Abyssal Warriors

Planescape: Blood Wars #2

by J. Robert King

As the Blood Wars escalate across the various planes of existence, Aereas and Nina find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict--he in Sigil, she at the head of an evil abyssal army. Original. 75,000 first printing.

Genres: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons, Fiction

320 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 18, 1996

Reviews

[Anthony Emmel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, after the abysmal first book in the Blood Wars series, this was a good change of pace. The writing was better for until about 30 pages in and then it changed back to the style of the first book.

However, about page 110 or so, it got good again. THREE epic battles that in 200 pages that flowed really well. If the third book continues in this vein, maybe the series will garner 3-4 stars from me in the end.

[Brendan Coster · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, this is a 4 star for a D&d book... Which is just in a sad sad genres in of itself. I don't think either of these novels would, unto themselves, rank more then 2-3 stars alone. It is what it is, and if you don't care about the Planescape setting then I imagine the series is nigh unreadable.

Better, in a few ways then the 1st novel. I still don't fine the two main characters and their exploits believable. The only saving grace of these two bozo's getting where they are is if some MAJOR reveals happen in the third book, which might be likely. This book has more of the Sigil in it, much much less of a chase sequence, more of a real story arc, and just reads better. And, in the few scenes provided, you get the Lady of Pain rearing her horrible little head.

So, good for what it is, don't pick it up just because.... Though the mass market binding and cover art is pretty telling what you are getting into here.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally, I love Planescape, so I'll try to balance some of the disparaging reviews below.

There's no doubt that these two books were written chock full of effort, articulation, and command of the English language. And this trilogy thus far is a Pandora's box of imagination, featuring a lot of what Planescape has to offer (infinitely). I personally loved the writing and potpourri of phrasing, with little twists and turns to get you thinking and empathizing with a vivid imagination. There are plenty of vocab words to keep you scurrying for the dictionary too. I am a better person for having read this book, because I'm one step closer to understanding a bigger picture of what Planescape has to offer!

The problem was that sometimes I wasn't sure what was going on. Case in point: are the seed pods guided by thought? Did Aereas stop and start his crystal acorn several times as I perceived? Crystal acorn jousting in the air lol! Wow! Blows my mind! However, climbing 400 ft. without hands is just unbelievable any way you slice it!

Maybe some ideas are difficult to capture in prose, or such ambitious concepts such as Planescape and a corresponding novel could have used just a little bit more TLC and/or, one more time through the revision process. You know, for the clueless wanting to be upstanding berks. I appreciate Mr. J. Robert King smoothing over murky events in the first book and sometimes here and there in the second but I could have used just a little bit more hand holding in the aims of wrapping my mind completely around the concept. Perhaps the use of these pretty words were guided along a literary path unfamiliar to me. Maybe I'll understand the intricacies better the second time around, of which I look forward to.

Contrary to other reviewers, I liked the first book better (more variety of planes...well, 3+3 but we seemed to sightsee a little more vividly the first time around). So count me in for the next trip to Mt. Celestia!

I would enjoy reading more of these Planescape novels!

[C Teahouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

So really, I’d give this book 3.5 stars but since that’s not an option I’ll go ahead and drop it a four because I’m charitable.

This series won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. If you’re into remarkably odd world-building, then this will be up your alley. This one still suffers from the weak character building from the last one, and has even more implausible story developments, but the descriptive language is good and the environments are deliciously weird.

As long as you can get over the weak characters and enjoy it as entertaining pulp fiction, it’s alright.

For a real Planescape book recommendation, Pages of Pain is actually pretty legitimately good. Try that first to see if you might enjoy this series

[Lorewarden]

This novel surprised me as being very different in tone from the first in the series. The previous book had a "fish out of water" kind of wonder feel as the two main characters found themselves suddenly in the center of a planar multiscape. This second novel, however, was dark and gritty, and a lot more mature than I was expecting. I wasn't expecting any of the events to happen based on what I had read previously. I'm curious how the third book in the trilogy pans out.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full review here:

https://jamesgenrebooks.blogspot.com/...

While better than the first volume, there are a few logical inconsistencies in here that really ruins any good will I had towards the improved prose.

[Emmanuel Pothos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Epic fantasy, a really cool and original antihero.

[Veronica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A criterion for any Planscapes fan. A little cringy due to love ineterest. Writing is hard to follow at times. Better than book 1

[Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

An improvement over the first book. A jaunt across the planes following Aereas and Nina as their paths diverge and each becomes the head of an army.

[Justin Salisbury · Rating 1 out of 5]

I enjoy D&D novels in general, but this series is horrible.

[Jeffrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Confusing and deeply unsatisfying. Maybe it's because it's the second book in a trilogy, but it had way too many holes on its own.

[Nancy Raines]

Blood Wars Book 2