BrooklynKnight
First Post
So, who's read this book?
First off a short disclaimer. Its no secret that I love Eberron. I also have a lot of respect for Matt Forbeck as a game developer, though this is one of his first novels that I read. (At least that I can remember)
Ok, moving on.
I really feel that someone really dropped the ball with this novel. Either Matt didnt do his research (which I honestly can't belive) or WOTCs departments, Novel and R&D simply arent communicating.
Now, I could be wrong. I read the entire novel in a single day. But according to the novel, clerical healing works just fine in the Mournland and Artificer Repair spells are impeded.
I think that "most" of the healing was lay on hands. I really hope all of it was. But another thing that makes no sense is that the Warforged couldnt use his artificer abilities to repair his finger, and stated that within the mournland his ability to heal was impeded. Artificers heal Warforged using repair spells which are not impeded in the Mournland.
The next thing I want to approach I unfortunatly have to place at the feet of the author.
Repetetiveness........
Wow, the entire novel was one big repetition. How many times can the changeling kidnap the girl, get beaten, chased away, slink back and take her again, over and over and over. It was the same situation time and time again with diffrent circumstances.
I also dont like how the short story in Dragon Mag set up this party of adventurers, only to have nearly all of them killed off in the first fourth of the novel. With Keith Bakers short story (Whitehearth) we are introduced to a party of adventures who stick together through the entire length of City of Towers.
The Deathless... WHY, oh WHY, is there a Deathless in the middle of the Mournland? It just makes no sense for one to be there. We are given no explination for why she inhabits her tower. In fact, I think its implied she was there before the Day of Mourning. She's "insane" and lonley and tries to keep everyone there. Why doesnt she just pick up and leave back to the elven homeland.
Of all the characters in the book she should have been able to spot/see/understand the Mark of Death. But that angle wasnt even brought up.
Construct...I'm baffled by the reaction of the warforged at the arena. You've got a city of creatures created for WAR. And they all run away?! Yeash.
I wanna comment again on the healing. There was too much healing in the novel. It takes place in the Mournland and the fact that healing is neigh impossible there is just written around. Its not addressed at all.
Last but not least. The art Department obviously failed to communicate with the novel department. The Cover of City of Towers is at least indicitative of what you might find within, but the cover of Marked for Death is just way off.
The Warforged doesnt join the group till the last few chapters of the book,and he never uses a bow. The Dragonmark is on the girls BACK not Arm/Shoulder. The guy protecting the Elf looks way too young for how he's described in the book.
So anyone else notice these things or more? I'm not nitpicking am I?
First off a short disclaimer. Its no secret that I love Eberron. I also have a lot of respect for Matt Forbeck as a game developer, though this is one of his first novels that I read. (At least that I can remember)
Ok, moving on.
I really feel that someone really dropped the ball with this novel. Either Matt didnt do his research (which I honestly can't belive) or WOTCs departments, Novel and R&D simply arent communicating.
Now, I could be wrong. I read the entire novel in a single day. But according to the novel, clerical healing works just fine in the Mournland and Artificer Repair spells are impeded.
I think that "most" of the healing was lay on hands. I really hope all of it was. But another thing that makes no sense is that the Warforged couldnt use his artificer abilities to repair his finger, and stated that within the mournland his ability to heal was impeded. Artificers heal Warforged using repair spells which are not impeded in the Mournland.
The next thing I want to approach I unfortunatly have to place at the feet of the author.
Repetetiveness........
Wow, the entire novel was one big repetition. How many times can the changeling kidnap the girl, get beaten, chased away, slink back and take her again, over and over and over. It was the same situation time and time again with diffrent circumstances.
I also dont like how the short story in Dragon Mag set up this party of adventurers, only to have nearly all of them killed off in the first fourth of the novel. With Keith Bakers short story (Whitehearth) we are introduced to a party of adventures who stick together through the entire length of City of Towers.
The Deathless... WHY, oh WHY, is there a Deathless in the middle of the Mournland? It just makes no sense for one to be there. We are given no explination for why she inhabits her tower. In fact, I think its implied she was there before the Day of Mourning. She's "insane" and lonley and tries to keep everyone there. Why doesnt she just pick up and leave back to the elven homeland.
Of all the characters in the book she should have been able to spot/see/understand the Mark of Death. But that angle wasnt even brought up.
Construct...I'm baffled by the reaction of the warforged at the arena. You've got a city of creatures created for WAR. And they all run away?! Yeash.
I wanna comment again on the healing. There was too much healing in the novel. It takes place in the Mournland and the fact that healing is neigh impossible there is just written around. Its not addressed at all.
Last but not least. The art Department obviously failed to communicate with the novel department. The Cover of City of Towers is at least indicitative of what you might find within, but the cover of Marked for Death is just way off.
The Warforged doesnt join the group till the last few chapters of the book,and he never uses a bow. The Dragonmark is on the girls BACK not Arm/Shoulder. The guy protecting the Elf looks way too young for how he's described in the book.
So anyone else notice these things or more? I'm not nitpicking am I?
. I can only hope Matt gets more comfortable with Eberron over time and that the next two books are better.
