Book Description
Unlock the Magical Power of
Vestiges, Shadows, and Syllables
Tome of Magic presents three new kinds of magic that you can integrate easily into any Dungeons & Dragons® campaign. These magic “subsystems” function alongside the existing D&D® magic system and offer new game mechanics, character options, and adventure possibilities. Within this tome you’ll find three new standard classes–one for each new kind of magic–as well as new spells, feats, prestige classes, monsters, and magic items tied thematically to each.
Pact Magic
Powerful entities known as vestiges exist beyond the boundaries of life, death, and undeath. The binder uses pact magic–a combination of symbols and secret rituals–to summon these entities, strike bargains with them, and gain their formidable and sometimes bizarre supernatural powers.
Shadow Magic
The Plane of Shadow is a dark, twisted reflection of the real world. The shadowcaster, by understanding the fundamental properties of the plane and unlocking its magical mysteries, learns to harness and channel its umbral gloom, shaping the darkness to serve her whim.
Truename Magic
Every creature has a truename–the word of its creation. The truenamer knows the primal language of the universe–the language of Truespeech–and learns the truenames of creatures and objects to gain control over them, transform them, or destroy them.
For use with these Dungeons & Dragons® core books
Player’s Handbook™ Dungeon Master’s Guide™ Monster Manual™
Customer Reviews:
Limited Use but does it well.......2007-01-12
I really like wizards and magic users so I really wanted to love this book. If you want something off the beaten track of magic, this provides some ideas. As an aid to most games, though, it doesn't provide much. It's a niche product for those looking for variants in magic.
New Ideas, New Problems.......2006-11-07
This is one D&D supplement that isn't riddled with dead pages. The book is interesting cover to cover, which at the very least makes it a good value in terms of the ammount of the product you are likely to use.
All three of the book's concepts are interesting and somewhat unique.
However, all three have mechanical issues that are left completely up to you, the user, to resolve.
If you are the type of person who wants a product to "works" out of the book, this is a bad product. Shadow Magic has its perks, but due to its design has massive spikes an lulls in power throughout your leveling. It is depressing how bad Shadowcasters are at levels 6 and 12, yet amazing at levels 7 and 13. This uneven growth can be very unsatisfying, leaving one to wonder "Why aren't I a wizard?" The binder has a very similiar problem, though somewhat less extreme.
Truenaming carries similiar baggage as the number of skill raising abilities erraticly varies from campaign to campaign, the class's power fluxates wildly from campaign to campaign.
Personally, I like the stuff in here, but its not very "plug in and play."
Inspiring.......2006-09-28
The first time someone brought this book to the table, I'll admit that I wasn't immediately impressed by it. However, I thought I saw some potential, so I borrowed it from a friend at work to read over the weekend. I read the whole thing, cover to cover, twice, before Monday.
This book has finally reminded me what it was I loved about D&D when I started playing second edition over a decade ago. Unlike most every other third edition book (and even more so with 3.5), Tome of Magic isn't just a gotta-catch-em-all collection of new feats, spells, magic items, and prestige classes. It is stuffed with truly new, fresh ideas. I had thought that the rules in the Expanded Psionics Handbook were a novel approach to spellcasting in D&D, but the alternate magic systems in Tome of Magic are worlds beyond psionics in scope and style. This book could easily serve as the basis of at least one, if not three or four, whole new campaign settings. Truly different, truly spectacular.
And a special aside for Truename Magic. This system is the way spellcasting in a fantasy setting should be. Lets face it. Spells per day? Choosing spells in the morning when you wake up? Transparently artificial, rediculous, and illogical concepts. Truename magic fixes this and fixes it right, while still being a viable and fun system to use.
Three New Dynamic Magic Systems.......2006-08-11
Tome of Magic offers you three new styles of magic to incorperate into your game.
The first, Pact Magic, bears a slight resembelence to the "summons" system from Final Fantasy VIII. They don't attack, as such, but instead provide you with interesting abilities. The only major draw back to Pact Magic is the fact that the book seems to set up the Pact users as almost inherently evil. The beings you have to make deals with are not nice in the least, and the complicated system of "I've used this one, so I can't use this one," will be tedious to a beginning player.
The second, Shadow Magic, could easily take the place of the Shadow Weave in a Forgotten Realms setting or be incorperated into basic games as an alternate style to normal magic. Of the three new styles, this one is the most traditional, combining a blend of "domain-like" styles and specalized magics. In addition, their powers eventually become spell-like abilitites. The only real downside of the system is the sheer lack of volume of spells. Even bards get more. What they lack in versatility, though, they more than make up for in power.
Finally, True Name magic feels incredibly similar to the Earth Sea book series, in that you discover more powers and abilitites with more names. The fact that this one is actually based off of a skill, the True Speak ability, makes it even more interesting. The Difficulty Classes on the skill's use are also very well done, ranging from 10 at lower levels, up into the 50's at higher levels. Best of all, the progression into Epic Abilities, though not really spoken of much, could be easily done by simply raising the DCs of things.
A fairly good book, but not for everyone. Each of the new magics is interesting and dynamic, but this book is not for everyone. If you like playing wizards and sorcerers (or maybe even clerics), then this book is for you; however, if hacking and slashing or sneaking and stabbing is your style, let your D.M. pick this one up.
Pretty good game supplement, if I do say so myself........2006-07-16
Not to insult other popular pencil-and-paper role-playing games of our time, but there's a reason why Dungeons and Dragons is the world's most renowned RPG of them all: Because the men and women who are responsible for its design are practically without peer in terms of sheer creative genius. Sure, I love the traditional themes of arcane and divine magic that almost all fantasy RPGs provide, and psionic powers are nothing to sneeze at, either. However, by delving deep into the esoteric aspects of world history and ideology and coming up with the three new types of magic for gamers and Dungeon Masters alike to add to their most cherished gaming campaigns, Wizards of the Coast has made sure that D&D Version 3.5 is everything they'd planned it'd be: dark, mysterious, inventive, and downright appealing.
Divided into three chapters, the Tome of Magic supplement explains how DMs can incorporate the likes of Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic into the mythical gaming worlds where their players' characters dwell in search of adventure. Players, too, can get an idea of what these more-or-less new forms of ancient power have in store for them and their allies as they sally forth into the depths of their alter egos' home realm. For instance, the chapter on Pact Magic introduces the Binder PC class and explains how participants in this occult and hence widely despised profession share their souls with a wide variety of Vestiges--beings whose existences in the world ended so tragically that their names have forever been carved into the stone tablet of history as their spirits transcended all reality into utter nothingness. Successful bondage to a Vestige grants a Binder that Vestige's powers and a physical trait that symbolizes the Binder's pact with his/her new patron. A failed pact grants the Binder the Vestige's powers as well as a successful one does, but the latter persona manifests himself/herself so heavily upon the former being that the Binder's behavior is warped by the spirit's own mentality, making the mortal perform eccentrically and--more times than not--downright irrationally.
Similarly, Shadow Casters, who participate in Shadow Magic, draw their powers form the Plane of Shadow--a literally dark and spooky reflection of the campaign's real world. It is by unlocking the mysteries of this twisted alternate reality and harnessing its nearly limitless gloom that these mages learn not only how to utilize this most umbral of all elements as the base of their spells, but also how to merge their own mortal existences with the Plane of Shadow to perform feats that no other being of their realm can, such as surviving for days without food or sleep and resisting the effects of poison and disease.
Finally, the Truenamer PC class is a student of the true universal language of all creation (called Truespeech) and as such learns the fundamentals of the third form of ages-lost mysticism, Truename Magic. By studying the fundamentals of this ancient tongue, a Truenamer can harness control over various objects and subjects, forcing them unto his/her will at the mere mentioning of their "true names"--namely, the names of their creation. To tell you the truth, the Truenamer PC class is a pretty fun one to play in a standard D&D gaming session--even more fun, in my opinion, than the standard Wizard or Sorcerer.
Oh, and before I forget to mention it, Tome of Magic has quite a few adventures in store for Dungeon Masters to put to use in their next gaming sessions--not to mention fifteen total Prestige Classes for PCs and DMs alike to try our (five for each of the three basic Character Classes presented in this book). The monsters are pretty impressive, too, and not just because they're illustrated so well by the most talented artists in the gaming industry, either. Then again, players who are satisfied with playing one of the more established Character Classes from previous releases of the D&D 3rd Edition and Version 3.5 gaming manuals and supplements will still want to check out the new spells and feats presented in ToM, if for nothing else other than to add even more variety to their PCs.
All in all, Tome of Magic is no disappointment in its quest to bring something new to the gaming table. I was definitely impressed, and I believe other Dungeons and Dragons fans will feel the same way I do. If you can find it in your local hobby shop or bookstore, then by all means, snag it! It's a definite keeper.
Average customer rating:
- Entirely Wonderful Series by a Talented Writer
- Four !! Hot !! Stars
- This book is ,HOT,HOT,HOT!!!!!!!!
- Wonderful begining...
- Good, erotic read
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Shadow of the Dragon: Dragon's Kiss (Book 1)
Tielle St. Clare
Manufacturer: Ellora's Cave
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ASIN: 1419950371 |
Download Description
Lorran has studied dragons for years, hoping to find a way for the wild creatures and humans to live in peace. She knows better than most the devastation caused by a dragon bite. And when Kei the Dragonslayer appears on her doorstep, torn and bleeding, she knows he has only weeks to live. Kei has been a dragon slayer all his life, but when he becomes the victim of a dragon bite, he turns to Lorran, the only woman who might be able to save him from sure death. As the dragon venom flows through his body, the desire and need for Lorran's touch fill his every thought. Though he doesn't understand it, he knows - Lorran belongs to him. As his desires grow stronger and wilder than ever before, it seems only Lorran can ease the powerful sexual urges created by the dragon's kiss.
Customer Reviews:
Entirely Wonderful Series by a Talented Writer.......2007-06-21
Tielle St. Clare is one of Ellora's Cave most talented writers. She undertstands how to tapped into not just the erotic fantasy of beauty and the beast, but also expands the psychology of the dragon/maiden mythology in itself. The characters are endearing and funny;her dialogue is humorous and perceptive. If you love dragons, knights, maidens, true love, and romance with erotica, then you will love this book. I highly recommend buying the entire series.
Four !! Hot !! Stars.......2007-03-25
Dragon's Kiss made me want to touch myself on more than one occasion. Even though the plot was simple, the book was highly enjoyable. This is a nice, quick read for anyone who does not have much time on their hands (as it is a novella). I dislike the fact that this book is so pricey, being so short in length (as compared to J. R. Ward, whose books are novel length and less-expensive). However, the erotica was great!!
This book is ,HOT,HOT,HOT!!!!!!!!.......2006-11-04
After reading this the first in the series,I had to read all three!Great plot,strong character's ,this auther is a wounderful story teller,who has mastered romantica...hot sex...hot guy...and a woman stronge enough to love both man and dragon,a must read.
Wonderful begining..........2006-04-20
This was my first book by Tielle St. Clare, and let me tell you that I will be buying the rest of the series.
Lorran, was what town people called a dragon's whore, all because she studied dragons to find a way to cure them.
And who does one become a dragon might you ask, easy, just a bite will do.
Lorran has seen what a dragons bite can do, for she saw what it did to her husband.
In the dead of night, a soldier came knocking at her door with another wounded man. That man was known as the dragonslayer.
Kei, dragonslayer and king to his people, was bitten trying to slay a dragon. His brother brought him to the only place he knew of that mihgt be able to help him and that was to Lorrens.
Lorren is facinated with her wounded soldier because she can study him while he goes through the change, but Kei doesn't want to be studied, so they make a deal. Lorren can study him if he can have all the sex he wants.
Kei has a major problem that he can't control, he wants Lorren and he wants her bad. Ok, that doesn't sound so bad, but, it is, because he's in a constant state of arousal, even after he's had her.
What is it about Lorren that has him like this? Why after haveing made love can't he get her out of his system? And why is the dragon demanding that he make her his mate?
I really enjoyed this book. It is definatley going on my keeper shelf.
Good, erotic read.......2005-12-05
I am a big fan of Ellora's Cave books, and this is one of my favorites. I prefer historical/medieval or fantasy romantica (blend of erotica and romance for those new to Ellora's Cave), and this one was right up my alley.
Kei, the heir to the throne, is wounded by a dragon, and it is only a matter of time before he turns into a dragon himself. Kei's brother Riker spirits him away in secret to Lorran's house. Lorran has dedicated herself to studying dragons, and Riker brings Kei to her in hopes that she can cure Kei. For 3 days, Lorran watches over Kei in his fevered sleep, and when Kei wakes, the sparks fly. However, the lovers must race against the clock to try and find a cure for Kei. There are a lot of interesting twists and turns before the end.
I've read many romantica books and often, the characters' emotions or development seemed shallow, cheesy, or cliche. What drew me to the book was the sincerity of the characters' emotions: Lorran's insecurity, Kei's protectiveness, etc.
Definitely a recommended read.
Average customer rating:
- Trilogy Continues
- Much like the first, the art much more impressive than the story.
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Shadows of Ice (WarCraft: The Sunwell Trilogy, Book 2)
Kim Jae-hwan , and
Richard A. Knaak
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1595327134
Release Date: 2006-03-07 |
Book Description
On the war-ravaged world of Azeroth, a young blue dragon's quest for a mysterious power has led him and his companions to the remote mountains of northern Lordaeron. In that frozen, treacherous wasteland, they find themselves caught in a battle of life, death--and undeath! Jae-Hwan Kim, artist of the best-selling King of Hell series, and Richard A. Knaak, the New York Times best-selling author, whisk you back to the world of Warcraft with the bone-chillingly sinister Shadows of Ice! "A well-told, exciting story. Kim's beautiful art has an amazing depth and fluidity that sets it apart." -Tina Coleman, American Library Association
Customer Reviews:
Trilogy Continues.......2007-08-09
This is not your typical book. Because it is TokyoPop it is (forgive me) more like a comic book. As such I read it in about 20 minutes. It was entertaining though.
Much like the first, the art much more impressive than the story........2007-04-04
This second installment in the Sunwell Trilogy of manga-style comics is neither overly impressive or disappointing. If you've read the first, you pretty much know what to expect from this one too. Basically, the art is beautiful and really carries the story, bringing to life heroes and villains. The text is bare-bones and only enough to move the story is included. The story develops nicley here and I'm looking forward to reading the final book (which has finally come out after a LONG wait).
If you enjoy fantasy comics, try these set in the rich world of Warcraft. Make sure you start with the first in the series though.
Book Description
An adventure set in the Midnight campaign setting for the d20 System, a world where evil rules and darkness has fallen across the land, where heroes are condemned and the elder races are hunted to the brink of extinction. In this scenario, the heroes must face off against the creatures of shadow, striving to bring light to a world dominated by the forces of evil.
Customer Reviews:
SUPERB CAMPAIGN FOR GROUND-BREAKING WORLD.......2006-11-04
CROWN OF SHADOW is a campaign for low-level characters that is set in the world of MIDNIGHT. MIDNIGHT is a dark world where the forces of evil have won and the heroes are the hunted. Both the use of magic and reading are capital crimes, as is the possession of weapons or armor. Even food is scarce. Orcs are the elite fighting forces of this world and the only clerics left pray to a dark god enthroned in his dark tower. Humanity is being ground into the dust, halflings are universally enslaved, the dwarves are losing a war of attrition and even the elves are being driven back. In short, it is a world in need of heroes.
The world of MIDNIGHT differs from standard high fantasy sufficiently that players would benefit from a campaign that would take them across the entire world, to see how each group under the Shadow is resisting and what price they pay for doing so. They should meet all of the surprises that MIDNIGHT has in store and get a sense for the corruption of their world, the better to motivate their struggle against it. CROWN OF SHADOW is that campaign, a story arc that takes the PCs through the lands of the dying dwarves, crushed humans, subversive river gnomes, and the vanguard of the elves. The PCs will experience almost all of the twists of MIDNIGHT and see all the major locations; in that sense, it serves almost as a gazetteer for the players. I'll admit that the "crown of shadow" is quite the macguffin, but the campaign is about the journey not the destination.
CROWN OF SHADOW is designed for 1st level characters and can run them as high as 5th level. This campaign is designed for the 1st edition of MIDNIGHT and uses 3.0 rules, but I didn't find any problems using this with MIDNIGHT 2nd edition or 3.5 rules. There are 7 chapters of action, plus an epilogue which follows the conclusion fo the story. The booklet itself is very readable - I particularly appreciated the synopsis at the beginning of each chapter to keep track of what should be happening. Each chapter also has subsections to keep all the information organized.
I thought CROWN OF SHADOW was a well presented campaign. In fact, it should be indispensable as a resource for any MIDNIGHT campaign even if the material isn't directly used. The challenges seem well designed, with some good combats, some puzzles, and social interaction. I would highly recommend it.
Book Description
The first adventure for the brand new Eberron campaign setting.
This full-length adventure for the newest
D&D® campaign setting is designed to showcase many of the most unique traits of the Eberron setting. It will play out across the entire face of the Eberron realm and is designed to either be a stand-alone adventure or an immediate follow-up to the short adventure provided in the Eberron Campaign Setting™.
Customer Reviews:
Not too bad..........2006-09-09
Definately a different kind of D&D Avdenture.
Eberron is a breath of fresh air to the typical "Midevial Europe" D&D and give technology and such a twist.
The adventure here was really good, up until the last part, part 5 where the charecters seemed to get railroaded a bit.
But all-in-all a great adventure!
From a players point of view.......2005-12-17
If your new to Eberron as i was trust me theres no better way to meet this great new world than with this adventure!!!
Your supose to go from 1st to like 4th level but we got to 5th so the next carry on adventure might be a little bit easy for us but in saying that there was only 3-4 of us playing most of the time.
A few fights were probley a bit frigen harder than they have should have been but what do you exspect when you walk down the main road into a busted ass town thats the bad guys main base and start a fight!!!!!
3rd level and had a CR8! But over all i had a great time roleplaying in this world and am looking forward to next week when we start the next Adventure!!!!
Shadows of the last modual.......2004-11-17
While I have not yet run Shadows of the Last war with my PCs, I have looked over the adventure and found much of it to my likeing. The story line is continued relatively smoothly from the previous modual (Forgotten Forge), and a new group of foes for the adventurers are introduced, making for an exiting and well developed adventure. The adventure's primary merrit is, however, the sense of Eberon it imparts. With its technology like magics and cinamatic battle scenes, Shadows gives a DM wishing to learn a bit more about Eberon before writting his(or her) own adventures just the sort of model and set of possible adventure hooks one needs. In adition to this, I found the adventure easily modifiable, enabling me to edit out parts I did not particularly like and replace them with some of my own, with minimum difficulties. My one gripe concerning Shadows is the fact that the principle villians are not those implicated at the end of the Forgotten forge. While this is merely a matter of opinion, and I know that I said that the adition of the new enemies is an overal good touch, if I where a player, I would likely be somewhat dumfounded to discover that the oposition I faced in the last adventure is present only in the start of the modual (albeit in an exelently talored encounter). Over all, the Shadows is a great adventure for an Eberon campagn, and I recomend it to DMs in search of inspiration, bearing in mind that much of it may need to be tweeked in order to make it run best with your party.
Book Description
Power comes from passion.
Those words haunt Tiana's nights. A witch with no powers, Tiana is rejected and pitied by her people. She lives a contented, quiet existence on the edge of the Matriarchy's lands—until Princess Merena kidnaps Prince Rainek of Xicanth to use as a sex slave. Seeing his strong, naked body chained to the wall, Tiana discovers desires and needs she never expected—and the passion that flows between them has unexpected results.
Patience.
Denith, the dragon who shares Rainek's mind, has been preaching patience all his life and Rainek doesn't want to hear it any more. He wants the bedamned beast to pick a mate for him. After thirty celibate summers, he's a frustrated, exhausted virgin…and now he's been captured, stripped and chained inside a dungeon by a conniving princess. His situation hasn't improved. But when a dainty little thing comes into the dungeon to bathe him, Rainek and Denith immediately recognize her as the one.
Now Rainek just has to free himself, kidnap his mate, and convince her that life with a dragon was what she always wanted. Simple.
Customer Reviews:
Second Book in a Fun Series.......2007-06-21
While this second entry into Tielle St. Clare's dragon series is not as strong as her first book, she is still one of Ellora's Cave most talented writers. She undertstands how to tapped into not just the erotic fantasy of beauty and the beast, but also expands the psychology of the dragon/maiden mythology in itself. The characters are endearing and funny;her dialogue is humorous and perceptive. If you love dragons, knights, maidens, true love, and romance with erotica, then you will love this book. I highly recommend buying the entire series.
Good Plot Gone Bad.......2007-02-18
This book began great then sort of fizzled. Now don't get me wrong, I like steamy love scenes as much as anyone. But not every single page! The characters: Rainek, along with his dragon Denith, and the witch Tiana are so busy having sex that the plot is seemingly forgotten. I found myself skipping through the sex scenes (which were numerous!) to get to the plot that really didn't happen until the last few pages of the book. The love scenes just seemed so superfluous and unnecessary for the most part. If they had been integrated more into the storyline, and the plot more developed and detailed, this would have been an excellent book. As it is the book is just a love fest with the story being secondary. Which is truly a shame because if it was written better this book would have been great. Unless you like constant love scenes with little to no plot, this book is not for you. Take my advice and skip this book all together.
It's Okay.......2007-02-06
Don't get me wrong this is not bad erotica, but it didn't really stand out or become a favorite for me. The story has a cute premise, Prince Rainek shares his mind and body with a dragon Denith. Dragons are of course misunderstood as dangerous beasts who either kill or drive insane the woman who are sacrificed to them. But Denith is looking for his mate, the one woman he will love forever. While Denith and Rainek look, Denith will not allow Rainek to have sex. As a 30 year-old virgin Rainek will do anything to find his mate. Even go to Matriarchy's lands, where woman rule and they are rumered to kidnapp men and use them as sexual slaves.
Rainek is kipnapped while sleeping and wakes up to find himself chained and the prisoner of Princess Merena a very powerfull witch. On the up side Merena sends Tiana, a virtual outcast because in a kingdom of magic she has never had powers, Danith immediately recognizes her as his mate. After Denith thwarts Merenas seduction she orders Tiana to care for Rainek. Sleeping with another woman's captive is treason but Tiana is having trouble resisting Rainek and soon learns that "power comes from passion." So Rainek must now get free, tell Tiana he's a dragon and avert a major political disaster.
From here the story becomes kind of repatative and predictable. Early in the story there is decent sexual tension, which many erotic novels are lacking, but the story later disolves into kind of lackluster sex. None of the later revalations are perticularly startling, but that is not a big problem for me in erotica. I read it for the sex, characters and relationships not complex plot twists. I just wish the end was as good as the begining.
Note: this story contains sex with Denith as a dragon.
HOT FANTASY ROMANCE with DRAGONS.......2006-07-01
Rainek is the son of a king. He is also part Dragon. Denith his dragon part must chose his mate, until then Rainek is celibate. When Rainek visits a neighboring kingdom to meet some Princesses he is kidnapped and held captive by one of the Princesses. Merena, a powerful witch, wants to have a child with him so she can become even more powerful. She knows he shares a body with a dragon and if she can get him to marry her she will be able to control the dragon in him and any children they have.
Tiana is left mostly to herself, because she has no powers. All the rest of her sisters are powerful witches. When she sees Rainek chained and tortured in the dungeon she wishes she could help him but she could be killed for treason if she touches Merena's captive. Somehow his capture has awakened her dormant powers. As a fire witch she could be exiled or even destroyed, so she fears for herself and Raniek, maybe together they can escape from this danger and have time to investigate the powerful attraction they hold for each other.
This is a very hot book, and I enjoyed the story, I am going to find the others in this series if I can. You do not have to read the others to enjoy this one.
Awesome.......2005-10-12
It's been forever since i've read a book like. Erotic and sometimes downright raunchy sex scenes and an actual plot! Great story development, and decent characters. Now if only I could find 'Dragon's Kiss'!
Product Description
Shadow of the Dragon - Dragon's Rise By Tielle St Clare
Book 3 in the Shadow of the Dragon series. As a child, Prince Bren of Xicanth saw the devastation created when a dragon is rejected by its mate
and vowed he would never unleash that kind of horror and suffering on a woman. The promise is simple to maintain until Tynan, the dragon who shares his existence, chooses a mate and demands to claim her as only a dragon can. Bren's own needs make it almost impossible to deny his dragon the taste of her flesh that the beast so desires. But even as Bren unwillingly succumbs to the lure of the dragon's mate, he realizes something isn't right. A dragon can have only one mate
yet Tynan has claimed two
no, three different women.
Customer Reviews:
Third Book in a Fun Series.......2007-06-21
While this third entry into Tielle St. Clare's dragon series is not as strong as her first book, she is still one of Ellora's Cave most talented writers. She undertstands how to tapped into not just the erotic fantasy of beauty and the beast, but also expands the psychology of the dragon/maiden mythology in itself. The characters are endearing and funny;her dialogue is humorous and perceptive. If you love dragons, shape-shifter, knights, maidens, true love, and romance with erotica, then you will love this book. I highly recommend buying the entire series.
Hot Hot Hot Fantasy Romance .......2006-07-06
I have all three of the books in this series and I have liked all three, it is a different take on Dragons somewhat like DRAGON VENOM by Lawrence Watt-Evans with alot more steamy love scenes. In fact this is an erotic romance from Ellora's Cave.
Bren is a prince who is half Dragon, the Dragon's name is Tynan. Only his dragon can find his mate. When Bren was young he saw what happens when a dragon is denied by his chosen mate, and he has always sworn he will never take a mate. There is only one mate for a dragon and so Bren is a celibate Prince.
Keene is a shape shifter, who has been sent to get some of Bren's blood to be used when Bren's father is murdered. She has lived with the Guild since she was eight and her loyalty has always been to the Guild. The Guild is a secret organization of shifters who do anything for money. They have been hired to kill Bren's father and taking Bren's shape make it appear he did it.
Bren is at the Conclave of Kings in order to get an agreement for them to stop killing dragons. Although celibate he has to accept every night when King Ashure offers his haram. Bren usually brings a book to read. This time on three nights with three separate women, Tynan claims his mate. Bren is stunned and knows a dragon can only have one mate, therefore the woman has to be a shifter, A dragon smells his mate and can always find her no matter what she looks like.
That is just the begining, there is action, adventure, and some of the hottest steamiest love scenes. IF you want a book with all that, this one is for you. Don't miss the other books in this series.
Dragon's Rise (Shadow of the Dragon, Book 3).......2006-03-08
A friend gave me her first two books in this series and I enjoyed them so much that I had to read this book. I have fallen in love with the charactors and can not wait to see what happens next.
Average customer rating:
- Mortals should choose to read it
- Simply cannot put this book down
- Great New Fantasy!
- Great new Fantasy Realm!
- Gods & Mortals
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Choices Meant for Gods
Sandy Lender
Manufacturer: ArcheBooks Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Epic
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| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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Magic & Wizards
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| Science Fiction & Fantasy
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Book Description
Not even the gods noticed when Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian seek shelter from a mad sorcerer in a household not just full of secrets and false hope, but watched by the god who will unwittingly reveal her role in an impending war. When an orphan sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies she uncovers? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty? "Choices Meant for Gods is without a doubt the freshest most engaging high fantasy novel to come out in years and breathes new life into a tired genre. The characters leap off the page and the plot is lightning quick and deftly written with many layers that tease the mind and imagination. Choices Meant for Gods is not a mere novel; it is a gorgeous piece of written art. I can hardly wait for the second book!" Jamieson Wolf, Linear Reflections Author of Hope Falls, Electric Pink, Electric Blue, and Garden City "In Choices Meant for Gods, Sandy Lender takes her readers of fantasy fiction by the hand and leads them through an exciting world filled with sorcerers, gods, goddesses, dragons, and other mythical creatures. Through the use of interesting characters and clever dialogue ("Try not to think, Nicolas. You look so much more handsome when you're bewildered."), she weaves a spell of magic and fantasy. The only problem for the reader may occur at the end of the book when they find themselves wanting more and discover they will have to wait for book two!" Gary R. Hoffman, Author for Short Story Anthologies including Seven By Seven and Never Safe
Customer Reviews:
Mortals should choose to read it.......2007-08-01
I confess: I do not read much. I have an amazing attention deficit that prevents me from finishing even the loftiest of classics. I finished reading this book. This fact may not seem so interesting to most, but is high praise considering the countless unfinished volumes in my office. The characters are endearing, Onweald springs vividly from the pages, and I anxiously await the unfolding of the next scenes in that world's history.
Simply cannot put this book down.......2007-07-13
I have to admit that I haven't finished th book yet, but not for lack of trying! I was explaining to a colleague why I was so tired (staying up until 2 AM, reading "just one more chapter" of "Choices Meant for Gods") and how exhilarating I am finding this book! Sandy Lender has taken great care to develop interesting characters. The book keeps you guessing. The teacher in me likes to try to predict what is coming next -- and I'm almost never right! I can't wait until Ms. Lender writes another book!
Great New Fantasy!.......2007-05-01
It's so refreshing when a novel comes along that grabs you from the outset and won't let go. Such was my experience with "Choices Meant for Gods." The characters are as real as the author can make them without literally leaping from the pages to be with the reader. Instead, the reader is drawn inexorably into Lender's new world, where even gods are "human." I hope that many more readers can have the opportunity to enjoy this marvelous work!
Great new Fantasy Realm!.......2007-04-27
Too many fantasy authors are re-hashing the same old plots, acted out by the same old tired heroes and heroines. Here we have a refreshing new take on things! I love that Chariss is both someone I can identify with and whom I can dream about becoming. . . it's what fantasy is all about!
Gods & Mortals.......2007-04-23
This book has a great deal to offer. It is good fantasy. It is good writing, period. The pace is fast, the characters well-crafted and compelling. The treatment of the gods and their interaction with mortals is original. My big complaint is that I must wait for the sequel(s) to learn the outcome.
Book Description
In The Sword of Bedwyr, young Luthien Bedwyr rebelled against the crushing rule of King Greensparrow and his cruel wizard-lords. To save his once proud land of Eriador, Luthien was given a magical cape that renders its wearer invisible--but leaves behind an indelible scarlet silhouette. In Luthien's Gamble, Luthien--the Crimson Shadow--was successful in bringing Greensparrow and his forces to heel. But now the vile king is back with a vengeance. Using dark and hideous magic, Greensparrow has taken the form of a mammoth dragon--and he will not be stopped!
Download Description
In The Sword of Bedwyr, young Luthien Bedwyr rebelled against the crushing rule of King Greensparrow and his cruel wizard-lords. To save his once proud land of Eriador, Luthien was given a magical cape that renders its wearer invisible--but leaves behind an indelible scarlet silhouette. In Luthien's Gamble, Luthien--the Crimson Shadow--was successful in bringing Greensparrow and his forces to heel. But now the vile king is back with a vengeance. Using dark and hideous magic, Greensparrow has taken the form of a mammoth dragon--and he will not be stopped!
Customer Reviews:
The final conclusion of the "Crimson Shadow".......2002-11-03
With this book Bob Salvatore concludes his "Crimson Shadow" trilogy - and he does it very good, however not perfect.
The battle descriptions are excellent, but frustrating, because in the whole book you want only one - with the evil Dragon King. But you must wait - it's great finish.
Poor Oliver.......2001-09-18
The Dragon King was an awesome display of drive and struggle against the oppresive dragon king greensparrow. This book was filled to the brim of a wonderfully descriptive novel with humor, victory, and a real tone of sadness. Ah my beautiful buttercup how i will forever miss you.
The Dragon King is compelling and full of action........2000-12-13
The Dragon King is the final book in the exciting Crimson Shadow saga. Luthien and the mystic wizard Brind Amour take on the mighty wizard Greensparrow in a final fight for land and freedom. 2 on 1 seems a bit unfair but Greensparrow has gathered up his council of evil wizards and sorceresses to help him carry out his evil deeds. Of course with Brind Amour awaken from his slumber Greensparrow is taking no chances and has conjured up evil demons from hell. How will this saga end? You'll just have to read it for yourself. If you like deception and mayhem in a mystical world I highly encourage you to pick up this book and read it for yourself. R.A. Salvatore does a great job in scripting the battle scenes in this book. You will literally find yourself sweating and wanting to read more as the story goes on. I gave this book and enthusiastic 4 stars.
Maybe a wee bit too easy..........2000-05-04
After waiting for a year for this book to come out, I readthrough it in just a couple of days. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoyit. But... I felt that things were too easy. It started off withour heroes preparing for what should be a suicidal battle against overwealming forces. But they're going to march on anyway, because what other choice have they? And so they do, only to discover that their overwealming opposition wants to join them in bringing down their tyrannical king. Well, that's great. Except that it happened just about every time. Things are bad, things are terrible! We're all going to die! No, wait. They're joining us! Well, we're still outnumbered twenty to one. Onto the next! If this were all that there were to this book it would easily rank as Salvatore's worst. However, it is saved by its various characters, Oliver De Bouroughs in particular. (Enrico Montoyo and Monty Python's Frenchmen indeed, Bob!) I think that if this story didn't feel rushed, I might have enjoyed it more. But I still recommend it.
Typical one sided drubbing!.......2000-04-29
Without giving away any information, It would seem that if you have read other books by this same author and subbed in the new character names, they all would be the same book. As I read thru this book, I couldn't believe that the "evil" empire is so weak and ineffective yet when the author mentions them, he uses powerful descriptive phrases.."the mighty greensparrow", the "the Great armies of Avon" etc.., yet time after time, they are decimated time after time. The "Good" side has its share of hereos, but they are all very typical...unbeatable in combat, yet each has their own unique personalities..blah blah blah. ....
Product Description
FFG is proud to present a major event in the bestselling and award-winning Midnight campaign setting product line. This limited edition boxed set will be a must-have for every fan of the Midnight world. The endless hordes of the Shadow in the North are marshaling for one final thrust into the heart of Erethor, the vast forest homeland of the elves. If this epic military campaign is successful, it could mean the end of organized resistance to Izrador in Eredane.
Customer Reviews:
Take the Fury.......2007-07-08
I bought this box set when it was firs published. Read it and loved it; and over the next several years flipped through it from time to time. Recently, I have re-read the book and have fallen in love with it again.
The box contains the following: a big map of Eredane, character sheets, DM screen, map booklet, and 160 pages soft cover campaign book (the meat of the box).
I must confess that the while the big map is nice, it is really just a blown up image of the map from the Midnight campaign setting book, with no additional information; the character sheet did no impress me much (and I do not even know where they are now), and the DM screen serves its purpose as long as it hides my notes and dice rolls (I don't really care what is written on the inside of it).
The most important part of the box is of course the campaign book. This book is a must for any DM who plans to run a campaign in Erethor, or who just wants to expand his/her knowledge of the elves and what they are facing.
I'll break down the chapters for you:
Chapters 1 to 3 describe the various regions of the elven forest Erethor that are directly affected by the war with the Shadow (Izrador): the Caraheen (central), Veradeen (north) and the Arrun jungle and Druid's Swamp (south). The Caraheen receive the most attention with a page count that almost equals both the south and northern area, which is a shame. The relatively quite coastal area of western Erethor, the Miraleen, does not receives it's own chapter, and while it get several other mentions in other areas of the books, I think that some more information on this area of Erendane would have been welcomed. Even though, all three chapters a choke full of great locations and interesting personalities with enough quirks and twists that a cunning DM could have his players constantly on edge and asking themselves whether they should truly trust\hate\love\etc. that particular person (and in my opinion, one of the most important parts of a Midnight campaign)
Chapter 4 goes into a little more detail about the various elven societies (all four), their strength and how they fight the Shadow, what could happen should the Shadow succeed in corrupting or defeating some of them, as well as some adventure hooks. The chapter also provides on some other groups that help/hinder the elves in their fight such as the Cult of the Witch, Roland's Raiders, and the Pirate Princes.
Chapter 5 provides an excellent recounting of the war on Erethor for the past 99 years, an Arc by Arc (months in Midnight) description of the Shadows "final" and greatest offensive against the elves, and some of the Witch Queen plans to counter such an offensive. It is important to know, and the authors keep reminding us, that this chapter is a possibility of things to happen to provide adventure seed and\or a backdrop to the party's adventure in the elven forest.
Chapter 6 describes the Shadow's forces besieging Erethor, the location and difficulties these forces have, their plans of conquest, the personalities and ambitions of the various captains (with all the conflicts between them), giving us a better understanding of how they might react; and as well as the elven forces and how they try to counter the Shadow's minions. This is another excellent part of the book with plenty of ideas.
Chapter 7 provides general adventure ideas in Erethor for both good or evil parties, and three short encounters taking advantage of the various areas described in the book. Chapter 8 gives us the new monsters and several important NPCs complete with their personalities and quirks. Chapter 9 is the shortest and gives us a handful of feats and one Prestige Class, the Erunsil Blood.
The book on the whole is very well written. Short stories (several paragraphs at most) dot the chapters and give readers a more in-depth look at what the elves and orcs fighting in this warfront feel. You cannot read a page of this book without an adventures idea, if not a whole campaign, jumping out at you (in fact, I recommend reading this book with a notebook and pen on the side. Just in case).
There are no meta-plots in this book. The authors keep reminding the reader that everything written down are suggestions and ideas, a possibility of things to come, nothing more. They leave enough gray area for the DM to run around in and fit and mold into his/her own campaign.
The book in black and white (as all Midnight books are) and I like this because I believe it very fitting for this dark setting. While I do not like the cover art of the book, I do like the interior art. The map booklet is also black and white, and I have no problem with that either; I do not think it detracts from them, and still believe they are very good.
The original box set cost $50, and I do think it was a little too much for what the box offered. But, at the current price here on Amazon ($33), this box set is good value for your money.
THE WAR AGAINST THE ELVES.......2005-09-12
If you've seen my previous reviews for the Midnight Campaign setting or some of its supplements you know I've had nothing but great things to say about this dark, foreboding, and enthralling fantasy campaign. The Fury of Shadow box set continues to keep the bar set very high as this supplement moves the battle for the world of Aryth into Erethor, the homeland of the elves. The first three chapters of the guidebook details the various Elven lands and how the evil of the Dark Lord Izrador has already affected the lands. Major points of interest are including in the descriptions of each land and also serve as adventure hooks for the GM. Areas such as the Spider Haunted Thorn Webs of Tanglehorn, The Darkening Wood, and the massive, steel tree known as Silverthorn all make wonderful jumping off points for the GM to begin an adventure. And then there is the ominous Obsidian Spire that churns with foul magic and evil creatures.
Succeeding chapters detail the free Elven peoples and their struggles against the dark forces as well as documenting the history of the war within Erethor and the forces that the Dark Lord has brought to bear against the Elves. This is where the Midnight products really shine. There is a depth and richness to the history and people of the Midnight setting is lacking in many campaigns. You can tell that the designers spent a great deal of time developing the milieu rather than just cookie cutter places and names. Rather than do all the work for you, Fury of the Shadow outlines several adventures that the GM can then flesh out and develop further. These outlines also include encounters to help the GM out.
The final chapters provide a wealth of resource material including the new monsters you'll encounter such as Bog Hags, as well as major NPCs, new feats, and new prestige classes. The boxed set comes with a beautifully illustrated poster sized map, a regional map book, a GM screen, and character record sheets. I would concur with some of the other reviewers that at $50, it may be a bit on the pricey side but you can get it for about 33% off at Amazon which definitely makes it worth the money. As with all their Midnight products, Fantasy Flight Games spares no expense in the production. The cover art to the box and books are first rate as is the interior art. It's perhaps a small thing, but one that sets them apart from other companies producing RPGs. These really catch your eye when you see them. It's for this reason that Midnight has moved to the top of my list of favorite campaign worlds.
Reviewed by Tim Janson
Sticker Shock!.......2005-02-08
First of all...I agree with the person who said this was overpriced. It's one of the reasons I don't like boxed sets. And I see no reason for this to be a boxed set, to be honest. The maps aren't very detailed, and not created by a professional cartographer, which I would expect for a product in this price range. The writing is choppy, and the plot lines are overly complicated.
The screen, from what I saw, wasn't very helpful, and the character sheets don't seem any different than what I can get online. This product in no way lives up to the hype.
If it is true, and this is being produced by the official fan site...then I can certainly see why the quality has gone downhill. That particular site is cliqueish, and the members are rude. It's sad, to see this line marginalized this way, not to mention that FFG seems to have been hit with the whacky stick of profit.
Plenty of good ideas.......2005-02-08
Fury of Shadow has many good points, but it has a couple annoyances that could have been cleared up to make a better product.
First, the good. It is filled with details for a large swath of the continent of Eredane. By combining the stories and ambitions of several key characters (both friend and foe), an overriding campaign is instantly created. Plots within plots, character scheming, and political intrigue are all readily available for the DM to place the characters into truly epic setting-altering events. Details of the geographical regions and locations can be used as miniature settings- i've already got many ideas for the Plains of Blood and Ash.
There are a few minor scars on this product though. The localized maps in the book are in black and white, but contain such detail it becomes difficult to read. The giant poster map of Eredane is very nice, but because Fury focuses on the war upon Erethor, the new details are limited to the center of the map. The result is a map with plenty of detail in the center, but with no new information on the edges. The writing is good, though with so much detail a reader might get confused- i often found myself asking, `now who was that character again?', and then flipping back through the book to keep things straight.
But overall, an impressive product. Even if you're not running a Midnight campaign, I don't see how you could not find good ideas for your own campaign from this set.
Overpriced.......2005-02-05
While in physical quality, this is a very attractive set, it is overpriced, and the writing is flat. The quality of this line seems to be going downhill with each publication.
The booklet of character sheets are the same sheets that are available online, and seem to have been put in as filler. The GM screen is of the odd, horizontal design, and seems to be rather random in it's placement of information. On some occaisions, the information on the screen contradicts what's in the main book. The maps in the map booklet are too tiny, and the poster map included lacks the one inch squares so it can be used with miniatures (which is a personal preference, but I also found the map lacking in detail as well).
The book itself is attractive, as is most of the artwork, but the writing is flat. The authors seem to be trying to turn the setting into more of a Tolkien clone, and the elves end up feeling very distant from the players. I believe this setting has been turned over to some sort of fan site to be produced, and the quality has suffered for it.
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