Customer Reviews

Queen of the Demonweb Pits (Greyhawk Classics)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The spider goddess Lolth burns for revenge, and she yearns for conquest. The Justicar and his fairie companion Escalla humiliated her, and destroyed her body on Oerth. Now is the time for revenge: to bring all of Oerth to heel, and destroy Escalla and the Justicar. So now, the Justicar and his companions must avoid the deadly opponents that Lolth has placed on their trail, and thwart her plans to destroy their entire world.

I must admit that I had trouble taking this book seriously at first: a ruthless ranger in love with a thong-wearing fairie? However, Paul Kidd succeeds in weaving a story that is wildly exciting and mildly funny. When I picked it up, I did not realize that this book was part of a series, the cover does not tell you that it is. Fortunately, though, this book functions quite well as a stand-alone story. So, the bottom line is that I loved this book, and highly recommend it to you.

This third book was awwesome! Escalla and Justicar are back most definately. The challenge of taking on Lloth and her demonic horde was both exciting and still had the sheer hilarity of the previous books. The ending was a bit much but was still true to the E&J style that's been prevalent throughout the 3 books. I can't wait to read more!!

Spoiler Spoiler Spoiler

The fairy is back, and boy does she have plans, big naughty plans.

And who should be interfering with her plans and her girl talk with the sphinx Enid but femme fatale Lloth who gated in a massive horde to the world of greyhawk to invade, plunder, destroy, invade, plunder, destroy, invade, plunder, destroy, ..., well, you get the idea.

Unfortunately, the book has several illogical development. Even with Flanaess in general turmoil in the aftermath of the Greyhawk wars, could such an invasion be unnoticed and unheeded by the powers that be ?

Second, Justicar and his band certain came a long way since their adventure in White Plume mountains, but to take on Lloth and her minions in her lair? While the author did not overload the characters with too many powerful weapons (staff of lich, wand of frost, super-sword Benellux, sentient hell-hound pelt etc doesn't seem to count for too much against demons), readers get a dissatisfied feeling that the foes they faced were just
too wimpy. But then, this is Greyhawk, not Forgotten Realms or
Dragonlance.

However, breaking Enid from the afterlife was just a tad too much.

Otherwise, it is a rather interesting book, with realisitic development between characters, romance, seduction, anger, possessiveness, honour and what-nots. The author gave a good account of Justicar's past and his recognition of the flaws of his previous mentor Recca. Romance between human and sphinx is a new avenue, but so far, little words were used as judiciously possible, after all, what can a teenager say to an all-wise sphinx? Even Cinders have some development of its own, learning several suprising tricks.

While readers would enjoy the characterisation, veterans would feel cheated by the less than titanic battle between the rangers' band and the queen of the demonweb pit.

Paul Kidd has done it again and produced another winning title in the otherwise lacklustre Greyhawk Classics series. In addition, he has produced the finest outing of the Justicar and his wacky dungeoneering party. While the previous 2 books were great, Demonweb Pits feels more homogeneous in the progression of the story - it "flows" a lot better than WPM and Descent.

What sets the Justicar novels above the rest is that Kidd captures the feel of a good hack & slash roleplaying session with a excellent eye for witty detail yet without falling into the trap of taking his creations too seriously. The actions sequences are fast, colourful and imaginative, as if they had been lifted from a John Woo script. There is also a good deal of character development progressing from the previous 2 novels, even a bit of romance (wow, a D&D novel with sex & violence as opposed to just violence!).

One small note, this story REALLY tears apart previous depictions of Lolth and the dark elves as suave,mysterious and elegant supervillains! If you love drow, try not to be too offended!

On all counts a must have!

Definitely a must have. While I've never played the D&D adventure games, the novelizations were a great read regardless. The action sequences are lively and detailed; story moves along nicely, lets you know more of the ranger's history, and you can't help but smile at the characters. Action-packed and humorous, yet lighthearted enough to finish in one sitting.

If you've started reading about the Justicar and gang in the earlier Greyhawk books, or want something more with Lloth, definitely pick up this book. Queen of the Demonweb Pits has a little more element of romance than the earlier ranger novels (within context of character development)...but it's still packed with action and new adventures. so we're not giving up the one thing for another. Find out more about the justicar's mentor. See a more vulnerable side of the justicar.

This latest addition certainly progresses the character relationships, and gives more depth to the justicar. And there's Lloth. If you haven't read the first two (if there's more, I stand corrected), checking them out will help you appreciate Queen of the Demonweb Pits all the more. Great fun.
All Kidd's books are worth getting your hands on!

Justicar, Henry, Enid (a sphinx), Escalla (a fairy), and Polk (a warrior turned badger) have defeated Lolth, Drow queen of the spiders, but they cannot kill her in any but her own plane. And now she is out for revenge, spending millions of spiders, drow wizards, trolls, and undead to destroy their planet. With only the talent and magic that they have learned, they must face a dark elf-turned god, her minions, and two enemies Lolth has pulled from their nightmares.

QUEEN OF THE DEMONWEB PITS combines continual adventure and action with humorous dialogue and characters. All of the four main heros, and especially Escalla, have their humorous sides as well as their warrior/mage powers. Polk, the ultra-serious chronicler/badger puts the entire adventure genre in perspective with his frequent advice that they take on unbeatable god-class enemies head-on with no strategy except glorious battle (needless to say, the other characters know better and at least attempt a bit of maneuver).

Readers of the genre will find QUEEN OF THE DEMON PITS to be somewhat predictable, but will certainly find it an enjoyable read.

Yay!! Another Justicar and the fairy book!

This book is difficult to put down, even after it is finished. The characters develop more of a history and a future, while the setting brings back memories of long nights of D&D complete with the spattering of puns you get after too much sugar.

Read this book..
Buy it as a present for people you know! Then you will have people to talk to about it.

It Completely satisfied my need for a dungeon bash, something funny, and something refreshing. Oh yeah, and there is a love story or two in there as well.

Bravo to the Author, who has made another great new book out of the old D&D modules moldering at the back of our cupboards.

I am pondering a Justicar costume for the next convention, complete with a Cinders.. And I am not even bald yet.

Ken.

This was the best of the three. What a ride. Action and humor is a hard combination to do and Paul Kidd is the best at it. This is the end of the best fantasy trilogy that I have ever read.

Paul Kidd has written 3 really enjoyable books. I looked forward to each one, and was really disappointed when I learned that there was not going to be a fourth. Write to Wizards and demand more!

A little stereotypical with a stoic Ranger, a soldered old guy (usually a dwarf in most books) but in this case a wolverine, the kid (read apprentice / pupil), the unlikely good beast-a sphinx and the comic relief. What makes it work so well in the Queen of the Demonweb Pits is when these characters are grouped together they are a hoot and the silly banter is first rate. They stumble from one misadventure to another all the while saving the world.

The Justicar, a ruthless ranger with a haunted past.... aren't they all, carries a sentient sword that preaches chivalry. To top it off, he wears an animated, fire breathing, hellhound pelt named -of all things Cinders- that can spell and doesn't like to get wet. ...something about smelling like a wet dog

Comic relief comes in the abbreviated but pert form of Escalla, a Fairy whose self proclamation of having the cutest bottom in all the land and penchant for slinky attire strikes a contradictory visual to her rough and tumble, kleptomaniac actions. I won't even go into the fact that she keeps several bottles of giantism around for those "special moments" between her and her man.

Add to the mix Enid the sphinx, Henry the sidekick, Polk the former human now a wolverine and a stir in decent nemesis like Lolth, the Demon Queem of Spider and this is a fun filled adventure!

If you like the genera this is a must.