Storm of the Dead

by Lisa Smedman

Book Overview

Drow god vs. Drow god! When Lolth and Eilistraee, two drow goddesses, compete for control of the dark elves of Faer?n, more than just the drow are caught in the middle. Though the drow will survive... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786947012
• ISBN13: 9780786947010
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
• Length: 307 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 4.3" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

Great

Storm of the Dead is the second installment in the Lady Penitent series. First book, The Sacrifice of the Widow, failed to impress me. Had the substance, but lacked any serious character development and most importantly abused resurrection of characters. This book has a beautiful plot, and generally a great feel to it. The flow is brilliant, and I have to confess I gulped it down in one huge bite. The Author really breathed life into the city of Sshamath, and introduced some new interesting characters. Character of Q'arlynd is as strong as it was in the first book, but other characters get significantly more development in this installment. We really get to know Cavetina, the new Halisstra, and Karas. Things happen for a reason in this book, and motivations are believable. Really nothing bad to say about plot, writing, characters or world building. Unfortunately, the biggest flaw of the first book still persists here. The author is taking character resurrection so lightly, without any regard to the suspense of the book. Sentences such as "I hope something will be left from her body, so we can resurrect her.", are commonplace. It is a major flaw in my opinion, but the book sat so well with me, I cant mark it down because of it. Simply a great book, well worth your time.

Excellent story

I am enjoying the series so far. It is an interesting story which sounds like it's going to change the Dark Elf race for all time. I am starting to like Q'arlynd Melarn more, but he seems to be more of a drow who is leaning towards the good side. I think he's a bit torn like Halisstra is. A new player invades the sava match between Lloth and Eilistraee.. it's interesting because the match is actually a simulation of what is actually happening down on Toril. Q'arlynd is more of the main character in this series than Halisstra I think. In the last book he was torn between his past, and a future as a follower of Eilistraee.. So he finds his own path in a city where mages rule, perfect for someone like him, but he has some challenges along the way, and the pull of Eilistraee as well... I am enjoying the story a lot, and I think this series is going to effect the future of the drow than the War of the Spider Queen did. Now if only someone could resurrect Phaerun, I'd be happy :)

AWESOME!!!

This is the 2nd book for the lady penitent series. It is AWESOME!!! If you have read the 6 books of the War of the Spider Queen series, this new series is a Must Have! It begins where the War of the Spider Queen books left off. Great new characters enter the story & epic battles take place between the gods of the Drow and their most devoted followers! If you are interested in Drizzt, or Dark Elves in general, this series is a good read! I would strongly suggest reading all 6 of the war of the spider queen series before these ones. I would also suggest reading all of R.A. Salvatore's "Legend of Drizzt" books too!

Shaking up the Drow Pantheon

While I have mixed feelings about the amount of changes Lisa Smedman is making to Forgotten Realms lore, I do have to give her credit for taking the reader on a memorable journey with interesting characters, twists, and delving deep into the origins of many basic tenets of Drow society and racial abilities. R.A. Salvatore helped bring Menzoberranzan to life, and rather than retread ground that has already been laid, Lisa Smedman has taken to fleshing out the lesser known, but no less important, Drow Pantheon and societies above and below the surface. Primarily focusing on the followers of Ellistrae, this book takes place about two years after the first book in the series. Lolth and Ellistrae begin the book playing their board game, and Kiaransalee (drow goddess of undeath, vengeance, necromancy, etc.) is bored and decides to join in against both of them. With the pieces set, the game begins, and we are taken to the settings from the first book, where the followers of Ellistrae are attempting to reconcile their beliefs with the new converts to their church, leftover followers of Vhaeraun who join with them as their god's power, portfolio, and very existence is joined with Ellistrae's church. This book focuses on the inevitable internal power struggles of the nightshadows and protectors. Ellistrae's creed of "always be kind" is diluted with the new messages of assassination, trickery, and other tenets which are designed as means to the end of Lolth's ultimate defeat. Hallistra Melarn (The Lady Penitent) continues with her unclear motives, as you cannot really tell whom she ultimately serves through her actions which bring jeopardy to anyone who dares to trust her. Her brother Q'arlynd Melarn is once again drawn into the fold of Ellistrae and learns much of his house's history and some surprising things that spell out his destiny to come. Both of them play a pivotal role in the story, and the ultimate side on which House Melarn will fall is still hanging in the balance as neither is truly trustworthy enough to serve the side that they are technically "on" due to selfish beliefs and desires. If anyone had to make the changes that occur, Lisa Smedman seems up to the task, and I enjoyed this book immensely. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

Getting better!

This was a much-improved addition to Lisa Smedman's trilogy. The first entry, while good, suffered from what felt like rather rushed pacing. This one slows things down a little, and raises some very interesting questions about the drow, though I'm still not sure I like where the mythology is going. After the first book it seemed like the author wants to make the drow monotheistic...and if her body count in the third installment is anything like the first two (as seems likely) that may come to pass. The characterisations were quite well done and I felt like she gave them a more substantial / realistic depth this go-round, though perhaps that is due to already being mostly familiar with the major players from the first installment. What I particularly liked about this book was that it raised questions about the first book, and how some things that appeared as certainties in sacrifice of the widow, now seem distinctly less so here. A great, no-holds-barred addition to the "novels for drow-lovers" collection. One of my biggest remaining questions is, "Where was this Lisa Smedman during War of the Spider Queen??"