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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: 7897404" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p><strong>#045 All Shadows Fled by Ed Greenwood (Shadow of the Avatar 3) </strong></p><p><strong>Read 16/1/20 to 19/1/20</strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH]117590[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Book 3- and, of course, it's more of the same... although tbh this one stays on a fairly narrow, and straightforward plot/adventure for quite a while, it's not until the end that it seems to chop and change the narratives a lot more.</p><p></p><p>In this series there have been three (sorta) plots going on- the Zhentarim (and others) attack on the various Dales, the Malaugrym's attempt to destroy the Chosen ones and in particular Elminster, and lastly (and seemingly least importantly) the Time of Troubles.</p><p></p><p>The fact that there are these three things going on (and a few other bits), overlapping (only very slightly though) and jumping about a lot, makes all of the novels in this series seem a little light in places- certainly not intense as some of the others that do a lot more heavy-lifting.</p><p></p><p>The issue with the Time of Troubles here is that it gets lost, shoved in to the background- if you've not read the initial Avatar series (or at least the first three of them) then there are times when you're going to be a little confused by the action. Events in the initial Avatar series are explained away very quickly here (as if the reader already knows what has been going on). One minute Elminster is with us- the next he's gone, dead- and all and sundry (from the common folk to gods (sorry goddesses)) are in mourning.</p><p></p><p>Both of the other stories- the Zhent attacks, and their network of petty tyrant leaders is a fascinating expose of their mindset and the way they go about things- again, all good. The same goes for perhaps the more interesting story- the Malaugrym in the Shadow Castle, the shape-changing nasty bastard's desire to off Elminster and take over the Realms. Glorious- and yet, both tales are lessened somewhat by the swooping and swapping between them. </p><p></p><p>Which is a shame.</p><p></p><p>There are also bags and bags of good guys in this series to get to know, and to remember who they are- easily a dozen significant (in action) heroes, perhaps nearer twenty.</p><p></p><p>This novel is the conclusion of the trilogy, and in places a gripping read- the final attacks of the Zhents on the Dales is glorious in places, evocative in its explicit depiction of the terrors of mass combat, armies clashing and the finality and loneliness of death and dying. Very good.</p><p></p><p>And yet their story seems to just peter out... they're beat, the war is over- now for the Malaugrym.</p><p></p><p>It's the same again for the Shadowmasters, the things they get up to are glorious, and nasty, and leaves the reader wanting more- or better still a single novel (or two) that is about the Realms folk battling the shadow-dwellers, without the intrusion of the Zhent. </p><p></p><p>In conclusion Elminster shows up and that's all he wrote... which, again is a little deflating. If you've read the initial Avatar series (which you'll need to have done to make this book/trilogy make perfect sense) then you already know that El is alive and well, and will be back.</p><p></p><p>Therefore the final showdown, and El's arrival- is... unsurprising.</p><p></p><p>There are some great little vignette's here also- Storm's trip to Sembia, the Malaugrym in the Tower of Mortoth (and in the Realms in general), the 'honourable' Red Wizard- all of these are fantastic, particularly Storm's journey.</p><p></p><p>So, two great stories- mashed together, at times, the only significant overlap being the presence of the heroes stood in the middle (in particular Shar and the pair of cheeky/chirpy Harpers & Selune).</p><p></p><p>There's a lot of love, and lust- as usual.</p><p></p><p>It's great, then just good, and then why are we here... and doing this- it's never bad, just not as coherent as perhaps it could have been. </p><p></p><p>Did Ed Greenwood have to make changes, so that his trilogy could sit easily alongside the initial Avatar series? It seems that way.</p><p></p><p>Read.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 7897404, member: 16069"] [B]#045 All Shadows Fled by Ed Greenwood (Shadow of the Avatar 3) Read 16/1/20 to 19/1/20[/B] [ATTACH]117590[/ATTACH] Book 3- and, of course, it's more of the same... although tbh this one stays on a fairly narrow, and straightforward plot/adventure for quite a while, it's not until the end that it seems to chop and change the narratives a lot more. In this series there have been three (sorta) plots going on- the Zhentarim (and others) attack on the various Dales, the Malaugrym's attempt to destroy the Chosen ones and in particular Elminster, and lastly (and seemingly least importantly) the Time of Troubles. The fact that there are these three things going on (and a few other bits), overlapping (only very slightly though) and jumping about a lot, makes all of the novels in this series seem a little light in places- certainly not intense as some of the others that do a lot more heavy-lifting. The issue with the Time of Troubles here is that it gets lost, shoved in to the background- if you've not read the initial Avatar series (or at least the first three of them) then there are times when you're going to be a little confused by the action. Events in the initial Avatar series are explained away very quickly here (as if the reader already knows what has been going on). One minute Elminster is with us- the next he's gone, dead- and all and sundry (from the common folk to gods (sorry goddesses)) are in mourning. Both of the other stories- the Zhent attacks, and their network of petty tyrant leaders is a fascinating expose of their mindset and the way they go about things- again, all good. The same goes for perhaps the more interesting story- the Malaugrym in the Shadow Castle, the shape-changing nasty bastard's desire to off Elminster and take over the Realms. Glorious- and yet, both tales are lessened somewhat by the swooping and swapping between them. Which is a shame. There are also bags and bags of good guys in this series to get to know, and to remember who they are- easily a dozen significant (in action) heroes, perhaps nearer twenty. This novel is the conclusion of the trilogy, and in places a gripping read- the final attacks of the Zhents on the Dales is glorious in places, evocative in its explicit depiction of the terrors of mass combat, armies clashing and the finality and loneliness of death and dying. Very good. And yet their story seems to just peter out... they're beat, the war is over- now for the Malaugrym. It's the same again for the Shadowmasters, the things they get up to are glorious, and nasty, and leaves the reader wanting more- or better still a single novel (or two) that is about the Realms folk battling the shadow-dwellers, without the intrusion of the Zhent. In conclusion Elminster shows up and that's all he wrote... which, again is a little deflating. If you've read the initial Avatar series (which you'll need to have done to make this book/trilogy make perfect sense) then you already know that El is alive and well, and will be back. Therefore the final showdown, and El's arrival- is... unsurprising. There are some great little vignette's here also- Storm's trip to Sembia, the Malaugrym in the Tower of Mortoth (and in the Realms in general), the 'honourable' Red Wizard- all of these are fantastic, particularly Storm's journey. So, two great stories- mashed together, at times, the only significant overlap being the presence of the heroes stood in the middle (in particular Shar and the pair of cheeky/chirpy Harpers & Selune). There's a lot of love, and lust- as usual. It's great, then just good, and then why are we here... and doing this- it's never bad, just not as coherent as perhaps it could have been. Did Ed Greenwood have to make changes, so that his trilogy could sit easily alongside the initial Avatar series? It seems that way. Read. [/QUOTE]
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I'm reading the Forgotten Realms Novels- #202 The Howling Delve by Jaleigh Johnson (Dungeons 2)
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