Customer Reviews

The Alabaster Staff (Forgotten Realms: The Rogues, Book 1)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Alabaster Staff is about a young street performer whose life is occupied by figuring out where her next meal will come from, where she can spend the next night....and sometimes manages to find a little piece of happiness by entertaining children with her remarkable sleight of hand. She's also an unwilling thief who's sworn never to steal again.

Then she's suddenly drawn into a twisting plot of double-crossings and betrayals. At the center of it all, an artifact of great power - the Alabaster Staff.

This engaging novel is three parts fantasy, one part murder mystery. It's reminiscent of a 'Who-dunnit' thriller, and has you guessing until the end. The characters are believable yet surprising, and the author has made the protagonist not only realistic, but refreshingly moral-minded, a virtuous rogue who struggles with her own reluctant vocation. I found myself identifying with her more than most characters in the Forgotten Realms series. The book breaks down some of the archtypes normally associated with certain character classes, such as priests, warriors, and of course, rogues.

You don't have to be a fan of the Forgotten Realms to enjoy this book, but it certainly helps. Set in the oppressed and occupied nation of Unther (a land previously unexplored in Realms novels, to my knowledge), it's a new landscape with a few familiar goodies tossed in as well. It's a fast read, inspiring, and not to mention full of really cool stuff. Did I not mention the cool stuff? Well...go read it then!

This book is an absolute gem, recommended for all Forgotten Realms and fantasy fans.

I'm a long-time fan of the Realms novels, and in my opinion this is the best for ages! The first novel in The Rogues series, this book focuses on Kehrsyn, a young and reluctant thief who is required to live off her wits and skills when forced into an unfortunate situation that spirals out of control.

Maybe the premise is nothing particularly new, but the execution is wonderful. Edward Bolme understands the characters he writes about completely, and each has a beautifully fleshed-out personality (and agenda)!

Starting slowly and deliberately, and building up to a thunderous, fast-paced climax, this story left me wanting much more than its 309 pages could provide. Here's hoping for further exploits of the characters and setting involved.

A fantastic and refreshing change from all the Drow and `Event' series!

I am an avid reader of D&D Shared world novels, especially Forgotten Realms. I have lost count now how many novels I have read in total. But believe me when I say this that 'The Alabaster Staff' is one of the finest novels that you will read in recent times.

I was really dubious about the Rogues series as, first of all, that character class has never been one I have enjoyed. After reading this I am ready to roll up a new character sheet.

One of the really good things about the main character in this novel, Kehrsyn, is that she is not coming across as your typical rogue. Certainly not your master thief, which are normally portrayed in D&D based fiction. She is more a rogue, borne out of circumstance. For this reason you find her a lot more believable.

She is a character that also stays consistent throughout the story. The person that she is at the start, is basically the person she is at the end of the book, regardless of what she has been through.

The other characters in the book are wildly varied, from the straight talking Demok, to the lavishly scripted Massedar (who in my opinion is one of the best written characters, in term of dialogue, I have ever read).

It is a rollercoaster of a ride, a book I could not put down. The last few chapters were filled with energy and I just kept on turning those pages until I hit the back cover.

If you only have money to buy one realms novel, and you are looking at this book then do not hesitate and buy it now, you will not be dissapointed.

Edward Bolme has an Eberron novel coming out later this year, which I am eager to read (Orb of Xoriat) and I think that his name is one we should all watch out for in the future!

As others have commented, this story is a bit different from other FR books. I found Mr. Bolme's writing style very good; he is now one of my favorite FR authors. His descriptiveness is awesome and is a refreshing addition.

It was also neat to read about Messemprar, a previously untouched region in FR. It's clear that because of the deities that are prevalent here (Tiamat, etc) and the fact that this area is in the decline (due to its age) that there are many interesting and exciting stories waiting to be told.

The main character, Kehrsyn, is also a breath of fresh air. She is a realistic hero, who is not overly sappy, nor is she overly ambitious. She's just a rogue, trying to make her way. Along the way you can't help but grow fond of her.

Other characters were also fairly well developed and there are some that I would like to read more about. Demok, for one, was also very cool. Unfortunately, much of his scenes appear as the book ends, however, he is great and I hope to read more of him in the future.

All in all this was an excellent book, and if the other books in the rogues series are this good, WOTC has a real winner with this series.

This is the first book in a series of stand alone novels focusing on one of the most loved classes in the Forgotten Realms the rogue.

Edward Bolme was chosen to write the first book, I believe they are having young authors write these to get their names out there so to speak. Bolme does a fine job with his first novel.

This novel is set in a place that hasn't been written about before, which allows the author to flesh it out as he wants to and not rely on what others have done.

I was impressed with how 'real' his characters seemed. They weren't over the top like some characters can be. It was refreshing to read characters that had flaws and weren't all powerful.

All-in-all this is a very good start to these stand alone novels.

This book was a look into the life of a rogue caught between a rock and a hard spot. The idea behind this book was not original, but it was masterfully carried out. Talk about your chain of unfortunate events.

I almost forgot about the prolouge of the book which had a war between two god's and their followers because it seemed trivial to the main character's quest - but the book comes full circle with a nice conclusion. Also, the description of the stealing of the Alabaster Staff is incredible and very well written - I felt like I should be holding my breath in some places so I wouldn't be heard. Scenes like those, and all the things the thief had to think about and know from experience, make me want to be a thief.

I also think that "The Alabaster Staff" is a nice step back from the other "mainstream" Forgotten Realms books. This book focuses on a city I had little to no knowledge on, and it also introduced some characters (even if they will not be used again) that have not been seen in other FR books. I nice breath of fresh air was what this book provided for me.

The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that it's a book I really don't plan on reading again anytime in the near to mid-future, if ever - but it was certainly worth the time when I did read it.

This book is quite different from most other FR novels I have read. Normally I don't go for change, but this is quite an exception. Quite an interesting technique having the first chapter focus on someone who then hands the plot off to the main character. A very inventive way to keep within the spirit of the series.

Through most of the book my opinion was borderline, but the surprising and complete 180 of an ending just did it for me. I'm a sucker for that. I hope WOTC does a sequel or at least a followup using these characters.

Edward Bolme brings to life another wonderful novel with this story based in the Forgotten Realms. This is not simply just another adventure tale (though it is also that) set in a complex political/religious city, but part mystery and part life lesson as well.

Ed weaves a complex tale of a land fighting to maintain its own existence amidst a choatic background of both religious and political strife. Be prepared for something more than your typical tale of sword swinging and spell hurling adveturers in this one. The characters are at the same time complex and believable. It continually forces the main characters to question who they can trust, while at the same time forcing them to rely on the help of others to complete their goals.

The main character a rogue street performer struggles to hold onto the ideals of her beloved mother, and of a father that she has never even met. Not your typical rogue. When forced to steal, she doesn't attempt to better her position in life (which could stand a great deal of bettering) but rather gives her precious boon away to those in even greater need than she.

This book paints a beautiful picture of a city torn between the religion of their ancestors; a power hungry god who has been overthrown and slain, and the religion of the new god in the area. Tiamat, she who slew the former diety in power. At the same time the city is fighting for survival in a war against superior foes.

Enter Kehrsyn, the street performer. Because of her skills and anonymity she is thrown into the middle of a complex struggle for power between several different factions within the city. All those who would use her for their goals give her but a taste of the truth, only enough to keep her on their hook, believing that theirs is the most just cause. All the while she wants nothing more than to see the lot of the common man bettered in life, but first she has to figure out who she can trust, and how to save her own skin.

I highly recommend this book, whether you are a fan of Faerun or not, it is simply a great read.

The Alabaster Staff is a fine book I absolutely loved it. This book is simply amazing even with in the first chapter it gets rolling with a duke out between two god's and there army's as a prelude to the main story which takes place a few years with in the future. After I got done with the amazement of that battle and read onward into the current time line of the story I was Shocked to see how this epic battle between these two powerful god's had shaped the current economic, religious and political structure of the nation Unther and the city Messemprar.
This book has many struggling and influential power group's with there own individual goals which some times run contrary to there members even what that organization stands for causing strife with in also they have there own out side agendas all the while we get to see the heroin Kerhsyn get swooped up, thrown about into the thick of things.
With in this book you'll follow the young heroin rogue Kerhsyn a woman with a quick, steady hand's and a even quicker mind that can grasp what the best and most probable means of escape and survival in a city full of treachery, deceit, and despair but upon her adventure she makes friends with some of the most unlikely sorts that help her through her endeavors and warm the heart.
If you like a bit of intrigue, mystery, and a fast pace story this books for you.

aka,Harlamond from the WotC boards.

I'd have to say that this book is one of the more interesting and memorable of the Forgotten Realms books I've read. The strongest element are the characters - all of which are finely crafted with distinct "voices", making each one easy to recall and identify with.

The plot itself swirls along quickly, with an engrossing mystery - thought he term "wheels within wheels" has been used before, it certainly applies to this multi-layered tale.

I enjoyed Ed Bolme's previous contribution, "The Steel Throne" and, though "The Alabaster Staff" is quite a different piece of work, it certainly equals and in places exceeds his Rokugani fiction.