Rating: 
Summary: Only Good For Nostalgia
Review: In my opinion, the only value I got out of this book was the nostalgia of "old D&D". If it was a non-gaming related product, I would have put it down after the first chapter or two and never picked it back up.As others have pointed out, the characters are more wooden than anything else, and the way they bond immediately is unbelievable and just short of gagging. If you want old D&D, read the module itself. It's bound to be more inspired than this book was. And this is from someone who was really looking forward to this book, and therefore gave it every chance before deciding against it.
Rating: 
Summary: good, but nothing spectacular
Review: It was a good read, but nothing spectacular. It kept my interest enough that i wanted to finish reading the entire book. I'm interested to go look back at "The Temple Of Elemental Evil" module now, as well, and perhaps try playing that one again. This isn't a book i'd rush out to buy, though. Borrow it from a friend or library, read it, and return it. If you're looking for a keeper to read over and over again, try some books by Paul Kidd in the "Descent Into The Depths Of The Earth" series. Those are definite keepers!!!:>
Rating:
Summary: good, but nothing spectacular
Review: It was a good read, but nothing spectacular. It kept my interest enough that i wanted to finish reading the entire book. I'm interested to go look back at "The Temple Of Elemental Evil" module now, as well, and perhaps try playing that one again. This isn't a book i'd rush out to buy, though. Borrow it from a friend or library, read it, and return it. If you're looking for a keeper to read over and over again, try some books by Paul Kidd in the "Descent Into The Depths Of The Earth" series. Those are definite keepers!!!:>
Rating: 
Summary: Worth the time and money
Review: Some of the criticisms are accurate, poor character development chief among them and I also did not like how quickly total strangers became such good friends as though they had spent a lifetime of adventures together. That being said, I was totally jazzed by reading about the temple and the vivid descriptions that Reid gave about it. I intend to read through again with the Temple of Elemental Evil module at my side and track the party through the module and note where Reid veered from the the module and where he stayed true to it. No, the writing is not up to Hickman and Weis quality but the adventure is. The memories it invoked from playing this particular module with my friends nearly 20 years ago were well worth the price of admission.
Rating:
Summary: Didn't like this
Review: The characters had no depth. The situations were forced. Everyone seemed like they had been life long frinds after ten minutes. The author had no creative vision of his own. I know it was based on a D&D game but you can at least make it your own. I think WotC put out yet another poor Greyhawk book. Hope the next Paul Kidd novel lives up to the first two he wrote for the series.
Rating: 
Summary: The Temple breathes evil once more
Review: The Temple of Elemental Evil is my favorite roleplaying adventure of all time. Many an adventurer has fallen amongst its deadly walls. I was mixed with delight and fear when I heard that a novel about this extraordinary piece was being written. I am happy to say that this novel does it justice. For those who have played the adventure before, you will relive past glories and defeats as images of Temple come back to you. The setting with Hommlet, Nulb, the moathouse, and the Temple itself have remained the same, and you will remember some old faces like Burne, Elmo, Otis, Ostler, Rufus, and more. Reid's descriptions of the Temple and the surrounding areas are incredible and put you there again with a new band of adventurers. The characters are wonderfully portrayed and they remind me of many adventurers that I have played. The main character in the story is Shanhaevel, an elven wizard, who is thrust into the adventure of his life, ill prepared and scared out of his wits, after his mentor is slain. Shanhaevel arrives in Hommlet to meet with Burne and representatives from the King of Furyrondy and soon finds himself along on a journey to discover what new evil threatens Hommlet and to determine if the Temple has awaken again. As the adventure begins, Shanhaevel rides out with a veteran warrior from the first battle against the Temple's forces named Melias who leads the expedition, a rogue named Ahleage, a warrior talented with a bow named Draga, a half-elven druid named Shirral, and Elmo a warrior who turns out to be more than he appears. The characters are developed through their actions and garb and are not simply described by class like in the novel Against the Giants. For instance, Govin who they meet later is not described as a paladin, but it can be inferred from his actions and abilities. And Elmo's true character can be determined from his hidden talents. Aside from all this let me just say...you will enjoy this book whether you are new to The Temple of Elemental Evil or not. The storyline is exciting and entertaining from the beginning and holds you till the end, unsure quite how it will all end up. I give this novel my highest recommendation. If you like this novel there is also a new adventure coming out called The Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, which I hope will also live up the standards of the original.
Rating:
Summary: For D&D fans, old and new!
Review: The Temple of Elemental Evil was one of my favorite D&D adventures. Many a character of mine fell prey to the evil of the temple and I was excited to see a novelization of this great adventure. Weither you have played this adventure or not you will find the book to be very entertaining. I actually felt like like I was back at the gaming table rolling the dice!
Rating: 
Summary: Dull D&D Adventure Novel
Review: There were elements of this novel that could have made a good story but on the whole it was very dry and boring. The prologue was too short. In the span of a hundred pages the main characters go from hardly knowing eachother to being best friends. There is no interesting interaction between them. The vilians are equally drab. So drab that not even tired old vilian cliches can be attatched to them. They are underdeveloped and you dont believe their motivations. Hedrach seems kind of intriguing at the beginning but as the story develops his intrigue quickly diminishes. The only reason this book deserves two stars instead of one is that avid gamers will recognize certain familiar elements. Many spells used, and dieties named, and secret doors found will ring bells. If you want to read a better book set in the Greyhawk campaign world read some of Paul Kidd's novels they are well written and have more interesting characters.
Rating:
Summary: Dull D&D Adventure Novel
Review: There were elements of this novel that could have made a good story but on the whole it was very dry and boring. The prologue was too short. In the span of a hundred pages the main characters go from hardly knowing eachother to being best friends. There is no interesting interaction between them. The vilians are equally drab. So drab that not even tired old vilian cliches can be attatched to them. They are underdeveloped and you dont believe their motivations. Hedrach seems kind of intriguing at the beginning but as the story develops his intrigue quickly diminishes. The only reason this book deserves two stars instead of one is that avid gamers will recognize certain familiar elements. Many spells used, and dieties named, and secret doors found will ring bells. If you want to read a better book set in the Greyhawk campaign world read some of Paul Kidd's novels they are well written and have more interesting characters.
Rating:
Summary: Great New Writer
Review: Thomas M. Reid really came through with this novel. Not only does it make me think of old D&D games, but it also doesn't have the feel of a module, like most other Greyhawk novels. I have never played the original Temple of Elemental Evil, but have heard much about it. I play D&D often, and if my sessions could be this good, I would play every day. I think, if Thomas M. Reid puts out more novels of this calibre, he might possibly match up to Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. Overall, great novel, I reccomend it to all.
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