Thornhold

It has taken me nearly 10 years to get around to reading this epic tale. I finally turned the last page after beginning it 6 months ago. I savored and reflected upon most of it. The cover alone tells one this will be a dark adventure into the center of much controversy-the ever so irritating Harpers. The supposed force of good in this world filled with much evil. It starts out with some familiar characters and introduces a dysfunctional, yet likeable brother and sister duo. Bronwyn is likeable and not too serious. Danilo Thann returns with a minor role. This is not a sequel to any other story and contains itself within these pages. Khelben Arunsun plays a rather large part in this tale. I must admit his wierd neutrality makes him hard to accept as a hero much less a holy wizard. His wife, Laerel is much more appealing and sensible. Sound intriging so far? Enter a really nasty villain, Dag Zoreth, who I sort of like. He performs some really nasty deeds within that turn the feel of the story dark. He is a preist of Cyric, after all and the main Zhentarim power on the Sword Coast. Then there are these goody-goody paladins who take thier cause too far. What we get is a somber and contemplative study of who is good and bad, and prefer those who make light of this dark study. The streets of Waterdeep come vividly alive and Elaine Cunningham has the uncanny ability of making the reader feel like an eyewitness. Bravo on many levels!!!

Other than needing a little editing I thought this was the best story of the series. Of course the harpers were potrayed as more neutrals, rather than as a force of good. They acted as a "balance" between the extremes of a overzealous Paladin order and the evil Zhentarim.

First of all, I have to say I enjoy reading this book very much. At first, when I finally finished it, it shocked to me a bit. But when I think over it, I realize that this was the perfect end for the book, leaving open doors for more books with these characters, and giving you enought to want more. I have to say that if you want a book where all is black or white, you are or good or evil, and you want a perfect-pleasure end for the characters, search another one. Here are sown some facts of the good and evil that most men tend to forget. All is not good or evil. Mrs Cunningham shows us here these things, with a great plot. Bronwyn is a great character and it shows us how she is trough the book. It is not the typicall hero, the incarnation of Good and a perfect Knight. She is a thieve (or so) but with a strict code of Honor, wich don't mean that she is good. The plot is great, and Mrs. Cunningham, playing with the personality of Bronwyn and the marks left in her by her past, keep it great and at the end, you wouldn't say it will finish this way. I have to disagree with some of other readers review. Some one sais the end isn't fair, that is not good (I can't tell you what, without revealing the Best part of the book). In my opinion, this book is not for those who always want a perfect and pleasent end. I strongly recommend this boks, becouse it is not the same as always (with other novels) when there is a quest, and the Hero, through some difficulties, get at it, and he lives happy for ever. In here, you can see, that for doing some good, maybe you must do some evil too, but the goos is much than the evil, and youhave to make the choice your heart tells you, and is not so easy, as Paladins see, becouse it is not good white, or evil black. Is grey, both good and evil.

Returning to Waterdeep, the City of Splendors, in this the final Harper Novel (sixteenth in the series), Elaine Cunningham shows us the fine line between truly being good, and merely having good intentions. In this tale of half-truths and deceivers, we follow Bronwyn, a professional finder of lost treasures, and Dag Zoreth a fanatically zealous Strifeleader (priest of Cyric) in their search for their family, and for their birthright. Mrs. Cunningham has a wonderful gift for creating and developing characters; over the course of the novels, she has continually developed Danilo, and Khelban (they being the primary returning faces). The direction in which she has taken the character of Danilo is both logical and appealing. Some claim he lacks the wit inherent in his person in Elfshadow and lessened in Elfsong; but I bid them look deeper. Danilo has grown over seven years of trial and tribulation, both his own and that of his love-Arilyn-it is also important to note his responsibilities, not only to the Harpers but also to his Bardic College, such weight naturally ages any man. Equally so, I truly loved the character Cara, she added the presence of a warm, and innocent figure, a perfect balancing factor for all the jaded and cynical players already on the field. I have to disagree with a previous reviewer, Bronwyn is not grating, she is merely a woman tired of being pushed, and pulled through life, and tired of being fed half-truths and lies. I found her character refreshing, and I completely sympathized for her. Within the tale, I followed several themes, the first of which was "Family." Following the Dwarven clan arc (I loved Ebenezer and his sister, Elaine does well with her handling of the earthy folk), and further into the Elven and Orcish villages, she presses the importance of family home to Bronwyn, a thing she so desperately seeks throughout the novel, despite the fact she seems to try to tell herself otherwise. The second theme, was "good is not always good," I may not be expressing that right; I will try to explain. As I read this tale, I found myself gaining more and more respect for the burdens of Khelban Arunsun, the Arch-mage of Waterdeep. The balance he has to maintain, not only for the world around him, but really for his own sanity. I also loved the way Mrs. Cunningham handles the Paladins, often we as gamers, look to the Paladin as the ultimate force of good, overlooking the fact that they are oft-times blinded by their convictions. We see Algorind, a young and righteous man, he desires nothing more than to do what is right and honorable; yet, he is ill prepared to make decisions based in a world where all is not as it appears (you'll see when you find the truth behind Sir Gareth). By juxtaposing the Paladins (including Sir Gareth, Algorind, and Lord Piergeiron), against the evils of the Zhentarim (Ashemi, Semmamon, & Dag Zoreth), but at the same time against the Orc Village, an

I guess it doesn't portray paladins well enough. Who cares? It's not like AD & D's annoying rules must apply in all the related fiction, or as if they were set in stone. Rules are meant to be broken after all }:). Overall, it's highly entertaining, Bronwyn is yet another non-clichéd female character and the cameo of Elaith (at least we can assume it was him, hehe) was brilliant. And Danilo's there too, what more can you ask? ^^ I like the mystery part too, stories don't always have to finish with "conclusive" endings.