Rating: 
Summary: Flawed, but better than expected.
Review: (Another 3.5 rating) Halfway in, I was thinking 3 stars at the most as it's so blatantly a marketing piece for some of WoTC's newest game supplements - specifically, the Expanded Psionics Handbook and Serpent Kingdoms - but it actually got better as it moved along as Smedman proves to be a pretty decent writer. Relatively speaking. This is solid hackwork, following the D&D formula to the letter. As a fan, that's not necessarily a bad thing as she works the formula well. The main character, Arvin, is a bit annoying at times, though, and his primary motivation - rescuing/avenging a friend - isn't really made believable until nearly the end of the book. Worthwhile read for fans of the Forgotten Realms, but anyone looking for innovative fantasy is better served by Jessica Rydill's work.
Rating: 
Summary: Great characters and story
Review: After the adolescent ramblings of Ed Greenwood, or the excessive hero worship of Robert Salvatore, Lisa Smedman's writing is a welcome relief. The character of Arvin is the most mature, realistic and reasonable I've encountered in the D&D milieu. I cannot say enough how motivated and deep the characters are; and the ideas are fresh and new, and free of the Deus Ex Machina thinking that so often renders novels in this space absurd or two dimensional. I look forward to more of Ms. Smedman's work, and I hope WOTC (or whoever they are now) will hire more of her type so that the readership expands and the genre becomes vital again.
Rating:
Summary: Great characters and story
Review: After the adolescent ramblings of Ed Greenwood, or the excessive hero worship of Robert Salvatore, Lisa Smedman's writing is a welcome relief. The character of Arvin is the most mature, realistic and reasonable I've encountered in the D&D milieu. I cannot say enough how motivated and deep the characters are; and the ideas are fresh and new, and free of the Deus Ex Machina thinking that so often renders novels in this space absurd or two dimensional. I look forward to more of Ms. Smedman's work, and I hope WOTC (or whoever they are now) will hire more of her type so that the readership expands and the genre becomes vital again.
Rating: 
Summary: Convienent storyline. Interesting race.
Review: First let me say that I think that the "House of Serpents" will be a good trilogy even though the first book was just above average.The highlights of this book are two things that I have not read much about in Forgotten Realms books - Psionics and the Yuan-ti race. Both of which are really cool and equally facinating. The Yuan-ti are an elitest race of human-snakes and some of them can shapeshift into a snake or into a human. The culture of the Yuan-ti is one of the best things about this race because I had read somethings about them in other books (The Black Bouquet) but it was very brief and the description was very poor leaving no addition information. There is infultration of the Yuan-ti "castle" and so much insight into their lives. The other really cool thing about this book is that there is very little magic, but the creatures and characters are psionics (they use mind powers like charms and such). I like books that explore other areas of character/class ability besides just magic/wizards/magic items. And there are quite a few different psionic tricks to unfold throughout the book. I think the story line was also interesting and intriging leaving many options for the storyline in book 2 and 3. This will be a good trilogy but the main problem I had was the convience of some of the psionic spells and how they used them. This is a common complaint about movies and books (especially fantasy) is that they just happened to have the only spell (which is totally obscure) to get them out of their situation. I don't mind when this happens in books and movies because it's possible for the characters to know such things - but in this book it is reaching pretty bad. I just wish sometimes the characters would have used their wit and physical ability and cunningness instead of magically finding out a psionic spell at the very last possible second. Overall, good book, and the trilogy will be better as the sum of all the parts. Great races, great psionic spells - the book is just a little annoying at parts.
Rating:
Summary: Convienent storyline. Interesting race.
Review: First let me say that I think that the "House of Serpents" will be a good trilogy even though the first book was just above average. The highlights of this book are two things that I have not read much about in Forgotten Realms books - Psionics and the Yuan-ti race. Both of which are really cool and equally facinating. The Yuan-ti are an elitest race of human-snakes and some of them can shapeshift into a snake or into a human. The culture of the Yuan-ti is one of the best things about this race because I had read somethings about them in other books (The Black Bouquet) but it was very brief and the description was very poor leaving no addition information. There is infultration of the Yuan-ti "castle" and so much insight into their lives. The other really cool thing about this book is that there is very little magic, but the creatures and characters are psionics (they use mind powers like charms and such). I like books that explore other areas of character/class ability besides just magic/wizards/magic items. And there are quite a few different psionic tricks to unfold throughout the book. I think the story line was also interesting and intriging leaving many options for the storyline in book 2 and 3. This will be a good trilogy but the main problem I had was the convience of some of the psionic spells and how they used them. This is a common complaint about movies and books (especially fantasy) is that they just happened to have the only spell (which is totally obscure) to get them out of their situation. I don't mind when this happens in books and movies because it's possible for the characters to know such things - but in this book it is reaching pretty bad. I just wish sometimes the characters would have used their wit and physical ability and cunningness instead of magically finding out a psionic spell at the very last possible second. Overall, good book, and the trilogy will be better as the sum of all the parts. Great races, great psionic spells - the book is just a little annoying at parts.
Rating:
Summary: pretty good
Review: I didn't think was an excellent book, but it is different from the usual faire of Forgotten Realms, which is known for unstoppable juggernaughts. This story felt a lot more real, and it got into the insidious Yuan-ti. The humanoid snakes that treat people as slaves and second class life forms.
The exploration of the psionics was a good idea. it is something that hasn't been explored much in any novel that I am aware of. It also got into a new evil race, one that is out in the open. The cold and poisonous Yuan-ti, which I found most enjoyable. They touched on their society and lifestyle, as well as their interaction with humans. Always managing to show them as having humanlike appetites at times, but not human emotions. The main characters toy with people in a detached manner, or with mild amusement. They don't try to redeam them with the half bloods, or showing they have their good points. They aren't human, and don't make any effort to be so.
The main problems that I had with the book is that it touched on a lot of good subjects, but didn't explore them to any great degree. I would have liked to have know more about the society of reptiles, more than what they like to drink. I want to know what type of ruling body they have, or how they interact with one another, their religion, etc.... The characters also suffer from lack of attention. I don't even remember the main characters name, just that he was special, and made magical devices and ropes.
Decent book, and good direction, but I hope it is fleshed out more in future novels.
Rating:
Summary: A must read
Review: I so own this book! First of - for those of you who don't know this yet Lisa Smedan is God. I was put off by the cover at first, but having read her book in the War of The Spider Queen series (which was the best of the bunch (with all due respect to the other extremely talented authors) I decided to give it a try. This book is creepy and sexy at the same time. The protagonist/anti-hero really gets worked over and his quest is brutal. I liked the way she plotted this out. It had none of the sappy, hack and slash feel one "might" expect from sci-fi/fantasy. Forgotten Realms is a very decent collection of authors, but Lisa Smedan is by far one of the brightest stars in the night time sky. my biggest complaint is that it takes her forever to write anything. She is deft at creative uses of the English language, and her plots are nice and thick like oatmeal (without the lumps!) Okay - I will leave you with that horrifying visual. Try this book - if you don't like it, I will buy it from you :-P Dusty White
Author of How to Get ANY MAN to do ANYTHING You Want!
Rating:
Summary: Very good read
Review: I wasn't really too interested in reading this after having read Extinction from the same author. Extinction was the weakest of the 4 novels offered in that series so far. Halls of Stormweather had a short story about Tazi that i didn't really like. Never read the novels about Tazi. However, after glancing through the first couple pages, Venom's Taste seemed somewhat interesting. This is the first book from Lisa Smedman that I liked. I must say that i finished the entire thing in one sitting. Very good novel that kept me riveted and in bed all day long. The story moved and the characters weren't uber munchkins. And it also focused on psionics which is pretty much a first for D&D novels.
Rating:
Summary: Very good read
Review: I wasn't really too interested in reading this after having read Extinction from the same author. Extinction was the weakest of the 4 novels offered in that series so far. Halls of Stormweather had a short story about Tazi that i didn't really like. Never read the novels about Tazi. However, after glancing through the first couple pages, Venom's Taste seemed somewhat interesting. This is the first book from Lisa Smedman that I liked. I must say that i finished the entire thing in one sitting. Very good novel that kept me riveted and in bed all day long. The story moved and the characters weren't uber munchkins. And it also focused on psionics which is pretty much a first for D&D novels.
Rating:
Summary: More than swords and thrusting.
Review: Lisa Smedman is fast becoming my favorite author in the fantasy genre. Venom's taste is a great example of her skill at creating multi-dimensional characters and intricate plotlines without resorting to bloody battle sequences to move things along. I am constantly delighted by her sense of detail. She is a master of sensory description, giving the reader clear pictures of key players and locations. The main character's frustrations and determination give the plot a juggernaut-like feel of power and movement. I only wish the next installment were scheduled for release sooner!
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