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12 months ago ::
Jul 30, 2012 - 5:24AM
#1
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Date Joined:
Feb 19, 2006
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It's a good rule of thumb to never throw a dagger at a skinny man on a raft. You're just asking for trouble. On another note, one of the prizes for the Drow Puzzle Hunt on the main D&D website was a nice cover image of Spider & Stone, where Icelin will return to action. I'll try and post here once I have some time at home.
Onward and forward...
This forum will cover Chapters 8-10, pages 105-150.
Looking forward to your thoughts, as always.
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11 months ago ::
Aug 04, 2012 - 10:55AM
#2
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This will have to be a quick post because a busy summer schedule has left really limited my time for fun stuff like reading and discussion. But I’m keeping up with the story and continue to enjoy it. Jaleigh does a nice job describing the underwater ship The Darter. And Arowall, the captain, fits into Mistshore really well. This novel reads like an amazingly cool D&D session.
Otherwise, we get teased with bits and piece of Icelin’s history. I hope she is able to piece together the puzzle of her past so she can figure out who is an ally and who wants to do her harm!
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11 months ago ::
Aug 05, 2012 - 10:33AM
#3
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Date Joined:
Feb 19, 2006
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Icelin is an interesting protagonist because she isn't very powerful (yet). I thought City of the Dead was a particularly interesting D&D novel because Sophraea has no special powers or abilities. She wants to be a dressmaker. She essentially has no D&D class. Now, Icelin isn't that extreme. She obviously has magical powers, but not ones that she can easily use without wreaking havoc. That makes her fairly dependant on her companions for protection. In D&D novels, we've become accustom to the protagonist having a lot of power. Think Drizzt or even Ashok from Jaleigh's Unbroken Chain books. It creates a different dynamic when your main character isn't leading the action. I'm not saying it's bad or good, simply commenting on the feel of the story.
I'm starting to warm up to Sull a little more as a character. You can see he has some sort of emotional attachment to Icelin like a father would, and I'm still wondering what their real connection might be. Ruen seems more powerful than I first thought, but I wonder how much of his power is amplified by the ring he wears (that he's no longer wearing).
I also thought The Darter was a great locale and adds to the growing mistique of Mistshore and I'm intrigued by "Bells" and wondering how the fight between her and Ruen is going to go. Next section, here I come!
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11 months ago ::
Aug 06, 2012 - 5:22PM
#4
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This will have to be a quick post because a busy summer schedule has left really limited my time for fun stuff like reading and discussion. But I’m keeping up with the story and continue to enjoy it.
I can so relate to this. Between preparing for Gen Con next week and being down with a nasty back injury, I've had to limit my time at the computer recently. But, I'm glad you all are still enjoying the book, and I will say that you're closing in on one of my favorite scenes in the novel--you'll know it when you get there. 
Also, Dado, you mentioned Rosemary Jones' novel--I highly recommend any of Rosemary's work. Anyone who's interested should check out her stories outside the Realms as well. She's a gifted storyteller.
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11 months ago ::
Aug 07, 2012 - 2:23AM
#5
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Date Joined:
Apr 13, 2011
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Sorry I was away for a week or so. I've kept up with my reading, but I didn't have time to come and post something. I'm glad everyone is still commenting on this great book. I agree with dadocollin about protagonists without or with little power. It makes their struggle that much more interesting. Icelin is particularly interesting since he power can also wreak havoc, and that adds a certain unpredictability to the story, which I find most appealing. I really like Sull. He's definitely not your usual sword & sorcery hero with his meat cleaver. I'm interested more and more about his interest in Icelin. I can't wait to find out more about him.
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11 months ago ::
Aug 27, 2012 - 3:00PM
#6
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Date Joined:
Mar 15, 2010
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Again, I was surprised at the pace of this section, with the fight on the beach and the warehouse escape. Icelin gets into deep water very early on in the novel, and things aren't getting any better. Dado makes a good point about the restrictions on Icelin's power, and Sull is obviously not a tried-and-tested adventurer. They're very dependent on Ruen for support, and there are still questions about where his loyalties lie. I'm also getting the feeling that this isn't a book where the protagonist simply 'levels up' to defeat the bad guy; Icelin's magic seems too fallible for that.
I loved the idea of wild magic and Icelin's spells slipping away from her - the warehouse escape was particularly thrilling - but I thought the section where they enter The Darter was brilliant - a totally unexpected setting and one that shows great imagination both from Arowall, for making use of the resources available to him, and Jaleigh of course, for dreaming it up in the first place!
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