What do you think?
Rate this book
Forgotten Realms: The Fighters #4
Bladesinger
They are the half-bloods, the broken, the unforgiven.
They failed themselves and their people.
They are outcasts.
Then, in the bitter wilds of Rashemen, they receive a desperate plea they alone can answer.
If they succeed, it could mean their redemption. But if they fail, a troubled past will be the least of their problems.
About the Author
Keith Francis Strohm is the current Chief Operating Officer of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and the Publisher of Dragon and Dungeon magazines. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of Pokemon®, the Director of the Roleplaying and Miniatures categories, and the Brand Manager for Dungeons & Dragons®--all at Wizards of the Coast. He is the author of the Greyhawk® novel The Tomb of Horrors, and he has written three short stories for the Forgotten Realms. This is his second novel.
They failed themselves and their people.
They are outcasts.
Then, in the bitter wilds of Rashemen, they receive a desperate plea they alone can answer.
If they succeed, it could mean their redemption. But if they fail, a troubled past will be the least of their problems.
About the Author
Keith Francis Strohm is the current Chief Operating Officer of Paizo Publishing, LLC, and the Publisher of Dragon and Dungeon magazines. Prior to that, he was the Vice President of Pokemon®, the Director of the Roleplaying and Miniatures categories, and the Brand Manager for Dungeons & Dragons®--all at Wizards of the Coast. He is the author of the Greyhawk® novel The Tomb of Horrors, and he has written three short stories for the Forgotten Realms. This is his second novel.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 11, 2006
10 people are currently reading
419 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 7, 2023
I really enjoyed this one.
The narration shifts between two scene that are 20 years apart. It's an fun way to tell the story, not only non-linier, but we get to see why our protagonist is making the choices they are, as we see events in their past that influence them later in life.
Combat was well written and engaging. A fun read.
The narration shifts between two scene that are 20 years apart. It's an fun way to tell the story, not only non-linier, but we get to see why our protagonist is making the choices they are, as we see events in their past that influence them later in life.
Combat was well written and engaging. A fun read.
July 3, 2018
I kinda liked it, but it was closer to 2.5 stars than 3. It was enjoyable in some ways, but it mostly disappointed me with wasted opportunities.
The most glaring problem, to me, is that this is was part of a series on fighters, focusing on the bladesinger prestige class, yet Taenaran is really a bladesinger - not yet. I did like Taenaran's character, but it's basically a rather formulaic brooding half-elf with a past you can mostly guess at, since he grew up among elves.
The bladesinger is a time-honoured warrior elven tradition, blending magic and steel into a dance of blades. I would've enjoyed reading about a bladesinger at his craft, but the story here is more about how Taenaran finally turns into a bladesinger (read: right at the end). While it's not bad, it's just that I was expecting something entirely different.
Taenaran should have played a more central role, but the plot is basically a D&D module where a party of 4 was thrust into a quest with weak motivations by the wychlaran of Rashemen. The party's leader was the druid Marissa, Taenaran's love interest. She supposedly had a tragic past behind her as well, but it was never really elaborated on. Similar treatment for Borovazk the Rashemi ranger, and Roberc, a dour halfling with a riding dog - hints at something in their past, but it just stops there. It's great that the setting is in Rashemen, and that it involves the witches and vremyonni. That's a solid plus as they are not often in the central theme.
But get pass the missed mechanics, the weak excuses, and the plot holes, and you actually do get solid writing and a book with good pacing of the action. The fights are fun to read, although it suffers from the typical over-describing of how badly-wounded the characters are and how exhausted they are, yet they continue to fight the next fight as if they were fresh (explained away by magical healing). Go past that too, and the story is not bad - it essentially follows the growth of Taenaran as a broken man haunted by his past, and of how he finally overcame his greatest enemy - himself..
The most glaring problem, to me, is that this is was part of a series on fighters, focusing on the bladesinger prestige class, yet Taenaran is really a bladesinger - not yet. I did like Taenaran's character, but it's basically a rather formulaic brooding half-elf with a past you can mostly guess at, since he grew up among elves.
The bladesinger is a time-honoured warrior elven tradition, blending magic and steel into a dance of blades. I would've enjoyed reading about a bladesinger at his craft, but the story here is more about how Taenaran finally turns into a bladesinger (read: right at the end). While it's not bad, it's just that I was expecting something entirely different.
Taenaran should have played a more central role, but the plot is basically a D&D module where a party of 4 was thrust into a quest with weak motivations by the wychlaran of Rashemen. The party's leader was the druid Marissa, Taenaran's love interest. She supposedly had a tragic past behind her as well, but it was never really elaborated on. Similar treatment for Borovazk the Rashemi ranger, and Roberc, a dour halfling with a riding dog - hints at something in their past, but it just stops there. It's great that the setting is in Rashemen, and that it involves the witches and vremyonni. That's a solid plus as they are not often in the central theme.
But get pass the missed mechanics, the weak excuses, and the plot holes, and you actually do get solid writing and a book with good pacing of the action. The fights are fun to read, although it suffers from the typical over-describing of how badly-wounded the characters are and how exhausted they are, yet they continue to fight the next fight as if they were fresh (explained away by magical healing). Go past that too, and the story is not bad - it essentially follows the growth of Taenaran as a broken man haunted by his past, and of how he finally overcame his greatest enemy - himself..
January 13, 2013
The writing is solid, and the pacing is good, but the whole book feels like a D&D game where the Dungeon Master has found a convenient and relatively unrelated reason to railroad the good-aligned party into the campaign.
January 11, 2013
Actually, not bad. The best of this series. If you've got to read one, read this one. Nice hack-and-slash, People Die fantasy fiction, especially if the brooding hero type doesn't bother you.
October 24, 2011
A great book on honor and swordcraft.
July 24, 2017
Not your typical Forgotten Realms novel. Even though the plot is a basic D&D module/adventure -- party of adventurers learning of threat and then hacking and slashing against their way through successive layers of minions until they meet/defeat BBEG -- the author's in depth descriptions and use of flashbacks really make the characters come alive. I especially liked the difficulty of the combat scenes, even though you knew the heroes would win, so unlike the Elminster "wave hands and BBEG is dead in one paragraph" tripe that inhabits way too many books in this genre. I dinged it a star because of the ending. The final battle and wrap up seemed too abrupt. Still one of the best Forgotten Realms books I've read.
April 30, 2018
"Life (he) whispered is in the burning. That's what I believe."
"You can't deny your past, or run from it, but you can be so busy trying that you end up denying your present."
"A single candle in darkness is worth five in the daytime."
"Endings, she tought bitterly, have a nasty habit of coming when you least expect them."
"You can't deny your past, or run from it, but you can be so busy trying that you end up denying your present."
"A single candle in darkness is worth five in the daytime."
"Endings, she tought bitterly, have a nasty habit of coming when you least expect them."
April 9, 2020
One of the better standalone stories in the "Fighters" series, and maybe in the entire Forgotten Realms line. The writing was very evocative, the handling of Rashemen was excellent, Strohm really nailed the feel of this unique region. The characters were a misfit, motley crew of broken, damaged castoffs, but they were all very deep and nuanced as the novel progressed.
June 30, 2022
I felt this was a great story with relatable characters. If you want a fun adventurous read in the Realms this is perfect for you. I really enjoyed the main character's story arc.
December 7, 2023
Its a fun read
November 17, 2013
Bladesinger, by Keith Francis Strohm, is in the stand alone novel series The Fighters, and set in the Forgotten Realms D&D setting. From the title and the series, you would think that the main character would be the bladesinger, but that is only true in a sense. Overall, the main plot of the book - that a renegade Witch of Rashemen is trying to take over the country and a foreign druid is called by the spirits of the land to stop this evil, has nothing to do with the bladesinger at all. In fact, the bladesinger, a half-elf names Taen, is mostly there as a sidekick to the druid, who happens to be his only friend and also his love interest.
On the whole, there's more bad about this book than good. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that for a book about an unusual fighter, there's not a whole lot that makes Taen stand out. The bladesinger fighting style seems to be getting in touch with your inner zen and having that turn you into a better fighter. This really doesn't fit with the established game mechanics and lore of the bladesinger, which is a fighter that blends elven magic and swordplay into a powerful synthesis. In this case, being a bladesinger seems to make Taen insecure and whiny. He's insecure about his relationship with the druid, Marissa, who clearly likes him as more than a friend, and he's even insecure about being a bladesinger. Every time he fights and he starts to use the bladesong, he freaks out and stops. His excuse for both of these seems to be "boo hoo, I was teased by full blooded elves as a kid", which we get to see through flashbacks. I'm not a big fan of flashbacks just to tell about a character's past. I'd much rather have his past described through events in the present, and through dialog. In addition to all of this, the plot is a bit weak. The single renegade Witch seems to be on the verge of taking over Rashemen, even though the entire neighboring country of Thay or other external threats have been unable to for centuries. She also doesn't seem to have much reason to do so, other than just that she's the bad guy.
Despite all of this, there are some good elements in the book. The druid, who's arguably the main character has an interesting journey of learning to appreciate the natural lands and spirits of Rashemen, even though it's different from the druidic ways. There's also a few supporting characters who are entertaining, particularly the Rashemi local, Borovazk, who acts as their guide to his homeland. Finally, the setting was appreciated, since most books set in the Forgotten Realms tend to stick with the more popular areas, which can become repetitive, and a relative few are set in lands that are a bit more unique, such as Rashemen.
On the whole, there's more bad about this book than good. Perhaps the biggest disappointment is that for a book about an unusual fighter, there's not a whole lot that makes Taen stand out. The bladesinger fighting style seems to be getting in touch with your inner zen and having that turn you into a better fighter. This really doesn't fit with the established game mechanics and lore of the bladesinger, which is a fighter that blends elven magic and swordplay into a powerful synthesis. In this case, being a bladesinger seems to make Taen insecure and whiny. He's insecure about his relationship with the druid, Marissa, who clearly likes him as more than a friend, and he's even insecure about being a bladesinger. Every time he fights and he starts to use the bladesong, he freaks out and stops. His excuse for both of these seems to be "boo hoo, I was teased by full blooded elves as a kid", which we get to see through flashbacks. I'm not a big fan of flashbacks just to tell about a character's past. I'd much rather have his past described through events in the present, and through dialog. In addition to all of this, the plot is a bit weak. The single renegade Witch seems to be on the verge of taking over Rashemen, even though the entire neighboring country of Thay or other external threats have been unable to for centuries. She also doesn't seem to have much reason to do so, other than just that she's the bad guy.
Despite all of this, there are some good elements in the book. The druid, who's arguably the main character has an interesting journey of learning to appreciate the natural lands and spirits of Rashemen, even though it's different from the druidic ways. There's also a few supporting characters who are entertaining, particularly the Rashemi local, Borovazk, who acts as their guide to his homeland. Finally, the setting was appreciated, since most books set in the Forgotten Realms tend to stick with the more popular areas, which can become repetitive, and a relative few are set in lands that are a bit more unique, such as Rashemen.
August 5, 2020
I listened to this book via audible. An Awful reading. It was a struggle to get through, luckily the story and characters were compelling enough to finish listening. Everything was read over dramatically, that even the humour fell flat. An awful narration.
A group of wayward adventures venture into the Wilds of Reshemmon to save the beleaguered country from an evil witch. The adventures are an interesting band of misfits, that become a family by books end.
The book suffers from an over use of metaphor that really slowed down the action. Fair writing and bad narration make me give this two stars.
Upon a an actual reading, with out the deterrent of a really bad read from audible, I found this book much more enjoyable and give it a higher rating.
Action from start to finish. Great characters. A really fun book, tragedy, loss and broken characters coming together to form their own family.
A group of wayward adventures venture into the Wilds of Reshemmon to save the beleaguered country from an evil witch. The adventures are an interesting band of misfits, that become a family by books end.
The book suffers from an over use of metaphor that really slowed down the action. Fair writing and bad narration make me give this two stars.
Upon a an actual reading, with out the deterrent of a really bad read from audible, I found this book much more enjoyable and give it a higher rating.
Action from start to finish. Great characters. A really fun book, tragedy, loss and broken characters coming together to form their own family.
December 20, 2013
I went into this book expecting a cheesy good 'ole D&D Hack 'N Slash style novel, i was actually pleasantly surprised. For a book in the franchise the characterization and fellowship is actually very well developed, i gave this book five stars because it broke free of the franchises stigma, and other than RA Salvoatores Drizzt series i havent seen too much of the character themselves in these books, Taen really grows as the novel progresses and once you reach the end you feel his pain, his loss, his love. i actually found myself tearing up as this book drew to a close. It's a terrific an mildly short novel if you like forgotten realms i'd highly reccomend.
Read
December 4, 2008amazing book
January 26, 2009
Sometimes, you just want a good action fantasy. This is a good one.
Read
June 21, 2009Fantasy
December 21, 2014
I liked this story pretty well. Great storyline. =)
January 18, 2017
Not bad not great
February 23, 2009
it was hard to read at first but after the first chapter it gets really good
January 23, 2012
A good one-off book about my favorite D&D fighting style from back in the day.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews