't rely on well-established forms of magic,while still sticking true to D&D rules, in particular Morgynn's brand of blood magic.
Davis has made my list of authors to watch for!
Meh.......2007-03-26
I've read the entire series now and this book left me with a huge "so what" feeling afterward. The wizard, who should have been the main focal point of the book was one dimensional and boring. No plague needed here. She'll just bore you to death. Her pet was more interesting than she.
The Ghostwalker was kind of "OK, he's kinda cool" but he just wasn't supposed to be the main guy in the story. Honestly, I had to go look up Hoar in my Forgotten Realms campaign guide to remind me who he was. And the fighter? Granted she had more charisma than the wizard in the story, but that's like being the best Ballerina in Galveston.
To be honest, I didn't give a rat's patootie about the main character or even the supporting characters. It took me days to read and when I put it down I just grabbed another book without ruminating at all back on the story or the characters in it.
Good, but should've been better.......2007-03-19
"Bloodwalk" is the first novel of the "Wizards" series of stand-alones I've read, and I can say it's a fairly good one. The events are taking place in seldom-used Border Kingdoms region of Faerun.
Surely, the biggest quality of this book is the writing style of James P. Davis, its author. He really goes into details, and offers us beautiful scenes page after page. He livens things up with those descriptions, for example with accessories on a ranger's armor with a story behind them. Rich, detailed writing. Most of the important characters have detailed histories behind them, and one character, the main protagonist (wouldn't call him a hero) has a very interesting concept. The plot is OK, but rather simple. No unexpected twists in this one. Davis keeps a fitting, dark atmosphere throughout this book.
On the other side, the author does not delve into character motivations. It is one segment of the book which is totally disregarded. I mentioned above that one of the characters, Quin, has a new and refreshing concept behind him. Unfortunately, the author fails to capitalize on that, so it stays only a concept, rather than becoming one of the most interesting characters in the FR. The plot has a similar line to it. The author keeps a veil of mystery around it, and keeps you expecting something special. In the end, you get a really simple, predictable explanation. Otherwise, the battles could've been a little shorter in my opinion.
To sum it up, with a better plot and more space given to character development, this could've, or rather should've, been a really great book. As it is, it's merely a good book. A shame. Check it out, anyway.
Excellence.......2007-02-19
I am an avid reader of Fantasy, and I must say I was very impressed with this novel. I picked this book up after I completed Terry Goodkind's most recent volume in his Sword of Truth series. I felt like I was reading the words of a seasoned professional, and was shocked when I went back to the bookstore to find this was his first novel. Now of course I must wait for him to release something else.
About the book:
I found the protagonist, Quin to be very deep. The author has created an excellent veil of mystery about this character that keeps you asking for more. The fight scenes were creative, and imagery is very vivid and crisp. You truly feel immersed when following Quin's journey. This character has the potential to be the next Rand ( from Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time) or Richard ( from Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth ). I would like to see a series devoted to this character, part of the series digging into his past. It is his past that I find most interesting.
The antagonist is also very creative, I had never encountered a villain quite like Morgynn. The mix of power and terror she exudes is impressive. I loved the side stories and history that wrapped together to form a jaw dropping conclusion. Through out the novel I kept thinking someone has got to kill her off now, but the plot twists keep you wondering until the very end.
What really impressed me about this novel was that I was able to read it cover to cover, and never feel bored. Admittedly I have felt bored by many Fantasy writers in the past, so many build such a great setting that they forget to include any action except for the end. Mr. Davis distributes the action from the prologue to the epilogue while still building a rich plot with vivid setting and deep characters.
Five stars from me, I recommend everyone that enjoys Fantasy and Action to read this novel.
Book Description
The story of the elves of Faerûn stretches from the dawn of history to the battle for the future of a world in constant upheaval.
Customer Reviews:
Some good, some bad.......2007-05-26
As with any anthology, some of the stories in Realms of the Elves were good, some were bad, and some were just average.
The first tale in the books was "Traitors" by Richard Lee Byers. I enjoyed this story as I thought the author did a good job of exploring the conflict between the characters' beliefs and what they learn as the story progresses. The characters were interesting and the story was engaging. (4 stars)
The second story was the "The Staff of Valmaxian" by Philip Athans. This one started out quite good and really grabbed my attention but I found the ending a bit clichéd. Although it was well written, I found this story to be just average. (3 stars)
The third tale in the book, "Necessary Sacrafices" by Lisa Smedman, was my favorite. As others have mentioned this is a tragic tale. You really feel for the main character and see where his road is leading him, but still in the end you are left thinking "no that can't be happening" (5 stars)
The fourth tale was "The Greater Treasure" By Erik Scott de Bie. As Beezer mentioned in his review, this story is the hardest to rate. While the story started out good the characters' motivations were unclear to me. The dialogue was hard to follow and in the end I was left feeling a little disappointed. Overall, just average (2.5 stars)
I enjoyed the fifth story in the collection, "Comrades at Arms" by R.A. Salvatore. But then again I am biased as Salvatore is one of my favorites. I liked that the story was not just about the action. I think the story was a nice bridge between The Two Swords and The Orc King, but might not stand so well on its own. (4 stars)
"Tears so White" by Ed Greenwood was the sixth story and was my least favorite. All action and no substance. The story felt repetitive and the dialogue was not good. (1 star)
Finally, we have "The Bladesinger's Lesson" by Richard Baker. Although a bit clichéd at times, the story is well-written and interesting. The main characters showed development, which I think is hard to do in 50 pages. The dialogue was good and the action well done. I found myself eager to read what would happen next and wondering how the characters were going to get out of their predicament. (4.5 stars)
Overall, I gave the book 3 stars but would definitely recommend it to fans of the Forgotten Realms and fans of R.A. Salvatore.
Pretty good, I think.......2007-03-20
I must say that Ms. Smedmen's story was the best in this book, which is saying something considering I'm a big Drizzt fan. Still, "Necessary Sacrafices" is a deep, compelling story that grabs you and doesn't let go. Even after I finished the story, it didn't let me go and I actually cried for the both the seen and unseen tragedy. To me, all of the characters were tragic, most especially in what they themselves didn't see or realize.
"Comrads at Odds" was a nice character builder and sneak preview. I was surprised to see the development of a heretofore minor character, but now I'm anticipating him playing a much bigger role in The Orc King. In fact, the potential for this guy is pretty damn good, and I hope he gets used more even if it isn't what I want/anticipate.
Most of the stories here are about average to good, and the reviewers before me have mentioned all the really good ones. This book is worth your time, if only for the nice little fiction bites it provides.
Pretty Good.......2007-03-15
Here are my reviews of these seven not-so-short stories.
1. Traitors by Richard Lee Byers. I'm not a big fan of Byers' works, because I find his novels way too action oriented for my liking, with plot and character development often completely disregarded. I was pleasantly surprised by this story. A very strong story of conflicting loyalties. He kept a nice pace through all of 70 pages, and gave us a good ending. Indirectly touches the events in his Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy. ****
2. The Staff of Valmaxian by Philip Athans. This story didn't sit with me, to be honest. Had a promising start, by completely faded towards the end, which was a big cliché by itself. **
3. Necessary Sacrifices by Lisa Smedman. A beautiful, sad story. The idea was simply great, but got a bit drawn out. Could have been shorter. A very good story, nevertheless. ****
4. The Greater Treasure by Erik Scott de Bie. The author shows us again that his storytelling is brilliant. The characters are interesting (if a bit annoying) and well fleshed out. It is worth the mention that this is maybe the most erotic story ever published by WotC. Very good.****
5. Comrades at Odds by R.A. Salvatore. Besides some good, deep dialogues on the nature of orcs, this book also gives some flesh to one potentially important character in the upcoming books. A good Drizzt short story. ****
6. Tears so White by Ed Greenwood. I've given up on trying to decipher Greenwood, so I simply skipped this story.
7. The Bladesinger's Lesson by Richard Baker. While reading this story, I had a feeling of déjà vu, and that is never a good thing. Don't get me wrong, it's not boring or anything, but it really offers nothing new or unique. ***
As you can see, there are only seven stories in the 340 pages of this book, so you can do the easy math and see these stories are significantly longer than usual WotC short stories. I must say I like to see a greater number of shorter stories. The book offers a number of very good stories, but none of them are brilliant. They just lacked that something extra.
A very good anthology, check it out.
An impressive and memorable collection of fantasy stories and the history of Faerun.......2006-05-03
Compiled and expertly edited by Philip Athans, Realms Of The Elves: The Last Of The Mythal Anthology is an impressive and memorable collection of fantasy stories and the history of Faerun. Showcasing the storytelling talents of Richard Lee Byers, Ed Greenwood, Erik Scott de Bie and many others, Realms Of The Elves is comprised of such entertaining tales as: Traitors, The State Of Valmxian, Necessary Sacrifices, The Greater Treasure, Comrades At Odds, Tears So White, and The Bladesinger's Lesson. Realms Of The Elves is very highly recommended to all readers of the wonderfully heroic fantasy with a Mythal orientation, for those searching for a new and engaging fantasy series, and as an ideal introduction to the Elven world.
Decent Anthology - nothing really special (Except Ms. Smedman's story).......2006-02-15
Realms of the Elves is the latest anthology released by Wizards of the Coast and is set in the Forgotten Realms. Like most of the other anthologies WotC releases there is a central theme to this one, and that is Elves. This anthology is supposed to drum up more interest for the final installment of Richard Baker's Last Mythal trilogy.
Instead of giving a full review for each short story, which would take entirely too long, I will try to say a few words about each story. I will do so in the order they are in the book.
#1- "Traitors" by Richard Lee Byers. This is an ok story. For whatever reason, Mr. Byers can't stay away from dragons right now. Everything has to have something to do with his The Year of the Rogue Dragon trilogy. See his last novel Queen of the Depths for what I mean there. I had a feeling dragons would appear and they did. I was disappointed by this story. Average at best.
#2- "The Staff of Valmaxian" by Philip Athans. Athans was the editor of this book, so I am a bit surprised he found time to write his own short story as well. Decent short story here. As with most short stories they either grab you quick and interest you, or you have to drudge through and finish it to move one. I enjoyed this story, but not to the extent I was hoping. Slightly above average for this one.
#3- "Necessary Sacrafices" by Lisa Smedman. This story, I think anyway, is the crown jewel of this anthology. It was a fantastic read. It has a small compact plot, interesting characters and a very, very good ending. In fact I gasped at the ending of this. This story grabbed me right away and didn't let go the whole time. Excellent read in my opinion.
#4- "The Greater Treasure" By Erik Scott de Bie. This story is the hardest to rate out of this anthology. There were some things I liked, the Character Twilight for example and some things I didn't like, the character Yldar for example. The actual story, plot etc, is pretty good. I still think Mr. de Bie's short story in the last Realms of the Dragons anthology was better. This story does have some good moments though. Above average for this one.
#5- "Comrades at Arms" by R.A. Salvatore. This story is probably the most anticipated short story in this anthology because it features Drizzt. However, some Salvatore fans may be a little disappointed in that it's not the classic hack and slash Drizzt we see here. This story is all character development for Drizzt. Saying that other Salvatore fans will absolutely love it. Myself, I would have like to see a mixture of both, but that is merely my opinion. Very good story none-the-less.
#6- "Tears so White" by Ed Greenwood. There are few books or stories by Greenwood that I have ever liked. This proves to be no exception. I did not finish this story because, to me, it had very little flow and even less purpose. I will withhold a rating on this one for fear personal bias would cloud that judgment.
#7 - "The Bladesinger's Lesson" by Richard Baker. Mr. Baker does a very good job in writing this short story. He captures the readers attention right away and keeps the plot moving at a pretty good pace. Not only is the plot good, but he made me care about the main character in just a few pages. While I don't think this story is as good as Ms. Smedman's, I think it is right up there with Salvatore's. Very good read.
In my opinion there are four good stories in this anthology. Most are fairly quick reads, so even if you don't like them you didn't waste too much time at all. I recommend this anthology to fans of the Realms, but if you have no connection to the Forgotten Realms there are probably betted books out there for you to buy.
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