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The Citadels #3
The Shield of Weeping Ghosts
The past will come back to haunt them...
A group of warriors from Rashemen escorts an exiled wizard to a ruined citadel in the City of Weeping Ghosts. Once there, the wizard discovers a barbarian tribe is trying to unlock the secrets of the citadel and the weapon that destroyed it two thousand years ago.
A series that centers on the citadels - castles, keeps, fortreeses, and watchtowers - of the Forgotten Realms world, each book in The Citadels series is a self-contained fantasy adventure.
A group of warriors from Rashemen escorts an exiled wizard to a ruined citadel in the City of Weeping Ghosts. Once there, the wizard discovers a barbarian tribe is trying to unlock the secrets of the citadel and the weapon that destroyed it two thousand years ago.
A series that centers on the citadels - castles, keeps, fortreeses, and watchtowers - of the Forgotten Realms world, each book in The Citadels series is a self-contained fantasy adventure.
310 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 6, 2008
11 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
James P. Davis
16 books27 followersI am a freelance writer (horror, fantasy, and some occasional sci-fi) married and living in the same house with a psychotic feline creature that most people mistake for a cat. I'm occasionally addicted to sudoku and cannot pass up a good riddle, logic puzzle, or mystery (my wife refuses to watch CSI with me and I play Clue with a vengeance). I play D&D as often as I can and like trying to kill my friends using dice, books, and math. I have an odd sense of humor.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
April 18, 2015
Great idea, poor execution.
June 14, 2012
I really enjoyed this book, as it was seeping with excitement and fantasy! I was completely lured into the mythology that was created,with the Author's colorful adjectives used in describing the environment.I felt the cold,icy, winds that blew in from the Arctic plains.
The story is intense and action packed weaving your mind into the dramatic story, of forged alliances and lost love.The mystery locked inside the "Shield" will test even the strongest bonds between Warriors. The ghosts trapped in this story are just as bitter and unrelenting as the climate.Although there are a lot of supernatural forces at work in this book.If you like reading fantasy that involves magical powers,curses,dragons,and revenge then you are in for a treat.
The story is intense and action packed weaving your mind into the dramatic story, of forged alliances and lost love.The mystery locked inside the "Shield" will test even the strongest bonds between Warriors. The ghosts trapped in this story are just as bitter and unrelenting as the climate.Although there are a lot of supernatural forces at work in this book.If you like reading fantasy that involves magical powers,curses,dragons,and revenge then you are in for a treat.
June 29, 2020
peace by its very nature is temporary
We must face it alone, that abyss, in whatever form it takes - beast, guilt, magic...or the past. Deny it and it devour you. Make you forever a part of it....Face it, accept it and it will become a part of you, inseparable. What is the difference (he) asked. The old man paused, raising an eyebrow and looking sidelong at his former student "Your choice".
We must face it alone, that abyss, in whatever form it takes - beast, guilt, magic...or the past. Deny it and it devour you. Make you forever a part of it....Face it, accept it and it will become a part of you, inseparable. What is the difference (he) asked. The old man paused, raising an eyebrow and looking sidelong at his former student "Your choice".
February 4, 2020
Great book, worst cover art ever.
October 9, 2011
Being interested in Rasheman, and having no other Forgotten Realms novels on hand to read, I went out on a limb, and picked up The Shield of Weeping Ghosts. I had been avoiding the novels in The Citadels series, not liking the material that the covers were made of, and the assumption that the novels weren’t that great in general, citing a bunch of other recent stand-alone novels that I just did not like.
I’ll admit, I was pleasantly surprised. The novel, as a whole, was a lot better than I was expecting it do be. The plotline was pretty good. The characters were pretty good as well. The main fault of the novel, I think, wasn’t even related to plot, or characters, or anything, as I’ll explain later.
The plotline, at first, I felt dragged at first. A lot was left as a mystery until some of the later parts of the novel, so it was hard to feel a rapport with specific characters. The main character, Bastun, for instance, his past was left purposely hazy for a great deal of the novel, and purposefully so, so sometimes it felt hard liking him, or understanding his motivations, and so on. And, same thing with some of the supporting case, such as Duras, or the Ethran, Thaena.
The biggest problem I had with the novel, as a whole, was the…”horror” elements that it had. Too much. Every time someone turns around, it seems that the shadows are “talking to them”, apparitions are “walking around”, the shadows are “swallowing” someone, the ghosts of the city “eavesdropping”, and things like this. I understand that, in the city, there was a great tragedy, and a deadly war, and there’s plenty of restless spirits, but…Sometimes, trying too hard is counterproductive, and I think that, in this case, this is certainly true.
The ending of the book was a bit anticlimactic, I also believe. Not necessarily the ending, but the climax in the ordeal in Shaundaular. I had a little trouble understanding just what exactly the ‘Word’, the ‘Breath’ were, their relationship, and how they played into the climax of the novel. I definitely had a nonchalant, “Okay, that’s nice” feeling upon reading that the problems in Shaundaular had been solved.
I’ll admit, I was pleasantly surprised. The novel, as a whole, was a lot better than I was expecting it do be. The plotline was pretty good. The characters were pretty good as well. The main fault of the novel, I think, wasn’t even related to plot, or characters, or anything, as I’ll explain later.
The plotline, at first, I felt dragged at first. A lot was left as a mystery until some of the later parts of the novel, so it was hard to feel a rapport with specific characters. The main character, Bastun, for instance, his past was left purposely hazy for a great deal of the novel, and purposefully so, so sometimes it felt hard liking him, or understanding his motivations, and so on. And, same thing with some of the supporting case, such as Duras, or the Ethran, Thaena.
The biggest problem I had with the novel, as a whole, was the…”horror” elements that it had. Too much. Every time someone turns around, it seems that the shadows are “talking to them”, apparitions are “walking around”, the shadows are “swallowing” someone, the ghosts of the city “eavesdropping”, and things like this. I understand that, in the city, there was a great tragedy, and a deadly war, and there’s plenty of restless spirits, but…Sometimes, trying too hard is counterproductive, and I think that, in this case, this is certainly true.
The ending of the book was a bit anticlimactic, I also believe. Not necessarily the ending, but the climax in the ordeal in Shaundaular. I had a little trouble understanding just what exactly the ‘Word’, the ‘Breath’ were, their relationship, and how they played into the climax of the novel. I definitely had a nonchalant, “Okay, that’s nice” feeling upon reading that the problems in Shaundaular had been solved.
March 6, 2011
As a big fan of the Forgotten Realms setting, I was none the less expecting something different. I was expediting a strong fighter, a hot mage, some dwarves, and dragons. When I saw ghosts, I expected liches. After all, this is Dungeons and Dragons, right?
I was pleasantly surprised. I would easily recommend this book to my friends who have little knowledge of D&D, because the story is easy to follow and the magic isn't overwhelming.
PROS:
- A surprisingly refreshing plot for a dungeons and dragons fantasy novel.
- Fantasy isn't overwhelming.
- Magic is coherent and easy to understand.
- Characters are easy to sympathize with.
- Surprising reactions between the characters.
- Located in a different region of the Forgotten Realms with a refreshing history.
CONS:
- Surprising reactions between the characters.
- Parts of the book are a little disorienting.
- End of the book seems slightly anti-climatic.
Overall:
I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't expecting to fall in love with this story. I had purchased it a few years ago for some pool side summer reading, and ended up finishing it in one sitting. While it is marked as Number 3 of 'The Citadels', the book is written to be read on its own. I would recommend this to D&D Fans, as well as non-D&D fans looking for a fantasy ghost story.
I was pleasantly surprised. I would easily recommend this book to my friends who have little knowledge of D&D, because the story is easy to follow and the magic isn't overwhelming.
PROS:
- A surprisingly refreshing plot for a dungeons and dragons fantasy novel.
- Fantasy isn't overwhelming.
- Magic is coherent and easy to understand.
- Characters are easy to sympathize with.
- Surprising reactions between the characters.
- Located in a different region of the Forgotten Realms with a refreshing history.
CONS:
- Surprising reactions between the characters.
- Parts of the book are a little disorienting.
- End of the book seems slightly anti-climatic.
Overall:
I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't expecting to fall in love with this story. I had purchased it a few years ago for some pool side summer reading, and ended up finishing it in one sitting. While it is marked as Number 3 of 'The Citadels', the book is written to be read on its own. I would recommend this to D&D Fans, as well as non-D&D fans looking for a fantasy ghost story.
March 13, 2014
the story had some very good elements but the non-action segments were pedantic and plodding, I did like the character development but I found my self wanting to skip whole sections of story to just get it over with. Too much of the combat was unnecessary and could have better developed the slower searching/introspection sections. More time could have been spent on the darthan and her tiefling companion as they remained cyphers right up to the final chapters
August 14, 2012
I'm a fan of Forgotten Realms books in general, but this one was pretty awful. The story was pointless. I didn't like the characters. I only finished this book because I was bored. There are much better FR books out there, so don't read this one.
October 30, 2008
I read this when it came out and enjoyed James' spooks immensely. Perfect for a Halloween FR treat or just a ghostly read at any time!
January 20, 2009
Part of the Citadels series, set in the Forgotten Realms.
March 30, 2017
this was a solid fantasy story in the forgotten realms world. it was fast-paced and had some interesting turns in the story. what was difficult were the many new names of races and tribes that made it hard to imagine the book in your own head. you spend enough time patching together the information you get before you can really enjoy the story. there are many fights and it's obvious where this storyline and world comes from, namely roleplaying. it was not bad, but at some point you get so many monsters thrown at you, it gets a bit tedious, haha. still a good read that formed nice characters. i have also the following book in the series and will look forward to the next part.
April 4, 2017
I only made it about 20 pages in. The writing wasn't bad. The main character and the story just didn't grab me.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews