| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
765 Posts |
 Posted - 20 Jan 2010 : 18:10:04
|
This story was just simply too 'alien' for me to enjoy it. Refusing to be up to date with the 'New Realms' probably doesn't help, but then, I believe any fiction should be self-sufficient enough to transcend any (lack of) prior knowledge about the subject matter.
I can only assume it takes place in the new continent that got swapped out with the planet Abeir during the Spellplague, but it was never sufficiently explained where the story was set. Being constantly bombarded with unfamiliar terms like “Dragonheirs”, “Dragonmasters”, “Dawn Titans”, “primordials” and “Abeir” didn’t help to ground the story, but rather alienated the reader further.
The main protagonist, Jada, was almost human, but not fleshed out enough for me to care if she indeed was or would become one of the fabled “Dragon-somethings” and therefore “On that day, the dragons of Abeir will tremble.” The other two supporting characters were cardboard, and only served to further the thin plot or verbalise some confusing exposition. I was not surprised that one disappeared (was killed?) to give Jada more ‘screen time’ as the heir apparent.
Overall, a rather poor story, from an author who has written much better work in the past.
|
Lost for words? Find them in the Glossary of Phrases, Sayings & Words of the Realms
|
|
|
The Red Walker
Great Reader
USA
3567 Posts |
Posted - 22 Jan 2010 : 18:42:49
|
I didnt think it was a poor story...it just didnt work for me. As soon as I read the words "Brown Dragon' I had a bad feeling that only turned worse when it burrowed into the ground to hide from the Ghost Primordial Dawn Titan(which is hard enough to wrap your mind around)...I had a horrid flashback to the Tremors Movies....ugggghhhh.
The Dragon born stonetalker's(now I know nothing of Dragonborn 4e style, so maybe this is normal) reaction, or lack thereof to his companion death at the hands of a Dragon, who should not have been able to enter the sanctuary and was only able to through the actions of this newly arrived human, was laughable. They were headed to share a meal in the guardhouse when Jada arrived, so one should assume some sliver of comradery yes? I would expect at least some anger or a reaction of some kind.
Jada was likable enough, given the page count...but needed much more to her background than just being the displaced adopted orphan, with an unattentive father and uncaring step-siblings. While this is a decent short story, There is nothing of the realms for me here unlike "Pieces" which oozed realms flavor. |
A little nonsense now and then, relished by the wisest men - Willy Wonka
"We need men who can dream of things that never were." -
John F. Kennedy, speech in Dublin, Ireland, June 28, 1963
|
Edited by - The Red Walker on 22 Jan 2010 18:43:29 |
 |
|
|
Alisttair
Great Reader
Canada
3054 Posts |
Posted - 11 May 2010 : 19:18:10
|
| I think it was good. My first taste of a Dragonborn in the realms, really. Nice to hear about primordials in a novel, seeing the Abeir history also. |
Karsite Arcanar (Most Holy Servant of Karsus)
Anauria - Survivor State of Netheril as penned by me:
http://www.dmsguild.com/m/product/172023 |
|
|
|
Kyrene
Senior Scribe
South Africa
765 Posts |
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Realms of the Dead - "Wandering Stones"
