Forgotten Realms Novels...which ones are good?

First,

On the whole is Greenwood the next Shakespeare or WORST HACK EVER.....

Ed Greenwood has the most distinctive style of those writing FR novels (in fact, if he didn't create the setting, I doubt he ever would have been given the chance to write a novel in his style). Thus those saying Greenwood sucks mean: I don't like his writing style. Those who think Greenwood's the greatest ever mean: I like his distinctive style.

Thus, try a Grrenwood book to see if you like it. Both Spellfire & Crown of Fire I liked (Hand of Fire I didn't care for at all). His Elminster books I enjoyed (those that deal with his youth do a good job of reavealing the history of the Realms). If you can find them, they came out with a Double-Diamond Triangle Saga series of mini-books a few years ago & Greenwood wrote several (they were short & cheep). You might even find some Greenwood at your local library or a used book store.

Give Greenwood a try. You'll probably love him or hate him (that seems to be the reaction to his books).

As for Salvatore. A lot of the hatred towards him ain't so much the Drow with 2 scimitars, its all the power gaming fanboys who are playing drow rangers that wield 2 scimitars. If you liked the Icewind Dale Trilogy, check out his latest series (the Twin Swords?). After being turned off by his last several novels (Spine of the World esp), the new series has rekindled the spirit of his earier novels. I enjoyed them as much as the Dark Elf & Icewind Dale series.

In general, the FR novel quality from WotC has increased over the last few years. Fewer duds.

I really liked the new Ervis Cale books & the Current Year of Rogue Dragons series. I've found the House of Serpants books ok, but not great. The Scions of Arrabar books had one section that was so poorly written I put it down for 2 weeks & only finished it out of stubborn determination.

Overall, go to a bookstore & flip through what they got.
 

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diaglo said:
T.H. Lain....aka Bruce Cordell...

needs some help sorry to say.



I slogged thru Lady of Poison... ow... normally i can finish a FR book in about 2 evenings.... this one took weeks... i just couldn't do it. but i stuck to it until i finished....

I couldn't make it. Spoil me, how does it end?
 


I really enjoyed the Avatars trilogy + Prince of Lies (the 4th book, sort of), but if I had to recommend one to read above all the others, it would have to be Stormlight.

And yes, that IS by Ed Greenwood. :p
 

Torm said:
I really enjoyed the Avatars trilogy + Prince of Lies (the 4th book, sort of), but if I had to recommend one to read above all the others, it would have to be Stormlight.

And yes, that IS by Ed Greenwood. :p

Cant recall its title off hand but there is another book to that series after the Prince of Lies.
 

Neo said:
Cant recall its title off hand but there is another book to that series after the Prince of Lies.

Crucible: Trial of Cyric the Mad by Troy Denning (also features witch Ruha) from Harpers #1 Parched Sea; Return of Archwizards Trilogy & some others.

Didn't care for it.

Has any other character in any other novel been as screwed over as Adon (esp when you compare it to what every body else in the party got).

Spoilers here:

Lets see:

Midnight becomes god.

Cyric becomes god.

Kelemvor killed (but then becomes god).

Adon, high priest of Sune, goddess of beauty.

1. Hit with ugly stick, hard.

2. Becomes new high priest to friend Midnight (now Mystra).

3. Driven Insane by Cyric so he renounces her & kills himself.

4. Becomes center of afterlife custody battle between Mystra (midnight) at Cyric (god of Torture, Lies Death, at that time) to determine possession of his immortal soul.

Lets see, everybody else becomes a god. Adon gets all his ability scores drained. Sound fair.
 

Vraille Darkfang said:
Crucible: Trial of Cyric the Mad by Troy Denning (also features witch Ruha) from Harpers #1 Parched Sea; Return of Archwizards Trilogy & some others.

Didn't care for it.

Thats the one, I enjoyed it, was pretty funny in places and the Seraph of Lies (who reappears in the Return of the Archwizards trilogy is an amusing character).

Has any other character in any other novel been as screwed over as Adon (esp when you compare it to what every body else in the party got).

Lets see, everybody else becomes a god. Adon gets all his ability scores drained. Sound fair.

Since when has life been fair :D Fairly accurate portrayal if you ask me of not getting what you deserve but merely getting what you get... "C'est La Vie". :lol:
 

Neo said:
Thats the one, I enjoyed it, was pretty funny in places and the Seraph of Lies (who reappears in the Return of the Archwizards trilogy is an amusing character).

The witch, Ruha (sp?), makes an appearance too.
 

I have read a few of the novels, but the only ones I liked was written by Elaine Cunningham. If you want inspration though, you could read any fantasy novel. Forgotten realms have room for just about anything.
 

diaglo said:
The witch, Ruha (sp?), makes an appearance too.

She does indeed, and finally she losses a little bit of that single minded "must hunt the seraph to the ends of the earth" attitude and make him pay despite the fact he is integral to things turning out okay here and there... she is definitely a character who needs to get another hobby :lol:
 
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