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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Realms of the Dead edited by Susan J. Morris, January 29, 2010
This review is from: Realms of the Dead: A Forgotten Realms Anthology (The Haunted Lands) (Mass Market Paperback)
Realms of the Dead edited by Susan J. Morris was released in 2010. This is an anthology based in the Forgotten Realms setting. This anthology is comprised of twelve short stories written by Richard Lee Byers, Lisa Smedman, Erin M. Evans, Bruce R. Cordell, Jaleigh Johnson, Christopher Rowe, Philip Athans, Richard Baker, Rosemary Jones, Ed Greenwood, Erik Scott de Bie, and R. A. Salvatore. This anthology is included with Richard Lee Byer's The Haunted Lands trilogy, and deals with all things undead.
"Pieces" by Richard Lee Byers- The story follows the events after the second book in The Haunted Lands trilogy entitled Undead. Bareris Anskuld was a bard in life, and still is in death. Along with the specter of a paladin named Mirror, Bareris seeks revenge for the 're-death' of his love. In this story, Mirror and Bareris go to join a resistance group against the undead horde that the lich Szass Tam rose to take over the land of Thay. But it's hard for undead to join a group opposing the undead.
Negatives:
1) Undead. I didn't really care for how a few of these undead were explained. It didn't really paint a vivid picture in my mind and kind of was a little bit of a bummer.
Positives:
1) Bareris. Now I liked Bareris in the trilogy, a lot. His thirst for revenge is something that you can really feel. That and he has to be one of the coolest bards in any story.
2) The Ending. It's was dark and it really worked considering the whole premise of the anthology and trilogy itself is about death. The 'twist' it takes I really enjoyed.
Overall: 5/5
*Even though I didn't really like the undead description's, it was a interesting story with a great ending and with a character I really enjoyed.
"Soul Steel" by Lisa Smedman- This short story is about revenge. A green elf by the name of Trelwyn wants to avenge the death of her brother, who saw their queen having an affair with an lover. The queen had him sentenced to death, and when Trelwyn finds out the truth, she goes to a dark elf lich to make a sword that will steal the soul of the queen. However, during her revenge things don't go according to plan.
Negatives:
1) Terms. There were a few words that I had never heard of that pop up in the story. For example, I never really heard of a green elf till this story, and upon some research, they are basically wild elves. Why not just call them that? Also, the word Trunadar is brought up a few times and, at first I thought it was yet another name for the green elves, when in fact it's their village name. Which was never mentioned as being such and just barely hinted at.
2) Ending. I didn't really care for it, but it was bad. I just don't understand how these two characters would seem to trust one another, it just seemed like a stretch.
Positives:
1) Revenge Story. I really enjoyed the revenge story. I thought it was really interesting and had a really good premise. It was enjoyable and exciting at the same time. Also, I liked the added ironic touch of using a drow weapon to kill the queen.
2) Twist. I really enjoyed the twist the story takes. I'm not going to give it away, but while it was a little simple and convenient, I thought it made sense and was kind of unexpected.
Overall: 4/5
*This was a pretty solid story. There were a few things that were to simple minded and unbelievable, but all in all it was a nice story about revenge.
"The Resurrection Agent" by Erin M. Evans- The story is about an spy who is named the Harlot, consoling her spymaster, Viridi, on her deathbed. We learn that the Harlot is a resurrection agent, which is a spy who is caught and killed, then resurrected to condemn her target. When Harlot's spymaster dies, she was to take Viridi's body to a safe place where her spymaster's secrets can remain hidden. With the help of the priest who resurrects her, named the Shepard, they being their journey. But little does the Harlot know, not all her targets remained dead and they would love to pry the secrets out of the spymaster.
Negatives:
1) Big Story. The story really is to big of one to really be a short story. There is a lot of background information that was given and at times, it seemed to rushed. Because of this, a lot of the scenes were a little hard to follow at times.
Positives:
1) Dark. The story really gets into the feel of horror. It's dark and twisted. Reading what Harlot goes through when she "dies" is a little demented in a way. That and a creature she meets is really a shock, not to mention, really twisted.
2) The Harlot. I really liked this character for some reason. At first I really didn't care for her at all and thought that she was some sort of run of the mill female character. But as the story progressed she became more and more interesting. Mostly do to her back story and her past.
Overall: 5/5
*While I really enjoyed reading this, I just strongly think that this shouldn't have been a short story. It just had to much missing and shortened that it causes the story to suffer slightly. This really captures what a story included in an anthology should be about.
"Wandering Stones" by Bruce R. Cordell- This story follows a woman named Jada, who is being chased by a brown dragon. Jada is looking for a place in which dragons can not enter called Wandering Stones, which is a village were former slaves of dragons go for protection. We learn that Jada claims a heritage to an thought extinct group of people that can control dragons called Dragonmasters. The problem is, she can't control it.
Negatives:
1) Dragons. This is anthology for the dead, so why is there a story based mostly on dragons? Yes, there are some spirits, but they aren't the focus of the story. They only appear towards the end and are mentioned in a few sentences before hand. This is much more suited for Realms of the Dragons than for Realms of the Dead. This just feels wrong in here.
Positives:
1) History. I like the history of the story. Upon a little research, I found that this story gives some background information on Returned Abeir, which returned to the world of Toril during the Spellplague. I didn't know anything like this happened and it is really interesting to see that the continents that came over are ruled by dragons.
Overall: 2/5
*Why such a low grade? This story DOES NOT belong in Realms of the Dead! DOES NOT BELONG. This story should be in something like Realms of the Dragons part three (does not exist, by the way). However, it is a fairly interesting story and it does give some back ground and it did perk my interest up in learning about "Returned Abeir." Honestly, if this was in a dragon anthology, I'd give it a solid 4. But alas, it's not.
"The Bone Bird" by Jaleigh Johnson- This story is about two clerics of Chauntea on a mission to aid the village of Lendris, who is having a problem with a hooded figure that comes at night. We are introduced to Bromar and his mentor as his mentor is dying on his trip. While burying him, Bromar passes out and awakes to find the body outside of the grave he dug. Later, he travels to the village and comes across a woman, named Milra, who has his mentors' holy symbol. After a brief struggle, the townsfolk, Milra, and Bromar decide to help each other conquer this hooded figure. Things don't go according to plan and a secret is revealed.
Negatives:
1) Structure. The story's structure wasn't that good. At times the paragraphs didn't make much sense and it felt rushed. For example, the first page, when we learn what is going on with his mentor, I had a really rough time figuring out who was talking and what exactly was going on. It didn't read to well.
2) Secret. The "secret" really seemed "phoned in." It was rushed and quite honestly, unimpressive. It really didn't make sense other than why the tavern was named The Bone Bird.
Positives:
1) Milra. I really liked this character a lot. I felt the tension between Bromar and her when he sees the holy symbol, and then seeing her be condescending, in a way, towards him throughout the struggle. I honestly hoped there would have been more that took place throughout the story between these two. I am a little disappointed in how Milra was treated after the first confrontation, but it did feel right what happens. I just wish that there was a little more before what happens.
2) Entomber. I really liked the description of the creature. It brought a really brought sense of disgust and vileness that you would feel if you would see such a creature. Just disgusting.
Overall: 3/5
*The story really did feel a tad bit rushed at times and confusing. All in all, it's just an average story. It does have it's faults, but it was a good read.
"Feast of the Moon" by Christopher Rowe- The story is about a Huntmaster named Jaeg on a quest-like mission from his god Malar, to find and kill the whatever killed the former Huntmaster. Jaeg, processing the ability to turn into a tiger, finds the undead creature that undoubtedly kill the former Huntmaster. However, two halfling females are also trying to kill the creature. But in order to avenge the death of the former Huntmaster, Jaeg is the one that needs to kill the creature.
Negatives:
1) First Half. The first half of the story wasn't really interesting or coherent. You understand what is going on, but at the same time you don't. It's feels awkward to read.
Positives:
1) Little to No Dialogue. The lack of dialogue is wonderful. It makes the story much more atmospheric and the subtle actions are much more potent. Even with the amount of dialogue that there is, what is said really is simple but hits hard.
2) Creature. The creature is just wonderful. Unlike the undead creature in "The Bone...
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great stuff for the most part, September 1, 2010
This review is from: Realms of the Dead: A Forgotten Realms Anthology (The Haunted Lands) (Mass Market Paperback)
Realms of the Dead is an anthology with stories from different points in the D&D timeline, some soon after the Spellplague, others a century after. We get a range of stories, not all focused on the undead that appear in most of the offerings. Most of the time the undead are window dressing, and we get to see many different types of the undead one might encounter in the Forgotten Realms.
"Pieces" by Richard Lee Byers is an interesting story where two undead, one a ghost and the other an undead bard who still possesses some of his magic powers, attempting to solve a murder mystery against the will of those who want to take advantage of the distraction to remove some insurgents from their midst. We see something of the underground opposing the ruler of Thay. It's an OK story, taking a good while to develop, and all the characters seem to be one step ahead of each other. If they were as clever as they thought, they'd not have repeatedly gotten themselves into so much trouble. It's frustrating that the characters just kept hitting their own walls so much.
"Soul Steel" by Lisa Smedman is a tale of an elfmaid seeking vengeance against the liege who murdered her brother. When she discovers the reason why, she will not relent. She arrives at a dangerous plan, requiring conspiracy with a drow wizard to forge a weapon capable of destroying her sworn enemy. The situation gets very complex, with a dwarf prisoner joining her cause, then becoming something of her savior, with a couple other twists along the way. Another decent story, but nothing spectacular.
"The Resurrection Agent" by Erin Evans is a story of two colleagues who served an information broker in various capacities trying to see that she receives a proper burial. When they are accosted by animated dead who were once their vicitms, of sorts, the victims turn the tables and steal the body of the information broker. Now the two agents must seek to recover their former employer to fulfill their last obligation, but can they defeat a vampire and its legion of minions to do so? Another decent story, though it started very slowly and was really only redeemed near the end, as the characters faced their fears and gave one final effort to complete their last mission.
"Wandering Stones" by Bruce Cordell is a fantastic story. A long-lost descendant of a rare breed capable of controlling dragons and bending them to her will seeks refuge in a place which dragons cannot enter. She is in flight because she presumed to order about a dragon, and her powers did not manifest themselves. She finds her destination, but the dragon is hot on her heels, and having located the hidden refuge it enters to seek its revenge upon this mortal who presumed to order it about. But the dragon does not believe the legend of the wandering stones, and will it survive the lesson? Great story, good characters, fast moving plot. This one's a winner.
"The Bone Bird", by Jaleigh Johnson, is a story that teaches the consequences of taking what does not belong to you. A priest has been summoned to help repel an undead creature that has repeatedly threatened a town on the edge of a wooded region. Nothing the villagers can do seem to harm the creature. The priest is old and ill and falls on the trip. Can his young protege complete the mission? This is a good story, but it's not the best in the book. Still, there are solid characters, some of whom get their comeuppance more than once, lessons are learned, including that it's sometimes better to let one's enemy get what it wants.
"Feast of the Moon" by Christopher Robert is a great story. A priest of Malar, the Beastlord, must complete a terrible hunt before the moon sets. His prey is the most dangerous in the region, as chosen by his god. Can he slay with no weapons the undead creature his god has set before him as prey? Given that he must complete the hunt before a pair of halflings can kill the creature in revenge for its killing of their friends only complicates matters.
"A Prayer for Brother Robert" by Philip Athans is a cute story. A young priest, more accustomed to kitchen work than fighting undead, is the reluctant hero seeking to clear a young lady's home of the terrible undead things inhabiting her inherited house. With no experience, he's forced into a situation he'd rather just run from, and he's clearly over his head. Can he save the lady and himself? This story is OK, a good read, but not world-changing. Call it a coming-of-age tale for the priest. This is another story set about a century after the Spellplague.
Richard Baker's "The King in Copper" is a great story about a young lord whose realm has been fading for decades. He's under the thumb of overbearing and crude mercenaries now serving only themselves. They want all his realm's riches and force him to take them to a forbidden site. He conspires in hopes of leading them to their deaths. Can he survive and keep them from killing him, raping his wife, and plundering what little remains of his realm? This is a really great story, with the characters getting what's coming to them, some in a good way and some not so much.
Rosemary Jones' "Dusty Bones" is a really fun story. Waterdeep's cemetaries are maintained by the Carver family, whose distant "cousin" has come to live with them and proved himself to be little more than a useless nuisance. When it turns out he's seeking a hidden treasure long-hidden in a crypt, leading to much chaos and other amusement, well, that's just good reading. The main character in this one is the best in the whole book, with his frustration at this idiot cousin interfering with his pursuit of brawls and wenches just perfectly painting the picture of young mister Carver.
Ed Greenwood's "The Many Murders of Manshoon" is something of a confusing tale, even for one who's read all of Greenwood's works. Manshoon, a terribly powerful wizard, now a vampire, is seeking revenge upon those who plotted his death. His elaborate plans keep going awry. Elminster, of course, makes his appearance as the traditional foil of Manshoon, but it's not simply the sage being one step ahead of his old foe. He's got personal stakes in the game and not all of them come out safely. This is a decent story, but if you've not read a lot of the backstory, you won't know who's who and you'll be lost.
"A Body in a Bag" by Erik Scott de Bie reads like a teen sitcom. The young demonspawn is in love with the young necromancer girl (think goth teen) who is betrothed to -- and deeply in love with -- the young heir to the lordship. The tiefling and the necromancer come upon her betrothed's brother, dead, and try to bring him back to life. When he turns into a flesh-eating ghoul, well, merriment ensues. There's all the cliched love triangle bits, where he can never tell her how he feels and she thinks they're just friends. It starts out great, moving right along, but it just loses itself in the old tired plot.
"Iruladoon" by RA Salvatore is a wonderful tale. Something of a sequel to his most recent novel, _The Ghost King_, we see something of the ultimate fate of Regis and Catti-Brie. They're still in their divine home in the forest, but who knew that forest had a location on Toril and not some higher plane? Great story, with the characters in it encountering these two as strangers, though they are plain to those of us who've read Salvatore's many works. Still, if you're reading these stories cold with no history in the novel line, you will have no idea what's happening here. Still, for those of us in the know, this is a beautiful little vignette.
Overall, the stories were good to read, with only a couple real misses.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
One or the better Forgotten Realms anthologies., June 28, 2010
This review is from: Realms of the Dead: A Forgotten Realms Anthology (The Haunted Lands) (Mass Market Paperback)
Realms of the Dead is an anthology based on The Haunted Lands trilogy by Richard Lee Byers. There are a wide range of stories by some famous and new up and coming authors in the Forgotten Realms. Here are some quick reviews of the short stories you will find here.
Pieces-Details how one of the characters in The Haunted lands trilogy becomes who he is and gives more information about what Bareris and Mirror were doing when not in action. Good story and moves at a nice pace. 4 out of 5.
Soul Steal-A new story from Lisa Smedmen. Trelwyn is looking to avenge her brother and has an interesting way of going about it. Unexpected actions lead to a nice twist at the end. Great story with excellent characters. 4 out of 5.
The Resurrection Agent-How many times can a person live again? Harlot is a person who is used as an agent to find the villains and after she is killed by them, comes back to life and gets revenge. This story details her adventure as she is traveling and comes across an old acquaintance who is looking to get revenge on her. A good piece with a nice background to the characters. Flows smoothly. 4 out of 5.
The Wandering Stones-This one was really good. Jada has found out about her past and is on the run from a dragon who is looking to get more from her than she can imagine. After taking refuge in a town where dragon dare not go, she learns more about her mysterious past. I have a feeling this will be the new characters for Bruce R. Cordell's next trilogy or at least I hope so. A solid story. 4 out of 5.
The Bone Bird-Jaleigh Johnson tells the tale of Bromer, a cleric of Chauntea who is sent to help a town plagued by the undead. Waylaid along the way things become complicated. Good story. Jaleigh keeps it moving and provides a nice conclusion. 4 out of 5.
Feast of the Moon-Newcomer Christopher Rowe's story depicts a servant of Malar who is sent on a hunt to kill a creature even his last master could not. The story was good but fell off at the end. When all was said and done, I said to myself, "What was the point in that." 2 out of 5.
A Prayer for Brother Robert-Philip Athans changed gears for this haunting tale. Even though it is in the FR, it has the feel of belonging more in a horror anthology. Since this is the Realms of the Dead, it still fits nicely though. Brother Robert is a priest and enlisted to check on a woman's house she moved into after her grandfather passed away. Can he clear out the evil spirits? It took a long time to get into this one. By the end I still enjoyed the story, however, I felt it could have been a bit more. 3 out of 5.
The King in Copper-Richard Baker's character is lord of Hulburg. He is spineless and at the mercy of the Red Plumbs, a mercenary band who are looking for food and loot. The captain in charge, Odelmore, forces Angar to take him to his ancestor's crypts to rob the dead. This one was not bad. I really did feel sorry for Angar and his plight, but at the end, I feel I needed something more to find out how things really turned out for Angar. This one may be a tie in the Mr. Baker's trilogy Blades of the Moonsea. 3 out of 5.
Dusty Bones-Rosemary is back to further one of the Carver's adventures in the City of the Dead. This time it is Leaplow Carver who works with a distant cousin who is not very good at the Carver's line of work and has ulterior motives. There is some good background on the Carvers and the story flows well and the characters are fun to read. 4 out of 5.
The Many Murders of Manshoon-Ed Greenwood gives the account of Manshoon going around trying to get revenge on those who have killed him and most of his clones. Things don't go the way he plans. The story is not too bad. I enjoyed it more than the last trilogy he wrote and at least this time he doesn't use the made up swear words that were prevalent in the trilogy. 3 out of 5.
A Body in a Bag-Erik Scott de Bie's take on a tiefling named Korvo who is working with a necromancer named Ande who is studying the undead. As the story progresses, Korvo who is infatuated with Ande fanes a connection to the undead they just created so as to spend more time with her. Now she is trying to discover how to remove the fake cures. Mr. de Bie continues to put out great writing and is not afraid to provide excellent graphic descriptions. This was an excellent story, though I did hope for a different ending. 5 out of 5.
Iruladoon-R.A. Salvatore here adds a bit more to the conclusion of The Ghost King in the Transitions trilogy. The main story is about a group of fishermen who need to make repairs to their boat and so end up at a dock with a cabin near a place called Iruladoon. Strange occurrences happen and the characters experience the unwanted feeling of the haunted wood. It took me a while to get into the story and everything was getting set up. I did like the added explanation to a trilogy that ended a bit too quickly for me. A couple of the characters we good while the others were a bit bland. Overall, a pretty good story. 4 out of 5.
In the end, I feel there is something here for everyone. I enjoyed most of the stories. Some more so than others and have to say this was probably one of the better anthologies in the realms setting. I do hope some of the stories are introductions to a new adventure, Bruce R. Cordell comes to mind here and am happy to see others further the trilogies that have continued to entertain.
Happy reading
-Dimndbangr
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