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The Cleric Quintet #5
The Chaos Curse
Upon his return to the Edificant Library, the young scholar-priest Cadderly finds the life of his companion, Danica, his treasured library, and his own livelihood hanging in the balance as he battles to end the chaos curse forever. Original.
299 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
R.A. Salvatore
626 books11.7k followersAs one of the fantasy genre’s most successful authors, R.A. Salvatore enjoys an ever-expanding and tremendously loyal following. His books regularly appear on The New York Times best-seller lists and have sold more than 10,000,000 copies. Salvatore’s original hardcover, The Two Swords, Book III of The Hunter’s Blade Trilogy (October 2004) debuted at # 1 on The Wall Street Journal best-seller list and at # 4 on The New York Times best-seller list. His books have been translated into numerous foreign languages including German, Italian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Turkish, Croatian, Bulgarian, Yiddish, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, and French.
Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer’s letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer’s letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
August 26, 2019
Well, it's an ending. I wasn't sure what to expect after the Big Bad was defeated in book 4 of 5. Overall, I liked how the threat of the first book's Chaos Curse took a twist into an entirely different type of threat to the Edificant Library. I also very much liked that Cadderly was de-powered since the prior book. I did not care for the dearth of new character development, with two exceptions: Pikel (he of the multiple TBI's) gaining some minor new druidic abilities, and Cadderly's final disposition, which I am not convinced fits with his character in the rest of the series, but at least draws the pentalogy to a satisfying close and limits the number of characters that we might see in future books (I only know by heresay of the Bouldershoulder brothers showing up again in Salvatore's later Forgotten Realms novels).
As in book 4, the word count is truncated compared to other Forgotten Realms novels published to date, so much so that even with a sparse font and page margins, they had to include 30 pages of preview of the next Drizzt novel to get the paperback thickness up to standard for this series.
As in book 4, the word count is truncated compared to other Forgotten Realms novels published to date, so much so that even with a sparse font and page margins, they had to include 30 pages of preview of the next Drizzt novel to get the paperback thickness up to standard for this series.
July 18, 2017
I'll just review the whole Cleric Quintet series here.
Overall rating: 2.5
First things first, this is not a book, this is a D&D campaign. So much so that you can clearly see the moments when the characters rolled a natural 20 or natural 0.
As a D&D campaign it is quite entertaining, but as a book, well.. Even the detailed fight scenes become repetitive at some point (which, again would be great at the playing table). Although it's pretty fun when you're like "Hey! I know that spell!" :D
SPOILERS AHEAD
Some things I liked about this book is its depiction of different PC classes. I never quite understood the Druids' aversion to the unnatural until I read the Canticle. The clerics are also well represented, though I still dislike them in their rigidity.
Cadderly, by far, was the most infuriating character. He started out as bright and inquisitive adventurer, a cleric more by upbringing than calling. And by the end of the last book he had fully transitioned into a fanatic believer.
TL;DR A nice D&D campaign story to listen to, bu I'd not waste my time reading it
Overall rating: 2.5
First things first, this is not a book, this is a D&D campaign. So much so that you can clearly see the moments when the characters rolled a natural 20 or natural 0.
As a D&D campaign it is quite entertaining, but as a book, well.. Even the detailed fight scenes become repetitive at some point (which, again would be great at the playing table). Although it's pretty fun when you're like "Hey! I know that spell!" :D
SPOILERS AHEAD
Some things I liked about this book is its depiction of different PC classes. I never quite understood the Druids' aversion to the unnatural until I read the Canticle. The clerics are also well represented, though I still dislike them in their rigidity.
Cadderly, by far, was the most infuriating character. He started out as bright and inquisitive adventurer, a cleric more by upbringing than calling. And by the end of the last book he had fully transitioned into a fanatic believer.
TL;DR A nice D&D campaign story to listen to, bu I'd not waste my time reading it
February 2, 2019
I should've realized early on I wouldn't like this series. And I admit, if it weren't for the rest of this author's work, I wouldn't have touched Cleric Quintet.
I stuck with it, hoping the story and battles would be worth it.
Nope.
Somewhat spoilers ahead:
Biggest problem? Everybody gets a pass by their peers for their decisions. Danica never realizes 'I absolutely deserve better than this' from Cadderly and Rufo never gets judgment for betraying everyone multiple times.
I stuck with it, hoping the story and battles would be worth it.
Nope.
Somewhat spoilers ahead:
Biggest problem? Everybody gets a pass by their peers for their decisions. Danica never realizes 'I absolutely deserve better than this' from Cadderly and Rufo never gets judgment for betraying everyone multiple times.
September 14, 2023
One of the best books in the series, if not my favourite. It was exceedingly dark throughout and really made a certain undead creature seem thoroughly terrifying and powerful.
The ending was satisfying and really sets up Cadderly’s character well for his role in the Legend of Drizzt books. A great story about faith and the powers of a god through a human conduit.
The ending was satisfying and really sets up Cadderly’s character well for his role in the Legend of Drizzt books. A great story about faith and the powers of a god through a human conduit.
August 13, 2020
Les trois quarts du livre remontaient le niveau de la série mais la fin serieux... Wtf ? C'est vraiment moyen. Avec des dieux pétés comme ça pas besoin d'ennemis ! Bref on capte que cette pentalogie est une "oeuvre" de jeunesse, pas mal de clichés etc, mais ça reste correct.
June 2, 2023
3/5 The final book in the Cleric Quintet was sadly not as enjoyable as the last few installments. While it did a good job tying up loose ends it still managed to feel tacked on. Without Abalister and the hordes of Castle Trinity it just didn't hold it's appeal for me. We do get to see what happens with Kierkan Rufo and the imp Druzel and then wrap up everyone's story at least.
This time the party is heading back to the Edificant Library after successfully taking out Castle Trinity and it's minions. Only to be greeted by a Vampiric host that has taken over. The Chaos Curse also feels like a big down beat after the mostly uplifting series so it just feels a little out of place.
As a whole I enjoyed the quintet particularly the cast of characters and I am pleased to know that they will show up in later Drizzt novels. The first and last books are the weakest links but it was a fun adventure. Ranking the series in the following order 3>4>2>1>5
This time the party is heading back to the Edificant Library after successfully taking out Castle Trinity and it's minions. Only to be greeted by a Vampiric host that has taken over. The Chaos Curse also feels like a big down beat after the mostly uplifting series so it just feels a little out of place.
As a whole I enjoyed the quintet particularly the cast of characters and I am pleased to know that they will show up in later Drizzt novels. The first and last books are the weakest links but it was a fun adventure. Ranking the series in the following order 3>4>2>1>5
June 30, 2013
A good end to the series.
May 27, 2024
I enjoyed this the first time i read it, when I was much younger. There are good elements here, but the main characters are bland and never in danger. If this is your first fantasy series, it's fine. But if you've read anything else, you'll find yourself either skipping paragraphs or putting the book down to read something else.
October 1, 2022
Este último libro tiene una premisa un poco más original que los otros cuatro, lo cual se agradece. Sin embargo, el desarrollo es muy lineal, y basado por completo en combates continuos. Lo bueno es que es bastante breve.
July 7, 2020
Surprised at the fast pace this series ended. It also ended in a better not than some other books on the series.
Also, finally got to finish it :)
Also, finally got to finish it :)
June 22, 2023
Now one my favorite salvatore reads.
January 3, 2024
It's a solid ending to a solid series. I found the monster type for the final villain to be a bit cheesy but it's another good adventures and wraps up the series nicely.
March 1, 2017
For a finale of a series, this book is vastly anti-climactic compared to the previous installments. It felt like Salvatore lost steam mid point and dragged out the story's plateau, unsure of how to end it. And when it did, the ending felt forced and hurried, and it was basically an antithesis to everything he worked hard to establish in the first four books. Oh well.
November 13, 2014
Going back and rereading these years later I find myself noting the flaws a lot more. Salvatore still is easily one of the very best action writers and that shines through in this entire series. That makes it an incredibly fun ride overall. My issues stem largely from the attempts at social commentary. I've noted in the past that Salvatore's books are deeper than you'd expect for "popcorn entertainment" which is largely what I view Forgotten Realms novels. I just feel like the commentary in these novels was shallower and less insightful and more surface level. It's not that I find myself disagreeing with his observations. It's that I feel he's barely scratching the surface and not dipping into nuance at all in these books. I've read a lot of Salvatore so I know he can be much, much better and deeper. Still, this was a fun revisit if not quite as good as I remembered. 7.5 out of 10.
February 18, 2017
The last book in the Cleric Quintet and the end of our adventures with Cadderly.
Everyone is back in this one - Danica, Ivan & Pikel Bouldershoulder and of course the best character in the books - Percival.
In this book we've got everyone returning to the Edificant Library to find it overrun with vampires and zombies (no spoilers here so I won't say too much more) but yeah, we've got a Forgotten Realms book here so we've got vampires and zombies in an epic fantasy tale.
There's battles and life/death which all leads up to an epic conclusion to the story.
Loved it.
Loved the characters, loved the fights, loved the plot and the pacing.
Really really good.
Recommended highly.
Everyone is back in this one - Danica, Ivan & Pikel Bouldershoulder and of course the best character in the books - Percival.
In this book we've got everyone returning to the Edificant Library to find it overrun with vampires and zombies (no spoilers here so I won't say too much more) but yeah, we've got a Forgotten Realms book here so we've got vampires and zombies in an epic fantasy tale.
There's battles and life/death which all leads up to an epic conclusion to the story.
Loved it.
Loved the characters, loved the fights, loved the plot and the pacing.
Really really good.
Recommended highly.
September 13, 2022
I'm going to start by saying that I'm never sure how to handle spoilers when reviewing an older book. This was published in 2000, so I really think that after 22 years (!!), the spoiler period has ended. On the other hand, I just read this for the first time, and obviously there will be others as well. So I'm going to touch on some spoilers in broad strokes, but I will try to avoid going into too much detail or will spoiler-tag. But there's no way to discuss this without at least some detail, so take your warnings now if you want an absolute blank slate for your read through.
I was uncertain what to expect as I headed into this, the final book in the quintet, when the fourth book felt like it was closing the series out. However, this turned out to be a true bookend to the story, as we return to the people and places that started it all--Kierkan Rufo, Druzil, the Edificant Library, and...the chaos curse.
Based on the indications we'd previously been given, I was expecting the plot of this book to focus on Cadderly's attempt to wrench the order of Deneir and the Library into his way of thinking. That was all I could think would be the main conflict, since the major Big Bad had been defeated in the previous book. I would never have foreseen a situation where Kierkan Rufo becomes the major threat.
There is a lot worth covering here, although I'm going to skip past the edges of some of it. I loved the way that the takeover of the Library was accomplished, and the endings experienced by those that accepted the 'offer' of being turned versus those who held on to their faith until the last. Also, Pikel managed to become a druid and to perform priestly and clerical feats, apparently by will and force of belief alone. I have no idea how and...honestly, the idea that he did it all on his own, I kind of love. Pikel's determination to be a druid was treated as something of a punchline through the first three books, but it wasn't there just for comedic value, and I'm glad that he received at least some of the recognition he deserved by the end.
The part that frustrated me the most (aside from the ending, which made me cry) was the fact that every single one of Our Heroes that came near the Library after it had fallen managed to not notice that it had been desecrated. I find it hard to believe that every single one of them managed to be so distracted that they didn't notice the warning signs, and didn't attempt to leave immediately after entering the Library, even though by then they knew something was wrong. It felt a bit forced, since they had to enter the Library in order for the plot to move forward, and there didn't appear to be an in-character way to get them in, they all went momentarily stupid. (As a different reviewer said, all of them crit failed.)
Maybe we can assume that the curse was affecting them before they were even in the library, preventing them from noticing the warning signs until it was too late. Yes, we'll go with that.
I was uncertain what to expect as I headed into this, the final book in the quintet, when the fourth book felt like it was closing the series out. However, this turned out to be a true bookend to the story, as we return to the people and places that started it all--Kierkan Rufo, Druzil, the Edificant Library, and...the chaos curse.
Based on the indications we'd previously been given, I was expecting the plot of this book to focus on Cadderly's attempt to wrench the order of Deneir and the Library into his way of thinking. That was all I could think would be the main conflict, since the major Big Bad had been defeated in the previous book. I would never have foreseen a situation where Kierkan Rufo becomes the major threat.
There is a lot worth covering here, although I'm going to skip past the edges of some of it. I loved the way that the takeover of the Library was accomplished, and the endings experienced by those that accepted the 'offer' of being turned versus those who held on to their faith until the last. Also, Pikel managed to become a druid and to perform priestly and clerical feats, apparently by will and force of belief alone. I have no idea how and...honestly, the idea that he did it all on his own, I kind of love. Pikel's determination to be a druid was treated as something of a punchline through the first three books, but it wasn't there just for comedic value, and I'm glad that he received at least some of the recognition he deserved by the end.
The part that frustrated me the most (aside from the ending, which made me cry) was the fact that every single one of Our Heroes that came near the Library after it had fallen managed to not notice that it had been desecrated. I find it hard to believe that every single one of them managed to be so distracted that they didn't notice the warning signs, and didn't attempt to leave immediately after entering the Library, even though by then they knew something was wrong. It felt a bit forced, since they had to enter the Library in order for the plot to move forward, and there didn't appear to be an in-character way to get them in, they all went momentarily stupid. (As a different reviewer said, all of them crit failed.)
Maybe we can assume that the curse was affecting them before they were even in the library, preventing them from noticing the warning signs until it was too late. Yes, we'll go with that.
January 30, 2026
The Chaos Curse is the final and fifth installment of the Cleric Quintet, and it is by far the best book of the series.
We follow Cadderly and his friends as they journey back to the Edificant Library in the mountains after taking down the Castle Trinity and it’s terrible leader at the end of the previous book. They journey back with the plans of restoring everything to its rightful place. Cadderly has plans to build a new grand cathedral even greater than the Library as a tribute to the gods. Unfortunately, though they return to find that the Chaos Curse that remained dormant in the basement of the library all this time had found a new host in Cadderly’s old friend Kierkan Rufo. Together, he and the curse have created the ultimate undead abomination and perversion of divinity: Vampires. Rufo with the curse defile the library and the holiness it previously held. Cadderly and his friends are pitted against this great evil with only the hope that they can survive and live to restore this holy place.
After finishing this book, I am convinced that this close to the series is the story that R. A. Salvatore wanted to tell all along. Everything in this series has built to this moment for Cadderly. His love of Danica, his doubt in his faith, his care over his friends, and his hatred for the evil ever-present in the hearts of people. This close to the story was action-packed, fast-paced, and full of heroics and edge-of-your-seat anxiety. Yet, it was also heart wrenching, emotional, relatable, and inspirational. Above all, it managed to pull me in so deep that it even broke my heart in the way that only a great story can do. This is why I enjoy stories as much as I do. They pull us in, they make us feel, and they stay with us.
Overall, this series certainly had its ups and downs. Some parts were certainly better than others, but all can be forgiven when the story is able to rise to such a crescendo at its end that I feel the whole thing is brought together into one beautiful song. I loved this book and have thoroughly enjoyed the adventure that Salvatore has taken me on. I highly recommend the Cleric Quintet to any who love watching a story fully come together in one heart-wrenching and yet heart warming conclusion. Well done.
We follow Cadderly and his friends as they journey back to the Edificant Library in the mountains after taking down the Castle Trinity and it’s terrible leader at the end of the previous book. They journey back with the plans of restoring everything to its rightful place. Cadderly has plans to build a new grand cathedral even greater than the Library as a tribute to the gods. Unfortunately, though they return to find that the Chaos Curse that remained dormant in the basement of the library all this time had found a new host in Cadderly’s old friend Kierkan Rufo. Together, he and the curse have created the ultimate undead abomination and perversion of divinity: Vampires. Rufo with the curse defile the library and the holiness it previously held. Cadderly and his friends are pitted against this great evil with only the hope that they can survive and live to restore this holy place.
After finishing this book, I am convinced that this close to the series is the story that R. A. Salvatore wanted to tell all along. Everything in this series has built to this moment for Cadderly. His love of Danica, his doubt in his faith, his care over his friends, and his hatred for the evil ever-present in the hearts of people. This close to the story was action-packed, fast-paced, and full of heroics and edge-of-your-seat anxiety. Yet, it was also heart wrenching, emotional, relatable, and inspirational. Above all, it managed to pull me in so deep that it even broke my heart in the way that only a great story can do. This is why I enjoy stories as much as I do. They pull us in, they make us feel, and they stay with us.
Overall, this series certainly had its ups and downs. Some parts were certainly better than others, but all can be forgiven when the story is able to rise to such a crescendo at its end that I feel the whole thing is brought together into one beautiful song. I loved this book and have thoroughly enjoyed the adventure that Salvatore has taken me on. I highly recommend the Cleric Quintet to any who love watching a story fully come together in one heart-wrenching and yet heart warming conclusion. Well done.
January 11, 2023
First completed novel of 2023! I am have been finishing up a few series I started in 2022, and this was the end of my reread of the Cleric Quintet.
I think the series had some ups and downs, but this was a pretty strong finish. At this point we have been with Cadderly and crew long enough that all the characters have really grown on me. Cadderly's journey is one that I think is particularly well done.
The last book in many ways felt like what would have been a typical conclusion, but I think that freed this final book to really focus on the climatic showdown between Cadderly and our villain. This is great because Cadderly is fully into his powers, he has dealt with any issues of questioning his faith or past, so the showdown is pretty epic.
At this point, all the things Salvatore brings to the table are featured here too. Solid action scenes, comedic dialogue and moments, some great character moments, and plotting that really isn't all that surprising. I can see why this wouldn't be for everyone, but at least in this series, i'd argue it works.
I don't think this is the strongest of the series, Sylvan Shadows takes that place, but it's probably a second for me. Just enough build up and development of our big bad to really make the final fight rewarding. My biggest complaint is that some of our supporting characters do horrendously little in this book, and Dianca is sadly regulated to damsel in distress....
Overall enjoyable. It isn't a work of art, but it is fun, and as the cover suggests has vampires, so yay!
I think the series had some ups and downs, but this was a pretty strong finish. At this point we have been with Cadderly and crew long enough that all the characters have really grown on me. Cadderly's journey is one that I think is particularly well done.
The last book in many ways felt like what would have been a typical conclusion, but I think that freed this final book to really focus on the climatic showdown between Cadderly and our villain. This is great because Cadderly is fully into his powers, he has dealt with any issues of questioning his faith or past, so the showdown is pretty epic.
At this point, all the things Salvatore brings to the table are featured here too. Solid action scenes, comedic dialogue and moments, some great character moments, and plotting that really isn't all that surprising. I can see why this wouldn't be for everyone, but at least in this series, i'd argue it works.
I don't think this is the strongest of the series, Sylvan Shadows takes that place, but it's probably a second for me. Just enough build up and development of our big bad to really make the final fight rewarding. My biggest complaint is that some of our supporting characters do horrendously little in this book, and Dianca is sadly regulated to damsel in distress....
Overall enjoyable. It isn't a work of art, but it is fun, and as the cover suggests has vampires, so yay!
March 31, 2024
C9 A8 W10 P8 I10 L10 E10
Characters
It's book 5 and we have swapped one um "good" character with one bad guy as an even trade. I like them both in their new roles much more than in the ones that they had before.
Atmosphere
We're back in the library and everything is going wrong. Add a D&D vampire theme to the story and I'm having a good time.
Writing
It's book five in this series. The writing stays mostly the same across the books.
Plot
The big bad was defeated in the last book and now we just have to catch those last few plates that are still spinning. What else do we do with Kierkan Rufo, what about the unrest with the priest of the library? What do we do with Dorigen now that she's showed who she can be? Is the Chaos Curse destroyable?
Intrigue
This feels more like a fun D&D themed horror novel more than like it's part of the over all plot. There are some loose ends (see plot) that can be tied up in this book for anyone who still has those questions, but it also doesn't feel super important when the BBG of this story met his end during the last book.
Logic
Nothing of note.
Enjoyment
This was a fun way to finish the series and to get to spend a little more time with these characters.
Characters
It's book 5 and we have swapped one um "good" character with one bad guy as an even trade. I like them both in their new roles much more than in the ones that they had before.
Atmosphere
We're back in the library and everything is going wrong. Add a D&D vampire theme to the story and I'm having a good time.
Writing
It's book five in this series. The writing stays mostly the same across the books.
Plot
The big bad was defeated in the last book and now we just have to catch those last few plates that are still spinning. What else do we do with Kierkan Rufo, what about the unrest with the priest of the library? What do we do with Dorigen now that she's showed who she can be? Is the Chaos Curse destroyable?
Intrigue
This feels more like a fun D&D themed horror novel more than like it's part of the over all plot. There are some loose ends (see plot) that can be tied up in this book for anyone who still has those questions, but it also doesn't feel super important when the BBG of this story met his end during the last book.
Logic
Nothing of note.
Enjoyment
This was a fun way to finish the series and to get to spend a little more time with these characters.
December 26, 2024
Wow! The last volume in the series definitely packs a punch! Cadderly and his friends have defeated the evil wizards and are looking forward to returning home. Only an old 'friend' has got there first and discovers the original Chaos Curse sealed away by Cadderley back at the beginning of all this. An in advised taste, and suddenly the Library is overrun with Vampires and Zombies, no longer part of the religious light. Cadderley's new found strength might not be powerful enough to fight the darkness and he risks losing what he loves the most in order to defeat the transformed Rufo.
I loved this - a definite dark twist and a surprising end to the series. Rufo was always a pitiable figure, but here is become so much more - and the priests that renounce their faith deserve what they get. The actual very ending felt a little sudden though - but it also fitted well with everything else that had gone before.
A great series - I've really enjoyed it and will be a little sad to leave these characters behind, especially the Bouldershoulder brothers! Highly recommended.
I loved this - a definite dark twist and a surprising end to the series. Rufo was always a pitiable figure, but here is become so much more - and the priests that renounce their faith deserve what they get. The actual very ending felt a little sudden though - but it also fitted well with everything else that had gone before.
A great series - I've really enjoyed it and will be a little sad to leave these characters behind, especially the Bouldershoulder brothers! Highly recommended.
June 20, 2021
I wasn't really looking forward to this one. I really enjoyed the last book in the Quintet but, for the most part, it felt kind of final. I went into this expecting, essentially, an epilogue bookend. That was NOT the case. This is a no-holds barred, fast paced and bittersweet finale of the grandest kind that just keeps taking turns you don't expect. You think this book will be one thing and then it isn't and then it's something else. When you hit just prior to the half way point you really get to where it's headed and the epilogue... wept.
This is one of those rare books that I literally couldn't put down. I read it cover to cover (5 pages of prologue excepted) in one day. If you want to get fussy about it, I think it was completely cover to cover within a 24 hour period.
Loved it, as I've loved the whole series pretty much and this is a group of characters I will sorely miss.
This is one of those rare books that I literally couldn't put down. I read it cover to cover (5 pages of prologue excepted) in one day. If you want to get fussy about it, I think it was completely cover to cover within a 24 hour period.
Loved it, as I've loved the whole series pretty much and this is a group of characters I will sorely miss.
November 7, 2021
The first half of this book was all Rufoe being a vampire. Vampire. Gah. And then he turned just about everybody into vampires and they took over the library. Nearly indestructible vampires.I considered giving the book a two star.
And of course Rufoe wanted Danica to be his vampire queen. Danica was not having that. She'd rather die.
The first like 16 or so chapters had no Cadderly. I was pulling my hair out. So when Cadderly and the Bouldershoulder brothers show up the book actually gets more interesting. I was going to forgive and give it a four star.
Then that ending guh. Just no. Why after the story went out of its way to sell how much Cadderly loves Danica did the book end that way?
Also. What happened to the chemistry between Shayleigh and Ivan? Why make those statements and then do nothing with it?
And of course Rufoe wanted Danica to be his vampire queen. Danica was not having that. She'd rather die.
The first like 16 or so chapters had no Cadderly. I was pulling my hair out. So when Cadderly and the Bouldershoulder brothers show up the book actually gets more interesting. I was going to forgive and give it a four star.
Then that ending guh. Just no. Why after the story went out of its way to sell how much Cadderly loves Danica did the book end that way?
Also. What happened to the chemistry between Shayleigh and Ivan? Why make those statements and then do nothing with it?
April 9, 2023
We finish the journey of Cadderly, Danica, and friends with a return to the Edificant Library to finally deal with Kerian Rufo. Rufo started as down a dark path at the beginning and has now fully fallen without anything to redeem his character. I was saddened by the hopelessness and desperation this character represents, but in books such as this we can't expect a deep emotional tapestry for secondary characters. Overall I was unsatisfied by the treatment of the library and its residents as fodder where a much more interesting story could have been told. The battle between Dean Thobicus and Cadderly, between bureaucracy and spiritual purity, could have been very interesting but instead we fall back again into the bloody battle playbook which makes up most of this series.
October 9, 2019
The series picked up speed as it neared its conclusion, and what a showdown !
I liked where the characters went, the plot, the theme, the showdown, the evolution of the story.
The one recurring thing that I wanted the pattern broken onto, is a redeeming character being hold accountable and bear through the repercussions of their actions. It seems that whenever an "evil" character gets to be redeemed and draws closer to a higher judgment and said punishment - they get TOTALLY redeemed by (usually) a selfless act of sacrifice of sorts. Sure, it made a better splash, but was predictable after the first couple of times.
Loved the series !
I liked where the characters went, the plot, the theme, the showdown, the evolution of the story.
The one recurring thing that I wanted the pattern broken onto, is a redeeming character being hold accountable and bear through the repercussions of their actions. It seems that whenever an "evil" character gets to be redeemed and draws closer to a higher judgment and said punishment - they get TOTALLY redeemed by (usually) a selfless act of sacrifice of sorts. Sure, it made a better splash, but was predictable after the first couple of times.
Loved the series !
June 5, 2021
The Chaos Curse is the final book in the Cleric Quintet and the culmination of Cadderly's growth in his faith. Through the first 4 books the "bad guys" that had been set up were defeated but we forgot that this book covers clerics, so the real big bad is a god, or the goddess Talona in this case. The curse that started this all comes back in this book except Rufio drinks it and becomes a vampire. When Cadderly returns to the Edificant Library he finds a place filled with evil instead.
R.A Salvatore proves in this book that he has no issue killing off main characters and leaving us with a bitter sweet if not straight up sad ending. I think this is where I found my love for sad books.
R.A Salvatore proves in this book that he has no issue killing off main characters and leaving us with a bitter sweet if not straight up sad ending. I think this is where I found my love for sad books.
January 13, 2019
The last book in the series, and this time its vampires. Rufo, having been banished, teams up with the imp and they break in to where the Chaos Curse is (remember that from book one). Rufo decides to drink it - and dies - but comes back as a master vampire.
Then the battles begin.
The series as a whole as Good, but the earlier books were much better than the last couple. I read these when they first came out, and i remembered a lot of elements from the first couple of books. I didn't remember anything from the last two. I think that describes it fully.
Then the battles begin.
The series as a whole as Good, but the earlier books were much better than the last couple. I read these when they first came out, and i remembered a lot of elements from the first couple of books. I didn't remember anything from the last two. I think that describes it fully.
February 12, 2025
The finale of the Cleric Quintet, this book delivers a good conclusion to the main plot. It all ends where it started and it's nice to have all of the original characters play an important role in the final conflict. The book isn't perfect but I did enjoy it more than the others, except Canticle which actually I believe is the best. Cadderly seems more human and less like a god and the concept of good vs evil is more prevalent here in this book. It felt he was more vulnerable and his otherworldly actions more justified against his adversary.
September 5, 2023
The best thing that I can say for this series is that it's finally over. I had forgotten that the last installment featured vampires borne by a curse (even though the cover was a dead giveaway) and I was not impressed by their weakly explained sudden introduction. Better pacing than most of the previous installments even though it was horrendously repetitive. Thankful to be done with this series, dull and unimpressive overall.
November 14, 2017
Better than book 4 but a rather odd addition to the overall series. Really the series could easily have finished at four as the main plot line was wrapped up - book 5 seems like a way to mop up some plot elements that didn't really exist!! That said l enjoyed the read and it follows the authors usual pattern of "not a great deal of plot " interspersed with as many battles as possible!!
January 8, 2019
It's difficult sometimes to stick the landing in an epic fantasy such as this, especially when the previous installment seemed to wrap up most of the important plot points. Yet Salvatore manages to simultaneously raise the stakes while also making this book more personal and intimate. Very strong ending to a great series.
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