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Fighting Fantasy

Кристал от бури

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А ти достатъчно смел ли си, за да тръгнеш на приключение в Океана на бурите, в търсене на летящия остров Нимбус, който внезапно пада от небето и се разбива във водата?

В „Кристал от бури“ те очакват стихийни бури и какви ли не морски създания, с които ще трябва да се сблъскаш по време на мисията ти да върнеш острова обратно в небесата. По петите ти ще се появят побеснели същества, като чудовищни харпии и подводни страшилища, от рода на голямата бяла акулосепия. За да оцелееш ще ти трябва много хитрост, както и целият ти кураж.

248 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2024

11 people are currently reading
159 people want to read

About the author

Rhianna Pratchett

58 books149 followers
Rhianna Pratchett is a freelance computer games scriptwriter, narrative designer and former journalist. She is a member of the Writers' Guild of Great Britain.

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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for Ал Торо.
Author 21 books39 followers
November 20, 2020
I will be brief here; First, if you are Fighting fantasy old-school fan, this book is not for you. If you expect Discworld humor, it is not for you either.

This is light, very childish (not in a bad way) steampunk fantasy adventure gamebook. It is rather easy, it has nice concepts, interesting enough storyline, unfolding well throughout the whole book, though very shallow as a literature. Regarding its gameplay, in one reading you will basically go everywhere, say and do everything there is in the book and you pretty much choose (blindly) only in what order to do it. Also, you will enter 25 battles, find 50 consumables and roll the dice thousand times - pretty much on every corner and after every minute of reading. Is that bad - not necessarily, "the game plays you", but this is ok, if you are not one of that readers, that loves gamebooks for interesting choices. The structure could have been much cleaner in specifying which locations you can repeat and what encounters on them happen or not again, but it is straightforward enough anyways.

It's overall not a bad try, it has some strong sides and the downsides will probably not be so severe for younger readers. If you are a hardcore FF fan - just read this to your kids and appreciate it for what it is; don't hate it just for targeting someone else as audience.
Profile Image for Stefan Grieve.
980 reviews41 followers
November 11, 2020
A colourful fantasy world where you are the hero, written by an experienced writer of great bestselling games, a writer of great renown in her own right, this has fun action and witty humour as you can expect for such a creation.

Built on the simple enough game system of the tried, tested and successful fighting fantasy series, you can get involved and interact in a book like no other and throwing dice during an imagined battle has never felt so tense, exciting and rewarding.

The world is charming as it is sometimes a bit scary, with grubby garbling goblins running around and chilling monsters ready to send you to an early game over.
One of my favourite moments was an equivalent to an end of level boss battle with a brilliant dice mechanic, it was 'handy' (minus 10 dignity points for bad pun)

Although, as well as it can be fun, I found in my own personal playthrough, it can be frustrating.
My first real trial was an instance where I didn't know where to go forward and was sent looping round back through pages, until I realised I wasn't moving forward because there was something I needed to do that was slightly unethical. So as I guess at the end, I did it.
That's the only case I found of a forced choice of progression like that, but with the loops, well, the game is built on them.
In a lot of ways there is clever mechanics being built here, so make these gameplay in these books more modern, but to make players keep going round in sub-areas, then looped main areas, can be quiet frustrating, especially since the things you need to go forward you seem to get randomly.

I tried my best to follow the rules, but for example, didn't know you had to get gold to give it away (plus five in stupidity) so I gave a goblin a coin I shouldn't have, then soon learned what I should have. There are other examples, but I don't want to spoil, as this game has lots of delightful surprises, and I also don't want to reveal my foolishness or bending of the rules too much (plus five points for honesty, minus two for whatever reputation I had)
UPDATE. Also, flipping back through a few pages later on, I think I missed a line about that you find some coins at the beginning (Plus ten for just out on out dumbness on my part)

Also if you have no gold coins at points when you come across a transportation device, your game ends. Just like that.

There are other clever things you are meant to get along the way as well like code words, but you've got to come to it by going through the right order.

In the end, after playing/reading over several hours over some days and exploring the distinctive islands, (On land and in one memorable case, in sea,) coming to yet another loop, I decided not to go on. I know I would most likely no be able to go on any way, as I would not have gold to travel onward.

There is a lot of fun to be had in this, and the world is great, funny and charming, as well as being epic at times and sometimes a bit scary, but some of the mechanics let in down. Or maybe, I just played it very badly. How people experience books can be very subjective, and more so ones where you make choices and are interactive. But I have always never really been good at fighting fantasy books, and this the farthest I ever got through them, and mostly enjoyed and took things away from the experience.

I admire the ambition of the creation of this book with it's mechanics, and it's imagination and fun, I just got caught up in them a bit.

I hope the writer continues to write other novels, as she is clearly skilled and talented in this field, as this book shows.

Being in this storm meant that things weren't always crystal clear for me, but they were never dull.
Profile Image for Alexander Draganov.
Author 30 books154 followers
December 18, 2024
“Кристал от бури” е забавна и интересна книжка, която успява едновременно да се усети като нещо ново, но също така и да погъделичка носталгията към класическите заглавия от “Битки Безброй”. Минисветът, създаден от авторката е симпатичен като Света на Диска, но опасен като останалите части от Алансия, схватките са наистина безброй и накрая започват да стават и доста предизвикателни, а трудността е под тези на Ливингстън, Джаксън и Джонатан Грийн, но над средното за българска книга-игра. Цялото ми ревю може да прочетете в Цитаделата:
https://citadelata.com/%d0%ba%d1%80%d...
Profile Image for Adam Cleaver.
288 reviews2 followers
March 21, 2021
Found this book very simplistic. Not much of a story here, more of a series of encounters. Also, got stuck in an endless loop when got to the underwater area. There were three places to go and each one ended back in the same location... so gave up as couldn't finish the story. Not a patch on Sir Terry.
Profile Image for Samsalaqueen.
215 reviews2 followers
August 7, 2021
Hungry Tideus has squishy humans now... We had fun though 😍😊
Profile Image for Ro.
5 reviews1 follower
August 28, 2023
TLDR: The story elements (plot, characters, dialogue, etc.) are fun and well written. The fighting fantasy parts were poorly laid out, included multiple errors, and were at times confusing and frustrating. This book was either poorly play tested or not play-tested at all and contains multiple proofing errors, as well as poorly laid out path.

This review does contain mild content spoilers. Major spoilers are hidden.
To start off I want to say that this is not my first pick-your-path book, or even my first fighting fantasy book. I've not read them all by any means, but I know how this type of book works and how to successfully get to the end. Yet, this book was confusing at times, and at one point I had to go and check the rules in another fighting fantasy book I own in order to understand what I was meant to do.

In terms of plot, characters, and storyline this book was nice, although many sections were a little more light-hearted and childlike compared to the original fighting fantasy books. The characters were likable enough, you had a decent reason for pursing your main goal, and there were enough descriptions that I found it easy enough to picture what was happening. Where this book fell flat for me was it's main hook: the fighting fantasy elements. And it was not just one or two elements; it was all of them, to the point where I feel that no playtesting was done before release.

Firstly a minor gripe: The adventure sheet in the back was poorly laid out. (Also I felt that the rules and sheet should have been at the front like normal). There was not enough room for all the items I collected during one playthrough, yet there was a ton of empty space in the codewords section (which I ended up commandeering for additional items). There was also no space for any additional notes, despite there being multiple times where the book told you to make a note of some key information. There are also multiple proof-reading errors, a full list of which can be found here: https://fightingfantasy.fandom.com/wi...

When it comes to following a path it was initially very simplistic (not necessarily a bad thing, particularly in a children's book), and implied you would be able to go back and recheck areas multiple times to make sure you hadn't missed anything. Now looping is not a bad thing, particularly for completionists, but it can become one when it is not accounted for. There were multiple times where the book gave you a free option for you to go back to an area you had already visited, only to direct you to the exact same pages you had just done, including fighting the same monsters you had just defeated. Not very well thought out.

Endless loops were not the only way you could end your playthrough. There were also a large amount of endings where you just ran out of money, this was particularly bad if you . Unlike the originals there were very few death scenes, even at times when you lost a battle (and therefore died) there was no description. The book simply told you to turn to page ?? "if you win". There was no if you loose criteria, and it was assumed you would just know to start again.

Another area where the lack of playtesting seemed to come through was on "testing your skill". At multiple points throughout you may need to test your skill by rolling two D6's (regular dice), with a number equal to or below your current skill level meaning you passed. Your skill score was set at the beginning as 6+1d6 (or 6+ one roll of the dice). The problem here is that you have 1/6 chance of rolling a 6 and having a skill score of 12. This means you will always pass every skill check. There was one item I found which permanently increased your skill by 1, making it even more likely you would get a number which automatically succeeded. There was one point towards the end of the book where your skill was -1 during certain situations. But again for me that meant any dice roll other than 2 sixes would succeed a skill check. This did make me question the point of having a skill check so often.

I also found the codewords to be annoying at times. They seemed to only add flavour, not be needed to finish. There were also multiple times where I felt like I had forgotten to write a codeword down, as the information I received after stating I did not have particularly code word was information I already had.

This poor path layout, errors, and lack of planning let me to get bored near the end, with me skimming through quickly, only to come to a very unsatisfying finale. To me the conclusion to the story happened too early, and the actual ending was not worth the effort it took to get to.
Profile Image for Tanja von Der Duft von Büchern und Kaffee.
323 reviews15 followers
April 12, 2022
Inhalt:

Tief im Innersten von Zephyrus, dem größten aller Stürme auf dem Ozean der Sturmwinde, befindet sich eine schwebende Inselgruppe namens Pangaria. Hier bist du zu Hause. Dein Job als Mitglied der Himmelsgarde war bislang eher öde. Doch eines Tages wirst du zu einer Krisensitzung in die Zitadelle gerufen.

Eine unerwartete Explosion hat eine der Inseln, Nimbus, vom Himmel geholt. Sie ist mitten in den Ozean gefallen. Nun bist du gefragt: Gemeinsam mit deinem Team begibst du dich auf die Suche nach Hinweisen. Was genau ist da passiert? Kann man Nimbus vielleicht sogar noch retten?



Meinung:

Als ich „Wächter der Lüfte“ in der Verlagsvorschau entdeckt hatte, war ich sofort hin und weg. Nicht nur, dass ich bislang nicht wusste, dass mein ehemaliger Lieblingsautor Terry Pratchett eine Tochter hat, die sogar auch noch seinem Vorbild als Autorin folgt, nein, es würde ein neues Spielebuch auf dem Markt erscheinen.

Bücher dieses Genres, dessen „Geniestreiche“ wir gar nicht genug loben können, gibt es leider zu selten. Daher möchte ich euch das Prinzip dahinter kurz erläutern: Bei einem Spielebuch wird der Leser direkt in das Geschehen einbezogen. Er entscheidet für den Charakter, wie dieser sich in bestimmten Situationen verhalten soll. Er muss die Kämpfe (mit Hilfe von einem zuvor vom Autor vorgegebenen Regelwerk und ggf. Würfeln) für seine Figur austragen; er kann Gegenstände einsammeln und diese in schwierigen Situationen einsetzen.

Das gesamte Buch besteht aus mehreren Abschnitten. An jedem Abschnittsende musst du eine Entscheidung treffen. Du beginnst bei Abschnitt 1. Ein Beispiel (Buchzitat): Möchtest du zur Mühle, gehe zu 261. Hast du dir das Angebot der anderen Marktstände noch nicht angesehen und möchtest du das nachholen, blättere zu 258. So kannst du also je nach Lust und Laune und natürlich Würfelglück deinen Charakter durch das Abenteuer steuern.

Mittlerweile habe ich schon einige Spielebücher gelesen. Es gibt richtig gute, mit einem komplexen Regelwerk und vielen Entscheidungsmöglichkeiten.Und es gibt die schlechten, die die Welt auf aufeinanderfolgende Entscheidungen zwischen lediglich zwei Optionen reduzieren, wobei die eine oft in den sicheren Tod führt. Daher war ich neugierig, wie die Umsetzung von „Wächter der Lüfte“ gelungen sein würde.

Ich war zuversichtlich, da bereits Rhiannas Vater als Meister der Fantasy bekannt war/ist und Ian Livingstone sowie Steve Jackson (laut Vita) als Gründerväter des Kult-Spieleunternehmens „Games Workshop“ bekannt sind und auch das Spielesystem „Dungeons & Dragons“ herausgebracht haben.

Meine hohen Erwartungen an das Buch wurden nicht enttäuscht. „Wächter der Lüfte“ beruht auf einer fantastischen Welt, die man während des Lesens (und Spielens) nach und nach besser kennenlernt. Wie der Text präsentiert wird, wirkt sehr durchdacht und macht neugierig.

Hier gibt es unter anderem Kobolde, die mit Gleitern (tragbare Flügel, die durch Sturmkristalle, Kristalle in denen ein winziger Sturm gefangen gehalten wird) durch die Lüfte schweben. Es gibt Meeresriesen wie Tideus, die sich nach dem Schlaf nach einer guten anständigen Rangelei sehnen, riesige Gewitterschlangen, aus deren langen, schuppigen Körpern zuckende Blitze hervorschießen, eine unglaublich spannende Unterwasserwelt und eben die unterschiedlichen Inseln inmitten der Sturmwinde. Um hiervon nur mal ein paar zu nennen: Auf Cirrus – der Landwirtschaftsinsel – wird magisch verbessertes Obst angebaut. Es gibt Altos – die Wasserinsel auf der Wolken gezüchtet werden, um die sich in der Luft hundeartige Wesen kümmern und auf dem Boden die Bauern aufpassen, dass alles mit rechten Dingen zugeht. Und es gibt Cumulus, die Insel des Handels, auf der sich viele Stände aneinanderdrängen, an denen die Händler ihre Waren anpreisen.

Inmitten dieses Settings befindest du dich und entscheidest, wohin dich dein Weg - und dein Abenteuer - letztlich führen wird.

Für die Kämpfe gibt es zwei Abenteuerblätter am Ende des Buches, die man sich entweder kopieren oder auch direkt von der Verlagsseite herunterladen und ausdrucken kann. Ein Zeichnen in das Buch empfehle ich nicht, da das Abenteuer so viel Spaß macht, dass ich mir gut vorstellen könnte, dass der ein oder andere es nochmal nach einiger Zeit alleine oder aber auch mit Freunden spielen möchte. Zudem kann man hier wirklich viele Dinge einsammeln und es gibt auch einige Kämpfe zu bestehen. Entweder benutzt man daher Bleistift und Radiergummi für das Ausradieren vergangener Kämpfe und abgelegter Gegenstände oder man braucht einen zweiten Ausdruck, damit alles auf den zwei Blättern Platz findet.

Das Regelwerk, das erläutert, wie man Kämpfe ausführt und mit Würfelproben über das Geschehen entscheidet, befindet sich am Ende des Buches. Es ist mit acht Seiten recht kompakt gefasst, so dass man zügig mit dem Spiel beginnen und das Spielprinzip auch leicht antizipieren kann. In der Kürze liegt auch hier die Würze; das Spiel ist praktikabel und nicht überkomplex.

Auch an diejenigen, die zu Hause keine Würfel liegen haben, wurde hier gedacht. Auf jeder Seite ist im unteren Bereich ein Würfelpaar abgebildet, dass man als Ersatz nutzen kann. Hierfür muss man einfach nur durch die Seiten blättern und zufällig auf eine Seite tippen.



Fazit:

Ach, wie habe ich mich gefreut, dass ein Verlag endlich mal wieder das – leider ein wenig aus der Mode gekommene – Prinzip eines Spielebuches aufgegriffen hat. Ich liebe „Wächter der Lüfte“ einfach, die Autoren sind Meister ihres Fachs. Die Fantasywelt, mit ihren sehr liebevoll gezeichneten Bewohnern gibt ein äußerst faszinierendes Setting, dessen Wirkung durch den interaktiven Handlungsverlauf und die Figuren durch den Leser nachhaltig geprägt werden kann.

Das durchaus lobenswerte Regelwerk befördert nicht nur den Spielspaß, sondern ist aktiver Katalysator des kurzweiligen Geschehens.

Hier kommt der niedrigschwellige Einstieg in das Genre Spielebuch. Angesichts der aktuellen Schieflagen in unserer Gegenwart ist das Buch ein tolles Portal, um in eine fremde Welt abzutauchen, Abenteuer zu bestehen und auf jeder Seite Neues zu entdecken.

Für mich war „Wächter der Lüfte“ DAS Wunschbuch für 2022 und wird hiermit auch zum Jahreshighlight auf meinem Blog gekürt.

Ein Must-Read bzw. Must-Play, das ich euch von ganzem Herzen empfehlen kann und muss!



Buchzitate:

„Was? Bleib gefälligst hier, du Windbeutel!“, brüllt Krazic von seinem Sitz im Innern des Golemkopfes, wo er erneut gefangen ist. „Was soll das werden? Komm sofort zurück!“
Profile Image for Sonja Gieren.
975 reviews6 followers
April 12, 2022
📖🎲Rezensionsexemplar🎲📖
(unbezahlte Werbung)
-Ueberreuter Verlag-

🎲📖🌪️Wächter der Lüfte🌪️📖🎲
-Ein Fantasy-Spielbuch-

AutorIn: Rhianna Pratchett, Ian Livingstone und
Verlag: Ueberreuter
Preis: 14,95€, Taschenbuch
Seiten: ‎320 Seiten
ISBN: 9783764152246
Alter: ab 10 Jahren
Erscheinungsdatum: 14. März 2022

2 von 5 Sternen ⭐⭐
Update: Nach mehrmaligen Spielen!



🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️
Inhaltsangabe:
Entnommen von: ueberreuter.de
Tritt ein in eine Welt voller dunkler Magie, schrecklicher Ungeheuer und tödlicher Gefahren, eine Welt, in der DU über den Verlauf der Geschichte bestimmst!
🎲
Im Ozean der Sturmwinde, wo Unzählige ihr Leben gegen die Ungeheuer der See lassen mussten, liegt die Himmelswelt Zephyrus. Hier, im Herzen des schrecklichsten aller Sturmwinde, ist die Luft still und süß. Hier befinden sich die
schwimmenden Inseln von Pangaria. Und hier lebst Du. Seit die Insel Nimbus nach einer plötzlichen Explosion vom Himmel gefallen ist, bist Du der letzte Sturmwächter. Nun liegt es an Dir herauszufinden, was geschehen ist und Pangaria vor weiteren Unglücken zu bewahren! Doch entscheide weise, denn hinter jeder Ecke lauern tödliche Gefahren.
🎲
Mehr als ein Buch! Mehr als ein Spiel! – Ein interaktives Abenteuer für mutige Helden ab 10 Jahren
🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️🎲📖🌪️
Meine Meinung:
Hallo ihr Süßen 💕
uhh ich schreibe nicht gerne Kritische Rezensionen, aber auch dies muss ab und an mal sein. Denn dieses Spielebuch, hat mir wirklich den letzten Nerv geraubt. Ich dachte nach dem ersten Durchspielen, okay ganz nett 4 Sterne. Jetzt aber habe ich es zum vierten Mal durchgespielt und bin einfaach nur noch genervt. Aber zuerst einmal zum Positiven, denn ich muss sagen das ich das Cover absolut genial finde und auch die Illustrationen im Buch machen einfach Spaß beim anschauen, auch die Handlung ist wirklich ganz nett. Aber leider hört es dann auch schon auf. Die Handlung ist ganz nett, ja aber auch nicht mehr, es ist nicht Spannend, nicht aufregend und zum Teil sehr sehr unlogisch und durcheinander. Für mich fehlt diesem Spielebuch der Rote Faden. Die Art zu spielen erinnerte mich an DSA aber eben auch nur ansatzweise und da war es leider dann auch nebensächlich, das Rhianna Pretchett, die Tochter des Weltbekannten Autors, diese Geschichte mit erfunden hat. Für mich waren die ganzen Spielabläufe, absolut unfärtig, nervig, unübersichtlich und manchmal wusste ich um ehrlich zu sein gar nicht mehr was ich jetzt auf meinen Charakterblättern nortieren sollte und was nicht. Dies ist so unglaublich schade gewesen, wobei ich sagen muss, das ich bis jetzt einfach kaum ein gutes Spielebuch gelesen habe, irgendwas hat mich immer gestört und gerade hier nach mehrmaligen Gebrauch wurde es immer schlimmer. Schade somit kann ich leider nur 2 Sterne vergeben. Für eine nette Idee und ein tolles Cover, doch die umsetztung hat mir nach mehrmaligen Lesen immer weniger gefallen. Lieben Gruß Sonja/Shaaniel
Profile Image for Andy Horton.
428 reviews5 followers
November 29, 2020
A Fighting Fantasy book by Teryr Pratchett's daughter Rhianna. Has some of the whimsy you might expect. An interesting magi-tech setting that doesn't necessarily quite fit in with the FF world of Allansia, but which works within itself.
Rhianna Pratchett's background is in video game writing, and I can see the influence here - where the usual approach is to give players branching storylines to choose from, she makes it easy to explore all options at each point, going back and continuing only when all avenues have had a chance to be explored. She also makes good use of a "codewords" system to determine where a player has discovered enough of the story to advance. And she gives weapon options, health-enhancing food to pick up, and has an interesting take on potions - various one-use options to give an advantage in combat. And in combat, she does a good job adding little rules and effects - again, taken from video game design, I think - to make them interesting and challenging - no mean achievement when over the years the fights are often the most repetitive and dullest part of the gamebooks.
Pro tip: save a few good potions for the end.
Profile Image for Taaya .
918 reviews4 followers
October 24, 2021
Now this was hard. I'm not sure if I got very very unlucky with my dice, or if that book is supposed to kill you (or keep you at 1-3 stamina points ALL the time, once you left the first three islands).

In my opinion there wasn't enough opportunity to stock up on food/potions. I died with 12 GP two fights before the end. (Yep, kept on reading as if I won after that, because I REALLY didn't have any motivation to repeat the 5 hours of gameplay that led up to that.) And I only encountered one market with only three items? (And yeah, there are a lot you just find and don't have to buy, but they're still too few for so many fights.)

Also, on some points the rules need to be more specific. If I fight two enemies together, do I add their skill levels (and then add the two dice)? In at least one fight that would've meant that there was no chance of winning at all. (Which is why I cheated there.)
And do potions or food enhance the submarine's stamina? (Again, cheated here, because otherwise I would've died in the submarine FOUR times.)

Apart from that it was a fun adventure, even though I prefer interactive stories with more possible ends.
Profile Image for Книжни Криле.
3,601 reviews202 followers
December 10, 2024
Отвъд бреговете на митичната Алансия, скрит от незапомнени времена в окото на огромна буря, се крие архипелаг от вълшебни летящи острови. За сигурността им се грижат членовете на Небесната стража. Но когато ненадейно един от островите се сгромолясва в морето и потъва, а заедно с него изчезват и почти всички небесни стражи, именно на вас, един самоотвержен новобранец, се пада нелеката задача да проведете разследване и да откриете истината. Кой стои зад всичко това? Дали е нещастен случай или целенасочен саботаж? Вражески заговор, или пък опит за вътрешен преврат? Риана Пратчет, дъщеря на покойния Сър Тери Пратчет, се разписва със своя книга-игра, пищно илюстрирана от Ищван Лакатош, в култовата серия „Битки Безброй“. Приключението се нарича „Кристал от бури“, пристига от изд. „Geny-G“ и е подходящо за читатели от всички възрасти – както за днешните хлапета, така и за ветераните, израснали с книгите-игри от 90-те. Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
Profile Image for Sheldon.
741 reviews14 followers
December 24, 2020
I'd had no idea that Scholastic had brought the Fighting Fantasy series back until I heard about this book. This is one of a handful of new titles (most of the Scholastic releases are reprints) and only the second not to be written by creators Livingstone and Jackson. Pratchett is no stranger to interactive fiction having penned critically acclaimed games like the Tomb Raider reboot so has no problems crafting a decent adventure here. In comparison to previous books it definitely feels more gentle than I remember the series being so acts as a good starter book. I've just placed an order for a few more of the books (I usually only read digitally but it makes perfect sense to have these in nice paperbacks) as I'm feeling nostalgic for another adventure. In 2020 these feel like the perfect type of books to sink some hours into during covid lockdown!
Profile Image for Sarah.
1,817 reviews107 followers
June 16, 2021
I ordered this based solely on the author, knowing nothing else!

This is like a solo D&D campaign crossed with a choose-your-own-adventure novel. I started out trying to keep track of all the stats, scores, rolls, etc., but that quickly became annoying (to me; I'd be awful at D&D) and started flipping a coin. I eventually abandoned even that, assuming I am awesome and badass and would win every encounter, and tracked only my inventory.

I didn't "finish" the quest, as I got stuck in a loop between two islands-- I missed a supply on a previous island, so didn't have the materials to leave and got a bit stuck. I would be willing to try the quest again in the future, again with simplified stats and doing a better job of tracking my choices so I can go back if I get stuck.

Of interest to fans still missing the original Pratchett and juvenile choose-your-own-adventure readers.
Profile Image for Chris.
76 reviews1 follower
March 30, 2022
This one just isn't very good.

If I had to rely on one thing that could get me through any FF gamebook, regardless of if I enjoyed it or not, it would be that they tend to portray a somewhat consistent world. Elves are like humans but better at everything, wizards tend to be powerful but lowkey senile, orcs are big and brutish, and goblins are sly, devious creatures. You've got your staples and, if implemented properly, they can hold a weaker story together.

Ultimately, what I'm getting at, is that the goblins didn't feel very consistent to how they've always been represented in Fighting Fantasy books and, with an absence of elves or orcs (or any other fantasy race tbh) it was jarring. The goblins are cutesy and the epitome of that cringy, bland, overly safe modern day fantasy race and it's boring.

Personally, this one didn't feel like a FF gamebook.

2/5
Profile Image for Helen.
1,429 reviews38 followers
November 12, 2020
I thought it was a fiction book so when I started it I was disappointed.
These sorts of books don't interest me
Profile Image for Iain.
Author 2 books12 followers
March 10, 2021
My 8 year-old daughter's first FF book and she loved it! We played it together and I think I had as much fun as she did :)
Profile Image for Matt.
4 reviews
August 10, 2025
Defeated a giant robot hand in battle only to be killed in the very next section by a handful of dust to the face 🙄
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Peter.
100 reviews
June 27, 2021
Not really sure where to begin with one. I don't think it's a bad book, I just struggled to get into it and gave up on it.

One of the main reasons I think was the large amount of writing down of equipment, weapons, passwords etc. It felt like there was an addition to the adventure sheet in every paragraph which took me out of the story and really bogged down both the game and story elements of the book.

I also struggled to get into the story side of it and found myself repeating sections of the game due to loops in the narrative.

I will return to this one in the future as I think there is a good book here, but just not on my first play through.
Profile Image for Kelvin Green.
Author 16 books8 followers
September 25, 2024
Like most of the new Fighting Fantasy books, Crystal of Storms is quite easy, but it benefits from a good non-linear structure -- although I suspect there is an optimum path -- and some interesting encounters, in particular the climactic fight, which is a lot of fun and quite different from most FF boss fights.

The plot itself is a bit underdeveloped, and although the main villain behind everything is a surprise, it's more because they have barely been mentioned than because of a clever mystery. There's an interesting idea about why the "bad guys" are doing what they are doing, but it's left to be explored in a sequel, and elsewhere there are some vague gestures towards some good, complex motivations for one of the factions, but they don't go anywhere.

All in all Crystal of Storms isn't at all bad, but there are signs throughout that it could have been quite good, and it's frustrating that it doesn't quite get there.
Profile Image for Sally.
708 reviews3 followers
September 3, 2024
This was very fun to read! I used to love these as a child but had no luck in progressing through them. This is so much better. Rhianna's video game background shines through with an easy to follow layout and the ability to explore all possible paths before continuing. This did lead to getting stuck in a loop but it was easy enough to correct.

1h30
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