The Wyvern's Spur

The Wyvern's Spur, second in the Finder's Stone trilogy, happens to be the best of the bunch. I had trouble putting this book down, it was that good. As my subject line says I would give this one six stars, no seven, if I could! Unlike the Azure Bonds, this is less an adventure and more of a mystery. In it, we alter focus from Alias and Dragonbait to Giogi Wyvernspur.Set in Immersea, a relatively small city deep within Cormyr, we learn early that someone has stolen a family heirloom from the Wyvernspur crypt. Who has done it and why? The answer lies buried in the past, and in the mysterious words of the crypt guardian. However, to make matters a touch more colorful, Tymora blesses us with the presence of none other than Olive Ruskettle.While at first it would seem odd the shift in characters, from Alias to Giogi, it all comes together just in time for the third title in the series: Song of the Saurials. This will no doubt remain one of my favorite stories, in or outside of outside Realms fiction. If you can get your hands on a copy of this title do it, and do it now, you will not regret it.

One of the strongpoints of this series has been the unpredictability of the books - in this novel, the shift of focus changes quite suddenly from Alias to the young nobleman. I won't comment on particular plot points so as not to ruin it, but the surprises are what kept me turning the pages. Novak's writing skill is sufficient to draw me in to the Forgotten Realms, making the characters real and the locations almost palpable.

The Wyvern's Spur was a great piece of work. Full of adventure and magic, mixed with intrigue and deception. Kate Novak and Jeff Grubb make quite a team. Their writing complements each other so well that their stories come alive, and live in your mind long after the book has ended. I would most definitely recomend this one. However make sure you start with Azure Bonds. You don't want to spoil and of the secrets.

I've read nearly every D & D-related book TSR has published, and this is still my favorite by a wide margin. It gives us an interesting glimpse into the private lives of a semi-dysfunctional wealthy family, and the secrets that they've swept under the rug. It's funny and charming, with just enough action to keep the story moving, but relaxed enough to let the reader enjoy the scenery. Let's face it - none of these books are exactly "deep" - but is good enough that I've reread it several times. Try it - I think you'll like it.

Lovely! Very well-written. I enjoyed it very much. The plot was good and the characters were delightfully original and realistic- especially Olive and Giogi. Highly recommended, but you should read the first book in the series -'Azure BONDS'- first