Based on some of the other reviews, it looks like some people actually enjoy reading about Ed Greenwood's invincible characters. I find them predictably boring. It takes much more than mindless hack and slash to tell a story. Greenwood's vocabulary must be limited, since I see the same words repeated again and again <"rueful" sigh>.

I too, believe it was a little overdone and the odds were definitely against them. However, it did a good job describing the places in the Realms as well as it provided the history of some of the characters and Gods, I.E. Mystra and Elminster. Overall, it was very enjoyable.

I really enjoyed this book, the characters were engaging, the story was good, and the descriptions were wonderful. Action and humor were the two words I'd most likely assign to this book, and in reality the whole series. The Two Harper Lads that travel with Sharantyr, youngest of the Knights of Myth Drannor, are just hilarious. I spent most of my time laughing, I think that's why it took me so long to finish. I recommend this series, especially if you're a fan of the realms. The only thing I found lacking, really, was the odds. Three rangers and Elminster versus that many Zhentilar? And El hardly casts because Magic is unstable? That's my only complaint.

I, like several other readers, found this book somewhat scattered and hard to follow. El continues to wander the realms, but it is so far in the past of the current realms that none of the names mean anything, so we don't actually know where Elminster is. Time is also badly marked - I thought that maybe 100 years or more had passed during the passage of the book, but it turns out to only be about 40 years (still a guess).

Ed Greenwood has complained before that his books lack fluidity because of changes made by editors, but I find it hard to believe that it can happen to him time and time again while other authors don't suffer the same. Ed has a style of not letting you know of everyone in a scene until they speak - there could be other people standing there not saying anything, and they don't get mentioned - I find this style quite annoying. I am intersted in reading Ed's new non-tsr novel, and see how different his style is when not forced by TSR.

I hope that he lays down his pen for Elminster and tries someone new in realms - we've seen enough of Elminster, he who can NEVER lose.

It was an excellent book, and one of the better Forgotten Realms Novels that I have read. I would suggest it if you like fantasy books at all. The only things that I didn't like about were that the title is a bit misleading, as the only "temptation" of Elminster's that happens is somewhere near the end, and even that's debatable. Also, it seemed like Ed Greenwood couldn't find a thesauraus, for he kept using "motes of light" in the book. Repeatedly repetitive is how it seemed. Then again, maybe it's just me, since I prefer the books I read to have a variety of different words.

I think this book was really good, but there's a lot of names to remember and some of them are really hard to pronounce. Elminster is the best character for the part of a mage. This book is worthy of being part of the series in the Forgotten Realms. I'm eagerly awaiting Greenwood's next Elminster to come out. The next book should be called "Elminster, Good Father or not?" You may disagree but that's only my opinion. That surpasses the regular Fantasy books with wizards in it because it has drama and action put in with human interaction. This is the best of the three books because it doesn't just start out with plots of the story, it starts out with action. It seems that everyone that gets a relationship with Elminster dies gruesomely or turns evil except Mystra of course.

While the plot of the book was good, and the way he used the memories to keep power from Nergal was an interesting idea. The story basicly could have been condensed into a single chapter, or even less. It was a nice concept just way overkilled. After the 200th flashback or so my mind started to feel like it was being eaten by the same mindworm Elminster was. I was looking for something very different than what I read in this book.

Weakened and trapped in hell after using his not inconsiderable power to repair a rift between the dark domain and his homeland of Toril, Elminster is captured by a powerful devil. Tortured in unimaginable ways, the demon seeks to break Elminster and thus obtain his unique knowledge both of magic and of the Goddess of Magic, Mystra.

The story reads in many places like a group of mostly unrelated short stories, in the guise of Elminster's memories being viewed by the demon like some Saturday afternoon matinee. Often, though, we return to the mental battle being waged between El and the devil. It is overwhelmingly lopsided in the Hell-spawn's favor. We also flash to scenes in Toril, where El is desperately trying to contact powerful friends, in the hope they may aid him.

This novel is another in the chronicle of the life of Elminster, having now moved from the distant past to more contemporary times in the current scheme of the Forgotten Realms. Frequently do we see the mighty Elminster reduced to ignominious defeat, as would be nearly all of the well-known Realms heroes were they in a similar predicament. We are given a relatively good versing in the politics of Hell, through the conversations between El and the Demon. We also deal repeatedly with a demon that is apparently too foolish to realize what El is doing the whole time. Also the demon constantly announces that he has had enough of El's distractions, only to allow himself to be distracted yet again. This is probably the weakest point of the book, but it must be considered acceptable in light of the vast brilliance and wisdom of Elminster; being able to constantly deflect the devil could certainly be no easy feat.

I think that overall this is a good book, but that it is not as good as some of the earlier books in the series, where we were privy to the early years of the Realms' most reknowned wizard.

Let me start by saying that this is an amazing book, easily the
best Elminster book yet. However you will want to prepare yourself
before you read this book, this book is not a first-read book. This
book has quite a few prerequisites, including the previous 3 El books,
the Avatar trilogy, and the shadows of the avatar trilogy (and the two
books that follow those), and MOST definately Silverfall. I should
point out that this book takes place in the current date of the Realms
timeline, and occurs just after the events in The Summoning, and a
reader may also consider reading that book before hand to see what
caused El to go to hell (and also consider the three Netheril books as
a prerequisite to The Summoning) Now that the prerequisites are out of
the way, we can reveal some content. The book is about our beloved
Elminster trapped in the first layer of hell by a powerful devil who
will not rest until he has raped El's mind of all his precious
memories. The first few pages of the book explain this, and also give
the realms dates for those memories. This book is one of the very
best Forgotten Realms books I have ever read (numbering over 70, and
growing), and would place this book in the top five, along with
Servant of the Shard (another amazing Realms book). This book is very
enjoyable if you take the time to prepare yourself by reading
Silverfall, and the other books mentioned above.

This book takes way too long to grab a reader into it. The characters are kind of interesting, but sometimes it seemed the author was having problems trying to figure out what the character was doing,which could of been better, without trying to give away too much. The ending was fairly well written, although predictable, but again it just takes too much time to get here. This is one book in the series that I would not take the time to go back and re-read it.

Sorry, but I cannot agree to the other review posted here. I found this novel rather boring and lacking the constant atmosphere of dread that each good horror story should have. I think it is the worst book of the series I read so far, but it does have a nice cover though. But should one judge a book by it's cover ? And another thing, all the other Ravenloft-novels were blue in color, why is this one...ahm...reddish brown ?

Andria (Hayday) Cardarelle's first novel continues on a smimilar vein to that of her short story "Dark Tryst" in Tales of Ravenloft, and she does a great job with it, introducing the domain of Lord Milos Donskoy (as well as possibly disposing of it at the end). However, we are left in the dark as to why Marguerite (the heroine) came to marry the wretch in the first place.

The best part was the inclusion of Jacqueline Montarri, from the Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium II: Children of the Night. I won't tell you who she is if you don't know, but she is truly a chilling enemy and one I wish had been better utilized in this tale.

The story was fantastic up until the end, where it seemed to suddenly grow tired as we waited for Marguerite to... well, I won't say, as it is one of the major turning points of the book. However, I wish that some space had been given to the domain's history (I don't even know its name; Donskoy?), save that it is an island and that Donskoy basically captured it long ago.

In all, I recommend the book, even if it is slow at times, and think it to be one of the better ones in the series.

While I enjoyed some of this book, it was a major disappointment to realise it bore no resemblance to the Baldurs Gate II Shadows of Amn lands and areas in the game. I wasn't looking for a hint book or strategy guide, but this book arguably should have been relevant to places in the game and really missed a trick in not offering readers info on, for example, the Copper Coronet, purposes of the Hidden in Athkatla, or history of family feuds in Trademeet. I still got through the book and found it interesting, but sadly not related to anything else I've read or played.

Although the content and presentation are solid and as good a resource as the previous Volo's guide books, there is just far too little of this one. You aren't getting your value's worth for the amount of content when compared to the preceeding books in this series.

By the title, it would seem this is being marketed more as a hint book for the upcoming computer game, but the book is not a hint book. Instead, the name seems to be a ploy to bank on the name-recognition of the computer game. The setting for the book is the same, but the presentation of the material makes it clear that any use it has as a clue book is buried deep... very deep.

If the format and concept for this book appeals to you -- a Dungeons & Dragons take on travel guide books -- you'll get more from one of the earlier editions than from this one.

Another in the installment (and maybe the last) of the "Volo" series. The title of this book is semi-deceptive because the book does not give hints/leads to the Baldur's Gate II computer game that is arriving soon.

The book does continue its in-depth detailing of the region, with a small overlap with the Volo's books concerning Waterdeep (not very much), and the Volo's Guide to the North (A little more detail overlap, but not too bad).

All in all, this books provides an added demension to the area, and a new resource for a DM. If you don't like the extra detail, rewrite it and use it for another campaign world.

I am a big fan of the author and enjoyed the first books in this series, BUT this latest apparition is just bizarre. It is somewhat reminiscent of the hack and slash in Spellfire but there is barely any plot as the tale jumps from action scene to action scene. It is like riding an out of control train and waiting for the crash.

Though now overdukes, sorceress Embra, warrior Hawkril, thief Craer, and sorceress Tshamarra along with ex-regent Ezendor Blackgult cannot rest on their laurels. To bring peace to the realm, the Overdukes must confront those who oppose their monarch. They must fight the priests of the Serpent and the wizard Ambelter as well as their supporters if they are to make Aglirta safe.

Currently the priests and their minions are posing the greatest threat. They are using a nasty form of a plague to send innocent people into a killing frenzy. Those who survive the berserker spree become mythical creatures enslaved by the priests to reuse again. With their work cut out to just avoid becoming victims of the bloody plague, let alone going on the offensive, the Band of Four still wield the Dwaer stones to embellish their counter spells in order to defeat their enemies. However, it looks bleak and hopeless.

The latest Band of Four adventure is not a cozy as this blood and sorcery tale flows red rather freely. Fans of the series will appreciate the gore that is cleverly interwoven into an exciting story. Besides a warning label to the anemic, the audience will know the quartet remains true to their respective essences so that the apparent series final, THE DRAGON'S DOOM, is a reader's joy.

Harriet Klausner

... Ed Greenwood has little grasp of plot, charachter development, or suspense. This book reads like a fifth grade book report. It is definately the worst of the Harper series and one of the worst books in the Forgotten Rhealms setting.

I'v read lots Fantasy books and on StormLight I had no clue what was going on. I don't even know Storm's personalty. It's like just reading about some one whos talking in a boring voice. All i got was that her sister was a floting head .

But if you want to read it I think you shouldn't.

If you are among those hoping that Ed Greenwood will develop his characters more as time goes on, Stormlight is sure to disappoint. In it, Storm Silverhand becomes involved in a scheme by a dead god to revive himself. (Those who have read TSR's Lost Gods offerings will find this a familiar theme, though Stormlight is not part of that series.) Despite several interesting moments, Stormlight falls short on at least two counts.

First, Greenwood's characters continue to develop in raw power without any concurrent personality development. Even though she is likely the least powerful of the Seven Sisters, Storm is revealed to be a near-god by the end of this novel: she has lived for centuries; she has allies among the kings and archwizards throughout the land (and drops their names liberally in her dialogue); and, though not a wizard, she exhibits practically undefeatable spell-like abilities. Meanwhile, her personality remains shallow and inconsistent, e.g. bemoaning the fate of a long lost love at times and flirting with various male characters at others. Sadly, we learn very little of her past, or her connection to Elminster, Mystra, or her sisters.

Second, the plot has roughly 75 pages worth of substance, but the author presses the formulaic battle-then-regroup button long enough to churn out the requisite 312 page TSR novel. A potentially interesting secondary villain is quickly introduced then defeated by characters only peripherally involved in this novel, leaving the reader to wonder if interesting subplots have been deliberately clipped out by a sadistic editor.

In short, I recommend Stormlight only to those desperate for a Forgotten Realms story.

Dungeons and dragons novels are usually bad, but this one is exceptionally bad. This novel features bad prose, irritating characters, and unbelievably stupid villains. Take for an example the beholders. These monsters are supposed to be inhumanly smart, yet they keep shooting magic at Shandril, who absorbs it and shoots it back them. They keep doing it until they entire pack is destroyed. The novel is mainly fighting, interspersed with poor dialogue. How does one feel when reading it? '"Tired. When I said I was sick of endless battle," Shandril told him grimly, "I meant it."'

I don't know why I bothered after I read Spellfire and hated it. I guess I was just deperately hopeing that Greenwood manage to redeem himself...after all he is responsible for the Forgotten Realms you think he would have a lick of talent. It seems being a good game designer and a good author are two totally different subjects! This book is like any bad hollywood sequel in movies, it is basically the same as the first story with a slight change of scenery and a little time has passed. Points I would like to make are...Shandril (the heroine) is far too powerful and far too weapy! She spends about as much time crying as she does in combat, and combat never lasts that long when Shandril is present. She just wipes everything and everyone out (as if her existing powers werent enough she grows in power throughout the book). I ended up rooting for the bad guys in the end because I wanted her and her husband Narm dead. Narm is the next character I would like to chew on. I have never read of a more weakling mage character. Greenwood would have been well advised to see to it that Narm developed some magical abilities throughout the book so that he didn't always hide behind his woman. He ends up causing more trouble in battle then solving anything! The Knights of Myth Drannor are pointless characters that only appear in the book inorder to save Shandril and Narm from their own stupidity! I asked this question after reading Spellfire and I ask it now. Why was this book ever reprinted? Next time I spill something in my house, I won't run for the paper towels, I'll start tearing pages out of Spellfire and Crown of Fire to clean up the mess. At least then I would feel like I got my money's worth.

I read Spellfire a while back and chanced upon this book at a local bookstore. Knowing exactly what I was getting into, but knowing I had to find a resolution, I bought the book.

Everybody in Faerun seems to know the waif of a girl, Shandril, who throws jets of flame out of her eyes, ears and fingers, and half of them want her power for their own. She is on the run through the whole book. She outruns and outkills every army of Zhentarim she meets up with and manages to get her weakling husband killed two more times. Yes, implausible and inhumanitarian, yet it's what keeps you going.

Now, in the previous book we meet all sorts of interesting characters from the Forbidden Realms. There is the comedy duo of Torm and Rathan, the all powerful Elminster and the host of evil Zhentarim. Most of them make a quick show in the book, but are mostly scenery added to entice. Sorry, no more dragons, it would seem she killed them all.

What the reader might overlook is that from first to second book, only a minimal amount of time has passed, so the main characters cannot have progressed as much as desired. They are as they were in Spellfire.

I think maybe the heroine could have cried a lot less; it might have endeared her to me more. I think the unworldly husband, Narm, could have died less and helped more. Maybe even a tad bit of RESOLUTION would have helped. Is there going to be a third? I mean, they never quite make it to their destination. Not hoping, only curious.

There is some nude scenes in this book, so it is PG-13. Buyer Beware!!

Almost all of the spells can already be found in the Forgotten Realms Adventures book so when I bought a book full of spells I already had I was dissapointed. Also the spells are organized horribly. They are seperated into seperate "spellbooks" rather than by level so finding a certain spell can be difficult. Definately not worth the money.

This book features some new spells (most found in the Wizard Spell Compendiums), a couple new creatures and the detailing of some 40 spellbooks including Elminster's Travelling Spellbook and Laeral's Libram, among others. Overall, unless you're really interested in the specifics of these spellbooks the spells alone are not worth the book... even less if you already own one or more Spell Compendiums.

I loved the first two books in this series. Spellfire and Crown of Fire managed to capture a sense of both humor and desperation.
Not only does Hand of Fire lack the humor of the first two books, it's the single most depressing novel I have ever read. Now, I don't mind a tragic ending, I'm very fond of dark stories, but this ending was far too dark even for me. Narm and Shandril don't managed to accomplish anything, and then Shandril dies uselessly at the end.
Do not waste money buying this book. You will only end up angry about buying it.

An awful end to a story about heroism and strength in the face of adversity. While Shandril has increased in power, Narm has not (why?) and is more useless than ever. He reminds me of the typical 'helpless female' character so prevalent in books and movies.

This book seems like an exercise in writing combat scenes, as Shandril kills all those who oppose her, over and over and over again. In addition, it makes little sense that various allies of Shandril and Narm have the ability to magically travel but never share that with them, forcing them to walk and ride while coming under almost constant attack. It's almost like Ed hate's Shandril's character, and is torturing her.

The Shandril Shessair Spellfire novels were hopefully going to be a wonderful story of triumph over the face of overwhelming adversity but instead this book essentially writes the idea that perhaps no matter how much one struggles, there are some battles that cannot be one. I felt Ed Greenwood improved tremendously with this book from the previous ones....truly an excellent work.