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The Abyssal Plague #5
The Eye of the Chained God
In the aftermath of the plague demons' attack on Fallcrest, Roghar's inspiring optimism has played a significant role in the rebuilding of the town. Albanon, meanwhile, has not recovered so well. Tormented by his experiences and his near-transformations first by Vestapalk then by Kri, he has retreated to Moorin's tower, where he immerses himself in books. He is the last member of the Order of Vigilance, touched by both the Voidharrow and Tharizdun--he feels as if he stands on the brink of madness.
The Nentir Vale has been ravaged by the abyssal plague and the plague demons. The area is lawless and suspicions run rampant. Only safe as long as they hide, the heroes scout as close as they dare. But with Vestapalk growing ever-stronger and plague demons on the rise, they know they have to act soon. The world cannot afford to wait any longer.
As they journey toward the greatest concentration of demons they learn they are on the right path and they gain an ally. Kri, believed dead, resurfaces with wisdom garnered from the Chained God. It seems even Tharizdun himself is against Vestapalk.
The Nentir Vale has been ravaged by the abyssal plague and the plague demons. The area is lawless and suspicions run rampant. Only safe as long as they hide, the heroes scout as close as they dare. But with Vestapalk growing ever-stronger and plague demons on the rise, they know they have to act soon. The world cannot afford to wait any longer.
As they journey toward the greatest concentration of demons they learn they are on the right path and they gain an ally. Kri, believed dead, resurfaces with wisdom garnered from the Chained God. It seems even Tharizdun himself is against Vestapalk.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
8 people are currently reading
122 people want to read
About the author
Don Bassingthwaite
34 books51 followersDon lives with his partner in Toronto, surrounded by gadgets, spice jars, and too many books.
No, I don’t normally refer to myself in the third person. That’s the official author bio from the back of my most recent books. You want some other trivia?
I’m a fan of the serial comma.
I’m a huge fan of breakfast cereal.
I own one (and only one) stuffed animal — a Highland cow from Edinburgh named “Ewan MooGregor.”
I love Edinburgh and London — other large cities visited in the UK include Bath and Plymouth. I’ve also been to Cheddar where I ate a really good cheese sandwich.
I like cheese, especially hard and blue cheeses (Mmmm. Stilton.).
I look terrible in hats with the exception (for unknown reasons) of a few ball caps of particular colour and design.
I look good in rugby shirts, but don’t really own any as I neither play rugby nor follow the sport enough to feel honest buying the shirt of any particular team.
I don’t play or follow soccer either, but that didn’t stop me from choosing a “shirt team” in the last World Cup, wearing their shirt, and cheering for them in pubs. Go Netherlands!
To quote Paul S. Kemp, “Mmm. Beer.”
I have seriously considered buying a kilt. Update March 2008: The kilt has been bought!
Kilt, cow, and fondness for Edinburgh aside, I’m not Scottish.
More to come, I’m sure!
No, I don’t normally refer to myself in the third person. That’s the official author bio from the back of my most recent books. You want some other trivia?
I’m a fan of the serial comma.
I’m a huge fan of breakfast cereal.
I own one (and only one) stuffed animal — a Highland cow from Edinburgh named “Ewan MooGregor.”
I love Edinburgh and London — other large cities visited in the UK include Bath and Plymouth. I’ve also been to Cheddar where I ate a really good cheese sandwich.
I like cheese, especially hard and blue cheeses (Mmmm. Stilton.).
I look terrible in hats with the exception (for unknown reasons) of a few ball caps of particular colour and design.
I look good in rugby shirts, but don’t really own any as I neither play rugby nor follow the sport enough to feel honest buying the shirt of any particular team.
I don’t play or follow soccer either, but that didn’t stop me from choosing a “shirt team” in the last World Cup, wearing their shirt, and cheering for them in pubs. Go Netherlands!
To quote Paul S. Kemp, “Mmm. Beer.”
I have seriously considered buying a kilt. Update March 2008: The kilt has been bought!
Kilt, cow, and fondness for Edinburgh aside, I’m not Scottish.
More to come, I’m sure!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 1, 2023
I read it, but it is not something I’d read again. I had to push myself to finish since I’d already read the other books in the series.
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July 28, 2024I enjoyed this quick read closing up the main storyline of the Abysal Plague. The trilogy overall was satisfying, with a diverse set of characters and a virulent Big-Bad that the heroes had a lot of trouble overcoming. The ever present potential for corruption of various main and secondary characters added a level of consequence to the story. I also like Roghar, the unstoppable dragonborn paladin of Bahamut.
January 2, 2014
This was an enjoyable read, and a satisfying conclusion to the Nentir Vale's trial with the abyssal plague. What began with a small core of characters in book one has broadened to a much larger party by book three. It is probably the case that the focus on some of the individual characters suffered as a result, but by the end of the book it is still the case that most of the major character arcs had reached at least a sort of conclusion.
The main character of the novel continues to be Albanon, the Wizard of Fallcrest, and much of the novel focuses on his continued struggles to retain his sanity following his encounter with the Chained God. I found this entire arc to be well-done. Kri, the fallen Cleric of Io, also returns, and plays a prominent role in the novel. Most of the rest of the returning characters have relatively smaller roles, but I still felt like each one (at least among those that survive!) developed.
The only arc that did not really ring true was that of Rhogar, the paladin of Bahamut. He is forced to go through a challenge to his faith, which began as a compelling narrative. In the end, however, while I don't want to get into spoilers, I found that conclusion of his tale was rather anticlimactic.
Overall, though, this was a fun trilogy to read. They stand on their own apart from the other abyssal plague stories, and are a great way to get to know the Fallcrest/Winterhaven areas of the Nentir Vale for those interested in such things.
The main character of the novel continues to be Albanon, the Wizard of Fallcrest, and much of the novel focuses on his continued struggles to retain his sanity following his encounter with the Chained God. I found this entire arc to be well-done. Kri, the fallen Cleric of Io, also returns, and plays a prominent role in the novel. Most of the rest of the returning characters have relatively smaller roles, but I still felt like each one (at least among those that survive!) developed.
The only arc that did not really ring true was that of Rhogar, the paladin of Bahamut. He is forced to go through a challenge to his faith, which began as a compelling narrative. In the end, however, while I don't want to get into spoilers, I found that conclusion of his tale was rather anticlimactic.
Overall, though, this was a fun trilogy to read. They stand on their own apart from the other abyssal plague stories, and are a great way to get to know the Fallcrest/Winterhaven areas of the Nentir Vale for those interested in such things.
April 26, 2012
While this wasn't a terrible read, with all the hype about the Abyssal Plague event in the past year or so I expected more. As a book from Don Bassingthwaite, I expected more. While it had decent action scenes, the book seemed to be rushed. This wasn't the worst D&D series I've read, but it definitely wasn't the best either.
August 8, 2012
Last volume of trilogy featuring a dragon who spreads a mind control plague and the Heroes who save the world. Long, routine, predictable S&S--and that's from just reading the first and last 20 or so pages.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews