3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very nice middle to a trilogy, July 7, 2005
This review is from: Viper's Kiss: House of Serpents, Book II (Mass Market Paperback)
I thought this book was actually better than the first. The motivations were much more believable and the characters more interesting. Arvin was more fleshed out, and the secondary characters were nicely done as well.
There are also many more points in the book that are truly "gripping". You HAVE to see what happens during blah, blah, blah.
I enjoyed the first book, but enjoyed the second one much more.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
"Blood sprayed and fingers flew to the floor.", August 9, 2007
This review is from: Viper's Kiss: House of Serpents, Book II (Mass Market Paperback)
Viper's Kiss deals with a neglected part of the Realms: the Vilhon Reach and specifically Sespech (located on the southwestern shores of the Sea of Fallen Stars).
The book picks up from where Venom's Taste left off and continues to shed light on Arvin, a rogue/psion, and his efforts of exacting revenge on Sybil, the yuan-ti responsible for the death of Naulg, the only friend he ever had. This time Arvin travels from Hlondeth to Mimph in Sespech as he tries to start his life anew, away from the "city of serpents." In the process he will realize that things are not always as simple as they might initially seem...
Viper's Kiss, just like Venom's Taste, starts off incredibly well, immediately catching the reader's interest and attention. The plot as a whole is excellent! The book is so incredibly well written and presented that the reader feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense.
Lisa Smedman has done a FANTASTIC job of acquiring and presenting, efficiently and successfully, essential knowledge relevant to Faerun, including customs, religion and the history of the peoples of Toril. Her solid grasp of factual detail makes her capable of providing the necessary background needed to carry out the difficult task of writing Forgotten Realms novels, which is something often missing from the work of many Fantasy authors. Consequently, from the moment you pick up the book you have trouble putting it down and if that is not a clear sign of a fantastic writer/author, I don't know what is!
The cities of Sespech are presented very well and in great detail so that the reader truly feels what it's like to walk down those streets.
In addition, the book contains one of the best portrayals of a Tanar'ri I've ever seen, from the way it thinks to the way it acts and fights.
Moreover, Lisa Smedman also does a fantastic job of describing the Empire of Serpents, Sibyl's schemes, and the prophecy that is to bring doom to Faerun (pages 151-154).
Furthermore, on page 59-60, the author provides one more exceptional portrayal that helps teleport the reader to Faerun beside Arvin: "The lightning bolt struck. This time the aim was true. The bolt lanced into the naga's head, exploding it. This time it was bits of skull and brain that splashed down into the river, rather than the splinters of wood. The suddenly headless naga swayed back and forth for a moment longer then crumpled into the water. It disappeared from sight, leaving behind ripples that sloshed against the overturned boat, staining the river red."
Finally, I was pleasantly surprised when halfway through (page 151) there is mention of the Time of Troubles.
On the negative side, the author continues to presents Arvin's experience at Ilmater's priesthood-run orphanage as something horrific i.e. on pages 27 and 151 respectively: "He dredged up what little he knew about the subject, casting his mind back to the "lessons" the priests had given at the orphanage-lessons that were delivered to the backs of the children's heads while they worked. The lessons helped the priests convince themselves they were educating and instructing the children, not just profiting from their labor," and "The only god he knew much about was Ilmater; the priests at the orphanage had drilled every painful, gory detail of the sufferings of the Crying God's martyrs into the children under their care."
Ilmater, undoubtedly, would have denied his clerics any divine magic for carrying out acts of child abuse for profiteering! Give us a break! It's absurd!
Nevertheless, this was minor compared to the overall story, the dialogues, and the small details that are all wonderful and create a strong sense of mystery and anticipation.
Elves, Dwarves, Nagas, Yuan-ti, Satyrs, Centaurs, Tanar'ri, and factions like the Thieves' Guild and Helm's clerics have been presented very well.
Magic, romance, intrigue, betrayal, and swordfights are all about.
Looking forward to reading the final installment, Vanity's Brood.
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