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Realms Of War (Forgotten Realms Anthology)

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Realms of War is the latest anthology released by Wizards of the Coast. All of the stories are edited by Philip Athans. This anthology is a direct tie-in to Paul S. Kemp's latest trilogy titled The Twilight War. The crux of this anthology is each of these stories take place in a war that has occurred, or is occurring, in the Realms. There are many events, and characters, that astute readers will recognize. Fans of the Forgotten Realms will recognize many of the authors in this anthology, such as Kemp, R.A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, and many more.

Instead of reviewing each story individually, which would take entirely too long. I will say a few words about each story and give my general impressions of it, and hope that will suffice.

#1 - Continuum by Paul S. Kemp - This story ties right into Mr. Kemp's Twilight War trilogy. While it doesn't answer many questions, it does provide some significant background into a couple of the characters as well as leaving the reader with at least two major questions. Fast pacing and solid writing here - just what we have come to expect from Mr. Kemp. 4 out of 5

#2 - Weasel's Run by Lisa Smedman - This is a quick little self contained tale. Nothing Realms shattering by any means, but the pacing and characters more than held my attention. After what I considered a disappointing second book in the Lady Penitent trilogy it is nice to see Ms. Smedmann return to form. Another solid story for this anthology. 4 out of 5.

#3 - The Last Paladin of Ilmater by Susan J. Morris - Editor Susan Morris tries her hand at the short story with this tale. High praises around. Very interesting story, solid characters, and enough action to keep me turning the pages. It already seems as though small things are happening in the Realms gearing up for something major. Yet another solid addition to this anthology. 4 out of 5.

#4 - Black Arrow by Bruce R. Cordell - A quaint story about a boy doing what his mom tells him not to. However, Mr. Cordell wraps this story in a very nice shell and the presentation is spot on. In fact, I would have liked to see this one as a novella, there was so much more I wanted to read about. Good plot, great characters, and equally solid pacing. A very good addition tot his anthology. 4 out of 5.

#5 - Too Many Princes by Ed Greenwood - This story had quite a bit of promise. A solid build up, an interesting plot and entertaining characters. Then, Mr. Greenwood does what he always does and brings in the ultra-strong characters that runs roughshod over everything and everyone totally destroying the plot and all the build up. Sometimes, you just have to leave those characters at home. A good start and disappointing finish. 2 out of 5.

#6 - The Siege of Zerith Hold by Jess Lebow - A solid tale detailing a battle at a fortress known as Zerith Hold. Mosltly all plot and action here. There are some interesting characters, but being that this is a short story there is not a lot of time for character development. Hopefully some of these characters appear in later short stories or a novel or two. Another good addition to this anthology. 4 out of 5.

#7 - Mercy's Reward by Mark Sehestedt - A tale about a lone man who's choices pays a great dividend in the end. The actual plot of this story is solid enough, the pacing is good and keeps the reader interested. However, the main character, seemed shallow to me. Maybe this is because there were so many additional characters added to the story. This isn't the best story of this anthology but it's not too bad either. 3 out of 5.

#8 - Redemption by Elaine Cunningham - A story about the renowned Elaith and delves a little into who he is and what some of his motives `might' be. A decent amount of action and a plot that leaves some questions, of which I assume will be answered later this year with the release of Reclamation by Ms. Cunningham. A solid story that held my interest and left me wanting more. 4 out of 5.

#9 - Changing Tides by Mel Odom - It's good to see Mr. Odem back in the Realms, and of course he jumps right up onto a ship and into the sea. A very engaging tale about a historian seeking answers, and a little cash. Very interesting plot, solid characters that I connected with right away. I was reminded again why I like Mr. Odem's writing. One of the best stories in this anthology and that says a lot. 5 out of 5.

#10 - Chase the Dark by Jaleigh Johnson - An interesting tale about an outcast of Amn trying to make a name for himself. An engaging story and very good characters, which is surprising since it's a short story. There is more depth in this story than most of the others in this anthology. It certainly held my interest and left me wanting to read more about the main character. Very good addition to this anthology 5 out of 5.

#11 - Bones and Stones by R.A. Salvatore - This was not the story I was expecting. No Drizzt or Artemis here. It's all Pwent. This story actually adds a great deal of substance to Pwent as a character. No longer is he the crazy dwarf bent on ravaging an opponent. He has depth, and a heart. It is all written around a Drizzt journal entry which makes it very poignant . A must read for such. 5 out of 5.

#12 - Second Chance by Richard Lee Byers - This short story ties into Mr. Byers The Haunted Land trilogy. Fans of the first book, Unclean, will see the story progression. This story was mildly entertaining. The plot was decent and the characters were adequate. However, I wasn't as interested in the events, or characters, of this story as I was with some of the other stories in this anthology. It's not a bad story, but just seemed a little flat to me. 3 out of 5.

This may be one of the best anthologies I have read in quite some time. The overall quality of the stories is fantastic. There are some great stories in this collection such as Mel Odom's, Jaleigh Johnson's, and R.A. Salvatore's. The rest are entertaining in their own right and certainly add lore and depth to the various wars that they take place in. All in all this anthology is a must for any Forgotten Realms fan. Kudos to all the authors who have a story in this one.

War in the fantasy world can be uplifting or it can be cruel. See what happens when twelve talented authors put their spin on things in REALMS OF WAR....

In Paul S. Kemp's "Continuum", Rivalen was willing to do anything to serve his priestess. But was the cost worth it? Continuum is an entertaining albeit slightly confusing story to readers unfamiliar to the background. It took me a bit to get into the storyline and see where it was going and I wish it had answered more questions than it did. On the other hand, it makes me want to hunt down more stories by Paul S. Kemp just to see where all the events are leading to!

Lisa Smedman takes readers on a wild ride in "Weasel's Run". Weasel is trapped by The Beast and has a chance to live. Will he survive the Hunt? Lisa Smedman weaves together a clever tale that seamlessly flows back and forth in time as the pieces begin to fit together. Sometimes it isn't how big one is but rather how quick one can think that wins and the author shows this well.

"The Last Paladin of Ilmater" by Susan J. Morris features two women on a quest involving a child and the undead. The ending is both startling and brilliant. Susan J. Morris packs a lot of tension into such a short story as her characters are vibrantly alive in this fascinating tale.

"Black Arrow" by Bruce R. Cordell is perhaps my favorite story in the anthology. Jotharam Feor finds a way to get involved in the war despite his mother's wishes and his actions make him a hero. Who can't help but love the impetuousness of Jotharam? Bruce R. Cordell perfectly captures the heart of this brave and daring adolescent in this heartbreaking story? "Black Arrow" shows how heroes come in all shapes, sizes, and yes, even ages as Jotharam is a hero to remember.

In "Too Many Princes" by Ed Greenwood, Mirt the Merciless is faced with a dilemma. The vizier has created doubles of numerous people including Mirt and the trap is about to be sprung. Ed Greenwood's tale is more than a bit confusing as no one is ever sure if the person before them is really that person. Perhaps if I'd been more familiar with the world itself, this would have been an easier read. The ending was a bit of a disappointment, too, as it seemed like the author took the easy way out.

"The Siege of Zerith Hold" by Jess Lebow is a story of war. Goblins are attacking and it is up to two men to inspire their men as the odds seem hopeless. "The Siege of Zerith Hold" is pure action as the story details an intense and sometimes heartbreaking battle. Fans of the Forgotten Realms world will probably appreciate this one more than readers new to the world.

"Mercy's Reward" by Mark Sehestedt features Gethred showing mercy and freeing a wolf ensnared in a trap. Sometimes doing the right thing can pay off in a big way. "Mercy's Reward" was initially a bit difficult to follow for a newcomer to the storyline with all the various intrigues and characters but it quickly begins to all come together. The ending isn't necessarily unexpected but is still satisfying.

In "Redemption" by Elaine Cunningham, the elf Elaith Craulnober finds his purpose as his legacy is revealed when he aids other elves. Elaine Cunningham is actually one of the two authors I've previously read and her story did not disappoint. Her characters are always multidimensional and Elaith is an excellent example of her skill in crafting characters one cares about.

"Changing Tides" by Mel Odom is the strongest stand alone story in the anthology and the most entertaining to someone new to the realm. Rytagir Volak is on an underseas salvage operation when things go awry. "Changing Tides" shows exactly why Mel Odom is an author I regularly read. The prose is clear and concise while the characterizations are sharp. The action draws the reader in as "Changing Tides" makes me want to read more of the Forgotten Realms books.

Jaleigh Johnson's "Chase the Dark" is the story of Devlen Torthil. Devlen is a man who has found solace in being a charlatan... but how will he handle an opportunity to shine as a hero? The relationship between Devlen and Morla intrigued me in this story as I found I wanted to know more. The twists in "Chase the Dark" are quite well done as Jaleigh Johnson throws in a few surprises for the reader.

"Bones and Stones" by R.A. Salvatore is a story I was eagerly anticipating as I've heard so much about this author. Thibbledorf Pwent and G'nurk are enemies in a war, but sometimes even enemies have something in common. R.A. Salvatore not only writes a fantastic story, he also makes a powerful statement with "Bones and Stones". While Pwent and G'nurk are very different on the surface, underneath it all they have the same hopes, dreams, and emotions.

Richard Lee Byers concludes this anthology with "Second Chance". Kemas deserted his temple and has been captured. Will he get a "Second Chance" at defending his beliefs or will he be forever branded a traitor? Richard Lee Byers writes a very smooth story in which Kemas is forced to mature quickly or die. The growth of the main character is well done as Richard Lee Byers will have readers cheering for Kemas as the story unfolds.

REALMS OF WAR is an entertaining fantasy anthology. Even readers unfamiliar with the Forgotten Realms world will find something to pique their curiosity. Very enjoyable!

COURTESY OF CK2S KWIPS AND KRITIQUES

Over all, I liked the stories in this anthology as they highlighted some interesting aspects of many of the Realms' wars, with a bulk of the stories taking place in more recent times. As a whole, this anthology is well done and was definitely worth the read. The best part of this book, though, is the sampling of new authors, such as Susan J. Morris, Mark Sehestedt, and Jaleigh Johnson. Of course, the heavy hitters contribute some amazing tales, like Elaine Cunningham, R.A. Salvatore, and Mel Odom (whom I thought long gone from the Realms a while ago).

This anthology is based upon the backdrop of the recent events told by Paul S. Kemp of a Shadow War that is currently unfolding in the Realms. Reviewing all the stories will take a lot space and time so I will only highlight them rather than go in depth. As I said, the whole book is great to add to another collection and truly reveals the talents of so many of the authors.

Continuum, by Paul S. Kemp, is another fine tale spun out of Paul's miracle fabric of characterization. This story spotlight's an aspect of the Shadow War Paul is currently telling and certainly reveals his talent in bringing the Realms into succinct reality with his penchant for creating such believable characters, even gods. In this story, I did feel a little rushed in some way but I attribute it the tone of the story in which Erevis Cale's girlfriend (for lack of a better term) is suddenly roused by a horrific storm happening in distance Sembia but spreading in her direction. As she tries to escape, she finds another group of refugees trying to get away and joins them. She meets an interesting stranger who not only saves her from the storm but protects her from unknown enemies. This tale brings to focus an aspect in Erevis Cale's life that may have much deeper meaning in following books.

Lisa Smedman's Weasel's Run is fun story with a tragic ending. Not revealing spoiler information but as with all stories of war happy endings are a rarity. But, her story shows how humanity can certainly have an effect on one's principles and attitude. The tone was lighthearted but somber, fast paced but not hectic and it crammed some solid characterization into the story's short amount of space. Very nice!

The Last Paladin of Ilmater, by Susan J. Morris, was an enjoyable plot driven story. The characters revealed themselves well enough but I didn't feel I saw real change in them and very much depth. The story was very good though, and I certainly look forward to more of Morris's contribution to the Realms. What I liked most about the story was how Susan revealed the paladin's downfall. This concept should resonate on many different levels to readers. It has a definite religious feel to it, after all it is about a paladin, but the unfolding story shows how we each can learn from failure. I enjoyed reading this though it may have been just a little slow in places.

The Black Arrow is a great story, yet I felt robbed at the same time. Bruce Cordell tells about an adolescent boy whose influential mother prevents him from participating in the city's war, or least far from any danger. The boy ends up finding himself in the right place at the right time and shirks his mother's warning about staying out of the way. He is sent by an unwitting soldier to bring a message to a forward deployed force, of which the boy's hero is leading. A tower was recently taken by the enemy and the boy helps his hero and his warrior aunt to take the tower, revealing a hidden path his friends used. In the end the boy is the one who saves the city by bringing a very important missive back to the General. This story is great in its pace and action while capturing the boy's point of view. What bothered me was that Bruce didn't reveal what happened to the boy that caused the story to end the way it did (or, actually, begin as it did). Frustrating, but still very enjoyable.

Ed Greenwood's Too Many Princes is the great disappointment of this anthology. Ed brought me into the Realms and helps keep the Realms a wonderful place to spend my time, but this story, as with most of his more recent tales, is a flop. It starts off great and even keeps me entertained until near the end. I was expecting this early tale of Mirt the Moneylender to figure some creative and clever way out if his predicament, which seemed to become worse by the minute. I had fun watching the characters fall further and further into the trap and wondered how this was going to turn out. Then, in true Greenwood style, apparently, he brings in his `McGuffin' who saves the day by leaving such a nasty taste in my mouth. I actually had to leave the rest of the book alone for a day or two just to get over my nausea. If I told you to rip these pages out of the book then this anthology would definitely be five stars.

After overcoming the dysentery that was the previous story, I was inspired to delve deeper into this book thanks to Jess Lebow and the story, The Siege of Zerith Hold. This was the story that Ed's should have been. The two main characters in this story find themselves, and the soldiers they lead, besieged in a keep by two vast tribes of goblins. The situation becomes worse as one section of the keep is finally overcome by worgs and their goblin riders. This certainly builds tension as the two leaders realize their only hope is to leave the keep and cut through a sea of goblins in order to kill the goblin leader. This story had me anxious to see how it ends and didn't let me down. Good story!

Mercy's Reward is Mark Sehestedt's tale of a Cormyrean running for his life during the Tuigan Crusade, bringing us back to the region he revealed in his book Frostfell. The Cormyrean escaped the Khan's force and is on the run. Hiding from the horselords, he is hunted day and night and soon finds himself near exhaustion, dehydration, and starvation. He stumbles upon a wolf caught in a trap and decides to free the wolf rather than kill it for food, knowing he was probably going to die anyway. Deciding he'd rather not die by the Khan's men. He ends up as prisoner to a vile shapechanger but is ultimately saved by the horselords. The story reveals an interesting twist that reveals some great characterization and how honor can find its way into the hearts of enemies.

Elaine Cunningham brings us back to Elaith Craulnabor in her story, Redemption. This tragic hero has found himself at peace and has attained a certain satisfaction with his life. But, true to fashion, nothing stays that way for long. A cry for help from elves in the Wealdath Forest brings to light the truth behind who Elaith is and why he cannot become the elf he really wants to be. Understanding the mission, he accepts because he knows that to do what needs to be done he is the only noble elf that can do the job. This story is written very well and validates why Elaine has written for the Realms for as long as she has. Very good!

Changing Tides by Mel Odom was a good tale that returns the readers to the War of Sahuagin. Mel tells about an adventurer-historian who is searching for a sunken ship and its manifest and diary. Sea elves find him in their territory and only by agreeing to a percentage of any treasure on the ship does he get out his predicament. He is also able to enlist the aid of the elves in searching the sunken wreck. Suddenly under sahuagin attack, the elves and the historian retreat to the historian's hired vessel. While fighting for their lives they bond with each other and agree to help each other until their return to port. This story reveals how key decisions can have an impact on unforeseen events. Definitely a good read and the pacing was just right.

Jaleigh Johnson tells us a grim story of a soldier who wants to die. In Chasing the Dark, a loner scout who is ostracized by his countrymen for fear of his magic is compelled to accomplish suicide missions as a way of redeeming himself through death. His superior forces him to accompany another soldier and a priest to investigate a recent massacre. He receives additional instructions that place the lives of two soldiers in his hands. Not wanting to die guilty of two other deaths he accepts the responsibility, but a sudden twist at the end reveals the scout as a true hero. Jaleigh reveals that it might not be as cracked up as everyone makes it.

Bones and Stones, by R.A. Salvatore, doesn't even need to have a review. Salvatore just doesn't quit when it comes to telling compelling stories with excellent characterization, drama, and action. Everything comes into play during the Orc Campaign of Mithral Hall. Salvatore reveals how both races, dwarves and orcs, have more in common than either would admit. But it also shows that orcs have a certain presence that cannot be denied and to understand that may be the key to save each of their people. Such a powerful story that reveals so much in so little space. Plus, you can't beat a story with Thibbledorf Pwent as the lead.

Finally, Richard Lee Byers story, Second Chance, introduces the readers to the events taking place in his Haunted Lands Trilogy. The story of a young man who deserts his temple and is caught by the enemy is given his `second chance' to overcome the cowardice within him. With the aid of a mysterious stranger the man is able to save his temple from the siege by a local Thayan force. Characterization is key here as we delve into the reasons why the man deserted and what he has to do to save his friends and masters. This story moves rather quickly but you don't notice it, but more importantly the young man seems to mature before your eyes into a hero that he never would have been. Excellent!

"Realms Of War" is a kinetic grab bag of twelve war stories edited by Philip Athans. It is a cross of dark fantasy and old fashioned sword and sorcery fiction wrapped in the world of the Twilight War trilogy. If you haven't read these Forgotten Realms books before, you'll find that this collection both stands by itself as good reading and is compelling enough to make you want to dive into the Twilight War books by Paul S. Kemp.

Each of the stories in Realms of War is a quick thirty pages long and packed with bigger-than-life heroes, (mostly) pretty girls, exotic places, strange and mysterious villains. These are action stories loaded with magic and they don't disappoint. With settings across "all the lands 'twixt bustling Waterdeep and the sparkling waves of The Sea of Fallen Stars" you get to sample bit-sized pieces of the very best this world has to offer.

The very first story, Continuum by Paul S. Kemp, is magnificent. It's character's are very well developed and are expertly woven into their world. The blend of intrigue, magic and action is only topped by an ending that zings with a really appealing twist.

The other stories in the anthology are also very good, but a couple of them stand out. Changing Tides by Mel Odom has an undersea salvage operation, a titanic sea battle, fiercesome creatures seeking flesh (or simply meat as they call it) and a strange alliance of humans and magical creatures. Chase the Dark by Jaleigh Johnson takes the concept of battle, cause, effect and consequence to an entirely new level. Very well done!

"Realms Of War" is a fast, fun read and doesn't require having read the first two books in the Twilight War trilogy - Shadowbred and Shadowstorm - to slip into the action and enjoy the ride. After reading "Realms Of War", you'll probably find that you'll want to check out Shadowbred and Shadowstorm sometime before Shadowrealm is released later this year.

Realms of War edited by Philip Athans- This anthology is included in The Twilight War trilogy which was written by Paul S. Kemp. Comprised of twelve short stories by Paul S. Kemp, Lisa Smedman, Susan J. Morris, Bruce R. Cordell, Ed Greenwood, Jess Lebow, Mark Sehestedt, Elaine Cunningham, Mel Odom, Jaleigh Johnson, R. A. Salvatore, and Richard Lee Byers. There are many famous characters from the Forgotten Realms that appear in the different stories.

Continuum by Paul S. Kemp- This short story fills in some of the back story found in the third book of The Twilight War trilogy entitled Shadowrealm. So it takes place between the second and third book of the trilogy. It first tells of Rivalen Tanthul's conversion to Shar, the Lady of Loss. Then it fills the reader in with what happened to Varra and how Rivalen's brother, Brennus, finds their mothers' necklace.

Negatives:
1) Rivalen. The short story didn't really add much to the character, only how he converted and how he feels towards Shar. There really wasn't any added dimension or anything to the character.

Positives:
1) Brennus. Throughout the trilogy, you didn't really hear to much about the younger brother. He showed up here and there, but didn't get a lot of the limelight. In this short story, he is interesting and is more dimensional than I thought Rivalen was.
2) What happened to Varra? I was wondering what did happen to Varra during Shadowrealm, and it's good to see that we find out. I was obvious who she was talking to, but what happens I really felt comfortable with and it explained a lot without going into to much detail.
3) Answers. When I was reading Shadowrealm, I was plagued by how Brennus found his mothers' necklace and with what happened to Varra. I am happy that those questions were answered and I think I should have read the short story before going into Shadowrealm.

Overall: 4.5/5
*While a good short story, Rivalen just seemed to be there. However, Brennus and Varra did become a little more than secondary characters and were interesting.*

Weasel's Run by Lisa Smedman- This story follows Weasel, who is a spriggan (a creature that can change sizes) that tries to escape priests of Malar, the beastlord, in their hunt. The priests are halfling werewolves, who follow their leader names The Beast.

Negatives:
1) Confusing. I just felt confused at times. I'm not all that knowing on creatures of the Realms or anything so a lot of these things Lisa Smedman included, I didn't know about. That and the time frame was weird, I kind of forgot that -67 is farther back than the more recent -65. But that wasn't the big problem. I just felt that the jumping between the years just seemed confusing and got me lost at times.
2) War? Seeing as this is the Realms of War, I would think it would have been a more action focused. Yes their was a battle that they were fighting, but it wasn't really touched on.

Positives:
1) Fast paced. Even though I had to take a moment to figure out what was that thing, I was relatively fast. The chase scenes were appropriately paced and it left you with a sense of urgency.
2) Creative. The story was pretty creative at parts in which Weasel tries to either elude pursuit or when he fights. That was the real highlight I think.

Overall: 3.5/5
*For me, it was just a little to confusing with creatures I never heard of, so I was hard pressed to try and figure out the description of these things. *

The Last Paladin of Ilmater by Susan J. Morris- The story centers around two women kidnapping a fallen paladin's son. Maze, an assassin, and Jaeriko, a druid, are forced into kidnapping the General of Arrabar's son by the General of Reth, in order to stop a war in which the fallen paladin is using ghouls to win the war.

Negatives:
1) Lacking. Some paragraphs seemed to be lacking an important detail. They seemed to be wrapped up either way to quickly or wrapped up in which an action is missing. Then there were times when there wasn't enough information given as to what was going on.
2) Confusing. The story was kind of confusing at times. There were times in which I didn't know which woman was talking or doing something and I didn't really know what suddenly happened between the two.

Positives:
1) Interesting ideas. I have to like the overall plot and ideas behind what was going on. They were pretty interesting and new. Who would think a paladin would use ghouls to fight a war? Not only that, but to have him do other unspeakable things to other people, it just felt different, in a good way.
2) Characters. After getting passed who was talking and what was going on, the characters themselves were pretty interesting. Maze was your typical bullheaded leader. Jaeriko was the more interesting of the two. She had a lot of different dimensions and didn't seem to be your typical main character.

Overall: 3/5
*The confusing aspects and how it sometimes lacked details really made this hard to read and follow clearly. But the overall concept is exciting and fresh.*

Black Arrow by Bruce R. Cordell- The story opens with a letter to a mother saying that her son has died in a battle to save the city of Sarshel. After the letter, the story then follows Jotharam, the son, in what happened.

Negatives:
None. However, I'd liked to know more about what happened to Jotharam and the battle/ war in general.

Positives:
1) Fast paced. I was really sucked into how smooth and fast the story went. I didn't want to put it down, even after finishing it, I don't want it to stop.
2) Characters. The way the characters are portrayed in the story is perfect. Simple, yet enough was added to make you like them. Yet at the same time, the characters didn't seem to be overly powerful or important enough that made them invincible, and that was needed in a story like this.
3) Plot. Simple, yet very effective. It didn't bog you down with useless information or with so much going on that you couldn't follow. Simplicity, in this case, is best.

Overall: 5/5
*Great all round with everything*

Too Many Princes by Ed Greenwood- The story is about a war in Amn and how a group of merchant nobles and mercenaries are trapped in a fortified cathedral called Ombreir. The focus of the story is on Mirt the Merciless, the leader of the mercenaries has he tries and find out who is real and who is murdering the merchant nobles.

Negatives:
1) Too many names and characters. This is always a fault I have with Ed Greenwood's short stories (I have yet to read a full novel by him). He throws at you to many names of characters that quite frankly, you don't need to know their names.
2) To much information. Yet another fault I have with Ed Greenwood's short stories. There is an over abundance of trivial and pointless information that is given that doesn't need to be included in the story at all. Then the useful information that's given is given in a round-about fashion.
3) The beginning. With all the name throwing and the pointless, over abundant information, it surpasses the point of confusion. I honestly had no idea what the story is about, who it's about, and what is going on.

Positives:
1) The end. I did like the end. It made sense of the confusion at the beginning and even threw in a small twist. I've noticed other people didn't like the fact of the super powerful characters that you find in Ed Greenwood's work showing up, but to me, it made the ending at least a little comprehensible. Those super powerful characters were like the "voice" of reason, which made sense of the mess that was this short story.
2) The idea. I also liked the idea of what the plot was supposed to be, when I figured it out. It was interesting and could have been very exciting. Basically, a murder mystery with an army coming to kill you, is a great idea.

Overall: 2/5
*Some people liked the beginning, I didn't. That's why I'm rating it so low. Simplification would have made this story so much better.*

The Siege of Zerith Hold by Jess Lebow- The story is about a siege happening against Zerith Hold. Lord Purdun and his companion, a half-elf, half-steel dragon named Jivam Tammsel are the main focus of the story as they try and hold Zerith Hold from a force of goblins.

Negatives:
1) Lack of character depth. Purdun and Tammsel seem to be very interesting characters, but they didn't have enough time to become more fleshed out.

Positives:
1) Action. I hardly ever say this, but I really enjoyed the action. It's not like I don't enjoy it, they just always seem to be the same usually. Here though, I really thought it was well done and very exciting.
2) Plot. I did like where the story was heading. You can feel the desperation that the main characters feel and the plan they make to have a last ditch effort to try and live. Simple, yet good.

Overall: 4/5
*The characters really need some work, but seeing all the action involved, a longer story would have made it much better.*

Mercy's Reward by Mark Sehestedt- The story involves a man named Gethred and how he winds up the target of a werebear after freeing a wolf. He escapes the werebear when the army that he escaped capture from hunts him down.

Negatives:
1) Gethred. While he at times, especially in the beginning, seemed to be a fun and interesting character, kind of fell flat towards the middle and at the end. He started with some promise, but didn't really grow or change all that much.
2) Felt cliché. The story did seem to have been done before. And yet, Mark Sehestedt wrote another book, Frostfell part of the Wizards series, that kind of dealt with roughly the same things. It was like I was reading something that I've before, and during parts of the story, roughly some of the same things happened in Frostfell.

Positives:
1) Pacing. It was a pretty fast read. I have to say that the reason for this is that I was pretty interested as to what happens.
2) Message. There was a sort of message that was brought up when reading the story. Do a good deed and you may get rewarded.

Overall: 3.5/5
*I really don't know how I feel about this story. It was interesting and did have a good positive message, yet at the same time, it just felt like I've read this before and seen it done better.*

Redemption by Elaine Cunningham- The story involves an elf assassin named Ferret that goes and kills a commander of a garrison of troops. But she is caught and it takes Elaith Craulnober to cover up the evidence.

Negatives:
1) Background. I don't fault Elaine Cunningham, but myself on this fact. It seems to me that you need to read the series called Songs & Swords to really understand what is happening. I haven't, but will one day. But I was utterly confused when reading this.

Positives:
1) Characters. I've heard that Elaith is a very complex and interesting character. Seeing him in this story and the things and inner demons he faces is pretty interesting. Ferret seemed like an interesting character in the few scenes she was in. But I have to say that Elaith stole the story.
2) Clever. The way that Elaith decides to cover up the assassination is pretty ingenious.

Overall: 4/5, but since I don't have the background necessary, 2/5
*Like I said, it would be a good story, if I had the background to understand what was going on.*

Changing Tides by Mel Odom- The focus of the story is on Rytagir Volak and his deep sea treasure hunting. When exploring for a sunken ship, Rytagir is confronted by sea elves led by Irdinmai, in which she and Rytagir strike a bargain with helping salvage the wreckage. However trouble comes in the form of the sea devils, called sahuagin.

Negatives:
1) Let me wanted more. It's not a negative by any means. I just want to read more about what happened and am bummed it ended so soon.

Positives:
1) Characters. Wonderful. Rytagir was an interesting and complex. Irdinmai was also very interesting. They were what really made this story great. Along with...
2) ... the Plot. Excellent. Interesting and kept me interested in what was going to happen. Action isn't all that is involved in this story and it really benefits that. Nevertheless, the story was fast paced and exciting.
3) Dialogue. Some stories have dialogue that seems "forced" and unnatural, here it felt natural and real. It wasn't cheesy and it wasn't overly serious, it was just good.

Overall: 5/5
*Very good characters and an fast paced plot line are the major highlights.*

Chase the Dark by Jaleigh Johnson- The story follows Devlen Torthil, who is a charlatan and an outcast in Amn, who just wants to be a hero.

Negatives:
1) Confusing. I wasn't, and still am not, sure as to why Devlen was a charlatan. I didn't think that it was really explained to well. Was he able to use magic? Is that what made him a charlatan? I just felt it wasn't very clear.

Positives:
1) Characters. Each character was very interesting. The relationship between Devlen and his commander, Morla, was very interesting. Devlen himself was well thought out and the major highlight. While the priest Gerond was also an intriguing character.
2) Twist. What happened I never really expected. It was a shock, and totally unexpected.
3) Memoirs. I liked this little insight into Devlen's thought on what happens. I think that this is what really made him interesting and a developed character. Also, I liked how it briefly either, recapped or set up, the next scenes.

Overall: 4/5
*Even though it was confusing to me at times, the characters were the highlights.*

Bones and Stones by R. A. Salvatore- The story follows Thibbledorf Pwent and his search for a fallen companion after the battle between Obould and Mithral Hall. During Pwent's search, he comes across and orc, G'nurk, who is searching for his daughter. Anger rises and realization ensues.

Negatives:
1) Drizzt Diaries. If there is one thing I don't like about Drizzt it has to be his philosophical diaries. They aren't bad, most of the time, but they just drag on. While in this short story, the diaries serve as an insight, I just felt like it wasn't necessary, and quite honestly, it started to get a little boring.

Positives:
1) Pwent. I used to think that Pwent was just battle crazed and unable to do anything else but fight and kill. Here he has some added depth and I was surprised to see how complex he is.
2) Philosophical meanings. When Pwent and G'nurk, fight and their realizations hit, it carries a lot of meaning. Who would have thought that Pwent has a conscious?

Overall: 4.5/5
*I don't like the Drizzt Diaries, they are a nice touch, but they always come across as whiny and just boring.*

Second Chance by Richard Lee Byers- The story starts with an apprentice, Kemas, who was captured after fleeing a temple of Kossuth that was under attack, who is being tortured to gain information on the temple. However, Bareris Anskuld, intervenes and saves Kemas. Bareris than tell Kemas to go back to the temple with the plans of attack to allow the temple a way to defeat them. Facing the gruesome undead, does Kemas gain courage?

Negatives:
1) Mirror. Where was Mirror in all of this? For those of you who don't know, Mirror is Bareris' ghostly companion in The Haunted Lands trilogy. He was only mentioned twice and yet I like Mirror so I was bummed.

Positives:
1) Kemas. I liked the character for the reason that he HAD to become braver unless he dies. It was an interesting look into the mind of a person who was fearful, yet later, becomes brave. It isn't often that you see a character mature before your eyes. Most heroes are generally brave and fearless, it was a nice change to have one that was scared.
2) Plot. I liked how fast the story moved and how entertaining it was. It was written so well that you didn't notice the events happening quickly as they were.
3) Bareris. I can't get enough of this character. I liked him in The Haunted Lands trilogy and its nice to see him, albeit, quickly here.

Overall 4.75/5
*Good story, yet it just needed more Mirror.*


OVERALL ANTHOGOLY: 4/5

Good and bad and hit and miss. The stories by Salvatore, Odom, and Kemp are very good. The rest are pretty average and some quickly forgotten. I was particulalry disappointed with Ed Greenwood's story. Generally I am a Greenwood fan but there was simply too much going on in here to really fit into a short story.

In the world of Faerun, war seems eternal. Sometimes, battle can be decided by strength, sometimes by trickery. Often, though, it comes by finding unexpected allies--or by making allies out of those who seemed enemies. The highest wisdom comes, it seems, in recognizing that victory itself is not really the ultimate goal, and in finding the humanity in everyone in the fight.

A number of top Forgotten Realms authors join to create an anthology of stories spanning almost two thousand years. Too often, in an anthology, authors bash off something and then return to their real love--their novels. And the form of the short story, coupled with the fact that many readers in their own series won't read the anthology, means that real advances in their continuing story line are impossible. Fortunately, all of these stories are readable and most of the authors have chosen, wisely, to use the short story format to look more deeply into individual characters during a few moments or days of their lives.

A few of the twelve stories deserve special attention. "Weasel's Run" by Lisa Smedman, is a really enjoyable adventure. "Changing Tides" by Mel Odom gives us a great character in in Rytagir, and a look at a part of the Forgotten Realms that is often, well, forgotten. "Bones and Stones" by R. A. Salvatore, is a profound miniature as two warriors revisit a battlefield to recover the bodies of their fallen young. A couple of the authors got carried away in battle, forgetting that we read these stories to learn about people rather than military tactics, but even these stories were well written and held my interest.

I'm not usually a fan of the short story collection: I enjoy the longer format of the novel, and find multiauthor collections too often simply attempts to capitalize on the big name authors. REALMS OF WAR is an exception and an enjoyable read.

Twelve authors gather to write separate, but conjoined stories based on one world. That world is that of the Forgotten Realms - the result is Realms of War.

Each story, by authors such as Forgotten Realms authors Richard Lee Bryers, Jess Lebow and Lisa Smeadman; New York times best-sellers R. A. Salvatore and Paul S. Kemp; and other professional novelists like Mel Odom, Susan J. Morris, and Mark Sehestedt, highlights a different part of the Forgotten Realms world, incorporating interesting characters and plots into the overall good-versus-evil plot. Though someone unfamiliar with the series (like myself) may at first have a bit of a question mark lurking over their head, each short tale gives a further understanding of the Lord of the Rings-reminiscent world and its many rivalries and battles.

Each author's different approach to the series is the most interesting element of the anthology, with some authors (Kemp, Lebow, Bryers, Bruce R. Cordell, Jaleigh Johnson) focusing on the war and conflict of the world, while others use cunning (Smeadman, Odom) and insight (Salvatore, Elaine Cunningham) to show their side of the world. Think of it as twelve different perspectives of a universe not yet known to the fullest extent.

Some of the stories really hold the reader's interest (Smeadman's character Weasel is a favorite, and Odom's Rytagir is immensely interesting), while others kind of fall flat (Morris' "The Last Paladin of Water" doesn't stay in the memory, and Cordell's and Greenwood's shorts aren't very impacting). But as a whole, Realms of War is something to look into if you're a Dungeons and Dragons kind of reader.

- T.C. Robson