Finder's Bane (Forgotten Realms Lost Gods) [Mass Market Paperback]

Kate Novak (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 19, 1997

When Joel became a priest of the new god Finder, he knew it meant forfeiting the honor and security of his position as a master bard. Now his freedom and his very life are at stake as powers of evil embroil the priests of Finder in a struggle against a plot to resurrect the dead god Bane.

With his only allies the young freedom fighter Holly Harrowslough, the mysterious winged woman Jas, and the aging priest Jedidiah, Joel embarks on a mission to recover the Hand of Bane. His quest leads him from the Realms all the way to the extra-planar city of Sigil. There Joel must rely on all his courage, wisdom, and strength to thwart the return of Bane the Tyrant and rescue the god Finder from imminent death.

Finder's Bane is the fifteenth in an open-ended series of novels focusing on the Harpers, the secret organization for Good in the Forgotten Realms fantasy world.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast; 10th Edition edition (August 19, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786906588
• ISBN-13: 978-0786906581
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #576,503 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A battle of faith, February 21, 2000

By 

"estrolof" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finder's Bane (Forgotten Realms Lost Gods) (Mass Market Paperback)

While on a pilgrimage to the Lost Vale, Finder's young priest stumbles upon a plot that could return one of the all time villains to the realms: Bane. Ten years ago Bane battled Torm and lost his unholy life over the city of Tantras during the godswar (see "Tantras" by Richard Awlinson), now dark forces seek his resurrection. Joel, a master bard who turned his back on the establishment to take up the banner of the Nameless Bard, Finder Wyvernspur, finds himself thrust into a great adventure that may affect all of Toril.

I truly enjoyed this title; it did a marvelous job of seamlessly tying the lands of Abeir-Toril to those of the Multiverse. Without presumption and overly philosophical overtones, the story introduces fans of Forgotten Realms fiction to the basis of faith and the relationship of deity and worshipper. I also enjoyed the reprisal of the Banite clergy, and how the authors showed the mindset of one who would worship such a tyrant. Throw into the mix, a god of the old guard-Lathander-and watch the diversity of how deities interact with their faithful.

Further, I loved seeing the tie-ins for other products without the explicate stating of the facts: see the Giants Craw scene, and then look to "The Sword of the Dales" module trilogy by Jim Butler. The authors also managed to handle the widely varying locations very well, from the rugged Daggerdale, the elusive Lost Vale, the ruinous desert of old Netheril (Anauroch), to the varying degrees of the planes, including: the astral plane, the Outlands, and the infamous city of doors, Sigil.

Finally, the best part about this novel is the fact that while the previous titles (The Finder's Stone trilogy) would help to flesh out Finder; they are in no way necessary to read and enjoy this tale. This book is definitely worth the read.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A big send off..., April 11, 2007

By 

Richard K. Kostoff "karmarich" (columbus, oh) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Finder's Bane (Forgotten Realms Lost Gods) (Mass Market Paperback)

This was the curtain call for the highly talented and very creative team of Novak and Grubb who helped create most of TSR's fantasy worlds: Forgotten Realms, Al Quadim, Spelljammer and Planescape are all Mr Grubb's visions. I honestly thought this was about the return of Bane-an evil god from the Forgotten Realms who was previously killed.

This writing team can make a very humorous spectacle and some very great storytelling. This story takes elements from Forgotten Realms, Spelljammer and ends with Planescape. Its hats off time as these old worlds are "phased out" with Wizards of the Coast. I felt these worlds had ran thier course, with the exception of Forgotten Realms. Jeff Grubb has one more novel-Tymora's Luck.

The books itself is not great, but it has its moments. It was not what I expected, and this was not a good thing.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Priest of Finder, October 21, 2001

By 

"metalmeisterboz" (AMERICA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Finder's Bane (Forgotten Realms Lost Gods) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a great book leading into the life of young Joel, priest of Finder. Novak and Grubb do a good job showing his tourmoil for turing his back on all bards by worshipping the god "of wreckless fools" and his future triumph in the planes.