EverQuest: The Blood Red Harp

EverQuest

by Elaine Cunningham

The dark elf vampire who rules Castle Mistmore is searching for a small red harp. Chanzoon Nexus, necromancer, wants to know why. He has the harp—now he needs a bard who can play it well enough to uncover its secrets. But Faydwer’s bards consider harps to be quaint folk instruments, unworthy of their attention. Elizerain grew up with a harp in her hands. A merry, fun-loving wood elf, she collects ballads like other adventurers collect treasure. If these story-songs are entertaining, she doesn’t care if they’re accurate. That was before a necromancer’s curse gave her a learn the true stories behind her ballads, or die screaming. One such ballad features her new red harp. Intent on her search, surrounded by deadly enemies and treacherous alliances, Elizerain doesn’t realize that the real danger may be the harp itself.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.


Elaine Cunningham is an American fantasy author.

Reviews

[Liam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow, probably not the best book to read after a slump. It was fun reading of Crushbone while simultaneously exploring it in game for the fist time.

[Melissa Frye-Boykin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 3rd (4th?) read of this book and I find something new I like about it every time. I usually don't have high hopes for book tie-ins for video games but this one was an unexpected gem. Even without playing EverQuest, the novel functions as a solid stand alone high fantasy adventure. It has everything - a supremely evil villain, a curse, a hidden treasure, a reluctant hero, the band of like minded adventurers sworn to assist (with their own motivations of course),peril, intrigue, heartbreak, and a massive final battle.

The characters are well written and fun. The POV of chapters alternates between our heroes and our villains, really building a rich and full world for the reader. It is a quick read but packs a lot of action between the pages.

As a word of caution, while there is not an excessive amount of gore or sexual content in the book, there are some highly suggestable moments in the novel and several gruesome deaths. I strongly suggest that this book is not for younger readers. I was around 16 when I first read the book and I feel that was around an appropriate age but any younger a reader, I would be hesitant. Please be cautious if moments of death, torture, necromancy, and assault would be upsetting to read.

I highly suggest this read to anyone that loves high fantasy but wants a quick but thrilling adventure for an entertaining weekend. I promise you'll be wishing this had had a sequel by the end.

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Everyone in this book has some hidden primary motive or identity. Unfortunantly the book comes away feeling like the author's primary motive was simply to have "complex" characters by giving everyone a hidden agenda regardless of the appropriateness for the story.

My personal recomendation is give this book a miss.

[Bekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

She's so cute!!!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vampire elves are not that ridiculous :P