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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: 8099939" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p><strong>#093 Realms of the Arcane Anthology Ed. Brian Thomsen </strong></p><p><strong>Read 26/9/20 to 28/9/20</strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH]126833[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>It's an odd one, not objectionable in any way but also not one to draw the reader in... or at least not this reader, but that may be down to the format, none of the stories are particularly standout it just felt a bit like a throwaway/cash-in anthology, an end of year beano.</p><p></p><p>The stories are-</p><p></p><p><strong>Wishing You Many More by David Cook-</strong> in which two snarky wizards, ex-class mates (as it were) exchange terse missives as they snipe and bite, it's... mostly obvious, but funny with it in places ending with heroic self-sacrifice and... a bang. But it all happens elsewhere, the various letters make it all a lot less dramatic. Odd, really. </p><p></p><p><strong>Secrets of Blood, Spirits of the Sea by Elaine Cunningham-</strong> the best one in the anthology, the story- way back at the beginning of the rise of the sahuagin, with a very nice twist in the tail- although, you could have seen it coming (I did). certainly the most complete, and best written of any of the stories here, and possibly something I am going to be using in an upcoming campaign.</p><p></p><p><strong>Bread Storm Rising by Tom Dupree-</strong> magic bread rises, not as funny as it thinks it is, or else sets out to be.</p><p></p><p><strong>When Even Sky Cities Fall by J Robert King-</strong> well written and good as far as it goes, the fall of a Netherse sky city (or two), it's almost a shame it's not a longer piece, although it gets done and well in only twenty or so pages- point made, move on. Nice.</p><p></p><p><strong>The Grotto of Dreams by Mark Anthony-</strong> Undermountain's favourite talking skull is back (is this the second time we've had the skull's backstory?), and another worthy effort, be careful what you wish for. Suitably tragic but, and again- I figured where it was going far too early and so was not blown away at the end.</p><p></p><p><strong>A Narrowed Gaze by Monte Cook-</strong> the fall of a king and a kingdom, again I was at a bit of a loss with this one- yes, read it, but... I wanted more, and a better ending, somehow- it's all a bit reported. Odd.</p><p></p><p><strong>The Whispering Crown by Ed Greenwood-</strong> y'know Ed Greenwood = Elminster, when he speaks you listen, and he's so nice- no matter how much you try to hurt/kill him. Power it seems at any cost is not worth the price- everything in moderation, which sure feels odd when Elminster's saying it. Meh.</p><p></p><p><strong>The Lady and the Shadow by Philip Athans-</strong> the Shadow versus Grenway, not a great name for an antagonist- sounds like a mall or a service station. Well written, a bit cheeky here and there with the odd (obvious, again) twist, but... well, the bad guy gets his comeuppance.</p><p></p><p><strong>Shadows of the Past by Brian Thomsen-</strong> just odd, I get it- the Lords of Waterdeep mindblank (or similar) those with the skills to pay the bills and then set them various illegal tasks to undertake for the good of the city, perhaps. It's alright, but the explanation at the end is super-clunky. </p><p></p><p><strong>Tertius and the Artifact by Jeff Grubb-</strong> Tertius Wands versus a doppelganger, again another story that flitted by- not as funny or as cool as it could have been perhaps, just okay.</p><p></p><p>There's a daft prologue, interlude (x a few), epilogue story about a monk/brother of Candlekeep (the author) who finally achieves a little recognition by becoming one of the spectral keepers of the knowledge, and the idea is good but- again, it's all a little flat on the page. The interludes do it no favours by being rinse and repeat, there's no story to be found in these at all- a good idea but strecthed too thin, it would have been better just to make this just one of the short stories in the anthology.</p><p></p><p>So, good in places but mostly nothing much to write home about.</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: 8099939, member: 16069"] [B]#093 Realms of the Arcane Anthology Ed. Brian Thomsen Read 26/9/20 to 28/9/20[/B] [ATTACH]126833[/ATTACH] It's an odd one, not objectionable in any way but also not one to draw the reader in... or at least not this reader, but that may be down to the format, none of the stories are particularly standout it just felt a bit like a throwaway/cash-in anthology, an end of year beano. The stories are- [B]Wishing You Many More by David Cook-[/B] in which two snarky wizards, ex-class mates (as it were) exchange terse missives as they snipe and bite, it's... mostly obvious, but funny with it in places ending with heroic self-sacrifice and... a bang. But it all happens elsewhere, the various letters make it all a lot less dramatic. Odd, really. [B]Secrets of Blood, Spirits of the Sea by Elaine Cunningham-[/B] the best one in the anthology, the story- way back at the beginning of the rise of the sahuagin, with a very nice twist in the tail- although, you could have seen it coming (I did). certainly the most complete, and best written of any of the stories here, and possibly something I am going to be using in an upcoming campaign. [B]Bread Storm Rising by Tom Dupree-[/B] magic bread rises, not as funny as it thinks it is, or else sets out to be. [B]When Even Sky Cities Fall by J Robert King-[/B] well written and good as far as it goes, the fall of a Netherse sky city (or two), it's almost a shame it's not a longer piece, although it gets done and well in only twenty or so pages- point made, move on. Nice. [B]The Grotto of Dreams by Mark Anthony-[/B] Undermountain's favourite talking skull is back (is this the second time we've had the skull's backstory?), and another worthy effort, be careful what you wish for. Suitably tragic but, and again- I figured where it was going far too early and so was not blown away at the end. [B]A Narrowed Gaze by Monte Cook-[/B] the fall of a king and a kingdom, again I was at a bit of a loss with this one- yes, read it, but... I wanted more, and a better ending, somehow- it's all a bit reported. Odd. [B]The Whispering Crown by Ed Greenwood-[/B] y'know Ed Greenwood = Elminster, when he speaks you listen, and he's so nice- no matter how much you try to hurt/kill him. Power it seems at any cost is not worth the price- everything in moderation, which sure feels odd when Elminster's saying it. Meh. [B]The Lady and the Shadow by Philip Athans-[/B] the Shadow versus Grenway, not a great name for an antagonist- sounds like a mall or a service station. Well written, a bit cheeky here and there with the odd (obvious, again) twist, but... well, the bad guy gets his comeuppance. [B]Shadows of the Past by Brian Thomsen-[/B] just odd, I get it- the Lords of Waterdeep mindblank (or similar) those with the skills to pay the bills and then set them various illegal tasks to undertake for the good of the city, perhaps. It's alright, but the explanation at the end is super-clunky. [B]Tertius and the Artifact by Jeff Grubb-[/B] Tertius Wands versus a doppelganger, again another story that flitted by- not as funny or as cool as it could have been perhaps, just okay. There's a daft prologue, interlude (x a few), epilogue story about a monk/brother of Candlekeep (the author) who finally achieves a little recognition by becoming one of the spectral keepers of the knowledge, and the idea is good but- again, it's all a little flat on the page. The interludes do it no favours by being rinse and repeat, there's no story to be found in these at all- a good idea but strecthed too thin, it would have been better just to make this just one of the short stories in the anthology. So, good in places but mostly nothing much to write home about. Read. Stay safe and well. Cheers goonalan [/QUOTE]
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