The first D&D Anthology - Dragontales edited by Kim Mohan

If you have stuck around for awhile, you may remember I reviewed the first novel for Dungeons & Dragons, Quag Keep, some years ago. Before Quag Keep there was only one other story officially tied to D&D, The Gnome Cache by Garrison Ernst (a nom de plume for Gary Gygax). It was serialized in the first issues of The Dragon, and released to the point it was a novella. In reality, it was a complete novel but never fully published. I'm not sure why. That was 1976. In 1978 Quag Keep released, and in 1980 the world received the third piece of D&D fiction.

That is Dragontales, ten stories not attached to any official settings, edited by Kim Mohan, who was working for Dragon Magazine but was not quite Editor-in-Chief yet. I recently read this and spoke about it on my Liam's Lyceum channel, so can watch/listen here if you would like.

The dimensions of this anthology are not like the mass market paperbacks of the lines for Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms that would come in later years. It actually is a magazine, though of heftier paper than most.

Here are the stories.

“The Wizards are Dying” by John L. Jenkins. This has an exciting start, a wizard faces haywire magic and warns his servant Grimsley the gnome of such danger who then barely escapes. We then meet fellows in a tavern discussing this immolation. These are Deihm, a cleric of the Brotherhood, R’kan a dwarf, and Faendril an elf wizard from Llum. It feels very D&D. Maybe an early stab at the success of things like The Sword of Shannara.

The story is rather straightforward: fight into a lich’s lair. It’s also one of the longest. There is a scholar, a girl with the generic fantasy name of Arya, manticores, and a classic party of adventurers. The worldbuilding feels like many a generic D&D world, but isn’t one I’m familiar with.

“Dragon’s Fosterling” by Ruby S. W. Jung. This one is pretty interesting. Asgara is the daughter of a count and one day she gets taken by a dragon. They have an interesting relationship, he teaches her some useful things but he’s pretty wicked still, killing the men that come to rescue her. It’s kinda boring to start, besides that Asgara speaks more like a teenage girl from the 80s with colloquialisms and slang. The end really amps up and I quite liked it. While a bit silly it’s pretty feminist. This one feels less strictly tied to game mechanics of DnD, Jung like the author before her doesn’t seem to have published anything else. A nice reference to the Saga of the Volsungs and the legend of Sigurd.

The third story is “Out of the Eons” by Gardner F. Fox, known for his comics and Kothar and Kyrik sword & sorcery stories. This is a story of Niall of the Far Travels who appeared in several issues of Dragon Magazine. Niall in this one is expanding his wine cellar when he goes through his wall he finds another wall and breaks through that as well. This inadvertently unleashes a sealed green spirit thing known as Adonair. The power of a goddess that is his lover protects him. A good clip, with godly things. Feels prettygeneric but not bad. 

Fourth is “Sir George” by Carl Parlagreco. I thought this might be somehow about a dragon slaying Saint George. Instead, George is the dragon and this is comic. Like Shrek or Myth Adventures. When a knight comes calling for George’s head to win a maiden in matrimony, things go a different route. It’s rather short too and my favorite of the first four. 

Fifth is “Black Lotus Moon” by Tom Moldvay, before his famous Moldvay Basic was released in 1981. In Biaazan, Tamara awakes with the man she spent the night with. She makes a swift acrobatic escape as the city watch bangs on the door, presumably looking for her, as the naked man feigns sleep. She finds out from her fellow thief Saris that the thieves guild and mayor have had enough to her, and instead to trap her and see her hang. We also are introduced to a Conan like Barbarian fur diaper man, Arngrim. And the sorcerer Gorilon, who dreams once a month under the haze of black lotus. Essentially, we’re gathering typical sword & sorcery protagonists to form a D&D party. A longer story, and nicer than the first story which also has a party of characters. While not great literature, I enjoyed it, and the ending was nice. It is another of my favorites in the anthology.

“Honor Among Thieves” by Roger Moore is about two thieves who make a short-lived pact. Pretty short and straightforward, I appreciated that. 

“Ice Dream” by David F. Nalle is 7th and shortest. It’s about a young shepherd being inspired by a traveling skald and it not quite going as we like to think adventure will. Similar to the beginning of Spellfire by Ed Greenwood.

“In the Darkness, Hunting” by Janrae Frank. This follows a woman who lives as a warrior and man among the nomads. She is an exile from her own people who have some inherent power that seems magical. The story starts with a chief for which she acts as war-leader, he wants to make her his woman, even though they’re sworn brothers in arms. She refuses, as among the nomads she would have quite a different life if they knew she was a woman. He then tries to force himself upon her. Easily the most interesting of the batch! This character also appeared in other anthologies, the first being in Amazons! from 1979.

“Just Call Me Albert” by Martin Mundt is another humous one, though told in first person. I don't have much to say on this one.

And last and tenth is “Birth of a Wizard” by Marie Desjardin. This is about a great wizard from a village returning home and the lack of welcome he receives. It really gets into thought-provoking aspects of power and manhood that I was not expecting. Another of the standouts!

Throughout there are also illustrations by James Holloway, M. Kay, Peter Laird, etc. Each story has several by a new artist for each. Some are not credited so blatantly so I'm unsure who all ten were, but the art is quite good!

Overall, the anthology has some good and mediocre stories, as I have come to expect from magazines and anthologies. But as a piece of history, it is very important. We have no orcs; it feels like a mix of the sword & sorcery that dominated fantasy fiction in the 1970s and the heroic fantasy flavor D&D established with later fiction. It is the third publication, and with ten stories increased the fiction of 2 stories to 12! Maybe find a copy and enjoy it yourself?

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Review: Realms of Valor

Realms of Valor is the first of the Forgotten Realms anthologies, edited by James Lowder and released in 1993. Each story has an accompanying piece of artwork. This is decently common but was certainly a nice touch. These pieces are done by Ned Dameron; Clyde Caldwell did the cover. I've previously reviewed Realms of the Deep, Realms of War, The Halls of Stormweather, and The Best of the Realms II. If you would rather watch or listen to this review, click here.

“The Lord of Lowhill” by Douglas Niles

Pawldo A halfling exits his home in a hill, like a hobbit hole. This is on the Moonshaes, Niles stomping ground for his Moonshae and Druidhome novels. Our Tolkien-esque hero braves the Palace of Skulls. Pawldo is an aging halfling, grey of hair and Lord Mayor of Corwell. He contemplates his duties and a gift he can give to the king and queen in token of their friendship and the couple's anniversary. This is tied to the Moonshae Trilogy and by certain roles certain characters have it is likely best to read after those books. In fact, it released a month before the last of the Druidhome trilogy, The Druid Queen. It may be best read in publication order but I have yet to read Niles' novels.

The story itself involves an item found in the Llyrath Forest, where the Castle of Skulls only appears once in a generation around the Summer Solstice. This reminded me of a Fane in a forest lake in the Erevis Cale books, and it’s a fun trope. There is a dark character here, Ketheryll. Pawldo also has a companion, Stefanik, and there is also a wolf companion. There is good Tolkien-esque changing of legend too, as this Palace has a few accounts of its origin. 

“Elminster at the Magefair” by Ed Greenwood is a classic. We start with Storm Silverhand who is traveling with the physically unimpressive Elminster. They have been traveling by horse for some time, the two enjoying each other’s company rather than using spellcraft to teleport. They go to a magefair, an auspicious event that is exactly what it sounds like. This epigraph that introduces the story tells us what to expect: “What’s more dangerous than a mage out to rule the entire world? Why, a mage at play, of course…” - The Simbul.

The duo meet an arrogant mage on the road, he is sentinel to the fair and cries a challenge to Elminster. The exciting yarn only goes more into a silly romp, the campiness and immolation Greenwood is known for and does well. Storm is mostly a bystander since she is not a mage herself. Elminster enjoys the journey more than Storm, and we get her irony wryly. You can imagine how dangerous, but full of wonders, such an event is. Elminster desires a key and this gives the story nice twists.

“One Last Drink” by Christie Golden is another classic. Taking place in Mistledale in 892 DR, this an early story of Jander Sunstar from Vampire of the Mist. About 300 years after the start of his undead and life and 200 before his time in Barovia. Our vampire sun elf waits in the town for his sire, Cassiar. With his friend, fellow elf Rhynn Oriandis, a Rider of Mistledale, he is worried that his master will force him to drink blood from innocents. He uses the opportunity of somewhat powerful patrons in the Black Boar Inn to rid himself of the man who turned him into a creature of the night. 

This is a tale of darkness and hierarchy and curses and friendship. I’ve always liked vampires and particularly the trope of a vampire who is saddened by his or her state as one. Jander is a good exemplum because he is a Sun elf and also worshipped Lathander, the Morninglord, before his vampire days. 

“The Bargain” by Elaine Cunningham is a tale of Arilyn Moonblade and Danilo Thann. The latter is a young Waterdhavian noble and the former is a half elf. Both are Harpers at this time. Arilyn is also an assassin and Danilo a mage, albeit a poor one. Their relationship is fun, and you can explore it in Cunningham’s Songs & Swords novels. I have yet to read them but I have heard nothing but high praise. I have read the short stories “Redemption” and “The Great Hunt” starring them. Apparently, it takes place a few months prior to the novel Elfsong, the second of the series.

It takes place in Tethyr as the duo are sent to warn Pasha Balik, a warlord vying for the throne, of a plot on his life. It turns out that there is a lesson for a youth within the pages. 

“Patronage” by David Cook is told in first person, which is a nice change of pace. Master Koja is our narrator and he is told by his secretary that Duke Piniago’s dinner is tonight. He is a lama, a well-known historian. They are in Procampur sometime after the Tuigan horde was stopped. Such events tie into the Horselords novel also written by Cook. 

This story is a bit slower as you can guess when our main character is surrounded by parchment and ink. It’s a cozy one. 

“A Virtue by Reflection” by Scott Ciencin is set in Arabel and follows Myrmeen Lhal like Ciencin’s novel The Night Parade. It starts with a mugging of a merchant on the streets, setting up a dark tone. 

Myrmeen is the ruler of Arabel, a city in northeastern Cormyr. She is expecting a delegation but has to deal with a murder anyway. This story involves the Cat Lord, not Gord nor the one from the comics. 

“King’s Tear” by Mark Anthony starts with a necromancer in the southern portion of the Sunset Mountains. This necromancer, Kelshara, shows herself to be cruel and we then learn what a King’s Tear is: a jewel said to be solidified tears of ancient kings and they supposedly reveal what those kings loved most. Kilshara wants the Tome of Midnight and hopes to find it within the Tears. 

Tyveris is a handyman at Everard Abbey, which gives patronage to Oghma and is named for the ancient Farseer king. Tyveris was originally a slave and then a warrior in Iriaebor. He has recently learned to read and taken up a more peaceful life. Still, he is an outsider and many at the abbey worry he will give in to rage at some point. 

We get a story about necessity, violence, and truth. It’s a nice tale about finding home and overcoming vices. 

“The Family Business” by James Lowder. This is the story of young Artus Cimber, who appears in Lowder’s Ring of Winter novel. Artus is with his father Shadowhawk who is teaching his son to be a highwayman. This is in Cormyr and Azoun may come into play. It’s a very interesting story of trying to please your father. 

This has a tiny amount of politicking but is largely a story of running from assassins and defining a young man’s future.

“Grandfather’s Toys” by Jean Rabe starts with a druid, Galvin, and involves characters from Rabe’s Red Magic novel. Galvin is asked to search an old tower for a little girl. He finds it more challenging and dangerous than he had presumed. 

This is a tale of shape-shifting, saving a child, and parlousness in so doing.

“The Curse of Tegea” by Troy Denning is a very exciting tale as it is about cleric of Mystra, Adon. This is the same character from the Avatar Saga, the only one of the party not to attain godhood. This tale is mentioned in the last Avatar novel, but it’s nice to actually read it. Adon, once a follower of Sune is now high in the clergy of the Church of the Lady of Mysteries. He is joined by young acolyte Corene. 

The village of Tegea is suffering from a curse. This is on the edge of Cormyr, in the Stormhorn Mountains on the coast of the Dragonmere, though Denning mistakenly says it’s in the Dragonjaw Mountains. 

This is fun story dealing with church business. The curse is from an overbearing Duke and affects those that displease him. This magic of his seems to overpower that of Mystra, the goddess of magic herself. 

“Dark Mirror” by R. A. Salvatore is the final story and is of course a Drizzt story. After the retaking of Mithral Hall in Streams of Silver, Drizzt has been invited to Silverymoon. It seems to be near the ending of The Halfling’s Gem. On his way he encounters an odd situation between goblins and humans from Pengallen. 

It is told in first person from Drizzt’s perspective. Rico and Nojheim are interesting characters, and good foils. This experience definitely seems to have stayed with Drizzt as it reminds me of some mercy he wanted to give to goblins in Sea of Swords. It is okay as a story.

This story also appears in The Collected Stories collection for the Legend of Drizzt.

Afterword by Jeff Grubb. I read this piece when I acquired the book a couple years ago. It was here that Grubb mentions “One Comes, Unheralded, to Zirta”, the first Forgotten Realms story. While it was lost at the time it must have been later found, a decade later it appeared in The Best of the Realms II: The Stories of Ed Greenwood. It’s a worthwhile read but in the back rather than being a foreword for those who don’t care. 

Overall I very much enjoyed the anthology. It has some great stories but these are accompanied by more mediocre fair. It is a Good one, either the whole thing or whatever individual tales pique your interest.

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Review: Realms of War

 Realms of War is an anthology edited by Philip Athans and released in early 2008. It accompanied the Twilight War trilogy by Paul S. Kemp that I recently finished (review here), and fell in-between the releases of the second and third books. This is only my second anthology set in the Forgotten Realms that I have read, the first being The Halls of Stormweather that introduced the Sembia series (review here). Like many "Realms of ..." anthologies, this one focuses on wars of Faerûn, spanning millennia of conflict.

"Continuum" by Paul S. Kemp

Our first story is about Rivalen Tanthul, Prince of Shade Enclave. It starts off in -365 DR, in the beautiful woods of Arnothoi, the lands that will one day become Sembia. He is in a meadow with his mother, whom he plans to murder to complete his devotion to the Goddess of Darkness, Shar. The story jumps to 1374 DR, during the events of the trilogy. We see more of Rivalen, as well as his brother Brennus. We also see some of Varra, Erevis Cale’s lover. This was a nice story that showed some things not explained beyond a sentence or two in the novels. We also get Rivalen’s thoughts on Elyril. Like most things from Kemp in the Realms, this story is Exceptional. You could read this in between Shadowstorm and Shadowrealm.

“Weasel’s Run” by Lisa Smedman

We meet Weasel, a spriggan trapped by a Ghostwise halfling cleric of Malar the Beastlord for the High Hunt. We discover he is a scout for the armies of Luiren, and we get to see some of his early days in this position in a flashback to -68 DR, while the rest of the story takes place in -65 DR. This is during the Hin Ghostwars in Lluirwood. It’s interesting as these Ghostwise halflings still speak, and it’s only after the war is over and they’ve moved to Chondalwood that they take their silent ways we know of in the modern Realms. We see some creatures I honestly haven’t ever experienced playing at the table or in my reading. This story is Exceptional.

“The Last Paladin of Ilmater” by Susan J. Morris

We find ourselves in 902 DR at the Chondalwood. Jaeriko, a druid, is our POV as she follows Maze, an assassin in service of the city-state of Reth during the Rotting War. This civil war split Chondath into loosely allied city-states and allowed their Sembian colonies, Chondathan and Chauncelgaunt, to gain independence. The duo face undead raised by the necromantic general of Arrabar, a fallen adherent of Ilmater, god of suffering. This is an interesting tale, somewhat disturbing, with an intriguing ending: overall it is Good.

“Black Arrow” by Bruce R. Cordell

Spring of 1095 DR in Sarshel, a port city of Impiltur, a kingdom of the Easting Reach. The story begins with a letter of condolences to a Madame Feor about the death of her son Jotharam. This letter is from Imphras Heltharn, who in a few short years will become the first king Impiltur has had in 100 years. We then start our story following a young Jotharam. This sense of doom hangs over you as you read of the naive young man and his dreams of grandeur as a warrior defending the walls of Sarshel. A surprise attack from a goblinoid army sends people scrambling. This was super fun for me, I’m a big fan of Triad worshipping Impiltur but had actually yet to read any fiction set there before this. I had chills and tears come to my eyes, I was honestly really surprised. This reminded me of some of the memorable prologues from Jordan’s Wheel of Time. This short tale is nothing short of Amazing. 

“Too Many Princes” by Ed Greenwood 

A tale of Mirt the Moneylender, during his time as mercenary when he had the moniker “the Merciless”. The year is 1333 DR, and Amn is in a war of succession. Mirt is in Ombreir, a citadel of the Araunvols. A wicked vizier means to trap Mirt and others: it was fun to read how he saves their skins, though one of the Seven Sisters does most of the work. A Good story from Mr. Greenwood, unsurprisingly.

“The Siege of Zerith Hold”  by Jess Lebow

Goblins from the High Peaks and Kuldin Peaks threaten Erlkazar. Zerith Hold in Duhlnarim (the home of Atreus from Faces of Deception) holds fast against the onslaught as the crusaders wait for help from Korox. The year is 1358 DR, the Goblin Wars rage in the newly Independent country. Our characters are Jivam Tammsel, a half-elf, half-steel dragon ranger, and Lord Pudrun who leads the efforts at Zerith. This is the same country the Cleric Quintet takes place in for the most part (though Salvatore seems to have forgotten that), if you want more stories in this country, Lebow also wrote the novel Obsidian Ridge, which takes place in Erlkazar less than a decade after these events. Valon is incorrectly refferred to as a Baron rather than Duke before coming King. Beyond this, this short tale was a nice opening course and I want more. It is Good.

“Mercy’s Reward” by Mark Sehestedt

Gethred is someone in or near Rashemen, though he is not a rashemi, he seems to be running from Tuigan. The year is 1359 DR, an these events can be further explored in the Empires Trilogy. Persistent pursuing enemies abound, shape changers face off, this is one wild ride. It’s a decent, Good tale.

“Redemption” by Elaine Cunningham 

Ferret, an elf of the Wealdath in Tethyr during the Reclamation War, puts her people first in 1368 DR. The transition from one character to the next at the beginning of this tale was so expertly done I was hooked. We see Cunningham‘a famous characters Danilo, Elaith, and Arilyn. Oddly enough there is also a lythari in this tale, just as there were in the last. We learn some of Myth Rhynn and Mallin, a lich. This is a Good story, though I still need to read the novels involving these characters.

“Changing Tides “ by Mel Odom

Rytagir Volak was an explorer on the Sea of Fallen Stars in the year 1369 DR. A lover of the sea, he is in search of the shipwreck for Peilam’s Nose. A bargain with sea elves is made, something I wasn’t quite expecting but was realistic and fun to read. A fun introduction to the Threat From the Sea series by Odom, and the Twelfth Serôs War. A Good tale in Odom fashion.

“Chase the Dark” by Jaleigh Johnson 

The year is 1370 DR and Devlin Torthil is a trickster magician in Amn during the Sythillisian Uprising. Ogres have been attacking the western cities. Dev is an interesting character, and learning his background like the character design. Overall he was a little too blustery and slightly annoying more than charming. Still a decent story, this one was Acceptable.

“Bones and Stones” by R.A. Salvatore

This tale is also set in 1370 DR, the aftermath of a battle outside Mithral Hall has left both the dwarf Thibbledorf Pwent and the orc G’nurk with the pain of loss. We also get Drizzt’s journal entries throughout, they’re not annoying this time around . This was actually really nice, I was admittedly a little scared since the last handful of books I’ve read by Salvatore haven’t been the best. This, this was nice. Though the fight did last a tad too long, it was well written as always. It’s a Good tale. I’m not actually this far in the Legend if Drizzt yet: this is somewhere around The Thousand Orcs or The Two Swords. This story was later republished in The Collected Stories: The Legend of Drizzt Anthology.

“Second Chance” by Richard Lee Byers 

The year is 1375 DR, and Kemas is in Thay. This likely corresponds with Byer’s The Haunted Lands Trilogy set in the same year in Thay. Kemas is a member of the Order of the Fire Drake in the church of Kossuth. He teams up. involuntarily, with Bareris against Szass Tam’s coup. This is a tale of a young man finding courage in the face of truly terrifying odds. It is Good.

Overall I’m happy with this anthology. I hope that future compilations of this sort as as rewarding. It was a little bit of a trudge getting through with all the notes I had to take since the characters and setting changed so often. Overall, this was a refreshing, Good exploration of many of the Forgotten Realms.

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Completed Series: Sembia: Gateway to the Realms

Sembia: Gateway to the Realms is a large series, and the largest to date that I've read. There are seven books, including an anthology and then six novels written by five different authors. Each novel focuses on a different character, though they all deal with House Uskevren; either members of the family or house servants. While technically being standalone novels (and they even jump around a little) I would recommend reading them in order. Each book is exciting in its own right, and Sembia is a highly enjoyable series, a hallmark of the Forgotten Realms.

I started the series in early March with the second book, and in the middle of the month I went and read the rest in order, finishing in early April.

These are the reprints done a couple years after the initial releases.

The Halls of Stormweather by various authors and edited by Philip Athans (2000) - Acceptable
Shadow's Witness by Paul S. Kemp (2000) - Exceptional
The Shattered Mask by Richard Lee Byers (2001) - Acceptable
Black Wolf by Dave Gross (2001) - Good
Heirs of Prophecy by Lisa Smedman (2002) - Exceptional
Sands of the Soul by Voronica Whitney-Robinson (2002) - Mediocre
Lord of Stormweather by Dave Gross (2003) - Exceptional

Sembia: Gateway to the Realms is apparently what WotC wanted as an introduction to those interested in the Forgotten Realms. From the blurb on the back of the first book reads: “This anthology of seven stories introduces not just one realm of good and evil, not just one family of troubled heroes, but the whole of the remarkable Forgotten Realms world. Their adventure, and yours, begins here.” Each of these stories acts essentially as a prologue to the succeeding six novels. Each story also has really good foreshadowing for things revealed in the following stories. 

The vast majority of the stories spend most of their time in Selgaunt, a port city in Sembia, but we do get to see the Yhaunn, Ordulin, the Arch Wood, and places outside of Sembia like the Dalelands, Cormanthyr, and even far off Calimshan, and other planes.

Now, let's start at the top.

The Halls of Stormweather  is an anthology, one of eighteen in the Forgotten Realms, and the first I have read. I have only ever read one other anthology before, and I'm still a fan of more fleshed-out novels. There are eight stories in the particular anthology, so lets go over them in order.

The Patriarch: The Burning Chalice by Ed Greenwood 

This story is about Thamalon Uskevren, the Lord of Stormweather Towers. It Goes back in time to explain how Thamalon inherited his families leadership, seeing as he is not the oldest son of his father. The story starts in a scene where a pretender is trying to say he is Perivel, Thamalon’s older brother. The story jumps around quite a bit from the present situation to flashbacks of Thamalon's youth. The story ended differently than I expected, but nonetheless satisfying and the story makes a lot more sense after a few of the books are under your belt. 

The Matriarch: Song of Chaos by Richard Lee Byers.

The second story in the anthology is about Shamur Uskevren, the Lady of Stormweather Towers. This story also jumps around a lot but for different reasons. With her daughter, Tazi, Shamur is trapped in a theater hall with a foul opera causing all sorts of chaos to erupt around the place. Part of this magic initially causes Shamur to be spat back in time a few minutes. Odd, disturbingly freakish events happen as the magic of the Hellish opera progresses. For the sake of the potential reader, I will say I didn't immediately remember a gorgon is a bull in D&D and not the traditional mythic creature, though it can still petrify(but not with its sight). The jumping also has Shamur reliving pivotal moments of his past (and the future?), which are fun to read and digest.

The Heir: Night School by Clayton Emery

About Tamlin Uskevren and a secret business deal his father has sent him on. Tamlin is incompetent and it is quite amusing as he blunders along, though the story is not that interesting besides.

The Daughter: The Price by Voronica Whitney-Robinson 

About Thazienne “Tazi” Uskevren. She lives a double life as a pampered noble with suitors at her heel, and a more hushed and cloaked life at night. Tazi reveals herself to be quite young and naïve. I felt this was not the last we’d see of these characters at the end.

The Second Son: Thirty Days by Dave Gross about Talbot Uskevren. An awry hunting trip sets young Tal on a ride he hardly expected to experience. That's about it, don't want to spoil it. I will say that Mistress Quickly (noted on of page 226) is oddly similar to the Wife of  Bathgap by having a gap in her teeth and five husbands. To this point in the anthology I found Talbot the most likable from such a short story.

The Butler: Resurrection by Paul S. Kemp

Introduction to the much loved Erevis Cale, Butler to the Uskevrens and trained killer and rogue. He finds himself in a pickle of loyalty; protecting the Uskevren’s and keeping the ruse of spying on them is about to get a lot tougher, and bloodier. Great intro to a favorite Realms character.

The Maid: Skin Deep by Lisa Smedman

About Larajin. The story is about discovery as Larajin finds out more about herself. Lots of revelations here, and they were satisfactorily foreshadowed. Though not my favorite character form the Anthology she really grew on me during the novels focused on her.

Shadow's Witness is the second book in the Sembia series and is actually the first book I read. It takes place during the month of Hammer, The Year of the Unstrung Harp (1371 DR) for any interested in the timeline.

At times it was quite Disturbing, dark and awesome. Quick faith seemed a little quick but not too unrealistic, though we were only told he was godless not shown it. Jak makes a great companion. The demons make really disturbing foes. Cale’s thirst for vengeance and justice is what propels the fast flowing progression of Shadow’s Witness. Kemp does a fantastic job of showing a man not particularly proud of his younger self and his dark past, which reminds me a bit of Dalinar Kholin from the Stormlight Archive.

The Shattered Mask Takes place in late Hammer, The Year of Wild Magic (1372DR), a whole year after the previous book. This book focuses on Shamur Uskevren. Byers utilizes lots and lots of uncommon vocabulary in place of standard words, every couple of pages even. Words like palfrey and destrier, passé, tercet, mufti, ambuscade, egress, timorous, fracas, attenuate, taverner, scrofulous, venery, lickerish, somnolent, clangor, staid and so on. It’s a little excessive, I had to stop often and my vocabulary is rather decent to begin with. 

It feels very much like a Realms novels, overflowing with characters, are often scene to character death; swifly and mercilessly so. The main characters seem a little overpowered and lucky. While focus is on Shamur, a multitude of POV are present.

Exciting, with a pleasant conclusion.

Black Wolf by Dave Gross focuses on Talbot Uskevren. It starts in Hammer 1371, ends Mirtul 1371. Very dark and nocturnally focused; I would have loved it as a teenager. Werewolves and aquatic vampires (apparently a thing) abound. An important notes is that there are two main characters, Darrow and Tal. Darrow is the sad and pitiful counterpart to Tal's relatively good fortune. I really enjoyed Darrow as a character, and I found Gross to be a good worldbuilder and storyteller.

Heirs of Prophecy by Lisa Smedman is set in1372 DR.

As Larajin strives to understand the elven part of her, we gain a plethora of insights on elven culture, especially that of the Forest Elves of the Tangled Trees. At this point this book was Easily the biggest tale and the one that spends the most time outside of Selgaunt, and the only one going outside of Sembia. I’m a little partial to the story because it prominently involves twins. To creatures I appreciate appear too, a tressym which is a winged cat, and an avariel which is a rare, winged elf 

It’s main hindrances are length, I felt it could have been considerably longer. The second is how everything goes almost always perfectly for Larajin’s. She tries and succeeds even though she’s never done the things before, it turns in her favor.

The villain of Drakkar is well done though I think he could get more spotlight, though he is present in the last book of the series, he is not present enough.

I would love to see a sequel of this, I think Larajin and her brothers would make a great adventuring party

Sands of the Soul by Voronica Whitney-Robinson takes place in Marpenoth 1372 DR

Thazienne goes on a quest, and how the previous entry travelled out of Sembia to the lands just north, here the adventures goes far to the south and west to the desert kingdom of Calimshan. In Calimpprt about 15 years after the Companions of the Hall. Most of this time is spent underground in the Muzad, which is kind of one of the upper layers of the Underdark ,sort of like Downshadow for Waterdeep.

The first chapter is homage to Jak’s escapade at the start of Shadow’s Witness and I appreciated it. I will complain about the strong crude innuendo present near the start. I found it more unsettling than funny. Also the characters' incompetence for the obvious and competence for unobvious is laughable. Not what I was expecting from Tazi, who otherwise seems extremely capable. This book actually slowed by reading so exponetially, it was not all that fun like I hoped it would be.

Lord of Stormweather by Dave Gross (and for some reason not Clayton Emery, who wrote Tamlin’s story •The Heir” in THoS). It takes place in Alturiak 1373 DR which is the Year of Rogue Dragons. I laughed out loud at Tamlin’s beginning parts a handful of times. The story grows more serious and we have POV's from Erevis, Thamalon, Tamlin, and Chaney Foxmantle. The story is super fun and a great conclusion and sequel to the dull sixth book. The characters showcased are phenemonal and Gross really shows how good an author he is. Radu Malveen, from Black Wolf,  is a more interesting and compelling assassin than Artemis Entreri. Feel free to debate that though, I am only on Siege of Darkness.

Overall, I really enjoyed Sembia: Gateway to the Realms, and I'm glad an acquaintance recommended it to me. Though there are many authors involved in the series, the batch really is a cohesive whole and I would recommend reading all of the books and in order, though it is not necessary. I hope some other novels take place in the nation of Sembia, for I certainly am not done exploring it. Sembia: Gateway to the Realms is Good. The books ebb and flow in quality, but overall keep a positive position in my mind.

“Long live the Lord of Stormweather!”

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You can track my current progress here.