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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: 8961743" data-attributes="member: 16069"><p><strong>#183 Whisper of Waves by Philip Athans (Watercourse 1) </strong></p><p><strong>Read 8/3/23 to 11/3/23</strong></p><p></p><p>[ATTACH=full]277832[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>I'm still a bit stuck on what to say here...</p><p></p><p>I want to tell you that it's a new type of fantasy fiction novel (or else a bit different from 99% of what has come before) but... I still don't know what to say for the best, or worst.</p><p></p><p>It's not my type of D&D, of that I am certain, and that being the case I didn't appreciate it as much as should have, perhaps, trying as it is to break the mold (again, a bit).</p><p></p><p>So, what does it do different, you are asking yourself, or else asking me- it does intrigue, and the long-game, and it twists and turns (a bit) and takes us here and there, and in doing so it feels like we're really spending quality time with the central characters. Not time in battle at which point every decision is life or death, but here there's a lot more (90% of it) in the way of down time. Characters intriguing, politicking- appeasing their mothers, worrying about their friends, and... it's a lot more mundane, prosaic.</p><p></p><p>The fact that it does this stuff, and it promises more- because let me tell you nothing much happens in this the first book- we're just getting the pieces on the board and moving here, well- that's a new thing because the usual fare here, even in the series novels is crash bang wallop before the end (of every book) and hefty serving of the same, well... throughout (some of them). This one has a ship wreck, but not much of one. A couple of swift fights and an epic dual against a pair of Furious Eels (yeah, you heard me- furious, absolutely livid).</p><p></p><p>Trying to do this kind of thing, of making a three part intrigue/thriller novel set in a fantasy world, well... that's somewhat different than pretty much everything that I've read here, although maybe someone will put me right. This book, thus far, isn't about adventurers, or monsters, or fighting, or spells- although, there's some of all of those things in here.</p><p></p><p>So, and at last, we're in Innarlith (and it's a terrible place- imbalance rich vs poor) and we're with a pair of Cormyrean architects (yep, you read that right- Architects! Quick draw the plumbline.) one of them- Willem is ideally situated to get on, while the other is so outsider it's a wonder he hasn't been martyred already, oh and he's the Messiah- or at least the Messiah of Stonemasons, that's our Ivar.</p><p></p><p>There are others here- a Genasi and a made good (boy from the wrong side of town) Innarlithian, and both of these fellows are as evil as they come, y'know- Senators, with power, influence, charm, servants, gold, magic etc. So, plot-plot-plot, but slow-slow-slow. Nothing happens, much.</p><p></p><p>Then there's Phyrea, she's the daughter of the Master Builder and a wild child to boot, see the Sembia series and the daughter of the family there- I forget her name, but basically she spends time at fancy pants galas and the like (disdaining everything) and then goes out cat-burgling of an evening. Twist- she smashes the stuff she steals, because... no one should have it. She has a heart of gold, and so she has to carry the burden of being posh and rich in a world made poor by the likes of, well... her, and her family. Which is... well, okay, but you get fed up reading about folk who can afford their epiphanies.</p><p></p><p>Then, well... intrigue happens, or else events- stuff gets built or else it doesn't, the bad guys scheme etc. and then... well, it's the end of the book.</p><p></p><p>Willem has gone from being earnest with a toothpaste smile to a murderer who just wants to please his snob mother (and also to please the Master Builder). But here's the twist- Willem can see himself changing, he's narrating his own downfall, and so... he's complex, and thus could go either way. And, I want to find out.</p><p></p><p>Phyrea is dragging terror and ghosts around with her by the end, and she's also self-harming, so... a happy ending is on the cards. The fact that she seems to be falling for Ivar isn't going to make things any easier for her.</p><p></p><p>Perhaps Phyrea and Ivar can save each other.</p><p></p><p>While Ivar is going to attempt his greatest bit of architecture ever, a canal to change the trade routes on Faerun forever... which will involve the co-operation of the Water Nagas. Natch.</p><p></p><p>That's it, that's where we've got to.</p><p></p><p>Some folk want the canal, some others do not, there's going to be a helluvah lot of scheming in the next one. Probably.</p><p></p><p>Is this Suez? Panama? Is this a history book made fantasy?</p><p></p><p>It feels somehow epic, but again- not my kind of D&D, which I need to apologise for, a little.</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: 8961743, member: 16069"] [B]#183 Whisper of Waves by Philip Athans (Watercourse 1) Read 8/3/23 to 11/3/23[/B] [ATTACH type="full" width="177px"]277832[/ATTACH] I'm still a bit stuck on what to say here... I want to tell you that it's a new type of fantasy fiction novel (or else a bit different from 99% of what has come before) but... I still don't know what to say for the best, or worst. It's not my type of D&D, of that I am certain, and that being the case I didn't appreciate it as much as should have, perhaps, trying as it is to break the mold (again, a bit). So, what does it do different, you are asking yourself, or else asking me- it does intrigue, and the long-game, and it twists and turns (a bit) and takes us here and there, and in doing so it feels like we're really spending quality time with the central characters. Not time in battle at which point every decision is life or death, but here there's a lot more (90% of it) in the way of down time. Characters intriguing, politicking- appeasing their mothers, worrying about their friends, and... it's a lot more mundane, prosaic. The fact that it does this stuff, and it promises more- because let me tell you nothing much happens in this the first book- we're just getting the pieces on the board and moving here, well- that's a new thing because the usual fare here, even in the series novels is crash bang wallop before the end (of every book) and hefty serving of the same, well... throughout (some of them). This one has a ship wreck, but not much of one. A couple of swift fights and an epic dual against a pair of Furious Eels (yeah, you heard me- furious, absolutely livid). Trying to do this kind of thing, of making a three part intrigue/thriller novel set in a fantasy world, well... that's somewhat different than pretty much everything that I've read here, although maybe someone will put me right. This book, thus far, isn't about adventurers, or monsters, or fighting, or spells- although, there's some of all of those things in here. So, and at last, we're in Innarlith (and it's a terrible place- imbalance rich vs poor) and we're with a pair of Cormyrean architects (yep, you read that right- Architects! Quick draw the plumbline.) one of them- Willem is ideally situated to get on, while the other is so outsider it's a wonder he hasn't been martyred already, oh and he's the Messiah- or at least the Messiah of Stonemasons, that's our Ivar. There are others here- a Genasi and a made good (boy from the wrong side of town) Innarlithian, and both of these fellows are as evil as they come, y'know- Senators, with power, influence, charm, servants, gold, magic etc. So, plot-plot-plot, but slow-slow-slow. Nothing happens, much. Then there's Phyrea, she's the daughter of the Master Builder and a wild child to boot, see the Sembia series and the daughter of the family there- I forget her name, but basically she spends time at fancy pants galas and the like (disdaining everything) and then goes out cat-burgling of an evening. Twist- she smashes the stuff she steals, because... no one should have it. She has a heart of gold, and so she has to carry the burden of being posh and rich in a world made poor by the likes of, well... her, and her family. Which is... well, okay, but you get fed up reading about folk who can afford their epiphanies. Then, well... intrigue happens, or else events- stuff gets built or else it doesn't, the bad guys scheme etc. and then... well, it's the end of the book. Willem has gone from being earnest with a toothpaste smile to a murderer who just wants to please his snob mother (and also to please the Master Builder). But here's the twist- Willem can see himself changing, he's narrating his own downfall, and so... he's complex, and thus could go either way. And, I want to find out. Phyrea is dragging terror and ghosts around with her by the end, and she's also self-harming, so... a happy ending is on the cards. The fact that she seems to be falling for Ivar isn't going to make things any easier for her. Perhaps Phyrea and Ivar can save each other. While Ivar is going to attempt his greatest bit of architecture ever, a canal to change the trade routes on Faerun forever... which will involve the co-operation of the Water Nagas. Natch. That's it, that's where we've got to. Some folk want the canal, some others do not, there's going to be a helluvah lot of scheming in the next one. Probably. Is this Suez? Panama? Is this a history book made fantasy? It feels somehow epic, but again- not my kind of D&D, which I need to apologise for, a little. Read. Stay safe and well. Cheers goonalan. [/QUOTE]
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