Customer Reviews

The Temptation of Elminster: The Elminster Series

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

You must take the appropriate prospective. This book is NOT a valiant tale of Elminster performing a harrowing task to save all the Realms; nor is it a story of a great struggle between the Sage and a dreadful, tangible enemy. Instead, Ed Greenwood has written a book that focuses on the great effect that Elminster has on the people and places of Faerun by simply being Elminster. As a result, the primary plot of Elminster (his "temptation" if you will) does not take full precedence. In fact, much of the book delves off on sub-plots featuring a multitude of third-party characters with few clear connections to Elminster's storyline. However, to declare these divergences pointless baggage would be premature. All of these alternate lines are related in that they portray people on whom Elminster has had or is having a strong effect. In the end, we are left with great sense of how someone with as much power and grace as Elminster can change the lives those around him, for both the good and the bad. In that, I felt that I learned a lot about Greenwood's perception of not only Elminster, but also the collective peoples of the Forgotten Realms. Much like R.A. Salvatore's "Spine of the World", this book "rounds out" our knowledge of the world by detailing people who aren't heroes or villains but are intriguing none-the-less. Of course, as the title suggests, Elminster himself also has a bit to play himself in the novel, but I'll leave the details to the book. Coming in, I, like most people, expected this to be a book of the continuing life and deeds of Elminster. While that isn't what I got, I felt that this look at the "other" people was very worthwhile and, surprisingly, gave me the insight into Elminster's effect on the Forgotten Realms for which I had been looking. Given this, I must reiterate my warning; this is not book of epic adventure like Tolkien's tales. Neither is it in actuality a hard and fast biography of Elminster himself as was Greenwoods first Elminster book: "Elminster: The Making of a Mage". It is instead a book of Elminster's interactions with his world and their effects. So, if you understand this going in, then I truly believe that you will enjoy this book for what it is instead of being disappointed by what it isn't.

It was an excellent book, and one of the better Forgotten Realms Novels that I have read. I would suggest it if you like fantasy books at all. The only things that I didn't like about were that the title is a bit misleading, as the only "temptation" of Elminster's that happens is somewhere near the end, and even that's debatable. Also, it seemed like Ed Greenwood couldn't find a thesauraus, for he kept using "motes of light" in the book. Repeatedly repetitive is how it seemed. Then again, maybe it's just me, since I prefer the books I read to have a variety of different words.

Fast-paced storyline that, as much as I hate to admit it, got a little scattered and confusing. Towards the end of the book I began to think that I would be enjoying it more if I had taken notes, thereby enabling me to keep up with the myriad characters, some suddenly resurgent from earlier parts of the book. It's almost as if Greenwood sacrificed depth of character in favor of quanity of characters. All in all a good read anyway, if you don't mind investing quite a bit of concentration in the plot -- not a terribly difficult task if you are a big fan of the Forgotten Realms/Elminster (can there be one without the other?). Tips for reading this book: 1)Once you start, don't put it down, and 2)Read fast.

If you liked the other Elminster novels, you'll like this one. If you've never heard of Elminster, you'd better pass. The character development is over and El is a powerful mega-hero. Naturally, its Ed's world so he can toss around gods and major characters as much as he wants. Those of you who hate Elminster will like the few (too few) chapters where he abstains from magic use. The writing style is so-so, but it's a nice, complex plot with interesting characters. This one is about Mystra testing him to see if he's worthy of being a "Chosen." The end is filled with spell battles and moralizing. I'd have just spoiled it for you if the book wasn't so predictable.

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The first 2 books of the series had a great stories but I fail to see what is supposed to be happening in this third. Nothing is happening and Elminster is reduced to a puppet of Mystra. If he's the greatest wizard in Faerun, how come Mystra has to save his butt in every battle.
Some of my favorite series are Icewind Dale, Dark Elf trilogy, Starlights and shadows, and The war of the spider queen. As I said before the first 2 books of the Elminster series were very well written so recomend them as well. If have the same taste as me, stay away from the temptation of elminster.

Once again in his usual repetative fashion, Greenwood presents us with an invicible hero. His novels are beyond predictable (especially this one). It's time for Greenwood to retire (ie, kill) Elminster, along with the rest of Mystra's god-like Chosen.

it did not make any sense. It was very redundant. Every book Greenwood keeps on getting worse and worse. I do not recomend any one getting the Eliminister series.

Ed Greenwood writes good fantasy but this series but his spell battles are way to confusing. You have no idea what really is going on until someone is dead and you have to read it over three times until you get it. But at least the story line was good. Elminster lost track of this goddess of magic trying to find his way back to her did pull some interesting characters though.

I think this book was really good, but there's a lot of names to remember and some of them are really hard to pronounce. Elminster is the best character for the part of a mage. This book is worthy of being part of the series in the Forgotten Realms. I'm eagerly awaiting Greenwood's next Elminster to come out. The next book should be called "Elminster, Good Father or not?" You may disagree but that's only my opinion. That surpasses the regular Fantasy books with wizards in it because it has drama and action put in with human interaction. This is the best of the three books because it doesn't just start out with plots of the story, it starts out with action. It seems that everyone that gets a relationship with Elminster dies gruesomely or turns evil except Mystra of course.

I love Greenwoods Elminster line. It is the best. YOu will never get bored with this one as the plot keeps building and twisting. Great read.