Customer Reviews

Prince of Lies (Forgotten Realms)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

James Lowder, the editor for Richard Awlinsons "The Avatar Trilogy", returns to the realms with his best outing (or so I think). The twisted story of Cyric, the man who would be a god continues. The Sewer rat made bad, continues to vie for power amidst the Fearunian Pantheon; but his schemes don't go unchecked. Mystra, Lady of Magic, and his old mortal friend fights him at every turn. Mr. Lowder does a marvelous job with the characters, especially Rhinda, the lowly scribe, and both of the major deities (Cyric and Mystra). I recommend this book whole heartedly. However, the characters in this book are dependant, to a degree I fear, on the foreknowledge gained in reading the Avater Series. I recommend you start there. But get them done so you can read this one!

First of all, I began reading this book in 1993, tried again in each year to follow and just couldnt get into it. My renewed interest in the Forgotten Realms prompted me forward. I can now say this is a really good book, filled with much action and important events to update the elaborate fantasy world.

With that said, the plot is easy to pick up for those familiar with the original trilogy. I believe it is better than the trilogy. The story is contained within a single, stand alone novel that is much easier to handle. I cannot see the point of these trilogies that old TSR continued to publish. Well the obvious is the cliffhanger to get the moneyspending reader to buy the next edition.

Frankly, there are only a handful of authors who could keep my attention with this genre. Most of the stories are like comic books with cardboard characters. This one provides some authentic and memorable folk that we can relate to. Rinda and Gwidion are above the mark for TSR. Cyric is the most hateful villain ever created in the Realms. He gets what he deserves and I was very satisfied with the ending.

Keep in mind also this is a novel that can be enjoyed on its own. The Realms seem to demand to be visited over and over. I will keep doing so if good novels like this one get published. Hollywood take note. Especially a filmaker who likes a good fantasy with endless blockbuster sequels.

"Prince of Lies" is a cornerstone novel in the Forgotten Realms series. The mad god Cyric launches a hunt for the soul of his old foe Kelemvor, and commissions the Cyrinishad, a book which has the potential to destroy all the other gods. In the ensuing conflict, the outcome is in doubt almost to the end. Highly insightful at times; partly influenced by social studies of 18th century, gin-soaked London! Not for the squeamish; early in the book we learn just how hard a scribe's death can be!

I picked this book up having never read any of the previous Avatar series but some familiarity with the major events thanks to the Baldur's Gate computer games. So there were some details that I had to skim over. That said, I ended up re-reading this book not too long ago and enjoyed it nearly as much as the first time.

What Mr. Lowder does so admirably in this book is explore the motivations and worldview of the Realms' gods. Another reviewer was clearly irritated by their squabbling, intractability, and other qualities unbecoming to our image of a divine being. Which is precisely how the Realms is structured, for better or worse. While to the ordinary Realms mortal a god may seem inscrutable and all-powerful, Lowder sets up a brilliant and vividly executed series of godly interactions, where each is focused on the promotion of their particular sphere of influence. What makes this doubly interesting is the megalomaniacal Cyric, who as the god of lies and deception as well as a number of other nasty qualities, is just as good at deceiving himself as any other being.

The godly intrigues are intertwined with the travails of a human fighter and a few denizens of Zhentil Keep, but clearly it's the non-mortals who are the real stars. While lacking the grandeur and emotional depth of some of the classics of fantasy (LOTR, Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends, "The Legend of Huma"), the pacing is quick, and the plot twists are unexpected and believable. Congrats to Mr. Lowder for producing such an entertaining and memorable book!

This is a great book, which finishes where the avatar trilogy leaves off. I could not imagine anyone who read the avatar tiliory not reading this book. This is one of the greatest reads i'd had in a while, Lowder does it again.

Awsome book about a conflict between the gods of the Realms, which almost escalates into a huge war. It has lots of humor, and Mask is no doubt the coolest guy in the book, allthough Cyric is lots of fun too. The good gods, Oghma, Mystra and Torm are just some wimps, but Cyric and Mask make up for everything! I love the ways how Mask tries to double cross everyone, but by doing so, only hurts himself. The summaries in top of each chapter are hillarious. This fantasy book has a great plot and much comedy! In the Prince of Lies, there is the description of an evil book called the Cyrinishad, and when you start reading it, you can't stop... I'm not saying that Prince of Lies is evil, but it certainly has that same must-go-on-effect!

If you find such comments to be funny, you'll *LOVE* this book, the twists and turns as each god strives to outdo the other within their domains, and the mortals who seem to be trapped in the layers of diety intrigue. Explores zhentil Keep, viewpoints of the gods and there realms in an interesting fashion,.

A devious collection of plots and evil schemes of a mad god. Quite hilarious, actually. An original plot, showing the results and effects a war between gods can have on mortals. Good for gore-loving readers but others might be repelled. The author shows the gods as imperfect characters, namely, as they would be if they mortals. Definitely cute

What to say about book in setting that is so dried up, that hardly any juice comes at all. Some of you sceptics, and cynics out there will surely think what I have thought first time this book came into my hands. "Another lousy piece that is meant only for Realms fanatics to buy." Well, I was wrong. I didn't read Avatar Trilogy, so I didn't know the background of this novel (maybe it is better). Basic plot (You can read it on the blurb, but nevertheless) is as follows: The Lord of Dead - Cyric is trying to create the book called Cyrinshad which would bind all mortals (and gods) to his will when they read them, Of course the good goods can not allow it, so Mystra, Torm and some others which I will not reveal form an alliance that should break the Cyrics plan. It may seem as a lousy plot, but the new thing is that main characters are Gods, so it's very interesting to see the world trough theirs perspective. For the litteral sake, the book is very poorly written, but You should put that out of Your mind. If You look for complex go and read Tolstoj, and if You just want to have some fun for a few afternoons, and do not want to break head on the matter what was author trying to say, buy and read this book.

I frequently read Forgotten Realms books, and find them to be an entertaining way to kill some time. This was, however, far more. This follows the events in the "Avatar Trilogy" and does the job of being a sequel quite well. I must recommend that you read the other books first to understand the history preceeding this one, but it's not at all required. The plot line revolves around the struggles of the gods. Cyric plots to usurp the minds of all gods and mortals to his will, and Mystra tries to stop him. Though the plot is simple in its most basic form, the interaction of the gods, and indeed of the mortals, makes the book great. Indeed, if the struggles between the gods is the meat of this novel, it's the mortals who make it a double whopper with cheese. Throughout the book, it is the uncertainty as to their fate that will keep you reading, and the destiny that awaits them in the end that makes the reading worth it.