Best D&D Novels- Of All TIme

[megamania]

So many...… I'll go by campaign world-

DARKSUN TROY DENNING "PRISM PENTAD" describes and gives life to a truly unique game world. Though it faltered some towards the end, there is a huge scope to the over-all storyline. Also of note is LYNN ABBEY's Pavak and Hamanu series. I truly wished Novels like this fleshed out the other Sorcerer Kings and Queens.

EBERRON Loved both story arcs by DON BASSINGTHWAITE. Especially the second arc. Never cared for polital tales but this one was great. JAMES WYATT's STORM DRAGON was also incredible in scope and importance. I also have to mention TIM WAGGONER's "BLADE OF THE FLAME" that was one of the best "Buddy" stories I have ever read.

FORGOTTEN REALMS I have not read a lot FR novels but RA SALATORE's work is incredible. I also enjoyed his Cleric Quintet series. And for another "Buddy" series there is KATE NOVAK and JEFF GRUBB's AZURE BONDS series- my first love in DnD novels.

GREYHAWK MARGARET WEIS and TRACY HICKMAN's first trilogy was my introduction to Grey Hawk. Great stories and I wish to get more.

RAVENLOFT Only have a few of their books but JAMES LOWDER's KNIGHT OF THE BLACK ROSE was a great read.

All of these I completely enjoyed but it really comes down to style, game world and characters one enjoys. Then of course- how well written it is.

Still want Nibenay and Wanderer Novels hint hint

 

[mrm1138]

Salvatore comes up with some terrible names. And they've made their way into lore. Just recently, I found myself having to say the name “Queen Dagnabbet” in a recent adventure, and I’m still smarting from that.

So much this. I'm currently reading his DemonWars series, and some of the names in that are so bad. I think the worst offense is that there are characters named Chilichunk. The setting name, Honce-the-bear, is also pretty dumb.

 

[Sacrosanct]

A tread necro gives me the opportunity to share my list, I'll take it!

Official D&D setting books?

Dragonlance Chronicles
Icewind Dale Trilogy
Knight of the Black Rose
Saga of the Old City (all the rest of the books were pretty bad)
Curse of Azure Bonds
War of the Spider Queen series
The Justicar series (by Pauli Kidd)
Quag Keep

 

[sevenbastard]

Haven't read any official D&D fiction since I was in high-school. But I remember liking the Ring of Winter by James Lowder and thought it was the best of the bunch. No idea if it holds up as an adult.

Just started reading Quag Keep. Not sure that qualifies.

 

[Ralif Redhammer]

So much this. I'm currently reading his DemonWars series, and some of the names in that are so bad. I think the worst offense is that there are characters named Chilichunk. The setting name, Honce-the-bear, is also pretty dumb.

Wait, so in Demon Wars, the world is called Honce-the-bear? How is that a thing?

 

[mrm1138]

Wait, so in Demon Wars, the world is called Honce-the-bear? How is that a thing?

The world is called Corona, which is fine, but it takes place in the kingdom of Honce-the-bear. I can't remember off the top of my head, but I think it's named after one of the previous kings. All I know is that it's twee as hell.

 

[jian]

Read a few back in the day. My personal favourite is The Wyvern’s Spur, the second in the Finder’s Stone trilogy by Jeff Grubb and Kate Novak for Forgotten Realms, and which is delightfully and unexpectedly P G Wodehouse.

The Wyvern's Spur - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Pale Violet Light]

Read a few back in the day. My personal favourite is The Wyvern’s Spur, the second in the Finder’s Stone trilogy by Jeff Grubb and Kate Novak for Forgotten Realms, and which is delightfully and unexpectedly P G Wodehouse

It’s one of my faves as well- I always liked the “Forgotten Realms does (non fantasy) genre” stories. I’m also particularly fond of Horselords, which is almost alt-history: Genghis Khan with the serial numbers filed off.

 

[delericho]

As the OP mentions, "The Iron Throne" is surprisingly good. I'd also second the suggestion of "I, Strahd" (though I wouldn't recommend the sequel).

Otherwise, I'm afraid that D&D novels are fairly slim pickings. I keep thinking I'd like to reread the first two Dragonlance trilogies again (having recently read, and been solely disappointed by, the most recent one), but there's a big part of me would rather not risk it.

 

[Richards]

I remember enjoying the Justicar and Estrella novels: White Plume Mountain, Decent into the Depths of the Earth, and Queen of the Demonweb Pits. They featured a male ranger, a female pixie, and a sentient hell hound pelt, of all things - not your standard D&D party. But they went through the events of the classic modules, and they were well-written.

Johnathan