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Forgotten Realms - Publication Order
Prince of Ravens: A Forgotten Realms Novel
After a hundred years, Jack Ravenwild—thief, sorcerer, scoundrel, and accidental hero—is released from a magical confinement, only to fall into the hands of the marquise Dresimil Chûmavh, ruler of an exiled drow clan who sees an opportunity in Jack. Through guile and subterfuge, the wily Jack escapes the drow to discover a new world waiting in his old stomping grounds, Raven's Bluff, a city equally abounding in fortune and danger. Unfortunately for Jack, he is best at stirring up the latter. His former archenemy the Warlord Myrkyssa Jelan is at large, and she isn't the type to forgive and forget. And worst of all, the drow aren't done with Jack and they mean to get him back.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
16 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
Richard Baker
84 books226 followersA best-selling author and award-winning game designer, Richard Baker is known for his novels in the Forgotten Realms setting and his work on the Dungeons & Dragons game. His Realms novels include Condemnation (book 3 of the War of the Spider Queen), the Last Mythal trilogy, and the Blades of the Moonsea trilogy. He is currently working on a new military-themed science fiction series centered on the character Sikander North; Valiant Dust, the first book in the new series, debuts in November 2017 from Tor Books.
A native of Ocean City, New Jersey, Rich graduated from Virginia Tech in 1988 and went on to serve as a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy. When he's not writing fantasy or science fiction, he works in game publishing. He's the founder of Sasquatch Game Studio, a small game company based in Auburn, Washington.
Rich currently resides in the Seattle area with his wife, Kim, and their daughters Alex and Hannah. His interests include gaming (naturally), history, hiking, racquetball, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
A native of Ocean City, New Jersey, Rich graduated from Virginia Tech in 1988 and went on to serve as a surface warfare officer in the United States Navy. When he's not writing fantasy or science fiction, he works in game publishing. He's the founder of Sasquatch Game Studio, a small game company based in Auburn, Washington.
Rich currently resides in the Seattle area with his wife, Kim, and their daughters Alex and Hannah. His interests include gaming (naturally), history, hiking, racquetball, and the Philadelphia Phillies.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 9, 2012
Damnit. Why did it have to be *this* author?
I try not to let my personal feelings about an author color my reaction to their work too much. However, we're talking here about some rather egregious crimes...
On the one hand, this novel fulfills all the promises a work in this sub-genre must. A book written as a tie-in to arguably the most popular game setting in the world has to feel like the very best possible game you could imagine in that setting, and Prince of Ravens absolutely delivers. From the moment our hero awakens, under threat, in a dungeon, with no memory of how he came to be imprisoned, the novel reads like a great adventure hook: how did our hero get here? Given his meager resources, how will he escape? Along the way, there are a few almost prototypical dungeon crawls, a half-dozen iconic monsters, picking up party members in a tavern...all those scenes which come to mind when one thinks about one's favorite campaign.
However: the author blurb at the book's end declares that Richard Baker is one of the WotC designers responsible for the..."re-imagining" of the Forgotten Realms setting for fourth edition. I don't know how you feel about 4th edition and its mechanics. I've made my peace with it. But there was no excuse for the Spellplague, Abeir returned, or any of the other monstrous, ridiculous abominations foisted onto the D&D community by the 4e FR designers. For those of you who don't follow that sub-genre, imagine that the Tolkien foundation, responsible for maintaining the legacy of JRR Tolkien, releases the new, authoritative edition of Lord of the Rings, which supercedes all previous editions...and in this one, it turns out elves came from outer space on rocket ships, wizards like Gandalf can't cast magic, Half-dragons replace all hobbits, and Sauron's tower is on another planet.
Yeah, that's how I feel too. So while this is a superior adventure novel in the word and sorcery genre, I'd still like to find Richard Baker and kick him in the pants.
I try not to let my personal feelings about an author color my reaction to their work too much. However, we're talking here about some rather egregious crimes...
On the one hand, this novel fulfills all the promises a work in this sub-genre must. A book written as a tie-in to arguably the most popular game setting in the world has to feel like the very best possible game you could imagine in that setting, and Prince of Ravens absolutely delivers. From the moment our hero awakens, under threat, in a dungeon, with no memory of how he came to be imprisoned, the novel reads like a great adventure hook: how did our hero get here? Given his meager resources, how will he escape? Along the way, there are a few almost prototypical dungeon crawls, a half-dozen iconic monsters, picking up party members in a tavern...all those scenes which come to mind when one thinks about one's favorite campaign.
However: the author blurb at the book's end declares that Richard Baker is one of the WotC designers responsible for the..."re-imagining" of the Forgotten Realms setting for fourth edition. I don't know how you feel about 4th edition and its mechanics. I've made my peace with it. But there was no excuse for the Spellplague, Abeir returned, or any of the other monstrous, ridiculous abominations foisted onto the D&D community by the 4e FR designers. For those of you who don't follow that sub-genre, imagine that the Tolkien foundation, responsible for maintaining the legacy of JRR Tolkien, releases the new, authoritative edition of Lord of the Rings, which supercedes all previous editions...and in this one, it turns out elves came from outer space on rocket ships, wizards like Gandalf can't cast magic, Half-dragons replace all hobbits, and Sauron's tower is on another planet.
Yeah, that's how I feel too. So while this is a superior adventure novel in the word and sorcery genre, I'd still like to find Richard Baker and kick him in the pants.
December 24, 2022
Excellent book by Richard Baker. I was looking for a book to come back to the Forgotten Realms after a long time, and I was struggling to find one that I liked. This book got me back on track, and let me enjoy the DnD adventure feeling again. Jack Ravenwild is an excellent and fun character. The plot is interesting and the city of Raven's Bluff is a great place for adventure.
I will be reading soon "City of Ravens", although I know now that I should have read it before "Prince of Ravens".
It is a pity these are the two only books about Jack Ravenwild. Hope the author writes some more in the future.
This short text is more an appreciation for the book than a review.
I will be reading soon "City of Ravens", although I know now that I should have read it before "Prince of Ravens".
It is a pity these are the two only books about Jack Ravenwild. Hope the author writes some more in the future.
This short text is more an appreciation for the book than a review.
September 7, 2025
A return to classic Forgotten Realms at its finest. There's intrigue, action, friendship, and a dash of romance. "The City of Ravens" is one of the greatest standalone FR novels and this book was a welcome sequel. The only place it can improve if is that there isn't more of it. The ending felt a bit rushed with more adventures threads for Jack. Hopefully we will see Jack return in an adventure module set in the city, if Wizards ever decides to leave the Sword Coast to explore the rest of Faerun.
February 6, 2022
Entertaining, but not as good as City of Ravens. The last climatic chapter reminded me of Condemnation; full of havoc, explosions, magical chaos; kind of exhausting.
There should've been more Jelan/Elana . Seila was a terrible replacement for Illyth - she was pretty much a slip of a girl, and no amount of "defiant" stares in the face of adversity from slavers and drow was enough to convince otherwise.
There should've been more Jelan/Elana . Seila was a terrible replacement for Illyth - she was pretty much a slip of a girl, and no amount of "defiant" stares in the face of adversity from slavers and drow was enough to convince otherwise.
October 21, 2017
This was a fun read and well written. For those of you who love The Underdark setting, give it a go!
February 15, 2021
Pleasant enough read but it didn't really engage me. I would like to have known more about the world we were dropped into.
November 14, 2013
I read the original book, City of RAvens by Mr. Baker. Loved it as it reminded me a lot of the Fritz Leiber's Lankhmar stories. So, I grabbed this one (such a long time coming) and set to it right away. Again, a very fun ride. Pure escapism, but welcome.
I'm dropping it down a star, though, as I would have liked the drow to be more competent. They have a reputation that strikes terror into the hearts of all surface dwellers and I would have preferred they show themselves to be tougher to handle than they were in the story. Also, the beholder should have been more formidable. I realize this was a rip roaring adventure, not one intended to have a high body count, but a little added menace would have helped it along.
Jack is an entertaining rogue, and carried the story well. I'm glad he made it to the new version of the Forgotten Realms. I hope we don't have to endure another spell plague before Mr. Baker spins another tale with this character.
I'm dropping it down a star, though, as I would have liked the drow to be more competent. They have a reputation that strikes terror into the hearts of all surface dwellers and I would have preferred they show themselves to be tougher to handle than they were in the story. Also, the beholder should have been more formidable. I realize this was a rip roaring adventure, not one intended to have a high body count, but a little added menace would have helped it along.
Jack is an entertaining rogue, and carried the story well. I'm glad he made it to the new version of the Forgotten Realms. I hope we don't have to endure another spell plague before Mr. Baker spins another tale with this character.
September 15, 2012
This is a novel that is action filled with martial and magic prowess. For those readers new to Forgotten Realms role playing fiction, the character Jack Ravenwild is a likable rogue. Unlike Elminster and Drizzt, Jack is refreshingly underpowered. It makes for more suspense.
There is a potential world threat. Jack is more concerned about getting the girl and being materially set.
Overall the novel is geared to the reader base of this type of novel. Okay.
There is a potential world threat. Jack is more concerned about getting the girl and being materially set.
Overall the novel is geared to the reader base of this type of novel. Okay.
July 27, 2012
Jack Ravenwild is a trip. Crazy thief and sometimes sorcerer, Jack is back after 100 years to run over Raven's Bluff again. Jack is a fun as ever, doing the craziest things, and a supporting and entertaining cast. a new role for the previous antagonist and a fun group of new villains, good FR fun.
December 21, 2012
It was a good read. I enjoy again all the plots and subplots, but a few of them ended too easy. Still, I like Richard Baker, and I am looking forward to number three.
February 17, 2013
enjoyed this a good well written story, i guess setting up a sequel but nothing in the opipeline yet looking at the wizards website
February 27, 2014
love the story hated the ending want more jack
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews