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I'm reading the Forgotten Realms Novels- #202 The Howling Delve by Jaleigh Johnson (Dungeons 2)
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<blockquote data-quote="Goonalan" data-source="post: 8285286" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p><strong>#126 The Floodgate by Elaine Cunningham (Counselors & Kings 2) </strong></p><p><strong>Read 22/5/21 to 25/5/21</strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]137361[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>I appreciate this is all IMHO but it's difficult at times to figure what to say for the best. It's not like I wanna be 'liked' here but... clearly Elaine Cunningham is a very good writer, and in parts its a thrill ride- a page-turner, but even at the end... I just don't get it.</p><p></p><p>And make way for the caveats- it's not my form of D&D, it's more posh/privileged folk intriguing and running around a lot, it's not grim or perilous (sorry I'm on a G&P kick right now), its epic magic, with epic wizards, and logic-robot-folk being smart and clever.</p><p></p><p>In places it's a character pile-on, with fifteen active voices (or else people we need to listen to) and all of them have a half a thing to say that twists the dial and makes the story just a little bit different (maybe) than the story we had in our heads thirty seconds earlier.</p><p></p><p>And I love this kind of intrigue, normally, but here- because that's all there is at times- vast swathes of character A talking to character B (then character C, J, X1 etc.) and then the author spends another half page telling us (or character !W) how that changes things. And for all of the heavy potting, investigating, discovery et al then still it relies on a magical medallion (or two) getting picked up, looking exactly like another medallion, getting copied, getting stolen- being wedged in boots, and then falling out of said boots and back into the hands of the bad guy.</p><p></p><p>Oh, but the bad guy- Kiva, best thing in it- evil as, although at the end she'll probably turn out to be a hero (of sorts) or else have a very good reason for it all, or else she'll save the day.</p><p></p><p>But you get me- I don't dig Halruaa (if it was in my world then it would have to go, and BANG!), there's very little action here (and what there is of it is cursory, and sue me- I like action) just snippets in-between vast swathes of plot- everywhere Matteo & Tzigone goes there's a secret something or a new bit of what-not to be found. The clues/plot-threads et al are legion, they're everywhere.</p><p></p><p>Oh and Matteo & Tzigone are still untouchable, which I get, but they never feel like they're in any danger- even when it's obvious that they are (right now) in danger. The pair are also likeable, it's the rest of the stuff going on around them that makes me want to scream (at times).</p><p></p><p>Andris is just odd, I get why he said he went after Kiva, but... I don't get why he said he went after Kiva.</p><p></p><p>Odder still- there's nothing to Kiva (that I can see) that inspires fealty/devotion/loyalty. Kiva will do whatever is expedient to get to where she needs to be- everything and everyone is expendable (including Kiva). Likewise, she will say whatever needs to be said in that moment to get what she wants (or else she'll find a way of twisting her words, or bringing new meaning to them later). There is no grey area here, not with Kiva.</p><p></p><p>Kiva is not your friend.</p><p></p><p>Walk away- qiuckly.</p><p></p><p>I'm also really starting to like Procopio, he's dastardly (and clever), and I suspect on his day's off he wears a top hat, opera cape and goes around tying damsels to railway tracks.</p><p></p><p>What's it say to you when you are actively rooting for the villains?</p><p></p><p>I mean actively- shouting aloud- "Go on kill 'im!"</p><p></p><p>The him, sorry 'im', in question being Matteo.</p><p></p><p>Matteo at times is being played by Columbo- 'One more thing..."</p><p></p><p>In summary- some great characters, well written, a page-turner... and I disliked it, not a place I'd call D&D (my game) and just way too many tangled plot threads. I mean I followed it all but at the end I found myself wondering why I had bothered.</p><p></p><p>Just for info while I am reading these C&K novels I've been reading a non-FR book between each book reported here. At present I am reading SJ Parris' Giordano Bruno's detective series (set in Elizabethan times). Bruno, like Matteo, finds things out- and has a love interest (or three), and... well, all the rest. But they're 500 pages long and have blood and bad people (who do bad things) throughout- an intrigue, and lust, and all the usual stuff, and its grim and perilous (Ahhh! That's nice) and poor, and dirty, and... </p><p></p><p>And I think if Elaine Cunningham had 500 pages, and took her time with it, then this would probably work- but instead it just seems like a story that has way too many twists and turns, and that is rammed in so tight here that the reader has not finished reviewing and reordering after the last shock/big revelation when the next revelation comes around. The again, and again.</p><p></p><p>I really wanted to like it more. It's a frustration tbh.</p><p></p><p>Read.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8285286, member: 16069"] [B]#126 The Floodgate by Elaine Cunningham (Counselors & Kings 2) Read 22/5/21 to 25/5/21[/B] [ATTACH type="full" width="187px"]137361[/ATTACH] I appreciate this is all IMHO but it's difficult at times to figure what to say for the best. It's not like I wanna be 'liked' here but... clearly Elaine Cunningham is a very good writer, and in parts its a thrill ride- a page-turner, but even at the end... I just don't get it. And make way for the caveats- it's not my form of D&D, it's more posh/privileged folk intriguing and running around a lot, it's not grim or perilous (sorry I'm on a G&P kick right now), its epic magic, with epic wizards, and logic-robot-folk being smart and clever. In places it's a character pile-on, with fifteen active voices (or else people we need to listen to) and all of them have a half a thing to say that twists the dial and makes the story just a little bit different (maybe) than the story we had in our heads thirty seconds earlier. And I love this kind of intrigue, normally, but here- because that's all there is at times- vast swathes of character A talking to character B (then character C, J, X1 etc.) and then the author spends another half page telling us (or character !W) how that changes things. And for all of the heavy potting, investigating, discovery et al then still it relies on a magical medallion (or two) getting picked up, looking exactly like another medallion, getting copied, getting stolen- being wedged in boots, and then falling out of said boots and back into the hands of the bad guy. Oh, but the bad guy- Kiva, best thing in it- evil as, although at the end she'll probably turn out to be a hero (of sorts) or else have a very good reason for it all, or else she'll save the day. But you get me- I don't dig Halruaa (if it was in my world then it would have to go, and BANG!), there's very little action here (and what there is of it is cursory, and sue me- I like action) just snippets in-between vast swathes of plot- everywhere Matteo & Tzigone goes there's a secret something or a new bit of what-not to be found. The clues/plot-threads et al are legion, they're everywhere. Oh and Matteo & Tzigone are still untouchable, which I get, but they never feel like they're in any danger- even when it's obvious that they are (right now) in danger. The pair are also likeable, it's the rest of the stuff going on around them that makes me want to scream (at times). Andris is just odd, I get why he said he went after Kiva, but... I don't get why he said he went after Kiva. Odder still- there's nothing to Kiva (that I can see) that inspires fealty/devotion/loyalty. Kiva will do whatever is expedient to get to where she needs to be- everything and everyone is expendable (including Kiva). Likewise, she will say whatever needs to be said in that moment to get what she wants (or else she'll find a way of twisting her words, or bringing new meaning to them later). There is no grey area here, not with Kiva. Kiva is not your friend. Walk away- qiuckly. I'm also really starting to like Procopio, he's dastardly (and clever), and I suspect on his day's off he wears a top hat, opera cape and goes around tying damsels to railway tracks. What's it say to you when you are actively rooting for the villains? I mean actively- shouting aloud- "Go on kill 'im!" The him, sorry 'im', in question being Matteo. Matteo at times is being played by Columbo- 'One more thing..." In summary- some great characters, well written, a page-turner... and I disliked it, not a place I'd call D&D (my game) and just way too many tangled plot threads. I mean I followed it all but at the end I found myself wondering why I had bothered. Just for info while I am reading these C&K novels I've been reading a non-FR book between each book reported here. At present I am reading SJ Parris' Giordano Bruno's detective series (set in Elizabethan times). Bruno, like Matteo, finds things out- and has a love interest (or three), and... well, all the rest. But they're 500 pages long and have blood and bad people (who do bad things) throughout- an intrigue, and lust, and all the usual stuff, and its grim and perilous (Ahhh! That's nice) and poor, and dirty, and... And I think if Elaine Cunningham had 500 pages, and took her time with it, then this would probably work- but instead it just seems like a story that has way too many twists and turns, and that is rammed in so tight here that the reader has not finished reviewing and reordering after the last shock/big revelation when the next revelation comes around. The again, and again. I really wanted to like it more. It's a frustration tbh. Read. [/QUOTE]
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