Book– The Godborn (The Sundering Book 2)

Author-Paul S. Kemp

TL;DR–  New characters and not just a rehash of old ones! 86.7 %

 

Synopsis-This story focuses on Vasen, son of Kemp’s most renowned character Cale.  Vasen is the child of a chosen of a dark god and raised by clerics of a light god.  How and if Vasen can learn to walk these two paths, free his dead/sleeping father from the hells, and stop the apocalypse is to focus of this book.  Along the way Vasen will meet a strange cast of characters, see the Forgotten Realms Change around him, and most importanly, change who he once was.

 

Story– The story covers a lot of ground reintroducing a trilogy and all its characters as well as introducing a slew of new characters for Kemp’s next series.  It does feel like the purpose of the book is two fold: 1-set up a new book series 2-set up what happened to the Forgotten Realms.  It’s not bad, but you do feel like it has goals besides tell you a story.  However, this story does introduce new characters and it keeps them past the credits.  So, I feel that’s a win. 4.5/5

 

Characters– The Godborn brings back the characters from Kemp’s last three books, but also adds a few new characters.  Some of them didn’t get as much screen time, and it felt at times they were there because the fans would want them.  But, the book clocks in around 300 pages, so there isn’t space for everybody to get the spotlight the whole time.  I liked the characters as they felt well rounded.  This goes even for the characters I was supposed to hate.  However, this book does have a name problem.  Please don’t name two characters almost the same thing.  Especially if they share screen time!  4/5

 

Writing– This book is not for most of you out there.  Kemp loves to push the boundaries of what a DnD novel will get away with.  I was surprised to see what I read in the novel with lots of gore splattered throughout the novel.  This made me love this all the more.  This isn’t King, but it does do its job well. 4.5/5

 

Summary-I liked this book.  Again, don’t expect some George R.R. Martin levels of depth here, but George R.R. Martin wouldn’t write in the Forgotten Realms world.  Kemp delivers a good book that updates the Forgotten Realms and brings back some of his fan favorite characters. 86.7%

Book- The Companions (The Sundering Book 1)

Author-R. A. Salvatore

TL;DR-A solid Drizzit book with almost no Drizzit! 80%

 

Synopsis-Over the past five Drizzit books, all of his companions have died and the world has moved forward over 100 years.  Now, all of Drizzit’s friends meet up in a demiplane of his goddess.  They are given the chance to reincarnate to help Drizzit in the future.  This book follows their journeys as they become younger versions of the heroes the used to be and return to help Drizzit.

 

Story-The story covers a lot of ground, but it does it fairly well.  It’s really three different main stories in one.  Each story covers Catti-bre, Regis, or Bruenor growing up and introducing a decent size cast of characters and locations along the way.  A portion of the story revolves around changes to the weave and the world, setting up some future events.  It’s reasonably well done and on par with R. A. Salvatore’s previous books.  I did think it was kind of funny a significant portion of a character’s inner monolog was dedicated to laying out that any character could die at any point, but really, it’s got the Harry Potter problem;  no main character at anytime was really in any danger.  4/5

 

Characters- I have to admit, I’ve never been a fan of Drizzit.  This is more to do with when I came into DnD then the character himself.  When I entered the hobby, Drizzit was well established and every drow I met was fighting across type and trying to redeem themselves.  Well, this book deals with that problem by just not having Drizzit in this book (almost).  The book really just focuses on his companions and how they grow up.  The characters stay pretty consistent and well designed.  I did have some real problems with Bruenor.  You will get really tired of his crap. 4/5

 

Writing- This is pretty much on par with what you would expect for R. A. Salvatore.  It’s fairly well done.  I’ve never been a huge fan of Drizzit’s philosophical treatises at the start of each section but these are kept to a minimum.  The style is well done, but some sections do drone on a bit longer than necessary and some elements seem a bit contrived.  However, it is worth the ride. 4/5

 

Summary- I liked this novel.  It’s not an instant classic, but for a DnD novel, it’s well done.  It expands the world and led me to want to read more about Drizzit.  Since I’m now hooked, I call this a win. 12/15- 80%