| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Jaden29 |
Posted - 18 Jul 2011 : 21:14:46
Hi all, totally new here. Sorry, if this has been asked before. I am so out of the loop for the last 10 years as far as FR is concerned. I have observed many new novels being released through the changing editions of D&D, but have NO CLUE as to where to start. I read alot of the previous stuff in the 90's, from Drizzt to Elminster.
I really want to get back into it, but would rather go by recommendations. I know the spellplague events changed FR forever. I really don't wanna bother with "bad reads" just for information purposes, just because it covers some important events. I'd rather skip them and read a good novel. So....what are your "must read" novels that came out in the last decade? I am eyeing "War of the Spider Queen" for example, but am a little apprehensive because it seems like each following book is written by a different author. |
| 30 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| BEAST |
Posted - 26 Jul 2012 : 22:09:35
quote:
Originally posted by Entromancer
I do enjoy Salvatore's work. [...] I'd say his Hunter's Blades trilogy bears reading as it has momentous implications for the northern lands of Faerun.
To that, I would add The Orc King. It's basically Book IV of that mini-series, and features a wonderfully ambiguous political quagmire, intrigue, an escapist side-venture, conflict between tradition and pragmatism, and a thoroughly frustrating sense of realism that most of RAS's stuff fails to provide. I actually hated it when I first finished reading it, because it doesn't serve up a neat, tidy little adventure story and a quaint sense of clear, decisive dwarven justice. But looking back on it, now, I'd say that that was actually a blessing in disguise, and it has since become one of my faves. |
| Delwa |
Posted - 26 Jul 2012 : 21:14:26
I'll throw my two coppers in and say ditto on the two series by Paul Kemp. I also enjoyed the Return of the Archwizards series. |
| Thauranil |
Posted - 26 Jul 2012 : 20:53:31
I cant recommend the Haunted lands trilogy enough and also the Twilight war trilogy.
The Last Mythal is also very good if you like elves. |
| Gustafson |
Posted - 26 Jul 2012 : 12:22:12
I'd recommend Richard Lee Byers' books (Haunted lands, Brotherhood of Griffon), Richard Baker (Blades of the Moonsea trilogy, Last Mythal). |
| Entromancer |
Posted - 18 Mar 2012 : 19:34:33
I do enjoy Salvatore's work. If you're new I suggest the Sellswords Trilogy. I'd say his Hunter's Blades trilogy bears reading as it has momentous implications for the northern lands of Faerun. I can also recommend Kemp and Byers. |
| Crust |
Posted - 18 Mar 2012 : 03:06:40
I can only speak for myself. In the last 10 years, I've been thoroughly enjoying the following FR authors:
Paul Kemp
Richard Baker
Richard Lee Byers
Thomas M. Reid
Erik Scott de Bie
Greenwood, Salvatore, and Cunningham have been obvious must-reads for over 20 years. The above authors have really stood out to me since 2002. I highly recommend all of their books. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 14 Mar 2012 : 04:49:04
Heck, I think the first time I read it was in this order: 1, 3, 2. [But of course, I reread it a couple of times after, and in the right order. ] |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 14 Mar 2012 : 04:42:45
-When I first bought the Return of the Archwizards books, I was only able to find book 2 and 3. I had to sit on those for like two months or so before I was able to find the first one. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 14 Mar 2012 : 04:27:38
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
No love for Counselors and Kings trilogy?
I, personally, always recommend Elaine and Jeff Grubb and Kate Novak, before anyone else. 
But as the Sage observed, they don't fit into the specified timeframe.
Well, as he pointed out, the third book fits. But who would want to read just the last book in a trilogy? |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 14 Mar 2012 : 03:29:00
quote:
Originally posted by Dennis
No love for Counselors and Kings trilogy?
I, personally, always recommend Elaine and Jeff Grubb and Kate Novak, before anyone else.
But as the Sage observed, they don't fit into the specified timeframe. |
| The Sage |
Posted - 14 Mar 2012 : 01:24:06
Well, given the time-frame for consideration, only The Wizardwar would be a valid possibility.
The Magehound was released in 2000 and The Floodgate in 2001. |
| Dennis |
Posted - 14 Mar 2012 : 00:41:51
No love for Counselors and Kings trilogy? |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 23:35:59
quote:
Originally posted by entreri3478
Anyone know if the OP is still a member? Only 1 post logged 
It appears the original poster hasn't been back since that one post. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 22:13:12
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
Pretty sure the Return of the Archwizards trilogy is more than 10 years old, though I could be mistaken. I've worked hard at forgetting about that trilogy.
-The Sorcerer just makes the cut, having been published in 2002. The other two are from March and December of 2001. |
| Artemas Entreri |
Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 21:10:23
Anyone know if the OP is still a member? Only 1 post logged |
| Wooly Rupert |
Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 20:53:52
quote:
Originally posted by Copper Elven Vampire
The Last Mythal Trilogy if you love elves
The Erevis Cale Trilogy
The Twilight war trilogy
The Return of The Archwizards trilogy
I don't love elves, and I enjoyed the Last Mythal trilogy (except for the epilogue; but I've complained about that elsewhere).
Pretty sure the Return of the Archwizards trilogy is more than 10 years old, though I could be mistaken. I've worked hard at forgetting about that trilogy. |
| Copper Elven Vampire |
Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 18:03:03
The Last Mythal Trilogy if you love elves
The Erevis Cale Trilogy
The Twilight war trilogy
The Return of The Archwizards trilogy
|
| Yoss |
Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 08:37:59
Count me as another vote on Erevis Cale. |
| Lord Karsus |
Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 01:00:54
-At this point, ten years ago is 2002 (WTF!?). Dating back to 2002, these are novels that aren't necessarily 'must reads', in the sense that stuff important to the setting takes place, but because they're all really good:
Ghostwalker, by Erik de Bie (2005)
Son of Thunder, by Murray Leeder (2006)
Blackstaff, by Steve Schend (2006)
Realms of the Elves, edited by Phil Athans (2006)
The Best Of The Realms III: The Stories of Elaine Cunningham, by Elaine Cunningham (2007)
Sentinelspire, by Mark Sehestedt (2008)
-That's really all I can think of off the top of my head. I give all four of those novels 'Five Beholders'. Things that I've given four, I don't consider 'must read', even if they're really, really good. |
| Icelander |
Posted - 13 Mar 2012 : 00:10:56
I went over the list and I'm sorry to say that I can't mention any.
All my favourites were published more than ten years ago.
The best of the last ten years, however, I would say were Tomas M. Reid, the Scions of Arrabar. While still suffering the near inevitable ending 'fairy-tale syndrome' commonly evinced when a complex problem needs to be solved in a few short chapters, the storyline is still 'adult' in that it features more than just good and evil.
It has bad people, on occasion, but the central conflicts are between factions competing for power and wealth, political philosophies and cultures coming into collision and personal emnities being taken into the sphere of business, politics and warfare. All in all, closer to how I like my Realms than a lot of the simpler and more flashy adventure romps. Also, the bad people are sometimes really bad, for petty and realistic reasons, which is a refreshing change from PG-rated evil often seen in fantasy.
I liked Ed Greenwood's Knights of Myth Drannor trilogy. I enjoy Ed's idiosyncratic style when he's allowed to demonstrate it. It's chock-full of useful colour and details. As stories, however, the books leave me underwhelmed and while I don't doubt that the characters of the Knights have been well developed in play, the way they are presented in the books did not please me at all.
Characters ranged from uninteresting (Florin, Jhessail, Islif), underexplored to the point of feeling one-note (Torm, the priests) to a character that I would have been ashamed to include in my campaign, because she felt like the worst kind of faux-feminist claptrap, a character whose female bellicosity and pointless disregard for all rules, even the rules of logic and rationality, are intended to establish her a 'strong woman' (Pennae).
Also, and when I think about it, this applies to a lot of adventure fiction I read, but particularly that set in the Realms, every time that an established NPC in the setting rewarded or complemented the Knights, it chipped away at my respect for the judgment of that character. These 'adventurers' are not trustworthy agents. They are not even valuable pawns, because the thing that makes pawns worthwile is that they reliably perform their little tasks.
The Knights of Myth Drannor (and, it seems, about half the heroes of Realms-novels) are gibbering idiots who are still in their teens (or act like they are, at any rate) and every single one of their successes feels increasingly contrived. I don't want to see someone so blatantly unprofessional and ill-prepared succeed and any god or realm that cannot call on more competent agents to act in secrecy for them probably doesn't deserve to succeed either.
Secondary characters were much better and I always enjoy Vangerdahast. Just wish that among the millions of loyal Cormyreans, there were more reliable and trustworthy agents than a mere handful, forcing him to rely on what amounts to a Hail Mary! chance in every other plotline.
I'm sure Ed intended none of this, but this was the impression I got from what made it into print.
The Sembia series started off strong, with Ed Greenwood's compelling first story in the collection of short stories that introduced the Uskevren family, but unfortunately, none of the subsequent books managed to live up to the promise. Still the best evocation of the mind-set of Sembian nobles and the politics of Sembia I can imagine, though. Recommend The Halls of Stormweather for that one short story; "The Burning Chalice". |
| Dennis |
Posted - 03 Aug 2011 : 12:04:01
I should say all the novels by Richard Lee Byers, Paul S. Kemp, and Troy Denning. |
| Quale |
Posted - 03 Aug 2011 : 11:46:00
In the last ten years I don't think any are. I'm not sure if the 4e ones got better. |
| skychrome |
Posted - 30 Jul 2011 : 23:03:24
quote:
Originally posted by Firestorm
Songs and swords is not exactly "the last 10 years".
Dream Spheres came out in 1999 and it was the last we saw of it since they canceled her last book. Reclamation(Which made me soooo sad)
I still feel that when someone says "last 10 years", that is like saying "in ancient Egypt" until I realize, that I am way to old now to apply such a perception of time... *sigh*  Of course you guys are right, if the 10 years in question are really meant to be 10 years, then Songs and Swords does not apply here, though it is a timeless classic in the realms. |
| jornan |
Posted - 30 Jul 2011 : 03:56:41
That is why I did not indclude songs and swords. |
| Firestorm |
Posted - 30 Jul 2011 : 02:37:38
quote:
Originally posted by Fellfire
quote:
Originally posted by skychrome
Jaden, there is a thread on this here in this section. You will see there is never full agreement on this topic. I loved War of the Spiderqueen, even though there were some inconsistencies due to author changes. I really think it is one of the best reads.
The best series I have read is Erevis Cale by Paul Kemp. Then there is all the Songs & Swords stuff from Elaine Cunninham which is FR at its best. And lots more.
Just check out this section and the recommendations thread.
I concur with skychrome. Song and Swords are "classic" FR, and Paul Kemp's trilogies are the best I've read, well, since Elaine's work.
Songs and swords is not exactly "the last 10 years".
Dream Spheres came out in 1999 and it was the last we saw of it since they canceled her last book. Reclamation(Which made me soooo sad) |
| Fellfire |
Posted - 25 Jul 2011 : 03:30:34
quote:
Originally posted by skychrome
Jaden, there is a thread on this here in this section. You will see there is never full agreement on this topic. I loved War of the Spiderqueen, even though there were some inconsistencies due to author changes. I really think it is one of the best reads.
The best series I have read is Erevis Cale by Paul Kemp. Then there is all the Songs & Swords stuff from Elaine Cunninham which is FR at its best. And lots more.
Just check out this section and the recommendations thread.
I concur with skychrome. Song and Swords are "classic" FR, and Paul Kemp's trilogies are the best I've read, well, since Elaine's work. |
| jornan |
Posted - 22 Jul 2011 : 23:36:28
I would Suggest Reading Richard Lee Byers novel series in the order they were published.
Year of the Rogue Dragon Trilogy
The Haunted Lands Trilogy
Brotherhood of the Griffon
I would also suggest reading the Sembia Series (or just Shadow's Witness) and then move on the the following Paul Kemp Trilogies of the Erevis Cale Trilogy and then the Twilight War.
I would also catch up on all things Salvatore, because they are really fun and entertaining books to read.
There are quite a few other Gems in there, but these books are the real highlights to me.
If you do read the WotSQ I would suggest following it up with the Lady Penitent Trilogy by Lias Smedman. |
| swifty |
Posted - 22 Jul 2011 : 22:51:26
id recommend the scions of arrabar trilogy by thomas reid.also the cities series. |
| skychrome |
Posted - 19 Jul 2011 : 01:56:20
Jaden, there is a thread on this here in this section. You will see there is never full agreement on this topic. I loved War of the Spiderqueen, even though there were some inconsistencies due to author changes. I really think it is one of the best reads.
The best series I have read is Erevis Cale by Paul Kemp. Then there is all the Songs & Swords stuff from Elaine Cunninham which is FR at its best. And lots more.
Just check out this section and the recommendations thread. |
| Aulduron |
Posted - 18 Jul 2011 : 23:16:09
WotSQ is a good series. The Haunted Lands series by Richard Lee Byers happens during the Spell Plague, and is a very good read. The Last Mythal by Richard Baker and Troy Dennings Return of the Archwizards are also very good. |
