Plague of Ice

Dungeons & Dragons Iconic Series #7

by T.H. Lain

This title chronicles the latest adventure of various iconic characters from the Dungeons & Dragons core rulebooks. This series of novels is designed to bring readers closer to the feeling of actually playing a D&D adventure. This seventh title in the novel line features the iconic characters of the fighter and the rogue, both of whom appeared in the kickoff title of the line, "The Savage Caves."
Frigid cold and ice sweep across the realm at the height of summer. Arctic monsters prowl the flash-frozen landscape. To unlock the mystery, a small band of heroes must traverse the depths of a ruined, ice-clogged city that now houses only unearthly creatures and deadly traps.
Will they find the key to salvation?

Genres: Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons, Forgotten Realms, Gaming

192 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

T.H. Lain was a collective pseudonym used by nine separate authors writing under Wizards of the Coast's Dungeons & Dragons novels imprint.

According to Peter Archer, WotC's Director of Publishing, the decision to credit the Dungeons & Dragons novels to just one author was made to ensure they would be shelved together, as well as to spark a certain measure of curiosity and speculation as to T.H. Lain's identity. However, it was already obvious to many from the stylistic differences between volumes that Lain's output was the work of many authors rather than one.

In December 2003, WotC formally announced the nine authors whose work was published under the T.H. Lain name.

Reviews

[Steven "Steve" · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on the main characters from the D&D Third Edition Handbook, this book features the Human fighter Regdar, the halfing thief Lidda, and the human sorceror Hennett. This book felt like more of a campaign and less of a simple dungeon crawl.

[audrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very accurate representation of a D&D campaign, told in prose form. A ragged band of adventurers is beset by many adversaries on their way to a mysterious goal that emerges over the course of a few evenings. Enlivened here by incredibly accurate ice and snow, mephits (ice elementals who are basically flying toddlers pursuing a shiny thing) and a decent dungeon crawl. Points deducted for overuse of magic missile and dudes arguing over the hot druid. Repeatedly.

[Victor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't have as many expectations about this book. It is very short, but it brings forth an interesting story. Following the core characters from the 3rd Edition of D&D, "Plague of Ice" is a nice short story about the interactions of these characters, plus the way fans may be able to experience the new qualities of the game. Please keep in mind that this is a book launched as an advertisement channel and should be treated as such.

Readres beware not to expect spectacular or mesmerizing action. What you should expect is to be somewhat entertained. Characters are balanced but lack special prowess, yet their interactions are credible. It does bring an interesting conclusion, but nothing particularly special about it.

[M. Carmen C. González · Rating 4 out of 5]

Como echo de menos ser pícara...

[Joel Flank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty standard fantasy adventure fare. It's set in the non-specific D&D default world from 3rd edition, and features several of their iconic characters. The plot is thin - ruined city of wizards (which you find out about in the prologue, but is otherwise irrelevant) somehow opens a rift to the plane of ice, and starts a localized ice age. Some adventurers are hired to deal with it, and despite clearly being pretty low powered, they manage to face off against all the ice creatures that came through the rift. Having an ice druid around helps, but even then, it's a stretch to believe they can take down winter wolves, swarms of mephits, and a white dragon, not to mention the traps left being in the city for reasons unknown since everyone who lived there is long gone.

The characters aren't completely generic, they have a bit of personality but not a lot of backstory. There's a forced "love" triangle, but it's really just jealousy between the two men over the druid, who doesn't think too much more than friends or friends with benefits for either of them. At 178 total pages though, there's admittedly not a lot of room for much beyond the basic plot and minimal characterization. Still, a quick light read, especially if you're looking for lots of familiar D&D spells and abilities to be thrown in.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Plague of Ice' is a fun, quick read. Would have been more fun to play as a D&D module.

[Eric Kreeger · Rating 3 out of 5]

a fun, quick adventure

[Ted Manahan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Swords and scorcery. Fun entertainment.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Dungeons & Dragons novels by T.H. Lain were released about the time Wotc released Dungeons and Dragons 3E. It was supposed to give the reader a feel of what to expect the new version of Dungeons & Dragons, and it does. The stories are decent, the main characters are the Icons from the main rule book. They are not very long couple hundred pages or so, but worth reading.