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Forgotten Realms: Knights of Myth Drannor #3
The Sword Never Sleeps
The thrilling conclusion to Ed Greenwood's latest epic!
Florin Falconhand and his friends have always wanted adventure--but when it finally finds them, it turns out to be a lot more than they bargained for. Over the course of The Knights of Myth Drannor, the Knights learn the true meaning of adventure, honor, and what it means to be a hero.
Florin Falconhand and his friends have always wanted adventure--but when it finally finds them, it turns out to be a lot more than they bargained for. Over the course of The Knights of Myth Drannor, the Knights learn the true meaning of adventure, honor, and what it means to be a hero.
339 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2008
10 people are currently reading
706 people want to read
About the author
Ed Greenwood
364 books875 followersEd 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 22, 2021
I don't know...should I even give 2 stars?
I've written enough reviews about Ed Greenwood that anyone that reads them will know I am not much of a fan....yet I keep reading the books. A glutton or punishment you might say. But ultimately, I have hitched my wagon to this fantasy world and I am going to be the number one fan. Thus, I just keep reading whatever comes out. And since Greenwood created the world, I bet he thinks he can just keep writing books in it until he dies....and I guess I will just keep reading them.
This third installment involving the proclaimed Knights of Myth Drannor, there is just as much chaos and yet less of a threat? This is kind of typical for Greenwood (in the Spellfire novels, book one they defeated a dracolich, but the third book they were having just as much difficulty with bandits on the road...it doesn't make for a very climactic story when the enemies keep getting easier and easier yet the heroes have a harder time dealing with them).
We start with our heroes being banished from Cormyr (I'm honestly not sure why...They did a good job in the last book. But I think it has to do with the Royal Wizard Vangerdast being at odds with one of the Princesses). Anyway, they get attacked on the way to Shadowdale, and then are transported in to a mansion that has been ensorcelled to hold the kingdom's mad liches. Okay, so sounds at least interesting, and there is some silliness here that is entertaining kinda...but it just keeps going on.
Also, there is a sword that is being controlled by a couple of ghosts that were introduced in the last novel (These two ghosts [one is literally named 'old ghost'] are the most powerful things we've seen in these books. They are able to just jump in to someone's body and control them [a lot like the mind worms in the first book] and they just wreak havoc. But they are focused on the enemies of Cormyr, the Zents, despite one of the ghosts being Zent...I don't get it.) So this sword keeps flying in and out of chapters murdering.
I could keep going, but why...One star probably made more sense.
I've written enough reviews about Ed Greenwood that anyone that reads them will know I am not much of a fan....yet I keep reading the books. A glutton or punishment you might say. But ultimately, I have hitched my wagon to this fantasy world and I am going to be the number one fan. Thus, I just keep reading whatever comes out. And since Greenwood created the world, I bet he thinks he can just keep writing books in it until he dies....and I guess I will just keep reading them.
This third installment involving the proclaimed Knights of Myth Drannor, there is just as much chaos and yet less of a threat? This is kind of typical for Greenwood (in the Spellfire novels, book one they defeated a dracolich, but the third book they were having just as much difficulty with bandits on the road...it doesn't make for a very climactic story when the enemies keep getting easier and easier yet the heroes have a harder time dealing with them).
We start with our heroes being banished from Cormyr (I'm honestly not sure why...They did a good job in the last book. But I think it has to do with the Royal Wizard Vangerdast being at odds with one of the Princesses). Anyway, they get attacked on the way to Shadowdale, and then are transported in to a mansion that has been ensorcelled to hold the kingdom's mad liches. Okay, so sounds at least interesting, and there is some silliness here that is entertaining kinda...but it just keeps going on.
Also, there is a sword that is being controlled by a couple of ghosts that were introduced in the last novel (These two ghosts [one is literally named 'old ghost'] are the most powerful things we've seen in these books. They are able to just jump in to someone's body and control them [a lot like the mind worms in the first book] and they just wreak havoc. But they are focused on the enemies of Cormyr, the Zents, despite one of the ghosts being Zent...I don't get it.) So this sword keeps flying in and out of chapters murdering.
I could keep going, but why...One star probably made more sense.
February 3, 2017
The story is so disjointed, and leaves so many chapters left undone. If I had been with Ed Greenwood for these early days as a player, I might have understood all that occurred in this novel, but lacking that knowledge, I know that there are whole chapters missing in these novels. Since I'm reading the Forgotten Realms books in chronological order (not in publication order), I am hoping that these characters and their histories will be better developed in some later DR storyline that had been published many years ago. Otherwise, I feel like I wasted a long time building up some history on these Knights of Myth Drannor. I'm sure that these lay the groundwork for the great storyline, but even so, it's so lacking in explanations. There are many innuendo conversations especially between the Obarskyr Princesses and Vangy that I'm supposed to know what is they were thinking.
I am left wondering if an overzealous editor decided to cut meat out for page counts.
I am left wondering if an overzealous editor decided to cut meat out for page counts.
February 5, 2020
This book, along with the rest of the trilogy, was flat out dogshit. I'm thoroughly disappointed since I know the author created this beautiful world. The sentences are rarely complete, the names outrageous and confusing, the relentless amount of characters (and enemies) are exhausting, and these Knights that we're supposed to care so much about have no bearing on much of anything.
I have made it a thing to read everything Forgotten Realms in DR chronology and this trilogy just about ruined it. May it get better...
P.S. "Wherefore" and "T'was" doesn't place me in the world. It's just another inconsistency I'm trying to muddle through to the end. And codpieces? It's D&D. Does the author WANT these unnecessary gender affiliations? Not when the entire culture of D&D is one of equality? Ugh.... I'm so glad I'm on to something new.
I have made it a thing to read everything Forgotten Realms in DR chronology and this trilogy just about ruined it. May it get better...
P.S. "Wherefore" and "T'was" doesn't place me in the world. It's just another inconsistency I'm trying to muddle through to the end. And codpieces? It's D&D. Does the author WANT these unnecessary gender affiliations? Not when the entire culture of D&D is one of equality? Ugh.... I'm so glad I'm on to something new.
February 15, 2022
Read for completion's sake, for my sins.
I don't think I've ever read a fantasy series where the titular heroes have less to do with the events going on than this.
I don't think I've ever read a fantasy series where the titular heroes have less to do with the events going on than this.
December 11, 2008
The Sword that never sleeps is the last book in Ed Greenwood's "the Knights of Myth Drannor" trilogy. The novel continues the tale of the Knights as they make there way to Shadowdale to take rule of the small dale. Along the way fall into to traps and stumble into the different scenarios were either someone is try to kill them for revenge or the stumble onto a plot to take over the realm. The tale of the Knights are one small part of the book. There multiple characters and story threads going at one time and this is my first criticism of the novel. It can be hard to keep straight what is going on and character is part of the what story arc. There are some seance that I can't understand how they play into the overall story of the book and the way some story arcs end abruptly and out of nowhere just makes it more confusing. The novel starts out good, but by the middle of the story with all the things going on, my attention was starting to seep away. Fortunately as the book nears the end, the pace of the story picks up and some story arcs get drop. I could finally get into the novel and ride along with the story. There was to much happening and I couldn't make scene of some scenes so I can't award this book 5 stars. I was going to award it 3 stars, but at the end of the story I wanted to find out the rest of what happen to the Knight, I am giving the novel 4 stars. I would happily go out and buy the next story of the knights to see what happens to them. If a book leaves you with that feeling at the end its got to be worth an extra star.
July 2, 2025
2025 Update: Yep. Original review holds. I'm not entirely sure why I kept reading the whole trilogy after the first book confirmed by original feelings so well...but I did. I guess I like the Realms that much, and was hoping I might find something hidden? (I did not) Too bad.
****************
A mildly disappointing conclusion to a mildly disappointing series.
The reality is, while this is supposedly a book about the origins of the Knights of Myth Drannor, the heroes of Ed Greenwood's ongoing Forgotten Realms campaign they're unfortunately the junior partners in the book, reduced mostly to being bounced around by the acts and whims of others. That's the biggest disappointment here; at least as much time is spent on the manipulations of Vanderghast and the conflicts within the War Wizards of Cormyr than on the Knights. The ongoing attacks of two magespirits and their battles to gain supremacy over each other and align themselves for vengeance on...whomever? are still front and center as well, and aside from acting as a bit of a deus ex machina, add little to the narrative.
There's a fun adventure book in here, somewhere. The Knights, when we do get to spend time with them, are worth the ride and it's fun to see them grow as heroes and try to take control of their own destiny. But too many distractions and too much blasting about about major powers pull too much attention away from the supposed heroes of the story and the narrative falters for it. (and yes, the made-up swear words are still annoying)
****************
A mildly disappointing conclusion to a mildly disappointing series.
The reality is, while this is supposedly a book about the origins of the Knights of Myth Drannor, the heroes of Ed Greenwood's ongoing Forgotten Realms campaign they're unfortunately the junior partners in the book, reduced mostly to being bounced around by the acts and whims of others. That's the biggest disappointment here; at least as much time is spent on the manipulations of Vanderghast and the conflicts within the War Wizards of Cormyr than on the Knights. The ongoing attacks of two magespirits and their battles to gain supremacy over each other and align themselves for vengeance on...whomever? are still front and center as well, and aside from acting as a bit of a deus ex machina, add little to the narrative.
There's a fun adventure book in here, somewhere. The Knights, when we do get to spend time with them, are worth the ride and it's fun to see them grow as heroes and try to take control of their own destiny. But too many distractions and too much blasting about about major powers pull too much attention away from the supposed heroes of the story and the narrative falters for it. (and yes, the made-up swear words are still annoying)
January 9, 2009
Another great series from Greenwood. The last few left a little to be desired, in my opinion. However Greenwood makes up for that and more with this series. It was worth the wait. Any fan of Greenwood would appreciate the backstory to the formation of the Knights.
The only complaint I can think of is that I know the make-up of the knights during 1372 DR... and I know that's not the make-up of the knights at the end of this book. So rather than describe how they came to be as we know them today, he has described how they got their start and not much more than that. I'm hoping he has another series in the works that will flesh out this story even more.
The only complaint I can think of is that I know the make-up of the knights during 1372 DR... and I know that's not the make-up of the knights at the end of this book. So rather than describe how they came to be as we know them today, he has described how they got their start and not much more than that. I'm hoping he has another series in the works that will flesh out this story even more.
December 5, 2012
I loved the characters and I love the Forgotten Realms in general. The only thing that held me back from giving this book five stars is that the story was a bit scattered. There were so many random things going on throughout the book and they felt somewhat clumsily drawn together for the ending. I have a hard time saying whether the ending was good or not though - it was the kind that left me wanting more, and I can't tell whether its because the end felt so rushed or because I genuinely want to read more about these beloved characters. Maybe a bit of both.
February 1, 2009
I enjoyed The book but it seemed unfinished. There needs to be a fourth book to end it.
June 5, 2013
goood story multiple plots handled well, believible characters and a good young party of adventurers handling mor than they should.
March 2, 2015
One Long Battle. From Start to finish, our intrepid Knights are involved in one long battle. Just when you thought it was over, it begins again. A non stop exhausting read.
June 4, 2015
The last and the best of the trilogy! I usually dont like Ed's books (he is good as a creator and gamer) But this book is totally good!
July 30, 2015
A more logical plot and smoother read in comparison to the first two books of the series but still leaves a lot of loose ends.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews