Spellstorm

Forgotten Realms: Elminster #10

by Ed Greenwood

Rumors race around Cormyr regarding the mythical Lost Spell, a powerful enchantment designed centuries ago by the presumed dead god of spells—a spell long thought lost to the ages. Found by some magic-less merchant, rumor has it the Lost Spell is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
 
It is a powerful lure, and archwizards of every stripe descend upon the merchant, only to be trapped with him inside his manor by a vicious spellstorm—escape impossible, and their magic useless with the interference from the storm.
 
Moreover—they find themselves faced with the infamous Elminster of Shadowdale, who claims he’s just there to decide who gets the Lost Spell, but who clearly has an agenda of his own.
 
But before Elimster can put whatever plan he has in motion, archwizards start dying.

Genres: Forgotten Realms, Fantasy, Fiction, Audiobook, Dungeons and Dragons, Science Fiction, Adventure

288 pages, Hardcover

First published June 2, 2015

About the author

Ed Greenwood is the creator of the Forgotten Realms fantasy world, which became the setting for his home D&D game in 1975. Play still continues in this long-running campaign, and Ed also keeps busy producing Realmslore for various TSR publications.

Ed has published over two hundred articles in Dragon magazine and Polyhedron newszine, is a lifetime charter member of the Role Playing Game Associaton (RPGA) network, has written over thirty books and modules for TSR, and been Gen Con Game Fair guest of honor several times.

In addition to all these activities, Ed works as a library clerk and has edited over a dozen small press magazines.

Invented the character Elminster from the popular Forgotten Realms RPG series. Currently resides in an old farmhouse in the countryside of Ontario, Canada.

Reviews

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Ed Greenwood, but I've seen his name in the bookstores for a long time, invariably of Forgotten Realms lore. I like to play D&D, but I never quite got into the habit of reading novels based in it. I'm probably not going to change my mind and start picking up more titles, but I am tempted. I've heard of Elminster from friends for over twenty years now, and from everything I've come to understand, he's quite a ruthless antihero wizard.

My Impressions of this soon-to-come book? Elminster is a pretty happy-go-lucky guy with a few rather interesting friends, and it's either a credit or an admonition to the author that I can fall into Elminster's happy POV without quite registering or caring that he's hosting a cheerful slaughterhouse of peers, enemies, and friends.

Come one, come all, to my abattoir! I've got one hell of a MacGuffin for you! You know you want it! Only the most powerful wizards can apply!

And then he carelessly cooks so many meals with his adventurers while everyone else cheerfully murders themselves.

Should I be shocked or disturbed that this seems so damn normal? Perhaps not. I am used to D&D.

The story was quite fine and the resolution was more than fine. It (Almost) makes up for the sociopathic reality of this long murderous house party. It did end on a fine high note, after all, filled with full bellies and the admiration of the goddess of magic.

It still leaves me with a disturbing note chiming in my brain.

Okay, so the only thing I really had a problem with, now that I've gotten through the novel, is the initial parade of neverending characters with little to differentiate them except their names. That may be an issue only because I haven't read the umpteen million books that came before, of course, but it was enough to make me put the novel down several times to recharge. It was almost like reading the Iliad for the first time.

Everything else was fun. Just one deep message to part on, and it was perfectly reasonable.

Always watch over your kitchen. You never know who might be messing with your next meal.

Right? Right.

[Jim · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know what people want when they pick up a Forgotten Realms novel starring ELminster, the greatest wizard of that world? A book full of magic, of spell battles, and of magical creatures. What they probably don't want is a murder mystery where magic is rendered useless and the main characters spend most of their time running back and forth through a giant house talking about food, cooking, and washing dishes. Honestly, this is probably the most repetitive book I've ever read (even more so than the last few Terry Goodkind novels, and that's saying something). Everything from scenes to jokes to action beats is repeated time and again, all while the characters act out the simplest murder mystery I've ever read; seriously, the reveal at the end was no surprise at all. I know, I shouldn't be judging the book on what I wanted it to be but on what it is... unfortunately, what it is just isn't that good.

[Chad Peek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! It felt incredibly refreshing compared to all of the other novels that had come in out in the last year for Forgotten Realms. There was mystery, humor, action, suspense, and a mansion full of Archmages trying to win a spell called the "Lost Spell", which could possibly make them the most powerful mage ever.

Ed and Elminster are both at their finest in this book which I can't help but describe as a game of Clue meets the Forgotten Realms. It is a lot of fun and should be a "Must Read" for any fan of the Realms

ARC from Netgalley

[Chris Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received an ARC via netgalley

Ed Greenwood once again sets his iconic character into an impossible situation with an impossible goal. Sent inside an aging mansion with magic unreliable El must host a collection of arrogant archmages all seeking the same prize. On his side we find an old moneylender, a former lady-lord and a ghost.

This novel is more mystery than adventure but it does contain more than its fair share of both. Spells and swords, murder and mayhem with a side of "the Butler with the candlestick in the dining room". Familiar faces abound and it's a pleasure to see them back in action. Those looking for realms lore in this novel may find it a bit lacking but that foes not seem to be its purpose. Those who enjoy reading for the delight of seeing a beloved character muddle through a fun filled story will be ecstatic.

With Mystra returned The Sage of Shadowdale is renewed and while still his curmudgeonly self there is a twinkle in his eye that says he once more finds joy in his place. Greenwood seems similarly renewed and I found this novel reminiscent of the first series where every serious moment had a bit of a smirk in it and while important things happen the goal of the story is for the reader to take joy in it.

It is great fun to read this novel and it seems a set up for what's to come as Toril shifts into its new alignment. Old Weirdbeard has some old friends and longtime companions at his side as he once again finds himself facing a different world and with different strengths. This is a novel that prepares us for the 5th edition but does so with a smile on its face and a jaunty step as it walks us through the hunt for the Lost Spell with a cast of characters that long time readers will be delighted to find withing its pages.

[Viking Jam · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://koeur.wordpress.com/2015/03/3...

Publisher: Wizards of the Coast

Publishing Date: June 2015

ISBN: 9780786965717

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3.2/5

Publisher Description: Rumors race around Cormyr regarding the mythical Lost Spell, a powerful enchantment designed centuries ago by the presumed dead god of spells—a spell long thought lost to the ages. Found by some magic-less merchant, rumor has it the Lost Spell is to be auctioned off to the highest bidder.

Review: This is “Dungeons and Dragons” hooked up with “Clue” and had a love child called Spellstorm. Every Arch Mage is dying only everyone is guessing at the killer(s) identity and method. It all takes place in a creepy crumbling castle with wandering ghosts and fragile gates into other worlds.

Evil Arch Mages have made it through the spellstorm which surrounds Castle Oldspires in order to wrest away the Lost Spell from Lord Halaunt. The Wizards begin to better the odds by killing the competition by various means.

I was delightfully surprised with the writing and the creative story line. Characters were rendered wonderfully and scenes were built to move the characters around in a static environment. I liked that the Spellstorm and the Weave were there to mitigate magic use as it would have rendered a dismal story line otherwise. The only downsides were some word and phrase crutches here and there like “growled” and “said dryly” etc. Although it runs a bit longer than it should, get this. It’s a solid read.

[Curtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

[Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.]

I've enjoyed what I've read by Ed Greenwood in the past, and I do love the Forgotten Realms universe, so I was expecting to really enjoy this one too. Unfortunately that turned out to not be the case. Unlike the epic Forgotten Realms stories I'm used to, this read much more like a confusing murder mystery that lacks a clear purpose. The pacing on this is quite slow and the lack of an engaging story made it difficult for me to push through.

I'm willing to chalk this up to a story that just didn't work for me, in hopes that the next title will be more interesting, engaging, and clear.

[Artemas · Rating 1 out of 5]

What's worse than reading an Ed Greenwood Forgotten Realms novel? Reading Ed Greenwood MYSTERY Forgotten Realms novel. If you want a Realms novel with as much compelling mystery as an episode of Scooby Doo, then Spellstorm is for you.

[Geoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but more investigation and intrigue than I generally enjoy.
Still great to see some renowned mages stuck in a pit with lack of magic (to a point).

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating 3

I thought this had the basic plot of an interesting fantasy mystery mashup novel - and it did for some of its page count.
The characters other than elminster were entertaining in various ways, some good humorous asides and banter.
The maguffin hunt was possibly the best trope to use for such a novel.
The various mages who all wanted the magical maguffin were as the reader expected tbh, I admit initially I did mix up the various names until a few had been bumped off early in the proceedings.
For me the major issue I thought was the fairly sedate deliberate pace that EG used. Although the story itself takes place over only a couple of days it felt longer to me, the pacing should have been much higher and more frenetic at times to show that.
I have only read a few of the EG penned novels in the past, but I get the impression that he is a good ideas generator but not that good at setting them down into an exciting narrative.

Overall it is still a recommendation with the caveat about the pacing.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Copy from Netgalley in exchange for a review*

Spellstorm is an interesting melange of genres. On the one hand, it has all the standard fantasy tropes one might expect from the Forgotten Realms series; there’s wrathful wizards. High magic. Goddesses. A smattering of wry humour. Weird and largely morally unambiguous antagonist. On the other hand, it’s picked up and run with all the stylings of a locked room mystery. Red herrings. Sealed doors. Extremely awkward formal dinners. Murders every fifteen minutes. All it was lacking was a detective figure to stand up at the end and explain to the cast how all the murders were done in excruciating detail. That said, Elminster, the closest to a protagonist available in this ensemble piece, does make a valiant attempt to do so at one stage.

So, it’s a mash up of the Forgotten Realms universe and a mystery novel – but is it any good/ The answer, perhaps somewhat surprisingly, is yes.

From a setting point of view, there’s initially not much in the way of surprises. The narrative is set within the ancient and decrepit mansion of Oldspires, which is surrounded every so often by a ‘Spellstorm’, a tornado of cataclysmic magic which seals everything magical inside the mansion. Given that the largest part of the narrative takes place inside the mansion, it needs to be drawn well, and Ed Greenwood puts some serious effort into this. Each creaking stairway, each darkened corner is lovingly crafted, with the slightest sense of eerie menace, mixed in with a feeling of a slow, sad, but inevitable decline. It’s an aesthetic that’s drawn carefully from the Edwardian mansions of Poirot and Sherlock Holmes, and it serves the same purpose here. The house, if not actually alive, certainly feels that way; a nest of passageways, kitchens with doors that bar on the inside, and a top floor in a state of advanced disintegration all serve to generate a feeling of unease and claustrophobia.
This isn’t helped by the characters. Some, if not all, of these will be familiar to readers of the Forgotten Realms oeuvre. Sealed in the mansion and unable to work magic due to the titular Spellstorm are a selection of the most powerful wizards in the word of Faerun. Unsurprisingly, they appear unable to stand the sight of each other, as well. There’s a couple of out-and-out villains, a few slightly less awful than the rest, and Elminster, the semi-protagonist, who attempts to use the impromptu conclave to force everyone to just get along, and stop trying to murder each other and everyone else. The unpleasant mages are shown competently enough – unfortunately, we don’t see enough of a lot of them to make them worth investing in. The bodycount rises rather rapidly, and whilst there’s a lot of focus on the investigations and the doings in, there’s less on the characters. Possibly they all had quirks revealed in other books, but as a stand-alone, the majority of the mages are ciphers, there to add to the roll of the dead, but not given room to breathe.

There are some exceptions of course. Manshoon, one of the mages, is wry, dry, and impressively unpleasant. He also appears to have a remarkable level of competence and surviviability. Another mage, a survivor of gross torture and imprisonment, shows off her pain and focus throughout the text, never understated, but never playing to grotesquery. It seems the author can give a good character piece when he has the chance, but most of the characters never really get a feeling of depth. The other for whom this isn’t the cases is, of course, Elminster – the heroic wizard-sage featured across a great many Forgotten Realms novels, in various stages of grand hyperbole. Here, without magic, he’s rather more prone to grumbling and deduction. He’s also given enough space in the text to talk about his motivations, what he’s doing at the conclave, what his end goal is, and how he’s feeling about the whole thing – and it’s a pleasure to read. He’s attended by a small cast of supporting characters, to fetch, carry, make sarcastic remarks, and point each other in the direction of the plot. Again, they don’t get enough room to themselves, and there’s obviously a history shared across other novels that the uninitiated reader is going to miss out on – but it’s serviceable enough; the characters are fleshed out sufficiently to make us care about them, certainly more than the antagonists, and given enough quirks of personality to both make them unique and make the reader chuckle at their banter.

From a plot point of view, the whole thing trots along quite nicely. It’s got a fairly solid opening, filled with explosive demolitions, before turning to the main mystery theme. The mystery of the wizard murders is interesting enough, though the reader isn’t given a lot of time to think about it – each time you think there’s time to take a breath and think it through, another character drops dead, and there’s another fast-paced set of running around and investigation. The narrative actually wraps around this quite skilfully – the question of how all the murders are being committed, and why, remains solvable but opaque until the last few pages. I’m not convinced that the denouement was entirely worth the journey to get there, but the journey itself was a lot of fun.

Overall then, a decent page turner, in an underused sub-genre; there’s very few good fantasy mysteries, and this one, if not great, certainly has excellent aspirations. If you’re a Forgotten Realms fan, it’s certainly worth reading – and if you’re looking to dip your toe in the water, it’s a pretty good introduction to the world as well.

[Silas · Rating 5 out of 5]

It has been a while since I have read an Elminster book, and I had forgotten who some of the characters were, but it came back to me relatively quickly. I quite enjoyed this book. The locked room murder mystery element made it rather different from other Elminster books, but it was refreshing. I particularly appreciated that it was a bit less... lusty than other Elminster books have been, which also made sense, given the story. While parts of the story address elements from recent Realms books, and events here are likely important in other parts of the Realms afterwards, it doesn't require a great deal of knowledge to enjoy.

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not big on fantasy. Like, at all. LOTR is about as far as I'll go usually. However, I remember being gifted a copy of Elminster by this guy when I was younger, and it was the most well written fantasy novel I've ever read. Spellstorm doesn't come close to that but Greenwood's character and world building is phenomenal. Janky, almost throwaway whodunnit plot, but so incredibly well crafted it doesn't matter. I'm keen to read more from this author.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great tale with some familiar players

The story and humor if Ed Greenwood is quickly apparent is is the sarcastic style of writing that got me started reading in the forgotten realms.

This story has enough action to keep it moving quickly, details to full immerse yourself in the world, and humor to keep the story light even as it delves into answering some questions of the current state of the realms.

[Justin Cipparrone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun murder mystery in the D&D world of the Forgotten Realms. Elminster is clearly a character with a lot of history and is played off as a fun "been here done this" veteran wizard. Had me engaged up until the very end.

[Adam Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

A murder mystery unfolds as archmages are trapped within a place chaotic magic in hopes of obtaining nearly unlimited magic. Another entertaining adventure for Eliminster in the service of Mystra.

[Fahmi Nurgaha]

Jl. Pacuan Kuda, Sukamiskin, Kec. Arcamanik, Kota Bandung, Jawa Barat 40293

[Liam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve only ever read one other Ed Greenwood novel, The Herald, and this was better
Lots of deaths but most happens off screen.

[Vatukoula · Rating 2 out of 5]

waste of time

[Andreas · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Elminster deserved better

[Paul Harmon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this for review from Netgalley and I'm very sorry I can't give it a positive review.

I read everything except for romance, which I am convinced is a right-wing plot to dumb down American woman and increase profits in the lumber industry by wasting trees on worthless products, but I digress. When I do read certain types of books I have certain expectations whether it be Horror, Sci-fi, classics, YA etc and when I see A D&D Fantasy titled SPELLSTORM I expect massive mage battles and wicked action scenes full of glorious magical combat with fireballs and magic missiles...not a dinner Party. I got a dinner party.

After reading other reviews I'm also more than a little surprised at the amount of times my learned peers and reading fanatics referred to this as reminding them of clue with magic. I'm a little embarrassed for them that they didn't recognize this for what is what. It wasn't clue with mages it was Agatha Christie's "And The Their Were None" with mages...except boring. I'm sure you're asking "how can you take a great novel like that add Mages and the wonderful world of D&D and Waterdeep etc and make it boring?" Well that's a good question but it still happened. I suppose when you take mages sit them around a table talking about food, wine and their hopes and dreams for the future and make almost all the action take place "off screen" this is what happens though.

This was the first thing I've read from Ed Greenwood and I hear great things about him in fact I'd bet he's a great author but this just didn't work. The characters bored me, The dialogue felt like wealthy English Lord cutouts with nothing to say to each other filling silence with blah blah blah. The story just seemed to talk it self in circles while killing off characters out of sight of the readers making the claustrophobic castle less and less interesting.

I wanted to like this, hell I wanted to love this. I was excited and thrilled at the chance to read it but I just couldn't get into it, and I struggled to force myself to pick it up instead of something else I had available. This for me, was a huge miss.

[Jean-Francois Simard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Here are five main takeaways from Spellstorm by Ed Greenwood, based on its narrative, themes, and reception:

1. A Unique Blend of Fantasy and Mystery: Spellstorm stands out as a departure from typical Forgotten Realms adventures by combining high fantasy with a locked-room murder mystery. The story traps powerful archmages in a mansion surrounded by a magical storm, creating a tense, Agatha Christie-like whodunit where wizards start dying, and Elminster must unravel the chaos.

2. Focus on Character Interaction Over Epic Battles: Unlike many Forgotten Realms novels that emphasize grand conflicts, Spellstorm prioritizes dialogue, intrigue, and personalities. Familiar characters like Elminster, Manshoon, and others shine through their interactions, offering a slower-paced, character-driven tale rather than a world-shaking epic.

3. The Spellstorm as a Narrative Device: The titular spellstorm isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a critical element that strips mages of their powers and isolates them, leveling the playing field. This forces cunning and strategy to take precedence over raw magical might, adding depth to the plot and showcasing Greenwood’s creative world-building.

4. Elminster’s Role as a Mediator: Elminster, the iconic Sage of Shadowdale, isn’t the invincible hero here but a sly, world-weary figure tasked by Mystra to broker peace among rival archmages. His wit and hidden agenda drive the story, reinforcing his enduring appeal while showing a more grounded, relatable side.

5. Nostalgia Meets New Twists: The book brings back beloved characters from the early days of the Forgotten Realms, delighting long-time fans with nostalgia. Yet, its fresh mystery format and post-Sundering context (reflecting changes in the Realms’ magic system) keep it engaging, balancing reverence for the past with a new storytelling approach.

These takeaways highlight Spellstorm’s strengths as a creative, character-focused addition to the Forgotten Realms saga, even if it doesn’t reach the heights of Greenwood’s most celebrated works.

[Konstantin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing is archaic to say the least, and before people level the comment "Its supposed to be that way since , its the forgotten realms not the modern age" , i will tell you it really kicks you out of the book and time , by the end i found it more annoying , then say historically accurate way of speaking for a middle ages type of world. The plot is predictable and the unpredictable comes from the author pulling out things from his hat most of the time , not to use more colorful way of describing it .A lot of cringe worthy moments filled with character and plot bizarre awkwardness .Exciting name for a boring murder mystery house plot.
A bit of spoilers might be in this writing below, so read with caution (i will do my best to avoid them).
The author pulls out characters from old works in the forgotten realms , to finish their stories off .
Apparently most of those characters have been abandoned , so he finishes them off keeping his old boring villain , who he is using to the point of attrition .This is was a dull read and i hoped for a pop or a twist .but no it ended in a way you can see without anyone even getting the grand prize , which if you were exited to see - you probably don't read a lot of forgotten realms , because it will be world breaking.

The ending was so strange ,so boring and so predictable i wanted to burn my book. I cannot recommend this book to anyone who looks for interesting fantasy book , specially one in the forgotten realms .

[Ben Nicholson · Rating 5 out of 5]

(I received an ARC via Net Galley):

Overall, I really enjoyed it, and would recommend it to Realms fans when it comes out in print in early June.
In some ways, it's a vintage Realms novel - set in Cormyr, so the Purple Dragons and Wizards of War are present & correct, and some of Ed's favourite characters (El, Mirt & others) play central roles. But in other ways, it's quite unique:

Imagine a game of Cluedo, or better yet, an Agatha Christie novel set in Cormyr; Mirt as Hercule Poirot? Elminster as Miss Marple? The story is mostly set in a large, dilapidated noble's mansion, with a collection of the most villainous and/or powerful archmages of the Realms shut inside, assembled like moths to a flame by the attraction & intrigue of the most powerful spell in the Realms. Oh, and their awesome magical powers are somewhat unreliable, so they must rely on their wits, biting tongues, sharp daggers (and fingernails!) and hapless hireswords to survive & compete.

As you can probably tell, it follows some Agatha Christie conventions - imagine a collection of mysterious people, each with their own motivation, drawn together for the reading of a will, unable to leave the house because of a storm etc outside.

Also, there is a very intriguing tidbit regarding a certain deceased deity (one who has a devoted following among Realms fans.........)

[Nicolas Carrillo-Santarelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellstorm by Ed Greenwood is a very entertaining and good book in the fantasy genre, especially for D&D and Forgotten Realms fans. The plot revolves around the effort of different Archmages seeking to gain hold of a quite powerful spell (the 'Lost Spell') and how such ambition is taken advantage of by Mystra and its chosen/servant Elminster to try to make those wizards reach and commit to a code of conduct. Those wizards are led to bid for several days in the manshion of a Cormyrean noble, with the problem that the manshion is surrounded by a 'Spellstorm', that makes the use of magic both dangerous and quite unpredictable. Many of those wizards are quite ruthless, and suddenly wizards are being killed. Elminster, Mirt, Myrmeen and the ghost of a Cormyrean regent, Alusair, then try to find out who is behind the murders and to persuade the survivors to reach the agreement.
The novel is quite fun to read, and has two strengths: for Realms fans, it provides a lot of information on Mystra, the Forgotten Realms and Elminster; and on the other hand it does not portray Elminster as almighty or all-knowing, which makes the character much more endearing. The book is well-written.

[Kendra Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ed is the creator of the Realms, and I will forever be grateful to him for it, but his writing is sub par at times. His books start out strong, but end on a weak note. In this novel, there is a good amount of mystery, which I enjoyed. I may not read mystery novels, but I do like a good mystery. However, while there was plenty of intrigue, I felt it could have been delivered better, and we were given info a lot of information about what was going on through dialogue, rather than getting to read about it and experience it ourselves. The ending felt anti-climatic, as Greenwood books often seem to.

While I love a good laugh, and appreciate the humor, there was almost too much of it here, especially since every character has the same wry sense of humor, to the point where none of their jokes are really unique.

That said, it was a decent read over all, and at this point, I am so hungry for Realms novels, I'll read any one that is released. Bring back your authors, WotC! There is a tidbit about Eilistraee's whereabouts, too, which was a nice treat, though it leaves one wondering exactly what the passage meant...

[John · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book frustrating. I feel that this book is no where near the Ed Greenwood standard. I felt that he was writing for his own pleasure with the idea "I wonder if people will read this crap just because my name is on it." He wrote this for his own pleasure and no one else's. A good example of this is a kid in a candy store saying "Man, I have never had this one before, I'll have it just so I can say I did."

Ed Greenwood wrote a Clue based "who did it mystery" using a huge base of Elminster's past powerful enemies and friends. It read like every other Clue based book.

I will give him credit for completing a book. It is a difficult task for so many to do. I will give him credit for writing a death dealing dungeon masters hero killer story line. So many powerful spellcasters dying off left and right. I will lastly give him credit for the introductory chapter. The start was neat. However, the book went downhill quickly after that.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but not great. I was thoroughly engaged for the first 1/3 of the book. At that point it felt rather like a combination of the Clue movie with Tim Curry and Agatha Christie's "And then there were none," except with arch-mages instead of your typical humans. Christie would probably approve of the shear volume of poison being slung around. The next 1/3 not a lot seemed to change. I couldn't figure out why anyone was doing what they were doing, or in some cases, whether anything was being done at all. And then the last 1/3 was action and a hasty wrap-up. Having read and enjoyed a couple other books by Greenwood, I wasn't completely lost, but I definitely do not recommend starting this one if you're new to the series.

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic galley proof of this book for review purposes.

[Kasey Cocoa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iconic characters combine with skillful storytelling to weave one magical tale. Greenwood writes intelligently and with excellent skills. I started reading this and I could not put it down. Granted I'm already a huge fan of fantasy, I play D&D style games including NwN and I read a LOT of fantasy. I just loved reading all the sword and sorcery all while feeling confident in the author's ability to bring it all to life as only Greenwood can. Excellent descriptions and well fleshed out characters make this a joy to read. I received an e-ARC through the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way influenced my opinion.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Lost Spell, the most powerful of them all is found and now 10 of Faerun's most powerful Archmages must survive together in an estate while an epic spellstorm rages around them and keeps their magic from working properly. It's Elminster's job to try to keep the peace and help decide who is deemed the next holder of the Lost Spell. Murder and mystery abound as temporary alliances are formed and break apart and other vile forces attempt to influence the final outcome...

A very good book by Greenwood, it has good pacing, a fun story, and interesting characters.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The locked-room mystery aspect of this didn't quite gel, but I read it with a fair degree of enjoyment. The only real complaint I had was that many of the names and characters weren't distinct enough to easily keep them separate-- well, and the female mages were so personality-free that I really couldn't even begin to remember who was who. Except one of them was a snake? Who . . . I dunno. I lost the trail there somehow. But it was amusing just to see the effort.