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Forgotten Realms: Twilight Giants #1
The Ogre's Pact
For a millennium, the men and giants of the Ice Spires have coexisted in perfect harmony, answering to a single dynasty of human kings.
A thousand years of peace is about to shatter.
Ogres have captured the king’s daughter, and only one man has the courage to go after her. But first, he must uncover the kingdom's most jealously guarded secret.
A thousand years of peace is about to shatter.
Ogres have captured the king’s daughter, and only one man has the courage to go after her. But first, he must uncover the kingdom's most jealously guarded secret.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
10 people are currently reading
588 people want to read
About the author
Troy Denning
185 books662 followersAlso known as Richard Awlinson.
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Den...
See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Den...
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
November 10, 2019
Not good. I enjoyed Troy Denning's The Parched Sea and Dragonwall, so I was surprised at the poor quality of the writing. He failed to create any interesting characters; they have motivations, but no personality. They spend too much time arguing and meticulously explaining and defending their deductions. The interactions with the environments they adventure through are overlong and excessively detailed. The author forgot to inject any excitement. It's highly disappointing as the start of a trilogy. I will continue it because I remain hopeful that the next volumes will show slight improvement. Also, I am internally compelled to keep reading the Forgotten Realms novels in publication order, for reasons. Increasingly questionable reasons, but reasons all the same.
November 19, 2019
I'm not exactly sure how I feel about this book.
As part of an ongoing attempt to read all of the Forgotten realms books, I was excited to get to this series. Many of the stories that take place in this world are hardly worth the time, but I told myself I would do it, and I keep trying.
Troy Denning is one of the first authors I ever read (that's a little bit sad, I know, but I was young). So, as I mentioned, I was excited to see what this series (one of his first, I believe) was like.
So far, I'm not overly impressed. I get the feeling that he was still really green at this stage of his career and the holes in the plot seem to really shine. I have to admit, after reading fantasy at a completely different and much higher level, I can't really say it was that bad. I think I'm just used to some stuff that is better. However, I did read this book really quickly and jumped right into the second book in the series. So, I'm at least that intrigued.
The main character, Tavis, is a giant-kin called a firbolg. He's in love with a super strong princess (she must have giant blood, right?) who gets kidnapped by ogres. So, her family has a bunch of giant henchmen that serve as the honor guard (there is a pact between the royal family and the giants in the area), but the king won't send them out to resue her. Why?
Tavis ignores the king's demands and takes off with a little human orphan thief, and a runecaster verbeeg (another kind of giant-kin). You'd think that this motley crue would be able to take out some ogres and be on their way, but WAIT! They ogres have a shamen who is bad ass and messes every attempt that Tavis and his gang take to save the princess. Needless to say, eventually, the good guys win. But the plot suggestivly thickens in the last chapter and you want to read more...which I am.
As part of an ongoing attempt to read all of the Forgotten realms books, I was excited to get to this series. Many of the stories that take place in this world are hardly worth the time, but I told myself I would do it, and I keep trying.
Troy Denning is one of the first authors I ever read (that's a little bit sad, I know, but I was young). So, as I mentioned, I was excited to see what this series (one of his first, I believe) was like.
So far, I'm not overly impressed. I get the feeling that he was still really green at this stage of his career and the holes in the plot seem to really shine. I have to admit, after reading fantasy at a completely different and much higher level, I can't really say it was that bad. I think I'm just used to some stuff that is better. However, I did read this book really quickly and jumped right into the second book in the series. So, I'm at least that intrigued.
The main character, Tavis, is a giant-kin called a firbolg. He's in love with a super strong princess (she must have giant blood, right?) who gets kidnapped by ogres. So, her family has a bunch of giant henchmen that serve as the honor guard (there is a pact between the royal family and the giants in the area), but the king won't send them out to resue her. Why?
Tavis ignores the king's demands and takes off with a little human orphan thief, and a runecaster verbeeg (another kind of giant-kin). You'd think that this motley crue would be able to take out some ogres and be on their way, but WAIT! They ogres have a shamen who is bad ass and messes every attempt that Tavis and his gang take to save the princess. Needless to say, eventually, the good guys win. But the plot suggestivly thickens in the last chapter and you want to read more...which I am.
November 15, 2023
So let me tell you, I got this at a thrift store for half a dollar (.50) and while this genre fantasy isn't really my cup of tea ... DAMN this was a great story. First off, although this is book 1 in a trilogy (which I don't have) this absolutely is a stand alone read.
The story starts off with a small "what's going on" situation as it quickly evolves into an action driven story line that also takes the time to let the reader get to know the characters and what a great cast they are.
Like I imagine others in the genre this story includes a little bit of everything from magic to friendship, betrayal, etc....
A great read and one that should not be passed up by anyone
The story starts off with a small "what's going on" situation as it quickly evolves into an action driven story line that also takes the time to let the reader get to know the characters and what a great cast they are.
Like I imagine others in the genre this story includes a little bit of everything from magic to friendship, betrayal, etc....
A great read and one that should not be passed up by anyone
April 22, 2016
An obscure trilogy in the Forgotten Realms universe, the Twilight Giants books focus on a little-known kingdom in the far, frozen north populated by humans, giants, and their kin. In this, the first entry, Princess Brianna is kidnapped by ogres and her suitor, Tavis, sets out to rescue her.
"The Ogre's Pact" is essentially one long chase, but Troy Denning keeps things interesting with a wide variety of unexpectedly grotesque obstacles. Avalanches, rock slides, animated severed heads, cannibalistic ogres, undead mountain lions, debauched hill giants... the heroes rarely have a chance to rest. And unlike most books in the genre, the protagonists take an incredible beating. You're never really sure who might live to see the final page. Denning does an excellent job of reminding us just how cold the setting is - the freezing temperatures almost become the primary antagonist.
While the action and tension are both handled well, characterization isn't very strong. Most of the supporting cast is interchangeable (they're the kind of characters with no real "voice" of their own), and even the main characters are fairly one-note (Tavis is honest, Brianna is feisty, Basil is greedy, etc). One notable exception is the ogre shaman, Goboka, but he gets very little face-time and is usually relegated to being a background menace.
Fantasy devotees will enjoy the insights into giant culture that this book, and the others in the series, provide. With no stock characters like elves, dwarves, goblins, or orcs cropping up, "The Ogre's Pact" provides a fresh variety of characters and monsters in a fascinating setting. It's a quick read that is well worth the time.
"The Ogre's Pact" is essentially one long chase, but Troy Denning keeps things interesting with a wide variety of unexpectedly grotesque obstacles. Avalanches, rock slides, animated severed heads, cannibalistic ogres, undead mountain lions, debauched hill giants... the heroes rarely have a chance to rest. And unlike most books in the genre, the protagonists take an incredible beating. You're never really sure who might live to see the final page. Denning does an excellent job of reminding us just how cold the setting is - the freezing temperatures almost become the primary antagonist.
While the action and tension are both handled well, characterization isn't very strong. Most of the supporting cast is interchangeable (they're the kind of characters with no real "voice" of their own), and even the main characters are fairly one-note (Tavis is honest, Brianna is feisty, Basil is greedy, etc). One notable exception is the ogre shaman, Goboka, but he gets very little face-time and is usually relegated to being a background menace.
Fantasy devotees will enjoy the insights into giant culture that this book, and the others in the series, provide. With no stock characters like elves, dwarves, goblins, or orcs cropping up, "The Ogre's Pact" provides a fresh variety of characters and monsters in a fascinating setting. It's a quick read that is well worth the time.
March 24, 2021
Disclaimer: I tend to rank Forgotten Realms (and other D&D) novels against each other rather than against the field of fiction as a whole. The reason for this is because most people who seek out D&D novels do it because they want that type of experience. Many of the tropes that would be flaws in other books are perks here, so bear that in mind as you read this review (and any other of my D&D novel reviews).
I really wanted to like this book (and in truth I didn't hate it), but there were some unfortunate issues that kept me from giving is a more favorable (3 star) review. Bearing that in mind, I still am glad to have read it. This book is a must read for fans of giants, and introduces a very iconic main character that stands out amongst other Forgotten Realms protagonists.
This book revolves around Tavis Burdun (bur-DOON, apparently) a firbolg ranger living in a kingdom called Hartsvale. For those without their handy Forgotten Realms gazetteer, that's in the north with lots of snow and mountains. Firbolgs are a race of giant kin that look human but are about 10 feet tall. Tavis is a runt at 8 feet tall, but he has the firbolg code of honor (Lawful Stupidity). He's in love with the princess (who seems to have some giant blood in her ancestry), and she clearly loves him as well, but they both have Lawful alignments so can't be together. It's somewhat unfair to attack this part of the book, because extreme lawful stupidity is a very old and storied part of Dungeons and Dragons. Still, it did feel like the author passed the idiot ball around a lot during the character interactions, and for many readers (myself included) it can feel a little immature and frustrating. Most of the NPCs are irrational, and the main characters often don't fare much better. Still, there is interesting action to be had if you can overlook some cringy interaction.
The plot and the action are where this book shines. Denning does a good job of showing how someone (even an 8-foot tall runt giant) would have trouble fighting giants. This is fun, and fuels some interesting David versus Goliath fights. Also, we get to see some good woodcraft and action that makes rangers look cool, and might make many of us want to play archers instead of rangers with two swords. Towards the end of the book as things pick up, we do start to see some giants taken down very easily, but generally all giants feel like tough foes. The plot is interesting, and while the twists are not that surprising, it all fits together without major holes.
This book is the first in a trilogy, and the later books continue with many of the same strengths and weaknesses, so if you make it through this book I'd recommend sticking with the trilogy. However, if you really hated this one, then you're better off not getting the others.
I really wanted to like this book (and in truth I didn't hate it), but there were some unfortunate issues that kept me from giving is a more favorable (3 star) review. Bearing that in mind, I still am glad to have read it. This book is a must read for fans of giants, and introduces a very iconic main character that stands out amongst other Forgotten Realms protagonists.
This book revolves around Tavis Burdun (bur-DOON, apparently) a firbolg ranger living in a kingdom called Hartsvale. For those without their handy Forgotten Realms gazetteer, that's in the north with lots of snow and mountains. Firbolgs are a race of giant kin that look human but are about 10 feet tall. Tavis is a runt at 8 feet tall, but he has the firbolg code of honor (Lawful Stupidity). He's in love with the princess (who seems to have some giant blood in her ancestry), and she clearly loves him as well, but they both have Lawful alignments so can't be together. It's somewhat unfair to attack this part of the book, because extreme lawful stupidity is a very old and storied part of Dungeons and Dragons. Still, it did feel like the author passed the idiot ball around a lot during the character interactions, and for many readers (myself included) it can feel a little immature and frustrating. Most of the NPCs are irrational, and the main characters often don't fare much better. Still, there is interesting action to be had if you can overlook some cringy interaction.
The plot and the action are where this book shines. Denning does a good job of showing how someone (even an 8-foot tall runt giant) would have trouble fighting giants. This is fun, and fuels some interesting David versus Goliath fights. Also, we get to see some good woodcraft and action that makes rangers look cool, and might make many of us want to play archers instead of rangers with two swords. Towards the end of the book as things pick up, we do start to see some giants taken down very easily, but generally all giants feel like tough foes. The plot is interesting, and while the twists are not that surprising, it all fits together without major holes.
This book is the first in a trilogy, and the later books continue with many of the same strengths and weaknesses, so if you make it through this book I'd recommend sticking with the trilogy. However, if you really hated this one, then you're better off not getting the others.
June 23, 2021
Giants...
Initially, after reaching roughly the first half of this book, my reaction consisted of boredom and lots of dismissive shrugs. The Ogre’s Pact is a typical romp through a magical land, filled to the brim with dangerous, twisted enemies and (surprise surprise) ogres. Basically this book is one long, drawn out chase sequence as the heroes and heroine flee the devious clutches of evil Goboka, while making sure to argue and harbor grudges along the way. Reaching into the overflowing jar of negatives first, I found that overall the character’s somewhat lacking in individuality. By my mid-way respite I’d managed to lump all the giants together in a contorted blob of confusion, but the worst part is it didn’t really matter. While main’s like Tavis and Brianna are somewhat defined, side characters such as the earls are left virtually without substantial development, at least in my unprofessional opinion.
However, upon reaching the end, I was somehow drawn into a level of respect and care for the character’s I’d previous dismissed as ‘lifeless’. Tension begins to ramp up entering the final third of this story, and eventually the conflict resolves in a satisfying crescendo. The world Troy Denning created around Hartsvale and beyond is unique as it is intriguing. Over and over I found myself charmed by the northern aesthetic, the rolling mountains and icy crags of the Ice Spires, and most of all Troy Denning’s submersive writing style. I’ll definitely be back for book two (aka I'll read it when I've finished writing this review) - Giants Among Us.
I don’t claim to be an expert opinion on books. This review is purely offering my perspective. I haven’t read much of Forgotten Realms and therefore do not have a comprehensive view, nor have I dipped my toes into the popular world of D&D, however I’ve recently made it my ongoing mission to read everything this dense world has to offer. My opinion is obviously an opinion, not objective. May the Realms never be Forgotten. :)
Initially, after reaching roughly the first half of this book, my reaction consisted of boredom and lots of dismissive shrugs. The Ogre’s Pact is a typical romp through a magical land, filled to the brim with dangerous, twisted enemies and (surprise surprise) ogres. Basically this book is one long, drawn out chase sequence as the heroes and heroine flee the devious clutches of evil Goboka, while making sure to argue and harbor grudges along the way. Reaching into the overflowing jar of negatives first, I found that overall the character’s somewhat lacking in individuality. By my mid-way respite I’d managed to lump all the giants together in a contorted blob of confusion, but the worst part is it didn’t really matter. While main’s like Tavis and Brianna are somewhat defined, side characters such as the earls are left virtually without substantial development, at least in my unprofessional opinion.
However, upon reaching the end, I was somehow drawn into a level of respect and care for the character’s I’d previous dismissed as ‘lifeless’. Tension begins to ramp up entering the final third of this story, and eventually the conflict resolves in a satisfying crescendo. The world Troy Denning created around Hartsvale and beyond is unique as it is intriguing. Over and over I found myself charmed by the northern aesthetic, the rolling mountains and icy crags of the Ice Spires, and most of all Troy Denning’s submersive writing style. I’ll definitely be back for book two (aka I'll read it when I've finished writing this review) - Giants Among Us.
I don’t claim to be an expert opinion on books. This review is purely offering my perspective. I haven’t read much of Forgotten Realms and therefore do not have a comprehensive view, nor have I dipped my toes into the popular world of D&D, however I’ve recently made it my ongoing mission to read everything this dense world has to offer. My opinion is obviously an opinion, not objective. May the Realms never be Forgotten. :)
April 23, 2024
Typical Troy Denning fare - dramatically uneven, characterisations all over the place, characters survive all sorts of injuries that would kill nearly everyone else, a plot that has a telegraphed resolution...but it's fun. This book is never boring and as always with my reviews and ratings of books, if I was entertained, then the novel worked.
December 31, 2016
It's a 2.5... a decent and classical F.R. story,without infamy nor praise...
I think could have bring out more from this story and his protagonists,which lacks a more detailed characterisation ...for Forgotten Realm's lovers!
I think could have bring out more from this story and his protagonists,which lacks a more detailed characterisation ...for Forgotten Realm's lovers!
November 10, 2021
Tolkien meets Louis L’Amour. A little bit fantasy and a little bit “cowboys and Indians” set in a landscape familiar to anyone who’s spent time in the American west. There is a lot of story here, but not a lot of ending.
July 13, 2025
Classic fantasy adventure at its best!
This is a highly underrated trilogy! I wish Denning would have followed it up with a second series. That being said, I enjoy rereading it when I can.
This is a highly underrated trilogy! I wish Denning would have followed it up with a second series. That being said, I enjoy rereading it when I can.
December 28, 2017
An interesting D&D adventure with a cool exploration of Giants and Giant-Kin in Forgotten Realms.
March 2, 2021
A pretty good storyline, not a lot of surprises but well written and fully fleshed out characters. Highly entertaining.
August 18, 2024
yeah, this is the kind of fantasy i was reading when i thought i didn't like fantasy
June 5, 2020
A pretty fun little adventure book. What you want out of a Forgotten Realms book.
October 23, 2011
"Morten started to scream, but the cry quickly changed to a choking gurgle. Tavis swung around to see an ogre's gnarled fingers shooting from the sore on the bodyguard's throat. An eerie blue aura of magical energy was dancing over the digits, crackling and snapping like lightning. In the next instant, the shaman's entire hand appeared, it's black talons straining for Basil's back. Morten began to stumble forward against his will, as though Goboka were pulling him toward the runecaster.
"The bodyguard dropped to his knees behind Basil. In words so garbled Tavis could barely understand them, he gurgled, "Throw me over!" "
Written by Troy Denning (Waterdeep, Dark Sun Prism Pentad) and published by Wizards of the Coast, The Ogre's Pact is a re-release of the first novel in The Twilight Giants trilogy. The trilogy takes the little-written-about race of giants from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting and places them center field as the headliners of the story.
This new edition features a brand new cover painting by Duane O. Myers but is otherwise just a repackaged version of the original TSR edition and is the latest in a line of similar new editions that, it is hoped, will introduce the older titles to the younger readers.
The novel begins in a time when the races of giants and humans have lived in relative harmony for many generations in the frozen landscape of the Ice Spires with both races essentially under the governance of a single dynasty of human kings. But, of course, this pleasant state of affairs is about to come to a dramatic end and kick start the action of The Ogre's Pact.
Princess Brianna of Hartwick is the hot-headed heir to the throne of Hartsvale and when she is kidnapped by a rampaging horde of ogres the King is forced to make an unenviable decision between the duty that he owes his kingdom and the love of his own daughter and heir. Good luck for King Camden that a certain adventurous firbolg by the name of Tavis Burden is in love with his daughter and is likewise prepared to go dashing to her rescue. The plot becomes slightly more tangled at this point when the hero Tavis is forced to first uncover a secret that the Kingdom would much rather he did not.
Troy Denning is among the best of the TSR/Wizards novelists - his work in the Dark Sun setting still has yet to be beaten in the mind of this reviewer but, if this beginning to The Twilight Giants trilogy is an example of what is to follow, then he will come pretty close.
The storyline itself is well-developed for its genre with likable characters possessed of believable motivations and the action is just what one might have come to expect from Denning with the heroes pitched not only against dangerous enemies but also against the elements and the wilderness itself.
The Ogre's Pact does for giants what The Crystal Shard did for the drow. It is quite honestly a shame that more hasn't been written in this vein. Denning shapes a unique and interesting hero out of Tavis Burden and a suitably worthy foe from the ogres. The supporting cast of characters are likewise a joy to meet, in particular Queen Brianna's ever loyal and selfless bodyguard Morten.
The heroine of the piece, Brianna, is a spoiled, selfish and somewhat stupid character. Not that this is a fault in itself - there are certainly plenty of people that fit that same bill in the real world - however I found myself thinking that I wouldn't mind too much if Tavis was unable to rescue her.
A re-release of an old Forgotten Realms classic. If you haven't read this in the past, then now is great opportunity to pick this one up. A cracking start to a promising trilogy.
Final Grade: B+
"The bodyguard dropped to his knees behind Basil. In words so garbled Tavis could barely understand them, he gurgled, "Throw me over!" "
Written by Troy Denning (Waterdeep, Dark Sun Prism Pentad) and published by Wizards of the Coast, The Ogre's Pact is a re-release of the first novel in The Twilight Giants trilogy. The trilogy takes the little-written-about race of giants from the Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting and places them center field as the headliners of the story.
This new edition features a brand new cover painting by Duane O. Myers but is otherwise just a repackaged version of the original TSR edition and is the latest in a line of similar new editions that, it is hoped, will introduce the older titles to the younger readers.
The novel begins in a time when the races of giants and humans have lived in relative harmony for many generations in the frozen landscape of the Ice Spires with both races essentially under the governance of a single dynasty of human kings. But, of course, this pleasant state of affairs is about to come to a dramatic end and kick start the action of The Ogre's Pact.
Princess Brianna of Hartwick is the hot-headed heir to the throne of Hartsvale and when she is kidnapped by a rampaging horde of ogres the King is forced to make an unenviable decision between the duty that he owes his kingdom and the love of his own daughter and heir. Good luck for King Camden that a certain adventurous firbolg by the name of Tavis Burden is in love with his daughter and is likewise prepared to go dashing to her rescue. The plot becomes slightly more tangled at this point when the hero Tavis is forced to first uncover a secret that the Kingdom would much rather he did not.
Troy Denning is among the best of the TSR/Wizards novelists - his work in the Dark Sun setting still has yet to be beaten in the mind of this reviewer but, if this beginning to The Twilight Giants trilogy is an example of what is to follow, then he will come pretty close.
The storyline itself is well-developed for its genre with likable characters possessed of believable motivations and the action is just what one might have come to expect from Denning with the heroes pitched not only against dangerous enemies but also against the elements and the wilderness itself.
The Ogre's Pact does for giants what The Crystal Shard did for the drow. It is quite honestly a shame that more hasn't been written in this vein. Denning shapes a unique and interesting hero out of Tavis Burden and a suitably worthy foe from the ogres. The supporting cast of characters are likewise a joy to meet, in particular Queen Brianna's ever loyal and selfless bodyguard Morten.
The heroine of the piece, Brianna, is a spoiled, selfish and somewhat stupid character. Not that this is a fault in itself - there are certainly plenty of people that fit that same bill in the real world - however I found myself thinking that I wouldn't mind too much if Tavis was unable to rescue her.
A re-release of an old Forgotten Realms classic. If you haven't read this in the past, then now is great opportunity to pick this one up. A cracking start to a promising trilogy.
Final Grade: B+
Read
January 31, 2016Borrowed from the Ontario Library Service Consortium
I read this book as part of an annual challenge. The task this book fit was to read a book with a giant in it. Not only did this book have A giant, it had a LOT of giants and giant-kin! I actually started keeping track of all the different kinds because I found it so fascinating that there were so many, so I decided to copy my record here: (my page numbers were for my ebook and state the part in the book where the giant was FIRST mentioned)
Hill Giant - start of book - hunter
Fire Giant - chapter 1, page 1 - fire dancer
Verbeeg (cousin of true giant) - chapter 1, page 3 - thieves
Ogre - chapter 1, page 4 - most savage of giant kin
Firbolg - chapter 1, page 7 - 8ft to 12ft - very hard to lie
Frost Giant - chapter 2, page 12
Formorian - chapter 2, page 15 - ugly/deformed
Stone Giant - chapter 4, page 7
Cloud Giant - chapter 7 page 26
Storm Giant - chapter 10, page 17
Fomorian Slave - chapter 14 page 8 (giant-kin)
There even was giant skunks!
Glacier Skunk - chapter 1 page 32 - like giant of skunks... large - wolf size
And many Giant kingdoms and it started at the Weary Giant Lodge in chapter 1.
The book was a typical adventure / quest type book which was fun to read. The betrayals and trust building and magic were awesome elements that were added. I might try the second in the series one day.
I read this book as part of an annual challenge. The task this book fit was to read a book with a giant in it. Not only did this book have A giant, it had a LOT of giants and giant-kin! I actually started keeping track of all the different kinds because I found it so fascinating that there were so many, so I decided to copy my record here: (my page numbers were for my ebook and state the part in the book where the giant was FIRST mentioned)
Hill Giant - start of book - hunter
Fire Giant - chapter 1, page 1 - fire dancer
Verbeeg (cousin of true giant) - chapter 1, page 3 - thieves
Ogre - chapter 1, page 4 - most savage of giant kin
Firbolg - chapter 1, page 7 - 8ft to 12ft - very hard to lie
Frost Giant - chapter 2, page 12
Formorian - chapter 2, page 15 - ugly/deformed
Stone Giant - chapter 4, page 7
Cloud Giant - chapter 7 page 26
Storm Giant - chapter 10, page 17
Fomorian Slave - chapter 14 page 8 (giant-kin)
There even was giant skunks!
Glacier Skunk - chapter 1 page 32 - like giant of skunks... large - wolf size
And many Giant kingdoms and it started at the Weary Giant Lodge in chapter 1.
The book was a typical adventure / quest type book which was fun to read. The betrayals and trust building and magic were awesome elements that were added. I might try the second in the series one day.
December 9, 2008
This book is entertaining and fast-paced. It is not the best book Troy Denning has written, however. It had two flaws that I saw:
1. Throughout the story, one of the major characters is a scout and wilderness tracker. Extensive use of his tracking abilities is very detailed, and while the different methods of tracking and details of what he is looking for or how he hides a trail are interesting and add realism to the story, they also slow it down. That said, it is obvious that either Denning knows how to track, consulted someone who does, or is simply creative enough to make up some plausible logical things to say and fool the reader who is completely ignorant about the wilderness, such as myself. So the details are interesting.
2. The end feels rushed. There's alot of story, then the climax and denoument just seem to happen in a few short pages and end up too tidily. Almost like the author was rushed by the editor to get something to the publisher and pronto, so he wrapped it up quickly instead of with the detail he could have used.
All in all, worth reading, and hopefully as good lead-in to the next two in the set. I hope they hold up more to Dennings usual fantastic writing.
1. Throughout the story, one of the major characters is a scout and wilderness tracker. Extensive use of his tracking abilities is very detailed, and while the different methods of tracking and details of what he is looking for or how he hides a trail are interesting and add realism to the story, they also slow it down. That said, it is obvious that either Denning knows how to track, consulted someone who does, or is simply creative enough to make up some plausible logical things to say and fool the reader who is completely ignorant about the wilderness, such as myself. So the details are interesting.
2. The end feels rushed. There's alot of story, then the climax and denoument just seem to happen in a few short pages and end up too tidily. Almost like the author was rushed by the editor to get something to the publisher and pronto, so he wrapped it up quickly instead of with the detail he could have used.
All in all, worth reading, and hopefully as good lead-in to the next two in the set. I hope they hold up more to Dennings usual fantastic writing.
November 16, 2015
The action is pretty much non-stop in the first book of The Twilight Giants series, The Ogre's Pact, by Troy Denning. I had never read a fantasy story where the lead character was a giant-kin, so I became quite fascinated with all of the main characters.
I liked the fast pace of the story and the world of the giant which was opened up for me to learn about. Although I have a hard time picturing how tall everyone is, I found myself falling into this world of giants, ogres and tall humans. Tavis is a cool character and I look forward to reading more about his adventures in the rest of the series.
I really like Princess Brianna and hope that she is also a central character in stories that follow. As for the ogre shaman, Gobaka. He is a formidable foe. I have always considered ogres to be kind of stupid and not very magical, but he proved me wrong.
Overall, The Ogre's Pact is a great read and I highly look forward to reading the second book in this series, The Giant Among Us.
I rated this book an 8 out of 10.
I liked the fast pace of the story and the world of the giant which was opened up for me to learn about. Although I have a hard time picturing how tall everyone is, I found myself falling into this world of giants, ogres and tall humans. Tavis is a cool character and I look forward to reading more about his adventures in the rest of the series.
I really like Princess Brianna and hope that she is also a central character in stories that follow. As for the ogre shaman, Gobaka. He is a formidable foe. I have always considered ogres to be kind of stupid and not very magical, but he proved me wrong.
Overall, The Ogre's Pact is a great read and I highly look forward to reading the second book in this series, The Giant Among Us.
I rated this book an 8 out of 10.
August 1, 2023
Well, I gave this a second shot because it happened to be extremely cheap on Audible. I'll admit, it was much easier to get into w/a narrator. And the plot played itself out in a much more enjoyable way. The problem is, the plot is pretty basic. Denning seems to default to a chase scene quite a lot in his writing, with minor variations on the theme. That's pretty much what this is. The narrator takes a stab at creating many various narrators, but sadly he has essentially three male voices, so handling the like 9 main-ish male characters gets a bit confusing at times. Also, I'm not up on my giant lore, so trying to keep track of a firbolg vs. a hill giant, etc, etc, much less what everyone was, got quite vexing at times.
Still, I made it through it, and I might check out the sequel at some point.
Still, I made it through it, and I might check out the sequel at some point.
December 28, 2008
Very average fantasy series. Although the storyline was compelling, the characters were shallow and the writing was simplistic. The novels cover an interesting gamut of giants and giant-kin, their cultures and differences, but overall, these books are nothing special.
For these reasons, and because I enjoy the fantasy genre, I give the books in this series 2 stars.
For these reasons, and because I enjoy the fantasy genre, I give the books in this series 2 stars.
March 25, 2014
A good filler book set in the Dungeons and Dragons Forgotten Realms. I probably enjoyed this more than the 2 stars for it's pulpy nature but the writing was rushed and simple, the dialogue basic and the style far too much like a guided tour.
I didn't expect much and I got a neat story that even though it's part one of a trilogy it was a complete story.
I didn't expect much and I got a neat story that even though it's part one of a trilogy it was a complete story.
December 21, 2018
I first read The Ogre's Pact about twenty years ago, and it remains my favorite non-Driz'zt story set in The Forgotten Realms. I love the alpine setting. I love Troy Denning's descriptions of the outdoors settings, and Tavis' tracking scenes. And how can you not love the idea of a firbolg ranger? :(
June 24, 2016
Not boring enough to stop in the middle, but not interesting enough to really enjoy, this is the perfect read for insomniacs and travelers. That being said, giants are cool creatures and I'm glad that at least one FR author decided to write about them. Shame he wrote them so weak a mighty fart is sufficient to defeat them, making them different from orcs in name only.
July 20, 2016
An okay start to this trilogy.
Giving us some twists and turns. As well as maybe not your usual cast of Forgotten Realm races.
Delving into various races of the giants, instead of dwarves and elves.
An enjoyable read, if you like the genre.
Giving us some twists and turns. As well as maybe not your usual cast of Forgotten Realm races.
Delving into various races of the giants, instead of dwarves and elves.
An enjoyable read, if you like the genre.
sold
February 23, 2012Sold to Lewis White on eBay on 7-Jun-11:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAPI....
January 17, 2013
It was okay. Characters seemed shallow. I was getting very tired of hearing scout this or scout that. Scout was highly overused for the main character.
June 27, 2013
Started out a bit slow but soon I began finding the Troy Denning who authored Blood Charge.
April 28, 2015
Not a great book by any means, but it held my attention. I enjoyed reading it, but filled with flat characters. The book provided reading material for a trip to DC and NY.
November 28, 2016
The book was well written and a good adventure read.
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