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Title: In Sylvan Shadows (Forgotten Realms Novel: Cleric Quintet) by R.A. Salvatore ISBN: 1-56076-321-3 Publisher: TSR Pub. Date: 01 April, 1992 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.14 (14 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Salvatore does it again
Comment: 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.
Rating: 3
Summary: Needed to be better
Comment: I tried really hard to like this book. But ultimatly it is merely an ok read. I know people that compare every fantasy book to Lord of the Rings and while I consider LOTR to be the father of modern fantasy in many ways. I try to not compare them.
However every now and again a book comes along that has a LOTR feel. I thought this one did. Shalmistra the Elven forest seemed alot like Lothlorien, the Elves themselves seemed to be a copy and sterotypical.
I found that disappointing as R.A Salvatore is quite a good author. I have enjoyed many of his other books, but this one just seemed to miss the mark.
There were some nice ideas. A scholar who was not an adventure as the main character is a cool concept and something I have not often come across in fantasy novels. In the first book of the series Cadderly show a reluctence to kill. This was refreshing compared to so many books I have read where death is handed out like candy at Halloween. When he had killed he had very mixed emotions about it. This was also good character development. But he agonises over so much to become tiresome. He spends much of the second book killing Orcs and Orges and then whining about it. It just gets old after 2 books.
Having said all that the series isn't all bad and some good backup characters make the series workth reading.
Rating: 3
Summary: Rumble in the Forest
Comment: The second book of the Cleric Quintet begins with the elves of the nearby forest of Shilmista seeking the aid of the keepers of the Edificant Library. Not long afterwards the group of unlikely heroes sets out to save the forest. The rest of the book chronicles the exploits of the small group that ultimately serves as the deciding factor in the war in the woods.
This book reminded me a lot of Siege of Darkness in the Drizzt series. The novel was a lot faster paced than the first novel in the series, Canticle. I would definitely say I enjoyed this book more than the previous one. However, I would not consider this a great novel.
What I did like was the struggle for power in Castle Trinity. One thing Salvatore has a knack for is writing interesting villains. The intrigue between the evil forces truly is what drives the story. I would have said the same about the elves, but I have seen the same story in the Lord of the Rings. As for the rest of the forces of good, well its not all bad. Danica continues to be interesting and her fighting abilities are wonderfully portrayed. Ivan also continues to impress and his sarcastic attitude always makes me smile. However, Pickel is still the annoying dolt sidekick and dumb as ever. And Cadderly is what really pulls the story down. His constant whining is taken to an art form and it had me yearning for his demise through half the book. But fortunately, by the end of the book he changes his tune a little. He continues to oppose the taking of life, but he grows up and does what he can to help his friends.
To me this novel, like the first, was a mixed bag. The battles scenes were much better in this book. But while the character interactions generally improved by the end of the book, parts of the book are just annoying to read. There is one thing that really bothered me. The fleecing of ideas from Tolkien does bother me and it is something I also noticed in Streams of Silver, written by Salvatore as well. I like most of Salvatore's books, but he needs to write his own story.
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Title: Sea of Swords (Forgotten Realms (Paperback)) by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0786927720 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 01 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Silent Blade (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 1) by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0786913886 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 01 June, 1999 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Spine of the World (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 2) by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0786914041 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 01 July, 2000 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Servant of the Shard (Paths of Darkness) by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0786918780 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: July, 2001 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Thousand Orcs (Forgotten Realms: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 1) by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0786929804 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 01 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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