Completed Series: Shandril’s Saga by Ed Greenwood

 Shandril's Saga marked Ed Greenwood's first fiction foray into the Realms after its acquisition by TSR in 1986. He had previously created the Realms, bringing it to life in short stories. This time, he would bring you a young girl filled with dissatisfaction with her mundane life and wanderlust for adventure. Greenwood will turn what sounds typical on its head for a memorable series that lasted for more than a decade.

Second editions of books 1 and 2, with first editions of books 2 and 3.

Spellfire (1987) - Good

Crown of Fire (1994) - Exceptional

Hand of Fire (2002) - Mediocre

“The Company of the Bright Spear numbered six. The tall leader, Burlane, bore the enchanted Bright Spear. With him rode a younger swordsman, the fierce Ferostil. Delg, the dwarf, was also a warrior. His constant companion was the merry bard Rymel, brightest of them all. The wizard, Thail, deferred to his younger, louder companions. Last and least was the thief, one Shandril, a bright-eyed, soft-spoken waif in ill-fitting breeches and a much-patched tunic.”

Spellfire is the first book of Shandril’s Saga and Ed Greenwood’s first published novel in the Forgotten Realms. There are apparently two versions, the one with old logo and the one with the new. The new has some material cut for original publication added back in so some things make more sense, the audiobook follows this newer version, and it is the one I read.

the classic first edition of Spellfire

Shandril is a scullery maid at the roadside Rising Moon inn outside of Highmoon, the capital of Deepingsale. She is an orphan working for the slovenly, gourmand chef, Korvan and the owner and ex-adventurer, Gorstag.

She dreams of getting away from mundane servitude at the inn, and maybe enjoying the freedom of adventuring. At the beginning, The Company of the Bright Spear comes to the Rising Moon and leaves Shandril daydreaming but also with a unique opportunity when the company's rogue is killed after drawing steal when caught stealing. She becomes a thief (pretty much the class) by quick wit, while not being a thief at heart. She also does not have any experience in such a role.

Storm Silverhand, one of the Seven Sisters, and Sharantyr of the Knights of Myth Drannor, both of Shadowdale make an appearance. Jhessail Silvertree of Shadowdale and Merith Strongbow do too, both Knights of Myth Drannor like Sharantyr. Also, Florin Falconhand, Illistyl Elventree and Lanseril Snowmantle also of the Knights of Myth Drannor and Elminster, Sage of Shadowdale. And Maurngrym, and Torm and more! I’ll stop. But suffice it to say there are many important Realms characters her that make cameos, it is an odd menagerie of people coming on stage and then exiting, but it’s not confusing, it’s not bad. Take it as you will.  

This is largely an introduction to the area of the Dalelands in the Heartlands of a Faerun, as we get Zhentarim and Cult of the Dragon, and even the Malagram, though this last one I’ve only seen in Greenwood novels like Cloak of Shadows. We also have Manshoon, a high ranking servant of the evil god Bane. So many, many characters. 

In some ways this seems like a D&D adventure, meaning this was played out around a table and novelized later. But Shandril really is the main character, it is her story and while some faces will come into the picture for short, intermediate or long periods of time, it’s hers at the end. 

One of the other characters is Narm, a young man apprenticed to Marimmar Mage most Magnificent, with an arrogant expedition to the forests around Myth Drannor that ends in devils. He may be a little fatalistic. 

It does get very quickly into the actions and it lasts throughout. I was afraid for the lives of the characters, this is Ed Greenwood, after all. 

Spellfire plays a prominent role, which is the raw energy of the weave, of which all spells get their energy. Those rare users of Spellfire can absorb energy from spells, making them almost immune to arcane attacks. These people can also use Spellfire to heal, fight, fly, etc. 

I thought the story might be different from later Greenwood, but it still has a fun but relatable story. It’s touching at times, and has the Greenwood flare of quick immolations and the Realms rather open sexual content.

“If it falls in thy power, let no creature die alone.”

Crown of Fire is book two and is also part of The Harpers series of novels, book 9 to be exact.

It takes place right after Spellfire and is dedicated to Jenny, Ed’s wife, so I’d like to express my condolences to Ed and his family and friends for her passing. 

It starts with Brand, a young shepherd in eastern Cormyr. We do get to see Eveningstar, which is welcome.

The Zhentarim take large part in the quest to Silverymoon. Malagrim are also out, which I remember from the Shadow of the Avatar series. Another showing of Realms characters like Torm, Mirt Elminster, Manshoon and such. Like the first book, more characters die, but they’re better established at this point to the emotional response is bigger. It’s one thing I love about Greenwood though, is his killing off of characters, he’s the opposite of Salvatore in that. 

This one has a big tone shift, the attitude went from thirsting for adventure being absolutely sick of it. It also deals with power and not letting that corrupt. 

There is an afterword by Greenwood for both versions, but they are different. The later one has a short section of story to explain some people thought a discrepancy, similar to the chapters added back in for the republication of Spellfire. The words of Ed are as lovely as always though, both of them. Overall I think the ending is quite good. Considering this was written several years after the first. The series was probably open ended before the third book, 

Hand of Fire was my least favorite, though it is not bad. There is much action and it has a solid conclusion, just with much filler beforehand. I’m sure people were wondering about Shandril’s whereabouts, since it had been years since book two had released and her Spellfire was still among the most powerful things in Faerun. 

Those are my individual thoughts! I quite enjoyed this one, and it is little wonder that Greenwood is one of my favorite authors. As is typical of his Realms novels, we get several cool tidbits of Realms lore, such as learning some of Illbrand of old Impiltur, Hesperdan, stained glass from Selgaunt; people and things are mentioned from Selgaunt on several occasions, so fans of Sembia or Selgaunt could probably find some use reading the novel or getting a digital version and searching it for these things. 

Overall, I found the series to be Good, and I am glad Rodger from Rodger's Reads recommended it to me.

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You can track my current progress here

Review: Shadows of Doom by Ed Greenwood

Shadows of Doom is a 1995 novel and first in the Shadow of the Avatar trilogy. You can watch and listen to my video review here.

The story focuses on Elminster during the time of Troubles, particularly around the demise of Mystra. Makes more sense than Shadowdale (review here) which you can read before hand. It was meant to showcase why Elminster and some others were not around to save everyone during the Avatar Crisis, as those that normally would strive to do so I preoccupied saving themselves, well and the people of the High Dale.

Elminsters companion is Sharantyr, a Member of the Knights of Myth Drannor and one of the a Ranger three.

We also follow the Harper duo Itharr of Athkarla and Belkram of Baldur’s Gate. Harper’s are against tyranny of the Realms and go about trying to stop it wherever they can. We focus a lot on High Dale and it’s occupation by the Zhentarim which is facing being thwarted by our heroes. 

Super dramatic, endless amounts of combat it was like reading Salvatore (which I often find boring) but with Greenwood’s flair, which is to say the characters bemoan their fate of endless combat but it doesn’t change for them. It was nice seeing Elminster humbled and not be completely over powered. I felt some of the emotion he himself was feeling at such a loss of his goddess and magic with it at the start. That being said, for knowing how bad his death would be, it’s a little odd how reckless Elminster is at times, with seemingly none or little care about his fate when has very little power with him.

This was my first extensive experience with a member of the Knights of Myth Drannor, which didn’t disappoint, though I would have liked to see some character growth which is missing from just about every character as it’s only endless slaughter that faces them. Particularly, Sharantyr’s biggest trait is her hate of Zhentarim for the bad things they did to her when she was younger. I guess it fits that she is very good at killing them.

It’s not a page turner, but it was fun to listen to but our really reads like one DnD combat encounter after the other. The plot is hard to parse, and that lends to some problems. It’s not going to grip you into this grand story, it sometimes feels like it’s just trying to distract you.

I get that Greenwood is all about having his heroine’s be uncaring about their nudity, but it was a little much here at some points as besides maybe being something to mention once it’s a little excessive as it doesn’t really help the story. That being said, they do remind me some of Sword & Sorcery heroines. 

The villains are okay here, they’re not any big bads. I was hoping we would get a load of Manshoon, leader of the Zhentilar from a small excerpt at the start, but alas, it was not to be. Though he does play a bigger role for the last fifth or sixth of the nove. Stormcloak is mostly a fool, while some others are ok but nothing to write home about. IN that case it just felt like an excerpt from the wide world of the Forgotten Realms, it’s peopled with loads of kids of people and I guess this time we got some more mundane, uninteresting sort.

Also some things got through an editor such as Elminster’s archaic switching from addressing someone in the singular to the plural, at one point.

Also I read this to see how it would line up to Shadowdale and it acts as if Elminster didn’t appease in Shadowdale, though he does. I realized this was the case immediately so I just ignored it, but FYI it doesn’t line up. 

Besides that there are the occasional bites of nice lore, such as for Spellgard and Sembia since the High Dale is so close to the town of Saerb in that nation.  But overall, it’s Mediocre, but I think the audiobook may have saved this one from an even more Unforgiven rating.

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Review: Shadowdale by Scott Ciencin

Shadowdale is the first of the Avatar Series, what was originally a trilogy but later expanded to five books. It was written by Scott Ciencin though originally published under the pen name Richard Awlinson. There is an Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Module of the same name that corresponds with the events of the book. 

This review has  corresponding video which you can watch here.

Original cover

The story starts with the gods and goddesses of the Forgotten Realms gathered together by Lord Ao. They are the target of his wrath for some of them have stolen the tablets of Fate. As a result, the Avatar crisis ensues as the gods are cut off from their realms and godhood, so prayers and magic go unanswered and become unreliable, while the gods are made to walk the planet Toril in mortal avatar form. The only one not cast down is Helm, God of Guardians. 

The year is 1358 DR and so begins the Time of Troubles, also called the Arrival, the Godswar, and the Avatar Crisis. This is also the beginning of the Era of Upheavel which will end over 100 years later with the Second Sundering. 

With the deities casting out, we first see Mystra, goddess of magic, try to access the Weave, yet deification form at which all magic of the Art comes, and she fails. Then Bane, god of hate, terror, and tyrannical oppression, lands in Zhentil Keep and takes and avatar as he sets about his malevolent plan to acquire the Tablets of Fate. 

Near the city of Arabel in Cormyr, the mage Midnight awakens to find things not as she left them, most notably she has a strange amulet around her neck. Her and 3 other heroes find themselves im the midst of the power struggle of the deities and their minions. 

One of the others is Kelemvor a sellsword warrior also in Arabel during the events of the Arrival. He is a little moody and not much of a people person, but still honorable and pretty average in his temperament besides his glaring misogyny, which is kinda out of place in the Forgotten Realms. He is acquainted with Cyric as they recently went after the artifact The Ring of Winter. He is approached by a starving waif on the streets who seems to have a quest in a mind for him. 

Reprint cover

 Cyric is a thief turned mercenary. Honestly my favorite character, which is funny if you know what becomes of him.

Then we have Adon, à Cleric of Sune Firehair, goddess of Beauty. He is familiar with Cyric and Kelemvor as he was also used by Lady Lord Myrmeen Lhal, ruler of Arabel to bring down a conspiracy. Adon is certainly vain and a little arrogant and foolish. 

I found Ciencin’s descriptions of simple character actions to be written perfectly, where I was getting imagery for mundane things I often don’t get while reading. The characters all decently explored too, for example finding out more about Kelemvor’s past, and how his curse really harms his temperament.

The pacing is a little slow, for example chapter 6 is somewhat dreamlike and dragging. Chapter 7 fixes this.

There are a decent amount of deities talked about with only the most basic of descriptions, so those unfamiliar with the pantheon  be lost with the mention of gods and goddesses. 

Divine magic only works for clerics within a mile of their deities avatars, while arcane magic that normally comes from Mystra, Goddess of Magic and her weave is terrible inconsistent and dangerous to use. 

The gods most at play here are Mystra, Bane, Helm, and Myrkul Lord of the Dead. This conflict really gets heated about the halfway point and that made the book finally hold more of my attention. 

As the back of the book states, the party wants to eventually get to Elminster in Shadowdale, hence the title of the book. Those two things had me thinking a majority of the book in Shadowdale, but only the last bit actually is. The party goes from Arabel to Castle Kilgrave, to Tilverton, to Shadow Gap, to Spiderhaunt Woods before reaching the titular place.

There is a romantic relationship I didn’t really care for as one of the people in the relationship wasn’t really a good prospect. 

The story does end with a cliffhanger that left me saying what the heck. Overall it’s Good, though maybe barely so. I have not been itching too bad to get to the next book, but I am looking forward to how the story develops.

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You can track my current progress here.