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Forgotten Realms: Anthologies #9
Realms of the Dragons
An all-new anthology showcasing the dragons of the Forgotten Realms world, including a new story from New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore.
This anthology features all-new stories by R.A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Elaine Cunningham, and the authors of the R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen series. It fleshes out many of the details from the current Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy by Richard Lee Byers and includes a short story by Byers. The artwork on the cover is part of a four-panel Matt Stawicki piece that can be seen as a whole only when matched with the covers from the Rogue Dragons trilogy.
This anthology features all-new stories by R.A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Elaine Cunningham, and the authors of the R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen series. It fleshes out many of the details from the current Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy by Richard Lee Byers and includes a short story by Byers. The artwork on the cover is part of a four-panel Matt Stawicki piece that can be seen as a whole only when matched with the covers from the Rogue Dragons trilogy.
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 15, 2004
7 people are currently reading
637 people want to read
About the author
Philip Athans
55 books245 followersI 100% support AUTHORS AGAINST BOOK BANS
https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com
I give every book 5 stars in protest against the concept of star ratings in general and the ever-unfolding algorithm dystopia!
Philip Athans, an anti-AI, anti-book bans liberal, is the founding partner of Athans & Associates Creative Consulting (www.athansassociates.com), and the New York Times best-selling author of Annihilation and more than a dozen other fantasy and horror books including The Best of Fantasy Authors Handbook Vol. I 2009-2013, The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Writing Monsters. Born in Rochester, New York he grew up in suburban Chicago, where he published the literary magazine Alternative Fiction & Poetry. His blog, Fantasy Author’s Handbook, is updated every Tuesday (https://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com), less regularly on the FAH YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@FantasyAutho...), and you can follow him on Twitter @PhilAthans. He makes his home in the foothills of the Washington Cascades, east of Seattle.
https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com
I give every book 5 stars in protest against the concept of star ratings in general and the ever-unfolding algorithm dystopia!
Philip Athans, an anti-AI, anti-book bans liberal, is the founding partner of Athans & Associates Creative Consulting (www.athansassociates.com), and the New York Times best-selling author of Annihilation and more than a dozen other fantasy and horror books including The Best of Fantasy Authors Handbook Vol. I 2009-2013, The Guide to Writing Fantasy & Science Fiction, and Writing Monsters. Born in Rochester, New York he grew up in suburban Chicago, where he published the literary magazine Alternative Fiction & Poetry. His blog, Fantasy Author’s Handbook, is updated every Tuesday (https://fantasyhandbook.wordpress.com), less regularly on the FAH YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@FantasyAutho...), and you can follow him on Twitter @PhilAthans. He makes his home in the foothills of the Washington Cascades, east of Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 22, 2010
Realms of the Dragons edited by Philip Athans- This anthology was released in October 2004 and was published by Wizards of the Coast, Inc. This anthology is based in the Forgotten Realms setting of Dungeons and Dragons. This anthology ties into Richard Lee Byers' The Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy. There are fourteen short stories written by Paul S. Kemp, Edward Bolme, Elaine Cunningham, Ed Greenwood, Jess Lebow, R. A. Salvatore, Richard Baker, Thomas M. Reid, Lisa Smedman, Voronica Whitney-Robinson, Keith Francis Strohm, Dave Gross, Don Bassingthwaite, and Richard Lee Byers. Realms of the Dragons deals with stories about dragons.
“Soulbound” by Paul S. Kemp
Kesson Rel is the first Chosen of Mask, who drank from the chalice that Mask forbade anyone from drinking. Labeled a heretic by the followers of Mask, he seeks revenge on his fellow priests. However, an oath prevents him from just killing the priests. But he has another idea, use a Shadow Dragon to do it. After a vision that Avnon the Seer has, he knows what he must do.
Overall: 3/5
Thoughts:
“Soulbound” is an okay story. For those who haven't read The Erevis Cale Trilogy or the Twilight War Trilogy you will be left in the dark. However, Kesson Rel is a very interesting character who makes you want to find out more about him. It's still an entertaining story, but it could leave a lot of new readers in the dark.
“First Flight” by Edward Bolme
Serreg is an archwizard of the floating city Delia sent to discover why the earth and creatures below the city are dying. After coming to the conclusion that its something magic related, Serreg goes out to put a stop to the spell and its casters. However, Serreg underestimates the beings and cries out for help, which is answered by a god. The god gives Serreg a dagger that gives its wielder an amazing power, but at a cost. But is it enough to save the archwizard from the creatures?
Overall: 3/5
Thoughts:
“First Flight” was a good story, but it really felt out-of-place in this anthology. I would have expected that a story in an anthology about dragons be primarily about dragons. Instead we have a story that is based more on magic and the arcane than on dragons. However, the story itself was very entertaining and did hold my interest. It still is a good read, but still feels very out-of-place.
“Gorlist's Dragon” by Elaine Cunningham
Young Gorlist doesn't want to be a wizard like his father. Instead, he wants to be a warrior, just like his mother. He wants to follow in her footsteps, become a renowned gladiator like her and be as respected and feared. But that doesn't work in the drow society, and it doesn't help that Gorlist loves his mother blindly. So when she sells him to the gladiator pit, he wins every battle, to prove he's worth it. That is, until trickery and deceit pit Gorlist against a dragon in a battle he must win.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Gorlist's Dragon” was a really fun and exciting story. The only problem was that I wished that Gorlist's relationship with his mother was a little more fleshed out and not tossed out like it was. That was a big disappointed. However, this story is a good way to get introduced into drow culture and the way they think. Also, the story itself felt more like two stories fit into one. All in all, this was a very good character driven story.
“The Keeper of Secrets” by Ed Greenwood
Mirt the Moneylender is trying to collect a debt from Yelver, but discovers him murdered. Mirt then goes off to find the secrets the man kept, seeking the aid of a person calling herself the Keeper of Secrets. However he is unable to find anything out and as they leave, a fight occurs and the Keeper asks him for help in exchange for Yelver's secrets. What was Yelver hiding and who exactly is this Keeper?
Overall: 2/5
Thoughts:
“The Keeper of Secrets” had an interesting beginning, but soon became confusing and bothersome. The murder mystery beginning of the story was interesting, but there wasn't a resolution to it, as far as I could tell. After that was scrapped and forgotten everything became a mess. It was just plain confusing, due to it feeling like it lost it's way. It actually felt like there wasn't a point to any of this. I didn't learn anything new, nor did I really care after the turn of events. Also, the dialogue had an unnatural pacing to it and it came across as forced. I would skip this story unless you can understand what is happening.
“The Topaz Dragon” by Jess Lebow
Captain Clay and his crew of the Expatriate are out to find an egg that's worth a small fortune. The only problem is that the egg is that of a topaz dragon. However, as they reach the island the dragon comes to them and asks for aid in recovering her stolen egg. It appears as though someone else took it before they could have. Captain Clay agrees to recover it, but finds himself up against something he didn't expect.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“The Topaz Dragon” was a pretty good story. The ending fight didn't really feel right. It was too quick and it seemed way to easy for the topaz dragon. The story, while basic, was still exciting and fun. The action scenes were really thrilling and kept the story moving. Also, Captain Clay came off as a very interesting character. I don't know why but something about him just makes me want to read more about him. Overall, the story was very exciting and definitely worth the read.
“Wickless in the Nether” by R. A. Salvatore
Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle are hired out to recover a flute that their benefactor's rival is in possession of. However, things don't go according to plan and identities aren't what they appear to be.
Overall: 5/5
Thoughts:
“Wickless in the Nether” is a good story. It builds on the friendship between Jarlaxle and Entreri and you should probably read this before going into Salvatore's Promise of the Witch King, which is part of The Sellswords trilogy. Otherwise, the story was fun as well as a good read.
“Serpestrillvyth” by Richard Baker
A group of adventurers arrive in a small town asking for aid. The townsfolk tell the adventuring company that a dragon is plaguing the village and has already slayed one group of adventurers already. After hearing this, the group hires the guide that led the first group to the dragon and set off. Things don't go according to plan.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Serpestrillvyth” was an entertaining story with bad prose. When reading the story, it came off as sudden and jerky, instead of smooth and tight. However, this story was very unique. It was dark, with no happy ending. It felt refreshing to get a story that ends like this one does. Also, the dragon was terrifying and felt like a dragon should feel like. Serpestrillvyth was a powerhouse and not an easy kill, something that authors seem to forget about dragons. Overall, this was a good story and probably one of the darker ones of this anthology.
“Waylaid” by Thomas M. Reid
A young woman, Lynaelle, is on her way to the city of Silverymoon in the dead of winter. However, she gets waylaid by a white dragon and taken to its lair. The dragon than demands that Lynaelle serve him by killing the thief who stole his treasure. But is the thief really a thief? It is an orc after all.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Waylaid” was another good story, but with an extremely cheesy ending. The ending itself wasn't terrible, but it was just too convenient and silly to be taken seriously. However, the rest of the story was wonderful. Lynaelle was a great character who played her part perfectly. I actually cared about her well-being and hoped everything turned out fine. Also, you could feel the fear she felt. It was a very frightening experience for her and it was written so that the reader would feel the same. Overall, this story was well worth the read, even with the silly and cliché ending.
“Standard Delving Procedure” by Lisa Smedman
Two dwarves, an old delver named Durin and a new recruit named Frivaldi, are searching for a magical weapon called The Bane of Caeruleus. This weapon was forged to be able kill a blue dragon, and the knowledge of how to forge more of these weapons is what the duo are after. However, Frivaldi isn't following standard delving procedure and is getting the pair into trouble, but are they able to get out of it?
Overall: 5/5
Thoughts:
“Standard Delving Procedure” is a great story. It's clever and amusing and kept me entertained throughout. I really liked the use of acronyms for the 'rules of delving', they were just clever. The dwarves really worked well together. They were the usual foils to each other, but it worked to perfection. They brought a lot of amusement and humor to the story. All in all, this story was a great read and had some wonderful characters.
“An Icy Heart” by Voronica Whitney-Robinson
Chorael, a dragon turtle is about to lay her eggs. While creating her nest, she reflects on the rage that has afflicted dragonkind and what it's doing to her species. After laying her eggs, she returns to the icy waters of the lake only to discover a man drowning. She makes a last second decision and saves him, but somethings not quite right about the situation and she is too late to stop it.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“An Icy Heart” was a good story, albeit a slow one. The story felt very sluggish at times and I found myself not caring about what happens early on. However, that soon changed because the story was actually interesting and heartbreaking. What also interested me were the dragon turtles themselves, and I would like to know about these creatures. If you can get past the slow development, this story may just surprise you.
“Penitential Rites” by Keith Francis Strohm
Drakken Thaal, a half-dragon, finds himself losing to the urges of the rage. He is afraid that he killed a friend, a sub-prior in a temple of Ilmater, due to it. However, the rest of the members of the temple don't think he did and he is tasked to uncover the murder. What he finds both relieves and boils the rage inside him.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Penitential Rites” was a very interesting story, however paced very slowly. The slow pacing didn't fit with the murder mystery plot. It wasn't as exciting and fast paced as other murder mysteries. However, the murder mystery itself was interesting. It was exciting to see the effect the mystery had on Drakken. Also, Drakken was a great character for that reason as well. It was interesting to see him try to fight off the mounting rage he was feeling. Overall, this story was good and definitely worth a read for another view of the dragon rage.
“How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth” by Dave Gross
Talbot Uskevren does not do commissions. As the majority shareholder for the Wide Realms playhouse, that should have some say. However, when an alluring woman comes to them with an offer to create a play, Talbot can't help but accept. She wants a play that can “break a miser's heart”, but what Talbot crafts is something beyond that. That is, until the special guest the woman mentioned arrives to attend.
Overall: 5/5
Thoughts:
“How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth” is a fantastic story. It was interesting and engaging. It added just enough humor to keep it fresh and exciting. Also, it's next to see a new dimension to Talbot. Overall, read this story.
“Beer with a Fat Dragon” by Don Bassingthwaite
A caravan arrives at an oasis, much to the joy of the group. Tycho Arisaenn, a bard, eyes up the women and heads off for the oasis' tavern, which is little more than a filthy large tent. After winning the locals over with song, he makes a mistake in dishonoring the people's beliefs by using magic. However, that's not all he dishonors.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Beer with a Fat Dragon” was an amusing and fun story to read. However, there were a few times in the story that I found my self confused for a moment. There were more than a few awkward sentences or outbursts that never really seemed to fit in the moment. Otherwise, everything else was great. Tycho was a very interesting character and I would like to read more about him. He's charisma just had me hooked from the start. I was also surprised by how humorous the story was. I found myself with a smile on my face more than once while reading. All in all, this story is definitely worth a read and hopefully you can understand some of the awkward scenes better than I could.
“The Prisoner of Hulberg” by Richard Lee Byers
Will and Pavel travel to Hulburg in hopes of discovering another clue to the rage. However, what they find isn't what they expected. Deciding to intervene, they find themselves in a dire situation that only luck could get them out.
Overall: 3/5
Thoughts:
“The Prisoner of Hulberg” didn't seem to really do much, other than have a pretty good fight scene. Will and Pavel didn't really have that much more development, other than solidifying their friendship. The action was really entertaining and did help hold my interest. It's worth a read if you want a more action heavy story.
OVERALL AVERAGED ANTHOLOGY: 4/5
Final Thoughts:
Realms of the Dragons is a very enjoyable anthology with not very many terrible or bad stories. Each story does do a competent job at capturing your interest in dragon culture of the Forgotten Realms. While there were a few stories that could've had better representation of dragons, they were still very enjoyable. All in all, this was a very pleasing and enjoyable anthology. Should you go pick this up? Yes, this is more than worth a purchase with a vast amount of great story and it can introduce you to some wonderful new authors.
Stories That You Should Definitely Read:
1) “Wickless in the Nether” by R. A. Salvatore
2) “Standard Delving Procedure” by Lisa Smedman
3) “How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth” by Dave Gross
“Soulbound” by Paul S. Kemp
Kesson Rel is the first Chosen of Mask, who drank from the chalice that Mask forbade anyone from drinking. Labeled a heretic by the followers of Mask, he seeks revenge on his fellow priests. However, an oath prevents him from just killing the priests. But he has another idea, use a Shadow Dragon to do it. After a vision that Avnon the Seer has, he knows what he must do.
Overall: 3/5
Thoughts:
“Soulbound” is an okay story. For those who haven't read The Erevis Cale Trilogy or the Twilight War Trilogy you will be left in the dark. However, Kesson Rel is a very interesting character who makes you want to find out more about him. It's still an entertaining story, but it could leave a lot of new readers in the dark.
“First Flight” by Edward Bolme
Serreg is an archwizard of the floating city Delia sent to discover why the earth and creatures below the city are dying. After coming to the conclusion that its something magic related, Serreg goes out to put a stop to the spell and its casters. However, Serreg underestimates the beings and cries out for help, which is answered by a god. The god gives Serreg a dagger that gives its wielder an amazing power, but at a cost. But is it enough to save the archwizard from the creatures?
Overall: 3/5
Thoughts:
“First Flight” was a good story, but it really felt out-of-place in this anthology. I would have expected that a story in an anthology about dragons be primarily about dragons. Instead we have a story that is based more on magic and the arcane than on dragons. However, the story itself was very entertaining and did hold my interest. It still is a good read, but still feels very out-of-place.
“Gorlist's Dragon” by Elaine Cunningham
Young Gorlist doesn't want to be a wizard like his father. Instead, he wants to be a warrior, just like his mother. He wants to follow in her footsteps, become a renowned gladiator like her and be as respected and feared. But that doesn't work in the drow society, and it doesn't help that Gorlist loves his mother blindly. So when she sells him to the gladiator pit, he wins every battle, to prove he's worth it. That is, until trickery and deceit pit Gorlist against a dragon in a battle he must win.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Gorlist's Dragon” was a really fun and exciting story. The only problem was that I wished that Gorlist's relationship with his mother was a little more fleshed out and not tossed out like it was. That was a big disappointed. However, this story is a good way to get introduced into drow culture and the way they think. Also, the story itself felt more like two stories fit into one. All in all, this was a very good character driven story.
“The Keeper of Secrets” by Ed Greenwood
Mirt the Moneylender is trying to collect a debt from Yelver, but discovers him murdered. Mirt then goes off to find the secrets the man kept, seeking the aid of a person calling herself the Keeper of Secrets. However he is unable to find anything out and as they leave, a fight occurs and the Keeper asks him for help in exchange for Yelver's secrets. What was Yelver hiding and who exactly is this Keeper?
Overall: 2/5
Thoughts:
“The Keeper of Secrets” had an interesting beginning, but soon became confusing and bothersome. The murder mystery beginning of the story was interesting, but there wasn't a resolution to it, as far as I could tell. After that was scrapped and forgotten everything became a mess. It was just plain confusing, due to it feeling like it lost it's way. It actually felt like there wasn't a point to any of this. I didn't learn anything new, nor did I really care after the turn of events. Also, the dialogue had an unnatural pacing to it and it came across as forced. I would skip this story unless you can understand what is happening.
“The Topaz Dragon” by Jess Lebow
Captain Clay and his crew of the Expatriate are out to find an egg that's worth a small fortune. The only problem is that the egg is that of a topaz dragon. However, as they reach the island the dragon comes to them and asks for aid in recovering her stolen egg. It appears as though someone else took it before they could have. Captain Clay agrees to recover it, but finds himself up against something he didn't expect.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“The Topaz Dragon” was a pretty good story. The ending fight didn't really feel right. It was too quick and it seemed way to easy for the topaz dragon. The story, while basic, was still exciting and fun. The action scenes were really thrilling and kept the story moving. Also, Captain Clay came off as a very interesting character. I don't know why but something about him just makes me want to read more about him. Overall, the story was very exciting and definitely worth the read.
“Wickless in the Nether” by R. A. Salvatore
Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle are hired out to recover a flute that their benefactor's rival is in possession of. However, things don't go according to plan and identities aren't what they appear to be.
Overall: 5/5
Thoughts:
“Wickless in the Nether” is a good story. It builds on the friendship between Jarlaxle and Entreri and you should probably read this before going into Salvatore's Promise of the Witch King, which is part of The Sellswords trilogy. Otherwise, the story was fun as well as a good read.
“Serpestrillvyth” by Richard Baker
A group of adventurers arrive in a small town asking for aid. The townsfolk tell the adventuring company that a dragon is plaguing the village and has already slayed one group of adventurers already. After hearing this, the group hires the guide that led the first group to the dragon and set off. Things don't go according to plan.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Serpestrillvyth” was an entertaining story with bad prose. When reading the story, it came off as sudden and jerky, instead of smooth and tight. However, this story was very unique. It was dark, with no happy ending. It felt refreshing to get a story that ends like this one does. Also, the dragon was terrifying and felt like a dragon should feel like. Serpestrillvyth was a powerhouse and not an easy kill, something that authors seem to forget about dragons. Overall, this was a good story and probably one of the darker ones of this anthology.
“Waylaid” by Thomas M. Reid
A young woman, Lynaelle, is on her way to the city of Silverymoon in the dead of winter. However, she gets waylaid by a white dragon and taken to its lair. The dragon than demands that Lynaelle serve him by killing the thief who stole his treasure. But is the thief really a thief? It is an orc after all.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Waylaid” was another good story, but with an extremely cheesy ending. The ending itself wasn't terrible, but it was just too convenient and silly to be taken seriously. However, the rest of the story was wonderful. Lynaelle was a great character who played her part perfectly. I actually cared about her well-being and hoped everything turned out fine. Also, you could feel the fear she felt. It was a very frightening experience for her and it was written so that the reader would feel the same. Overall, this story was well worth the read, even with the silly and cliché ending.
“Standard Delving Procedure” by Lisa Smedman
Two dwarves, an old delver named Durin and a new recruit named Frivaldi, are searching for a magical weapon called The Bane of Caeruleus. This weapon was forged to be able kill a blue dragon, and the knowledge of how to forge more of these weapons is what the duo are after. However, Frivaldi isn't following standard delving procedure and is getting the pair into trouble, but are they able to get out of it?
Overall: 5/5
Thoughts:
“Standard Delving Procedure” is a great story. It's clever and amusing and kept me entertained throughout. I really liked the use of acronyms for the 'rules of delving', they were just clever. The dwarves really worked well together. They were the usual foils to each other, but it worked to perfection. They brought a lot of amusement and humor to the story. All in all, this story was a great read and had some wonderful characters.
“An Icy Heart” by Voronica Whitney-Robinson
Chorael, a dragon turtle is about to lay her eggs. While creating her nest, she reflects on the rage that has afflicted dragonkind and what it's doing to her species. After laying her eggs, she returns to the icy waters of the lake only to discover a man drowning. She makes a last second decision and saves him, but somethings not quite right about the situation and she is too late to stop it.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“An Icy Heart” was a good story, albeit a slow one. The story felt very sluggish at times and I found myself not caring about what happens early on. However, that soon changed because the story was actually interesting and heartbreaking. What also interested me were the dragon turtles themselves, and I would like to know about these creatures. If you can get past the slow development, this story may just surprise you.
“Penitential Rites” by Keith Francis Strohm
Drakken Thaal, a half-dragon, finds himself losing to the urges of the rage. He is afraid that he killed a friend, a sub-prior in a temple of Ilmater, due to it. However, the rest of the members of the temple don't think he did and he is tasked to uncover the murder. What he finds both relieves and boils the rage inside him.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Penitential Rites” was a very interesting story, however paced very slowly. The slow pacing didn't fit with the murder mystery plot. It wasn't as exciting and fast paced as other murder mysteries. However, the murder mystery itself was interesting. It was exciting to see the effect the mystery had on Drakken. Also, Drakken was a great character for that reason as well. It was interesting to see him try to fight off the mounting rage he was feeling. Overall, this story was good and definitely worth a read for another view of the dragon rage.
“How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth” by Dave Gross
Talbot Uskevren does not do commissions. As the majority shareholder for the Wide Realms playhouse, that should have some say. However, when an alluring woman comes to them with an offer to create a play, Talbot can't help but accept. She wants a play that can “break a miser's heart”, but what Talbot crafts is something beyond that. That is, until the special guest the woman mentioned arrives to attend.
Overall: 5/5
Thoughts:
“How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth” is a fantastic story. It was interesting and engaging. It added just enough humor to keep it fresh and exciting. Also, it's next to see a new dimension to Talbot. Overall, read this story.
“Beer with a Fat Dragon” by Don Bassingthwaite
A caravan arrives at an oasis, much to the joy of the group. Tycho Arisaenn, a bard, eyes up the women and heads off for the oasis' tavern, which is little more than a filthy large tent. After winning the locals over with song, he makes a mistake in dishonoring the people's beliefs by using magic. However, that's not all he dishonors.
Overall: 4/5
Thoughts:
“Beer with a Fat Dragon” was an amusing and fun story to read. However, there were a few times in the story that I found my self confused for a moment. There were more than a few awkward sentences or outbursts that never really seemed to fit in the moment. Otherwise, everything else was great. Tycho was a very interesting character and I would like to read more about him. He's charisma just had me hooked from the start. I was also surprised by how humorous the story was. I found myself with a smile on my face more than once while reading. All in all, this story is definitely worth a read and hopefully you can understand some of the awkward scenes better than I could.
“The Prisoner of Hulberg” by Richard Lee Byers
Will and Pavel travel to Hulburg in hopes of discovering another clue to the rage. However, what they find isn't what they expected. Deciding to intervene, they find themselves in a dire situation that only luck could get them out.
Overall: 3/5
Thoughts:
“The Prisoner of Hulberg” didn't seem to really do much, other than have a pretty good fight scene. Will and Pavel didn't really have that much more development, other than solidifying their friendship. The action was really entertaining and did help hold my interest. It's worth a read if you want a more action heavy story.
OVERALL AVERAGED ANTHOLOGY: 4/5
Final Thoughts:
Realms of the Dragons is a very enjoyable anthology with not very many terrible or bad stories. Each story does do a competent job at capturing your interest in dragon culture of the Forgotten Realms. While there were a few stories that could've had better representation of dragons, they were still very enjoyable. All in all, this was a very pleasing and enjoyable anthology. Should you go pick this up? Yes, this is more than worth a purchase with a vast amount of great story and it can introduce you to some wonderful new authors.
Stories That You Should Definitely Read:
1) “Wickless in the Nether” by R. A. Salvatore
2) “Standard Delving Procedure” by Lisa Smedman
3) “How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth” by Dave Gross
December 22, 2014
This collection was rather hit and miss for me.
Elaine Cunningham's "Gorlist's Dragon" is one of the few stories in this collection that I was fond of and one of the two that kept me from rating it below three stars.
“Standard Delving Procedure”, by Lisa Smedman, was a good story, but I'm not sure about its placement in this book.
“Penitential Rites”, by Keith Francis Strohm was a chore for me to read. I sat the book down a few pages into this one and almost didn't pick it back up. I'm glad I picked it back up though, because “How Sharper than a Dragon’s Tooth”, by Dave Gross was a joy to read. It's the first thing I've read of Gross' and I fully intend to pick up some of his other works based off of how much fun that short story was to read.
I wouldn't say that most of the stories in this collection were bad. It was just kind of dull and a lot of it I felt rather neutral towards.
Elaine Cunningham's "Gorlist's Dragon" is one of the few stories in this collection that I was fond of and one of the two that kept me from rating it below three stars.
“Standard Delving Procedure”, by Lisa Smedman, was a good story, but I'm not sure about its placement in this book.
“Penitential Rites”, by Keith Francis Strohm was a chore for me to read. I sat the book down a few pages into this one and almost didn't pick it back up. I'm glad I picked it back up though, because “How Sharper than a Dragon’s Tooth”, by Dave Gross was a joy to read. It's the first thing I've read of Gross' and I fully intend to pick up some of his other works based off of how much fun that short story was to read.
I wouldn't say that most of the stories in this collection were bad. It was just kind of dull and a lot of it I felt rather neutral towards.
November 20, 2023
‘A dragon. Another stinking dragon. What game is this with you? You keep placing me in front of stinking dragons! I had never even seen a wyrm, and now, beside you, I have come to know them far too well.’
Unfortunately, this was a disappointment.
Which is really, really tragic because the main books of Richard Lee Byers’ Year of Rogue Dragons trilogy are fantastic epic fantasy with great characters, page-turning-action, and white-knuckle combat that count as some of the best Forgotten Realms stories. After having been completely immersed in that world this year, I was really looking forward to this story-adjacent anthology, hoping it would provide a bit more backstory to the characters or even dispel a bit of the war fog, giving us a peek into the battle against dragonkind elsewhere in Faerûn.
But for the most part, it doesn’t.
So I’ll rant first. Would it have been so hard to commission a tale of dwarf Raryn Snowstealer’s first trek off the great glacier? Or a little tidbit on how halfling Will Turnstone was drummed out of the Thieves Guide and marked for death? Maybe something to flesh out a few of the series’ more interesting supporting cast: the Wearer In Purple, the androgynous Scattercloak, or the ice tyrant Iyraclea all come to mind. Could we have seen, by the hoary beard of Ed Greenwood, what Elminster, the Harpers, or any other hero, noble race, or goodly kingdom was cooking up to combat the Rage within its own borders? How about a tight little tale of Brimstone’s past perfidious bloodsucking or the point-of-view of some dullard scraping the skin off a red dragon carcass just before the dracolich transformation sequencer, all while lamenting how one gets stuck licking Sammaster’s bony phalanges. Or by the mighty pen of Richard Lee Byers,’ could we PLEASE(!) have a pre-war tale of Dorn and company taking down a magical beastie as hunters-for-hire or even better … a Deepwinter post-script that gives us a little bit better coda on half-eaten Dorn and Kara?
Sigh … so many years after these great books were published, I guess it is just not to be.
So then, judging this anthology on its own merits, Bassingthwaite’s Beer With A Fat Dragon was my favorite short story for its setting, plot twist, and the uniqueness of its dragon (and its harem) in a nice near East/West fusion. Gross’s How Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth was clever and witty with the book’s best line (in context): “Perhaps … perhaps I was a little rude.” I also dug Baker’s Serpestrillvyth and Reid’s Waylaid for giving us two great dragon villains. Curiously, the contributions from some of Realms most reliable stalwarts in Kemp, Greenwood, and Salvatore felt blasé – maybe because each felt like it was connected to some other story that I’m in utter ignorance of (and not a footnote at the end to say, ‘for more about whatever the heck Kesson Rel was up to, check-out the upcoming Kesson’s Cookbook for a singularly delicious fantasy tale).
The series’ principle scribe Richard Lee Byers offers the last tale The Prisoner of Hulburg which is good (and the only place you’ll get more of the characters from the main series) and it fills a little cavity between book one and two of the trilogy. Extra credit goes to author Veronica Whitney-Robinson who (outside of Byers) is the only other contributor to credibly tie her story to the curse that precipitates all these dragons going rogue in the first place! An Icy Heart is a very good but very sad tale that is about as upsetting as watching fishermen harpoon dolphins.
So Realms of the Dragons is at best a castle moat half full. None of the stories are bad and some are pretty good, but it lacks any real connective tissue back to the original trilogy … making this less than required reading by a pretty far wingspan.
May 8, 2020
“Soulbound” by Paul S. Kemp –Avnon Des the Seer, First Demarch of the Conclave of the Hall of Shadows, wakes from a vision sensing something amiss. In the meantime, Kesson Rel, first Chosen of the Shadow God, magically controlling the dragon Furlinastis, whom he has murder the clergy.
“First Flight” by Edward Bolme – A magician named Serreg studies the blight of the land, excavating the earth while doing so and unleashing subterranean beasts. He receives a weapon from a god that can transform his appearance, and in the end becomes a dragon, making his lair in a swamp.
“Gorlist’s Dragon” by Elaine Cunningham – Gorlist is a fledgling magician who refuses a book as a gift and instead yearns to be a gladiator like his mother, who sells him into slavery, during which he becomes a seasoned fighter, battling a dragon towards the end.
“The Keeper of Secrets” by Ed Greenwood – Mirt and Durnan seek a woman known as the Keeper of Secrets, with dragons ultimately terrorizing their city.
“The Topaz Dragon” by Jess Lebow – Thieves steal the egg of the dragoness Kraxx, who threatens a pirate crew with death if they don’t retrieve it for her, with a battle against a dracolich occurring.
“Wickless in the Nether” by R.A. Salvatore – Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle get involved in a rivalry between rival businesses Tazmikella’s Bag of Silver and Ilnezhara’s Gold Coins, with a magical flute serving as the story’s MacGuffin.
“Serpestrillvyth” by Richard Baker – Erzimar rides into the town of Pelldith Lake with the Argent Hawk, meeting aldermen who tell of a dragon that killed all members of the Fellowship of the Sundered Shield. Selran guides an expedition into the dragon’s lair, with battle naturally breaking out.
“Waylaid” by Thomas M. Reid – Half-elf Lynaelle Dawnmantle is in the clutch of the dragon Torixileos, Master of the Blizzard, Bringer of Icy Agony, and Lord of the Frozen Mountain, who tasks her to find the thief of its treasure, among the main culprits being the orc Starglimmer.
“Standard Delving Procedure” by Lisa Smedman – Dwarf thieves Frivaldi and Durin approach a lair no one’s entered for seven millennia, encountering several traps and battling the dragonkin.
“An Icy Heart” by Voronica Whitney-Robinson – The dragon turtle Chorael saves the life of a human fisherman, although there’s more to the individual she rescues.
“Penitential Rites” by Keith Francis Strohm – The half-dragon Drakken Thaal attends the funeral of a priest whom he thinks he murdered, and seeks the true culprit of the death, even if it’s himself.
“How Sharper than a Serpent’s Tooth” by Dave Gross – Talbot Uskevren, head of a group of actors, refuses to take commissions, although he comes around, and stages a play about King Krion.
“Beer with a Fat Dragon” by Don Bassingthwaite – A traveling caravan headed by Tycho finds an oasis and enters the tavern of the enigmatic Ong, with some dragon mythos in the mix.
“The Prisoner of Hulburg” by Richard Lee Byers – Pavel Shemov fights pales around his sailboat along with his halfling companion Will Turnstone, a demon, and a dragon named Vercevoran.
Overall, this was a good sampling of dragon-related Forgotten Realms stories, although some of the name choices are a bit odd.
“First Flight” by Edward Bolme – A magician named Serreg studies the blight of the land, excavating the earth while doing so and unleashing subterranean beasts. He receives a weapon from a god that can transform his appearance, and in the end becomes a dragon, making his lair in a swamp.
“Gorlist’s Dragon” by Elaine Cunningham – Gorlist is a fledgling magician who refuses a book as a gift and instead yearns to be a gladiator like his mother, who sells him into slavery, during which he becomes a seasoned fighter, battling a dragon towards the end.
“The Keeper of Secrets” by Ed Greenwood – Mirt and Durnan seek a woman known as the Keeper of Secrets, with dragons ultimately terrorizing their city.
“The Topaz Dragon” by Jess Lebow – Thieves steal the egg of the dragoness Kraxx, who threatens a pirate crew with death if they don’t retrieve it for her, with a battle against a dracolich occurring.
“Wickless in the Nether” by R.A. Salvatore – Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle get involved in a rivalry between rival businesses Tazmikella’s Bag of Silver and Ilnezhara’s Gold Coins, with a magical flute serving as the story’s MacGuffin.
“Serpestrillvyth” by Richard Baker – Erzimar rides into the town of Pelldith Lake with the Argent Hawk, meeting aldermen who tell of a dragon that killed all members of the Fellowship of the Sundered Shield. Selran guides an expedition into the dragon’s lair, with battle naturally breaking out.
“Waylaid” by Thomas M. Reid – Half-elf Lynaelle Dawnmantle is in the clutch of the dragon Torixileos, Master of the Blizzard, Bringer of Icy Agony, and Lord of the Frozen Mountain, who tasks her to find the thief of its treasure, among the main culprits being the orc Starglimmer.
“Standard Delving Procedure” by Lisa Smedman – Dwarf thieves Frivaldi and Durin approach a lair no one’s entered for seven millennia, encountering several traps and battling the dragonkin.
“An Icy Heart” by Voronica Whitney-Robinson – The dragon turtle Chorael saves the life of a human fisherman, although there’s more to the individual she rescues.
“Penitential Rites” by Keith Francis Strohm – The half-dragon Drakken Thaal attends the funeral of a priest whom he thinks he murdered, and seeks the true culprit of the death, even if it’s himself.
“How Sharper than a Serpent’s Tooth” by Dave Gross – Talbot Uskevren, head of a group of actors, refuses to take commissions, although he comes around, and stages a play about King Krion.
“Beer with a Fat Dragon” by Don Bassingthwaite – A traveling caravan headed by Tycho finds an oasis and enters the tavern of the enigmatic Ong, with some dragon mythos in the mix.
“The Prisoner of Hulburg” by Richard Lee Byers – Pavel Shemov fights pales around his sailboat along with his halfling companion Will Turnstone, a demon, and a dragon named Vercevoran.
Overall, this was a good sampling of dragon-related Forgotten Realms stories, although some of the name choices are a bit odd.
October 9, 2011
Like the other Realms of X anthology books, Realms of the Dragons is a collection of various short stories having to do with Dragons. It is marketed to tie into the Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy, but, honestly, I don’t think they did a very good job with that. Not that I am complaining, as you’ll see, but only a handful of the stories in the book actually involved the Year of the Rogue Dragons, 1373 DR.
The first short story, “Soulbound”, by Paul Kemp, was excellent. It serves as a prologue, of sorts, to his Erevis Cale trilogy, giving us a back story and framing some of the events that took place in that series. This short story once again affirms the concept of Mask as a multispheric, possible foreign-to-Realmspace deity, a concept that I dig a lot. Serving as Shar’s herald, the two bounce around from Crystal Sphere to Crystal Sphere, bringing nihilism in their wake- Mask pulling off the ultimate heist, stealing life.
The second story, “First Flight”, by Edward Bolme, I enjoyed, but it seemed very out of place. The story centered on a Netherese arcanist who, while investigating the source of the life-drain spell plaguing Low Netheril, discovers some Phaerimm, meets Targus, the Netherese deity of battle, and eventually turns into a Dragon. The arcanist, Serreg, didn’t turn into a Dragon until, literally, the third-to-last page. I liked the story, as a whole, but it really didn’t involve Dragons. Honestly, at the end, Serreg could have transformed into anything, and ‘Dragon’ was simply chosen to fit the story in the book.
The third story, “Gorlist’s Dragon”, by Elaine Cunningham, was another one that I liked. With all of the stories written about Drow, Elaine managed to capture a perspective than really still hasn’t particularly been covered well- life as a non-noble male Drow. The story serves as something of an origin story for Gorlist, one of the antagonists from the Starlight and Shadows trilogy. I particularly liked the beginning, where Gorlist impressed his mother by killing a few Kobold, and she is impressed- impressed enough to make a few bucks selling him into slavery. Elaine, more so than other D&D author, has her pulse on the world of the Drow.
The fourth story, “The Keeper’s Secret”, by Ed Greenwood, I enjoyed. And, I don’t usually enjoy Ed Greenwood’s literature. I think, drawn out over the course of an entire novel, or trilogy, that’s where it gets me. Mirt conducting “business”, and accidentally getting swept into some stereotypical Waterdhavian intrigue. Well, that’s Waterdeep for you.
The fifth story, “The Topaz Dragon”, by Jess Lebow, was the first short story in the book I didn’t particularly enjoy. I liked the fact that he chose to “off-beat” races- Gem Dragons and Wild Dwarves get very little airtime in the Forgotten Realms, or in D&D in general. Other than that, though, I didn’t really like the story all that much. It was basic enough that you could have easily set it in some other fantasy world by replacing a few location names, and the characters were underwhelming. All in all, it was too generic and forgettable.
The sixth story, “Wickless in the Nether”, I am neutral towards. I didn’t particularly enjoy it, but I didn’t hate it, either. I like how Ilnezhara and Tazmikella, being Dragons, have their own agendas, and see Humans (and Drow) as similar to playthings and ends to means, whatever their goals are. Personally, I don’t like how Entreri is portrayed. Even though the time he spends with Jarlaxle certainly “loosens him up”, he seems a little too loose in this short story. The man is an assassin, after all, and if you didn’t know that previously, I don’t think you would have guessed it, based on his portrayal.
The seventh story, “Serpestrillvyth”, by Rich Baker, was another one I didn’t particularly enjoy. Like Jess Lebow’s story, “Serpestrillvyth” was just too generic. A bunch of Dragon hunters are hired to kill a Dragon. In the end, the Dragon wins. Nothing particular of note happened. Nowhere in particular was featured. Nobody of note was featured. It was an all-around forgettable story.
The eighth story, “Waylaid”, by Thomas Reid, was another story that I am neutral towards, not particularly liking it, but not hating it, either. The story was generic and a little corny, and nothing of any kind of particular note happened. For whatever reason, the story did not seem to drag, though, and that’s its saving grace. Something about it didn’t feel like a chore to finish, unlike the other stories that I didn’t like.
The ninth story, “Standard Delving Procedure”, by Lisa Smedman, was a good story. My main gripe with it is that I didn’t like the name of one of the Dwarven protagonists, ‘Frivaldi’. ‘Frivaldi’ is much too Italian sounding for a Dwarven name, in my opinion. But, other than that, I had no problems with this one. The plot worked, and I like how, in the space of only a few pages, Lisa made the Delvers feel like a real organization, with their procedures, traditions, training manuals, and, of course, acronyms.
The tenth story, “An Icy Heart”, by Voronica Whitney-Robinson, I enjoyed. It’s not very often that you get stories that feature Dragon Turtles, let alone an intimate view of how they live, what they feel, their priorities, and so on. The repercussions of the ending of the story, with the Dragon Turtle council seemingly swayed to accept the offer of Halaster and the Cult of the Dragon, for subservience in exchange for protection from the Rage, I wish they were explored in depth elsewhere. I never really realized how interesting Dragon Turtles are, or could be.
The eleventh story, “Penitential Rites”, by Keith Francis Strohm was a fun little mystery story. The Forgotten Realms is such a broad world, with scores and scores of books having been written over the years, but there aren’t enough books with a mystery theme. The story started off a little slow, I thought, but got good just before the ending, when everything began falling into place for our detective. The ending, in what happened to Drakken, was a little anticlimactic, though. I felt the author was going for something of a ‘redeeming’ concept, and I don’t really think he really got that well.
The twelfth story, “How Sharper than a Dragon’s Tooth”, by Dave Gross, I started out disliking, and it wound up one of my favorite stories within the book. The first ‘Act’, involving interplay between players of the Wide Realms playhouse made me think the story was going to be a stinker. It picked up once Talbot met Mnomene and had purpose, writing the play ‘King Krion’. I liked how Krion, a Gold Dragon, was the antagonist of the story. Even though they’re Lawful Good, they’re still Dragons, and are extra elitist, intolerant, and hubristic.
The thirteenth story, “Beer with a Fat Dragon”, by Don Bassingthwaite, was a follow-up story to The Yellow Silk, a novel that I enjoyed greatly. Just like in that novel, Tycho was an awesome character. One part Jarlaxle, one part Han Solo, and one part Tony Stark. Li was featured, but didn’t have too large of a role, which is unfortunate, since he would’ve been a good source of more Kara-Tur/Hordelands lore, a Shou traveling the Golden Way. Featuring a Chiang Lung Dragon, instead of a “normal” Dragon made me happy, and Ong was an interesting host, to say the least. It’s too bad nothing more has been written on the (mis)adventures of Tycho and Li, since this story left them in some precarious danger.
The fourteenth and final story, “The Prisoner of Hulburg”, by Richard Lee Byers, was a direct tie-in to his Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy. Pavel Shemov (I will always imagine him in my mind’s eye as a Hasidic Jew) and Will Turnstone (who will forever be in Jakk Fleet’s shadow) served as protagonists. As with the earlier story, it was nice to see Gem Dragons being further ingrained into the setting. It was also nice to see the Zhentarim as bad guys. As compared to the 2e era, the Zhents were featured less-and-less as bad guys during the 3e days, and it was nice to see some more generic Zhentish evil.
The first short story, “Soulbound”, by Paul Kemp, was excellent. It serves as a prologue, of sorts, to his Erevis Cale trilogy, giving us a back story and framing some of the events that took place in that series. This short story once again affirms the concept of Mask as a multispheric, possible foreign-to-Realmspace deity, a concept that I dig a lot. Serving as Shar’s herald, the two bounce around from Crystal Sphere to Crystal Sphere, bringing nihilism in their wake- Mask pulling off the ultimate heist, stealing life.
The second story, “First Flight”, by Edward Bolme, I enjoyed, but it seemed very out of place. The story centered on a Netherese arcanist who, while investigating the source of the life-drain spell plaguing Low Netheril, discovers some Phaerimm, meets Targus, the Netherese deity of battle, and eventually turns into a Dragon. The arcanist, Serreg, didn’t turn into a Dragon until, literally, the third-to-last page. I liked the story, as a whole, but it really didn’t involve Dragons. Honestly, at the end, Serreg could have transformed into anything, and ‘Dragon’ was simply chosen to fit the story in the book.
The third story, “Gorlist’s Dragon”, by Elaine Cunningham, was another one that I liked. With all of the stories written about Drow, Elaine managed to capture a perspective than really still hasn’t particularly been covered well- life as a non-noble male Drow. The story serves as something of an origin story for Gorlist, one of the antagonists from the Starlight and Shadows trilogy. I particularly liked the beginning, where Gorlist impressed his mother by killing a few Kobold, and she is impressed- impressed enough to make a few bucks selling him into slavery. Elaine, more so than other D&D author, has her pulse on the world of the Drow.
The fourth story, “The Keeper’s Secret”, by Ed Greenwood, I enjoyed. And, I don’t usually enjoy Ed Greenwood’s literature. I think, drawn out over the course of an entire novel, or trilogy, that’s where it gets me. Mirt conducting “business”, and accidentally getting swept into some stereotypical Waterdhavian intrigue. Well, that’s Waterdeep for you.
The fifth story, “The Topaz Dragon”, by Jess Lebow, was the first short story in the book I didn’t particularly enjoy. I liked the fact that he chose to “off-beat” races- Gem Dragons and Wild Dwarves get very little airtime in the Forgotten Realms, or in D&D in general. Other than that, though, I didn’t really like the story all that much. It was basic enough that you could have easily set it in some other fantasy world by replacing a few location names, and the characters were underwhelming. All in all, it was too generic and forgettable.
The sixth story, “Wickless in the Nether”, I am neutral towards. I didn’t particularly enjoy it, but I didn’t hate it, either. I like how Ilnezhara and Tazmikella, being Dragons, have their own agendas, and see Humans (and Drow) as similar to playthings and ends to means, whatever their goals are. Personally, I don’t like how Entreri is portrayed. Even though the time he spends with Jarlaxle certainly “loosens him up”, he seems a little too loose in this short story. The man is an assassin, after all, and if you didn’t know that previously, I don’t think you would have guessed it, based on his portrayal.
The seventh story, “Serpestrillvyth”, by Rich Baker, was another one I didn’t particularly enjoy. Like Jess Lebow’s story, “Serpestrillvyth” was just too generic. A bunch of Dragon hunters are hired to kill a Dragon. In the end, the Dragon wins. Nothing particular of note happened. Nowhere in particular was featured. Nobody of note was featured. It was an all-around forgettable story.
The eighth story, “Waylaid”, by Thomas Reid, was another story that I am neutral towards, not particularly liking it, but not hating it, either. The story was generic and a little corny, and nothing of any kind of particular note happened. For whatever reason, the story did not seem to drag, though, and that’s its saving grace. Something about it didn’t feel like a chore to finish, unlike the other stories that I didn’t like.
The ninth story, “Standard Delving Procedure”, by Lisa Smedman, was a good story. My main gripe with it is that I didn’t like the name of one of the Dwarven protagonists, ‘Frivaldi’. ‘Frivaldi’ is much too Italian sounding for a Dwarven name, in my opinion. But, other than that, I had no problems with this one. The plot worked, and I like how, in the space of only a few pages, Lisa made the Delvers feel like a real organization, with their procedures, traditions, training manuals, and, of course, acronyms.
The tenth story, “An Icy Heart”, by Voronica Whitney-Robinson, I enjoyed. It’s not very often that you get stories that feature Dragon Turtles, let alone an intimate view of how they live, what they feel, their priorities, and so on. The repercussions of the ending of the story, with the Dragon Turtle council seemingly swayed to accept the offer of Halaster and the Cult of the Dragon, for subservience in exchange for protection from the Rage, I wish they were explored in depth elsewhere. I never really realized how interesting Dragon Turtles are, or could be.
The eleventh story, “Penitential Rites”, by Keith Francis Strohm was a fun little mystery story. The Forgotten Realms is such a broad world, with scores and scores of books having been written over the years, but there aren’t enough books with a mystery theme. The story started off a little slow, I thought, but got good just before the ending, when everything began falling into place for our detective. The ending, in what happened to Drakken, was a little anticlimactic, though. I felt the author was going for something of a ‘redeeming’ concept, and I don’t really think he really got that well.
The twelfth story, “How Sharper than a Dragon’s Tooth”, by Dave Gross, I started out disliking, and it wound up one of my favorite stories within the book. The first ‘Act’, involving interplay between players of the Wide Realms playhouse made me think the story was going to be a stinker. It picked up once Talbot met Mnomene and had purpose, writing the play ‘King Krion’. I liked how Krion, a Gold Dragon, was the antagonist of the story. Even though they’re Lawful Good, they’re still Dragons, and are extra elitist, intolerant, and hubristic.
The thirteenth story, “Beer with a Fat Dragon”, by Don Bassingthwaite, was a follow-up story to The Yellow Silk, a novel that I enjoyed greatly. Just like in that novel, Tycho was an awesome character. One part Jarlaxle, one part Han Solo, and one part Tony Stark. Li was featured, but didn’t have too large of a role, which is unfortunate, since he would’ve been a good source of more Kara-Tur/Hordelands lore, a Shou traveling the Golden Way. Featuring a Chiang Lung Dragon, instead of a “normal” Dragon made me happy, and Ong was an interesting host, to say the least. It’s too bad nothing more has been written on the (mis)adventures of Tycho and Li, since this story left them in some precarious danger.
The fourteenth and final story, “The Prisoner of Hulburg”, by Richard Lee Byers, was a direct tie-in to his Year of the Rogue Dragons trilogy. Pavel Shemov (I will always imagine him in my mind’s eye as a Hasidic Jew) and Will Turnstone (who will forever be in Jakk Fleet’s shadow) served as protagonists. As with the earlier story, it was nice to see Gem Dragons being further ingrained into the setting. It was also nice to see the Zhentarim as bad guys. As compared to the 2e era, the Zhents were featured less-and-less as bad guys during the 3e days, and it was nice to see some more generic Zhentish evil.
October 17, 2022
I think this anthology would have been better if there had been a more thorough vetting of which story to keep and which to let go. There's too many that are either boring or that are too focused on combat that hasn't been constructed to be fun to read on paper.
My average rating of the stories is a 2.39, which yikes, that's really low.
The best ones imo are:
• Gorlist's Dragon by Elaine Cunningham = 3
• Wickless in the Nether by R.A. Salvatore = 4
• Waylaid by Thomas M. Reid = 3
• Standard Delving Procedure = 3.5
• An Icy Heart by Voronica Whitney-Robinson= 3
• How Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth by Dave Gross = 3 (would have been a 3.5 if not for the ending)
My average rating of the stories is a 2.39, which yikes, that's really low.
The best ones imo are:
• Gorlist's Dragon by Elaine Cunningham = 3
• Wickless in the Nether by R.A. Salvatore = 4
• Waylaid by Thomas M. Reid = 3
• Standard Delving Procedure = 3.5
• An Icy Heart by Voronica Whitney-Robinson= 3
• How Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth by Dave Gross = 3 (would have been a 3.5 if not for the ending)
May 12, 2022
Fantastic collection of stories, my favourites being Gorlist’s Dragon by Elaine Cunningham, a story of revenge set in the under dark, Serpestrillvyth by Richard Baker, a heroic band try and earn fortune and glory but things don’t go as planned, Standard Delving Procedure by Lisa Smedman, a fun romp of a treasure hunt with a great mix of humour and adventure and the murder mystery of Penitential Rites by Keith Francis Strohm.
Well recommended to scratch your forgotten realms dragon itch.
Well recommended to scratch your forgotten realms dragon itch.
January 26, 2018
Another good set of stories. I think each one was worthy to be part of the anthology, as each tale immediately got you interested. Hopefully the next one, Part 2, is just as interesting.
June 9, 2019
Soulbound: 4/18/19
First Flight: 4/21/19
First Flight: 4/21/19
August 15, 2019
Soulbound by Paul S. Kemp is the reason to read this book. That guy can write. Just wish he would start writing again. Not tweets though. Sigh.
Read
June 18, 2022Trigger & Content Warnings:
Slavery
Rape mentioned
Sex work mentioned
Self-injury
Blood & gore depiction
Knife violence
Poisoning
Fire & immolation
War themes & battle scenes
Slavery
Rape mentioned
Sex work mentioned
Self-injury
Blood & gore depiction
Knife violence
Poisoning
Fire & immolation
War themes & battle scenes
Want to read
January 3, 2025small sticker residue top right corner of front cover, small sticker on barcode area back cover.
March 28, 2014
Once again as I make my way through the Drizzt timeline I only read story VI (Wickless in the Nether).
Another peek into the story that is Enteri and Jarlaxle this time tricked by two dragon sisters. As I've stated before I do enjoy this wonderful odd couple and the plots and schemes they dream up.
Another peek into the story that is Enteri and Jarlaxle this time tricked by two dragon sisters. As I've stated before I do enjoy this wonderful odd couple and the plots and schemes they dream up.
April 25, 2016
Most stories do not get interesting in the short space they have. Slightly better. but just 2 stars are Soulbourn, First Flight, Keeper of Secrets, Standard Delving Procedure and Beer with a Fat Dragon.
August 10, 2011
I think, for the most part, this was a great group of stories. As always, there are some that are better than others.
December 29, 2013
A collection of dragon-based stories. A fantastic assortment from authors like Ed Greenwood and R.A. Salvatore.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews