Customer Reviews

In Sylvan Shadows (Forgotten Realms)

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

 

 

This is just another great example by Salvatore of just how to write a fantasy novel. Yet again I found myself having to stay up late at night, to read the next page, the next chapter. It only took two or three nights to finish off, I just couldn't stop reading in case I missed something important. Cadderly is a totally believable character and his friends are a bunch of misfits who somehow manage to form a great friendship whilst in the midst of a horrific war. You cannot help but feel for them all and you find yourself cheering at their successes, frowning at their losses and feeling upset when they fight amongst themselves. Recommended without a second thought.

I don't usually give high marks for many novels, but this is as good (don't get me wrong) as a night at the movies of a very gripping action picture.

Though I,ve been told this second book in the series was "trash" by one reader, forget about it. This novel for all its weaknesses raptures you in a full on war in the Sylvan' forest. The Characters Ivan & Pikel, (the dwarves) are sometimes downright hillarious, while other times will fill you with a bloodlust that will make you want to pick up a sword and join in the fray.

As exciting and powerful a book as you'll ever read. Outnumbered and sure to die slowly as the enemy moves in on them, mysticism and myth mix together and make you cheer for the heroes. The elves defend their heritage while Cadderly and his band stands with them. The battles are so well described, that you will actually be able to see from several different perspectives in the forest, at the same time while many different heroes struggle to just to survive, all the time they are fatigued and about to drop, yet they must fight on or die.

Salvatore puts you in a meatgrinder that will have reading until your eyes burn from lack of moisture, and you have to relieve yourself because you have'nt gone to the restroom for six hours. All the while you can't sleep because the story has charged up like a two year old on dimetapp, but your exhausted like the heroes with adrenaline pumping in you, to keep you awake.

Salvatore simply, gives you what you want. Once you read this, every other novel will be judged by the standard of action contained in this one book. I also recemmend any of the Ice Wind Dale books in another series by Salvatore, which is defintely a series that will have you seriously questioning other authors' talent in the fantasy-adventure genre.

"What?" I thought to myself "Five books about acleric? How good could that be?" But because it was Salvatore Iread and, boy, am I glad I did. Cadderly is one of the best characters I have ever read about. He fancies himself a scholar a priest who is not adept at the clerical magic of his faith...or is he? ...There are complaints about the ending, and I too must admit that it is not the most heartwarming in the world in was necessary for the transfer into the next book, just as Cadderly's Year Quest was for transition to this book. If you are a fan of Drizzt and Salvatore's books then you will this book and series very ingrossing (I read the first three books in a day, I couldn't help myself) and extremely intertaining. ...Don't be dissapointed that everyone's favorite dark elf ranger is not in this series, Cadderly is every bit as intriguing. IF you did not read this series because Drizzt is not in it then I beg you to reconsider you will not regret your decision.

This was a wonderful book, I'm not sure what else can be said.
Cadderly, first of all, is one of the most unlikely of heros. He hates violence and while he was force to kill the evil priest Barjin in Canticle (the first book in the series) that moment haunts him constantly. He isn't the usual hero who knows that killing can be justified. Cadderly is the opposite, no matter how evil the opponents he is reluctant to attack... unless that being is thretening his Danica of course.
And that brings me to my second point, Danica and Cadderly. I have read all of Salvatore's books and never in any other series does he create such a mature relationship as there is between Cadderly and Danica. It adds a nice sense of need for action thoughout the book.
Thirdly there are the villans and semi-villans. Aballister stays in the backround while Druzil, Dorigen and Ragnor and his hordes try to overrun the forest of Shilmistra. Druzil and Dorigen use poor Kierkan Rufo (the same person Barjin used as his catalyst) Rufo is the semi-villan. I haven't read a review yet that say's he is a villan but he should be considered one. While his evil acts aren't always done of his own free will his never has the mind that maybe sacrificing himself could save dozens of others. His selfishness is what makes him a villan and his jealousy makes him a perfect scapegaot for the real bad guys. Everyone has read about a reluctant hero but the reluctant villan role isn't often played. It is a nice touch.
Now you might wonder why I only gave this only four stars and that is because though this is a great book and worthwhile read is does get tedious. For most of the book Cadderly, Danica, Elbereth (an elven prince) and the Bouldershoulder Brothers (who I just can't get enough of) are traipsing about the forest of Shilmistra, battling goblins and the like. At times there seems to be no destination but this problem is always quickly resolved. I'm probably just being picky, to tell you the truth.
Pick this one up, it is a good continuation of a great series.

In comparing this novel with the previous one in the series, "Canticle," this strikes me as a book-length battle with little else. Though I recognize that this was necessary for the story that Salvatore is trying to tell, it was not my preference.

The interesting parts of the novel are Cadderly's (the main character) struggle with violence; he struggles with every battle compared to his more worldly friends (Cadderly has lived his whole life in the monastery-like Edificant Library). In addition, the relationship among the villains (the operate as a triumvirate; priests, wizards and fighters) is more thoroughly fleshed out. The novel takes place in an Elven forest that has been invaded by goblins, ogres, giants etc.. The elves of the forest had many parallels to Tolkien's elves. For example, Tolkien's and Salvatore's elves are in the decline and they have few warriors to combat the increasing threats of the world. There is also the antagonism between dwarves and elves, which seems lifted from Tolkien's work. Also, readers of Tolkien will recognize the concept of the ents in this novel.

Salvatore's writing of battle is quite appropriate to a fantasy setting; there is some use of magic, but most of the battles are won on the basis of cunning and technique rather than wizardry. Some of the other characters developed in this novel caught my interest. There is a developing love interest between Cadderly and Danica (a monk whose discipline has allowed hear to become a formidable warrior), which is something different from the traditional prince and princess concept. There are also the two Dwarves (Ivan and Pikel) who provide a measure of comic relief. The brothers were the cooks of the Edificant Library but once summoned back to adventuring, they prove a considerable asset.

This novel was something of a mild disappointment after the interesting, fresh story that the first novel began with. The third novel in the series "Night Masks" appears more promising but I wonder how the series will play out.

While a some elements of In Sylvan Shadows seem to be, ahem, borrowed from Tolkien, there are also concepts that the fantasy genre at large could do well to to emulate. Take Rufo - he's not "OMG pure evil!!!", he's just a coward. Cadderly struggles with his humanity more in this volume, whether his mercy is a strength or a weakness. And, if nothing else, it's very nice to read a novel where the climax is not a dramatic duel (although there are plenty of those) but a healing spell.

Well this was quite an interesting departure from the first book of the series. I don't know why people are giving it bad reviews, but I thought it was great. Cadderly's life changes and all of a sudden he's in a forest, watching elves battle goblins and giants. The events in the first book still haunt him and affect how he considers his enemies. Cadderly is worth reading about.

All of the new characters are enjoyable to read about as well, and I found myself saddened by some of the elven struggles, thinking they would be annihilated. It is very interesting to read how the main character esteems himself, considering everyone around him seems to have a better use than he does. And once again, I cannot resist the Bouldershoulder brothers. I want a painting of Pikel with his pot helmet covering his face right over my fireplace!

I really got into the book later on, though, when Cadderly and his group are on the verge of truly being killed. Maybe I'm vulnerable and can't predict books like other people, but I had no idea what was going to happen.

A great read and justifies reading the whole series, in my opinion.

This is a Sword and Sorcery sequence of five books (the second) with the Star Wars twist that the most evil wizard is the hero's father.
This one reminds one very much of the J. R. R. Tolkien's Rings trilogy type of sequence with the dwarfs being Hobbit-like and the walking ancient trees.
It is just a little too much war from start to end for my taste.
Pretty well written: actually better than another sequence I have read by the same author. Sequences like this seem to be written more with the idea of selling a lot of books to fantasy lovers than any literary end?

The second book of the Cleric Quintet picks up where Canticle finished. Elbereth, prince of the elves of the woods of Shilmista, comes to the Edificant Library seeking information concerning enemies who have been entering his woodland home. While he leaves with little extra knowledge, he does go with Danica (a monk), Cadderly and Rufo (both priests of Deneir), who go to help the seemingly arrogant elf.

When they get to the borders of Shilmista, they realize that the battle has already started in their absence, and that the elves are terribly outnumbered by the armies of Castle Trinity, who follow the evil deity Talona, patron of poison and chaos. Monsters of all forms - orcs, goblins, bugbears, ogres, orogs and giants - are marching through the woods, burning and killing as they go. They are led by Ragnor, an ogrillon, who is later joined by Dorigen, a wizard, and Druzil, an imp. In a bizarre twist, Druzil is the familiar of Aballister Bonaduce, head of Castle Trinity and, unbeknownst to Cadderly, is Cadderly's father.

The book is really as much about the spiritual journey of Cadderly, who is still haunted by the death of the evil priest Barjin, who he killed accidentally in Canticle, than it is about the battle of Shilmista. Throughout, Cadderly is met with violence and bloodshed, while he battles his own guilt at being forced to kill, and comes to question his calling as a priest of Deneir.

And yet it is Cadderly who urges the reluctant elves to try calling to the trees to help battle the monsters, as they had in centuries past. Later, he also displays druidic, as well as priestly, skills and magic.

Salvatore does well, as usual, describing battle scenes, and in getting us to root for the heroes or hate the evil enemies - creating engaging characters. As I mentioned, his development of Cadderly is great, bringing the reader into the character's inner turmoil, and helping us to understand the question of whether mercy is a weakness or a strength. As with Canticle, I also commend Salvatore in exploring the roles and skills of clerics, monks and druids, so often overlooked in fantasy in favour of fighters and wizards. He also brings in a good measure of humour, in the form of Ivan and Pikel Bouldershoulder, two wild (and one would-be druid) dwarves. Likewise he does well at keeping the action moving nicely, and cuts quickly between characters to keep the reader interested and engaged.

My sole disappointment, and reason for the "mere" 4-star rating, was the terribly anticlimatic last few pages of the book. I understand the need to sow the seeds of interest, that the reader will want to purchase and read the next in the series, yet I am sure he could have found a better way to do so.

Aside from that, I highly recommend this book.

I'de like to start this review by explaining the whole plot of The Cleric Quintet. It's about a young man (Cadderly) who is going through a emotional hurricane which develops into a spiritual journey, and in the end he makes the ultimate yet necesary sacrifice for his god Deneir. That's why I'de like to say the Cleric Quintet is perhaps the MOST original fantasy book I've ever read.

Let's start with Shilmista. Shilmista, some say, is a copy of the elven forest in LOTR, but isn't everything else...~.^? Shilmista, the elven forest, is being destroyed by a huge goblinoid force, and the way they solve this problem is astonishing. And I always thought elves where just a tree-hugging race of humanoids. It seems that term has worn itself out... well, you'll see. But I was surprised at there skills in battle as well.

Next for the characters. The characters are well writen, there history very clear and there attitudes well developed (Ivan the tough dwarf, but careing on the inside; Pikel the shy yet kind dwarf; Danica the strong but wise monk; etc.) I also adore the pure love Danica and Cadderly feel for eachother. What realy got me was how unlucky poor Rufo was. He didn't realy do anything wrong, he was in a hostage situation the book, but he gets his revenge later on... wayyy later on. In this book Cadderly, the main character, seems to be going through a magical transformation.

But what I realy liked about this book was Daome Teague Feer. It's a ritual that takes place in the book. It shows how spiritualy intuned with the forest the elves realy are and gives a whole new meaning to Elf. It is realy sad how Cadderly foolishly sits aside instead of taking a part, but ofcourse this is for the sake of the plot.

This is my review. Notice how I only hinted certain events.... you got to read for yourself. Anyway, this book including Canticle, Night masks and Fallen Fortress all seem like just a history for the ultimate and main event of the series: The Chaos Curse. Read it and find out!