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Rating: 
Summary: Not your usual fare, but awesome book
Review: As others have commented, this story is a bit different from other FR books. I found Mr. Bolme's writing style very good; he is now one of my favorite FR authors. His descriptiveness is awesome and is a refreshing addition.
It was also neat to read about Messemprar, a previously untouched region in FR. It's clear that because of the deities that are prevalent here (Tiamat, etc) and the fact that this area is in the decline (due to its age) that there are many interesting and exciting stories waiting to be told.
The main character, Kehrsyn, is also a breath of fresh air. She is a realistic hero, who is not overly sappy, nor is she overly ambitious. She's just a rogue, trying to make her way. Along the way you can't help but grow fond of her.
Other characters were also fairly well developed and there are some that I would like to read more about. Demok, for one, was also very cool. Unfortunately, much of his scenes appear as the book ends, however, he is great and I hope to read more of him in the future.
All in all this was an excellent book, and if the other books in the rogues series are this good, WOTC has a real winner with this series.
Rating:
Summary: Not your usual fare, but awesome book
Review: As others have commented, this story is a bit different from other FR books. I found Mr. Bolme's writing style very good; he is one of my favorite FR authors. His descriptiveness is awesome and is a refreshing addition. It was also neat to read about Messemprar, a previously untouched region in FR. It's clear that because of the deities that are prevalent here (Tiamat, etc) and the fact that this area is in the decline (due to its age) that there are many interesting and exciting stories waiting to be told. The main character, Kehrsyn, is also a breath of fresh air. She is a realistic hero, who is not overly sappy, nor is she overly ambitious. She's just rogue, trying to make her way. Along the way you can't help but grow fond of her. Other characters were also fairly well developed and there are some that I would like to read more about. Demok, for one, was also very cool. Unfortunately, much of his scenes appear as the book ends, however, he is great and I hope to read more of him in the future. All in all this was an excellent book, and if the other books in the rogues series are this good, WOTC has a real winner.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Book
Review: I am not really an avid reader, but I am trying to get back into it. I enjoyed this book toughly and it kept me interested to the very end. I can't wait to get the next book in the series.
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable in the Realms
Review: I'd have to say that this book is one of the more interesting and memorable of the Forgotten Realms books I've read. The strongest element are the characters - all of which are finely crafted with distinct "voices", making each one easy to recall and identify with. The plot itself swirls along quickly, with an engrossing mystery - thought he term "wheels within wheels" has been used before, it certainly applies to this multi-layered tale. I enjoyed Ed Bolme's previous contribution, "The Steel Throne" and, though "The Alabaster Staff" is quite a different piece of work, it certainly equals and in places exceeds his Rokugani fiction.
Rating:
Summary: Alabaster Staff
Review: The Alabaster Staff is a fine book I absolutely loved it. This book is simply amazing even with in the first chapter it gets rolling with a duke out between two god's and there army's as a prelude to the main story which takes place a few years with in the future. After I got done with the amazement of that battle and read onward into the current time line of the story I was Shocked to see how this epic battle between these two powerful god's had shaped the current economic, religious and political structure of the nation Unther and the city Messemprar.
This book has many struggling and influential power group's with there own individual goals which some times run contrary to there members even what that organization stands for causing strife with in also they have there own out side agendas all the while we get to see the heroin Kerhsyn get swooped up, thrown about into the thick of things.
With in this book you'll follow the young heroin rogue Kerhsyn a woman with a quick, steady hand's and a even quicker mind that can grasp what the best and most probable means of escape and survival in a city full of treachery, deceit, and despair but upon her adventure she makes friends with some of the most unlikely sorts that help her through her endeavors and warm the heart.
If you like a bit of intrigue, mystery, and a fast pace story this books for you. aka,Harlamond from the WotC boards.
Rating:
Summary: To Steal or Not To Steal?
Review: The Alabaster Staff is about a young street performer whose life is occupied by figuring out where her next meal will come from, where she can spend the next night....and sometimes manages to find a little piece of happiness by entertaining children with her remarkable sleight of hand. She's also an unwilling thief who's sworn never to steal again. Then she's suddenly drawn into a twisting plot of double-crossings and betrayals. At the center of it all, an artifact of great power - the Alabaster Staff. This engaging novel is three parts fantasy, one part murder mystery. It's reminiscent of a 'Who-dunnit' thriller, and has you guessing until the end. The characters are believable yet surprising, and the author has made the protagonist not only realistic, but refreshingly moral-minded, a virtuous rogue who struggles with her own reluctant vocation. I found myself identifying with her more than most characters in the Forgotten Realms series. The book breaks down some of the archtypes normally associated with certain character classes, such as priests, warriors, and of course, rogues. You don't have to be a fan of the Forgotten Realms to enjoy this book, but it certainly helps. Set in the oppressed and occupied nation of Unther (a land previously unexplored in Realms novels, to my knowledge), it's a new landscape with a few familiar goodies tossed in as well. It's a fast read, inspiring, and not to mention full of really cool stuff. Did I not mention the cool stuff? Well...go read it then!
Rating: 
Summary: One of the poorer Forgotten Realms books I've read
Review: The Alabaster Staff is by far one of the worst books set in the Forgotten Realms that I've read. To the best of my knowledge I've read about every FR novel that has been published and there have certainly been some highs and lows. But this book is boring throughout, the characters are transparent, events are incredibly hard to believe, and the ending is cheesy and way too predictable.
The first chapter introduces a character who plays no further significant role in the book. You then meet Kehrsyn, the main character who is just very inconsistent throughout. While she runs into a lot of trouble, she manages to befriend some very nasty and powerful people a bit too easily. There are several bad dialects within the novel, from the sorceress' dock-talk to the male protaganists' monosyllabic mutterings through the mysterious lord's Old English-type talk.
I don't know what else to say. If you're a die hard fan of the Realms, you'll probably read it anyway like I did. Prepare for disappoint, though. But for anyone wanting an introduction to the Realms, stay far far away from this book.
Rating:
Summary: A great start to The Rogues series!
Review: This book is an absolute gem, recommended for all Forgotten Realms and fantasy fans. I'm a long-time fan of the Realms novels, and in my opinion this is the best for ages! The first novel in The Rogues series, this book focuses on Kehrsyn, a young and reluctant thief who is required to live off her wits and skills when forced into an unfortunate situation that spirals out of control. Maybe the premise is nothing particularly new, but the execution is wonderful. Edward Bolme understands the characters he writes about completely, and each has a beautifully fleshed-out personality (and agenda)! Starting slowly and deliberately, and building up to a thunderous, fast-paced climax, this story left me wanting much more than its 309 pages could provide. Here's hoping for further exploits of the characters and setting involved. A fantastic and refreshing change from all the Drow and 'Event' series!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Read
Review: This book is quite different from most other FR novels I have read. Normally I don't go for change, but this is quite an exception. Quite an interesting technique having the first chapter focus on someone who then hands the plot off to the main character. A very inventive way to keep within the spirit of the series. Through most of the book my opinion was borderline, but the surprising and complete 180 of an ending just did it for me. I'm a sucker for that. I hope WOTC does a sequel or at least a followup using these characters.
Rating:
Summary: Great read - makes me want to be a thief
Review: This book was a look into the life of a rogue caught between a rock and a hard spot. The idea behind this book was not original, but it was masterfully carried out. Talk about your chain of unfortunate events. I almost forgot about the prolouge of the book which had a war between two god's and their followers because it seemed trivial to the main character's quest - but the book comes full circle with a nice conclusion. Also, the description of the stealing of the Alabaster Staff is incredible and very well written - I felt like I should be holding my breath in some places so I wouldn't be heard. Scenes like those, and all the things the thief had to think about and know from experience, make me want to be a thief. I also think that "The Alabaster Staff" is a nice step back from the other "mainstream" Forgotten Realms books. This book focuses on a city I had little to no knowledge on, and it also introduced some characters (even if they will not be used again) that have not been seen in other FR books. I nice breath of fresh air was what this book provided for me. The only reason I didn't give it five stars is that it's a book I really don't plan on reading again anytime in the near to mid-future, if ever - but it was certainly worth the time when I did read it.
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