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Forgotten Realms: The Priests #1
Lady of Poison
"I shall burn thee with blistering heat and with bitter destruction. I will send the teeth of beasts upon thee, with the poison of serpents of the dust..."Award-winning game designer Bruce R. Cordell brings us a tale of faith, prophecy, and destiny that can only be seen through the eyes of - The Priests.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2004
14 people are currently reading
520 people want to read
About the author
Bruce R. Cordell
165 books123 followersBruce R. Cordell authored books for Dungeons & Dragons over the course of 4 editions (2nd Edition through 5th Edition D&D). These days, he’s a senior designer for Monte Cook Games, LLC designing Numenera , Gods of the Fall, and The Strange. Also a novel author, his credits include several titles set in the Forgotten Realms. Bruce’s tenth novel, Myth of the Maker, is just out from Angry Robot Books:
http://brucecordell.blogspot.com/2017...
http://brucecordell.blogspot.com/2017...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 5, 2011
One star for the plot.
First things first - this book is badly named. Lady of Poison? I expected to read large sections from the perspectives of a faithful of Talona, but instead I read from the perspective a dungeon master watching his players play through an adventure against the Chosen of Talona. Almost felt like observing an RPG session, the way the situations and fights flow. There's interesting bits of realms lore thrown in, but it felt like reading from an RPG sourcebook.
The 4 main characters had potential, but are marred by poor exposition, inconsistent behaviour, and downright unrealistic and corny dialogue. Marrec had a great backstory - but it felt forced and little came out of it. Priestly perspective? Mostly whining about his lost connection to his goddess - the way he regained it was too convenient. His mysterious pal from the far south? Yeah, that's about it. The shallow elf that's very unlike an elf. The wizard with a bitterness issue seemingly for the sake of it. Very one-dimensional characters that suddenly go out of character just to force a situation.
The villains were impressed upon the reader as being extremely dangerous - yet they were dispatched easily. You just can't empathise with the tribulations of the protagonists when their foes seem so weak.
And don't get me started on the dialogue. Every few paragraphs, one of them will say something that totally throws out what little immersion that I get. And as seen in my other reviews, I get irritated at bad editing and proofreading - and there's plenty here.
To be fair, the overarching plot is actually interesting. But I just can't help feeling that it was roundly wasted by shallow and inconsistent characters, poor interaction, convenient situations, and bad proofreading. I was thinking 2 stars, but I couldn't quite bring myself to label it as "It was ok". Hope the other 3 in the series are better.
First things first - this book is badly named. Lady of Poison? I expected to read large sections from the perspectives of a faithful of Talona, but instead I read from the perspective a dungeon master watching his players play through an adventure against the Chosen of Talona. Almost felt like observing an RPG session, the way the situations and fights flow. There's interesting bits of realms lore thrown in, but it felt like reading from an RPG sourcebook.
The 4 main characters had potential, but are marred by poor exposition, inconsistent behaviour, and downright unrealistic and corny dialogue. Marrec had a great backstory - but it felt forced and little came out of it. Priestly perspective? Mostly whining about his lost connection to his goddess - the way he regained it was too convenient. His mysterious pal from the far south? Yeah, that's about it. The shallow elf that's very unlike an elf. The wizard with a bitterness issue seemingly for the sake of it. Very one-dimensional characters that suddenly go out of character just to force a situation.
The villains were impressed upon the reader as being extremely dangerous - yet they were dispatched easily. You just can't empathise with the tribulations of the protagonists when their foes seem so weak.
And don't get me started on the dialogue. Every few paragraphs, one of them will say something that totally throws out what little immersion that I get. And as seen in my other reviews, I get irritated at bad editing and proofreading - and there's plenty here.
To be fair, the overarching plot is actually interesting. But I just can't help feeling that it was roundly wasted by shallow and inconsistent characters, poor interaction, convenient situations, and bad proofreading. I was thinking 2 stars, but I couldn't quite bring myself to label it as "It was ok". Hope the other 3 in the series are better.
September 17, 2009
This book could have been very good or even great. However, either the author or the publisher omitted something vital - PROOFREADING THE BOOK. It has numerous grammatical errors and words left out that I had to supply to make the passage understood. Only the storyline kept me going to finish reading the book. I enjoy the Forgotten Realms books and am irritated that more care wasn’t taken before this book was published.
June 18, 2023
This was like an actual dnd campaign, in a very good way!
Marrec and Gunggari Ulmarra, an Osslander. Ash doesn't speak. Marrec can turn people to stone and they face the Rotting Man.
In and near the nation of Thesk, east of the Sea of Shining Stars and West of Thay.
Marrec and Gunggari Ulmarra, an Osslander. Ash doesn't speak. Marrec can turn people to stone and they face the Rotting Man.
In and near the nation of Thesk, east of the Sea of Shining Stars and West of Thay.
July 8, 2024
This book will not provide you with any lore or additional depth when trying to craft a D&D campaign or character that focuses on Talona, Lady of Poison. That was the reason I picked it up, and I was disappointed when, at the end, I knew less than could be found on Wikipedia. At most, I learnt a bit about an unrelated god, Lurue, The Unicorn Queen.
What is this book then? It is a written out D&D campaign. As a D&D player, I'm sure I'd enjoy playing through a campaign like this, but as a reader, I found it lacking.
The author definitely has an interesting idea on their hands, but that didn't translate well onto the page. Books have a different structure to a typical D&D campaign, and that became clear in this as the author stuck to a D&D structure: You can feel the dice rolls happening and the pass/fail of different checks, the the filler battles to excite the players, and how every character except the main 4 are NPCs.
If you're looking for a fantasy book to read or D&D lore you can't get elsewhere, skip this. If you're looking to craft your own D&D campaign this could be useful, but maybe not.
Spoilers and random thoughts below:
What is this book then? It is a written out D&D campaign. As a D&D player, I'm sure I'd enjoy playing through a campaign like this, but as a reader, I found it lacking.
The author definitely has an interesting idea on their hands, but that didn't translate well onto the page. Books have a different structure to a typical D&D campaign, and that became clear in this as the author stuck to a D&D structure: You can feel the dice rolls happening and the pass/fail of different checks, the the filler battles to excite the players, and how every character except the main 4 are NPCs.
If you're looking for a fantasy book to read or D&D lore you can't get elsewhere, skip this. If you're looking to craft your own D&D campaign this could be useful, but maybe not.
Spoilers and random thoughts below:
August 4, 2018
This is a story of a unicorn knight with a dark secret, an exotic but enigmatic southern warrior, a wizard with a dark and hidden heritage, and your standard elfy ranger. This very odd selection of unlikely people form an immediate strong bond, like ya do in any D&D game, and go off on a gallivant, like ya do.
I would have absolutely loved this in high school. It's a bit of a silly read as an adult. :D
I would have absolutely loved this in high school. It's a bit of a silly read as an adult. :D
February 3, 2019
Well this was a nice surprise! Very interesting read. I thoroughly enjoyed getting some backstory of Talona and her nasty minions! The cover art for this book is unforgettable. Makes me want to include more marshland landscapes and terrain in my own Dungeons and Dragons campaign. Unicorn lovers unite! Never forget, even Drizzt carries a unicorn amulet. Don't believe me? You'll discover the truth sooner or later... Icewind Dale trilogy!
October 28, 2018
"My people ask if beauty at a steep price is still beauty"
"Gifts are not for those who need but those who appreciate."
"Challenges have a way of escalating."
"Pregnant silence descended."
"You are the man your actions make you, nothing more, nothing less."
"To err is to live and to live is to err..."
"Gifts are not for those who need but those who appreciate."
"Challenges have a way of escalating."
"Pregnant silence descended."
"You are the man your actions make you, nothing more, nothing less."
"To err is to live and to live is to err..."
October 9, 2011
I read Lady of Poison a few years ago, and it was actually (if I remember correctly) one of my first non-Drizzt Forgotten Realms novels that I read. I wasn’t looking for a trip down memory lane, though- I was doing some research on Osse. I flipped though a couple of pages, and then a couple more. Then, I figured, why not, I’ll read the entire thing; the other book I am reading is a non-fiction comparative theology book, so a lighter, nonsensical fiction book is great when I get periodically get sick of religion.
The book itself was pretty good. The characters, the most important part of a book, were all interesting. Marrek, I mostly liked the first time when I read the novel, and I liked him once more. Other people can attest to the fact that, for whatever reason, I forget a lot about things that I didn’t really like too much at the time (like Knights of the Old Republic II). Rereading the book, I completely forgot about Marrek’s heritage, and him being a Half-Medusa. That was a good touch, I think- it’s exotic, and not something we’ve seen, ever. His heritage, and its consequences really bailed his history, and training with his Ranger companion from being a Drizzt knock-off. Gungarri, the Oslander, he was an interesting, if not mysterious, fellow. Elowen, the Elven Ranger, I didn’t like her too much. She seemed too much stereotypical Aragorn + Legolas rolled into one. Ususi, I liked her in this novel, and in it’s spin-off, Darkvision, though I noticed a bit of a change in personality in this novel, as compared to the next.
-One thing I didn’t like, character wise, was Ash. She was Lurue’s “Child of Light”, who was destined to come down to Faerûn, and be a great blessing and boon to Lurue’s worshippers. I think that was a little too Jesus-like. Continuing on that theme, when I read that one of The Rotting Man’s blightlords was a man name ‘Anammelech’, I said to myself, “Where have I heard that before? I know I’ve heard that somewhere.” Turns out that Anammelech is indeed a name that’s been used before- Anammelech is a Demon in Christian demonology, and an Assyrian deity. This is a theme that I noticed Bruce didn’t use in any of his other novels (at least, not as noticeable, without deeper research), so I’m happy the trend didn’t continue.
The Rotting Man was a good villain. I liked him. Reading Unapproachable East, I never really cared too much for him (or the region, to be honest). The novel really “brought to life” that character. I do think there was a little bit too much of a focus on rot and corruption, though. Talona, the Rotting Man’s patron, is indeed a deity of blight and disease, but rot- as in rotting matter- is really only one of her playing cards. I didn’t really care for the way the Rotting Man was slain- sort of-, or the way he came back- sort of- afterwards.
And, a few more random tidbits…Let’s see here…Oh, I found this interesting, and pointed it out to my girlfriend as soon as I saw it. Lady of Poison marks the first use of Earthmotes. Page 98, a scene that takes place in the Celestial Nadir, specifically mentions floating chunks of earth, which the protagonist calls “Earthbergs”. I think “Earthmote” is preferable to “Earthbergs”. Another thing, Bruce incorrectly calls the Imaskari the ‘Imaskar’, but corrects himself later. He also claimed that the Imaskari were a separate race, rather than Human. I don’t recall if he corrected himself at some other point in the text.
The book itself was pretty good. The characters, the most important part of a book, were all interesting. Marrek, I mostly liked the first time when I read the novel, and I liked him once more. Other people can attest to the fact that, for whatever reason, I forget a lot about things that I didn’t really like too much at the time (like Knights of the Old Republic II). Rereading the book, I completely forgot about Marrek’s heritage, and him being a Half-Medusa. That was a good touch, I think- it’s exotic, and not something we’ve seen, ever. His heritage, and its consequences really bailed his history, and training with his Ranger companion from being a Drizzt knock-off. Gungarri, the Oslander, he was an interesting, if not mysterious, fellow. Elowen, the Elven Ranger, I didn’t like her too much. She seemed too much stereotypical Aragorn + Legolas rolled into one. Ususi, I liked her in this novel, and in it’s spin-off, Darkvision, though I noticed a bit of a change in personality in this novel, as compared to the next.
-One thing I didn’t like, character wise, was Ash. She was Lurue’s “Child of Light”, who was destined to come down to Faerûn, and be a great blessing and boon to Lurue’s worshippers. I think that was a little too Jesus-like. Continuing on that theme, when I read that one of The Rotting Man’s blightlords was a man name ‘Anammelech’, I said to myself, “Where have I heard that before? I know I’ve heard that somewhere.” Turns out that Anammelech is indeed a name that’s been used before- Anammelech is a Demon in Christian demonology, and an Assyrian deity. This is a theme that I noticed Bruce didn’t use in any of his other novels (at least, not as noticeable, without deeper research), so I’m happy the trend didn’t continue.
The Rotting Man was a good villain. I liked him. Reading Unapproachable East, I never really cared too much for him (or the region, to be honest). The novel really “brought to life” that character. I do think there was a little bit too much of a focus on rot and corruption, though. Talona, the Rotting Man’s patron, is indeed a deity of blight and disease, but rot- as in rotting matter- is really only one of her playing cards. I didn’t really care for the way the Rotting Man was slain- sort of-, or the way he came back- sort of- afterwards.
And, a few more random tidbits…Let’s see here…Oh, I found this interesting, and pointed it out to my girlfriend as soon as I saw it. Lady of Poison marks the first use of Earthmotes. Page 98, a scene that takes place in the Celestial Nadir, specifically mentions floating chunks of earth, which the protagonist calls “Earthbergs”. I think “Earthmote” is preferable to “Earthbergs”. Another thing, Bruce incorrectly calls the Imaskari the ‘Imaskar’, but corrects himself later. He also claimed that the Imaskari were a separate race, rather than Human. I don’t recall if he corrected himself at some other point in the text.
June 2, 2012
When I read this book I was staying at the hospital because of my ashtma... It was a good time to read. I remember I read Second Game by Charles de Vet and Katherine McLean, I read this one, I read Ten Little Niggers by Agatha Christie, Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman, Mistress of the Night by Dave Gross and Bassingthwaite (The second book on the Priests Series) and The Association by Bentley Little.
Well this was some book... I've being away from Forgotten Realms for over two years but I always was interested in the story behind it and all the D&D games... So I have it a try. It wasn't the best of the books but it wasn't that bad. Most of all I loved the way the author writes... It enraptures us...
I noticed some persons complain about the editing and errors... I really don't care about it. Unless it's some pretty big errors my mind never focus on it... (I think that's a good thing).
Some of the lines were not that good... They looked like taken from some supplement book. But even that wasn't enough to bother me... That way I learn more things about the setting...
Now the plot... I think the title wasn't the right for it. The Talona's clergy (the evil doers on this plot) weren't that involved on the story. I think something like Lady of the Forest would do nicely but whom am I? I thought that this book was written in a evil character point of view but no... (That's why I would change the title)
Resume... The book is about a priest of Lurue who is concerned about the deity's waning power and the losing the connection to it. It's just this. Nothing more... Okay, he meets some persons on the way who have the same goal and there they go...
There were some interesting characters like his sidekick and the magician even with a bit-a-wit of Deus Ex Machina...
Another thing that bothers me (not only on this book but others as well) is the way the author writes about the power of the villains and then they are easily dispatched.
The Dialogues are not that great and sometimes they look like teenagers...
I've bought other book by Cordell. I really hope it's better... Let us see.
Well this was some book... I've being away from Forgotten Realms for over two years but I always was interested in the story behind it and all the D&D games... So I have it a try. It wasn't the best of the books but it wasn't that bad. Most of all I loved the way the author writes... It enraptures us...
I noticed some persons complain about the editing and errors... I really don't care about it. Unless it's some pretty big errors my mind never focus on it... (I think that's a good thing).
Some of the lines were not that good... They looked like taken from some supplement book. But even that wasn't enough to bother me... That way I learn more things about the setting...
Now the plot... I think the title wasn't the right for it. The Talona's clergy (the evil doers on this plot) weren't that involved on the story. I think something like Lady of the Forest would do nicely but whom am I? I thought that this book was written in a evil character point of view but no... (That's why I would change the title)
Resume... The book is about a priest of Lurue who is concerned about the deity's waning power and the losing the connection to it. It's just this. Nothing more... Okay, he meets some persons on the way who have the same goal and there they go...
There were some interesting characters like his sidekick and the magician even with a bit-a-wit of Deus Ex Machina...
Another thing that bothers me (not only on this book but others as well) is the way the author writes about the power of the villains and then they are easily dispatched.
The Dialogues are not that great and sometimes they look like teenagers...
I've bought other book by Cordell. I really hope it's better... Let us see.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 15, 2009
So far the main thought that comes to mind is - doesn't anyone proofread these things?
Too often I saw a big lapse in syntax as in "spiraling away the opposite direction". The sad part is that in order to find an example to post I just had to open the book and look on the page it opened to.
There is a big lapse in character use.
Overall this is a poor book but a good plot. It you can force yourself to read it regardless of the glaring lack of writing effort, the story is good.
Here is a quick example of the 'character use' error: there are 2 heroes chasing a kidnapper and his victim. They catch up in a woods. They engage in battle. A third party drops out of the trees to assist. When the battle is over somehow the heroes were the ones who came to the assistance of the tree person. ????
There are often sentences out of place, almost as if they were (and possibly are) the author's "notes to self" while writing that were never properly integrated into the story.
Overall it read like a poorly crafter D&D adventure with an inexperienced Master at the board.
Too often I saw a big lapse in syntax as in "spiraling away the opposite direction". The sad part is that in order to find an example to post I just had to open the book and look on the page it opened to.
There is a big lapse in character use.
Overall this is a poor book but a good plot. It you can force yourself to read it regardless of the glaring lack of writing effort, the story is good.
Here is a quick example of the 'character use' error: there are 2 heroes chasing a kidnapper and his victim. They catch up in a woods. They engage in battle. A third party drops out of the trees to assist. When the battle is over somehow the heroes were the ones who came to the assistance of the tree person. ????
There are often sentences out of place, almost as if they were (and possibly are) the author's "notes to self" while writing that were never properly integrated into the story.
Overall it read like a poorly crafter D&D adventure with an inexperienced Master at the board.
February 27, 2009
I read this book while I was in college and needed something to read that wasn't academic...anything. And I still didn't really like this book. The story was too much like a D&D adventure, one encounter after another. Now, I know that maybe why many people read these books, but not me. I'm always looking for information about the realms buried in plot and intrigueing characters. While the characters were a little bit cool (the main character was a half-medusa paladin), the author didn't really develop them enough for my taste. This book scared me away from all the others in the 'clerics' series, but I know I will eventually read the rest of them.
August 7, 2016
Well..it's an abundant 3: a funny and interesting fantasy adventure,especially written for F.Realms fans, but it can be appreciated also by fantasy lovers....even if the firsts will understand better many references to deities and locations....
Some characters could be developed better and some situations are a little too much "forced" to work in the desired direction,still everything can't be described in a single book and, since it's not the beginning of the classical trilogy/series,the novel can be appreciated for itself..
Some characters could be developed better and some situations are a little too much "forced" to work in the desired direction,still everything can't be described in a single book and, since it's not the beginning of the classical trilogy/series,the novel can be appreciated for itself..
May 12, 2016
Super generic fantasy, and what the hell is wrong with that?
August 14, 2016
Not sure what else to say other than this was truly unremarkable fantasy. At best a "meh" book you read while looking for something more engaging.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews