Eberron novel line. Any standouts?

[Hellcow]

Wow... Keith Baker, I presume?

Teach me not to have a signature set up. Thought I did.

Look, please take what I said with a hefty piece of salt.

Fair enough. With that said, I have no problem with solid criticism. I have learned a great deal from each novel, and I've had some very helpful feedback from people. Again, something may make perfect sense to ME, but if it doesn't come across to the reader, it needs work. With Gates of Night, I'm very happy with how Thelanis came out, but the epilogue was a mistake.

It's just not my style, I guess... maybe I'm wired wrong. .

Not at all. You're right, it was what I was aiming for, because as a D&D novel I felt I should hold as close to the game as I could. But that is a specialized style, and it's not going to be to everyone's tastes.

I'd very much like to know what you were going for with the epilogue of the third book.

As I said, in retrospect, the book would probably have been better off without it. Without giving TOO much away, here's what I was going for.

I look at this as a season of a TV show. The main story arc of this season was the conflict with the Dreaming Dark. By the end of the season, that story arc is resolved. However, the story of the CHARACTERS hasn't come to an end. I already know what I'd do with season two. It's a story based on what has come before, and that deals with the unresolved issues brought up in this series. I never intended to answer EVERY question; some issues are resolved, some remain open.

The epilogue specifically addresses something that's set in motion in the first book, and which would form the backbone of the plot for the next book. Without giving it away, I'd suggest the following (spoiler-blocked):

Spoiler

Look closely at Daine's interaction with the Draconic eidolon.
Can you tell me: Who was responsible for Jode's death?
How did Daine get his dragonmark? Why? Who benefits from it?

As I said, some people out there have hit on the answer. But I think the cliffhanger was too extreme; if I'd just left it at the final chapter, it would still leave questions open, but wouldn't shove it in the reader's face.

 

[Asmor]

I'm not sure if under 2 months counts as a thread resurrection, but I apologize for it all the same... Just finished Gates of Night today and posted something and Crothian gave me a link to this thread.

I actually read City of Towers as an Eberron primer, and it worked out wonderfully for that purpose. It also just so happens that I haven't read a novel in many, many years... so I don't have much to compare it to. That said, I enjoyed the trilogy quite a lot. I wasn't thrilled with Thelanis, but it wasn't bad. My only real complaint is the ending, the epilogue in particular, but it seems you've already heard about that... Actually, the main reason I'm posting is that it's nice to know that the author feels it should have been done differently... It gives me an odd sense of closure.

Oh, and also when I went to Barnes and Nobles today to get my next book I was quite disappointed to find that you didn't have anything else to your credit... So don't take any of my criticisms too harshly

 

[Mikaya]

Dreaming Dark Trilogy

I wasn't fully hooked into Eberron until a friend of mine bought the campaign book, and it had an exerpt from City of Towers. I was hooked! I absolutely adored the characters and the plotline, and quickly snatched up the first two books, then went on a massive hunt for the third, bought recently on eBooks and finished in under a week, then re-read again a few weeks later for sheer enjoyment!

Ok, praise aside, I did have a question, though honestly I'm a little timid to put it down. I'm honestly awe-struck that Keith Baker posts here, and I'm delighted to have a chance to ask this, if you don't mind answering: Is there any chance we'll see Daine, Lei, and Peirce in the future in other stories? I'd love to read any more of their adventures!

 

[Asmor]

Ok, praise aside, I did have a question, though honestly I'm a little timid to put it down. I'm honestly awe-struck that Keith Baker posts here, and I'm delighted to have a chance to ask this, if you don't mind answering: Is there any chance we'll see Daine, Lei, and Peirce in the future in other stories? I'd love to read any more of their adventures!

I obviously can't speak for future stories, but there is a story featuring them in them in the Eberron anthology... I think the title of the anthology is something like "Tales of the Last War."

 

[Klaus]

I wasn't fully hooked into Eberron until a friend of mine bought the campaign book, and it had an exerpt from City of Towers. I was hooked! I absolutely adored the characters and the plotline, and quickly snatched up the first two books, then went on a massive hunt for the third, bought recently on eBooks and finished in under a week, then re-read again a few weeks later for sheer enjoyment!

Ok, praise aside, I did have a question, though honestly I'm a little timid to put it down. I'm honestly awe-struck that Keith Baker posts here, and I'm delighted to have a chance to ask this, if you don't mind answering: Is there any chance we'll see Daine, Lei, and Peirce in the future in other stories? I'd love to read any more of their adventures!

I'll try and point Keith to this question.

 

[Hellcow]

Ok, praise aside, I did have a question, though honestly I'm a little timid to put it down. I'm honestly awe-struck that Keith Baker posts here, and I'm delighted to have a chance to ask this, if you don't mind answering: Is there any chance we'll see Daine, Lei, and Peirce in the future in other stories? I'd love to read any more of their adventures!

Hi Mikaya!

The reason Gates of Night ends the way it does is because I have ideas for lots of stories I'd like to tell about the characters. I'd still like to tell those stories; it's simply a question of whether there will be an opportunity to do so through Wizards, and if not, if there's any way I can tell them on my own. So the short answer is that I don't know, but I hope so. With that said, if you haven't read the Thorn of Breland books yet, you may want to check them out; you may find the answers to a few hanging questions from The Dreaming Dark resolved there.

 

[Desdichado]

Dark•Heritage: The Crimson Talisman

Dark•Heritage: The Orb of Xoriat

Dark•Heritage: In the Claws of the Tiger

 

[Mikaya]

Hi Mikaya!

The reason Gates of Night ends the way it does is because I have ideas for lots of stories I'd like to tell about the characters. I'd still like to tell those stories; it's simply a question of whether there will be an opportunity to do so through Wizards, and if not, if there's any way I can tell them on my own. So the short answer is that I don't know, but I hope so. With that said, if you haven't read the Thorn of Breland books yet, you may want to check them out; you may find the answers to a few hanging questions from The Dreaming Dark resolved there.

I most certainly will! Thanks for the advice, and I'm thrilled to hear that there's at least a hope for future adventures with my three favorite Eberron characters! *hurries off to google Thorn of Breland*

I obviously can't speak for future stories, but there is a story featuring them in them in the Eberron anthology... I think the title of the anthology is something like "Tales of the Last War."

I actually already have that one, lol! I really liked the story with Daine, Lei, Peirce, and Jode in it. I honestly think I've read it about a dozen times already.

 

[megamania]

Geth and his storyline are awesome.

I am enjoying Thorn's stuff also as I do a lot with the Dark Lanterns myself.


As for the other books... I'm trying to get full sets so as to read them from beginning to end. I may be E-Baying to do this.