Review: Pool of Radiance by James M. Ward and Jane Cooper Hong

 No one masters a sword. The sword masters the man, and a cleric of Tyr serves no master but Tyr.

Pool of Radiance is a classic and early Forgotten Realms novel by James M. Ward (who passed away last year, around the time I read this) and Jane Cooper Hong. It was published in 1989 as 

a tie-in to the 1998 gold box video game of the same name. It is book one in The Pools trilogy that is also called The Heroes of Phlan. Maybe the first video game tie in, the other would be Azure Bonds by Novak and Grubb (1988) tied into The Curse of the Azure Bonds (1989, the game a sequel to the novel and the Pool of Radiance game). Pool of Radiance is also based off the module Ruins of Adventure of which Ward was a writer for. 

Important note: this was my 100th Forgotten Realms fiction read. I decided to make this the milestone read after the recent passing of one of co-authors, Jim Ward. 

While the story is known for Phlan on the Moonsea, it starts to the south, in Cormyr. Shal is looking for a spell ingredient, an herb called Wa. According to her master, Great Ranthor, it is a component for a dust for incendiary spells. She doesn’t succeed in mastering burning hands except by burning her hands. We learn a little of her training and the patience of her master, Ranthor.

Then scrying a crystal ball, Denlor, a friend of Ranthor’s and fellow mage, calls for aid against the monsters besetting him in Phlan. This doesn’t go to plan.

The characters are of course Shal Bal of Cormyr, mageling of a family of sellswords. Cerulean is her steed and familiar, there is some humor involved with this character. He can speak telepathically to her, run swifter than natural horses, never tires and can also turn invisible. Her story involves a physical transformation that is important to the theme of being comfortable with your own skin and I think while straightforward it is still well done. She’s about 19 years old in the story.

And Tarl Desanea is another of the main trio. He’s a cleric of Tyr, god of justice. A year older than Shal, we meet him second. He is with clerics traveling south from the Dragonspine Mountains along the Stojanow River. He travels with Brothers Anton and Donal and 9 others. Until recently he served his church at a temple in Vaasa. They are to deliver a relic, the Hammer of Tyr to a temple in Phlan. He undergoes a coming-of-age ritual dealing with swords and the clergy. 

Ren o’ the Blade is the last, a thief of some experience and also a ranger. He waits tables in Phlan for the proprietor named Sot at the Laughing Goblin Inn, and hasn’t actually thieved for a year, not since the death of his girl, Tempest. This was because they got mixed up in some gems and ioun stones claimed by assassins. He’s had dozens of odd jobs since leaving Waterdeep. He is six and half feet tall and quiet. I believe he is the one on the cover. His introduction is the shortest but also tells us about the young adventurers looking for a name and money by clearing the ruins for the council of Phlan. 

Of course there is the bronze dragon, Tyranthraxus who graces the cover. We learn even that Phlan had been leveled 50 years prior to events by dragons. The ruins in Old Phlan are now the dwelling of vile creatures and the river has been ichorized in the area. A certain pool of radiance comes into play too but is not evident from the start. 

Quarrel is a good use of a half-orc character, and Cadorna is not a half-bad villain, though he isn’t the main one. 

This story has orcs (the pig-shouted variety), zombies, skeletons, wraiths, a vampire, giants frogs, hobgoblins, kobolds, gnolls . It also has a hammer that works like a boomerang. There is a reversed trope, some tough women catcalling men patrons and workers. 

We get a nice layout of Phlan, a map would have been great. The location feels liminal, civilization and the wilds right next to each other. Of course it’s up to the heroes to adventure into dangerous wilderness to tame it some but also to gain gold and experience, which are sometimes on-in-the-same. This is rather explicit, the nice part of town with humans being Civilized Phlan and the ruined part called the ruins, how apt. We get some vague ideas of the Moonsea area, which I’ve only really seen Zhentil Keep and Hillsfar so far, but Thentia is also mentioned here. 

The vibe is different than other Realms novels. While there are place names and locals, there are generally curses to “gods”, and magical items are very generic sounding. It feels more like D&D generally, particularly with all the names spells, than Forgotten Realms specifically. This seems like a bad thing, and it can be at some angles, but it also makes it an easy introduction to the Realms. Many other novels are overwhelming and they feel like you’re missing something even if they’re first in a series or standalone. This goes away as you become more familiar, but you don’t really have that problem here. 

It is also set in 1340 DR, which is considerably earlier than most tales, Azure Bonds being set in 1357 DR for example, and the rest are generally sequential. (Note, the story was originally set around 1357-1358 DR but did not incorporate Time of Troubles of material so had to be moved back to fit into lore). The protagonists are all very young, just around 20. This makes it rather young adult and easy to approach, sort of like the Dragonlance Chronicles. 

(It’s not as epic, and the party doesn’t form right away, more like a modern epic fantasy that each POV is introduced before they be one together, and the third person narration is obviously omniscient. I think it works better than Dragonlance Chronicles and I personally would recommend young readers start here over the Chronicles. Though it’s still noticeable adult but essentially a lite version (like the Chronciles). This honestly made me feel like a kid again more than Dragonlance did, and I read both as an adult. I don’t think that’s just my Realms bias either. Heck, I felt something similar reading Saga of Old City just not in its sequel, Artifact of Evil.)

Maybe the friendship comes too quickly and too smoothly, and there is some angst in the form of a minor love triangle. The protagonists are also exceptionally capable and we don’t worry much for them after this becomes evident. Not my favorite tropes and this isn’t the highest literature but they did not bother me here. The pacing is done well and dialogue and character development exciting. It’s campy but a good example of how they can be worth your time. Not that this is for everyone, mind. 

Also, it could have used better editing for sure; Ferran Martinez is an odd fantasy name; all the evil creatures are evil, don't expect nuance; and even those in poverty seem to be angles in a negative light. Regardless, I found it an Exceptional reading experience.

“Apart from their magic, the three probably make up the most physically powerful trio I have ever seen.”

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You can track my current progress here.

Review: Masquerades by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb

Masquerades by Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb released in 1995 as book ten of The Harpers, its more accurately a sequel to the Finder’s Stone Trilogy. It is set ten years after Song of the Saurials, and follows Olive Ruskettle, Dragonbait, and Alias now residing in Westgate. The year is 1368 DR. 

These are some of my favorite Forgotten Realms characters and it was so nice being back with them. An awesome artificial swordswoman and her dragon like companion that speaks in scents and some high pitched clicks the human ear cannot hear. He is also a Paladin. Alias has the azure tattoos of her once magical bonds that made her an assassin, but she is now her own woman though copies of her are out there. She also remembers a childhood didn’t actually happen. She’s kind of like a fantasy Kusanagi from Ghost in the Shell. I should say that both her and Alias was a big influence on my own book.

This novel focuses on dealing with the Night Masks gang, which also features in the Cleric Quintet and “Another Name for Dawn” by Paul S. Kemp.  This guild is headed by a being called The Faceless, and the Night Masters serve under him.

But the story starts with Alias looking at two youngsters falling in love in a crowded street. They are looking for the sage Mintassan to give him a staff sent with them by Grypht, the Lost Vale saurial mage, in exchange for a scrying device. 

The action begins after, only a couple pages in, and it gets intense swiftly. We learn more about the making of Alias by Finder Wyvernspur. We get quite some surprises and action. I would recommend reading Finder’s Stone first, which starts with Azure Bonds. 

A big focus is cutting down the Night Masks to size as they have free rein over the city, but not everyone likes this, including the leader of the city. 

Jamal is another character, along with the Faceless leader of the Night Masks and the Croamarkh of Westgate, and the young charismatic noble Victor Dhostar; all are great characters and neat version of a party paired with an antagonist. 

Alias faces different challenges this time. This is less adventure and more of a job in the city. The versimilitude this time around elevates it higher than being simple game fiction, and I like that. Alias is still fierce and wildly capable but must face corruption along with gangsters and magic. Within this journey smoke powder makes an appearance as a competitor to magic. I’m pretty sure in places like Cormyr this is banned, since it can make magic somewhat obsolete and give those with ill intentions great strength with ease. But for those wondering why guns are not really a thing in the Realms, this novel touches on that subject. 

There is a nice mystery element as far the leadership of the Night Masks too. I was having fun trying to figure out the identities. There’s also a joke about common people voting for the leaders and the plight of poverty.  I appreciated the nobility of the young noble Victor as well as his thirst for finding lost treasure too. He wants to use it to help the city, so his romantic speeches tell us.  

Overall, there’s a fun plot, setting, and cast. I’m happy with it, and even enjoyed the romance that was thrown in. And it works well on its own and as a sequel with some familiar sights to the earlier adventures of Alias and Dragonbait. I think counting what it's attached to, it is easily a Exceptional read, I tore through it. And Grubb and Novak add so many tidbits I highlighted. Definitely will finish up their scant Realms writing and will have to cherish it with rereads.

"We weren't meant to fit into society. We must be 

what we are, and let society fit around us." 

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You can track my current progress here.

Review: Elfshadow by Elaine Cunningham

 "Any encounter with the Zhentarim should be handled with a sword, not with diplomacy and bargaining."

In 1991 Elaine Cunningham stormed the Realms with book two in the open-ended series about Harpers called The Harpers. This is a series of loosely interconnected tales, that connection is that it is about the Harpers somehow. This one has no connection to book one, The Parched Sea. More importantly, this is book one in the Songs and Swords pentalogy, though there was a sixth book that was planned but ultimately cancelled. I hope someday we get it. My first Forgotten Realms Cunningham but my second novel by her (the first being her EverQuest novel). A long time coming. Though I’ve read some of her Realms short stories, I was very glad to finally read this earlier this year.

The story starts with an elf tracking in the woods. This is Fenian Ni’Tessine, he is a gold elf and tracks a gray elf and her human companion. He is an assassin that hates King Zaor and the duo he tracks. We learn some of Evermeet royalty, including Amnestria Moonflower. The year seems to be 1321 DR. This is all a prelude.

The story proper begins with the temple of Hannali Celanil, Seldarine (the elven pantheon goddess of love and beauty, like Sune Firehair) in the Greycloak Hills of Evereska. Arilyn, a half-elf, quietly in shock mourns her murdered mother, Z’beryl. She is only 14 years old, it’s 1334 or 1335 DR. 

With her mothers death she met her distant kin and gained a moonblade. We are quickly introduced to Kymil Nimesin: one of her heroes, though they’ve never met. Arilyn must decide what to do now, and it seems something to do with the blade is inevitable. She is skilled at combat. 

The tone is somber and death really sets the mood. The moonblade is an interesting weapon tied to elves and deadly to those wielding them not accepted by the blade. There is also more magic inherent in it, and it must be discovered by Arilyn. 

In a way this is a coming of age. We learn about Arilyn as she learns about herself, including her heritage. It’s a bit obvious at parts but well executed, it’s entertaining. 

Most of the story she is an adult though. She has dealings with the Zhentarim, Harpers, and others. Most notable is Danilo Thann, known as her partner and he also graces the cover with Arilyn. He is a Waterdhavian noble that acts like a spoiled and witless fop while being an actually rather competent spy and wizard trained by the Blackstaff himself. The two meet via a mutual relationship with one Rafe Silverspur. 

The plot is focused on a few things. After the events of the novel Crusade, Zhentarim power in the region, particularly from Darkhold, has increased greatly. There was also a murder of some clergy of Sune. Their lives cannot be recovered but their relics can. So an assassin is sent by the Harpers as the local government’s hands are tied. Hence Arilyn, who is not a Harper but hired by them as a sort of contractor. This leads into an assassin that targets Harpers going after her. There is some mystery involved. 

So she gets her hands dirty. The book is surprisingly sexual though this is done via innuendo. Also, a certain scene with an incomplete manuscript is nothing short of poetic. It really casts into light our concepts of good and evil and paints Arilyn as more grey than anything. 

It’s 1361 DR, I believe. I learned more about Darkhold and the priesthood of Cyric, so look out for that. Other lore includes some elf words like etriel and quessir, and a farewell used by elves. Also that "gray elf" is generally a derogatory term for moon elves. Arilyn deals with misogyny too which is nice to read and somewhat unexpected for a D&D novel from the early 90s. 

Her character depth is expanded by references to prior adventures and the Time of Troubles. She also doesn’t like magic outside of her own moonblade. 

There is a great map showing the Sword Coast with Waterdeep and Candlekeep noted along with Darkhold, Chelimber Marsh, The High Moor and High Forest, and The Half Way Inn. Also the character of Elaith Craulnober is important. I’ve seen artwork of him but not seen him in any story. The Blackstaff himself also has a decent page count in this one. 

It was cool to see a piwafwi show up outside of the Underdark and a dark elf focused novel. There are also some game mechanics coming in, like spot hidden doors. I also did not know Evermead was mentioned in works before the D&D cookbook.

Most importantly, and to conclude, I’m very impressed with Cunningham’s take on the Forgotten Realms. While the more popular feels cartoony and almost like fan fiction, Cunningham brings the world to life with great characters and atmosphere and things I could use in my own D&D games. It’s also the start of a great duo akin to Leiber’s Ill Met in Lankhmar. It’s got good humor too. No wonder she is so highly regarded by fellow Realms fans. 

Also this was her debut and while sure it feels cliche at times, is very fast where a modern author would make it last a hundred pages longer, it is effective by itself and as the start of something bigger. Quite an Exceptional novel. You can listen to my thoughts here.

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You can track my current progress here.

Completed Series: The Corymr Saga by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, and Troy Denning

 “And in this land I’ll proudly stand

Until my dying day, sir

For whate’er king o’er all command

I’ll still be a Cormyte brave, sir.”

The Cormyr Saga is a trilogy of novels written by three authors, Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb, and Troy Denning. It highlights the tumultuous last years of Azoun IV's reign of The Forest Kingdom as it faces a plethora of threats that could prove its doom. I read these all in January and February
2024. 

Corymr by Ed Greenwood and Jeff Grubb (1998) - Exceptional

Beyond the High Road by Troy Denning (1999) - Acceptable

Death of the Dragon by Ed Greenwood and Troy Denning (2000) - Good

Cormyr: A Novel is book one in the trilogy, and is written by two giants of Realmslore, the creator Greenwood and original overseer Grubb (who I'm used to seeing write with his wife, Kate Novak).

This is the origin of the most powerful nation in Faerun, Cormyr. It’s also my favorite nation in the Forgotten Realms, I’ve read several books set in it, by Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb and Kate Novak, Erin M. Evans, Mel Odom, Scott Ciencin and more. 

After the dedication and epigram, the book opens with a note about chronology. It mentions the naming of the years by Alaundo the Seer and also that Dale Reckoning is used in place of Cormyr Reckoning for the sake of the reader. 1 DR is -24 CR as the first Obarskyr king was crowned about a generation after the raising of the Standing Stone establishing the Dalelands. 

The prologue opens with the dragon Thauglor in the Forest Country on the hunt. It is -400 DR, about 1700-1800 years before most Forgotten Realms events. It is the Age of Humanity, but that race has only barely made its way to the Dalelands, and Sembia would not be founded for another thousand years. At this point, Jhaamdath has not yet fallen and neither has Netheril. Though the latter will fall within the century and the former will follow a century after that. Elminster would not be born for six hundred years.

Mention of duskwoods on the second page followed by phandar, silver barks, shadowtops, felsul, manyroots and laspar tells us this is Greenwood’s Forgotten Realms, as the fictional trees found in a large chunk of the Realms are hardly mentioned by other authors. 

Thauglor the Black hunts buffalo, nothing intelligent and so it’s not very enticing but we are shown the great wyrm’s dominion and lack of civilization, his standing alone. This in some way aligns the dragon with nature. This is expanded when a young wyrmling, a descendant of his, flies up to share the meal.

This is Kreston, “Spawn of Casarial out of Miranatol, grandchild of Hesior, blood of the mighty Thauglorimorgorus, the Black Doom.” And it is this Black Doom that is so ancient his scales are beginning to turn somewhat violet. 

But he may have found the start to his own doom, an elf is in the Forest Country, and where one elf is surely there will be more. 

This portion of the narrative largely follows Ondeth Obarskyr of Impiltur, but his name should tell you he will become important (for those unaware, Obarskyr is the royal family of Cormyr). He with his wife Suzara, and his sons Rhiiman and Faerlthann, and his brothers Andar and Villiam. They arrived via Marsember, apparently a port town at the time, and homestead in what will become Suzail. Ondeth is a good man, but can he prevent all strife with the local elves?

The story also coincides with the late second edition timeline of the Forgotten Realms. Chapter 1 is set in 1369 DR on the sunset of Azoun IV’s reign, and the vying for succession is getting heated. 

We catch up to Azoun IV hunting in the King’s Forest. He has a couple old compatriots and one young guard named Aunadar Bleth. The rest of the party is a mile away on the prowl, maybe for the legendary Ghost Stag that only the king may hunt.

Bleth himself is favored by Queen Filfaeril and the crown princess, Tanalasta. He doesn’t immediately become a suspicious character but isn’t openly disliked either. Though Tanalasta largely comes off as a child in a woman’s body, she’s just a tool for manipulation. Vangey, Royal Mage, is essentially the main character.

The two royal cousins at the start are Duke Bhereu Ammaeth of High Horn and Baron Thomdor Ammaeth of Arabel. I don’t see how one could have such a low rank, especially as being Warden of Eastern Marches. I feel he should be at least a Marchion which is the equivalent of a Marquis or Margrave and it’s just below Duke in rank, while Baron is very low in ranks of nobility. And being over the Easter Marches implies he is a Marchion, as "marches" is where the title comes from. 

Other characters include Iliphar Nelneuve, Lord of Scepters. He leads the elves going into the Forest Country and acts like he owns the place. He showcases a feud between dragons and elves that really put both sides as having good arguments. Neither is good nor evil, so much. The last couple sentences of his introduction connected with me more. 

Mistinarperadnacles, or Mist, from the novel Azure Bonds, makes a cameo as does Giogi Wyvernspur from that series and star of The Wyvern’s Spur. As do royal swords Symylazzar, Ansrivarr, Orbyn, etc. 

Alea, an elf, showcases the racial prejudices that crop up in the Realms. Baerauble Etharr is a supposed civilized man next to the barbaric humans the elves war against. He’s also an ancestor of Vangerdahast. There’s also Gantharla, Itharl, Sagrast, Amedahast, Thanderahast, Elvarin, Emthrara, et al.

When Alusair is introduced she is hunting swine-nosed orcs in the Stonelands. These orcs are guilty of raiding a caravan east of Eveningstar. She’s fierce and loyal. I really like her, she reminds me some of Raedra. I may need to seek out novels she stars in as she is not in this one as much as I'd like.

Also, we get some scripture for the church of Malar, the Beastlord. We see the sword Symylazarr. The lore bits Greenwood always deliveries!

We get to see this is far from Cormyr’s first crisis. Can a kingdom only last so long because of strong magics protecting it? This is a true epic, telling the founding of a nation and people and full of politics. A great ending with surprising developments. It’d work as a standalone too but does connect well with the next two.

This reminded me of the later politicking in Brimstone Angels series my Erin M. Evans. The grand scope and information it gives you in Cormyr makes this a good place to start too, though there are of course several others. It also has the best usage of Red Wizards I’ve seen yet. Overall, an Exceptional read.

“Key’anna de Cormyr” 

We guard this wooded land.

Beyond the High Road is by Troy Denning, the only one in the series with a single author and easily the weakest.

A Paladin of Torm is on the hunt for a criminal. This man has slaughtered many Purple Dragons and turns out it’s more of a monster, a vampire or maybe something worse. This Paladin is a member of the Sleeping Sword, a group of warrior nobles essentially in fugue and only woken when a prophecy concerning the doom of Cormyr needs to be addressed. 

After this encounter we are brought to heir-apparent, Princess Tanalasta. She’s working on getting married so she can produce an heir. She is almost thirty-six years old, and after the close call in the previous book, she is taking her birthright more seriously. 

It’s now 1370 DR, the following year of the Abraxis Affair from book one.

She’s changed much, a hint of this showing at the end of Cormyr. Now she is pursued by suitors and is much more capable of reading their intent. She must find someone sincerely hoping for the good of the realm and hopefully someone she does love or can. 

She bashed heads with Vangerdahast, who she has little patience for though he’s the most trustworthy servant of King Azoun and Queen Filfaeril. Particularly where the key suitor is concerned, Donnath, son of the duke who is of Warden of the East Marches.

She’s also turned to primary worship of Chauntea, goddess of harvest. This seems an odd choice for the royal family, and is met with disapproval by them. It does make sense as the land is facing blight. 

There is a great amount of Forest Kingdom nobility, even a brief appearance of Kay and Giogi Wyvernspur who played a pivotal role in the first book and the earlier The Wyvern’s Spur (though this isn’t necessary to read before Beyond the High Road). 

I’m not a huge fan of how Denning treats Vangey, it’s similar to how Karen Traviss treats Dr. Halsey in her Halo novels but not as bad. 

But the ghazneth is a very interesting and unique enemy. Also, the Sleeping Sword is awesome though we get little of it. There is also some understanding of the Realms and morality that other authors don’t grasp, such as a conversation on evil elves where it’s made clear not just drow can be evil. It’d be better if they had said not all drow were evil too, but still, it was nice. 

We also get a look at ancient elven language, which is a nice treat. Also more Cormyrean history. It’s also more sexual than most Forgotten Realms novels, even a sex ceremony of Chauntea called the Seed Ceremony for conception purposes shows up.

Not my favorite by Denning but not his worst. Some nice moments but I look forward to Greenwood having some of the reins in book 3. I enjoyed book 1 more. Also while the first can stand alone this feels like setup for book three. There is some fun mystery and good action too. It's Acceptable.

The final volume, Death of the Dragon, is explosive and conclusive.

This is a follow-up to book two.

This one starts with Alusair, the adventuring Princess of Cormyr, the second child of King Azoun IV and Queen Filfaeril. She is searching for Rowan Cormaeril as he is important to the heir to the throne. But where is Rowan?

She stumbles upon more ancient things dealing with elves and the ghazneth, terrifying creatures made after betraying Cormyr, including old King Boldovar the Mad and Suzara of which Suzail. 

Tanalasta is still in the north in danger and King Azoun goes to war. While Vangey is missing. The royal family goes through some changes and it’s sweet to see their love for each other during this difficult time. Tanalasta is also more likable than she was in book two and so is Vangey. This is probably some of Greenwood’s influence. Alaphondar is also present. 

Nalavarauthatoryl is an enemy that comes to light, the dragon in question and key to the plot and future of Cormyr. We see her home plan full of goblins that feed the Goblin War. 

Again it is somewhat sexual at times, or has nonchalant nudity the Realms is somewhat known for. But it’s also dark, somewhat melancholic and bittersweet. There is some great character development and things on display. Besides greed for power we have sacrifice and forgiveness. 

I very much enjoyed the ending of this one, though overall the first book is the best. Lots of changes bringing the Realms from 2e to 3e in this one, but only politically, not cosmologically as was the case in 1e to 2e. Overall this inspired my current campaign I've been running for nigh on a year, set during the same time period in eastern Cormyr. It's a GOOD series, at least give the first one a try.

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You can track my current progress here.