Rating: 
Summary: The fall from grace
Review: "Tantras", second in the epic Realms shattering Avatar Trilogy, continues where "Shadowdale" left off. We continue to follow the pawns of deific machinations toward their fated end, watching, as the entire world seems to collapse around them. Will it, or will they succeed in their fated quest to right what the gods themselves put wrong? Read the book.In my estimation, as I've read the series twice, "Tantras" functions not as much as a bridge between "Shadowdale" and "Waterdeep" but as an integral portion of the tale as a whole. Yes, while the distances traveled and questions asked and answered in the previous and subsequent novels may prove larger, and in more numbers, this title serves as the story of Cyric. Other reviewers, here as in other locales, have claimed the change in Cyric's allegiance too swift and without build up. I have to disagree, while they may not overtly flag the signs of his inner workings, enough is put forth in the first title, as well as throughout this title to validate any character developments. It has also been proposed that the characters within these titles are flat and without development. I again disagree; I felt that by the end of the novels I knew the characters, especially Kelemvor and Cyric. I have to admit that the catatonic state in which Adon spent most of the first book sat poorly with me the first time I read it; however, as I grew in understanding of the mindset within the Sunite clergy, it grew to make perfect sense. I recommend this title, as well as the others in the avatar series: "Shadowdale" & "Waterdeep" by Richard Awlinson, The Shadows of the Avatar Series by Ed Greenwood, "Prince of Lies" by James Lowder, and "Crucible: Trial of Cyric the Mad" by Troy Denning.
Rating:
Summary: Good Follow-up to Shadowdale...
Review: After voraciously reading Shadowdale, I quickly picked up Tantras in hopes of learning whether or not Midnight and the heroes can find the Tablets of Fate and if Elminster was really still alive. Tantras was a pretty good read, and if I've read correctly, does a great job of bridging the gap between Shadowdale and Waterdeep, the third book in the series. On its own, Tantras offered less in the way of character development than in continuous battles. But I had a great time watching Cyric widen the gap between himself and the heroes and Kelemvor becoming closer to Midnight and Adon. Overall, good book, but I am really looking forward to following Tantras up with Waterdeep.
Rating:
Summary: Good Follow-up to Shadowdale...
Review: After voraciously reading Shadowdale, I quickly picked up Tantras in hopes of learning whether or not Midnight and the heroes can find the Tablets of Fate and if Elminster was really still alive. Tantras was a pretty good read, and if I've read correctly, does a great job of bridging the gap between Shadowdale and Waterdeep, the third book in the series. On its own, Tantras offered less in the way of character development than in continuous battles. But I had a great time watching Cyric widen the gap between himself and the heroes and Kelemvor becoming closer to Midnight and Adon. Overall, good book, but I am really looking forward to following Tantras up with Waterdeep.
Rating: 
Summary: hmmm, this book needs the opinion of one who is better read
Review: All i can say to the two previous entries is, I'm sorry. I'm sorry your reading of fantasy novels is so empovrished. As i said with Shadowdale, read the books, but dont expect too much. If you thought this was good then Jordan, Roberson, Modesit, Moorcock, and really everyone else out there will blow your mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Who says brand name books are bad?
Review: Definitely a excellent middle book which I was surprised by since most middle books are slow and dogged. The adventures and skirmishes that populated throughout the book were highly entertaining and fantasy wise were realistic. It also shows how people could overcome impossible odds. The characters were especially good (like the three assasins) and the fighting great.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING TRILOGY!!!
Review: Definitely a great fantasy epic and one of my personal favorites, The Avatar Trilogy- Shadowdale, Tantras, and Waterdeep, is about the Time of Troubles when the Gods walked the Earth (in this case Toril). The books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another plane of existence and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. The authors have truly outdone themselves and have presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work, RA Salvatore's The Dark Elf and Icewind Dale trilogies, and in authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies. Love, honor, bravery, magic, and heroes are all about. In conclusion, it's what Fantasy reading SHOULD be. A GREAT trilogy indeed and a "must read" along with James Lowder's Prince of Lies and Troy Denning's Crucible: The Trial of Cyric! DON'T MISS IT!!!
Rating:
Summary: The second of a great trilogy.
Review: Having read Shadowdale, I immediately acquired Tantras. I was just as thrilled with this book as I was with the first. The plot is ever changing, weaving around and taking the reader for quite a ride. I loved the description and life given to Torm's chosen city. This book really sheds a lot of light on the gods of D&D, as did its predecessor. The characters are great as ever, with a not unexpected but still eye-opening change in the party. A must read!
Rating:
Summary: Good for the FR/D&D player; so-so for the casual reader
Review: I mainly read this book because I play D&D in the Forgotten Realms system, and the history of Forgotten Realms fascinates me. In that sense, the plot and story of the book are quite creative and enjoyable. However, I found the writing style that related this plot and story to be cumbersome and undeveloped. "Awlinson" (which is actually a pseudonym for about 4 authors that wrote this series) barely gives any descriptive or sensory information, especially when you meet new people. The dialog too often leaves the reader out. The writing is too "fantasy typical," in that many situations are overexplained, beat to death, and characters are all too emotionally unstable to accomplish anything. If I hadn't enjoyed the stories themselves so well, especially as background for the campaign, I'd have given these books 2 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Good Read...
Review: I read this entire series one after the other, and of all the Forgotten Realms series, this is one of the best. This book is second in the Avatar series, which immediately captivated me with its rich scenery and detail about the landscape and inhabitants of the land of Faerun.
Rating: 
Summary: Unmemorable
Review: I read this trilogy ages ago when I was a kid and the fact that I remember so little shows that it was nothing special. Many others have said that the writing style is very ordinary and this is true in that it did not stand out at all. There was some interest in the plot, but in this second book, I do not even remember a single interesting event, and I have a fairly good memory. I guess having read it as a kid means the plot could be interesting to kids but not necessarily adults.
If you are a Forgotten Realms fan (which I'm not, I was given the books) then the added interest of this as a background story as well as connections to the world of the Realms will probably outweight the negative aspects of the book such that it may be worth reading. Otherwise, it's fairly pointless.
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