Saving Solace

Dragonlance: Champions #1

by Douglas W. Clark

Solace is booming out of control. An important temple dedication is bringing merchants, dignitaries, and a host of ne’er-do-wells and surprise visitors to the fabled tree-top town. And lately there have been a series of mysterious incidentsÉ.

Palin has sworn off magic and nowadays acts as town mayor. He desperately needs a new sheriff, as the last one has just been murdered by malefactors unknown. Fortunately, Gerard has quit the knighthood after a quarrel with his father, and arrives just in time to don a sheriff’s badge.

Douglas W. Clark reunites two of the most popular characters
from the War of Souls epic in this new novel set in the best-selling Dragonlance¨ world.

Genres: Dragonlance, Fantasy, Fiction, Dungeons and Dragons

308 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 10, 2006

Reviews

[E J · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Then his eyes came to rest on Kaleen and he froze. She was glowering at him from across the room, having apparently witnessed him spitting out the potatoes. Gerard withered under her condemnatory gaze. Reluctantly, he drew the platter of potatoes toward him again and began nibbling on tiny spoonfuls, swallowing with difficulty over the increasingly violent objections of his digestive tract. Presently, the seats in Gerard’s immediate vicinity emptied as people sniffed the air and chose to move elsewhere."

Refreshing light-hearted read after so much martial action, ridiculously bad villain stereotypes and boring road trips through blah blah terrain to get somewhere.

[Jim C · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is part of the Dragonlance realm. In this one, Palin asks Gunthar to become the new sheriff of Solace after the previous one was murdered. Palin and Gunthar have appeared in other novels.

This book has two different story arcs. The first one has to do with Gunthar investigating the murder mystery. The second one shows how life is getting back to normal after the wars which was portrayed in other books. The author does a good job with the characters that have already been established and I enjoyed his new characters. I thought he did an excellent job with the setting and portraying everyday life. My problem with this book was the two different arcs. The author concentrated mostly on the everyday doings of the characters and not enough on the mystery. It was as if the murder mystery was the reason to bring us to this setting so we could have a book about everyday life. In my opinion, this should add to the picture and not be the main story.

This book fits in perfectly within this universe. The problem is that it doesn't add much. The reason for my three star rating is the author does a great job with the setting and characters and it was nice to visit both again.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished reading Saving Solace in The Champions series. After the sheriff of Solace is found murdered, mayor Palin requests Gerard uth Mondar (from the War of Souls) to return, replace the deceased, and solve his murder. Gerard is no Poirot or Miss Marple, but he plods along with his investigation, taking lots and lots of time to accustom himself to life in the growing town. As much as one could say that nothing happens in this book, and you wouldn’t be totally wrong if you argued that, I absolutely loved it. It was slow-moving, had very few action sequences, little magic—and yet I thoroughly enjoyed meandering back through one of my favorite fictional places. This was not a detective story, nor did it feel much like a mystery; it was more character and place study than anything else. Maybe I have a high tolerance for the mundane, but I liked it and look forward to reading Protecting Palanthas from the same series which continues Gerard’s story.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerard quickly became one of my favorite characters in the series.

[Joe · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this when it first came out. Gave it a solid three stars then. Liked it less this time.

[Steven Ede · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was so so. 😐😕

[Christina Stind · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice cozy read - always nice to be back home in Solace and this book is at the same as it's a fantasy novel, it's a criminal mystery as well. Who killed the sheriff of Solace just a short time before the temple dedication?
We meet up with old friends Palin Majere and Gerard uth Mondar and follows Gerard's work as the new sheriff in town, trying to deal both the everyday problems of a rapidly growing city and at the same time solve a murder mystery, coping with love and jealousy, no boots and way to big boots and the town crier, a kender!

[Jayne]

One of the few flawed heroes that works. Fantasy. Recommend for young adult reading as well as for those who like this genre.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a long time to read because I kept putting it down to read more fast paced books. It was an amazing and illustrious book though! Definately recommend!