Eberron novel line. Any standouts?

[Kesh]

I've read the first two of Keith Baker's books, and the first Mark of Death novel.

Keith's books are extremely evocative and have characters I actually care about. He does a very good job of visualizing what the world is like, how people behave and why these characters are risking their lives adventuring. Each character has a complex personality, and it affects the story & other characters.

In contrast, the first Mark of Death book didn't appeal to me. The characters were somewhat bland, especially as the lead protagonist reminded me of X-Men's Cable character: annoyingly grim, depressed and fighting alone because he didn't trust anyone else. Plus, the characters kept making very bad choices, not because it was a character flaw, but because the story would have been over halfway through the novel if they didn't. There were a few redeeming scenes, but overall it felt forced to me.

 

[BadMojo]

Another vote for the Keith Baker books. I'm re-reading the first one and it's great stuff.

Tim Waggoner's book is also very good. It takes place in the Lhazaar Principalities, so it has a different feel than the books set in Sharn or on the mainland. Also has characters who have that "shades of gray" missing in a lot (but definitely not all) other Wizards fiction.

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

How'd I do?

Very helpful! Thanks!

 

[dravot]

Claws of the Tiger (James Wyatt) - next in the series, and I've just started it. So far the first 55 pages are pretty good.

I finished Claws of the Tiger and found it to be quite enjoyable. One key plot point rested on an Eberron specific rule which I'd considered using in my very rarely played campaign, so to me that plot point was obvious from 10 miles away, but that's ok by me.

I was impressed by some of the character interactions and their philosophical discussions on the nature of good and evil. While not up to the standards of Locke and Hobbes, it worked well within the context of the story. Kudos to Mr. Wyatt.

And let me tell you, that as one of the ECS writers, James Wyatt knows his Eberron. I definitely felt like I got to know the world a little bit better.

 

[Klaus]

Regarding Mark of Death (spoilers within):

[sblock] It's very very bad. Characters change attitude at a coin's toss. The paladin-lady knows and is amusing that the lead protagonist is talking the dumb jailor to hand over the key to the paladin-lady, so she can have the authority to release lead character and doggy-shifter. But as soon as that happens, she becomes antagonistic to lead character and won't release him, even though the village is being attacked by vampires.

The paladins are very unpaladin-like, and very un-charismatic, even though they should (as paladins) have high Charisma. They are also very very dumb, insisting on burying dead comrades in the middle of the Mournlands. And nevermind the fact that for a religion that worships the Silver FLAME, cremation would be a logical means of putting the dead to rest.

Even though they've been a staple of the setting for 30 years, the sudden appearance of warforged has everyone spooked and confused. Oh noes! What's this?

The lead character protects an elf girl like a daughter, even though he's human and she's probably older than him by about a century. Yet she behaves just like a human child.

Everyone has an easy time piloting an airship, even though no one has the Mark of the Storm.

A crazy deathless elf living inside the Mournland? And she dispatches the (at that point) main antagonist off screen? Talk about a deus ex machina!

The changeling psion had no reason to *be* a psion. Being the second novel set in Eberron, it'd stand to logic that the book should be as iconic of the setting as possible. Either have the psion be a kalashtar or Inspired, or have the changeling be a rogue/sorcerer.

A frickin' CITY of warforged walking about the Mournlands, and the Lord of Blades isn't there? How many cities *does* he have?

This are just *some* of my problems with Marked For Death. I never picked up the second one. [/sblock]

 

[Klaus]

I finished Claws of the Tiger and found it to be quite enjoyable. One key plot point rested on an Eberron specific rule which I'd considered using in my very rarely played campaign, so to me that plot point was obvious from 10 miles away, but that's ok by me.

I was impressed by some of the character interactions and their philosophical discussions on the nature of good and evil. While not up to the standards of Locke and Hobbes, it worked well within the context of the story. Kudos to Mr. Wyatt.

And let me tell you, that as one of the ECS writers, James Wyatt knows his Eberron. I definitely felt like I got to know the world a little bit better.

This ain't no spoiler:


Plus it has someone actually casting Leomund's Secure Shelter! That's neat!

 

[shilsen]

Regarding Mark of Death (spoilers within):

Wow! That sounds not just bad, but very dumb as well.

I shall consider myself significantly forewarned. Thanks.

 

[dravot]

Wow! That sounds not just bad, but very dumb as well.

I shall consider myself significantly forewarned. Thanks.

Klaus is wise. I might have written much of the same in my review if I could remember how to do the spoiler tags

 

[Klaus]

sblock, /sblock, dude! Words to live by!

 

[dravot]

I just finished Voyage of the Mourning Sun and found it to be overall very good. I have some minor annoyances, but for the most part, it was quite enjoyable.

Good characters, with interesting interactions and philosophies, and lots of travel. I'm ready to get out a map of Eberron and put a pin in for every place one of the novels has visited.

The downsides are pretty small: no one seems to trust each other, yet there isn't (IMO) a compelling reason for them to stay together - the glue is weak, if you will. Also, people seem to hold onto secrets for far longer than felt necessary. These flaws aren't overwhelming, and thus easy to overlook.

There will be 2 more books in the series.