Pathfinder Tales: "A Passage to Absalom" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

A Passage to Absalom is a four-part Pathfinder Tales story that can be ready for free on the Paizo website (https://paizo.com/store/pathfinder/fiction/tales/serial/aPassageToAbsalom) or as an e-book for just $ .99 (https://paizo.com/products/btpy8qg6?Pathfinder-Tales-A-Passage-to-Absalom-ePub).  It features Jeggare and Radovan (protagonists of several Pathfinder novels by Dave Gross) on a sea voyage.  This one has a "drawing room mystery" vibe, but there's some fun dialogue and action to keep the pace up.  If you like these characters, this is one worth seeking out.

SPOILERS!

I must confess: I'm writing this review too long after having read the story, I read each part of the story too far apart and got lost, and my notes are sketchy.  My general impression is that it starts off with a somewhat slow pace, but picks up in Chapter Two when a merchant gets poisoned at a fancy dinner.  Jeggare gets to play Hercules Poirot and question each witness to the death before announcing his verdict when the ship docks.  But who the killer was, and what their motivation was, I have no recollection: so this is a Spoilers section with very few actual spoilers!  If were giving stars on the quality of this review, I'm afraid it'd be a 1.  But the story itself is surely much better . . .

Pathfinder Tales: "Beyond the Pool of Stars" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

Beyond the Pool of Stars is a fantastic trade paperback in the Pathfinder Tales line.  Set in Sargava (a jungle, coastal region in the Mwangi Expanse that has thrown off Chelish control), the novel follows the exploits of Mirian Raas, part-Pathfinder/part deep sea salvager.  I thought Howard Andrew Jones' previous novels in the Pathfinder Tales line were fine, but this one really impressed me.  It's full of heart, surprises, action, and makes great use of an interesting setting.  I definitely recommend it.

SPOILERS!

After her father dies in the course of running the family salvaging business, Pathfinder Mirian Raas returns to Sargava to (reluctantly) lend a hand.  She and her small crew of salvagers get involved with a trio of lizardfolk who wish to recover the contents of an ancestral vault deep in an area of the jungle now overrun by boggards.  A representative of the Sargavan government (and her son) join the expedition, as the salvaging business is deeply in debt to the government and it's counting on Raas finding a real score of gems to help pay the protection money it owes the pirates of the Shackles to help defend it from Cheliax.  However, Mirian's brother is in love with a secret Chelish agent who'll stop at nothing to sabotage the whole endeavour.  That's the barest brushstrokes of the plot, but Jones adds layers of flavour and detail to flesh everything out.  The action scenes are genuinely suspenseful, as no one is immune to danger from "plot armor".  Devotees of underwater combat will be impressed by the fidelity to Pathfinder rules and incorporation of magical gear, while readers interested in Sargava will find its portrayal rich in detail (the depictions of race and class issues in a post-colonial setting are skillful).  I've actually become a fan of lizardfolk because of the novel thanks to their description in the book.  I genuinely can't think of any criticisms (unusual for me!), so do yourself a favour and buy this book.

Pathfinder Tales: "Liar's Island" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

Wow, there's a lot happening in Liar's Island!  It's a fast-paced, action-packed, and often downright hilarious novel that I highly recommend.  The con man with a heart of gold Rodrick is back, along with his intelligent ice sword Hrym, and this time they'll be leaving the mainland behind for an adventure in rarely-seen Jalmeray!  I'm a Tim Pratt fanboy, and this novel represents him at his best.  It's full of careful attention to Golarion setting lore without becoming dense, has a knack for fun without becoming silly, and somehow makes you really *care* about a talking magical sword.  It's one of my favourite Pathinder Tales novels, so go read it! (though I give you permission to read the prior novel with Rodrick and Hrym--Liar's Blade--first.)

SPOILERS!

Rodrick and Hrym are up to their thieving ways in Absalom when they're interrupted by, of all things, a djinn with an invitation: come to exotic Jalmeray and meet the thakur (king)!  It's an invitation that's not easy to refuse, but the journey to Jalmeray is interrupted when their ship is interdicted by a vessel from the rival country of Nex.  There's some downright hilarious banter and we start seeing signs that Hrym isn't quite "himself"--the reader will realise that Hrym is being unknowingly affected by a demonic taint received at the end of the previous novel that causes him to act out violently when he's "asleep."  In Jalmeray, Rodrick and Hrym meet the thakur's advisor, Nagesh, who turns out to want the pair to help assassinate someone!  Rodrick and Hrym decide to rob the palace and make a run for it instead, only to get swept up in a jungle treasure hunt for the fabled Scepter of the Arclords and a close encounter with the murderous Knife in the Dark cult.  It's really funny, really exciting, and the ending promises to take the characters in a new direction.  It's a book I want to reread while looking forward to Liar's Bargain.

Pathfinder Tales: "Noble Sacrifice" [RPG]

 

NO SPOILERS

Noble Sacrifice is a short story available for free on the Paizo blog or as a 99 cent e-book here.  The story is set during the Goblinblood Wars and involves a rivalry between a Steel Falcon and a Hellknight.  The action scenes are fine, but ultimately it's pretty forgettable.

SPOILERS!

Set in Isger in the year 4701 A.R., Noble Sacrifice features a pair of warriors: a young Steel Falcon named Kal Berne and an Order of the Nail Hellknight named Tiberius.  When Kal accidentally walks into a hobgoblin trap, Tiberius reveals himself to be an amazing warrior and rescues him.  The pair follow some refugees to their camp in the Aspodell Mountains, and during the voyage there's some good debate about the views of Andorens vs Hellknights.  Big drama occurs when they spot a horde of goblins sneaking up on a garrison at Wolfpoint (which really should have had scouts and sentinels), and it looks like Kal will have to sacrifice his life so Tiberius can warn them, but then the latter turns back and saves both Kal and the day.  In short, the the story is excessively-fawning toward Hellknights, which might be because the author also writes for the Warhammer 40K universe (and Hellknights are pretty much the whole shebang there).

Pathfinder Tales: "Lord of Runes" [RPG]

 NO SPOILERS

"So much fun!" "clean, clear writing", "fantastic!" "so good!" are all notes I made while reading Lord of Runes.  It really is a gem of a Pathfinder Tales novel.  Varian and Radovan are back, and this time they're adventuring through some locations and interacting with some characters that are near and dear to my Pathfinder heart.  It's funny, exciting, surprising, shows a love of the setting, and is an all around good novel.  I give it my highest recommendation.

SPOILERS!

Having literally just finished running a multi-year Curse of the Crimson Throne campaign and running the Pathfinder Module Academy of Secrets for PFS, I was both jazzed and frustrated that Lord of Runes spends several opening chapters in Korvosa!  Jazzed because I love the setting and it's fantastic to see NPCs like Vencarlo Orisini (he and Jeggare are old drinking buddies!) and locations like the Acadamae (Headmaster Toff Ornelos' niece is a major character) brought to life.  I was frustrated because if I had known earlier, I good have incorporated some of the novel's great flavour into my running of the adventures!  But that's just how the cookie crumbles.  In addition to Korvosa, the novel features more of Varisia, such as Kaer Maga and the Cenotaph, and the plot (as the title might indicate) has to do with an ancient Thassilonian Runelord: in this case, Zuthra, the Runelord of Gluttony.  Fans of Eando Kline should also read the novel, as he's a major character as well.

For me personally, it's a little weird to have finally read Lord of Runes.  I remember seeing it in a bookstore very early in my immersion into Pathfinder (circa 2016) and buying it despite knowing it would be years before I read all the ones published before it.  I think I'm in the last quarter or so of the existence of the Pathfinder Tales line.  Bittersweet, but ever onwards!

Pathfinder Tales: "Mother Bears" [RPG]

 NO SPOILERS

Mother Bears is a three-part series of free Pathfinder web fiction available on the Paizo website here.  It features characters that would later appear in the Pathfinder Tales novel Skinwalkers.  The web fiction has some interesting characters and good action scenes, though ultimately it's pretty forgettable.  Still, it's free and short, so worth reading just before reading the novel for some additional background.

SPOILERS!

Set on an island in the rough-and-tumble Ironbound Archipelago, Mother Bears involves a woman named Jendara and her preteen son Kran.  Kran is mute but brave, and goes missing when he's taunted by other kids on the island to venture into abandoned pirate caves alone.  Realising her son is missing, Jendara springs into action to find him with the help of Vorrin, a ship captain.  The island is already in an uproar over a goblin raid, and it turns out a goblin dog is in the cave that Kran entered!  Everything ends well, but there's not a lot (other than the setting) that is particularly distinctive compared to other Pathfinder stories.

Pathfinder Tales: "Forge of Ashes" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

A bloodthirsty dwarf and a kick-ass oread who’s taken a vow of silence walk into a bar.  That’s not the start of a joke, but of a surprisingly compelling Pathfinder Tales novel, Forge of Ashes.  An interesting plot, excellent characters, exciting action scenes, and a strong understanding of Golarion’s lore make for a strong addition to the line.  This one is worth taking a shot on even if the subject matter doesn’t initially seem appealing.

SPOILERS!

Forge of Ashes starts in the dwarven city of Taggoret in the Five Kings Mountains.  A dwarf bloodrager named Akina is returning home after years away adventuring, and has brought for company an oread monk named Ondorum.  But instead of a happy family reunion, Akina learns that her mother went missing years ago and is presumed dead, and her brother, a former cleric of Torag, has been essentially excommunicated for inexplicably spouting stuff about Droskar and the “Ashen Forge”.  But an old suitor named Gromir, who’s long held a torch for Akina, tries to rekindle things.  Only, Gromir hates Ondorum (interesting to see dwarf vs oread antipathy; it makes a certain kind of sense!) and, far worse, is secretly working for a powerful group of duergar in the Darklands!  Gromir kidnaps Akina’s brother, and to get him back, Akina and Ondorum have to give chase.  Along the way, they befriend a caligni named Izthuri, deal with xulgath raids and (really funny) chatty ropers, and eventually uncover a duergar plot to use a magical artifact called the Ashen Forge for nefarious means.

That’s a lot of detail, but the story isn’t hard to follow.  Some really interesting setting lore is incorporated into the book, and I walked away having learned a lot more about Taggoret, duergar, oreads, and the Darklands.  (and I liked seeing the forge-spurned from an ages-ago module)  The action scenes are top-notch, with some thrilling monk vs monk fights.  Nor does the book pull any punches when it comes to killing off characters; the stakes are certainly dire, which really ramps up the tension near the end.  Forge of Ashes isn’t a book I’d be naturally drawn to (I don’t have a particularly strong interest in dwarves), but I ended up really enjoying it.

Pathfinder Tales: "Firesoul" [RPG]

 NO SPOILERS

Firesoul is a excellent Pathfinder Tales novel.  Set in the Mwangi Expanse, it features a young fire shaman named Jiri.  The author, Gary Kloster, shows a deep knowledge of the setting and a skill in depicting it.  Jiri is a well-written character, responding to tragedy in a believable way, while a variety of supporting characters come alive as well.  It's a strong, original tale, and a deeply satisfying one.  Definitely worth reading!  I'd also suggest that, prior to reading the novel, read the free short story that serves as a prequel, The Gem.

SPOILERS

In a sad but gripping opening, Jiri returns to her village of Thirty Trees to find it burned to the ground, and her master, Oza, dying.  It seems that a nearby sacred site named The Pyre has been opened, and something has been set free!  Jiri heads to the nearest city, Kibwe, for help, and finds herself assigned a group of northerners.  (I particularly loved Morvius--he reminds me of a bisexual Valeros.)  The cultural divide between the northerners and the tribal customs of Jiri are depicted well.  A band of treasure hunters from the Aspis Consortium are antagonists, and I particularly liked the insight into what the appeal of the rival organisation to the Pathfinder Society would be.  The hunt for the destructive creature set free from The Pyre is suitably nerve-wracking, and at no point was I bored or knew what was going to happen next.  All in all, an excellent contribution to the line, especially for anyone interested in the Mwangi Expanse.

Pathfinder Tales: "Misery's Mirror" [RPG]

 NO SPOILERS

Misery's Mirror is a four-part series of free web fiction available here (or as a one-dollar e-book here).  It's a satisfying tale that features the protagonist of author Liane Merciel's Pathfinder novel Nightglass and introduces a character crucial to her second novel, Nightblade.  It's a dark and occasionally opaque story that fits the setting perfectly, and the ending is very satisfying.  I'd definitely recommend it for fans of Nidal or Merciel's work.

SPOILERS!

Set during Isiem's days as a student in the Dusk Hall of Pangolais, Misery's Mirror introduces a fellow student named Ascaros.  When Ascaros is sent to retrieve a shadow-summoning nightglass from a deceased aunt's estate in Nisroch, he asks Isiem to come along.  When they arrive, they realise the aunt had been killed by an archmage, and then discover a shae imprisoned in a midnight mirror (a magical device prominently featured in the excellent Pathfinder module of the same name).  The story provides some more great flavour to Nidal, but most importantly, explains a lot about Ascaros and his relationship with Isiem, which helps prepare the reader for Nightblade.  All in all, good stuff!

Pathfinder Tales: "Pirate's Promise" [RPG]

 NO SPOILERS

Pirate’s Promise is my new favourite Pathfinder novel, and I’ve read a lot of them.  The story is full of genuine surprises, truly thrilling action scenes, strong dialogue, intelligent use of the setting, and three-dimensional characters.  The novel avoids the problems that plague some RPG novels (a series of random encounters, cardboard personalities, the good guys always win because they’re the good guys, etc.).  I was on the edge of my seat for this one, and I’m not a reader or gamer with a particular interest in pirates.  The novel ends strongly, and I can’t wait to read the next one.  Do yourself a favor and read this book (after reading Pirate’s Honor, naturally).

SPOILERS!

The Stargazers from Pirate’s Honor are back in Pirate’s Promise.  The novel has two main threads that eventually connect.  In Katapesh, the Stargazers are on shore leave so that the ship’s lunar naga navigator can visit a magical observatory in the desert.  This thread has exciting battles against were-jackals and the surprise revelation that there’s another lunar naga at the observatory—one with far more problematic motivations than mere astronomy.  Meanwhile, on Okeno, Vevre Jhaffre continues to pose as a mere courtesan while secretly spying for Andoran to help end the slave trade.  This is storytelling that doesn’t mess around—in one scene, Vevre has to murder an ally because she knows he’s made a blunder and, if interrogated, could reveal the whole secret abolitionist movement!  A major part of the plot here is that Vevre has come under investigation by an inquisitor of the Church of Abadar; Vevre does what Vevre does best and tries to seduce the inquisitor but ends up developing genuine feelings for her.  It’s great to see queer relationships in the setting.  I also love the portrayal of Vevre’s banter with her familiar; the novel really demonstrates why it’d be worth keeping one around.  Just don’t get *too* invested, as this isn’t a book that’s above killing a cat. 

The two threads come together when Vevre enlists Torius (captain of the Stargazer) to become her new intermediary with Andoran.  Torius’ acceptance makes perfect sense from what we know of his background, but I like how the rest of the crew struggle with the choice—it’s a huge risk, after all.  The climax of the book, a massive ship-to-ship battle, really shows off the author’s mastery of real-life naval tactics combined with intelligent imagination about how those tactics would be affected by things like fireball spells and alchemical catapults.  It led to several WOW! moments for me, and I don’t remember ever turning pages so quickly to see what would happen next.

Read this one.  You won’t regret it.

Pathfinder Tales: "Nightblade" [RPG]

 NO SPOILERS

Nightblade is a standalone sequel to Liane Merciel’s earlier Pathfinder Tales book (Nightglass) and continues the story of Isiem, a wizard-priest of Zon-Kuthon who has rebelled against his faith and home country.  There are some great characters and descriptions in the novel, and it has a dark theme consonant with its subject matter.  I did find myself a bit bored by a very long sequence that amounted to the novel equivalent of a dungeon crawl, and it’s all in service to a Macguffin that’s not explained adequately and doesn’t seem to justify the costs involved in trying to obtain it.  All in all, I’d say Nightblade is a good novel, but not as near-perfect as its predecessor.

SPOILERS!

After the events of Nightglass, Isiem has had to flee Nidal and now resides in the Cheliax city of Pezzack.  There, he helps a band of rebels seeking to free the city from the subjugation of House Thrune.  Isiem is asked to join an expedition to find an ancient weapon to battle House Thrune called a nightblade—a weapon created by a legendary Nidalese wizard named Melandroth.  The expedition team includes a well-written Paladin of Iomedae named Kyril, some grudgingly accepted agents of the Aspis Consortium, and one of Isiem’s old frenemies named Ascaros.  This last character is great, and was introduced in the short story “Misery’s Mirror” (available for free on the Paizo website, and worth tracking down before reading this novel).  The problem that I referred to above is that we never get a good explanation for why a nightblade would be so important that it’s worth risking the lives of so many important figures in the rebellion, or (as we’ll see) have them teleport all the way to Molthune to try to find it.

Still, the first half of the book is great—excellent dialogue, some thought-provoking discussion on redemption, an exciting, well-described battle against the “Beast of the Backar Forest”, creepy “Splinter Men”, and more.  The second part of the book takes place in Fiendslair, which I think is a demi-plane, and it’s suitably dark and demonic—doors that are fleshy and alive and have to be hacked through each time one wishes to pass, for example.  The place is a labyrinth filled with all matter of threats, including monsters with the ability to take possession of intruders.  It’s not badly written, but it is a *long* sequence with little pay-off.  I don’t mind at all that the mission was an utter failure (that’s good Pathfinder!), but just that I never figured out what it was all about to begin with.  The epilogue is really well done.

Not every novel, even from a talented writer, is going to be a winner.  I’ve read enough from Liane Merciel that I’ll still eagerly look forward to whatever she comes up with next.

Pathfinder Tales: "A Matter of Knives" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

A Matter of Knives is a three-part series of free Paizo web fiction available here.  By introduction one of the main characters in the Pathfinder Tales novel Wizard’s Mask, the story serves as a prequel to the novel.  I have to be candid and say that I thought Wizard’s Mask was terrible, and showed that Ed Greenwood didn’t really have a handle on Pathfinder and Golarion.  So I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed A Matter of Knives.  It’s fun, fast-moving, and features a spunky protagonist.  I like it so much better than the novel by the same author featuring the same character, which seems inexplicable, but there it is.

SPOILERS!

A Matter of Knives is set in the city of Canorate, the capital of Molthune.  In a shop named “Hoarlund’s House of Blades”, a halfling slave named Tantaerra assists her kindhearted master in running the business.  Tantaerra has a strong personality and isn’t easily bullied, and is very good with knives!  The story involves a rival arms shop launching a plan to murder Tantaerra’s master.  There’s plenty of traps, combat, and other action in the story as Tantaerra takes down the assassins single-handedly.  Maybe a little Greenwood is better than a lot when it comes to Pathfinder.

Pathfinder Tales: "The Lost Pathfinder" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS 

The way Paizo has reorganised its website, it's a bit tricky to find The Lost Pathfinder four-part web fiction nowadays.  But this link should do it.  The story involves the fan-favourite pair of Count Varian Jeggare and his Hellspawned bodyguard, Radovan.  There's some exciting battle scenes and the characters' thoughts and dialogue are always amusing.  My only quibble was that I found the plot confusing, which isn't usually a problem I have in Pathfinder fiction. 

 SPOILERS!

In The Lost Pathfinder, Jeggare learns that one of his agents in Ustalav is missing, while Radovan discovers there's an assassination plot against his boss!  Chapter 3 seems to be set before Chapter 2, which I found utterly confusing at the time, and there's also a chunk where I thought Jeggare had been poisoned only to realise he was just drunk.  I think.  Anyway, I'd probably enjoy this more if I were to re-read it, but at least on the first go-through, it was far from my favourite piece of Jeggare/Radovan fiction. 

Pathfinder Tales: "Reign of Stars" [RPG]

 

NO SPOILERS

This is such a great book, full of action, great characters, a memorable setting, and lots of genuinely laugh-out-loud moments.  I've been a huge fan of Tim Pratt's writing (such as the excellent Marla Mason series), and he 100% "gets" Pathfinder.  Reign of Stars features the same main characters that appeared in Pratt's previous Pathfinder Tales novel, City of the Fallen Sky: the exiled Numerian alchemist Alaeron and his unsavoury, knife-wielding companion Skiver.  The book is branded as a tie-in to the Iron Gods adventure path, and certainly adds a wealth of color and lore to the area of Golarion where that AP is set.  I could rave more, but the gist of the matter is I enjoyed this book from start to finish.  It was a genuine pleasure to read.

SPOILERS!

In Reign of Stars, Alaeron, who has long been living in Almas since his hasty departure with stolen tech from Numeria, receives a surprising invitation.  His mentor, the Techno League captain Zernebeth, is alive and wants him to come back to Numeria for a special project--with all past misdeeds forgiven.  An obvious set-up for a trap, as Alaeron and Skiver well know, but the incentives provided are enough to persuade them to take the risk.  The novel is a great way to learn about the history of Silver Mount and to get a feel for present-day Numeria, and there are some great scenes that only that particular geographical setting can provide.  There are hilarious bits throughout, like a cleric worshipping the Holy Fundament, the Black Sovereign's feast that I can't even begin to describe, and so much more.  Pratt always plays by the rules of Pathfinder, so descriptions of things like Alaeron using a mutagen are both fun and "realistic" in terms of effect.  There's also some fun little easter eggs, like references to Gad, Rodrick, and Hyrm from other Pathfinder Tales stories.  Anyway, I definitely recommend this one.

Pathfinder Tales: "Lord of Penance" [RPG]

 

NO SPOILERS

Lord of Penance is a four-part Pathfinder short story available as free web fiction or as an ePub download here.  Set in the Puddles District of Absalom, it's a grittier tale--there's no epic quests or dragons here.  But the story is really well done and enjoyable.  It's hard to say much more without spoilers, but I'd recommend it.

SPOILERS

The main characters in Lord of Penance are Sefu, a Wave Rider of Absalom, and his best friend, a gillman named Olhas.  Sefu's sister has fallen in with a stereotypical cult, and has started worshipping a would-be new god named Domitian, "The Lord of Penance", by engaging in begging and prostitution.  When Sefu tries to pull his sister away from the cult, it's seen as a veritable kidnapping and bystanders intervene--a nice twist.  Sefu and Olhas confront Domitian, and the story has an excellent depiction of how charm magic (and resistance) "feels" in an in-universe sense.  Sufficie it to say, the cover art is a major spoiler.  Overall though, it's a solid, fun tale.

Pathfinder Tales: "Crusader Road" [RPG]

 

NO SPOILERS

Bearing the Goblin Works logo, Crusader Road was a novel designed to tie-in with Paizo's attempt to launch the Pathfinder Online MMORPG.  The book is set in and around the location for that (ll-fated) game, Thornkeep--a small holding in the River Kingdoms.  Novelistic tie-ins to other media projects can be real mixed bags, but Crusader Road is legit!  The book really sets the atmosphere for Thornkeep and the mysterious forest around it, Echo Wood.  The plot is interesting and intriguing--definitely something different than a traditional Pathfinder story.  It is fair to say that it's so different it doesn't always feel very "Pathfinder" in terms of bringing gameplay mechanics into the story or involving other bits of setting lore, and could have been almost a standalone fantasy novel.  But despite that, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the novel.  I also *really* wish I had read it before running the Thornkeep adventure module as it would have helped to flesh out several NPCs.

SPOILERS

The novel starts out strong, telling how a disgraced noblewoman from Ustalav named Lady Tyressa has been practically exiled by being sent to found a new community called Silverlake in the wilderness near Thornkeep.  But Thornkeep's ruler, Baron Blackshield, is a classic jerk and isn't going to make things easy.  The novel is told from different points of view: Lady Tyressa herself and her son Jerrad, who starts to develop sorcerous powers linked to the fey of Echo Wood.  I love the book's treatment of Echo Wood--the fey haunting it ensure it's creepy, terrifying, confusing, and occasionally whimsical all at the same time.  The evolution of Lady Tyressa and her family from courtly sophisticates to rugged wilderness survivors is told well.  Other elements from the Thornkeep modul
e's description of the town make appearances, including a Muldoon, goblins, and the Wolfmane barbarians.

The book also features some great action scenes, with a great scene of fragile Silverlake rallying to stave off a goblin and ogre assault.  Behind the attack is another novel from Ustalav, Baron Creelisk, who pretends to be helpful while secretly scheming to steal everything out from under Lady Tyressa's feet.  Baron Creelisk has a plan (admitted far-fetched and convoluted) to raise some sort of undead army from the nearby haunted village of Mosswater to attack Silverlake.  I got a bit confused on that plot element, but didn't mind overall because the conclusion is also downright exciting.

Crusader Road does a lot with its main characters, allowing them to grow naturally through their experiences.  I wasn't really expecting much from the book--after all, both Pathfinder Online and the Thornkeep module weren't exactly stellar.  But this novel is definitely worth reading.

Pathfinder Tales: "The Redemption Engine" [RPG]

 

NO SPOILERS

I don't even know how to begin heaping The Redemption Engine with all of the effusive praise it deserves.  I've read a lot of the Pathfinder Tales novels, and this one is among the very best.  James Sutter knows his way around Golarion, and he's picked one of its most flavourful components (the city of Kaer Maga) as the starting point for this awesome adventure.  Sutter's writing just pops with

excitement, humor, and intelligence, and he's created an original plot to drive the story.  Even the way he describes things familiar to gamers, like channelling energy, has so much verve to it (while still being faithful to the RPG) that one can't help but admire the talent that went into the novel.  I'd definitely recommend this one to Pathfinder fans, but also to fantasy readers in general (there's even a helpful glossary to explain setting terms).  

SPOILERS

Salim Ghadafar, atheist priest of Pharasma (it makes sense!) is back for another adventure, having previously appeared in Sutter's excellent novel, Death's Heretic.  Forced to serve the goddess of death due to choices made in his past, Salim is called in to investigate a great story hook:  the souls of 53 murder victims have not turned up in the Boneyard (the afterlife) like they were supposed to.  So where are they?  Or, perhaps more to the point, who has them?  Salim's investigation covers the memorable streets of Kaer Maga, the City of Silence below, the heights of Heaven above, and even a detour to Hell.  It's all handled extremely well, and I particularly appreciate how a place that may seem dull like Heaven becomes a fascinating place for story-telling.  Angels may not be what you expect!  And the ending is genuinely exciting.   This is one of those books to read, and then pick up again a few months later to re-read.  It's really that good.

Pathfinder Tales: "Krunzle the Quick" [RPG]

SPOILERS

Krunzle the Quick is a short story available as free web fiction on the Paizo site.  Krunzle is a thief who is caught after a botched job in Elidir and sold into slavery.  He's bought by a wizard named Baalariot and magically compelled to sneak into a rival wizard's house to get a magic item called the "apprentice's eye."  But the amulet is guarded by a giant snake, and it turns out it's all a distraction, and something to do with a daughter who wants to marry someone, and blah, it's really poorly done.  I don't get the sense the author has any particular knowledge of Pathfinder or Golarion, and there's nothing that makes the story worth reading.  Although some of the artwork is quite good, I'd definitely recommend skipping this one.

Pathfinder Tales: "A Lesson in Taxonomy" [RPG]

SPOILERS

A Lesson in Taxonomy is a short, two-part series of free Pathfinder web fiction available here.  It features an early adventure of Varian Jeggare (before he met Radovan), when he instead had a bodyguard named Remigo.  Varian is on an adventure in the Mwangi Expanse, trying to complete his bestiary, when Remigo betrays him at the behest of the evil Prince Kasiya (a character who appears in one of the novels).  It's helpful to see the backstory between Varian and Prince Kasiya, and it's overall a solid story.  Though I do miss Radovan!

Pathfinder Tales: "Skinwalkers" [RPG]

NO SPOILERS

Skinwalkers is a tense, exciting novel and now among my favourites in the Pathfinder Tales line.  It's extremely rare in books like this that I'm genuinely concerned that the protagonist is going to die and that the darkest possible ending is about to happen, but I certainly was with this novel!  I was on the edge of my seat during some of the action scenes, perhaps because the threats the characters face are extremely creepy and somehow more "real" than one usually gets in a fantasy novel.  The author does an excellent job with the setting (the Ironbound Archipelago), making it feel like a place with a distinct geography and culture.  It's hard to believe that this was written by a first-time author, and if there's more with these characters later in the series, I'll be thrilled.

SPOILERS

Skinwalkers is told by the point of view of Jendara, a woman who grew up in the Ironbound Archipelago before leaving for several years after a mysterious massacre.  After several years as a pirate, Jendara has returned home with her son.  I mention the son because it's relatively rare that the main character in Pathfinder novels has family to speak of, much less children--but it's handled quite well here.  The main threat in the book are the legendary, cannibalistic Kalvamen of a distant island in the archipelago.  This is a dark and gory novel, and I thought Jendara was going to die at multiple points.  The book isn't all action, however, as the setting and characters are handled well. Particularly effective is the theme of Jendara's initial rejection and gradual acceptance of her homeland's spiritual beliefs.   And best of all, the writer sticks the landing: the ending is strong.  Coming into the book, I didn't have any particular interest in the "viking" cultures of the Ironbound Archipelago, but I have to say that this book was a delightful surprise.