| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Alaundo |
Posted - 30 Aug 2007 : 09:34:49
Well met
This is a Book Club thread for Storm of the Dead (Book 2 of The Lady Penitent trilogy), by Lisa Smedman. Please discuss the Prelude and chapters 1 - 3 herein. |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 04 Oct 2007 : 02:36:13
quote:
Originally posted by Zanan
Gravestones? Hardly likely. Then again, it might be a heritage or image of Kiaransalee's original world, where drow were still "just" (surface?) dark elves.
Good point.
quote:
Q'arlynd ... he reminds me to that elven chap who saves the Realms from the D'lardrageths. He also finds a lorestone and casts Elven High Magic "before his time" or rather, by using different means than normal.
I like Q'arlynd because it's fun to read about what his plans are, how he thinks things through, and how he reacts to setbacks. I don't like the silly stuff (ie. the high magic rituals), but I do like him for his personality.
Araevin, on the other hand, had no personality. |
| Zanan |
Posted - 03 Oct 2007 : 10:14:54
"Insects" was surely a wind-up for the Dark Mother, though I do have my troubles depicting deities (no matter which) playing such petty mortal stuff.
Gravestones? Hardly likely. Then again, it might be a heritage or image of Kiaransalee's original world, where drow were still "just" (surface?) dark elves.
Q'arlynd ... he reminds me to that elven chap who saves the Realms from the D'lardrageths. He also finds a lorestone and casts Elven High Magic "before his time" or rather, by using different means than normal. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 03 Oct 2007 : 02:36:05
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
To be honest, I'm not even sure the distinction would matter to gods . . .
True. It was odd seeing goddesses snipe at each other about the distinction between insects and arachnids.
quote:
I mean, do drow really use gravestones? That just doesn't seem . . . drow like to me.
It doesn't seem drow-like to me, either. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 03 Oct 2007 : 02:31:36
quote:
Originally posted by KnightErrantJR
I really did like the peek into Sshamath. Its always been an interesting place, and its nice to get a more in depth view of the place.
I liked it, too! One thing I do really like about this trilogy is how it gives me ideas, tells me about character lifestyles (ie. Eilistraeen priestesses) and interesting places to visit. I will never accept the changes that these novels are presented, but I can certainly enjoy them in spite of that.
quote:
Q'arlynd seems to have come into his own a lot more since he found the kiira and a place in Sshamath, which I like. He is more interesting when some of his plotting is paying off, at least to a degree, and it was interesting seeing him having some sympathy for the goblin. Also, it was kind of cool to see the drow view of goblins, i.e. that they are so savage and debased that they don't even worship gods (which we know is false). I like seeing what kind of cultural bias characters have.
Indeed, I really enjoy Q'arlynd as a character. All his plotting certainly isn't boring. |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 03 Oct 2007 : 02:28:36
To be honest, I'm not even sure the distinction would matter to gods . . . then again, I keep telling myself not to take the "Sava Game" aspect too literally, as I think its kind of a figurative summation of what has gone on in the book.
I mean, do drow really use gravestones? That just doesn't seem . . . drow like to me. |
| Rinonalyrna Fathomlin |
Posted - 03 Oct 2007 : 02:26:38
quote:
Originally posted by Zanan
She's been around since ages ... Monster Mythology, Demihuman Deities, or, to a lesser extent, Faiths & Pantheons are your friends. Unfortunately, the way she and her followers are presented here is, well ...
I didn't like how Kiaransalee called spiders "insects", and then Lolth smugly corrected her. I have a hard time believing a goddess would make a mistake like that. *shrug* |
| Kajehase |
Posted - 26 Sep 2007 : 17:30:49
That maggot obviously was none other than He Who Slithers In Flesh. A minor deity of well... maggots and other corpse-eating vermin, and a servant of the Kiaransalee. As for why he's in her flesh - it's about the image y'know |
| Zanan |
Posted - 26 Sep 2007 : 11:52:57
Regarding the intro of Kiaransalee, I wonder how that maggot made it into a lesser deity's flesh. Flesh that is about 30,000 years old ... so one might call it ... "very mature".
On a sidenote, undead, and especially some liches are depicted in tattered robes and all that. This stuff is - in 10 out of 10 cases - magical and despite age and all that, it does not rot. In case it does, even a lich will look after itself and renew the items (protection, vanity ... you name it). <- this is a general remark. |
| KnightErrantJR |
Posted - 08 Sep 2007 : 03:06:27
I'm not sure I can fully embrace that Vhearaunites would even consider entering Eilistraee's faith. I understand that the point is that both siblings wanted to kill Lolth and overthrow her, but I guess I don't see that it follows automatically that even a large number of them manage to put aside their differences in order to achieve this goal.
I did like the fact that there are Vhearaunite heretics that are "keeping the faith." And while I wasn't thrilled with the rapid shift forward in years in this book, I do like the idea that at least for a few years there will still at least be some heretics to carry on the traditional aspects of the faith.
Of course, part of me hopes that somehow the heretics are correct and Vhearaun really is still alive/existing, although that whole floating corpse of him in the astral does put a damper on my hopes there.
I hoped for a while that Wendonai would show up at some point in time, although I was hoping that he would have more of a tie to the Old Empires than to his "old employer" Lolth. In fact, while I figured out who the "warrior" figure was pretty quick, I was surprised that he ended back with Lolth. I hope we get some kind of comment on his misadventures in the Old Empires, and some explanation as to why Lolth gets "dibs" on him now that he is freed from the Abyss.
Oh, and why was Lolth's fortress in the Abyss again when Wendonai showed up? I thought part of the point of the War of the Spider Queen was to establish the Demonweb Pits as a separate plane. Its even referenced when Kiaraunsalee talks about her domain being upset by Lolth. I'm confused a bit by all of this.
I really did like the peek into Sshamath. Its always been an interesting place, and its nice to get a more in depth view of the place. I really liked the arcane spin on the slave market, and the place did have a different feel from Ched Nassad and Menzoberranzan, and speaking of Menzoberranzan, I'm glad to see it not get too much play in this series.
Q'arlynd seems to have come into his own a lot more since he found the kiira and a place in Sshamath, which I like. He is more interesting when some of his plotting is paying off, at least to a degree, and it was interesting seeing him having some sympathy for the goblin. Also, it was kind of cool to see the drow view of goblins, i.e. that they are so savage and debased that they don't even worship gods (which we know is false). I like seeing what kind of cultural bias characters have. |
| Zanan |
Posted - 05 Sep 2007 : 19:48:24
She's been around since ages ... Monster Mythology, Demihuman Deities, or, to a lesser extent, Faiths & Pantheons are your friends. Unfortunately, the way she and her followers are presented here is, well ... |
| The Red Walker |
Posted - 05 Sep 2007 : 14:32:17
Interesting...I have not heard of Kiaransalee.
Or a three-way Sava game. I love to learn new bits
about the realm, Can't wait to finish! |
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