Book Description
Erin of Elliath returns in this conclusion to the epic saga begun in the first three books in the Sundered series. Erin, formerly Lady Sara and now the legendary Lady of Mercy to the slaves of the Dark Empire, has just helped Renar, the rightful heir to the throne of Marantine, reclaim his kingship from an usurper. With the power of the Bright Heart waning under growing shadows of the Dark Heart, Erin and her friends must once again journey back into the Dark Empire, where High Priests battle for supremacy and the First of the Sundered, Lord Stefanos, awaits the return of his Lady Sara. In this final volume, the old ways of the Light Heart and the Dark Heart will be changed forever.
Customer Reviews:
Weak ending and no emotional payoff!.......2007-05-20
As another reviewer has noted this is a very difficulty series to read...lots of loss and death and very little hope for the victory of the hero. However, if you slog through the depressing interludes there is a fairly interesting love story. Seen as a whole, the series details the path of this star-crossed romance (for it is very much a Romeo and Juliet make-over) as well as the struggle our heroine endures as she seeks the will of her god.
In this struggle between good and evil (and believe me, the author presents the extremes of both) there is little doubt in the reader's mind who the victorious party should be. The heroine is the embodiment of good trying to triumph over darkness, and her god is all that is loving and generous. The antithesis of the light, the "darkheart", is nothing but suffering, torture, blood sacrifice, and slavery. Yet after 4 books of presenting this dichotomy Ms Sagara wraps it all up in some cosmic "two-sides of the same coin" jargon. In the end she brings the light and dark gods together to form a gray-god and the reader is supposed to be satisfied. All the suffering and all the death of the faithful, good people is suddenly made right by this divine fusion.... I don't think so! The new god that the end of the book reveals is equal parts good and evil...where is the triumph in that? He is nothing more than a glorified, middling man.... and that is nothing but a disappointment. It might have worked if Ms Sagara had not spent 4 long books extolling the virtues of the Light and condemning the wickedness of the Dark. But as it is, the reader can only feel cheated and thwarted.
Lastly, the author tries to make up for this appalling lack of closure by uniting the doomed lovers. She strips them of all the hindrances to their love (in essence, their loyalty to and power from the Light and the Dark), and as common humans they can have the love formally denied them. As an ending it lacks conviction...what people who had experienced the MORE of divine patronage and power that these two had would be content with a lesser existence? I am not convinced that any love would be balm enough to make it right.
In fairness, I liked the books up until the very end. But I get the feeling that Ms Sagara had come as far as she could without beating the horse to death, and she reached an impasse. It is my opinion that there was no logical or graceful way for her to wrap her story up and she chose the easiest route possible. Otherwise there is no explanation for the lengthy efforts she went to to convince us of the indelible goodness of the light and the absolute perfidy of the dark, if she intended all along to unite them into one grey, disappointing god.
4.5 stars for a worthy ending, 5 stars for the entire saga........2007-05-19
Imagine God "sundered" in two, one side dark, one side light. Man is caught in the middle. That is the basis of the Sundered series, and in the first three books you are invited to watch as the "good" side loses the war with only a small contingency of good remaining. The only tiny ray of hope left is that the chief villain, Stefanos, has a spark of love for Erin (Sara), the only remaining warrior of the light. Both are chained to their separate sides of the conflict, neither can give in to their feelings without destroying their followers, betraying their "God" and losing the war. This is their final battle, and the outcome is not easy.
Be warned, this is a difficult series to read. Very dark, very emotional, a good vs evil epic saga where the good guys rarely win. Evil is always stronger, simply because they have no rules. Virtue being its own reward will generally get you killed. Ironically, a clear winner will be a loss for both, pure evil can't sustain itself without an enemy, without the darkness, light becomes superfluous.
This is not a standalone book, the preceding three books need to be read to understand the depth of the conclusion. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, horrific torture scenes, mild sex, and you may have to put the books down several times or risk serious depression.
A marvelous fantasy.......2000-04-04
Michelle Sagara brings her series of four books on the Sundered Lands to a close with an unexpected ending. The complex relationship between the Lord of Empire and the Sarillorn of Elliath brings the conflict between the forces of Light and of Darkness to conclusion. The characters are rich and entrancing. The world and cultures Sagara creates sparks the imagination. The whole series of four books make for four wonderful weekends of fantasy reading!
Book Description
A gifted healer and fierce warrior, Erin has been a Servant of the Bright Heart her entire life, fighting for millennia against the enemies of her people, the Servants of the Dark Heart. After she has a life-altering vision that reveals that the end of the world is quickly approaching, Erin is chosen to be the champion of Light—and the enemy of Darkness. Embarking on a difficult journey into the stronghold of the Dark Heart, Erin discovers that no magical sword can save her, and hers is no simple quest. An epic battle begins here, with her personal struggle upon which the fate of a world rests.
Customer Reviews:
The ending is not worth the investment.......2007-05-20
Just a heads up for those just starting out on this series: the ending is a complete disappointment! There is no triumph, no victory and very little joy in the outcome of the final battle. If all you are concerned about is the fate of the love story, then by all accounts this is the series for you. However, if you feel that the sacrifice, suffering and faith of strong, good people should be rewarded in the end....then this is definitely not a series you will enjoy.
The ending is happy in only one context--the lovers have their cake and eat it to. But I ask the question: what about everyone else? All of Erin's family and friends die, and to what purpose? So that light and dark might realize that they are different sides of the same coin....that in reality there is no such thing as good and evil? This is a sad statement about our morality if we are content with an ending like that.
In fairness, I liked the books up until the very end. But I get the feeling that Ms Sagara had come as far as she could without beating the horse to death, and she reached an impasse. It is my opinion that there was no logical or graceful way for her to wrap her story up and she chose the easiest route possible. Otherwise there is no explanation for the lengthy efforts she went to to convince us of the indelible goodness of the light and the absolute perfidy of the dark, if she intended all along to unite them into one grey, disappointing god.
You have got to be kidding me.......2007-04-04
Did everyone else read a different book? *sigh* I forced myself to read this one because I ordered it Interlibrary loan and it was due back in only a couple of days. Thank goodness I didn't buy it. Perhaps I didn't enjoy it because I just took the book at face value and didn't bother with including an overlying meaning to what the text COULD have mean (I mean, really--in that case we can pretend EVERY book out there has a double meaning).
The story flipped from person to person and skipped years at a time in just a manner of a few pages. The reader then had to flip back and forth between pages just to figure out how old, whose talking, what's going on. I perfer my books to flow. This whole light and dark think was confusing. Even the ending and alter stuff was confusing. Again, I had to read and reread just to get the gist of it. Again--I perfer my books to flow.
Needless to say, I won't revisit this author.
A Dark read.......2006-11-04
This book had me literally weeping by page 12, which is a difficult feat for an author to do. I cared that much about the main character that quickly. The rest of the book is just as dark, just as heart wrenching. To be honest, I had to put it down several times, pick up something light to read, then go back to it, just to manage.
This is an incredible story, very profound, rich in detail, extreme in emotion. Good vs Evil, Dark vs light, heart vs soul. More, how one extreme can not exist without the other.
Four stars only because this is not a stand-alone book, you'll need the next two if you want to complete the journey. Be warned, this is not an easy trip.
Approach with an open mind.......2006-06-09
Michelle Sagara West herself in the introduction states that a reader had once equated the romance between Erin, the heroine, and Stefanos, the (anti-?)hero as a type of Beauty and the Beast. I agree but the story is so much deeper and more compelling. Initially, the book seems complex because it sets the stage for the "main" storyline by explaining the world of "Light" and "Dark." As mentioned by other reviewers, the 2nd half is simpler in its focus on the romance but upon rereading the book several times, I personally saw a parallel between the romance and the struggle of the Light and the Dark. I am still waiting for books 3 and 4 of the series because I NEED to know what happens to Erin and Stefanos.
This book was one of Ms. West's earliest works so that if you read the Sun Sword series, you will recognize the focus on the characters but the plot is sparer and more direct. I found it refreshing because it made me focus more on the relationship between Erin and Stefanos. If one doesn't expect the level of intricacy of the Sun Sword series, one will find the book a delight.
What a great book 4 & 1/2 stars .......2004-09-16
I found this book in a used book store years ago, and I am so glad I picked it up! It started off rather slow, but as soon as Erin meets the First Servant of the Dark Lord it became such an unsually compelling love story. Most of the book is a dark and rather tragic romance between Erin and Lord Stefanos. They can't help but be both repelled and fascinated by the conflicting nature of the other, as they find themselves compromising what they've always believed in to be together. It took me years to finish the series because books 3 and 4 are so expensive, but if you can get your hands on them, I recommend all four- they don't disappoint. These are the types of books you can't let go of even days after you finish the last page.
Average customer rating:
- Patience is a virtue.
- Amazing.
- Rich and satisfying
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Children of the Blood (The Sundered series)
Michelle Sagara West
Manufacturer: Benbella Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 193210075X |
Book Description
Continuing the struggle she began in Into the Dark Lands, Erin—newly dubbed Sara—is forcefully put to sleep for 300 years while her Lord finishes overtaking his enemies—and Sara's kinsmen. After conquering and slaughtering the last of the Bright Heart lines, he awakens an amnesia-ridden Sara and assigns one of his slaves, a fellow "child of the blood," to comfort her. As Sara's memory slowly returns and her rage intensifies, the Servants of the Dark Heart and the Dark Heart itself become increasingly dangerous to both her and her caretaker.
Customer Reviews:
Patience is a virtue........2006-06-09
This is the 2nd book of the Sundered series, and like many sequels of a 3+ book series, it suffers slightly because the book spends much of its time explaining the necessary events that will lead to the denouement found in the later books. That explanation IS necessary based upon the ending of the 1st book and Ms. West does a good job interposing new story elements, such as new characters, to keep the story moving. However, because her 1st book had done such a good job getting me hooked on Sara's and Stefanos's romance, I was slightly disappointed that I have to wait for the 3rd book to see more development in regard to their relationship. If one keeps that in mind, the 2nd book will still be enjoyable despite the need to exercise patience until the 3rd book.
Amazing........2001-07-30
From the very beginning this book was interesting. The book is wirtten in a dark atmosphere because the light is weak now in the empire and you simply feel how dark it is. The young Darin is a very touching and real character. There were parts so sad that I even cried. You can actually feel him pain when he is hurting and his relief when he meets the lovely Sara. I have never read a book to move me in such a way.
Rich and satisfying.......1999-12-26
The doomed love story of the last woman of the Light and the Dark Lord continues in this bleak, haunting installment in the Sundered series. After waking from centuries of enchanted sleep, the stubborn and compassionate Erin, now called Sara by her brooding, bitter husband, remembers none of her past. But now once merciless, once merciful Stefanos must face the wrath of his Master and give up his love for Sara... This book introduces Darin, the boy-child who must grow up to be a man too soon and carry on the legacy of his line. A bright new character who infuses the story with reality. The story is still woven with somber threads and a dark atmosphere. A deep, psychological read. Retains its romance at the oddest moments. Lovely, in a disturbing way.
Book Description
The harrowing tale of Erin of Elliath, warrior and healer, continues in this episode of the battle between good and evil. When Erin rejects her position as Lady Sara, wife to the First Servant of the Dark Heart, she escapes from her husband’s realm with the help of Darin, the Patriarch of Culverne and the last of his line. After combining forces with the deposed prince of Marantine and a mysterious old man—who has magic skills that neither Erin or Darin can identify—the foursome hatch a plan to wrestle control of the usurped kingdom of Marantine away from the priests of the Dark Heart. Meanwhile, Erin continues to struggle with her part in the betrayal of her people, the deaths of her most beloved friends, as well as her feelings for the man who doomed them for her sake.
Customer Reviews:
Lady of Mercy. . . A Misnomer?.......2006-11-20
Really, I would rate this book to be 3.5 stars. Lady of Mercy is the 3rd book in Michelle Sagara West's Sundered Series. The first was excellent; the second was still very good. The third is ok. Why the not so enthusiastic review? Well, Ms. West did a terrific job making me care about Erin and Stefanos, the two protagonists in the first book. The second, although less focused on their relationship, contained the necessary plot developments meant to further the story; furthermore, the ending of the 2nd book made it all worth while. That said, the 3rd book, based upon just the literary merits, is still a good read but caused apprehension because of what is happening with Erin. WARNING: SPOILER to follow if you haven't read the 1st and 2nd books!
Now that Erin is on the run while discovering remaining allies of the Light in unexpected places, she must come to terms with the betrayal of her kin at the hands of her husband and love, Stefanos. The third book really grapples with the difficulties in reconciling the love she feels for Stefanos, or Lord Darclan :), yet the hatred/pain from knowing that she indirectly betrayed her kin. It's a tough question (Can love survive something like this?) and most of the book describes her wavering feelings. But one thing is for sure...mercy is missing in her calculations...which is understandable considering the events.
I felt ambivalent about this 3rd book because of Erin's state of mind since, despite the incompatibility between the Light and the Darkness, I had hoped that Erin and Stefanos could overcome those difference with their love (too sentimental, I guess!). Other than my slight unhappiness with what is going on with Erin, the actual book itself is still very well-written, developing the events that will lead to the imminent insurrection against the Dark. I think the fact that I was so affected by what was occuring shows that Ms. West is truly a talented writer. I am very much looking forward to the 4th book, Chains of Darkness, Chains of Light.
Book Description
Five years after the presumed death of Captain James T. Kirk, the U.S.S. Excelsior, commanded by Captain Hikaru Sulu, is at the forefront of exploration, diplomacy, and the defense of the Federation.
Unprecedented peace talks with the violently xenophobic Tholian Assembly trigger a deadly confrontation aboard the Excelsior. Now Sulu and his crew -- including Chekov, Rand, Chapel, Tuvok, and Akaar -- are thrust into an unexpected conflict between the Tholians and a mysterious new enemy, the Neyel...whose origins, if revealed, could lead to war with Earth itself.
As the Tholians weave a web of vengeance, the Excelsior is flung beyond the galaxy to discover the hidden truth about the alien Neyel, forcing Sulu to question where his responsibilities lie -- with the fragile peace he must preserve, or with the victims of his own world's tragic past.
Customer Reviews:
One of best recent Star Trek novels.......2005-10-05
Of late, I have been very disappointed in the overall quality of the Star Trek novels (from all series). In too many cases, the plot was too light to carry an entire novel and the writing ranged from tolerable to awful. I was pleased to hear that the publisher is planning to reduce the number of Trek novels published per month--I'm hoping that the editorial quality will improve as a result. (In addition, I actually be able to keep up!)
"The Sundered" is a terrific novel on many levels. It contains multiple story threads that tie together nicely without being overly obvious. I found it engrossing and well worth my time. I look forward to further adventures of the "Excelsior" (and Vanguard, for that matter).
If you're one of those Trek readers who have been looking for a good Trek novel, I recommend this one highly.
An excellent story........2004-06-20
The authors give us a fine story, set in the time between the apparent death of Captain Kirk and the beginning of the "Next Generation" series, with Hikaru Sulu as Captain of the Excelsior the hero of the day. We get enough connection with the original series characters to feel grounded, while getting to see some new and interesting characters, too.
If, like me, you had expected the second series to be one centering on Sulu as a captain, rather than making the immense jump in time that was made for the "Next Generation" series, this is a story you've been waiting for for a long time (close to 30 years now, I suppose.) I won't say that it was worth the wait; that would suggest that the wait was justified. But I will say that it's a good enough story that it should have been told long since.
Captain Sulu at his best!.......2004-06-16
I loved how Captain Sulu performed in "The Undiscovered Country" and now this book carries on with this very intense and believable incarnation of former Lieutenant Sulu from the Original Series. Great! And even though I grew up with the Original Series Star Trek, I also came to love TNG as well and, later, VOYAGER and ENTERPRISE. Being an avid fan of sci-fi in general, however, it would be an injustice on my part not to mention the many other old and new sci-fi works that both led me to Star Trek and which have forever forged my love for all sci-fi works: "Stranger in a Strange Land", "Puppet Masters", "Foundation", "2001", "2010", "Rendezvous with Rama", "Ringworld", all the "Star Trek" and "Star Wars" books, as well as books as new to the genre as "Advent of the Corps" and others.
A decent story - but a little too long..........2004-03-03
A decent story detailing both Captain Sulu & Co. efforts to make peace with the Tholians and a "Space 1999" story of a pre-warp, Zeframe Cochrane-era asteroid outpost populated by humans catapulted away from earth orbit and eventually into another galaxy through a trans-dimensional rift.
On the upside, the explorations/revelations concerning the Tholian race (a largely neglected alien race dating back to the Original Series) are great and the evolution of the outpost survivors and the process of relating the two storylines to one another is intriguing. On the downside, the authors take a little too long to tell this story and it could/should have been more concise.
ST: The Lost Era 2298 The Sundered.......2004-01-25
Star Trek: The Lost Era 2298 The Sundered written by Michael A. Martin and Andy Mangels is a character driven action-adventure novel. This is the third book written by this pair of authors and is the best yet in this genre.
As stated in the book, this story is set in the year 2298, five years after the presumed death of Captain James T. Kirk aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise-B in Star Trek Generations, and sixty-six years before the launch of the Enterprise-D in "Encounter at Farpoint." Now, we get to see what happens after Kirk and prior to Picard as Captain Hikaru Sulu takes command of U.S.S. Excelsior in an action character driven book that keeps the readers interest piqued.
The book is divided into ten sections giving the reader background to the characters within the story and it further carries the reader through the whole of the book. Making for an easy transition. There are space battles as the Tholians weave a web of vengence against the Neyel that have been approacing Tholian space via an interspacial rift, a tear in the fabric of space that allows great distances to be traveled in relatively short periods of times. This is the same rift in space that has trapped the Defiant from ST: TOS and later recovered by the ST Corps of Engineers.
We read about some of our favorites from the older Trek novelizations including Chekov, Janice Rand, Christine Chapel, Tuvok and Akaar as they interact with the story. Interlaced within the pages of this book are flashbacks to scenes of past adventures spicing up the story and jogging the reader's memory. The Tholians and the Neyel are the featured aliens in this novel.
The Tholians are a mineral based life that use musical tones to communicate and the Neyel have a past that leads back to Earth and look completely different from their original stock. Both lifeforms think the other is nonsentient, a leap of faith that you'll have to get over, as they are both spacefaring cultures where communication is a must. This is the crux of the problem, communication, where neither side has adquate universal translation skills and only the Excelsior and her crew can make communication possible.
The book is a very fast read for its 384 pages as I found that I read 150 pages in one short sitting as the action mounts and the situations get resloved. The command of writting and style keeps the reader engrossed within the story and you'll finish the story in short order.
This book is a solid 4 stars and is the third book that I've read from this duo of authors and it is the best so far. Captivating the reader and wanting to know what comes next are used with very powerful outcome, making for a delightful read.
This series "The Lost Years" fills the trek reader in on what happens in the universe between Kirk and Picard. I only hope that the other 5 books in this 6 book series are as well-written as this opening foray.
Average customer rating:
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Sundered Reaches Campaign Setting
Manufacturer: Fast Forward Entertainment, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Role Playing & Fantasy
| Puzzles & Games
| Entertainment
| Subjects
| Books
ASIN: 1932201319 |
Product Description
Sundered Reaches breaks new ground in high-level fantasy gaming. This unique d20 campaign setting presents the perfect challenge for players who have been there and done that. Characters can be drawn to the Red Planet from any other d20 campaign or created anew. Sometimes newly arrived characters walk unchanged onto the Red Planet, but just as often they are reshaped into entirely new life forms. Every Martian mile presents its own new and deadly encounters! The creatures that walk the Red Planet are fierce and every corner of the planet is shrouded in mystery. GMs and players alike will have the time of their lives exploring and shaping this new world!
Average customer rating:
- Book 3 of the Shadow Fae Trilogy.
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The Sundered Stone
Elaine, Corvidae
Manufacturer: Mundania Press LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Fantasy, Futuristic & Ghost
| Romance
| Subjects
| Books
Epic
| Fantasy
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Similar Items:
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Prince of Ash
ASIN: 1594261326 |
Book Description
The battle lines have been drawn, and the seelie and unseelie fae will stop at nothing to destroy one another. Caught in the middle of a war that none of them wants, the faelings of Dere must fight for their survival. Street-wise Pook has no desire to take up the role of Prince of the Unseelie Fae. Yet he may have no choice if he is to live through the coming battle and win the heart of the girl he loves. With little magic of her own, Alexandreya hopes that her mechanical inventions can help turn the tide of the war. But as a danger from Alex's past draws ever closer, she finds herself in the center of the maelstrom, torn between seelie and unseelie, with Pook as the prize. For all is not as it seems, and the faelings will soon learn that everything they believed about the faery war is nothing more than a terrible lie.
Customer Reviews:
Book 3 of the Shadow Fae Trilogy........2007-06-22
There are two types of Fae. The "Seelie" can control fire and air, heat and light. The "Unseelie" can control earth and water, cold and night. The two sides have long battled within the Faerie realm and battles often overflow into the mortal realm. Recently the two sides have been in the mortal world, spilling mortal blood to mark the battleground of what will be the mightiest clash in their history. One of the fae sides will be eliminated, leaving the other to rule all.
Mina (nee Cole) and her husband, Duncan RiDahn, have had some rough patches in the past; however, they always stand firmly beside each other and face all their problems together. Mina is only half human. She is also half unseelie fae. With Duncan's help, Mina has gotten better control of her dark powers. Mina's father, the powerful and dark unseelie named Camhlaidh, still has his own plans for Mina though. Mina's wheel chair bound human, Duncan, must be taken care of first. So must the eldest unseelie prince.
Alexandreya "Alex" is mostly human. In fact, Duncan is her uncle. Alex dislikes the small unseelie taint in her blood and prefers to think of herself as mortal. Having run away from a controlling father, Alex now helps Mina and Duncan run Blackthorn Books. Alex is also a genius with a special talent in engineering. She is always inventing something new and useful to help make Duncan's life easier or to battle either side of the fae. Alex has fallen head-over-heels in love with "Pook". Everyone, including Pook, thought the young man (seventeen-years-old) was nothing but a street rat. Now that the truth has been revealed, Alex fears Pook's feelings for her may change and she will be alone again.
Pook wants nothing more than to enjoy life and some time with his friends. But due to the fae, this is impossible. Pook has just found out that his real name is Tamnais, the eldest prince of the Sluagh (unseelie). King Finn Bheara and his consort, Oonagh, had left the infant Pook with some poor mortals (a changeling). Pook has nothing but hate for them. He never wants to be king and hopes his brother, Dubh, will have that so-called honor. Pook's main concerns are learning to use the magical sword, christened Bob (who says the fae can't have a sense of humor?), and keeping his friends safe; especially his girlfriend, Alex.
The time has finally come for the showdown. Mortal and fae blood have been spilled to pave the way for a magical Armageddon. The only hope for peace is for a small group of faelings to locate and steal two halves of a magical stepping stone, repair the sundered stone, and a new king declared. One way or another, it all ends now.
**** This is the third book in the Shadow Fae Trilogy. The previous books are titled WINTER'S ORPHANS and PRINCE OF ASH. You must read the first two titles in order to understand this final installment. Readers who do not will find themselves totally lost. The author does an incredible job of bringing order to the large amount of chaotic messes the main characters must deal with. I, as the reader, watched as Pook continued to mature, despite his young age and rough upbringing. Though he is a fae prince, the character of Pook is portrayed just like any other teen I've ever met. The character simply oozes innocence and determination, as well as a fragile self-ego. I look forward to the author's next trilogy. Fantasy gets no better than with Elaine Corvidae!
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
Book Description
This title chronicles the latest adventure of various iconic characters from the Dungeons & Dragons core rulebooks. This series of novels is designed to bring readers closer to the feeling of actually playing a D&D adventure. This eighth title in the novel line features, among others, the iconic character of the rogue, who appeared in two previous titles, The Savage Caves and Treachery's Wake.
Andaron's Delve, a great dwarven stronghold ravaged by war, has for ages lain abandoned. Now, smoke once again pours from the immense furnaces, and goblins and beasts guard the ancient entrance. Evil is rekindled in the heart of the mountain and strives to forge anew Andaron's sundered arms.
This time, it's about survival.
Customer Reviews:
NEVER RECIEVED ITEM.......2006-08-24
I never recieved the item. Therefore, there is nothing to review.
Sundered Grammar.......2004-01-12
When a chapter is titled "Dissention" (sic), you know the editor is asleep at the switch. There are unfortunately more instances of bad grammar, as well as a quote from The Empire Strikes Back that take this from an average dungeon crawl to less than average.
We have three returning characters, Devis the half-elf Bard, Vadania the druid and Lidda the halfing rogue. Vadania and Lidda are uncharacteristically besotted with Devis though they are both experienced enough to know better, particularly Vadania. Tordek a dwarven fighter is the new iconic addition and Vadania is given a wolverine companion.
That being said, the actual adventure is fairly good. Some really powerful enemies and enchanted weapons with a satisfying ending. It is really too bad that this series suffers from an editor who shows such disregard to the readers by allowing such continuity and basic english mistakes.
Good mind-candy D&D story.......2003-07-03
This was one of Lain's better plots, and the character choices were interesting in that for the first time (or at least, as I can recall), there were no humans involved.
Tordek, the dwarf fighter, Vadania the elven druidess, Devis the half-elf bard, and Lidda the halfing rogue hook up to delve deep into a once-Dwarven stronghold that has been taken by evil. They all have a reason: Tordek wants to avenge a wrong against the Dwarven people, Vadania wants to stop the foul forge's sludge from ruining the forest, Devis wants a heroic story, and Lidda ... wants cash.
But! As the story progresses, there's actual character development, especially with Devis (who we've not really seen in a while, and whose serious side gets a bit of brief attention). Tordek's history is explained, and I liked it.
The cohesiveness of Lain's world is a bit off sometimes, and the way that "evil creatures of the week" seem to gang up on the heroes is sometimes a bit amiss, but this had some strength to it. Cursed evil weapons being reforged in hellfire on a profaned Dwarven altar by demonic forces intent on bringing a demon into the world? Oooh yeah.
Can they stop it? Of course they can. They're heroes. THe fun is in the how.
'Nathan
Books:
- Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Puffin Novels)
- Charlotte's Web (Trophy Newbery)
- Cormyr: The Tearing of the Weave (Dungeons & Dragons d20 3.5 Fantasy Roleplaying, Forgotten Realms Supplement)
- Creating Wealth: Retire in Ten Years Using Allen's Seven Principles of Wealth, Revised and Updated
- Dangerous Games (Riley Jensen, Guardian, Book 4)
- Downriver
- Dragon: Hound of Honor (Julie Andrews Collection)
- Dragon of the Red Dawn (A Stepping Stone Book(TM))
- Exiles Vol. 3: Out of Time (X-Men)
- Facing Your Giants: The God Who Made a Miracle Out of David Stands Ready to Make One Out of You
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
- The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Third Edition
- Oscar and Lucinda: movie tie-in edition
- Research Methods in Family Therapy, Second Edition
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: A Kaplan Vocabulary-Building Classic for Young Readers
- Scientific Computing
- The Information Broker's Handbook
- Purgatory: A Prison Diary Volume 2
- Luncheonette: A Memoir
- Principles of Health Economics for Developing Countries
Lady of Mercy (The Sundered series)
Children of the Blood (The Sundered series)
Into the Dark Lands: First Book of the Sundered (The Sundered series)
Cast In Secret (The Cast Series, Book 3)
Cast in Courtlight (The Cast Series, Book 2)
