Review: Venom in Her Veins by Tim Pratt

 Venom in Her Veins is a standalone novel from early 2012. It is written by Tim Pratt and is the only work of his set in the Forgotten Realms. As a novel from the Fourth Edition of Dungeons & Dragons, it takes place after the Spellplague and before the Second Sundering, meaning the world is not as it is in most other novels. Though it doesn't state what year the book takes place, most 4e books and supplements are set in 1479 DR.

In this case, we are introduced to a small clan of Yuan-ti in Southern Lluirwood on the border of Dambrath and Luiren, though at this point Luiren is under water and the closest city is Elzimmer, presently a coastal city. The first few chapters we follow a couple non-human viewpoints; specifically a yuan-ti abomination (mostly snake with a few humanoid features) priest of Zehir, and a caravan guard dragonborn. They are both involved with an infant yuan-ti pureblood (yuan-ti that looks very humanlike), Zaltys, our main character.

Fast forward and that infant is now almost seventeen: Zaltys stands out among humans because she has a small patch of scales, has bright green eyes (even as a baby) and is lacking a navel (since she was born from an egg). She is also the adopted daughter of Alaia Serrat, a member of the family who controls to the terazul plant which is used to make a powdery, potent drug.

Zaltys, a merchant princess and is Alaia's heir, will some day become the leader of the Travelers, one of the three branches that make the merchant family; the other two being Traders and Guardians. Among the caravan are notable employees: the dragonborn guard Krailash; the eladrin wizard Quelamia; and the Tiefling psionicist Glory. Zalty's cousin, Julen is also an important character in the story.

This tale includes facing derro in the Underdark, and battling denizens of the Far Realm. There is even mention made of the Living Gate. The Slime Clan is entertaining and even have a couple of surprises up their sleeves, for our characters and the reader. If you enjoy the debate of “evil” races being evil inherently vs upbringing, this has some good philosophy that gives thinking points for the non-argument. And of course, yuan-ti fans should read this.

The focus on family, a younger protagonist, and the Shining South makes this a fun coming-of-age novel that I would recommend in general. It's been a nice step up from the last several Realms novels I have read. Venom in Her Veins is Exceptional.

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Completed Series: The Legacy of the Drow by R.A. Salvatore

 The Legacy of the Drow is a four book series by author RA Salvatore. It is the third series comprising the Legend of Drizzt, and as such follows the adventures of The Companions of the Hall: Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, Cattie-Brie, Regis, and Guenhwyvar. Focusing in large part on Drizzt Do'Urden and his origins in the dark elf city of Menzoberranzan fans of the Dark Elf Trilogy would enjoy the mechanizations of the chaotic and evil drow society.

This is the last of the series that I had already started before starting on my quest to read every novel in the Forgotten Realms. I read the first book in March of 2019, and the follow up with the second a few months later. In April of this year I read the third book (review here), and I finished the fourth and last book in August.

the modern covers

The Legacy (1992) - Acceptable

Starless Night (1993) - Acceptable

Siege of Darkness (1994) - Good

Passage to Dawn (1996) - Mediocre

The Legacy of the Drow (TLD) is a conundrum for me. If you have read my previous reviews of Salvatore's Drizzt books you will know I generally find them overrated and often a little infuriating. Salvatore writes fight-scenes well, but his characters and plots are nothing praiseworthy. Overall TLD is a decent foray into the fun ride that can be the Forgotten Realms, it is not where I would start though, nor where I would end.

I readily admit it has been some time since I read the first two books in this series so I ask you take my opinions with a grain of salt for those two. I will try to keep the them as simple as possible.

The Legacy is okay. It is a story of Drizzt's past coming back to haunt him, for the evil worshippers of Lolth are not yet down with him. He is taken to Menzoberranzan. Wulfgar acts unlike himself in this book, his character arc being a little odd. Entreri is one of the most dull villains ever and I'm waiting for the day that Salvatore actually kills him, because it should have happened back in The Hafling's Gem.

Starless Night is basically the same as The Legacy. The Companions go back to Menzoberranzan. Entreri still is not dead.

Siege of Darkness was ironically the highlight of TLD. It focuses on greater cosmology of the Forgotten Realms with the Time of Troubles. The fated assault on Mithral Hall finally comes to pass and it has plenty of interesting combat. Interesting events happen in this book that I enjoyed reading. Overall it is a good book. Again, here is a more complete review.

Passage to Dawn is an odd book. I have a large amount to say since I just finished it at the time of this writing. The book starts off tremendously entertaining. Cattie-Brie and Drizzt are really the main focuses to begin with. This book does not involve the Drow at all, for which I am grateful. It is more of a proper sequel to Errtu's hatred of Drizzt and a proper sequel to The Crystal Shard. It is the first book to take place partially in Icewind Dale since The Crystal Shard (ironically the only book in The Icewind Dale Trilogy to take place in the Dale) and so deals with Crenshinibon, the Crystal Shard.

The beginning of the story is of adventures with Captain Deudermont of Waterdeep on his ship, the Sea Sprite. It is fun and exciting. The general endless fighting of Drizzt books is noticeably and pleasantly absent from the first half. 

Moving on the book changes and I will now get into more spoilers.

The companions eventually reunite in Icewind Dale. A seer on the mystical island of Caerwich tells a riddle of one held captive, someone important to both Drizzt and Cattie-Brie. The prologue of the book shows that Errtu has someone, but it does not reveal who. It was insanely obvious to me that this was Wulfgar. It makes sense, that is someone who was killed by a demon and is important to both Cattie-Brie and Drizzt. But no, Salvatore is so bad at subtlety and he makes the characters think it is Zaknafein; which does not make much sense if this prisoner is suppose to be relatable to Cattie-Brie. The entire book Wulfgar is hardly mentioned, and never as a potential prisoner of Errtu when it is obvious from page 1. 

At about the half-way point, I was thinking Salvatore was trying to come full circle with The Crystal Shard and the Companions of the Hall; his original story. Wulfgar is returned (though with the most lackluster reunion I have ever read, he doesn't even say anything for pages and when he does speak it is a smattering of a couple lines), and Crenshinibon is well in hand. I was hoping this would be end of the story for the Crystal Shard so I could study up on The D&D Next adventure The Legacy of the Crystal Shard before the release of Rime of the Frostmaiden in September. Sadly it is not so.

Salvatore shows great immaturities as a writer, the first half is littered with sentences ending in exclamation marks that sound like the author himself and not the characters. These could and should have been caught by an editor. Cryshal-Tirith, present in previous books, is supposedly the elvish word for "Crystal Tower". Considering the t in crystal was just changed to an h and Tirith was pulled from Tolkien's Minas Tirith, it seems rather juvenile. Also Khazid'hea's sentience seems mostly forgotten, with a few lines thrown in near the end. And apparently Salvatore forgot that Drizzt's scimitar is called Icingdeath (the companion to Twinkle). Salvatore also insists on repeating silly statements like "Creatures venturing out onto the open plain of Icewind Dale who were not careful did not survive for long." with little change.

Overall Passage to Dawn is a long road of going down and maybe should be called Passage Down instead. Thank Tymora Entreri does not appear in the book.

The Legacy of the Drow has it's ups and it's downs. The series does finish on a solid endnote, and I feel anyone could be satisfied finishing Drizzt's story here. Salvatore shows that he can consistently write Dungeons & Dragons novels but the quality is questionable. Sadly the series has more low points than high ones, and though I am surely biased and mayhap even ranting I would say that the series is Acceptable.

From here on out the reviews should be more balanced with each book getting equal representation. 

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You can track my current progress here.

Review: Siege of Darkness by RA Salvatore

Siege of Darkness is a turning point in the Legend if Drizzt. The attack on Mithral Hall from the drow coalition of Menzoberranzan finally comes to fruition. The build up to the siege itself is really laid out well, and the power struggle between some of the leading Houses is done expertly well, especiially with the fact that the Time is Troubles comes out of nowhere. For the ignorant reader, the Time of Troubles takes place in1358 DR when the Tablets of Fate are stolen and the Overgod Ao forces the lesser deities into mortal, Avatar form. This really messes with magic, divine and other kinds.

Large Scale combat is present for a good chunk of the book, this means there are less skirmishes comprising Drizzt than has been present in the previous 8 books. I found this refreshing, but the other side of that same coin means we actually see less of Drizzt during the book as the chapters balance POV between Jarlaxle, Errtu, Matron Baenre, Cattie-brie and so forth. This makes it seem less like a Drizzt book and one more focused on the exploits of the Drow, which is fitting since the series is in-fact the Legacy if the Drow.

The interludes that divide the book into parts have been a staple of the series. We get a first person look inside Drizzt’s head, as it it seems he is recall in a journal or maybe even reciting the events of his life. I have often enjoyed these bits, though it’s love/hate and some I have particularly disliked. The ones in Siege of Darkness range from good to great though. They were refreshing and deep. Often they come off as pseudo-philosophical, but not so for #9 of the Legend of Drizzt.

Personally I really enjoyed Cattie-Brie’s character development the most. Drizzt has very little in ways of personality, spirituality and physically. The ways of the drow are starting to feel familiar and less annoying, and some of the flaws of their society are showcased with drastic effect.

Heavy spoiler, near end of the book spoiler for this next paragraph. Matron Baenre was really a character that felt eternal. Her death was quick but done well. I particularly enjoyed that Bruenor was the one to do it, and that two of her daughters were also killed by Gundulag and Drizzt. We will see but Triel will now probably become the Matron of the first house of Menzoberranzan.

Overall it’s a decent book, I will admit that I may be biased towards Salvatore books. Before ever reading any of his work I heard he was the best and so far I would disagree. We’ll see if I change my mind, I’ve barely put a dent into his Forgotten Realms novels. For the sake of this review though, Siege of Darkness is Good.

Remember the Giveaway for the Avatar Trilogy I’m running, you have until the end of the month to enter!

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Completed Series: Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep

Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep is a series of six standalone novels, each written by a different author, and all taking place in Waterdeep. Each book is introduced by the creator of Forgotten Realms himself, Ed Greenwood. Overall it is a exciting ride, where the reader can learn of many intriguing inhabitants of the City of Splendors. From gravekeepers, to thieves, to mages, to rogues, paladins, wizards, sorcerers, monsters, spellscarred, nobility, commoner, etc, etc, the ride is basically nonstop.

Unlike the previously posted Completed Series entries, which were series finished some time ago, I just finished Ed Greenwood Presents Waterdeep yesterday, on Friday the 13th of March, 2020. Though I did start it in April 2018. I'll explain.

It is possible to get Circle of Skulls with a matching cover to the first five.

Blackstaff Tower by Steven E. Schend (2008) - Good

Mistshore by Jaleigh Johnson (2008) - Good

Downshadow by Erik Scott de Bie (2009) - Acceptable

City of the Dead by Rosemary Jones (2009) - Exceptional

The God Catcher by Erin M. Evans (2010) - Exceptional

Circle of Skulls by James P. Davis (2010) - Acceptable

Let's Start at the top.

Blackstaff Tower by Steven E. Schend kinda, sorta acts as a sequel to another novel Schend wrote in the Forgotten Realms: Blackstaff. I have yet to read it though, but Mr. Greenwood touches on it in his introduction. The story of Blackstaff is laid out simply early on; the sixth Blackstaff, Samark Dhanzscul, is murdered by power hungry wizards of the Watchful Order of Magists and Protectors. They take his Tethyrian heir, Vajra Safahr, to torture the secrets of the Blackstaff out of her. Our main heroes are: Renaer Neverember, the estranged son of Open Lord Dagult Neverember; Laraelra Harsard, daughter of the guildmaster of the Cellarers' and Plumbers' Guild, and fledgling sorceress; Meloon Wardragon, a sellsword and descendant of an early Waterdeep Warlord, Laroun; and lastly Osco Salibuck, who is introduced later than the rest, is the charming halfling rogue of the party.

The story progresses quickly with barely any rest. I won't spoil it, but overall the story was very fun to read, and felt a little more old fashioned than the other books in the series. There were some really great moments near the end that were written rather well. You learn quite a bit about the history of the Blackstaves (here I was thinking Khelben was still around), as well as the beginnings of Waterdeep, the Spellplague's effect on the city, and a small specific amount on the figure of Dagult Neverember and his relationships. My main gripe is that there are a bit to many minor characters, which can be confusing.

Moving on, Mistshore takes place in it's namesake, a forsaken beach of floating debris where outcast eek out a semblance of life. Icelin Tearn finds herself in trouble and quickly connects it with her troubled past. Icelin is afflicted with a perfect memory, though most see it as a great blessing she views it as a curse. Her past is slowly unraveled, and for such a short book it is done rather expertly. One of her main companions is Sull, her butcher, who was my favorite character. He is so loyal and is just heartwarming to read his persistence to stay by her side. Her other companion, Ruen, grew on me as the story progressed but his part is essential to the intricacies of the story.

The story can be rather slow at times, but reads very swiftly most of the time. What really makes the book is the characters. There are so many I could mention but the best is the villain, he isn't evil, but is so misguided and lacking understanding, you have to read it to understand.

Downshadow is the third book in the series, and is yet again named for a part of the city. Downshadow is the upper layer of Undermountain beneath the city of Waterdeep; a good chunk of the story takes place above ground though. Easily my least favorite of the series, but not bad. It can be really messy at times, and I was left me wondering what the whole point of the book even was a large portion of it. Who was the bad guy? It doesn't become obvious until the end. 

The main character, Shadowbane, is a Paladin to Helm, Tyr, and Torm in their all in one, post-spellplague, package. He is spellscarred, and can not feel much of anything; pain, touch, pleasure, etc. He acts as a vigilante in Downshadow and really reminded me of Batman early on. The story involves a lot of women being interested in our protagonist, with lots of blushing and flirting. It was just kind of weird. It is kind of made up for at the end, which was great. This is also the first in the Shadowbane series, which as of now (and forever if WotC continues to let anyone but Salvatore write Forgotten Realms novels) has two more books.

On the plus side there is some interesting magic at play and de Bie has loads of potential.

City of the Dead is interesting because I have to pull from memory back in 2018. I remember loving the eerie (perfect word for this novel) setting of the dead leaving the City of the Dead (Waterdeep's cemetery) and haunting the nobility of Sea Ward. I may have to go back and reread this one, but I can say Sophraea Carver is braver than I.

This is the second of Jones' Realms works that I have read, the first being Cold Steel and Secrets. 

Again, I read The God Catcher in April of 2018 and the thing I remember the most is how much I love Erin M. Evans prose. It's so readable and fun. This was her first novel in the Realms and I specifically read it after enjoying Brimstone Angels so much. Tennora Hedare, a young member of the nobility (her mother was a Uskevren) is an aspiring wizard who takes an interesting turn into multiclassing. Her main companion is a mysterious woman, Nestrix who thinks she is really a dragon. A very fun read with lovable characters and a highly intriguing story (with dragons) where Evans make convinces me she grew up in Faerûn instead of our world.

Circle of Skulls, the final book, revolves around a deva and his quest to kill an angel working for Asmodeus, and a sect (of Ashmadai?) called the Vigilant Order. Interestingly a deva is considered a type of aasimar, but instead of being part celestial and mortal, a deva is the soul of an angel put into a mortal body that is reborn every time they die. Our hero, Jinnaoth has been around four about 4,000 years and originally served the dead gods of Mulhorand. He remembers bits and pieces of his past lives, but generally nothing at all besides how to fight. This crops up memories from time to time, and even brings in people who remember him while he does not remember them.

His team is a moon elf warlock and a night hag (along with other, interesting, characters). There is lots of action, as is usual. Though a few times Davis seems to have forgotten to connect/bridge actions (like saying that someone was sitting and talking and then they opened a window without stating that they ever stood up).  Another thing, why is an angel working for Asmodeus, the Lord of the Nine Hells? Surely it's a fallen angel and that would make it a devil. This is never answered. Another gripe, a murder takes place early on and Jinn becomes the suspect. It would have been extremely obvious to any witnesses that he was not the murderer, so the watch painting him as such immediately after the death is a little farfetched.

Another cool enemy are the ahimazzi, who are mindless serfs to Asmodeus that failed him and lost their souls at some point. I don't believe these are anywhere else in books, supplements, etc. and I thought they gave a sincerely disturbing aspect to the story. I also appreacite the lack of human characters for the good guys. I often feel for a fantasy setting with several racial options that humans are overdone.

In conclusion, it’s hard to give a set of stand alone novels a rating, but I still think Ed Greenwood presents Waterdeep is Good, and I would love to see something similarly done in Neverwinter, Baldur’s Gate, Suzail, etc. Thankfully for those who love Waterdeep you have six books that take place in the splendid city (each 1479 and 1480 DR), and for those who aren't interested in reading all of them, you can easily pick and choose. No real order is necessary either. For example, there is one point in Mistshore that makes it obvious that it takes place before Blackstaff Tower. I myself read them in order of 4, 5, 3, 1, 2, and then 6 and that was perfectly fine.
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Completed Series: The Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore

The Dark Elf Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore is highly acclaimed and I was not oblivious to this when I started reading Homeland in April 2018. I finished the entire trilogy in about two weeks. Sometime prior I had actually gotten about 40 pages into Gauntlgrym, number 23 of extensive Legend of Drizzt (a book I had bought because of its Neverwinter label), before giving up. Throughout the trilogy you learn about Drizzt’s origins from his birth from his arrival to Icewind Dale. One of the strongest appeals is Drow society; which is toxic, brutal and unforgiven.

Drow are worshipers of the the Queen of the Demonweb Pits, Lolth (Lloth) and are generally inherently evil. Enter Drizzt Do'Urden who is anything but. Though I found drow society interesting it was a bit tiring after awhile. Drizzt doesn’t become that likable until he becomes easier to connect what emotionally which happens more in the second book. While the third book is interesting it’s really just running from his past over and over and is largely boring though the events do build Drizzt as a character. I couldn’t help but feel his character was overrated (as well as the writing of Salvatore), though the fight scenes are indeed done really well; good fights do not make a book or a whole series. Overall I found the support characters interesting but shallow. Guenhwyvar is an astral panther and can only be so deep, while Zaknafein was an interesting ally (and foe) to Drizzt’s moral dilemma. Though poor Clacker and svirfneblin Belwar Dissengulp make fun and unique adventuring party companions.

The trilogies three books are:
Homeland (1990) - Acceptable
Exile (1990) - Acceptable
Sojourn (1991) - Acceptable

Interesting to note the Dark Elf Trilogy was written as a prequel after Drizzt’s rise to fame with The Icewind Dale Trilogy. Because of this some would suggest starting with The Crystal Shard rather than Homeland. I am glad I started with Homeland because I’m not sure how I would have felt going back after reading The Crystal Shard, a novel that is very obviously Salvatore’s first with it’s rough writing. It is really up to the individual reader what they would find better to their own needs, tastes, and desires.

Overall, the consistent development of Drizzt is satisfying, but not that much. The Dark Elf Trilogy is Acceptable.
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