Customer Reviews

Storm of the Dead (Forgotten Realms: The Lady Penitent, Book 2)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

While I have mixed feelings about the amount of changes Lisa Smedman is making to Forgotten Realms lore, I do have to give her credit for taking the reader on a memorable journey with interesting characters, twists, and delving deep into the origins of many basic tenets of Drow society and racial abilities.

R.A. Salvatore helped bring Menzoberranzan to life, and rather than retread ground that has already been laid, Lisa Smedman has taken to fleshing out the lesser known, but no less important, Drow Pantheon and societies above and below the surface.

Primarily focusing on the followers of Ellistrae, this book takes place about two years after the first book in the series. Lolth and Ellistrae begin the book playing their board game, and Kiaransalee (drow goddess of undeath, vengeance, necromancy, etc.) is bored and decides to join in against both of them. With the pieces set, the game begins, and we are taken to the settings from the first book, where the followers of Ellistrae are attempting to reconcile their beliefs with the new converts to their church, leftover followers of Vhaeraun who join with them as their god's power, portfolio, and very existence is joined with Ellistrae's church.

This book focuses on the inevitable internal power struggles of the nightshadows and protectors. Ellistrae's creed of "always be kind" is diluted with the new messages of assassination, trickery, and other tenets which are designed as means to the end of Lolth's ultimate defeat.

Hallistra Melarn (The Lady Penitent) continues with her unclear motives, as you cannot really tell whom she ultimately serves through her actions which bring jeopardy to anyone who dares to trust her. Her brother Q'arlynd Melarn is once again drawn into the fold of Ellistrae and learns much of his house's history and some surprising things that spell out his destiny to come. Both of them play a pivotal role in the story, and the ultimate side on which House Melarn will fall is still hanging in the balance as neither is truly trustworthy enough to serve the side that they are technically "on" due to selfish beliefs and desires.

If anyone had to make the changes that occur, Lisa Smedman seems up to the task, and I enjoyed this book immensely. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

After the apparent death of my favorite drow god in the last volume I wasn't sure I wanted to continue with this series. I really ended up enjoying volume 2 though. It's about time the males got some respect - even the females that follow the Dark Maiden have always seemed like terrible chauvinists. The body is count is high enough that you just can't be sure who will survive, adding to the excitement.

Many questions were answered, but enough are still unanswered that I'm anxious to see what happens in the third volume.

This book did not have the same fast place flow of the first book. This does not make it in any way worse.In this book, the characters are pitted against some lesser god of death, but this was not where the real emphasis lied. The book was really about the power plays between the Nightwalker/Mask people and Elistree's people. The other main thing it did was set up the next book by introducing that (falsee?) the energy negating stuff in the underdark was growing in power and something had to soon be done about it. I gave it a 4 because the end was so erupt. I believe that was because the defeating of the lesser god was not that crucial to the book growth, but c'mon, she was defeated in like 2 paragraphs.

I am enjoying the series so far. It is an interesting story which sounds like it's going to change the Dark Elf race for all time. I am starting to like Q'arlynd Melarn more, but he seems to be more of a drow who is leaning towards the good side. I think he's a bit torn like Halisstra is. A new player invades the sava match between Lloth and Eilistraee.. it's interesting because the match is actually a simulation of what is actually happening down on Toril.

Q'arlynd is more of the main character in this series than Halisstra I think. In the last book he was torn between his past, and a future as a follower of Eilistraee.. So he finds his own path in a city where mages rule, perfect for someone like him, but he has some challenges along the way, and the pull of Eilistraee as well...

I am enjoying the story a lot, and I think this series is going to effect the future of the drow than the War of the Spider Queen did.

Now if only someone could resurrect Phaerun, I'd be happy :)

Loved this, there is a metaphorical dance between Lolth and Eilistraee that really shines through here.

Storm of the Dead is the second installment in the Lady Penitent series. First book, The Sacrifice of the Widow, failed to impress me. Had the substance, but lacked any serious character development and most importantly abused resurrection of characters.
This book has a beautiful plot, and generally a great feel to it. The flow is brilliant, and I have to confess I gulped it down in one huge bite. The Author really breathed life into the city of Sshamath, and introduced some new interesting characters. Character of Q'arlynd is as strong as it was in the first book, but other characters get significantly more development in this installment. We really get to know Cavetina, the new Halisstra, and Karas. Things happen for a reason in this book, and motivations are believable. Really nothing bad to say about plot, writing, characters or world building.
Unfortunately, the biggest flaw of the first book still persists here. The author is taking character resurrection so lightly, without any regard to the suspense of the book. Sentences such as "I hope something will be left from her body, so we can resurrect her.", are commonplace.
It is a major flaw in my opinion, but the book sat so well with me, I cant mark it down because of it. Simply a great book, well worth your time.

This was a much-improved addition to Lisa Smedman's trilogy. The first entry, while good, suffered from what felt like rather rushed pacing.

This one slows things down a little, and raises some very interesting questions about the drow, though I'm still not sure I like where the mythology is going. After the first book it seemed like the author wants to make the drow monotheistic...and if her body count in the third installment is anything like the first two (as seems likely) that may come to pass.

The characterisations were quite well done and I felt like she gave them a more substantial / realistic depth this go-round, though perhaps that is due to already being mostly familiar with the major players from the first installment.

What I particularly liked about this book was that it raised questions about the first book, and how some things that appeared as certainties in sacrifice of the widow, now seem distinctly less so here.

A great, no-holds-barred addition to the "novels for drow-lovers" collection. One of my biggest remaining questions is, "Where was this Lisa Smedman during War of the Spider Queen??"

The book it self was a very good read, I'd recommend it to those familiar with Forgotten Realms. Those not too familiar might not understand some of the references, but will still enjoy the book on it's own. I ordered books 1 and 2 at the same time, and was very pleased with the delivery. They arrived in 4 days and in excellent shape, packed carefully and no damage to the book covers at all. Overall, still very pleased with Amazon.

Lisa Smedman has done it again! This book continues the battle for the souls of the drow and follows the struggle of Hilistra Milarn (sp?). The plot was easy to follow and very well written. Many twists in the story made me think wow that is really cool. I for one can not wait for the third book in this series.

This book is great and I would recommend it but I agree with other reviewers that it should be longer and more in depths. The characters are great and the book's story is not predictable. I wasn't expecting the this book series to be this good.