| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Simon Says
Acolyte
36 Posts |
 Posted - 06 Feb 2004 : 00:19:52
|
Note: I am no longer going to grade my critiques. Rather, I’ll tell people what I liked and what I did not like. I’ll express my thoughts on the story’s believability, character motivations, and overall storytelling. Most of my critiques are for people who’ve already read the book; I leave it to them to assign a grade if they feel it necessary.
Spoilers abound!
This is my critique of Thomas M. Reid’s “The Sapphire Crescent”, first in the "Scions of Arrabar" trilogy, a story about a noble family in the city of Arrabar, and of their trials, tribulations, and triumphs.
I’m going to begin with the bad. Not because I generally like starting that way---it is far more effective to “sandwich” a negative comment between two positive ones---but because this is how the book begins.
I’ll get this out of the way without tap dancing. “The Sapphire Crescent” had, in my view, one of the vaguest prologues I’ve ever had the opportunity of reading. After purchasing the novel at the local bookstore---Mr. Reid’s “Insurrection” having spurred me to seek his work quickly---I settled in for a before-bedtime read. After struggling through said prologue, I very nearly threw the book in the trash. Understand I am a thrifty person; waste is not my way. But this was simply *bad*.
I’ll tell you how, you querulous lot! Be still! But I must first outline the gist of what the author was trying to do. The story’s leadoff concept was brilliant, and I can see how Mr. Reid sold it:
A noblewoman is faced with a grave decision when she discovers her young nephew has somehow accidentally killed a powerful lord while playing with his crossbow. The young lad, Vambran, is wracked with guilt and fear; not only has he just killed a man, he has undoubtedly brought the ruination of his family’s noble house. The noblewoman, Xaphira, makes a conscious and monumental choice: she takes the crossbow, disguises herself, and “flees the scene”, thereby becoming the dead noble’s murderer. Xaphira is wounded by a crossbow bolt in her escape, but manages to board a ship bound far from Arrabar. Xaphira, we are made to understand, will not be seen again for some time, if ever again. Through Xaphira’s sacrifice, Vambran’s survival---and her house’s survival---is ensured.
That’s great stuff. But now comes the proof of the pudding. Can the author pull this story off?
If it were judged by the prologue, the swift answer would be a resounding “no”. And I’ll admit, most of my dislike is simple preference---the author and myself likely disagree on how to introduce characters. One way may or may not be technically wrong. In fact, technically, Mr. Reid is as competent as they come. Most F.R. authors are grammatically sound ... but the ability to properly use "countenance" does not a storyteller make.
Here’s the crux of it: we are made to look upon Xaphira as an extremely sympathetic figure. She’s making the ultimate sacrifice, giving up her life so that her family may survive.
Unfortunately we never really meet Xaphira. We don’t know her. She was here---and then she is gone.
The first part of the prologue begins with Xaphira knee-deep in trouble, blood pouring down her leg, crossbow bolt quivering in her thigh, hoping against all hope she can make her escape. There's no description here, we don’t see her---don’t really know who she is or what she does at this point---and for now that’s fine. It’s dark out, after all, and everything is moving fast. This part of the prologue ends with the requisite, “...thinking back to the beginning of the evening...”
And so we know, obviously, our explanation is coming. O’ author! We implore! Show us this woman and tell us how such carnage began!
The explanation comes ... but the “showing” does not. We were given the bang-bang Hollywood beginning; pacing dictates we slow the bus down a bit now, roll back the hours, throw out some ambiance, a picture of the calm before the storm. We do not get that. Mr. Reid immediately hits us with “Aunt Xaphira, I think I killed someone.” Again, not wholly bad, and it serves to keep a frenetic pace. Still, we expect to read about Xaphira somewhat, right? About the family? Where she is? Show us these people! Who are these people!?
It never comes. I was dumbfounded. A few small obligatory sentences were paid, seeming lip service, to the surroundings and to characters: a mention of the fact that Xaphira is standing on a porch, and that there is a party going on inside the house.
But who is she?
We don’t know her age until page 7, mentioned by way of mathematics (Vambran is twelve, and she’s fourteen years his elder). We don’t know what she’s wearing until bits and pieces come to us haphazardly. She wears boots-—-page 4; her hair is in ringlets and she wears a breastplate-—-page 9; her “uniform” (what?) has a sash-—-page 11. And that’s it! There is no other physical description to be found. Xaphira is long gone before I can even hazard a guess at her height, weight, body, eye color, hair color ... nothing.
Now I understand, this may just be a tool for a writer who likes his characters to be anonymous. I know people---readers---who want as little physical description as possible so they can “imagine the characters” in their heads (sometimes even placing themselves in the place of the protagonist). But if this is the case, it is poorly done. There’s simply nothing to even begin with. Nothing!
Worse, we know nothing about her family. It’s briefly mentioned that they have had “troubles”, and she “feared they would not survive another setback”, but nothing more revealing than that. Also, suddenly, Xaphira is a “mercenary captain”. This is not explained by way of back-story. It’s just tossed out thusly:
“How?” the mercenary officer said, clenching her jaw and fighting to keep her voice low...
I had to re-read. Mercenary officer? Where??
Oh! Xaphira IS the mercenary officer!
This is something I have noticed about nearly all Forgotten Realms authors (so listen up, curse ye!). It’s as if they tire of calling characters by their actual names and resort to positions and character classes (“The fighter strode forth”). And this is fine when used on occasion, helping to remind the reader exactly what kind of character they’re dealing with. However, if you are going to call a character by some form of title, you’d be best served by mentioning they have the title in the first place. Or at the very least near the beginning! You just can’t substitute “mercenary officer” for “Xaphira” when we have NO idea she is a mercenary officer to begin with. We still have NO idea what she looks like, and NO idea how old she is! Remember, we’re talking about “Aunt Xaphira”. For all we know she could be akin to “Aunt May”.
If it seems like I’m just hammering away at this, you may be right, but please, please understand---all of these complaints, ALL of them, could have been fixed with one simple descriptive paragraph, and one simple back-story paragraph. I’m not talking about a Tolkienesque ramble through the garden, or an in-depth view of the age of the wood that was used to make the porch. And I’m not talking about a dull-gray “She had auburn hair and blue eyes that blah blah blah” description. Work it into her actions or something! Just a sentence or three. Even the back-story paragraph wouldn’t have been that hard, for example:
By the good graces of Waukeen, the Mattrels were long known for their influence on Arrabar’s mercenary trade, though Xaphira knew this hold was tenuous.
Or something. Add whatever else, but stuff like this is nowhere to be found. Is there anyone else out there that sees this kind of information as necessary? Am I just living on a different planet?
Other prologue quips: Vambran speaking with a semicolon---poets and windbags do that, not frightened kids. Also, the introduction of Dregaul: too-obviously cast in the role of antagonist. Yes, his role as a bad-guy is diverted at the end, so he’s not the madman he seems, but by and large he is *still* an antagonist. Dregaul is peevish from the word go, and already on young Vambran’s case. The fact that Dregaul snarled out a “Pray your victim still lives” to Vambran---even before knowing the “hurt” victim was anywhere close to dying---was simply lazy editing, or a shoddy attempt at placing Dregaul in a bad light as fast as humanly possible. Come on, Dregaul hears “There’s been an accident, someone’s hurt” and immediately thinks a twelve-year old boy might be guilty of manslaughter? What the hell in Vambran’s past led Dregaul to believe he was capable of such carnage? Badly played.
I could go on and on about the prologue but I won’t, because it took away from what amounted to a good story. It really did. Thankfully I pressed on, hoping that I would learn more about the mysteriously there-and-gone Xaphira. I wanted to care about her and the sacrifice she’d made, but I really couldn’t.
On to the good (on the reply):
|
And the trees were all kept equal - by hatchet, axe, and saw. --Peart |
|
|
Simon Says
Acolyte
36 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2004 : 00:29:25
|
The Sapphire Crescent, Cont'd.
I love the main protagonist, Vambran. He’s a great character, well rounded and clever, driven by morals that are fueled by a childhood guilt he cannot escape. And he’s passionate! He’s possibly one of the best F.R. “goody two-shoes” characters ever to hit the page. I could read a dozen Vambran books and not tire of him. He’s the obvious star (what, you didn’t see the cover? Homeboy looks tight!), and Mr. Reid takes advantage of every opportunity to shine different colored lights on him, whether they be through a quirky gesture or in the simple six word description of a change in posture.
An example of Vambran’s cleverness: when we first meet him, Vambran uses a spell that not only A. proves his innocence, but B. identifies a dead woman and C. inadvertently calls for help. One spell. Great scene, cleverly done.
Mr. Reid’s action sequences are good. Visual, well-paced, and not too long; I never felt like I was watching something in slow motion. The believability factor was high, even when magic was in use (the “spitting acid” spell comes to mind---too cool!). I have a feeling Mr. Reid was gamer first, writer second (to D&D fans, believe me, that’s a plus).
Grozier and Bartimus are introduced well, and a fine amount of description of the chamber provided good ambiance. Bartimus’s detached demeanor was especially amusing; he seemed sometimes there, sometimes not, constantly having to be yanked back to the present dire circumstances by Grozier’s growling insistence. I was glad Bartimus was given the job of dealing with the “loose ends”. I looked forward to seeing more of the wizard, and enjoyed him whenever he was on the page.
My only minor complaint was the fact that Mr. Reid again threw a seemingly random adjective onto a character, calling Bartimus “the diminutive wizard” a page and a half into the scene, seemingly as an afterthought. Remember my rant about the prologue? Titles instead of names? This is nearly the opposite side of the same coin. Bartimus’s size (or lack thereof) had nothing to do with the scene at hand, so there was no reason to point out the fact that he was short.
Here’s a basic thought with regard to descriptive writing: this is not a hard and fast rule, I know, but I’ve read more than enough well-written books to know what is effective and what is not. In most cases, you have two windows of opportunity in which to describe a physical characteristic in an introductory fashion. Either A. at the introduction of the character (as any movie might do, taking the time to go over your subject like a camera’s lens), or B. any time later where the characteristic somehow plays a part in the scene ... for instance if Grozier had “stared at the mirror over the head of the diminutive mage”. It is even permissible to force a characteristic into a scene through circumstance (“Her copper hair was darkened to a deep auburn by the rain”).
Conversely, the mention of Bartimus’s pasty skin was well put, as it indeed “contrasted nicely” with the chamber’s dark décor. I liked that.
I also liked the way Mr. Reid delved into the politics of Arrabar, unwrapping the city before our eyes and letting us taste its flavor bit by bit, showing us---teaching us---the city’s heartbeat. The way he slowly revealed the workings of Arrabar’s strange magical laws is a prime example, as well as faithfully using “bells” to denote time. I enjoyed the lesson! One of the author’s strengths (noted from “Insurrection”) is his ability to give a casual glimpse into the workings of politics and give something just enough mention to make us ponder it---and then moving away until something comes up that necessitates us looking at it again, closer.
Arrabar reminds me of Venice---without all the water and the gondolas. I love the thrum it gives off. When Mr. Reid takes the time for descriptive prose, he’s in the same league as Richard Lee Byers (though with less trips to the dictionary or the copy of “Architecture for Dummies”).
Other characters:
Emriana. I liked her as well; a Thazienne with girlish quirks (Hell, I love Tazi too---maybe I just like the thought of rich girls sneaking out after dark and doing roguish things). Who says men can’t write girls? The scene where her birthday party unfolded was marvelously done; I was enchanted by the slow wonderment of it all, knowing full well it would likely all crumble, ending in trouble by night’s end (which it did).
Denrick. Another passionate, colorful, mercurial man, and a better antagonist than Dregaul. A pity he’s dead now. With the next book we’ll have to see what this so-called “Junce Roundface” has to offer (I don’t normally like to critique name choices, but ... uh ... ).
Evester. A good “thinking man’s” villain. When he was first introduced I made a mental note: watch that boy! I promptly forgot and was rewarded at the book’s end. I wanted to insert James Earl Jones’s voice: “Now *I* am the master.”
Interesting and odd point: Chapter three opened with, “You’re teating me like I’m five!” Do mothers still “teat” their children at that age? One would hope Emriana’d been weaned at least before completing her terrible twos. ;)
I have high hopes for “The Ruby Guardian”, as well as a few wishes (though isn’t it practically finished? Ah, well ...): Vambran was said to like “wenching and fighting”. We saw the fighting---so how about a little woman trouble to show us he can make a mistake or four! Also, more of Emriana!
All in all, I liked this book, and recommend it. Mr. Reid has a fine eye for action and is a master at showing us the underbelly of noble politics. It reminded me in many ways of the Sembia series---one of the very best the Forgotten Realms has to offer.
His characters are quite good ... even if it is my opinion he could introduce them to us better.
Good book! Just skip the prologue.
Simon Says
|
And the trees were all kept equal - by hatchet, axe, and saw. --Peart |
 |
|
|
Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2004 : 09:29:10
|
Well I much prefered your second post, Simon 
As I mentioned in another post somewhere, I LOVED The Sapphire Crescent and it immediately went to be one of my all-time favorite FR novels! The flavor was excellent and all the characters were portrayed very well. I totally disagree in your points regarding the prologue, it got me hooked straight away and set the right atmosphere for that particular scene.
One point you raised, which was the only thing that make me whince, was a characters name, none other than Junce Roundface! ARGH! Maybe Thomas had borrowed RAS's Book of Ridiculous Names 
An amazing novel, VERY highly recommended  |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
|
|
|
|
Simon Says
Acolyte
36 Posts |
Posted - 06 Feb 2004 : 18:15:29
|
I'm actually more willing to give Mr. Reid a pass on "Junce (rhymes with "dunce"?) Roundface" than I am the prologue. Perhaps his face is ... I dunno ... round.
And I'd be willing to debate the habit of Mr. Reid---and other F.R. authors, for he is not the only one---on the merits of a skeletal descriptive introduction.
I'm not sure if I'm in the minority or not; it's entirely possible people don't *mind* not knowing the approximate age, etc., of their protagonists.
But for me, it was quite confusing. I just couldn't picture Xaphira at all. |
And the trees were all kept equal - by hatchet, axe, and saw. --Peart |
|
|
|
Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2004 : 00:20:20
|
Simon,
Thanks for your comments about The Sapphire Crescent. You raise some really interesting and valid points. I'll have to reread the prologue again and examine it with a critical eye toward description (I try to be cognizant of such when I'm writing, so I'll have to see if I indeed fell short this time around).
In all honesty, I was attempting to go for a more mysterious feel to this particular beginning, rather than the traditional straightforward Swords & Sorcery beginning many similar books are known for. I wanted you to wonder what was going on; I was trying to get you curious without actually letting you know much; perhaps the approach just didn't appeal to you. Either way, I'm glad you stuck with the book enough to get into the parts that did appeal, and I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed the story overall.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
Edited by - Thomas M. Reid on 07 Feb 2004 01:00:41 |
|
|
|
Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2004 : 10:11:48
|
quote:
Originally posted by Thomas M. Reid
In all honesty, I was attempting to go for a more mysterious feel to this particular beginning, rather than the traditional straightforward Swords & Sorcery beginning many similar books are known for. I wanted you to wonder what was going on; I was trying to get you curious without actually letting you know much; perhaps the approach just didn't appeal to you. Either way, I'm glad you stuck with the book enough to get into the parts that did appeal, and I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed the story overall.
Thomas
Exactly! The opening did just this for me! I started reading The Sapphire Crescent the minute I bought a copy, and after reading the prologue and first chapter I called a fellow FR fan who was also reading the novel, to discuss the opening...... we were both full of praise, the opening was very well done in a way of mystery and suspense.... ir certainly got our hearts pounding in anticipation!
As I said in a previous post today..... you cant please everyone all of the time...... but you definately pleased ME, ALL through the story, Thomas
Bring forth The Ruby Guardian!! |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
|
|
|
|
SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 07 Feb 2004 : 17:32:15
|
quote:
Originally posted by Rad
Bring forth The Ruby Guardian!!
Amen! It's so nice to see, based upon the three novels of his that I've read, that Mr. Reid knows how to write intrigue and suspense. I haven't always encountered those traits in fantasy novels or at least haven't always encountered them done well.
Leave it to a fellow Texan to do this and one with cats at that! |
|
|
|
Simon Says
Acolyte
36 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2004 : 03:25:31
|
I'm extremely glad my review was taken at face value and not as an attack. Thank you, Mr. Reid, for your response, and for the insight on what you were trying to accomplish.
It remains Rad's view---and the views of many others---that you accomplished what you set out to do, and if majority rules, then ... well, there you go. No harm, no foul.
I'm not sure I made this clear, but I thought the very beginning of the prologue, with Xaphira bleeing in the alley, was quite effective. It was dark, chaos all around, etc. No need to go into deeper description at that moment; Xaphira hasn't the time for it and neither do we.
(And here comes the Monday Morning Quarterback) What I might have done in the scene where Xaphira stood upon the porch was linger a bit. You've got your "fast start" with the alley scene. You could have slowed it down a bit, lingered on her thoughts, maybe a short description and a short-but-straight (something) about the Mattrels.
Starting the second part of the prologue with the equally fast "I think I killed someone", you opt for maintaining a frenetic pace rather than providing information. For me, that missing information was needed to understand her motivations and to understand the family. In a sense, I felt as if I should have already KNOWN Xaphira was a mercenary officer---like this was actually the second book in the series rather than the introduction. As it was, that information snuck up on me, as did the fact that she wore a breastplate, and that she was an officer. Once again: "Aunt Xaphira" could have been an elderly woman! "Aunt May"!
But, well, if it's good enough for Rad & co., then that's the consensus. You can't please all of us all of the time!
Question for Mr. Reid: were there any character changes requested by WotC editors? How much changed between initial concept and final printing? I'm curious.
Thanks again!
|
And the trees were all kept equal - by hatchet, axe, and saw. --Peart |
|
|
|
Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 08 Feb 2004 : 22:27:58
|
quote:
Originally posted by Simon Says
I'm extremely glad my review was taken at face value and not as an attack. Thank you, Mr. Reid, for your response, and for the insight on what you were trying to accomplish.
Always happy to engage in a reasonable discussion, whether I agree with a point of view or not. 
quote:
It remains Rad's view---and the views of many others---that you accomplished what you set out to do, and if majority rules, then ... well, there you go. No harm, no foul.
I don't think any individual should gauge a book's success on majority rule. Read what pleases you, skip what doesn't, and be happy with how you're being entertained. That's the whole point, after all.
Even then, beware the danger of assuming an author's body of work is all the same based on even two or three examples. It's possible that most of my prose suits you just fine, and the prologue of The Sapphire Crescent just caught you wrong. It's also possible that you don't particularly care for the methods I use to describe characters. Certainly, my writing style and level of polish is going to migrate (hopefully for the better) with every new book I write, because I learn something along the way each time. Thus, assuming that what you get from the very first thing I had published to Novel #10 isn't necessarily sound reasoning.
quote:
Question for Mr. Reid: were there any character changes requested by WotC editors? How much changed between initial concept and final printing? I'm curious.
Not really, no. There were some very minor adjustments I ended up making to better suit a scene or situation, but the overall concepts were firmly established with the first draft and stayed that way through to the end.
Of course, that doesn't mean I won't have a sudden inspiration somewhere down the line and throw a wrinkle in where it wasn't before, but if that happens, I'll never tell. I writer's gotta maintain his mystique, after all.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
|
|
|
Lina
Senior Scribe
Australia
469 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2004 : 02:48:58
|
| I just bought this book yesterday and I didn't really read your posts Simon as I don't want to ruin it for myself. I hope it's as good as Rad says it is. |
“Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows! Buried in the flow of time. In thy great name. I pledge myself to darkness. All the fools who stand in our way shall be destroyed…by the power you and I possess! DRAGON SLAVE!!!”
"Thieves? Ah, such an ugly word... look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant."
-Oglar the Thieflord |
|
|
|
SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 14 Feb 2004 : 04:03:42
|
quote:
Originally posted by Lina
I just bought this book yesterday and I didn't really read your posts Simon as I don't want to ruin it for myself. I hope it's as good as Rad says it is.
It's very good in my opinion and please let us know what you think of the novel once you finish reading it. |
|
|
|
Lina
Senior Scribe
Australia
469 Posts |
Posted - 15 Feb 2004 : 04:03:01
|
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
quote:
Originally posted by Lina
I just bought this book yesterday and I didn't really read your posts Simon as I don't want to ruin it for myself. I hope it's as good as Rad says it is.
It's very good in my opinion and please let us know what you think of the novel once you finish reading it.
Maybe a while since I'm currently tackling The Legacy of the Drow. It's taken me 3 weeks to get to the last book in the series. |
“Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows! Buried in the flow of time. In thy great name. I pledge myself to darkness. All the fools who stand in our way shall be destroyed…by the power you and I possess! DRAGON SLAVE!!!”
"Thieves? Ah, such an ugly word... look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant."
-Oglar the Thieflord |
|
|
|
Simon Says
Acolyte
36 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2004 : 21:12:01
|
"The Sapphire Crescent" is a fine, fine read---so long as you get through the prologue. If the beginning makes you scratch your head, just push through, for there is a wealth of good stuff starting with chapter one!
Persevere, Lina! ;)
Seriously, it's a good book. And if you like the style, the Sembia series is equally good.
Simon Says |
And the trees were all kept equal - by hatchet, axe, and saw. --Peart |
|
|
|
Demonwise
Acolyte
29 Posts |
Posted - 16 Feb 2004 : 23:43:41
|
Well, now I have finished the copy I bought.
Too soon.
I was swept with the story, brought along with the frantic pace - and loving it! I'm glad I didn't get to know more of Xaphire, for I wanted her to stay mysterious. I think the hurried start of the book settled that the story was serius, dangerous and full of intrigue. If an innocent had to sacrifice because of an accident, there must be some fear for the higher powers? This wealth-based scheaming and plotting intrigued me!
And as we got further into the story, I was more than delighted! Ayadar and the other sergeant (sorry slipped my mind) were incredibly good for me, as they and Vambran showed an admirable friendship, that I could really relate with. I enjoyed those scenes the most--
Just after the scenes where we got to see Bartimus wringe under his masters gaze, plotting to kill our betrusted hero. That worked for me too!
The whole story did. It was not as epic as most stories I've been reading lately, and that got me excited too. There were no goblin horde, or orcish warlord, just a Lieutenant who wanted to wash his plate clean of guilt, by following his moral callings.
Loved the book!
|
|
|
|
Adrian Moonbow
Seeker
Denmark
64 Posts |
Posted - 17 Feb 2004 : 09:52:08
|
I was impressed with all the intrigue and the plot twists. I was surprised by all the loose ends being tied up at the end of the book. I would have let them hanging for the next installment, but it makes the book work as a stand alone novel (although I wouldn't leave it at that)!
Great work Thomas. |
"I would have wanted not to die.
I would have wanted never to grow up!"
-Quidam
|
|
|
|
SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2004 : 16:15:09
|
Any other scribes reading this fine novel again in anticipation of The Ruby Guardian's upcoming release?
I just started the reread last night and found myself, again, longing for a new regional supplement forcusing on this region. |
|
|
|
Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 14 Oct 2004 : 16:31:55
|
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusBlack
Any other scribes reading this fine novel again in anticipation of The Ruby Guardian's upcoming release?
I just started the reread last night and found myself, again, longing for a new regional supplement forcusing on this region.
I haven't read it since the initial time but i'll certainly read it again in a couple of years time when the trilogy has been wrapped up. I'm very excited about The Ruby Guardian and likewise would love a sourcebook for this. I've always hoped (another wishlist item), that WotC would release a product showing plans and paths of certain novels, much in the way that they did in the FR Atlas. Of course, with their view over novels being canon, I doubt it will ever happen |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
|
|
|
|
Lina
Senior Scribe
Australia
469 Posts |
Posted - 20 Oct 2004 : 11:48:00
|
| I loved the storyline and the characters. Can't wait for the next one in Nov this year. |
“Darkness beyond twilight, crimson beyond blood that flows! Buried in the flow of time. In thy great name. I pledge myself to darkness. All the fools who stand in our way shall be destroyed…by the power you and I possess! DRAGON SLAVE!!!”
"Thieves? Ah, such an ugly word... look upon them as the most honest sort of merchant."
-Oglar the Thieflord |
|
|
|
lexxan
Acolyte
Italy
5 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2004 : 09:06:00
|
Just Finished: it is a good book! Thanks Thomas.
I would just try make my comment by points:
Good points:
1) Mistery! A lot and well distributed along the story.
2) Excellent writing style!(I'm not mother tongue but still I liked it)
3) Original start(s); mistery/intrigue builders.
4) Good plot.
5) Excellent Cover
6) Wuakeen lore is interesting.
Bad points
1) too "soap opera", too little Epic/Adventure. Sometimes it doesn't looks like Fantasy.
2) I immagined to soon that the Mysterious figure was Xaphire.
One (half serious) question:
After the battle in the warehouse I was expecting somebody finding the precious dagger. Was the dagger really there? If it was so precious why nobody looked for it? I can't sleep at night without knowing the destiny of this dagger!
Thanks again Thomas.
|
LeXXan |
|
|
|
Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 22 Oct 2004 : 17:53:10
|
quote:
Originally posted by lexxan
After the battle in the warehouse I was expecting somebody finding the precious dagger. Was the dagger really there? If it was so precious why nobody looked for it? I can't sleep at night without knowing the destiny of this dagger!
Ah, Emriana's dagger. If/when you read the second book, you'll discover she loses a lot of daggers. It seems to be a bad habit with her.
Actually, if you read on page 164, a little more than halfway down, there's a paragraph that begins, "The trio took a walk," and it mentions that Vambran stops and grabs Emriana's dagger and returns it to her. So she's got it safe and sound once again, my friend. No need to worry.
And thanks for the comments!
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
|
|
|
lexxan
Acolyte
Italy
5 Posts |
Posted - 25 Oct 2004 : 09:48:56
|
quote:
Actually, if you read on page 164, a little more than halfway down, there's a paragraph that begins, "The trio took a walk," and it mentions that Vambran stops and grabs Emriana's dagger and returns it to her. So she's got it safe and sound once again, my friend. No need to worry.
And thanks for the comments!
Thomas
Many thanks Thomas!!! Finally I could sleep at night (almost, my 4Ys daughter did't agree....). I already pre-ordered "The ruby guardian", of course.
|
LeXXan |
|
|
|
hammer of Moradin
Senior Scribe
USA
758 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2004 : 17:53:37
|
I liked the setting. The city reminded me very much of New Orleans with the carnival atmosphere, and especially the humidity. Yet, it had an Italian feel to it where N.O. is French influence. The two mix nicely IMO. I agree Sirius, it would be nice to have a supplement covering this area of the Realms.
Good book, but I wanted more dialogue and less description of the scene. Let the characters move the story along more and it would be nigh perfect. |
"Hurling himself upon his enemies, he terrified them with slaughter!"
Scribe for the Candlekeep Compendium
Candlekeep proverb: If a thing is said often enough, fools aplenty will believe it to be true. |
Edited by - hammer of Moradin on 09 Nov 2004 23:46:15 |
|
|
|
SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 09 Nov 2004 : 18:14:21
|
quote:
Originally posted by hammer of Moradin
I wanted more dialogue and less description of the scene. Let the characters move the story along more and it would be nigh perfect.
I think the second book does this. You definitely get some new characters being introduced that offer tantilizing possibilities for the family. |
|
|
|
DDH_101
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1272 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2005 : 19:28:50
|
Damn... just finished reading The Sapphire Crescent, and I gotta say that I'm glad to listen to the reviews and advice of the other members in buying this book.
I really enjoyed Thomas M. Reid's style of writing, especially the extraodinary amount of details he put into the setting. His description of House Pharaboldi during the Matrell's visit and even the shanty warehouse that Vambran fought the leechwalker in was amazing. He really paints a clear picture of the settings the characters are in and I learned more about Arrabar in this novel than any sourcebook.
While I thought that there wasn't enough action to my liking and that Vambran wasn't that great of a fighter, the action was well written and there was always a sense of realism unlike other FR novels, where the protagonists could of all of a sudden do some super-human feat.
I also liked the story itself, with all the plots within plots and the twists and betrayals that occured in the Matrell family. When I got to the end where all the evil deeds were revealed, a part of me just was kinda like, "Man, one of these traitorous bastards better get their arses whooped in the next few pages..."
So, I really enjoyed The Sapphire Crescent and I'm going to read The Ruby Guardian now and hope it will be as good or even better than Book I... |
"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask |
|
|
|
Melfius
Senior Scribe
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2005 : 20:00:59
|
THIS is why this site is GREAT!
Where else can you read an excellent novel, then have an intelligent discussion with the author and get such wonderful feedback?
Thanks to you, Mr. Reid, and all other FR authors who take the time out of your busy schedules to speak with us here. |
Melfius, Pixie-Priest of Puck - Head Chef, The Faerie Kitchen, Candlekeep Inn
"What's in his pockets, besides me?"
Read a tale of my earlier days! - Happiness Comes in Small Packages |
|
|
|
Melfius
Senior Scribe
USA
516 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2005 : 20:05:17
|
Oh! One other thing:
I read The Sapphire Crescent when it cam out, and enjoyed it immensly. I just got The Ruby Guardian at Christmas. I found that I really needed to re-read The Sapphire Crescent, as I was completely lost! And you know what? I am glad I did!
Wonderful novels, and I can't wait for the finale! |
Melfius, Pixie-Priest of Puck - Head Chef, The Faerie Kitchen, Candlekeep Inn
"What's in his pockets, besides me?"
Read a tale of my earlier days! - Happiness Comes in Small Packages |
|
|
|
SiriusBlack
Great Reader
USA
5517 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jan 2005 : 20:38:16
|
quote:
Originally posted by DDH_101
While I thought that there wasn't enough action to my liking and that Vambran wasn't that great of a fighter, the action was well written and there was always a sense of realism unlike other FR novels, where the protagonists could of all of a sudden do some super-human feat.
And see, if there was less action in the novel, as I sensed when reading, than other FR novels, I like that. Having less actions means when such a device is used, it comes across as more powerful versus a novel that has endless combat occuring every ten pages or so. At least to this FR reader. |
|
|
|
DDH_101
Master of Realmslore
Canada
1272 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jan 2005 : 03:15:22
|
| Well, I guess it makes sense that there wouldn't be as much action as something like A Thousand Orcs because of the setting. I mean, it's very rare to start a fight in a populous city like Arrabar without the city guards coming to break it up. |
"Trust in the shadows, for the bright way makes you an easy target." -Mask |
|
|
|
Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jan 2005 : 15:10:58
|
quote:
Originally posted by DDH_101
So, I really enjoyed The Sapphire Crescent and I'm going to read The Ruby Guardian now and hope it will be as good or even better than Book I...
Thanks for the praise, DDH_101. I'm glad you enjoyed the book. I actually intentionally set out to write a book that had less fighting with a protagonist who wasn't the be-all, end-all combatant. In fact, my editor told me I had to go back and put some more fight scenes in the book after my first draft or I'd lose much of the FR crowd. And much of the credit for the great descriptions goes to Ed Greenwood, who provided me with a plethora of information he had that had never seen print.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
|
|
|
Thomas M. Reid
Forgotten Realms Designer & Author
334 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jan 2005 : 15:15:33
|
quote:
Originally posted by Melfius
I found that I really needed to re-read The Sapphire Crescent, as I was completely lost! And you know what? I am glad I did!
Wonderful novels, and I can't wait for the finale!
Thank you Melfius. Always happy when someone enjoys RE-reading one of my books. And I enjoy the online discussions very much; it's a form of validation, of course, but I also just enjoy the human contact. Writing is a very personal, solitary business, so I try to take advantage of this form of socializing whenever possible.
Thomas |
"A knight is not truly virtuous, only truly resolved to be so."
www.thomasmreid.com |
|
|
|
Lord Rad
Great Reader
United Kingdom
2080 Posts |
Posted - 17 Jan 2005 : 15:22:25
|
Well i'm sure you're quite aware now, Thomas, that the style and pace which you're writing this trilogy in has been very well received. This trilogy (so far) is up there in my top five FR series of all time. I prefer this style of intrigue, mystery, plot-twists etc. over combat-heavy novels. The level of combat in each novel is just about right, and each of the fights are quick and to the point, nothing is overdone or stretched out. I get very bored in some novels where each sword swing is described, it's simply not necessary.
Scions has given me more gasps, shocks and tension than most novels i've read. Fantastic! |
Lord Rad
"What? No, I wasn't reading your module. I was just looking at the pictures"
|
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
The Sapphire Crescent
