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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Aug 2005 : 14:15:13
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This has been part of my ongoing project to hunt down some of the older Realms novels that I never had a chance to read when they first came out, especially when I was on my hiatus from anything D&D, and make sure my Realmslore was up to date.
I know there was a recent topic on this, but I wanted to give my actual reveiw of this book, since this seems to have been old enough to not have had the regular book reveiw treatment the first go around.
Good Stuff
First off, I just liked the idea of getting to see what happened behind the scenes during the Time of Troubles. I think that there are SO many stories that could be told from that time period. Especially cosidering that Elminster was intentionally lured out of main story, this is an interesting glimpse into a major event.
This book address some issues that some fellow scribes have been interested about as well. It gives you at least a hint of how the people of the Realms view Elminster, what they know of the Chosen, and how they veiw varous power groups as well.
I liked how Sharantyr, one of the newer and younger Knights of Myth Drannor, gets a chance to shine here. I liked the newly introduced Harpers as well. I liked the banter between the two, as well as the easily inserted dialog about regional rivalries, such as when Sharantyr and the one say "We forgive you" to the other for being born in Amn.
Oddly enough, we get to see the Zhentarim to pull of something fairly major in the High Dale. It may have unravelled, but it was interesting to see them do something that seemed to have fallen under the radar, using warriors posing as a mercenary group, take of the dale right underneath everyone.
I also like how Ed managed to give you a good perspective from the villains point of view as well. I actually felt a bit sorry for Longspear, since he seems to have developed at least a bit of pride and concern over "his" dale, dispite the fact that the Zhent wizards definately have other plans for him. I also like the idea that the Thayan spy ends up not being such a bad guy after all, especially since he helps the old forces in the dale against the Zhentarim.
Not as Good Stuff
I love Ed, but he does have a certain trait, which is to tell the whole story at the same "volume." Its hard to know if one event is more important than another, or that a resolution is around the corner, because everything seems to be told at the same pitch and pacing, at times almost maddeningly so. Which is actually interesting, since I imagine it would be harder to maintain an even tone throughout than it would be to keep upping the ante by making every scene seem more and more important (which would be an equally difficult quirk to deal with, but one that I have seen before that is a more common pitfall for writers).
I think in the begining we got a good sense that the good guys don't like to kill if they don't have too. I even get the idea that the two Harpers banter to keep their sanity in the middle of all the killing. This idea was done well in most of the book, but in a few spots I though, "okay, Sharantyr is throwing up after the fight, it get it, she is sick of killing."
And finally, while it wouldn't have bothered me to have the Zhents loose this one, since I think they took over the dale in a fairly slick manner, the "Manshoon walks up to Elminster, monologues him, then gets blown up unceremoniously by the arch lich" deal was sad, especially when he is portrayed in a very sinister and competent manner earlier in the book. I realize, this is likely an editorial decision based on when the book was originally published, but for those of us that respect Manshoon as a villain, its a distraction.
Final Verdict
Definately a good read, dispite some flaws. Essential Realmlore, and some facinating details to boot. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, and I am glad that I decided to back track a bit in order to take some of these older books in.
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Crennen FaerieBane
Master of Realmslore
USA
1378 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2005 : 14:39:41
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Shouldn't you be worried about your wedding coming up?? :)
Thanks for the review - I think I'll pick up this book on lunch today.
I owe you those character exposés on Ryld and Pharaun anyway! I need to get those posted!
C-Fb |
Still rockin' the Fey'ri style. |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2005 : 16:13:45
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| Hmm... seems I've gotten a nice post to point to if someone asks what I feel about this book. I think I'd say pretty much the same as you word for word KnightErrantJR. |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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KnightErrantJR
Great Reader
USA
5402 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2005 : 16:23:24
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| Thanks Kajahase . . . I just wanted to present the book as I saw it. |
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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
Posted - 26 Aug 2005 : 23:33:47
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I'm trying to find my copy of Shadows of Doom to reference, and seem to have mislaid it.
Yes, it's at pretty much constant-full-pitch, like Crown of Fire and a couple of Ed's other books. This is "the 'fast, light action, guys fighting all the time' style TSR asked me to adopt" -- I found it a little wearing in Crown. On the other hand, I don't mind deciding for myself which events are important, just as I like how the Realms doesn't editorialize as to some characters mattering more than others.
I liked Saharel a lot, partly because I'd already read of her in FR13 Anauroch. |
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Shadows of Doom (Spoilers)
