Customer Reviews

Return of the Damned (Dungeons & Dragons Novel)

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

 

 

I had quite high hopes for this, or at least, high hopes in the realm of D&D writing. See, way back in the very first book in this series, Lain introduced Regdar and Naull, the Iconic characters from the D&D re-release, as slowly developing a love. In "The City of Fire," Naull and Regdar's love is developed, and at the end, Naull chooses a terrible self-sacrifice, leaving Regdar alone, but saving the world. In this story, there's a chance - a small chance - that Naull might actually be alive!

So, of course, Regdar hooks up with those he can find to try and save her...

...and goes on a very pointless hack and slash, fight after fight plot with little to no cohesion and a senseless sort of "keep fighting, one bad thing a chapter" style that left me cold. The big climax wasn't as climactic as it needed to be, and to be honest, it was the worst in the series so far.

It's unfortunate, because this was the sub-plot I was really enjoying (well, barring my hopeful, but never gonna happen, love interest between Hennet and Kerwyn). I can only hope the next title, "The Death Ray," brings Regdar and Naull (and all the rest) back into play as a more plot-driven enjoyable story.

'Nathan

I would not be so generous if I was considering this book by its own merit. On its on merit I would have a hard time giving it 2 stars.

There is no T.H.Lain, many people do not know that. The name was a pen-name used by 9 different writers working for TSR. (now named Wizards of the coast)

* The Savage Caves -- Philip Athans
* The Living Dead -- Cory Herndon
* Oath of Nerull -- Bruce Cordell
* City of Fire -- Ed Stark
* The Bloody Eye -- Johnny L. Wilson
* Treachery's Wake -- Nate Levine
* Plague of Ice -- Murray J.D. Leeder
* The Sundered Arms -- Dave Gross
* Return of the Damned -- Jess Lebow
* The Death Ray -- Philip Athans

The fact is that Jess Lebow was and is the weak link in this series and this group of writers. Like many others I had to force myself to finish this book just so I could read the last book in the series with all the available character storyline details, but I knew Philip Athans would not disappoint me in the final book.

Personally I usually hate it when multiple writers use the same pen-name since their writing styles vary and therefore effect the storyline in negative ways, one exception being the warriors series by erin hunter. I also don't care for multiple authors working on the same trilogy/series for the same reason but at least in those instances you know what your getting into when you actually get to see whom the author really was.

I do recommend the series just be forewarned that Lebow will let you down with this book.

Return of the Damned is an appropriate title indeed. Reading it was like an eternity of punishment. This is a new low point for the series, which will come to an end in the next book.

Our returning line-up consists of Regdar the fighter, Naull the wizard, his long lost love, in a supporting role, Pelor the cleric and Alhandra the paladin in walk on roles. Regdar is joined by 4 fighter companions for the majority of the book that we have not seen before.

In the service of the Duke of Koratia Regdar is bent on suicide by dungeon delving. After being berated by the duke since Regdar is a captain and not to be risking himself he hears that Naull may be alive. Regdar commits treason by leaving the duke's service, and compounds it by taking the four best fighters with him under false pretenses.

They proceed to hew their way through wave after wave of cannon fodder, showing that Regdar is still as dumb as he was when fighting goblins in book one The Savage Caves. This approach of a head on attack against insurmontable odds succeeds in most improbable fashion with our heroes killing everything that moves no matter how powerful despite having no plan, no subterfuge and no skills other than hitting things really hard and fast.

There are heroes who can take on insurmountable odds and win, without making the reader roll his eyes in disbelief. This book does not do this. Regdar is so stubborn and limited in his uses I was hoping for the blackguards troops to take him out.

Despite some bright moments early on, and the redeeming Plague of Ice, this franchise of rotating authors has turned into novel after novel of slapdash plots, conflicting character portrayals and backgrounds and uninspired prose. Star Wars quotes are not funny in a dungeon crawl though apparently the authors don't understand this as they appear in more than one book. Perhaps it was a running gag that they each try to hide one Star Wars series quote in each book. It wasn't funny guys, it was stupid and it jerks the reader right out of their willing sense of disbelief.

I really wanted to like this one. I've been following this series from the beginning and some of the books were quite fun but this one was difficult to get through (and it's not that long).

My first issue was that the main troupe of characters is entirely made up of fighters. A human fighter, an elf fighter, a dwarf fighter, and a dwarf fighter cleric. Having Mialee or Lidda around usually helped the books... anything for a little more variety. Jozan the cleric makes a cameo in the beginning and returns and we know Naull will appear at some point... but when you get four fighters as the party you can be assured that there will be some hack and slash on its way.

As to the fights... Lain writes a very interesing fight with folks feinting and ducking and blades nicking or pommels hammering... but there were a few too many of these just in the first few chapters. I'm still going to read the last book as I'm hoping this one just didn't come together.