The Orb of Xoriat

"The Orb of Xoriat" is a good solid read. The characters are multifaceted and interesting in a very human way. This story happens to take place in a mythical world with mythical characters, but essentially it could take place in our own world. This is the race for a "super-weapon" that no one can control, but everyone thinks they can. Teron, (the main character in this tale) is a warrior monk; a living weapon that is sent to retrieve the Orb. What makes Teron particularly interesting is that of all the characters he is most "like" the orb. He is driven to keep his hard trained edge and striving for a purpose in a world that would just as soon forget about him and his deadly skills. His search for this weapon is also a search for a new purpose in life or for his own death. There is no need to be a fan of this series of books or know anything at all about the Eberron world in order to enjoy this novel. This is a lively, surprisingly complex little novel and I highly recommend it.

I have been reading the Eberron books as they have been published, and I agree with the other reviewers so far, this one takes the prize! Whether you are interested in the world of Eberron or just want a well written fantasy novel, this will fit the bill. As others have mentioned, it is the wonderful use of the main characters that singles this novel out among the others. Every character has their own motivation for what they are doing, and it remains consistent throughout. The goals each character has drive them during the entire book. It is obvious more than once that the characters are working together to achieve a short term goal, when their long term goals are quite different. The main characters are also all very much products of the world they live in, with their political and religious biases forming much of their personal philosophies. Good and evil are almost unimportant when compared to the anger of the people of a destroyed nation, or the righteousness of a zealous god. In almost every case the reader can find a reason to sympathize with the characters' point of view. They are part of a greater cause. They want to restore the glory of their once great nation, or keep from the hands of those less humble a weapon of unimaginable power, even if they don't know how or why it works. The characters do not have all of the answers, but they don't need to. They are convinced that what they are doing is just and "right", and the book is written so well that a reader can easily see why they believe this. This makes them that much more human, and easier for any reader to relate to. A passage on one characters views about the nature of magic and the different ways people focus it (mage, artificer, psion, dragonmarked, sorcerer) is also just plain brilliant. This is wonderful for a reader trying to get a better picture of the world of Eberron. Yet even if you are not, it still makes for a very interesting read, with a great deal of character depth. On the strength of this novel, I intend now to seek out previous works by this author, even as I eagerly await his upcoming works. I would advise you to do the same.

The world of Eberron is fast becoming one of my favorites. While the novel has all the action and adventure one would expect from an RPG-related novel what really sets this novel apart is the characters. The main characters in the story are all multidimentional and interesting. For much of the book you couldn't really tell if any given character was 'good' or 'evil'. The 'bad guy' seemed to have a nobel purpose in mind for what she did while the 'good guys' had dark pasts that made you wonder about their motivations. I thought this added a bit of realism to the story. The author also does an excellent job of giving just enough backstory for the characters to make the characters interesting without telling us too much. He allows the story to 'show' us what type of people these are. As the story progresses you really start to care about wht happens to some of these characters. I also enjoyed the 'feel' of the novel. The introduction of technology-like elements into the storyline really changed the feel of the setting and set this book apart from other fantasy novels. Add this to a well thought out and interesting plot what you get is a really good story that is well-written and fun to read. I would definately recommend this novel to fans of Eberron, roll-playing games, and any other fan of fantasy fiction looking for a good read. Note: Although the novel takes place in the Eberron world, you really don't need any prior knowledge about the setting

What can I say here that has not already been covered in the excellent review by Jeff, as I agree with all of his points. Eberron fiction is still in its infancy, and I have read every novel that has been released. I had been looking forward to the trilogies (Dreaming Dark, Lost Mark, Dragon Below), but the War Torn series was something that I was not really looking forward to. I will explain what I mean. When you have a trilogy, you can really get to know the characters and it is a gently unfolding storyline. When there is a series of books, each stand alone stories, I am not usually bothered. I had this same problem with a couple of series in Forgotten Realms, namely the Rogues and the Priests series'. Out of about eight novels only two of them really impressed me. They were Don Bassingthwaite's 'Mistress of the Night' and 'The Alabaster Staff' by Edward Bolme. How glad was I then, when I found out that both authors had made the transition to Eberron. Unfortunately I had to wait some time for The Orb of Xoriat to come along. Well I am pleased to say, the wait was definitely worth it! Ed breaks a lot of the normal conventions in fantasy writing, and there are no clear cut good or bad characters. His characters are solid and believable. For every little thing Ed reveals about a character he leaves a little more mystery. Even by the end of the book you are left wanting to read more about these people. Ed has a very clear vision of what Eberron is, and I am now eagerly awaiting the anthology 'Tales from the Last War' (April 2006) which features one of his short stories. I am looking forward to seeing more Eberron fiction from Ed in the future, this time a full trilogy where he is not as constrained. I recommend this novel to anyone, whether you are new to Eberron or have been reading and playing since the campaign settings release.

The Orb of Xoriat is the 5th Eberron novel out now, and a fine, fine contribution to the setting it is. If you're an Eberron fan, you'll appreciate Ed Bolme's ability to depict the alignment skewing that this still-new campaign has offered. But really, that's not reason enough to read this book. The fact that it's a very enjoyable read (and a fast one!) with very unique characters is EVERY reason to check it out. Even if you're not an Eberron fan, this serves as an excellent introduction to the setting, showcasing some of its more memorable features. I personally enjoyed Ed's ability to bring to life the gritty relations between the everyday citizens and soldiery of previously hostile nations now that the world exists in a time of strained peace. That's not easy to get right, and I think Ed has--even though it's just the story's backdrop. In this regard, the Orb of Xoriat truly meshes with the War-Torn theme of the series. The principle characters are a monk, a gnome illusionist, a cultured half-orc retainer, and a mysterious rogue. Though depicted on the cover like a D & D party of adventurers, you can expect only a little bit of that--and expect very little else, as this book is NOT very predictable! It moves from one place to another--literally and figuratively--and breaks down a few fantasy molds. Ever wondered what it would be like to see an experienced fight-monk travel on foot overland with an misshapen, adopted cat in his bag? Me neither! The character of Teron, the monk and the chief protagonist, is a really cool concept. He comes packaged with his own mysteries, a world outlook of pain and self-recrimination, and yet noble intentions when employing his deadly skills. I enjoyed the depiction of Aundair, Aundairian and Zil perception of Thrane, and best of all: the inner workings of madness. The orb that is this book's namesake is a sinister device that leaves an impression. You thought the Palantíri from Middle Earth were cool? Try a black, beetle-esque object with a physical inertia all its own, reputed to bridge the world of Eberron with Xoriat, the plane of madness that is Eberron's answer to H.P. Lovecraft's nightmarish mythos. And along the way, there's plenty of humor and entertaining dialogue. Drunken tavern singing, monastic-hindered flirting, and what happens when an angry gnome is flung out the window of a moving "train." You won't find answers to every question the story presents. For that we'll have to wait for Ed Bolme's next Eberron entry. For anyone who's even slightly interested in the Forgotten Realms, you'd do well to look into Ed's venture there with the Alabaster Staff--the book that guaranteed I was going to pick up THIS one the moment it came out.