Hi Marsheila! Just finished the novel and have been perusing initial comments here. Using my iPhone is not optimal for working with this site so I'll have to use my Mac to check in later. I like the character, I must say before going. Well done. Cheers!
I'm rather new to all this, so apologies if this post is a little random. I've included a couple of questions for Marcy at the end.
The opening scene gets things moving quickly and allows the reader to get a flavour of the lead character. Sabira is presented as a person with weaknesses; she enjoys her drink, she likes to gamble, she has a short temper, she's confrontational, but she seems to be a fairly natural character, rather than a 'driven hero' or 'tortured heroine'. Having a mind-reading changeling show up in the first chapter is quite a handy way of jolting Sabira's emotions and forcing her to recall some obviously unpleasant memories, although it's perhaps just a little too convenient. I'm hoping Caldamus might reappear in some form later on to tie things together; I'm wondering at this point whether there's any significance to Caldamus taking on Elix's form, which obviously surprises Sabira.
Reading some of the descriptions of their journey through the city, I'm now intrigued to see what Stormreach looks like in the DDO game - might have to put in a bit of time later, you know, purely for research
The tale picks up pace with Sabira's abduction from Hammersmith's, and takes on a distinctly darker quality at this point; whereas the reader might expect a stereotypical hero to burst free or turn the tables, Sabira is pretty much helpless, and this section makes for pretty uncomfortable reading. The subsequent section with Heith shows a darker side to healing potions too; in a world where they exist, punishment or torture can be administered with less regard to the consequences. Something about these two sections combined made me shiver.
I was slightly puzzled by Heith stating "Can't very well pay back your debt if you're dead" and then leaving Sabira in trap-laden and monster-filled sewers, but perhaps he had the utmost faith in her abilities
Chapter four is where the plot begins to thicken; I felt some real empathy for Sabira when she was let down by Greigur and summoned back to Karrnath. Her quitting the Marshals seemed entirely within her character and yet it remained a powerful moment. A few drinks later, with a shady offer of work and a surprise appearance from an old acquaintance and we're ready to dive into the book proper!
I have to say at this point I was hooked and just had to read further... quite a bit further, in fact
Anyway, a couple of more general questions for Marcy: firstly, how do you get into the right mood when writing a particular scene? Are you someone who listens to music to conjure a mood, and if so, were there any specific pieces you found yourself listening to when writing this?
Secondly, there seem to be a fair number of characters and interconnected storylines emerging - do you have any techniques for keeping track of all of the details and having them readily to hand? Do you have any tips for writers or DMs populating their own campaigns?
Hi Marsheila! Just finished the novel and have been perusing initial comments here. Using my iPhone is not optimal for working with this site so I'll have to use my Mac to check in later. I like the character, I must say before going. Well done. Cheers!
Thank you! Looking forward to your comments when you get home to your Mac!
Regards, Marcy
Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell www.marsheilarockwell.com Skein of Shadows, 2012 (Eberron/DDO novel) The Shard Axe, 2011 (Eberron/DDO novel) Legacy of Wolves, 2007 (Eberron novel)
I'm hoping Caldamus might reappear in some form later on to tie things together; I'm wondering at this point whether there's any significance to Caldamus taking on Elix's form, which obviously surprises Sabira.
I actually did have more plans for Caldamus for the sequel, but WotC had another storyline they wanted me to explore first. But, if I have my way, this won't be the last you see of him.
Reading some of the descriptions of their journey through the city, I'm now intrigued to see what Stormreach looks like in the DDO game - might have to put in a bit of time later, you know, purely for research
That's got to be one of the funnest things about this job - all the research!
I was slightly puzzled by Heith stating "Can't very well pay back your debt if you're dead" and then leaving Sabira in trap-laden and monster-filled sewers, but perhaps he had the utmost faith in her abilities
I'll have to admit, that one's a bit of a nod to the DDO players. The traps and the oozes are annoyances in this area of the game, nothing more, but I thought it would be fun to look at what it would be like if they were used a little more realistically.
Chapter four is where the plot begins to thicken; I felt some real empathy for Sabira when she was let down by Greigur and summoned back to Karrnath. Her quitting the Marshals seemed entirely within her character and yet it remained a powerful moment. A few drinks later, with a shady offer of work and a surprise appearance from an old acquaintance and we're ready to dive into the book proper!
I have to say at this point I was hooked and just had to read further... quite a bit further, in fact
Anyway, a couple of more general questions for Marcy: firstly, how do you get into the right mood when writing a particular scene? Are you someone who listens to music to conjure a mood, and if so, were there any specific pieces you found yourself listening to when writing this?
I actually can't listen to music when I write - it's just too distracting. Out of necessity, I've learned to write with cartoons on in the background and with my kids fighting, but if I waited to get into a certain mood to write, I'd never get any writing done, LOL!
This is where a detailed outline helps. Most of the more emotional scenes had been simmering in the back of my brain since I wrote the outline, so it was easy to get into them once I got to the appropriate part of the manuscript.
Secondly, there seem to be a fair number of characters and interconnected storylines emerging - do you have any techniques for keeping track of all of the details and having them readily to hand? Do you have any tips for writers or DMs populating their own campaigns?
Again, the outline was a huge help in this regard - most of the important relationships were mapped out in advance. It helps that there really aren't all that many Sentinel Marshals (e.g., only 9 in all of Sharn, which is probably the largest city on Khorvaire), so it's easy to find ways for their stories to intersect.
My advice would be to remember that every character has a goal that they want to achieve, even the ones who only appear in one scene. Figuring out what that goal is, even if it isn't a grandiose one, helps make that character more real, even when they've only got fifteen seconds of screen time.
Thanks for the all the great questions/comments!
Regards, Marcy
Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell www.marsheilarockwell.com Skein of Shadows, 2012 (Eberron/DDO novel) The Shard Axe, 2011 (Eberron/DDO novel) Legacy of Wolves, 2007 (Eberron novel)
I'm enjoying the story as well. I was a little nervous at first with the whole concept of a story taking place in a video game world, but it's clear to me now that this novel can be enjoyed without any video game experience.
I'm having a difficult time visualizing Sabira. Between the gambling, heavy drinking, acid burns, and beatings, I'm picturing a lady with some... how should I say this... wear. Is Sabira the girl on the cover of the book? The girl on the cover of the book looks like she's been living in an elvish resort town her whole life. Ha ha.
Story is off to a great start. Very happy to see all the participation.
I'm enjoying the story as well. I was a little nervous at first with the whole concept of a story taking place in a video game world, but it's clear to me now that this novel can be enjoyed without any video game experience.
Glad to hear it! That was definitely one of my goals in writing the book, so it's gratifying to know I succeeded (for at least one reader, anyway, heh).
I'm having a difficult time visualizing Sabira. Between the gambling, heavy drinking, acid burns, and beatings, I'm picturing a lady with some... how should I say this... wear. Is Sabira the girl on the cover of the book? The girl on the cover of the book looks like she's been living in an elvish resort town her whole life. Ha ha.
LOL! That was one of the first things my beta readers said when they saw the cover - she looks like she's had some work done. Heh. I certainly envision Sabira looking a little more "worn" - not unattractive, per se, but like she's done some actual living. Some of the most beautiful women I know are older and have gone through some rough times in their lives. Getting through those experiences has made them stronger and wiser and given them a depth of beauty the girl on the cover can't hope to aspire to...yet, anyway.
Good gravy, it takes me a few days to find the time to read the first section, and the Book Club EXPLODES with commentary!
Anyway, just to prove that different people definitely react to things differently, I was actually fine with the Stormreach geography... probably because I've read a whole bunch of Eberron novels (though not Legacy of Wolves, sorry to say) and spent some time DMing various Eberron-y things, including one game set in Stormreach. So, the idea of this cobbled-together meld of various styles was already pretty firm in my head.
I'm currently picturing Sabira similar to the old DDM mini Dragonmark Heir of Deneith. It was a girl in brown leather armor, red hair in two braids, carrying a battle-axe and a shield. The face on that mini looked ... plain, I'd say. No lipstick or anything ridiculous. I'm sure somebody with mad mod skillz could tinker around with that mini to make it a little more like Sabira, but that person sure isn't me.
Now, obviously, Sabira has got some big issues going on. I wonder if, on her way to resolving them in some shape or form, she'll realize that racking up gambling debts isn't a good idea.
I'll echo the likes for Heith's characterization. I have a feeling we'll see him again at some point, but part of me is trying to think of reasons why someone like him works for someone like Sollego. I'm also happy to see Eberron dwarves feature prominently. I can't remember which sourcebook it was (Races of Eberron maybe), but the whole tale of how the dwarven race emerged into the political landscape on Khorvaire was really intriguing. At the end of Chapter 4, we've met a Kundarak who's a member of the Aurum and now a Mror ambassador. I wonder if we'll see conflict between the two...
And my last thought - Caldamus actually being a Dark Lantern was an AWESOME twist, and a cool Eberron-like flourish. The Brelish are generally set up as relatively good people - they're the ones moving towards freedom and democracy, not like the arrogant Aundairian monarchy, the theocratic zealots of Thrane, or the necromancy-loving Karrnathi tyranny. And yet, their secret agent man is a murderer, and kind of a sadistic a-hole on top of it. Shades of gray! Love it!
I'm currently picturing Sabira similar to the old DDM mini Dragonmark Heir of Deneith. It was a girl in brown leather armor, red hair in two braids, carrying a battle-axe and a shield. The face on that mini looked ... plain, I'd say. No lipstick or anything ridiculous. I'm sure somebody with mad mod skillz could tinker around with that mini to make it a little more like Sabira, but that person sure isn't me.
That's actually a pretty good comparison. I couldn't find any really good resolution pictures of the mini to link to, but if you google "Dragonmark Heir of Deneith DDM miniature," you'll see what we're talking about.
I'll echo the likes for Heith's characterization. I have a feeling we'll see him again at some point, but part of me is trying to think of reasons why someone like him works for someone like Sollego.
I could tell you, but then I'd be NDA-bound to kill you.
I'm also happy to see Eberron dwarves feature prominently. I can't remember which sourcebook it was (Races of Eberron maybe), but the whole tale of how the dwarven race emerged into the political landscape on Khorvaire was really intriguing. At the end of Chapter 4, we've met a Kundarak who's a member of the Aurum and now a Mror ambassador. I wonder if we'll see conflict between the two...
I did an interview with the folks who do DDOcast (the DDO podcast) a few weeks back where we talked about this pretty extensively. (It's episode 233, for anyone who wants to take a listen: www.ddocast.com/2011/09/episode-233/)
Basically, I think dwarves are cool - strong, stoic, stubborn - and I'd like for everyone else to think they're as cool as I do. But a lot of times they are treated as comedic relief or one-note characters (I called them "hobbits with axes" in the interview) while the humans and the elves get all the attention. One of the main characters in Legacy of Wolves is a dwarf, and in The Shard Axe, I get to show you where he came from. And in the sequel...well, you'll just have to wait for that one.
And my last thought - Caldamus actually being a Dark Lantern was an AWESOME twist, and a cool Eberron-like flourish. The Brelish are generally set up as relatively good people - they're the ones moving towards freedom and democracy, not like the arrogant Aundairian monarchy, the theocratic zealots of Thrane, or the necromancy-loving Karrnathi tyranny. And yet, their secret agent man is a murderer, and kind of a sadistic a-hole on top of it. Shades of gray! Love it!
I like to think The Shard Axe gives the entire spectrum of gray, from heather to charcoal, heh. Seriously, though - no one is all good or all bad. We're all one shade of gray or another (and which shade we are varies with time, too), so it only makes sense that the characters in our books would be, too.
Anyway, thanks for the great comments and I'm glad you're liking the book so far!
Regards, Marcy
Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell www.marsheilarockwell.com Skein of Shadows, 2012 (Eberron/DDO novel) The Shard Axe, 2011 (Eberron/DDO novel) Legacy of Wolves, 2007 (Eberron novel)
Somewhat late to the punch but I had to finish another book first, I was in the middle of The game of Thrones.
Amy how I'll echo most of the things heard here. I like Heith as a more than meets the eye enforcer, the teleport gave it somewhat away already but the numbers game was a clever play.
I'm on the fence about the Aurum though. I'm not sure why you described them as the root of all evil but to most commoners they are an exquisite club of art collectors and not the crooked schemers they are in reality. I think they could have been portrayed a bit more subtle there.
The whole DDO angle is fine with me. I never played it and note distinct differences from the Stormrwach in my head and some of the other canon. The d' issue for instance but they are not really difficult to move past.
For now it is a good read and I'm going to read on and see where the story leads.
