The Crystal Chalice

Dragonlance: The New Adventures: Elidor #2

by Ree Soesbee, Vinod Rams (Illustrator)

As the Defiler’s curse holds Vael’s health hostage, Elidor searches for a way to rescue her without succumbing to the evil wizard’s demands.
Somewhere within the lost city of Taeloc, a crystal chalice may hold the answers to his prayers. A group of shady mercenaries offers to protect Elidor on the journey and give him the chalice, in exchange for his help in locating the city. Desperate to save his love, Elidor reluctantly agrees.
But nothing goes exactly as planned . . .

Genres: Dragonlance, Fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons

256 pages, Paperback

First published March 14, 2006

About the author

Ree Soesbee is a writer, game designer, and lore editor for massively multiplayer online games as well as traditional pen and paper RPGs. She has authored more than sixteen novels in a wide variety of fantastic worlds ranging from the popular Legend of the Five Rings setting to Star Trek, Dragonlance, Deadlands, and Vampire: the Masquerade. Her body of work includes over a hundred RPG texts, and inclusion in numerous short story anthologies and professional literary journals. Currently, she is a lead designer and lore writer for Guild Wars 2; innovative follow-up to the award-winning Guild Wars MMORPG. Already, Guild Wars 2 has recieved Gamescom's 'Best Online Game' and MMORPG.com's 'Most Anticipated MMO' awards.

Reviews

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second book of a trilogy and the first one must be read before this book. This takes place in the Dragonlance universe and is part of the young readers novels. In this one, Vael is cursed by the Defiler. The gang has learned of an object that will cure her and it happens to be in the place where Elidor's crown came from.

This was definitely a step up from the opening book in this novel. I felt like the characters held true to form and there were surprises with several of them. I was also a fan of the journey to get to their destination as it had elements of action and using your wits. I liked the introduction of new characters as they are a thorn in the side for our heroes and makes their mission even harder. This book didn't contain flaws like the first book contained.

The young readers books are a nice addition to this world. They are not the best books from this world but they are also not the worst. They entertain and this one did that. It also left us with a cliffhanger that has enticed me to read the next book.

[Matt Littrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a good bit more than the first one. This one, like a lot of older fantasy, is about the journey. Elidor willing to do whatever it takes, discovering just how far he might go for the ones he loves. It's corny yes. The writing is only okay. But the story is good, and as it ended I wanted to know what happened enough to pick up the next book right after. I think fan's of the other Dragonlance books will enjoy these just as much, even though I'd refer to them as Dragonlance lite.