TSR Code:

'Ansoain has been murdered, and her son Galimer taken hostage.
Druhallen, a young magic user, must avenge the murder of his teacher and rescue her son from dubious fate. But not everyone is telling Druhallen the truth.
Druhallen and his companions must brave the ruins of Dekanter to find a missing artifact....The Nether Scroll. Without the Nether Scroll Galimer may die. With it Druhallen may go mad.'

Other titles in The Lost Empires Series:

• Book 1 - The Lost Library of Cormanthyr
• Book 2 - Faces of Deception
• Book 3 - Star of Cursrah

This book is quite simply excellent. The main characters are a family of merchant/mercenaries consisting of the protagonist who is a wizard, his foster brother who is also a wizard, his sister-in-law a swordswoman, and her adopted teenage son who is a thief. They make their living on the road and are drawn into an extremely dangerous situation.

The characters are real and we see the Realms through the eyes of people just trying to make a living and live their lives. The author does an excellent job of making the Realms seem to be a real place and the concerns of the characters are those of real people put into their position. The presentation of the Zhentarim is particularily excellent and reminds us of the power and realities of dealing with the Black Network.

I highly recommend this book. Lynn Abbey is an excellent writer and I would suggest that anyone who enjoyed her other works (The Simbul's Gift and three Darksun books) try The Nether Scroll. I especially recommend this book to anyone who intends to play or run a low powered campaign, especially one set in Faerun.