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clone's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
vortimer's review against another edition
4.0
Didn't enjoy as much as other books I've read from the same authors, but liked how they turned a minor comic relief character from a chapter of the previous book into a very likeable protagonist.
motishead's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
emwilliams's review
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
shadowspinner's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Animal death
raechel's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I enjoyed this novel more than I anticipated. There's only a couple of characters from the previous Finder's Stone book, and one of them (Olive) I didn't even like. I still don't like her.
This book follows the side-character and noble-turned-adventurer, Giogioni Wyvernspur, as he's pulled into a new adventure concerning a family heirloom, a ghost, an evil mage, and the re-appearance of Olive, and yet another Alias clone.
This book doesn't have a lot to do with the first one besides the characters and there doesn't seem to be some big hook connecting them all together, so I'm curious to see what the conclusion in this trilogy will look like. I also didn't expect to like Giogi as much as I did, I thought he would be whiny and foppish and a buffoon... and he kind of is those things, but he's also a good guy and a good adventurer. However, TSR can't seem to write a halfling that isn't an insufferable greedy liar, so the Olive parts really dragged.
I'm curious to see how this trilogy ends so I look forward to the conclusion.
This book follows the side-character and noble-turned-adventurer, Giogioni Wyvernspur, as he's pulled into a new adventure concerning a family heirloom, a ghost, an evil mage, and the re-appearance of Olive, and yet another Alias clone.
This book doesn't have a lot to do with the first one besides the characters and there doesn't seem to be some big hook connecting them all together, so I'm curious to see what the conclusion in this trilogy will look like. I also didn't expect to like Giogi as much as I did, I thought he would be whiny and foppish and a buffoon... and he kind of is those things, but he's also a good guy and a good adventurer. However, TSR can't seem to write a halfling that isn't an insufferable greedy liar, so the Olive parts really dragged.
I'm curious to see how this trilogy ends so I look forward to the conclusion.
dark_reader's review
4.0
A refreshingly sweet mystery/adventure story set in the Forgotten Realms. This is part 2 in a trilogy, but in actuality is largely a side story to the events of the first and third installments. The main character, Giogioni ('Giogi') Wyvernspur is not a typical adventurer, but rather a naive, kindhearted, independently wealthy fellow who I found quite charming. There is plenty of subtle comedy in this tale, which came as quite a surprise. This is one of the earliest Forgotten Realms novels ever published (the third trilogy to be published, based on the publication dates of the first volumes), and it shows a lot of heart. The authors were not slavish to the conventions of D&D-themed works, and produced a nice, thoroughly enjoyable story. Plus, based on their photos and bio in the back, the authors Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb are a simply nerdorable couple!
mw2k's review
4.0
More of a 3.75 out of 4. Not quite on the same entertaining level the first novel was, and that's primarily the fault of the character Giogioni Wyvernspur, who spends the first 75% of the book a well-meaning doddering fool. In the end, when he mans up as such, things get moderately better.
The character of Flattery, the villain of the piece, is intriguingly written too - he's a nasty piece of work, even resorting to hitting women, not something I expected to see in a D&D novel. Congratulations to Kate Novak for making a genuinely unlikable character.
As with the first book, Olive Ruskettle is the most well-rounded character here, morally and ethically ambivalent, though she rings true in the end. I enjoyed her knowing and cynical take on things.
Congratulations also for making an entertaining D&D novel where there's almost minimal adventuring. All of the books in the Forgotten Realms series have been picaresque adventures. Not this one. The action mainly takes place inside and a few miles around Giogi's manor house, and it works. There's no need for a-roving I will go here.
Overall, a slightly weaker effort than the book before it, but it's among the better non-Salvatore Forgotten Realms novels I've read.
The character of Flattery, the villain of the piece, is intriguingly written too - he's a nasty piece of work, even resorting to hitting women, not something I expected to see in a D&D novel. Congratulations to Kate Novak for making a genuinely unlikable character.
As with the first book, Olive Ruskettle is the most well-rounded character here, morally and ethically ambivalent, though she rings true in the end. I enjoyed her knowing and cynical take on things.
Congratulations also for making an entertaining D&D novel where there's almost minimal adventuring. All of the books in the Forgotten Realms series have been picaresque adventures. Not this one. The action mainly takes place inside and a few miles around Giogi's manor house, and it works. There's no need for a-roving I will go here.
Overall, a slightly weaker effort than the book before it, but it's among the better non-Salvatore Forgotten Realms novels I've read.
brian's review
3.0
Following on from Azure Bonds, this focuses on Giogioni Wyvernspur, who was a minor character in book 1.
When a magical family heirloom is stolen, he finds himself having to face up to his responsibilities.
He's aided along the way by Olive Ruskettle, also from the first book, but you don't really need to have read that to be able to pick up the thread of this story.
The characters grow as the story progresses. At the start they seem to be there either to be suspects in the robbery or to tick boxes about the different personalities. By the end they're a bit more rounded and less one-dimensional.
When a magical family heirloom is stolen, he finds himself having to face up to his responsibilities.
He's aided along the way by Olive Ruskettle, also from the first book, but you don't really need to have read that to be able to pick up the thread of this story.
The characters grow as the story progresses. At the start they seem to be there either to be suspects in the robbery or to tick boxes about the different personalities. By the end they're a bit more rounded and less one-dimensional.
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