Review: Dark Legacy by Mel Odom

I recently reviewed the entire Threat from the Sea trilogy by Mel Odom. What you, lucky reader, may not have realized is that there are more stories to read about this big Realms event. The first released was this short story, found in Dragon Magazine issue 255. The other is the anthology Realms of the Deep, which I will be reviewing soon.

story art by David Kooharian

In January 1999, the same month book one, Rising Tide, was released, we got a short story introducing the conflict. It can be found on pages 66-77. The story starts on the 22 Ches (actually misspelled as Chess in the article) 1355 DR. That means it is early Spring, essentially late March, and it is one year after the prologue of Rising Tide. 

Narros is woken by his wife, Klyss. They are merfolk of Laakos' Reef, forty miles east of Calimport. He says a prayer to Eadro before grabbing his trident and checking on the disturbance that woke them. Narros is the chief priest of the village and safeguards the temple that has housed an artifact for thounsands ofyears. He feels the disturbed currents coming from the passage that connects his reef home to the temple.

Narros and Klyss have two adult sons, and they take their charge of keeping the artifact very seriously. The old priest, Kallos, was fearful of what would happen if the artifact was removed. This artifact is the Taker's Circlet. When trouble arrives they go to Harric, their chieftain, for aid. Another character is the wealthy Revek who sells fish to surface dwellers, wears robes (most go naked) and has furniture.

We learn the locathah also revere Eadro, though in a different manner. We don't have them present, but they are mentioned. We do get a look at a pirate vessel, The Wayfarer captained by Kenson.

This story is immediately gripping. Not many of these short stories in Dragon are, but I found this was a very fast and interesting read. Overall, it is Good.

The story has a brief section on the 26th and another on the 29th of the month of Ches too. It is a satisfying end that connects well with the rest of the trilogy, introducing a people and place I would like to revisit someday. 

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The Unimpressive Fictional Legacy of Dragon+

 Dragon Magazine from its start was a magazine of variety. At its inception this included fiction. The first issue even he part 1 of 6 of the novella “The Gnome Cache” by Garrison Ernst, a pen name for Gary Gygax. Other famous writers would even appear in the early pages, Harry Otto Fischer, Fritz Leiber, Andre Norton, Fletcher Pratt, L. Sprague de Camp, and Gardner Fox worth noting.

Dragon+ was a short lived, mediocre, sequel. Only half the heart was put into it, and there is no excuse because it was digital only—the last 71 issues of Dragon were also digital only. After six years of digital only content, the magazine was sunsetted in December 2013. 

But like a Phoenix it survived. In April 2015 Dragon+ was born as a successor to both Dragon and Dungeon magazines. While this gave hope for free content compatible for your fifth editions table, it was a sickly Phoenix. Issues came out bimonthly, making six a year. It lasted 7 years itself, the 41st and last issue releasing in March/April 2022 before being quietly shut down in July.

I failed to cover this when it happened, as my blog was on hiatus. I can’t say I know how the business was ran, but I feel there was much more fiction that could have been. Dragon+ was a wan light when the novel line ended. In 14 issues fiction appeared, all being somewhat connected to the Forgotten Realms as the flagship setting of the current product. The last piece came in October 2020 when “Ice Out” was released as a tie-in to Rime of the Frostmaiden. 

Apparently it tied into Candlekeep Mysteries too, and beyond that there has been very little attention given to the Realms from the sorcerers who live on the shore. 

While the recent movie tie-ins provide some light, the novel lines death accompanied with the death of short fiction in Dragon magazine marks a disdapointingdissapointing state. While fiction did decrease after the 1990s in Dragon Magazine, the venue still saw the likes of George R. R. Martin and others. When I think of Dragon’s legacy I can see much worthwhile fiction in the thousands of pages. I can’t say I see the same in Dragon+. 

I did see Ed Greenwood was part of a Spin a Yarn panel at GenCon and I had hoped it would be set in the Realms. Alas, even that hope was futile. We’ll see what happens from here.

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Community Spotlight: Renfail

 Those who have not lived under a rock realize that the Forgotten Realms is much more than a D&D campaign setting. Magic cards call it home, hundreds of novels, and many video games. I got my own start with video games when I was a child, and while I will go more into that another time, that same series just got a new entry after many years. 

Baldur's Gate 3 is now out! Of course, early access has been available for a few years, but I have been enjoying the content of one creator in particular. He has been streaming much and releasing guides for the expansive world of Baldur's Gate 3.

Beyond that, he has played the older Baldur’s Gate games, Icewind Dale, the new Dark Alliance, and other adjacent things to Forgotten Realms and D&D. 

Check out his channel here.

Check out his Baldur’s Gate 3 playlist here. 

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Review: The Spine of the World by R.A. Salvatore

 The Spine of the World was released in 1999 and falls as number twelve in the ongoing Legend of Drizzt. Though it is part of the super series the main character is Wulfgar. In fact, Drizzt only appears in the narrative entries that separate the different sections of the novel. This is a sequel to The Silent Blade, as this starts with Wulfgar being a bouncer in Luskan just as he was in the previous novel.

I read this one in December 2022, right after finishing the Threat from the Sea trilogy.

The prologue shows Wulfgar at the docks with Morik, a recent friend set to watch over the barbarian by Jarlaxle. They are drinking and playing and are confronted by would-be-muggers. This interaction shows us the depressed and destitute state of Wulfgar. His lack of care may be costing The Cutlass, the tavern he works at, more money than he is now worth. 

Chapter 1 then shows the Sea Sprite, Captain Deudermonts ship, making its way into Luskan for repairs after an engagement with two pirate vessels.

Ch 2 shows us the Auck family of the village of Auckney to the Northwest of Luskan. The map at the front of the book is actually for the fiefdom of Auckney. This map puts Fireshear to the northwest when the text says it is to the south. 

The interludes are still from Drizzt and about his morals: he doesn’t like drugs for example and doesn’t think you should have sex with someone you don’t love but won’t judge if you do. 

The fighting is overdone, as always. 

The characters, especially just about all of them in Auckney are dislikable for the bad things they do, buuuuut, if you read this as Salvatore’s look at the plight of the poor, it kind of reads like Glenn Cook’s Shadows Linger. I think the expectations are wrong, and his characterization is not up to par; but it’s not terrible, though this novel is generally hated by Drizzt fans. 

Wulfgar is a thug, and a wretch; generally, what the Companions of the Hall fight. 

Does it end in tragedy? No, this is a redemption story that is actually done okay. I got quite emotional at the end even. Very unexpected. Almost Arthurian in some respects. 

Merelda is a tragic character, one the reader should pity. Jaka is my least favorite type of person in the world, the worst of toxic teenage boys. 

Most fans don’t like this novel, and since I’m not a huge fan of this series I thought maybe I would end up liking it. But no, it’s not that good. As is typical of Salvatore, I found it mediocre at best and maybe okay for tween boys.

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Review: Only A Woman Can Take This Sort of Abuse by Ed Greenwood

 It has been a minute since reviewing a Spin a Yarn tale by Ed Greenwood. Like the previous two, this was a tale written by Ed Greenwood after attendees at Gen Con gave outlandish suggestions.

This one is divided into two parts and is quite long. They were released in December 2003 and January 2004, respectively. Read parts 1 and 2. 

the picture on the original article

This one starts really comical, as Manshoon, Lord of the Zhentarim, wakes up not remembering exactly what happened. He knows he was lured by the Seven Sisters and he awakes dressed as a “saucy tavern wench”. When leaving the bedroom he finds Volo dresses in a corset and proceeds to try to murder the traveling writer and wizard. 

The Seven Sisters mean to trap someone and disguise it as a revel. Volo is present because he is writing his guide to Catering. We learn this is at a cabin on the Dragon Coast. 

Aravil Kettlesworth is the cook in a less than efficient and clean kitchen. He is a dwarf and all the others are followers of Loviater, goddess of pain. Their leader seems to be a priestess named Roreldra who is literally whipping frosting onto a cake. Or welol, she is the spiritual leader; Kettlesworth Fine Feasts is of course led by the dwarf.

There is a short conversation on how to cook tarrasque so it is safe to eat. Around this comes an aged paladin of Tyr with a sapient sword capable of loving some on its own, one eager to protect supposed innocents.

The story introduces Elminster in part 2, and we get a proper explanation (or showing) of how Manshoon and Volo get where they are at the start. It’s very fun, maybe a tad long. I’d say it’s a Good one and of course free to enjoy.

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Completed Series: The Threat From the Sea Trilogy by Mel Odom

The Threat From the Sea Trilogy by Mel Odom is one of those rare fantasy series focused on sea adventure, whether that is at port, on ships, or underwater. I read all three of these novels in December 2022. It is a rather large Realms event taking place from 1369 to 1370 DR, and spanning from off the Sword Coast to the Sea of Fallen Stars. There is an accompanying anthology, Realms from the Deep, which goes along with the events of the novels. I will be reviewing it at a later date.

Rising Tide (1999) - Good

UnderFallen Stars (1999) - Good

The Sea Devil's Eye (2000) - Acceptable

Rising Tide starts in 1354 and introduces Laaqueel. She is really one of the two main characters, though maybe slightly less of one than the other. Laaqueel is a sahuagin but is the malenti version of that race. She has a surface persons skin tone rather than green or blue and otherwise looks like a sea elf with a few very small distinguishing attributes. We will learn later in book three that malenti are only born where sahugain have settled near sea elves; they are often used as spies among them. Laaqueel  is a priestess of Sekolah, the shark god and chief deity of the sahugain. Even though she looks more relatable we are quickly reminded of her somewhat monstrous nature.

A heretical tale took Laaqueel from Baldur’s Gate and apparently leads in the end to this sea bordering Chult. This heresy is about one called “one who swims with Sekolah” and kicks off the events that will come to fruition with the trilogy.

The rest of the story takes place in 1369, starting on 9 Mirtul. It involves in ancient power known as Iakhovas. We know he is not a god, but we’re not really privy to what he is exactly, until much later in the series.

Beyond Laaqueel, Jherek is our main character. He is nineteen year old sailor, a deckhand, I believe in Amn at the start. He is from Vellen in Tethyr and has some secret the goody, worshipper of Ilmater, thinks is terrible. Jherek is rather silly, as his secret is not bad at all, but it holds this otherwise mary sue character back.Jherek has almost Christian morals, just so you can get an understanding. Plus he doesn’t drink. He is pretty good at controlling himself, though temptations on this line are a big plot point. 

Another character is Pacys, a bard of Oghma. He is aged and had his share of adventures. Another character is Sabyna, she is mage on a ship similar to Robillard's position on the Sea Sprite.

This novel is very much a prologue, and ends with a good conclusion. You really need to continue to get to a satisfying place. I think having someone that could be a mary sue as the good guy, with Pacys in the middle to experience and sing about things, and Laaqueel who is the bad guy but never comes off as truly evil (though she is partner to plenty of death dealing, it’s simply what I expect from a sahuagin. It’s not like she’s an evil sorceress) saves the book from being bland.

Sahuagin culture is interesting, the fear of fireand magic is dominant. We also get to see places like Velen and Athkatla, and the more common Waterdeep. Plus there is much sea action, so those who want a good sea adventure, regardless if you’ve read Forgotten Realms before, maybe try this shorter novel. Something like the god Sekolah was new even to me. 

Watch/listen to my review of Rising Tide on YouTube here.

the omnibus has this

Raymond Swanland cover

Under Fallen Stars takes place largely in Seros another name for the Sea of Fallen Stars. The name of the book gives that one away, its my favorite title of the series. The story starts with a triton facing a morkoth that has killed his companions in the name of the Taker, Iakhovas. The tritons had been sent to spy and were discovered. The Tritons guard against an evil in the Inner Sea, and know that Iakhovas‘s lost and magical eye is in lost Myth Nantor.

This is a section of hot progression. Famous cities are burned and we know the war is about to get even more heated.

We do get sea elves in this book, which is a nice addition. Their king in the Sea of Fallen Stars wants to look for the Taleweaver, a bard who is prophesied to sing of the conflict with Iakhovas and the seeming champion of Jherek.

We also have a dwarf character, Khlinat, in this book as well as a paladin, Glawinn, from Corymr, and the famous Elfsong Tavern makes an appearance. 

Watch/listen to my review here.

The Sea Devil's Eye starts right where book two ends, and there is little I can say without spoiling the previous books. I was a little disappointed with Sabyna's arc, and most definitely with Laaqueel's, who is my favorite character. Her nature is odd, and it makes sense, but was not super satisfying. Most of the series the good and bad guys do not actually come into contact and that changes here. The concept of fate is explored and even relations between merfolk with sea elves gets explored. Fans of Lathander and Eldath may take note though, their faiths are present.

Watch/listen to my review here.

Issue 255 of Dragon has images of the characters in the Rogues Gallery.

The greatest benefit of these novels are their change of pace from other novels. Sea fantasy is oddly rare enough, and getting a plethora of species at war dominantly underwater is very fun. Sadly it the main character is a bit of a mary sue, though Odom's talent makes up for that some. Overall, it is a Good series potentially worth your time. Hopefully I have helped you decide on whether it is for
you or not.

The cover art for the trilogy and accompanying anthology is one piece done by Don Maitz.

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Review: Mistress of the Night by Don Bassingthwaite and Dave Gross

 This is a great novel in two ways: First it is a well written, standalone novel set in the Forgotten Realms, particularly in Sembia which gets little attention in lore as a setting. Second, it fits into one of the most beloved Realms series: The Sembia and Erevis Cale books. This book works perfectly as a sequel to Dave Gross' Black Wolf from the Sembia series, and doubles as a prequel to The Twilight War Trilogy by Paul S. Kemp. 

Watch the video version of this review here.

Mistress of the Night is a 2004 novel by Don Bassingthwaite and Dave Gross. It is part of The Priests series, book two, but those are all standalones focusing on different faiths. This story puts it on Shar and her twinly opposite, Selune. The stage for this dark rivalry is Yhaunn, a port east of the capital Ordulin. The place much of the story will take place is Moon Shadow Hall. 

We are quickly introduced to two opposing forces, Variance, a Shade of Thultanthar, who we will actually see very little of; and Dahanna, aged high priestess of Selune.

Feena is a character those who have read Black Wolf may recognize. She is a priestess of Selune, she is also a werewolf. For those unaware, she is a good aligned werewolf, as a evil aligned were creature would likely follow Malar, the Beast Lord. She has recently lived in the Arch Wood but returns to Yhaunn at the behest of Dahanna whom seems at the end of her life.

Keph is another character, he is a scion of a house in Yhaunn. His house is made of entirely of mages besides young Keph. This causes him to be resentful and to fall into dark ways, particularly when it comes to Shar and her cult. This will devolve into acquistion of a certain artifact called the Leaves of One Night.

This is a dark novel, like many have been that are set in Sembia. We explore faith and deception, and are led down a well paced and exciting plot. This is overall a fun and worthwhile excursion into the Forgotten Realms, one you could even say is Exceptional when compared to some others I have read recently. 

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