Rating: Summary: Constant action--Drow in a city of destruction Review: A small band of dark elves have made their way from the battered city of Menzoberranzan to Ched Nasad--their mission, to determine whether the spider goddess Lolth has abandoned all fo the Drow, or only Menzoberranzan. Of course, being Drow, all of them have their own agendas, and don't especially mind betraying their comrads if doing so can help them in the eternal games that the dark elves play for status and magical items. Once in Ched Nasad, things go badly. Sensing Drow weakness, the lesser species are seething, looking for a spark to launch into revolt. And the continuing bickering between the Drow is certain to provide that spark--especially as one dark elf house has imported thousands of gray dwarves into the city to support its bid for primacy. The original mission becomes secondary as the men become separated from the women and each group is forced to struggle for survival, alone in a city where they have nothing but enemies. INSURRECTION is the second in a series of novels dealing with the impact of Lolth's disappearing. Like DISSOLUTION and many other Wizzards of the Coast novels, INSURRECTION feels like a role playing game with constant fighting, squabbling for magical items, and rapidly escallating dangers. Author Thomas M. Reid writes smoothly and keeps the pages turning. There isn't a lot of character development or a lot of learning going on among these adventurers, but those looking for pure action will find INSURRECTION a winner. INSURRECTION may be read independently of DISSOLUTION but reading this series in order will enhance the reader's enjoyment.
Rating: Summary: Great read with a few dissapointments Review: After devouring the first book I could hardly wait to read this one. I found this second book to be satisfying, but left me a little disappointed. The action and plot kept me turning and turning and turning the pages. I especially liked the introduction of the new characters and the jealous alu-fiend, and Halistra's uncharacteristically un-drow behavior in saving her battle-captive. Description of the physical structure of the city was ingenious, as was the short trek through Underdark at the beginning. What was lacking was development and consistency in the series. Quenthel appeared to have suddenly become "soft" in this book, which was a major dissapointment. And I left wanting to know more about politics and social issues in Ched Nasad, which could very well have differed in interesting ways from those in Menzo as presented in Dissolution. The last 150 pages were dissapointing for three reasons. First, the action just never seemed to stop, which left me exhausted. Second, our Menzo heroes suddenly began to make a long series of unwise choices. Finally, and most annoyingly, our heroes would stop in the middle of the destruction and have little "review conversations" where they would review the plot for the reader in near lecture-form. As the city was falling apart under their feet! heh. Overall a great read, and a great second novel in the series. But no Dissolution.
Rating: Summary: A turn for the better... Review: After reading the first book (and what a chore it was) I seriously thought about not continuing the series. But since the second was written by a different author, and the story itself did have potential, I gave it a shot. I was not dissapointed. Thomas M. Reid done a spectacular job, hands down. While the book itself can hardly contain the spells and swords that are clashing inside its pages, the action was well placed, and well written. From start to finish it seems as one long chaotic battle, that truly tests the limits of all the characters within, but that also is the reason for four stars, and not five. While the first book nearly bogged down with 3 dollar words and what seemed like pointless dialouge at some parts, this book does lack a little in that respect. As the above person wrote, the only real communication between the main characters are arguments about what to do, or cries for help. After reading this book, you begin to wonder what, if anything can stop them on their quest. While the characters seem invincible and unexhaustable at times, you still find yourself cringing while you read as a the characters are put up against unbeatable odds. In addition to the main characters from the first novel, we are introduced to a whole new set of enemies(or perhaps allies?) that are well thought out whose personalities are unique in the extreme. The alu-fiend being the most stand out of the bunch. The book leaves off with a well placed cliffhanger, that haves you turning the empty pages in the back of the book in the hopes that it will somehow continue, even though you knew the end was coming, but just refuse. It is arguably one of the best books I have read this year. I for one will counting the days till the release of the next book.
Rating: Summary: Was It Worth The Money? Review: By all the gods it was good. I couldnt put it down, just like the first. Now i just cant wait for the next. I love the Drow, the way they do things and the way they think, Mr Reid has them to a 'T'.
Rating: Summary: Keeping with the Drow tradition Review: Excellent book, can't wait for the next one to come out. We finally have a mage who loves to cast magic and play with fire. Anyone who has read anything about the Drow will love this series.
Rating: Summary: Fun Review: For dark elf lovers this was a fun adventure. A group of Menzoberanzanyr sets out to investigate Ches Nasad which is involved in new intrigues and various interesting new characters including a half demoness, and two drow: Hallistrae and Danifae are introduced. Pharaun is the main character and his personality is well fleshed out. This book is much less dark than the first without losing the "dark elf" aspect and Underdark feel. Quite a page turner and more of an adventure style novel.
Rating: Summary: Some good points some bad points Review: I enjoyed the adventures and antics of some of the characters in the first novel which often ended in combat but also involved a little more problem solving and dialogue. In this book there is a lot more combat and very little actual interaction between the characters apart from arguing over what to do next. The personalities and inner workings of the characters are not very well sketched out. For example one of the characters is tortured at length but apparently is back on her feet right after this with no mention of how it affected her mentally or even physically (she was up and running right after being set free), whereas in the first novel this phsycology would have been fleshed out more satifactorily. The environment of the novel was not as deeply detailed as possible (why bother with the end what it was?), what was going on back home was hardly covered and the ending could still have left the reader curious without the near total lack of an epilogue. Having said that I found this novel satisfactory if a little dissapointing and will still read the next in the series.
Rating: Summary: Very good Review: I enjoyed this book and thought that Thomas Reid picked up rather well where Byers left off. I missed some of the irony and comical bits in the story (like Quenthel's whip making funny remarks)but over all it was a good book and I enjoyed it immensly.
Rating: Summary: I can't put it down. Its an addiction. I need a social group Review: I found book II to be much better then the first book of the set. This book has more adventure with a complex yet easy to understand plotline. We're introduced to a few new characters while revisting those from book I. It is hard to adapt to the fact that this is *not* a book about an adventure group of friends... but a group of adventurers together by convention alone. If things go bad you never know who may backstab who, and everyone is out to protect THEMSELVES. And its about time someone worked a succubus into a storyline :) I'm a big fan of odd character types, wizardry and magic, and deceit. This book has all three wrapped up in a nice package of chaos. And after its all said and done you still get to read about another city besides the ever popular Menzobaranzan! A new culture with new houses to dominate! Most excellent. Admittingly, I have not yet finished the book but I'm having a hard time putting it down. I can't say that about the first book, although it was good, it is not of this quality. As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to grab some tea and sit down on my comfortable chair and read where I last left off...
Rating: Summary: I loved it Review: I found it very interesting to read this series because each book has a different writer. Sometimes a very subtle writing style difference can make a worn out subject fascinating. Thomas Reid has a great way with words. Better than some of the other writers in the series. I'd be curious to know how it was decided who would write what and how the plot was decided. The endless interplay between characters leaves you laughing and grinning with delight. The plot isn't incredibly brilliant but the real value is the way in which the characters interact. For instance, the character Pharaun, the wizard, comes up with one great jab after another at his "superior" mistress Quenthal. You're not quite sure who's in charge at times. At this point, I've started the 4th book in the series. It basically boils down to an adventure with a group of superheroes. One crisis after another and cliffhangers abound. There are several plot twists. I really enjoy this kind of stuff. It's light and fun.
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