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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: 8091093" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p><strong>#091 Beyond the High Road by Troy Denning (Cormyr 2) </strong></p><p><strong>Read 13/9/20 to 17/9/20</strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH]126394[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>Book 2- and more of the same sort of stuff, although- probably a bit better than the first. Or else it all seems much smaller in compass, with much less politicking- way more action, and- possibly the clincher, fewer interludes with the spoilt brat princess and the hated nobles. Obviously book one was the timeline for what follows- a massive (MASSIVE) chunk of exposition, this one then is always going to shine in comparison, particularly because its linear, and we spend time with people- enough to know whether we like them (or not).</p><p></p><p>Tanalasta's back, and she's all growed up, and- at last- she knows her own mind, and has the bottle to let others know. Don't get me wrong the last novel did her no favours, so she was starting at very low level, and yet you've gotta like her, or else I did. Female protagonists get short shrift (at times) in many of these books, some authors seem to equate power with allure/beauty, and make clear the need for both. It seems its not enough to be loved (by whoever) the leading ladies need also to be lusted after. Just an observation, maybe the time and the place- a message very apparent in a lot of media.</p><p></p><p>Dauneth is also likeable, when he shows up- I like that he gets to say sorry to his princess all the while, he seems a much better fit than the previous candidates (here and in the previous novel). Likewise the blessed of Chauntea, the earthsplitters- am I remembering that right?</p><p></p><p>There's also a part of me likes the fact that the enemy here has disarmed (sorta) Vangerdahast- the use of magic becomes verbotten, at least for a short while. I hate the fact that all of the main players have a big bag of magic items to rely on- but that's me and D&D, and he's the archmage and she's the princess- so, I get it. </p><p></p><p>There's another part of me that enjoyed the fact that Vangey comes apart at the seams, again- just a little, at times I think he's going to "lose it man!" I like that Tanalasta is often the source of his hair-pulling frustration.</p><p></p><p>All of the above said, there's still the sniff of epic in this- the PCs with their Purple Dragon shield of steel are extremely hard to kill, although... again, the bad guys are having a good go here. At the end of the book were certainly nowhere near the win- a score draw so far between Cormyr and resurrected/demonic Mad King (and the bigger bad), and this one-like the last, feels a lot like a set up for the next.</p><p></p><p>Lots of action, and we're closer to the final reveal, and the finding of the ultimate weapon to fight the foe, but... in a way we've just been marking time, perhaps a little more of a conclusion to this one would have served it better. </p><p></p><p>Who didn't figure out that Tanalasta would be with child?</p><p></p><p>So, much more to come- including the finale, and now (nearly) all of the pieces are on the board- the future of Cormyr is in the balance, the princess has married into a traitor noble family, the heir to the throne is likewise blessed/cursed, and Vangey is blowing hard...</p><p></p><p>How will it end?</p><p></p><p>My money's not on the big bad dude and his super-mooks.</p><p></p><p>Read.</p><p></p><p>Stay safe and well.</p><p></p><p>Cheers goonalan</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Goonalan, post: 8091093, member: 16069"] [B]#091 Beyond the High Road by Troy Denning (Cormyr 2) Read 13/9/20 to 17/9/20[/B] [ATTACH]126394[/ATTACH] Book 2- and more of the same sort of stuff, although- probably a bit better than the first. Or else it all seems much smaller in compass, with much less politicking- way more action, and- possibly the clincher, fewer interludes with the spoilt brat princess and the hated nobles. Obviously book one was the timeline for what follows- a massive (MASSIVE) chunk of exposition, this one then is always going to shine in comparison, particularly because its linear, and we spend time with people- enough to know whether we like them (or not). Tanalasta's back, and she's all growed up, and- at last- she knows her own mind, and has the bottle to let others know. Don't get me wrong the last novel did her no favours, so she was starting at very low level, and yet you've gotta like her, or else I did. Female protagonists get short shrift (at times) in many of these books, some authors seem to equate power with allure/beauty, and make clear the need for both. It seems its not enough to be loved (by whoever) the leading ladies need also to be lusted after. Just an observation, maybe the time and the place- a message very apparent in a lot of media. Dauneth is also likeable, when he shows up- I like that he gets to say sorry to his princess all the while, he seems a much better fit than the previous candidates (here and in the previous novel). Likewise the blessed of Chauntea, the earthsplitters- am I remembering that right? There's also a part of me likes the fact that the enemy here has disarmed (sorta) Vangerdahast- the use of magic becomes verbotten, at least for a short while. I hate the fact that all of the main players have a big bag of magic items to rely on- but that's me and D&D, and he's the archmage and she's the princess- so, I get it. There's another part of me that enjoyed the fact that Vangey comes apart at the seams, again- just a little, at times I think he's going to "lose it man!" I like that Tanalasta is often the source of his hair-pulling frustration. All of the above said, there's still the sniff of epic in this- the PCs with their Purple Dragon shield of steel are extremely hard to kill, although... again, the bad guys are having a good go here. At the end of the book were certainly nowhere near the win- a score draw so far between Cormyr and resurrected/demonic Mad King (and the bigger bad), and this one-like the last, feels a lot like a set up for the next. Lots of action, and we're closer to the final reveal, and the finding of the ultimate weapon to fight the foe, but... in a way we've just been marking time, perhaps a little more of a conclusion to this one would have served it better. Who didn't figure out that Tanalasta would be with child? So, much more to come- including the finale, and now (nearly) all of the pieces are on the board- the future of Cormyr is in the balance, the princess has married into a traitor noble family, the heir to the throne is likewise blessed/cursed, and Vangey is blowing hard... How will it end? My money's not on the big bad dude and his super-mooks. Read. Stay safe and well. Cheers goonalan [/QUOTE]
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