Do people recommend the Ebberon novels? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Do people recommend the Ebberon novels? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Grumman
08-24-07, 02:23 PM I have been considering buying one of the Ebberon novels for a while now, and it looks like tomorrow is as good a time as any. So I thought I'd come here for advice before I make my decision.

Do they have interesting main characters (especially warforged)? Storylines that hold your attention?

And if you have found them to be good reading, which one should I read first, if I wanted to get a good feel for what makes Ebberon Ebberon?
Bluebrush
08-24-07, 02:31 PM Some of them are good, some aren't.

My favourite series so far is The Dragon Below series by Don Bassingthwaite, but by your criteria, I'd suggest The Dreaming Dark series by Keith Baker.
It's got warforged, and was written by the setting creator, so that'll help you with the feel.
PlaDeDump
08-25-07, 02:19 AM The Dreaming Dark series is probably a good place to start. I haven't read any of the other series available (except for Tales of the Last War) but I hear the Dragon Below series is good too. That series is next on my Amazon list of books to buy.
Yadot
08-25-07, 02:21 AM Other good novels that capture the feel of Eberron are "Bound by Iron" and "Legacy of the Wolves." They are part of The Inquisitives series and really go for the noir themes of Eberron.

Edit: You might also want to see this thread.
Grumman
08-25-07, 04:59 AM Thanks for your suggestions so far, everyone. Apparently my search-fu needs work, since I didn't find that thread when I was looking earlier.
Fabius Maximus
08-25-07, 08:33 AM The Heirs of Ash trilogy is the best I read so far, with The Dreaming Dark and The Dragon Below close second and third.

And it's spelled Eberron. One B, to Rs. ;)
Darkarcher736
08-25-07, 09:05 AM I would wait until August 28, seeing that's when James Wyatts new Eberron novel, Storm Dragon releases. He was saying some good stuff about it at GenCon, and it looks promising. Only possible turn off? It's hardback.

(But I love hardbacks, so Im'a gonna buy it :D )
Arcane Guyver
08-25-07, 04:15 PM All the Eberron novels I've read have been at least decent, with the exception of The Crimson Talisman (just..skip it) and The Orb of Xoriat (the misrepresentation of Thranes here kinda annoys me). A little teaser for a few of the novels.

Tales from the Last War: A collection of short stories, many of which are prequels to other stories (including the Dreaming Dark trilogy, the Blade of the Flame trilogy, the Orb of Xoriat, and In the Claws of the Tiger).

The Dreaming Dark Trilogy: Daine, a displaced Cyran soldier, struggles to find a place in this post-war world. Strangers of formidable power have other plans for him, though...

The Dragon Below Trilogy: Geth's past comes back to haunt him as he's drawn into an epic struggle between good and evil. Has Gatekeepers, psionics, and Dhakaani!

The Lost Mark Trilogy: So what happens when an innocent little girl manifests a mysterious mark, one that might be the long-lost Mark of Death? Very bad things. :D

Heirs of Ash Trilogy: The crew of an experimental airship, the Mourning Dawn desperately race to acquire the mysterious inheritance of a brilliant artificer.

The Blade of the Flame Trilogy: An exorcist of the Silver Flame who used to be a professional assassin? Can you say skeletons in the closet?
Aspeon
08-25-07, 05:31 PM I'd have to say that the Dreaming Dark series was my favorite. I gives you a good look at the world of Ebberon from different view points throughout the trilogy. It also didnt hurt that i have a soft spot for halflings.:D
Bluebrush
08-25-07, 08:04 PM The Orb of Xoriat (the misrepresentation of Thranes here kinda annoys me).I don't remember anything too bad in Orb of Xoriat. (Though it'd help if I could remember where I left it so I could double check.)
And it's nice to see Thranes outside the context of the Silver Flame for a change.

The rather nifty drinking song is probably a symptom of a nation that's been at war for a century, so I'd expect to see it in the other four nations.
Praxle's grumblings about warlike Thranes says more about his tendency toward strong opinions and the fact he comes from a nation where most of the fighting is done with words instead of swords.
Rechan
08-25-07, 09:59 PM Has anyone read Claws of the Tiger? I've been eying that book for a while, but I'm not quite committed just yet.

I've read good things about the Heirs of Ash.

Personally I didn't care for the Dreaming Dark Trilogy, but the first book of the Dragon Below was very nice. As was "Night of Long Shadows".

I will be waiting for Wyatt's book to hit paperback before picking it up.
mhacdebhandia
08-26-07, 03:10 AM In the Claws of the Tiger is, in my opinion, pretty damn entertaining. I really liked the characterisation as well as the action - and it's got the most interesting link to its corresponding story in Tales of the Last War, in that the protagonist of the short story isn't the protagonist of the novel, but a supporting character.
Psymnotica
08-26-07, 04:03 AM I liked The Dragon Below series the best so far, with the Heirs of Ash and The Dreaming Dark series second.

The Orb of Xoriat was interesting as well, though I too felt like the Thranes were ill-depicted.

The Mark of Death series was a big disappointment to me because it started off strong but quickly meandered. It really annoyed me with how his characters seemed to know about every single major conspiracy in existence.

As for Claws of the Tiger - I liked it for the sheer pulp-adventure feel it had. It also had some classic noir elements (the old flame with a dirty secret, the tragic past, the misunderstood villain) that showed me how easily it worked in a fantasy setting.

Psymnotica
mhacdebhandia
08-26-07, 07:36 PM I also want to say that I enjoyed Blood & Honor, especially the use of wacky undead creatures from Libris Mortis. :) It's an exciting book, too.
doubtofbuddha
08-27-07, 04:25 PM I think the Inquisitives series has been my favorite so far. It does a good job of being entertaining and fleshing out the world without devolving into standard fantasy tropes that you've read a thousand times before in other fantasty novels.
SirPudding
08-29-07, 10:27 PM Whatever you do, please, please don't read the crimson talisman or any of it's sequels. This guy took his Eberron license and made the crappiest pulp fantasy novel i've ever read. He knew nothing about the setting and thoguht he could get away with a generic (and not to mention boring) story. I wish i could return this book and wipe it from my memory.
helzapoppn
08-30-07, 06:49 PM While Crimson Talisman was pretty weak tea (although still not terrible), the other books of The War-Torn series weren't sequels. All four were variations on the theme of Last War veterans coming to grips with the post-War era.
bobobravado
09-01-07, 10:33 PM the "heirs of ash" is my favorite series, followed by "dragon below". i thought the "dreaming dark" series started out well then went flat....sorry. out of the inquisitives i really liked "bound by iron" it was interesting to see a paladin with issues between morality & military service (he's from karnath)..it's the best of what i've read lately.
Tomanta
09-02-07, 01:00 AM I haven't read any of the Dragon Below and just the first Lost Mark, but I've read most of the others by now.

Heirs of Ash is by far my favorite, the Inquisitives are good and the Blade of Flame is nice as well (I liked the first better than the second). I liked the first Dreaming Dark, but didn't care that much for the other two (particularly the 3rd).
Rechan
09-02-07, 12:44 PM Has anyone read The STorm Dragon yet?
TiwazTyrsfist
09-02-07, 06:26 PM Has anyone read The STorm Dragon yet?

Yes. I quite enjoyed it.

Interesting note, the characters are pretty high level starting out, and Reinne (when you get to her) seems to me to be some sort of Martial Adept. Probably a Warblade... But maybe sword sage.

To give you a rough idea of power level, one of the characters (a sorcerer) teleports five characters over 1000 miles four or five times in one day.
Lucifer_the_Puritan
09-03-07, 02:23 AM I'd suggest both the : The Dragon Below series by Don Bassingthwaite & The Lost Mark trilogy by Matt Forbek. Both real good series I hope both authors right new Eberron based fiction VERY soon.
Lucifer the Puritan

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Grumman 08-24-07, 02:23 PM	I have been considering buying one of the Ebberon novels for a while now, and it looks like tomorrow is as good a time as any. So I thought I'd come here for advice before I make my decision. Do they have interesting main characters (especially warforged)? Storylines that hold your attention? And if you have found them to be good reading, which one should I read first, if I wanted to get a good feel for what makes Ebberon Ebberon?
Bluebrush 08-24-07, 02:31 PM	Some of them are good, some aren't. My favourite series so far is The Dragon Below series by Don Bassingthwaite, but by your criteria, I'd suggest The Dreaming Dark series by Keith Baker. It's got warforged, and was written by the setting creator, so that'll help you with the feel.
PlaDeDump 08-25-07, 02:19 AM	The Dreaming Dark series is probably a good place to start. I haven't read any of the other series available (except for Tales of the Last War) but I hear the Dragon Below series is good too. That series is next on my Amazon list of books to buy.
Yadot 08-25-07, 02:21 AM	Other good novels that capture the feel of Eberron are "Bound by Iron" and "Legacy of the Wolves." They are part of The Inquisitives series and really go for the noir themes of Eberron. Edit: You might also want to see this thread.
Grumman 08-25-07, 04:59 AM	Thanks for your suggestions so far, everyone. Apparently my search-fu needs work, since I didn't find that thread when I was looking earlier.
Fabius Maximus 08-25-07, 08:33 AM	The Heirs of Ash trilogy is the best I read so far, with The Dreaming Dark and The Dragon Below close second and third. And it's spelled Eberron. One B, to Rs. ;)
Darkarcher736 08-25-07, 09:05 AM	I would wait until August 28, seeing that's when James Wyatts new Eberron novel, Storm Dragon releases. He was saying some good stuff about it at GenCon, and it looks promising. Only possible turn off? It's hardback. (But I love hardbacks, so Im'a gonna buy it :D )
Arcane Guyver 08-25-07, 04:15 PM	All the Eberron novels I've read have been at least decent, with the exception of The Crimson Talisman (just..skip it) and The Orb of Xoriat (the misrepresentation of Thranes here kinda annoys me). A little teaser for a few of the novels. Tales from the Last War: A collection of short stories, many of which are prequels to other stories (including the Dreaming Dark trilogy, the Blade of the Flame trilogy, the Orb of Xoriat, and In the Claws of the Tiger). The Dreaming Dark Trilogy: Daine, a displaced Cyran soldier, struggles to find a place in this post-war world. Strangers of formidable power have other plans for him, though... The Dragon Below Trilogy: Geth's past comes back to haunt him as he's drawn into an epic struggle between good and evil. Has Gatekeepers, psionics, and Dhakaani! The Lost Mark Trilogy: So what happens when an innocent little girl manifests a mysterious mark, one that might be the long-lost Mark of Death? Very bad things. :D Heirs of Ash Trilogy: The crew of an experimental airship, the Mourning Dawn desperately race to acquire the mysterious inheritance of a brilliant artificer. The Blade of the Flame Trilogy: An exorcist of the Silver Flame who used to be a professional assassin? Can you say skeletons in the closet?
Aspeon 08-25-07, 05:31 PM	I'd have to say that the Dreaming Dark series was my favorite. I gives you a good look at the world of Ebberon from different view points throughout the trilogy. It also didnt hurt that i have a soft spot for halflings.:D
Bluebrush 08-25-07, 08:04 PM	The Orb of Xoriat (the misrepresentation of Thranes here kinda annoys me).I don't remember anything too bad in Orb of Xoriat. (Though it'd help if I could remember where I left it so I could double check.) And it's nice to see Thranes outside the context of the Silver Flame for a change. The rather nifty drinking song is probably a symptom of a nation that's been at war for a century, so I'd expect to see it in the other four nations. Praxle's grumblings about warlike Thranes says more about his tendency toward strong opinions and the fact he comes from a nation where most of the fighting is done with words instead of swords.
Rechan 08-25-07, 09:59 PM	Has anyone read Claws of the Tiger? I've been eying that book for a while, but I'm not quite committed just yet. I've read good things about the Heirs of Ash. Personally I didn't care for the Dreaming Dark Trilogy, but the first book of the Dragon Below was very nice. As was "Night of Long Shadows". I will be waiting for Wyatt's book to hit paperback before picking it up.
mhacdebhandia 08-26-07, 03:10 AM	In the Claws of the Tiger is, in my opinion, pretty damn entertaining. I really liked the characterisation as well as the action - and it's got the most interesting link to its corresponding story in Tales of the Last War, in that the protagonist of the short story isn't the protagonist of the novel, but a supporting character.
Psymnotica 08-26-07, 04:03 AM	I liked The Dragon Below series the best so far, with the Heirs of Ash and The Dreaming Dark series second. The Orb of Xoriat was interesting as well, though I too felt like the Thranes were ill-depicted. The Mark of Death series was a big disappointment to me because it started off strong but quickly meandered. It really annoyed me with how his characters seemed to know about every single major conspiracy in existence. As for Claws of the Tiger - I liked it for the sheer pulp-adventure feel it had. It also had some classic noir elements (the old flame with a dirty secret, the tragic past, the misunderstood villain) that showed me how easily it worked in a fantasy setting. Psymnotica
mhacdebhandia 08-26-07, 07:36 PM	I also want to say that I enjoyed Blood & Honor, especially the use of wacky undead creatures from Libris Mortis. :) It's an exciting book, too.
doubtofbuddha 08-27-07, 04:25 PM	I think the Inquisitives series has been my favorite so far. It does a good job of being entertaining and fleshing out the world without devolving into standard fantasy tropes that you've read a thousand times before in other fantasty novels.
SirPudding 08-29-07, 10:27 PM	Whatever you do, please, please don't read the crimson talisman or any of it's sequels. This guy took his Eberron license and made the crappiest pulp fantasy novel i've ever read. He knew nothing about the setting and thoguht he could get away with a generic (and not to mention boring) story. I wish i could return this book and wipe it from my memory.
helzapoppn 08-30-07, 06:49 PM	While Crimson Talisman was pretty weak tea (although still not terrible), the other books of The War-Torn series weren't sequels. All four were variations on the theme of Last War veterans coming to grips with the post-War era.
bobobravado 09-01-07, 10:33 PM	the "heirs of ash" is my favorite series, followed by "dragon below". i thought the "dreaming dark" series started out well then went flat....sorry. out of the inquisitives i really liked "bound by iron" it was interesting to see a paladin with issues between morality & military service (he's from karnath)..it's the best of what i've read lately.
Tomanta 09-02-07, 01:00 AM	I haven't read any of the Dragon Below and just the first Lost Mark, but I've read most of the others by now. Heirs of Ash is by far my favorite, the Inquisitives are good and the Blade of Flame is nice as well (I liked the first better than the second). I liked the first Dreaming Dark, but didn't care that much for the other two (particularly the 3rd).
Rechan 09-02-07, 12:44 PM	Has anyone read The STorm Dragon yet?
TiwazTyrsfist 09-02-07, 06:26 PM	Has anyone read The STorm Dragon yet? Yes. I quite enjoyed it. Interesting note, the characters are pretty high level starting out, and Reinne (when you get to her) seems to me to be some sort of Martial Adept. Probably a Warblade... But maybe sword sage. To give you a rough idea of power level, one of the characters (a sorcerer) teleports five characters over 1000 miles four or five times in one day.
Lucifer_the_Puritan 09-03-07, 02:23 AM	I'd suggest both the : The Dragon Below series by Don Bassingthwaite & The Lost Mark trilogy by Matt Forbek. Both real good series I hope both authors right new Eberron based fiction VERY soon. Lucifer the Puritan