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Forgotten Realms - Publication Order
The Glass Prison
Vheod Runechild--half human, half fiend--flees from the Abyss to find his human nature on Toril, only to discover that the dangers from the nether region respect no worldly boundaries.
292 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 6, 1999
13 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Monte Cook
211 books125 followers
The game designer
Monte Cook started working professionally in the game industry in 1988. In the employ of Iron Crown Enterprises, he worked with the Rolemaster and Champions games as an editor, developer, and designer. In 1994, Monte came to TSR, Inc., as a game designer and wrote for the Planescape and core D&D lines. When that company was purchased by Wizards of the Coast, he moved to the Seattle area and eventually became a senior game designer. At Wizards, he wrote the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide and served as codesigner of the new edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game. In 2001, he left Wizards to start his own design studio, Malhavoc Press, with his wife Sue. Although in his career he has worked on over 100 game titles, some of his other credits include Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, The Book of Eldritch Might series, the d20 Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game, The Book of Vile Darkness, Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved, Ptolus, Monte Cook's World of Darkness, and Dungeonaday.com. He was a longtime author of the Dungeoncraft column in Dungeon Magazine. In recent years, Monte has been recognized many times by game fans in the ENnies Awards, the Pen & Paper fan awards, the Nigel D. Findley Memorial Award, the Origins Awards, and more.
The author
A graduate of the 1999 Clarion West writer's workshop, Monte has published two novels, The Glass Prison and Of Aged Angels. Also, he has published the short stories "Born in Secrets" (in the magazine Amazing Stories), "The Rose Window" (in the anthology Realms of Mystery), and "A Narrowed Gaze" (in the anthology Realms of the Arcane). His stories have appeared in the Malhavoc Press anthologies Children of the Rune and The Dragons' Return, and his comic book writing can be found in the Ptolus: City by the Spire series from DBPro/Marvel. His fantasy fiction series, "Saga of the Blade," appeared in Game Trade Magazine from 2005–2006.
The geek
In his spare time, Monte runs games, plays with his dog, watches DVDs, builds vast dioramas out of LEGO building bricks, paints miniatures, and reads a lot of comics.
Monte Cook started working professionally in the game industry in 1988. In the employ of Iron Crown Enterprises, he worked with the Rolemaster and Champions games as an editor, developer, and designer. In 1994, Monte came to TSR, Inc., as a game designer and wrote for the Planescape and core D&D lines. When that company was purchased by Wizards of the Coast, he moved to the Seattle area and eventually became a senior game designer. At Wizards, he wrote the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide and served as codesigner of the new edition of the Dungeons & Dragons game. In 2001, he left Wizards to start his own design studio, Malhavoc Press, with his wife Sue. Although in his career he has worked on over 100 game titles, some of his other credits include Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, The Book of Eldritch Might series, the d20 Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game, The Book of Vile Darkness, Monte Cook’s Arcana Evolved, Ptolus, Monte Cook's World of Darkness, and Dungeonaday.com. He was a longtime author of the Dungeoncraft column in Dungeon Magazine. In recent years, Monte has been recognized many times by game fans in the ENnies Awards, the Pen & Paper fan awards, the Nigel D. Findley Memorial Award, the Origins Awards, and more.
The author
A graduate of the 1999 Clarion West writer's workshop, Monte has published two novels, The Glass Prison and Of Aged Angels. Also, he has published the short stories "Born in Secrets" (in the magazine Amazing Stories), "The Rose Window" (in the anthology Realms of Mystery), and "A Narrowed Gaze" (in the anthology Realms of the Arcane). His stories have appeared in the Malhavoc Press anthologies Children of the Rune and The Dragons' Return, and his comic book writing can be found in the Ptolus: City by the Spire series from DBPro/Marvel. His fantasy fiction series, "Saga of the Blade," appeared in Game Trade Magazine from 2005–2006.
The geek
In his spare time, Monte runs games, plays with his dog, watches DVDs, builds vast dioramas out of LEGO building bricks, paints miniatures, and reads a lot of comics.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 10, 2012
I haven't read a forgotten realms book in awhile, so this was fun.
The story was good, though very little touches on realm's lore. This was more of a quick run through adventure with the focus on the characters.
The most interesting is the half-demon who has escaped his home plane, the Abyss, only to find that his arrival on the world of Toril is all part of his "evil destiny" to release his great-sire, an imprisioned Balor.
A brother and sister who are traveling to find the cure for a wasting curse placed on their family join up with the half-demon, and the three set out to find their fate.
There is a really cool Raven Witch, an evil half-orc, and a bunch of Gnolls.
All the loose ends are tied up too quickly and neatly for a real critic, but this book was fun none the less.
The story was good, though very little touches on realm's lore. This was more of a quick run through adventure with the focus on the characters.
The most interesting is the half-demon who has escaped his home plane, the Abyss, only to find that his arrival on the world of Toril is all part of his "evil destiny" to release his great-sire, an imprisioned Balor.
A brother and sister who are traveling to find the cure for a wasting curse placed on their family join up with the half-demon, and the three set out to find their fate.
There is a really cool Raven Witch, an evil half-orc, and a bunch of Gnolls.
All the loose ends are tied up too quickly and neatly for a real critic, but this book was fun none the less.
May 21, 2017
The Glass Prison is a D&D novel written by famed game designer Monte Cook. The book is standard fantasy fare, and it reads like a D&D adventure. I found myself mentally calculating experience points and challenge ratings during scenes. There is action, magic, and not too many characters to confuse the reader. The most interesting parts of the book to me were the references to the Abyss, a chaotic evil plane of demons. Recommended for D&D players.
February 21, 2013
this was the book that introduced me to the Forgotten Realms. I used to read Dragonlance...but I couldn't stomach those anymore after the dwarf got killed off.
August 15, 2018
The Glass Prison (Forgotten Realms) - Monte Cook | Um meio-demônio e seu grupo de aventureiros aprontando as maiores confusões em Toril! | NITROLEITURAS #resenha #forgottenrealms
Uma história fechada escrita pelo doidimais do Monte "Numenera" Cook, bem divertida, ultra-pulp e com um protagonista interessante, Vheod, um Cambion (meio demônio Tana'ri)!
SINOPSE
O livro conta a história de Vheod, um Cambion de Broken Reach, uma cidade encontrada no Outer Plane of the Abyss, enquanto ele lida com sua natureza maligna e tenta superar seu mal inerente.
Ele se une a Melann, uma sacerdotisa humana de Chauntea e seu irmão guerreiro Whitlock em busca de um Balor, chamado Chare'en, que ameaça a região e possui a chave para acabar com a maldição que tem atormentado sua família por gerações.
RESENHA
Um dos dois únicos romances escritos por Monte Cook, que é famoso por sua vasta bibliografia de livros de RPG e pelo sucesso de Numenera, seu cenário mais recente, The Glass Prision é pura diversão pulp, ideal para quem curte fantasia com muita ação e mais indicado ainda para quem joga RPG e gosta de Forgotten Realms.
O mais legal é que não precisa saber nada sobre o mundo de Toril para acompanhar a narrativa.
A prosa é eficiente e bem escrita, os personagens são bem legais, principalmente o meio-demônio Vehod, que sofre de flashbacks terríveis por ter crescido no Abismo, o plano dos demônios de Forgotten Realms.
Gostei muito das descrições dos planos infernais, e da interação entre Vehod e os demais personagens do plano físico.
A trama tem tudo que uma aventura precisa; magias, enigmas, segredos do passado, um vilão doidimais e até um romancezinho no meio!
Recomendo!
Uma história fechada escrita pelo doidimais do Monte "Numenera" Cook, bem divertida, ultra-pulp e com um protagonista interessante, Vheod, um Cambion (meio demônio Tana'ri)!
SINOPSE
O livro conta a história de Vheod, um Cambion de Broken Reach, uma cidade encontrada no Outer Plane of the Abyss, enquanto ele lida com sua natureza maligna e tenta superar seu mal inerente.
Ele se une a Melann, uma sacerdotisa humana de Chauntea e seu irmão guerreiro Whitlock em busca de um Balor, chamado Chare'en, que ameaça a região e possui a chave para acabar com a maldição que tem atormentado sua família por gerações.
RESENHA
Um dos dois únicos romances escritos por Monte Cook, que é famoso por sua vasta bibliografia de livros de RPG e pelo sucesso de Numenera, seu cenário mais recente, The Glass Prision é pura diversão pulp, ideal para quem curte fantasia com muita ação e mais indicado ainda para quem joga RPG e gosta de Forgotten Realms.
O mais legal é que não precisa saber nada sobre o mundo de Toril para acompanhar a narrativa.
A prosa é eficiente e bem escrita, os personagens são bem legais, principalmente o meio-demônio Vehod, que sofre de flashbacks terríveis por ter crescido no Abismo, o plano dos demônios de Forgotten Realms.
Gostei muito das descrições dos planos infernais, e da interação entre Vehod e os demais personagens do plano físico.
A trama tem tudo que uma aventura precisa; magias, enigmas, segredos do passado, um vilão doidimais e até um romancezinho no meio!
Recomendo!
November 9, 2025
I enjoyed this adventure. 2 siblings, Melann and her brother Whitlock embarked on a journey to end a family curse. Meanwhile, the half-man half-demon, Vheod escapes the Abyssal Plane and is manipulated to accompany the siblings on their journey. Through manipulation and discovery, the siblings' adventure starts with seeking a crypt but turns into the prison of Vheod's great-grandfather, the abyssal lord known as Chare’en!!! Two abyssal creatures disguised as oracles, gnolls and a half orc thug who leads a cult in worship of Chare’en guide the three while a were-raven enchantress plays her own part in the adventure. Throughout the trio question themselves, their faith and each other. The story climax comes when they arrive at the glass prison and meet Chare’en in the flesh!!! Overall, the characters were good with relatable personalities. The ending drags on but a nice adventure.
June 18, 2021
I almost always finish books I start.. This book is one of the very few I couldnt.. Got too bored and downright annoyed after stragging with the first half. The story could have been good but the characters are so one dimantional that I couldnt realate to any of them and and a few actully got on my nerves. (Both brother and sister tbh ) So I decided not to bother.. Sadly I have slight interest to know how this ends.
February 6, 2025
A great, easy stand-alone representation of peak 90s Forgotten Realms goodness. And SO...
MANY...
GNOLLS!
MANY...
GNOLLS!
October 7, 2017
an enjoyable distraction
January 31, 2016
One of the most pleasant reads. Definitely the type of books I would love to read.
The English was considerably easy, considering the facts that it is not my native tongue and I'm used to reading in English.
I like how the story progresses, it's well done. The characters fit in so well.
That tiny hint of romance spiced the story a little bit, I'd have to say.
There isn't anything to reproach to this book.
I gave it 4/5* because it was not amazing, just an extremely enjoyable read. I didn't get the "WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH MY LIFE" feeling, you know what I mean?
The English was considerably easy, considering the facts that it is not my native tongue and I'm used to reading in English.
I like how the story progresses, it's well done. The characters fit in so well.
That tiny hint of romance spiced the story a little bit, I'd have to say.
There isn't anything to reproach to this book.
I gave it 4/5* because it was not amazing, just an extremely enjoyable read. I didn't get the "WHAT AM I GONNA DO WITH MY LIFE" feeling, you know what I mean?
February 15, 2016
One-dimensional characters with no background or history. Straightforward, transparent storyline. Plenty of deus ex machina moments where the protagonists conveniently run into the one right person to advance their quest. The end is a big letdown; very anticlimactic.
I read through it just to say I finished it, but didn't enjoy one minute of it.
I read through it just to say I finished it, but didn't enjoy one minute of it.
July 19, 2010
"The Glass Prison" is one the most unforgettable tales I've had the pleasure of reading. A genuine Bad-Ass that no one suspects as a hero saves a foreign land from one of the most powerful, deadly being ever to be forged in the Underworld... None other than his very own father...
sold
February 23, 2012Sold to Lewis White on eBay on 7-Jun-11:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI....
July 3, 2013
The book was a fast jump in but seemed to drag along through the rest.
March 4, 2016
Reads like it came off a Dungeons & Dragons story wheel after an editor's realization that they were short a book. Pulp fiction at its pulpiest.
March 29, 2017
A fun read. As a D&D DM/Player I loved the story and writing which was clearly written by a lover of all things D&D. Well worth the read.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews