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A review by dark_reader
The Fallen Fortress by R.A. Salvatore
3.0
This was a fast read, I suspect in part to a sparser font than other novels in this publishing line (I will have to do a side-by-side comparison to confirm), but also because it is action-packed from start to finish. Of course, because this is a [a:R. A. Salvatore|1023510|R.A. Salvatore|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1207159077p2/1023510.jpg] novel, the main character finds plenty of time for pained self-doubt, but at least he does it while on the go.
This quintet of novels started off without over-powered superhero characters, unlike the Drizzt books, which I very much enjoyed, but at this point there is simply no imagining a chance of stopping the heroes. Cadderly seems to have gone, in RPG terms, from cleric level 2 to 20 in a matter of months. Whereas he started off the series armed by nothing but cleverness and his self-invented tools (like his multi-yo-yo), he now has access to the most powerful clerical spells. With a new giant ally sporting a ring of regeneration, the indomitable Bouldershoulder brothers, and Cadderly's level 20 monk girlfriend, not even an army literally thousands-strong can apparently stand against them.
In truth, they had a little help to start working on this army. I was pleasantly surprised by the side path that Cadderly took the party along in the first half of the book, (spoilers ahead)
So, what was otherwise a joyous, pulp thrill ride was somewhat spoiled by the ridiculous invulnerability of this crew. It strained the most ardent attempts at suspension of disbelief. Still, there were several enjoyable elements to this book. I enjoyed the fact that we saw a final showdown with the series's primary threat in the penultimate book. I predict that this frees up the final book to take a very different tone, which I anticipate will be more character-driven. Despite their absurd power levels and Cadderly's constant internal debate (so, so like Drizzt's at this point), I have come to enjoy these characters. Another element that I found very well done was the very natural expression of D&D clerical spells through Cadderly's experience of the 'Deneirian song'. It is a welcome interpretation and a hallmark of Salvatore's Forgotten Realms books, in that D&D lore and rules are well-hidden in his works, giving them broader appeal.
This quintet of novels started off without over-powered superhero characters, unlike the Drizzt books, which I very much enjoyed, but at this point there is simply no imagining a chance of stopping the heroes. Cadderly seems to have gone, in RPG terms, from cleric level 2 to 20 in a matter of months. Whereas he started off the series armed by nothing but cleverness and his self-invented tools (like his multi-yo-yo), he now has access to the most powerful clerical spells. With a new giant ally sporting a ring of regeneration, the indomitable Bouldershoulder brothers, and Cadderly's level 20 monk girlfriend, not even an army literally thousands-strong can apparently stand against them.
In truth, they had a little help to start working on this army. I was pleasantly surprised by the side path that Cadderly took the party along in the first half of the book, (spoilers ahead)
Spoiler
to face an ancient red dragon. Surviving that encounter and achieving the dragon's aid by use of what I interpret as a 'change alignment' spell was dramatic enough. But taking the dragon for a joy ride, using it to decimate a goblin army, then slaying it through another tricksy application of magic really took things too far. And as long as we're in a spoiler field, I was annoyed by the undead reincarnation of Ghost, given that the main party never encountered this powerful animated spirit other than inside the Ghearufu. The only purpose this specter served, plotwise, was to give something for Castle Trinity's players to track, given that it was decimated before the key physical encounter that it should have had could occur.So, what was otherwise a joyous, pulp thrill ride was somewhat spoiled by the ridiculous invulnerability of this crew. It strained the most ardent attempts at suspension of disbelief. Still, there were several enjoyable elements to this book. I enjoyed the fact that we saw a final showdown with the series's primary threat in the penultimate book. I predict that this frees up the final book to take a very different tone, which I anticipate will be more character-driven. Despite their absurd power levels and Cadderly's constant internal debate (so, so like Drizzt's at this point), I have come to enjoy these characters. Another element that I found very well done was the very natural expression of D&D clerical spells through Cadderly's experience of the 'Deneirian song'. It is a welcome interpretation and a hallmark of Salvatore's Forgotten Realms books, in that D&D lore and rules are well-hidden in his works, giving them broader appeal.