[Kinda Book Report] The Crimson Legion by Troy Denning

Continuing with the audiobooks, I listened to the second book of the Prism Pentad from Dark Sun. From my recollections, these first two were the best of the series before things went crazy, leading to the destruction of the world by book five.

Here the city of Tyr is assailed by the Lion of Urik, Hamanu (one of my favorite Sorcerer-Kings). The story has a lot of twists for something that start off in a mundane way: War between the two city-states.

Again, the character work really shines here, with Rikus certain of himself, Tithian being and delightful jerk, Neeva stuck between the two, and Caelum the dwarf. Though Neeva should've gotten more spotlight, I think.

I think this book is the closest to what I think a Dark Sun campaign should be: you won't get a full happy end. Especially not if you tackle the Sorcerer-Kings directly. However, you CAN manage to outsmart them or get what you want in spite of them. The villains are intelligent and realistic as all levels: they try to twist the situation to their own benefit. Whether they are from Tyr or Urik... I do also like that Rikus has to lead an army made of people of various alignments, goals, and abilities. The templars, the gladiators, the slaves, and the half-giants. And even what the enemy sends after them.

My only issue has to do with the format of the audiobooks. In a physical book, I can re-read a paragraph or sentence, but for and audiobook, that's more problematic.

Rating? 4/5. Listening to this book, sparked a lot of ideas for campaigns and one-shots.

I'm debating listening to book 3...

[Kinda Book Report] The Verdant Passage by Troy Denning

As an audiobook, I are re-listening to the first 2 novels of the Dark Sun series. I read them when the setting came out and have good memories of them. At book 3, the craziness begins and my interest dropped.

The main characters and their dynamics: the rivalries between Agis and Rikus, and Neeva and Sadira. the friendship of Titian and Agis. The abusive relation of Titian with Kalak. They really added to the world building.

I must say that I enjoyed it more than I remembered. Kalak, the templars, the undead heads, and Titian, all the villains acted competently.

The murder of Kalak felt like a major accomplishment. The entire group had to act together to defeat him. Really shook the world of Athas to the core, and created a lot of potential for adventure.

It also brings back memories of play Freedom and somehow surviving the "Archery Range for Missile Dodging"...

Regarding the novel, I will settle on a 4/5.

[Kinda Book Report] Homeland by RA Salvatore

Way back when, I bought and read the whole RA Salvatore's Dark Elf trilogy: the tale that gave us Drizzt's origin and youth. I remembered that of the three, only the first one was good. The other two felt like a lot of filler and that the story dragged.

In an online auction, I won all three. So I decided to re-read Homeland again. To see how it measured to my adult eye.

In short... It did. Though the world of the drow presented, still "doesn't make much sense," which was my thought in those day. The wolrd of the drow is entertaining, but doesn't stand up to scrutiny. Just as their order.

That being said, I found myself enjoying the story much more than I remembered. Drizzt is much of a Mary Sue, however. The rest of the crew around him felt more interesting. His father, Zak. And his full sister Vierna were more interesting with potential for stories of their own. Particularly Vierna... The thought of a Priestess of Lolth with shreds of a conscience... Interesting...

Instead we follow the emo angsty Gary-Lou...

As a rating, I'll settle on a 3/5. It's a fine story and quite interesting.