The Night Parade

I am reading this book right now and find it hard to put it down. I really enjoy it and will read more of this author.

If you've never read a Realms book before, then don't read this as a starter! This book is written so differently from other Realms books that it comes as a shock to fans - they either hate it or love it for its uniquness. It is extremely gory and descriptive, but what else should we expect from a book based on nightmares? There is adventure and plenty of mystery - not as fine-tuned as "Azure Bonds" but keeps readers on their toes. The plot and enemies are all-new showing us a very different side to the realms, staying out of the safe, well-run tracks of many FR novels. The Night Parade instead breaches boundaries into a side of the Realms you never dreamed you'd see. If you don't like change or "different", then perhaps you better work your way up to this book but if you embrace books that are often the odd one out, then this is a must-read.

Scott Ciencin has created a very dynamic plot here. By the time you reach the end of this story you discover how many of the character's backgrounds and stories are intertwined with each other's. Very few characters stand alone in this novel, they all have a strong dynamic relation to another person or persons in the story. What's more, Ciencin is not afraid to have a few of them die in the story. Rather than disappointing the reader though, this gets the reader to believe in the characters' mortality. These are not all powerful heroes who can just hack and blast their way through challenges. These are real people who could die on the next page. With the exception of one character in particular, but I won't ruin it by telling you. I agree with a previous reviewer, that character had unbelievable luck - being saved by a group of wandering adventurers with healing potions. Scott also uses a new brand of evil monsters - the Night Parade - who are both horrifying (in a Lovecraft kind of fashion) and devious. I am going to search for the rest of Scott Ciencin novels, even though I usually only read Forgotten Realms when I read from the fantasy genre. This was a great contribution to the Harper series.

This is a most unusual Realms book. It's a kind of cross between fantasy and horror, but not the gothic horror of the Ravenloft books. Rather, it's like what would result if Lovecraft, King, or Barker wrote a Realms story. No orcs here! The monsters of the Night Parade are disgusting, twisted blobs of flesh with tentacles and sharp teeth, and insect-like humanoids, who feed on human beings and dwell in the shadows. The characters are well-constructed, though Ciencin seems to take a bit too much delight in killing several of them off horribly! My advice is not to get too attached to them, because a few don't last very long! Some scenes are quite gory and repulsively descriptive, but that helps set the goulish mood that is supposed to be there. And the ending is genuinely touching, like waking up from a bad dream. Overall, not my favorite Harper's book, but definitely worth a read.

For those of you who enjoy reading Forgotten Realms Novels, then this book is a must. The intriguing plot is enough to entertain even the most critical of readers. If you aren't a fan of the Forgotten Realms, or if you have never read a single novel, then this book would be a good starting point. The story takes place mainly in Calimsham, a city of intrigue. However, even the most die-hard fantasy reader would never be prepared for what takes place in the city at night. Myrmeen Lhal, the seductive ruler of Arabel, has made it her quest, along with some Harper friends (the semi-secret organization of good in the Realms), to eradicate the evil that stalks the shadows of the city. If you are into fantasy literature, or the Forgotten Realms, then this book is a must for your shopping cart.