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Forgotten Realms: Druidhome #2
The Coral Kingdom
Traveling far beyond the shores of her island kingdom, a high princess battles the vicious undersea race that is holding her father prisoner, a battle that climaxes in the dark depths of the Sea of Moonshae. Original.
310 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1992
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About the author
Douglas Niles
175 books235 followersDouglas Niles is a fantasy author and game designer. Niles was one of the creators of the Dragonlance world and the author of the first three Forgotten Realms novels, and the Top Secret S/I espionage role-playing game. He currently resides in Delavan, Wisconsin with his wife, Christine, and two Bouviets, Reggie and Stella. He enjoys playing his guitar, cooking, and visiting with family.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 18, 2010
So this story wasn't the most amazing of the forgotten realms books. However, I will say that I think that Niles really shows improvment from some of his earlier novels. Don't get me wrong, he is still following his ususal plot line, with very little deveation, but the writing itself is a bit more polished, especially from his first Moonshae series. So, while I wasn't captivated, I was still entertained and I'm not dreading reading the next book (like with the Greenwood novels...sorry Ed, but I just had to say it).
The thing that I did like the best about this book was the lead role of the druids. I've read a rediculious amount of these books, and besides the earlier Moonshae books, there has never been a druid leading character. Even in those other books, Robyn (the druid) seemed more like a mage with spells that always had to do with weather or something. But in this book, there are two druids (Robyn being one of them) and they are doing all kinds of cool druid stuff; summoning elementals left and right, having trees come to life and fight for them, and last but most definitely not least, turning into an orca to desimate a legion of evil fish men! HURAH! Good job Niles!
The thing that I did like the best about this book was the lead role of the druids. I've read a rediculious amount of these books, and besides the earlier Moonshae books, there has never been a druid leading character. Even in those other books, Robyn (the druid) seemed more like a mage with spells that always had to do with weather or something. But in this book, there are two druids (Robyn being one of them) and they are doing all kinds of cool druid stuff; summoning elementals left and right, having trees come to life and fight for them, and last but most definitely not least, turning into an orca to desimate a legion of evil fish men! HURAH! Good job Niles!
January 15, 2021
Quite frankly, this was not the best of Douglas Niles works, especially in the series of books focusing on the Kendrick family. However, I still enjoyed the tale! It also seemed to me that this book has had the most satisfying ending, thus far. It didn't end as an independent story as the other novels have felt. This one ended leaving room for the next and final novel in the Druidhome Trilogy.
All in all, I have greatly enjoyed Douglas Niles works and give high praise to the author! Despite the awkward story in comparison to other works, the author did a very good job with this book.
All in all, I have greatly enjoyed Douglas Niles works and give high praise to the author! Despite the awkward story in comparison to other works, the author did a very good job with this book.
September 6, 2025
Although it is quite frequent that the second book in a series is the worst one, it's very hard to accept the terrific plunge in quality from Prophet of Moonshae to this one.
This book is definitely terrible, and although there are some Forgotten Realms novels that are even abysmally worse than this, I really didn't expect such a bad work by Douglas Niles.
As I said in the review to the previous book, Douglas Niles is masterful in following several different plot lines that merge in a global plot. Well, maybe the problem is exactly this: there is essentially a single plot line that is followed constantly, with the exception of a very minor plot line concerning King Tristan. So maybe the author is not as good when dealing with a single, continuous story line.
The book is boring, really, really boring. Essentially, it is a continuous series of fights from the beginning to the end, much like that bunch of rubbish that is The Legacy. Also, the plot repeats itself a lot. The ship travels, sahuagin and sea trolls attack, then the ship lands, it travels again, sahuagin and sea trolls attack, then it goes underwater, sahuagin and sea trolls attack. It's so repetitive I couldn't wait to be through with it.
The fights also appear easier and easier over time. At first, each sea troll appears to be a foe almost impossible to overcome. At the end, sea trolls are easily dispatched by any unnamed Northman on the ship.
There are other significant flaws. For example, Another inconsistency is
The character Luge could be an interesting addition, but it is too easily dealt with at the end. This is a really hurried and unsatisfactory way to close the part concerning that character.
Speaking of characters badly dealt with, there is no one who beats Deirdre in that regard. Her behavior is essentially schizophrenic, behaving at some point in a way and at another point in another. I understand that the author wanted to show the conflict between what she was and what she is becoming, but a little more character development for her would have made miracles.
I am also puzzled by the fact that there are some exceptions to the (A)D&D rules. Since Douglas Niles is generally very attentive, this issue makes me think that someone else wrote some parts, maybe due to timing constraints. In particular, Robyn's transformations are off-rules (in particular, shapechanging into the same creature twice in a short period of time). Furthermore, the significance of the mirror is unclear. Why did Talos need to wait for the mirror to be in possession of Deirdre to use it to scry? After all, Talos is shown using the mirror completely independently of whether Deirdre is currently using it. So its use is quite discordant with the fact that he wanted Deirdre to have it.
I really hope that the next book recovers a bit, because I wouldn't want to read something as bad as this.
This book is definitely terrible, and although there are some Forgotten Realms novels that are even abysmally worse than this, I really didn't expect such a bad work by Douglas Niles.
As I said in the review to the previous book, Douglas Niles is masterful in following several different plot lines that merge in a global plot. Well, maybe the problem is exactly this: there is essentially a single plot line that is followed constantly, with the exception of a very minor plot line concerning King Tristan. So maybe the author is not as good when dealing with a single, continuous story line.
The book is boring, really, really boring. Essentially, it is a continuous series of fights from the beginning to the end, much like that bunch of rubbish that is The Legacy. Also, the plot repeats itself a lot. The ship travels, sahuagin and sea trolls attack, then the ship lands, it travels again, sahuagin and sea trolls attack, then it goes underwater, sahuagin and sea trolls attack. It's so repetitive I couldn't wait to be through with it.
The fights also appear easier and easier over time. At first, each sea troll appears to be a foe almost impossible to overcome. At the end, sea trolls are easily dispatched by any unnamed Northman on the ship.
There are other significant flaws. For example, Another inconsistency is
The character Luge could be an interesting addition, but it is too easily dealt with at the end. This is a really hurried and unsatisfactory way to close the part concerning that character.
Speaking of characters badly dealt with, there is no one who beats Deirdre in that regard. Her behavior is essentially schizophrenic, behaving at some point in a way and at another point in another. I understand that the author wanted to show the conflict between what she was and what she is becoming, but a little more character development for her would have made miracles.
I am also puzzled by the fact that there are some exceptions to the (A)D&D rules. Since Douglas Niles is generally very attentive, this issue makes me think that someone else wrote some parts, maybe due to timing constraints. In particular, Robyn's transformations are off-rules (in particular, shapechanging into the same creature twice in a short period of time). Furthermore, the significance of the mirror is unclear. Why did Talos need to wait for the mirror to be in possession of Deirdre to use it to scry? After all, Talos is shown using the mirror completely independently of whether Deirdre is currently using it. So its use is quite discordant with the fact that he wanted Deirdre to have it.
I really hope that the next book recovers a bit, because I wouldn't want to read something as bad as this.
October 14, 2018
Douglas Niles is a decent author, at least by the standards of fantasy RPG licensed tie-in novels. His prose appears to have improved over time, also, comparing his first (and the first) books in the Forgotten Realms line of books to his current ones (I am talking 1992-current here; I am reading the Forgotten Realms novels in publication order so this is the time point I can use as reference). His characters are likeable, even the one-dimensional ones, except when they are not meant to be. His key weakness appears to be plot structure. He re-uses certain plots which were not all that narratively effective in the first place. One of these is: evil god summons powerful creature or avatar, seemingly unstoppable, heroes journey to eventually meet it, battle valiantly and desperately, and a last-minute miraculous victory is achieved. We saw this in both the original Moonshae trilogy and the Maztica trilogy, Douglas Niles's previous Forgotten Realms works.
We see this pattern again here, in the form of the Elf-Eater. Honestly, the unstoppable juggernaut with no discernible weakness, eating everyone in its path, got old fast. Even the death of a 'good guy' character during this struggle lacked emotional resilience, despite that is was written as highly impactful for the surviving protagonists. This character was inserted here solely and transparently for this reason, otherwise adding nothing to the story. Fortunately, the Elf-Eater storyline only encompassed the first half of the novel; only after its completion did my interest rise up. Maybe the problem is that is was designed primarily as a tool to get the characters to the position they needed to be in, in order to get on to the primary mission of the book, and not as an end in itself.
Fortunatly, the second half of the book, encompassing the mission to rescue King Tristan under the freaking sea (no spoiler, this is on the book jacket), was much more enjoyable. It was still pulpy, over-the-top, predictable adventure, but it was done well. The setting was much more enjoyable, for one thing. The earlier descriptions of the fantastical, magical Elf palaces were unimpressive, in my opinion, somehow failing to invoke any sense of wonder in me as the reader (the characters were certainly impressed); perhaps they were simply architecturally too alien and improbable. The under-sea kingdom, on the other hand, evoked much more interest and a sense of amazement. Clearly, what was lacking up to this point was a healthy dose of swashbuckling.
tldr: first half boring and inconsequential; second half fun and the point of the book.
We see this pattern again here, in the form of the Elf-Eater. Honestly, the unstoppable juggernaut with no discernible weakness, eating everyone in its path, got old fast. Even the death of a 'good guy' character during this struggle lacked emotional resilience, despite that is was written as highly impactful for the surviving protagonists. This character was inserted here solely and transparently for this reason, otherwise adding nothing to the story. Fortunately, the Elf-Eater storyline only encompassed the first half of the novel; only after its completion did my interest rise up. Maybe the problem is that is was designed primarily as a tool to get the characters to the position they needed to be in, in order to get on to the primary mission of the book, and not as an end in itself.
Fortunatly, the second half of the book, encompassing the mission to rescue King Tristan under the freaking sea (no spoiler, this is on the book jacket), was much more enjoyable. It was still pulpy, over-the-top, predictable adventure, but it was done well. The setting was much more enjoyable, for one thing. The earlier descriptions of the fantastical, magical Elf palaces were unimpressive, in my opinion, somehow failing to invoke any sense of wonder in me as the reader (the characters were certainly impressed); perhaps they were simply architecturally too alien and improbable. The under-sea kingdom, on the other hand, evoked much more interest and a sense of amazement. Clearly, what was lacking up to this point was a healthy dose of swashbuckling.
tldr: first half boring and inconsequential; second half fun and the point of the book.
April 9, 2022
It appears that Mr. Niles only had enough material for half a novel, so the first third/half of the story was heavily padded with action scenes regarding an elf-eating monster. For me, fighting & action sequences are only exciting if they are supportive of a narrative plot, so the first chunk of the book is a throw-away.
Finally we happen upon the story described on the back cover. This is where things really begin to turn around. The visit to the island of Evermeet is interesting, and the stuff about Tristan being imprisoned and attempting to escape turns up the excitement a notch. From this point there is everything you’d hope to find in a Forgotten Realms novel, despite the last couple chapters being a bit drawn out due to fighting.
One of the problems with the Moonshae trilogy was that it had annoying characters. In this trilogy the problem lies in the characters being forgettable. I found myself rooting for King Tristan, but I had no care for anyone else.
In conclusion, the merits of this novel aren’t enough to bring it up to par. I’ll be skipping the next book altogether.
Finally we happen upon the story described on the back cover. This is where things really begin to turn around. The visit to the island of Evermeet is interesting, and the stuff about Tristan being imprisoned and attempting to escape turns up the excitement a notch. From this point there is everything you’d hope to find in a Forgotten Realms novel, despite the last couple chapters being a bit drawn out due to fighting.
One of the problems with the Moonshae trilogy was that it had annoying characters. In this trilogy the problem lies in the characters being forgettable. I found myself rooting for King Tristan, but I had no care for anyone else.
In conclusion, the merits of this novel aren’t enough to bring it up to par. I’ll be skipping the next book altogether.
June 15, 2022
A whole new level of silliness.
I never managed to engage with the characters as there aren't any, just cardboard figures with alignments instead of thoughts.
The fighting scenes, taking a substantial number of pages here, were particularly boring.
I seriously have trouble with the evil guys in this series, as they are even more cardboard than the heroes.
And Deirdre... How can anyone mismanage writing Deirdre so badly? She is the only non black-and-white character in the whole series. Yet her motivations feel particularly flimsy. Whatever goes inside her head, we won't learn about it because the narrator never bothers to pay her much attention.
Not even the (possibly) first submarine in fantasy can save this disaster of a novel.
I never managed to engage with the characters as there aren't any, just cardboard figures with alignments instead of thoughts.
The fighting scenes, taking a substantial number of pages here, were particularly boring.
I seriously have trouble with the evil guys in this series, as they are even more cardboard than the heroes.
And Deirdre... How can anyone mismanage writing Deirdre so badly? She is the only non black-and-white character in the whole series. Yet her motivations feel particularly flimsy. Whatever goes inside her head, we won't learn about it because the narrator never bothers to pay her much attention.
Not even the (possibly) first submarine in fantasy can save this disaster of a novel.
June 22, 2020
Not as good as the first one. A little more far-fetched, and the novel suffers from a distinct lack of character development. Queen Robyn rights some more wrongs that are happening to her island king, and while entertaining to a point, nothing really gets expanded on. This seems to be a recurring pattern with Douglas Niles' novels.
September 12, 2018
The twist ending from the first book lies heavily throughout the second, and seeing the aftermath of those crucial events unfold are a treat to behold. I can't wait to read the next one!
August 7, 2022
This book was awesome, and I'm really looking forward to volume three of the series.
June 24, 2023
I liked the sequel better than the first. The underwater rescue was great
December 30, 2023
Interesting. Where will the sisters go next, which one is truly evil. 🤔
October 29, 2024
Further threads connected with dilemmas of the heart as critical as dilemmas of the realms.
February 28, 2025
"The Coral Kingdom" by Douglas Niles is the second book in the Druidhome Trilogy, continuing the adventures of Robyn Kendrick and her allies. The story follows Robyn as she embarks on a daring sea voyage to rescue her husband, King Tristan Kendrick, who has been captured by a vicious undersea race. Alongside a courageous Northman prince and a crew of heroes, Robyn faces numerous challenges and battles in the dark depths of the Sea of Moonshae.
Niles excels in creating a vivid and immersive world, filled with rich details and imaginative settings. The plot is engaging, with plenty of action and suspense to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed, and their interactions add depth to the narrative.
However, the pacing can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag on. Additionally, the complexity of the plot might be overwhelming for some readers, making it challenging to follow all the threads.
Overall, "The Coral Kingdom" is an OK fantasy novel with a captivating storyline and memorable characters. Despite its flaws, it offers an enjoyable read for fans of the genre and those invested in the Forgotten Realms earliest books.
Niles excels in creating a vivid and immersive world, filled with rich details and imaginative settings. The plot is engaging, with plenty of action and suspense to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed, and their interactions add depth to the narrative.
However, the pacing can be uneven at times, with some sections feeling rushed while others drag on. Additionally, the complexity of the plot might be overwhelming for some readers, making it challenging to follow all the threads.
Overall, "The Coral Kingdom" is an OK fantasy novel with a captivating storyline and memorable characters. Despite its flaws, it offers an enjoyable read for fans of the genre and those invested in the Forgotten Realms earliest books.
September 30, 2022
This book reminded me of the first trilogy in a way. I wasn't a big fan of that set. Pretty much the same scenario as all 4 before this with some unique parts. Probably not much of a spoiler but they go under seas after needing to go to Evermeet first to get an artifact that allows their ship to submerge and them to breathe. That part reminded me of Spell Jammer a bit. Basically Tristan is held prisoner and it is a family affair to rescue him with all of Alicia's entourage following from the first book in this trilogy. Deidre is still the same weird goth like princess. All in all I found it slightly better than the first trilogy but still not great. If I wasn't reading all the books in the Forgotten Realms collection I would probably skip the final one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2014
Been a long time since I read this book, way back in middle school. I do remember feeling a bit bored by it and not as excited as I had been by other FR titles.
Maybe you'll like it, but I'll stay with 2-stars, although not in any overly negative way, I just didn't care for the book is all.
Maybe you'll like it, but I'll stay with 2-stars, although not in any overly negative way, I just didn't care for the book is all.
April 3, 2016
The series seems to keep rolling along nicely.
As usual. Using back and forth bursts. Manages to keep multiple. Characters and plot lines moving.
Nice seeing him, keeping track. Of the who, what and where for all of them.
This one more of an undersea adventure.
As usual. Using back and forth bursts. Manages to keep multiple. Characters and plot lines moving.
Nice seeing him, keeping track. Of the who, what and where for all of them.
This one more of an undersea adventure.
April 1, 2014
I liked this as a kid. I can't say I would now.
October 1, 2016
Meh...
November 1, 2020
Good book just not that into sea-themed stories.
December 28, 2013
Very fun fantasy. A solid read. =)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews