Don’s Comments (group member since Nov 21, 2020)

Don’s comments from the Project Realms Reads group.

I started Streams of Silver today and finished chapter three. My progress to date and short review below contain spoilers. Be ye warned.

The four pals left Icewind Dale; Entreri tracks Regis; the pals reach Luskan; Bruenor gets his map and Wulfgar survives a tavern brawl.

A few thoughts: Salvatore is at his best when he is writing about Entreri. The writing in Streams of Silver is better as a whole than The Crystal Shard, which seemed like a rush job. Streams of Silver has writing issues, but it is his second book and it is a little better.

The book has quickly established a solid heading: the pals are on a quest to find and reclaim fabled Mithral Hall. That is good. The Crystal Shard had a lot going on and suffered because not enough word space was devoted to fleshing anything out. It was like a quick history and the crystal shard itself was an obscure MacGuffin. Streams of Silver doesn't have this flimsy device and has the potential to tell a deeper story.

Catti-brie was left behind. We have an all boys club. What a coincidence, as the book was written for young, white, male nerds of the late 1980s and early 1990s. The possibility of a strong female presence seems remote. And, the two females we do encounter in Streams of Silver up to this point (three chapters) are: an aggressive prostitute at The Cutlass tavern and: Whisper, whom Bruenor strikes in the face because he is unwilling to give up (more) money. These female characterizations are startling. I understand the book is thirty-years-old and we can claim how "it was a different time" (see above about young, white males). The vicious helmet-to-the-face of Whisper borders on despicable. It is a shame that a chance at being progressive was missed here. A medieval tavern may offer a place for men and ladies of the night to ply their trade. Forgotten Realms story telling does not need this; then or now. I suppose we could have the same discussion about the Song of Ice and Fire series.

I am going to keep reading. The strength of Drizzt as a character is very compelling despite the flaws of the book. I do not think 'the real' Bruenor would have initiated an attack as described in chapter three. He has a daughter (kinda).

Nice. I have Rime of the Frostmaiden, but have not read through it, yet. Not sure when we'll play it. Once we get back together at the table we are going to finish Descent into Avernus. So, Icewind Dale is a ways away.

While you muddle through Beguiled by Night, I'll try to get through The Crystal Shard real fast (not too fast, 'cause I want to savor it) and maybe we can meet at Streams of Silver and compare notes. :)

Raechel wrote: "I know it's a pretty big book and a series at that if I'm remembering it right?"

That's it. My Kindle version of The Name of the Wind is 695 pages: it's a good amount of pages to tell a proper story. It is one of three books in the Kingkiller Chronicles. Sadly, like A Song of Ice and Fire, it is unfinished. Book three is nowhere to be seen and the author seems to have given up.

Raechel wrote: "I've decided to just have one epic fantasy series going at a time so I'm working on catching up through the Game of Thrones book (I'm going to read book 5 in May) ..."

Good plan, and hopefully you have not been disappointed in A Song of Ice and Fire. I LOVE the series and have read them three times. I wish Martin would finish the series, but he's getting so old that I do not think it's happening.

Raechel wrote: "... a friend of mine really wants me to read some Sanderson so I'm going to give that a shot in June."

I wholeheartedly agree with your friend! Sanderson is a fantastic writer, in the vein of Robert Jordan. The Mistborn trilogy is right up there with Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia and A Song of Ice and Fire for me. Can't wait to see your thoughts.

Raechel wrote: "Now that it's April we're doing another Drizzt book, right?"

Yep! It looks like Nikki has Streams of Silver lined-up next. That is tempting. I have not read it in twenty years or so. I have fond memories of it. I do worry that older me might be too critical.

Has anyone started it?

It is obviously not a Realms book, but I picked up The Name of the Wind and started to read it this week. Anyone read it? Have any preliminary, non-spoiler thoughts? It has been recommended to me by multiple people and one friend has nagged me for years.

Forty pages in and it is a bit of a slow start, but good. I see there is a lot of a new world in the background of this novel and I look forward to exploring it as I read. I also like the mystery presented by Kotes and his past. I think Rothfluss has set his world and character building up well as the book begins, though I could see how some folks would consider it a slow start.

Happy reading, all.

Raechel wrote: "though I wasn't happy about the Elminster cameos..."

Yes, Elminster rears his ugly head in Azure Bonds for no good reason at all except to give him lip service. Many, many books have benefited by not paying homage to that awful character.

Anyway, I finished Azure Bonds this past week. I've been avoiding the group to not see spoilers, and I missed you guys!

Guys, I did not like this book at all. My full comments are HERE and they are not flattering. I tried to like Azure Bonds but I couldn't do it.

Raechel wrote: "I was surprised by how much plot they packed into the book. I think all of the events in this single book could have been stretched out to encompass the entire trilogy, so I'm curious to see where it goes from here."

I think this is a problem for Azure Bonds. Too much is attempted to be told that none of it is done well. I won't rehash my review here and now, but gosh I struggled to read it. It took me almost three weeks, as I was avoiding the book! I am not sure I'll follow the trilogy, but we shall see. The completionist in me may cry out to finish the trilogy: just not right away.

Speaking of Alias, how do you pronounce her name?

AY-lee-us (literally like the word alias)?

AWE-lee-us?

AL-ee-us (like the male name, Al as in Allen)?

Nikki ~ The Nocturnal Bookworm wrote: "Once we finish I'm thinking I may do some polls just for fun. Maybe one with favorite character so far and one for which book is the favorite at that point."

This is a great idea and I look forward to it.

I am beginning my reading of Azure Bonds this evening and I am excited to get it underway. Though I am behind, I am glad we are reading this and can't wait to hear everyone's thoughts.

Finally. It took me two months, but I finished Vampire of the Mists this evening. I'd forgotten so much of the book that it still held a few surprises for me. I am glad I read it again. I posted a 'main' review HERE, but I certainly wanted to share and respond to your guys' thoughts, too.

Raechel wrote: "I thought the ending did a great job at walking the line between "the heroes have saved the day" and "Strahd is as eternal as the land"--Barovia is safe... for a time. But we know the Dark Powers cannot be ended so easily."

Agreed! Though we do not know the fate of Sasha and Leisl at the end of this book, I still found satisfaction as the book ended.I struggled to feel much of the emotion presented during the novel, but Jander's 'end' was touching and well done.

Raechel wrote: "I also want to mention how much I love that she's [Christie Golden] got a variety of characters, male and female, who have different positives and negatives to them and we don't just have a few women off to the side who are regulated to "love interest."

Another nod of agreement from me on this point. I cannot add to how well Raechel says this. As I read, however, I did worry about the idea of a male villain with a couple dozen female 'slaves' under his control and doing his bidding. I feel that this idea works in a vampire book, though it may seem like an old, tired trope. Modern critics could pick this theme apart I suppose, but I would hope that readers see this notion as more of Strahd's depravity as a singular character who is trapped in an evil place physically, mentally and emotionally. His brood of vampiresses represent the malignant nature of the land's evil hold on him and his own misguided and perverted perceptions. It is not a characterization of the author's view - it's just good story telling in this genre.

I took to Sasha as a character relative to whom I was rooting for. His change from trouble maker to priest over the years was interesting to me. There was potential for racial divides to be explored more deeply relative to his Vistani heritage that I was curious about, though I know it was beyond he scope of this book to delve into. Speaking of Vistani, I loved learning more of their ways and culture as the novel unfolded. Very well developed in the limited space the book accommodated these Romani analogues.

I plan on reading the next book, Knight of the Black Rose soon. I haven't read that in twenty years, so looking forward to it and continuing my Ravenloft reading adventure.

Nikki ~ The Nocturnal Bookworm wrote: "Whatever the group wants is cool with me."

This is why you are awesome, Nikki. :)

Raechel wrote: "I've got Azure Bonds on my bookshelf and ready for March!"

Cool. Me, too! Let's do it. Being in Waterdeep for a little bit with Jander in Vampire of the Mists whetted my Forgotten Realms appetite.

Hi, all.

We've got a short month here and March 5th shall be upon us soon! Any thoughts on pressing ahead with Azure Bonds ? I am thinking yes, let's go for it. I am one guy and want to read what you guys read, though.

What dost thou say?

Raechel wrote: "This is my second time reading this book and I really like it. I think Golden has fantastic descriptive language."

Totally agree with this. I am late to this reading with you guys, sorry. My daughter wanted to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire , which I did not mind doing, this month. I also read an ARC for a friend's book release.

Anyway, I finally delved into Vampire of the Mists today. I forgot how good this book is. I was captured by the book's magic a few words into the prologue! Golden is one of my favorite writers. I am excited to read this again.

I'd hate to rush through this book. It's one of those books you savor. But, I want to join the discussion, too! Jander just torched the asylum and is contemplating revenge.

Thanks for setting up the reading thread. Looks great. I found my original 1991 mass market paperback of Vampire of the Mists on a basement book shelf. But, I did not want it to endure any wear and tear, so I just got the Kindle edition a few minutes ago. As I was adding the book to my Currently Reading, I came across a Good Reads list that has all of the Ravenloft series of books, which include the eleven books of The Covenant. You may see all twenty-three books HERE.

Penguin Random House maintains a list of the books that are only The Covenant reprints, HERE.

I am the ancient. I am the land. - Strahd Von Zarovich

Raechel wrote: "...when I get home I can look over my copy and post some chapter blocks tonight."

Sweet! I would say let's start another thread just for our reading. Give us fresh start.

Raechel wrote: "I'm playing in an Avernus campaign right now and I'm so excited to meet Jander!"

Nice. I am so jealous. We started this campaign, got our website set up (HERE if you want to see it), then CoViD19 hit right before our first game session. It was a bummer. One of our players offered to set us up online, but I said, "Let's wait." That was eleven months ago. When I was prepping the adventure, assuming we are talking about Baldur's Gate: Descent into Avernus , I do not remember seeing Jander. But, now I am curious. I want to get back to table top gaming so badly.

Raechel wrote: "I know it's super last-minute, but since we're not doing Azure Bonds this month would anyone be interested in a Ravenloft read?"

Thanks, Raechel, and yes! I am totally in. It has been a couple of decades since I read Vampire of the Mists and I would love to read it again. I am a huge Christie Golden fan and love this idea. I can have my copy by tonight.

Shall we set-up chapter blocks the way Nikki does?

I finished this book last week, too. I wanted to wait till today to make some final comments. Here are brief summaries of the novel's final chapters. I have opened my notes if anyone cares to browse what I highlighted and commented on as I read Spellfire

Chapter 19: Rathan and Torm save the protagonists and kill Makark. A power play unfolds at Zhentil Keep as Manshoon returns. A prophecy enters the story. Questions arise about Shandril being the child of Garthond Shessair and the incantatrix Dammasae, not just an ordinary girl.

Chapter 20: The party beats back another attack on the road to Deepingdale. Rathan and Torm leave the couple and return to Shadowvale, while the latter continue to Deepingdale. The Cult of the Dragon decides on a new pursuer to track down Shandril. They arrive at the Rising Moon and Shandril learns of the truth of her parents, their history and deaths.

Chapter 21: Shandril and Narm leave The Rising Moon. Elminster exhorts the malaugrym, Amarune, to abandon the pursuit of Shandril. A third dracolich, Shagrailar, kills a malaugrym and a Cult of the Dragon mage before being easily destroyed by Shandril. Shandril is reunited with Delg from the Company of the Bright Spear. She, Narm and Delg gaily walk off into the sunset without a care in the world.

Spellfire is a mess of a novel. It brims with underdeveloped characters the reader is supposed to care about and be excited to see. The oft-used formula of attack and rescue is so dull and tiring it was laughable. This book covers too much ground by an author that had no business getting a novel published. The plot is obvious, which okay. It is the meandering slog through two dozen names and places that are poorly connected to the main story that it is just a mess. This book is not about Shandril or spellfire. It is four hundred page advertisement for the Forgotten Realms with random appearances of random characters. Clearly, this below average novel was written to sell the game, not to be a serious fantasy story. I think Spellfire succeeds in that regard. For the serious reader with a more discerning mind for good fantasy reading, this book is a must miss and I do not recommend it.

I downgraded my rating from years ago from 3-stars to 2-stars, flirting with 1.5-stars.

Now, I do not want to completely dump negative criticisms on this book. It has good elements in the form of fight scenes and a couple of well-written personalities in the form of Rathan and Torm. Everyone else is a bad, shallow, carbon-copy fantasy trope. Also, chapter twenty is fantastic. As we noted above, the chapter epigraphs are solid, too. I really like that kind of small snapshot of a setting's or book's lore incorporated like that. Finally, a meaningful and emotional story is told about Shandril's parents and their tragic story in chapter twenty. That chapter has good content worth reading and should have been the thesis of this book. Greenwood should have written around chapter twenty's theme and tone, using it as an anchor for the whole novel. The Who's Who of the Realms approach was a bad choice in structure when such a great opportunity for development lurked late in the novel's pages.

Raechel wrote: "... Narm seems to get knocked unconscious in every fight."

Oh my glob, I know! Narm must have brain damage. He's going to be a drooling vegetable at the rate he's getting whacked in the head. Sad thing is I cannot empathize, as he was so underdeveloped I don't care!

Thanks for letting me read this with you guys. Even though Spellfire is a poor piece of literature, reading is never a waste of time. And, we cannot have great books with out bad ones, right?

Great comments, Raechel. Thanks for sharing. I've got one chapter left and I am trying to decide if I should wrap this book up tonight or let chapter twenty's narrative sink in a bit. It is actually a good chapter and the kind of story telling that should have happened through-out the book.

Raechel wrote: "Also, is anyone else weirded out about how Shandril's and Narm's friends have magically and then chemically put them to sleep without asking??"

This! I am trying to rationalize this as an acceptable thing in a medical sense. Like getting a sedative from a doctor/cleric/healer so they can do their job easier. But, there is no solicitation for consent. so it is a bit of (one of many) head scratchers here.

One issue the book, in a good way I suppose, that occupies my thoughts is whether or not to allow Shandril and Narm to leave Shadowvale. I guess 'allow' is not the right word. If you are Elminster or Mourngrym do you ask them to stay, invite them to be permanent residents?

I know Elminster says, “She’ll choose her own path in the end, and that choice may be clearer and happier—if not easier—if I sit not upon her every act, and bestow advice on her every thought.” And I agree, but I have not seen anyone ask them to stay, though they talk of being such close friends and how everyone will miss everyone else.

Maybe I put too much thought into this for this book, but it has been on my mind for a half dozen chapters. This question tugs at me a lot, perhaps because I have a daughter. The question also involves how many would perish in Shadowvale guarding and protecting Shandril? What is the cost in lives to the community that the residents can bear?

Okay, enough from me. Sorry!

All right, chapters 13 to 18. The novel has settled into a regular formula here: jealous, evil factions attack Shandril and Narm. They are rescued or bailed out by their benefactors. Repeat.

The action is not bad in these sequences. The problem is that an ultra powerful benefactor is ever present to save the day and there is no tension in the book at all as a result of this. It is a poor formula for the novel, but a common trope in fantasy. I just go with it because I love the Realms and I enjoy the backdrop of the predictable story perhaps more than the 'plight' of Shandril.

I think this is a fair question: is this book more about how mighty the heroes are from Shadowvale, than it is about the the challenges of Shandril and Narm? Could this book have been called, The Mighty of Shadowvale or Those That Cannot be Bested? That may not be entirely fair because there are two more books in this series.

I very much like the epigraphs of each chapter. They always make me think, and a couple made me laugh out loud. They are great bits to the novel and fitting for each chapter. I also like the Rathan and Torm dynamic, as I've mentioned. This book could be about them.

Almost done, guys. It has been a good read so far. Not great, nothing amazing has happened, but not terrible. I am at about 2.5 to 3 stars right now.

Hey, all.

Just in case it helps, here are brief chapter recaps covering 13 to 18, the last 'block' of reading. I thought it might spur conversation or serve as a way to jog one's memory.

Chapter 13 thru 18 Short Summaries

Chapter 13: Malark of the Cult of the Purple Dragon makes contact with his spy in Shadowdale: a guard named Culthar. The cult also sends an agent to make contact with Korvar, who is a member of the cult.

Chapter 14: Narm learns to wield magic under tutelage from mags of Shadowvale. Shandril learns to control spellfire from Elminster. Culthar attacks Narm and Shandril.

Chapter 15: Ilthond's (of Zhentil Keep) attack on Shandril is frustrated, but he escapes. Narm and Shandril are invited to stay at Elminster's tower and meet Lhaeo. Narms takes lesson on magic use from Elminster.

Chapter 16: Narm and Shandril discuss leaving Shadowdale and exploring options to do so. Fzoul Chembryl is presented as a foil for the Zhents while Manshoon is gone. He resolves to capture or destroy Shandril and reveals his ties to beholders.

Chapter 17: Shandril and Narm visit Storm Silverhand and decide to become Harpers. Storm reveals Korvan's secret Cult of the Dragon affiliation. Shandril and Narm marry.

Chapter 18: The Cult of the Dragon decides to allow Malark to continue his efforts to capture or kill Shandril. Shandril and Narm leave Shadowvale in disguise while a decoy party also leaves in an different direction. Malark subsequently attacks the couple.

Your thoughts and comments are welcome.

I am caught-up on the reading schedule. I finished chapter twelve this evening. Chapters seven through nine are all action, which is good. The battle in Rauglothgor's grotto is an all-nighter with wave after wave of foes. Chapter seven is significant because it finally puts spellfire into play as Shandril absorbs its essence from the balhiir and unlocks the inheritance of power she got from her mom (as revealed in chapter twelve).

So far the descriptions of places, people and things have been good. I highlighted a few that I really liked that struck me as great prose. Other tidbits of writing are lacking. I've read a few of Greenwood's crappy books, and this one is not so bad.

Raechel wrote: "I haven't heard of these before and I've been really confused as to what they are!"

These malaugrym things are a favorite "bad guy" of Greenwood. They feature prominently in his The Shadow of the Avatar series. They are not explained well in the Shandril's Saga books short of being another evil power group wanting Shandril and her power for themselves.

As of now we have four factions wanting Shandril and spellfire:
1. The Cult of the Dragon led by Malark Himbruel (revenge)
2. Manshoon and his Zhentarim (covetous of her power and revenge)
3. The priesthood of Bane led by High Imperceptor (covetous of her power)
4. The malaugrym (some vague power play against Elminster)

Did I miss anyone, lol?