Just finished reading the Lost mark series (HEAVY SPOILERS) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Just finished reading the Lost mark series (HEAVY SPOILERS) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SSj3goblin
02-03-07, 11:50 PM SPOILERS AHEAD!

I've finished the Queen of death today and I must say, the ending could've been really better/more interesting.
I feel that the conclusion came too soon, not enough has been revealed and the ending cuts short to the story.

That's it? Espre will end her life in that tower in Argonessen? Do we even know wether or not she truly bears the mark of death?
The part of the story happening in Argonessen was a great idea, but wasn't put on paper the right way (in my opinion, at least).

Any thoughts? Did you share my impressions after reading the Lost mark series?
Nived
02-04-07, 09:35 PM They did all they could really. Confirming that it was the real mark of death would send people up in arms... saying it was just an aberant would make all the pain the characters went through seem pointless and utterly cruel.

So they didn't say, and they didn't kill the innocent little girl. To be honest I saw the end coming. The lack of answers, Teoma's sacrifice... the whole thing. Really when Temoa lived past the second book I knew that was how she was going to die. The dragonfire is incidental. The only forseeable reason to keep that character alive was so she could 'redeem' herself by taking Espre's place. I expected it.

As soon as the Silver Dragon said "Immune to scrying" everything else clicked in and I basically knew the rest of the book without having to read it. In reality I just don't think it had enough meat or weight to justify three books. It really didn't.

Espre gets kidnapped, something bad happens, heroes get 'captured', daring escape, chase after espre, daring rescue, espre gets kidnapped again.

That happened at least 5 times in the trilogy.

Mardikine (or whatever that town it) the tower in the Mournland, Construct, Fort Bones, Whatever that dwarf mountain was, Valenar... it got to be so damn tired.

Am I disapointed by the ending? Not so much. Am I disapointed I wasted needless filler to get there? Yeah.

Heck even the Epiloge is a continuation of this tired cycle only with the dwarf.
SSj3goblin
02-04-07, 11:19 PM They did all they could really. Confirming that it was the real mark of death would send people up in arms... saying it was just an aberant would make all the pain the characters went through seem pointless and utterly cruel.

Not counting that having it be THE mark of death would have made the return of the mark "official".

So they didn't say, and they didn't kill the innocent little girl. To be honest I saw the end coming. The lack of answers, Teoma's sacrifice... the whole thing. Really when Temoa lived past the second book I knew that was how she was going to die. The dragonfire is incidental. The only forseeable reason to keep that character alive was so she could 'redeem' herself by taking Espre's place. I expected it.

Yes, that was too unsprising as I found too.

Am I disapointed by the ending? Not so much. Am I disapointed I wasted needless filler to get there? Yeah.

I totally agree. Too much pages for nothing. I expected it to be so much more, I thought it would be a book about the history of the lost mark and Vol, boy, was I wrong.
The White Sorcerer
02-05-07, 12:58 AM A word of advice to all writers of fantasy, a lesson learned from The Lost Mark: Not all fantasy has to come in trilogies. If it can be told in one book, do it in one book.
Ravenscroft
02-05-07, 04:07 AM A word of advice to all writers of fantasy, a lesson learned from The Lost Mark:
Not all fantasy has to come in trilogies.
If it can be told in one book, do it in one book.
It isn't always the decision of the Author.
Publishing Companies make more money making you pay for three books instead of one.
From_Khyber
02-05-07, 10:22 AM Not counting that having it be THE mark of death would have made the return of the mark "official".

Not at all. Eberron novels aren't sourcebooks, and they don't set "official" rules.
Evilmonster
02-05-07, 09:10 PM One thing took me by supprise at least. I always thought it was compleatly stupid that her dragon mark was killing people around the village, some time quite far from her, while she slept. It was just too silly. I was extra sure that something else would take the blame when it was all over. But nope, she really should kill herself before she accidently kills the dragon that's watching over her. :rolleyes:
Goemoe
02-07-07, 04:03 AM A word of advice to all writers of fantasy, a lesson learned from The Lost Mark: Not all fantasy has to come in trilogies. If it can be told in one book, do it in one book.

I agree. Worst set of Eberron novels so far (for my taste)
Ozymandias V.
02-07-07, 12:21 PM Not at all. Eberron novels aren't sourcebooks, and they don't set "official" rules.

Indeed. This is not Faerun.
Belabras
02-07-07, 01:24 PM I agree. Worst set of Eberron novels so far (for my taste)

You clearly haven't read Crimson Talisman yet.
From_Khyber
02-07-07, 02:00 PM You clearly haven't read Crimson Talisman yet.

Seconded. I wonder if Adrian Cole (the author) even read the ECS.
SSj3goblin
02-07-07, 03:57 PM Seconded. I wonder if Adrian Cole (the author) even read the ECS.

Expand please, I'm curious about the setting mistakes/reasons not to buy the book.
Gemini_Maxwell
02-07-07, 06:02 PM Expand please, I'm curious about the setting mistakes/reasons not to buy the book.

The main character is a half-elf heir of House Orien, complete with dragonmark.
From_Khyber
02-07-07, 06:36 PM Expand please, I'm curious about the setting mistakes/reasons not to buy the book.

Plenty of relevant reasons given in the following threads:

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=754596

http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=780600

If that shouldn't be enough, I'll gladly elaborate furtherly :D
SSj3goblin
02-07-07, 07:06 PM If there are more, I'd gladly hear them. For the joke factor.
But yes, after all I've heard, I plan on not buying it.
Goemoe
02-09-07, 02:49 AM You clearly haven't read Crimson Talisman yet.

Touché. So you think I should mark it as read and put it back to the shelves right away? ;)
Belabras
02-09-07, 04:05 PM Unless you've got a free afternoon and want to waste some time. :D
dunkeykong
02-10-07, 02:33 AM Personally I liked the ending but i believe that the story was made for at most, 2 books. I would personally like to see Espre in about 200 years after traing as a sorcerer under a Dragon master, eventually they would strike out at the blood of Vol and probably kill Espre to, just to destroy the Dragonmark.
From_Khyber
02-10-07, 04:51 AM Personally I liked the ending but i believe that the story was made for at most, 2 books. I would personally like to see Espre in about 200 years after traing as a sorcerer under a Dragon master, eventually they would strike out at the blood of Vol and probably kill Espre to, just to destroy the Dragonmark.

Well, who knows? Perhaps a Lost Mark Series II will be written in the future. I personally think that the serie lost its touch after the second book, where they were setting out to "take on the dragons" (imagining the author running out of any more kidnapping-ideas, that phrase quite much made me laugh). The books were all right, but the pace was mainly too slow and the first book painfully lacked events. The second book was my favorite in the serie, merely because it didn't turn into monotomy and drudgery, which the others nicely managed to accomplish.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SSj3goblin 02-03-07, 11:50 PM	SPOILERS AHEAD! I've finished the Queen of death today and I must say, the ending could've been really better/more interesting. I feel that the conclusion came too soon, not enough has been revealed and the ending cuts short to the story. That's it? Espre will end her life in that tower in Argonessen? Do we even know wether or not she truly bears the mark of death? The part of the story happening in Argonessen was a great idea, but wasn't put on paper the right way (in my opinion, at least). Any thoughts? Did you share my impressions after reading the Lost mark series?
Nived 02-04-07, 09:35 PM	They did all they could really. Confirming that it was the real mark of death would send people up in arms... saying it was just an aberant would make all the pain the characters went through seem pointless and utterly cruel. So they didn't say, and they didn't kill the innocent little girl. To be honest I saw the end coming. The lack of answers, Teoma's sacrifice... the whole thing. Really when Temoa lived past the second book I knew that was how she was going to die. The dragonfire is incidental. The only forseeable reason to keep that character alive was so she could 'redeem' herself by taking Espre's place. I expected it. As soon as the Silver Dragon said "Immune to scrying" everything else clicked in and I basically knew the rest of the book without having to read it. In reality I just don't think it had enough meat or weight to justify three books. It really didn't. Espre gets kidnapped, something bad happens, heroes get 'captured', daring escape, chase after espre, daring rescue, espre gets kidnapped again. That happened at least 5 times in the trilogy. Mardikine (or whatever that town it) the tower in the Mournland, Construct, Fort Bones, Whatever that dwarf mountain was, Valenar... it got to be so damn tired. Am I disapointed by the ending? Not so much. Am I disapointed I wasted needless filler to get there? Yeah. Heck even the Epiloge is a continuation of this tired cycle only with the dwarf.
SSj3goblin 02-04-07, 11:19 PM	They did all they could really. Confirming that it was the real mark of death would send people up in arms... saying it was just an aberant would make all the pain the characters went through seem pointless and utterly cruel. Not counting that having it be THE mark of death would have made the return of the mark "official". So they didn't say, and they didn't kill the innocent little girl. To be honest I saw the end coming. The lack of answers, Teoma's sacrifice... the whole thing. Really when Temoa lived past the second book I knew that was how she was going to die. The dragonfire is incidental. The only forseeable reason to keep that character alive was so she could 'redeem' herself by taking Espre's place. I expected it. Yes, that was too unsprising as I found too. Am I disapointed by the ending? Not so much. Am I disapointed I wasted needless filler to get there? Yeah. I totally agree. Too much pages for nothing. I expected it to be so much more, I thought it would be a book about the history of the lost mark and Vol, boy, was I wrong.
The White Sorcerer 02-05-07, 12:58 AM	A word of advice to all writers of fantasy, a lesson learned from The Lost Mark: Not all fantasy has to come in trilogies. If it can be told in one book, do it in one book.
Ravenscroft 02-05-07, 04:07 AM	A word of advice to all writers of fantasy, a lesson learned from The Lost Mark: Not all fantasy has to come in trilogies. If it can be told in one book, do it in one book. It isn't always the decision of the Author. Publishing Companies make more money making you pay for three books instead of one.
From_Khyber 02-05-07, 10:22 AM	Not counting that having it be THE mark of death would have made the return of the mark "official". Not at all. Eberron novels aren't sourcebooks, and they don't set "official" rules.
Evilmonster 02-05-07, 09:10 PM	One thing took me by supprise at least. I always thought it was compleatly stupid that her dragon mark was killing people around the village, some time quite far from her, while she slept. It was just too silly. I was extra sure that something else would take the blame when it was all over. But nope, she really should kill herself before she accidently kills the dragon that's watching over her. :rolleyes:
Goemoe 02-07-07, 04:03 AM	A word of advice to all writers of fantasy, a lesson learned from The Lost Mark: Not all fantasy has to come in trilogies. If it can be told in one book, do it in one book. I agree. Worst set of Eberron novels so far (for my taste)
Ozymandias V. 02-07-07, 12:21 PM	Not at all. Eberron novels aren't sourcebooks, and they don't set "official" rules. Indeed. This is not Faerun.
Belabras 02-07-07, 01:24 PM	I agree. Worst set of Eberron novels so far (for my taste) You clearly haven't read Crimson Talisman yet.
From_Khyber 02-07-07, 02:00 PM	You clearly haven't read Crimson Talisman yet. Seconded. I wonder if Adrian Cole (the author) even read the ECS.
SSj3goblin 02-07-07, 03:57 PM	Seconded. I wonder if Adrian Cole (the author) even read the ECS. Expand please, I'm curious about the setting mistakes/reasons not to buy the book.
Gemini_Maxwell 02-07-07, 06:02 PM	Expand please, I'm curious about the setting mistakes/reasons not to buy the book. The main character is a half-elf heir of House Orien, complete with dragonmark.
From_Khyber 02-07-07, 06:36 PM	Expand please, I'm curious about the setting mistakes/reasons not to buy the book. Plenty of relevant reasons given in the following threads: http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=754596 http://boards1.wizards.com/showthread.php?t=780600 If that shouldn't be enough, I'll gladly elaborate furtherly :D
SSj3goblin 02-07-07, 07:06 PM	If there are more, I'd gladly hear them. For the joke factor. But yes, after all I've heard, I plan on not buying it.
Goemoe 02-09-07, 02:49 AM	You clearly haven't read Crimson Talisman yet. Touché. So you think I should mark it as read and put it back to the shelves right away? ;)
Belabras 02-09-07, 04:05 PM	Unless you've got a free afternoon and want to waste some time. :D
dunkeykong 02-10-07, 02:33 AM	Personally I liked the ending but i believe that the story was made for at most, 2 books. I would personally like to see Espre in about 200 years after traing as a sorcerer under a Dragon master, eventually they would strike out at the blood of Vol and probably kill Espre to, just to destroy the Dragonmark.
From_Khyber 02-10-07, 04:51 AM	Personally I liked the ending but i believe that the story was made for at most, 2 books. I would personally like to see Espre in about 200 years after traing as a sorcerer under a Dragon master, eventually they would strike out at the blood of Vol and probably kill Espre to, just to destroy the Dragonmark. Well, who knows? Perhaps a Lost Mark Series II will be written in the future. I personally think that the serie lost its touch after the second book, where they were setting out to "take on the dragons" (imagining the author running out of any more kidnapping-ideas, that phrase quite much made me laugh). The books were all right, but the pace was mainly too slow and the first book painfully lacked events. The second book was my favorite in the serie, merely because it didn't turn into monotomy and drudgery, which the others nicely managed to accomplish.