Queen of Stone by Keith Baker - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Queen of Stone by Keith Baker

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
mhacdebhandia
Nov 23, 2008 23:31:43 I finished reading Keith Baker's latest novel Queen of Stone today. It's the first in his Thorn of Breland series, following the adventures of the eponymous half-elf Thorn, one of the King's Dark Lanterns.

I really enjoyed the setting of this novel: a diplomatic summit at the Crag in Droaam, called by the Daughters of Sora Kell to discuss their newborn nation's admission to the Treaty of Thronehold. It kicks off in Graywall, and I was happy to recognise landmarks from Keith's Dragon article Backdrop: Graywall.

Interestingly, this is yet another female protagonist for Keith, following on the heels of Lei in The Dreaming Dark, Greykell in The Eye of the Wolf, Zaehr in "Principles of Fire", and Shadow in Shadows of Stormreach. Frankly, I appreciate it; too many writers use the typical tough male adventurer. I also think it's interesting that Lei and Thorn - whose real name is Nyrielle Tam - have something else in common.

There's no point describing the plot, but I must say that I enjoyed the way the tension of the narrative and the stakes of the situation kept ramping up. In retrospect I also like the way Keith foreshadows certain revelations early on, and then distracts you with much more immediate problems for Thorn before you can turn them over in your mind too much.

It's also fun to see little moments of Eberron colour, like the argument with a soldier of Valenar sharing a coach with Thorn on the way to the summit, and I liked Thorn's "sidekick", Steel the intelligent magical dagger. The other supporting characters are very well drawn - I loved getting a chance to meet the gnolls of the Znir Pact - and I look forward to seeing more of them in further books, along with resolution of certain questions brought up at the climax of Queen of Stone.

If you liked any of Keith's earlier work, I recommend this novel to you. It's a quick read, but a fun one. Special thanks to Keith for coming up with the offer to buy a signed copy through him! It came very quickly. I had forgotten that I'd already ordered a copy from Amazon, but whatever; now I have one to give to a friend!

The next book is Son of Khyber, due out in "Fall 2009". I do wish I didn't have to wait that long to read it, which I suppose is all that really needs to be said.
#2
famoth83
Nov 24, 2008 2:11:32 Well, you said most of what needs to be said. Most of this story is of a quality that would place it amoungst the best books I've ever read. At an undefined point near the end (actually very defined by I'm avoiding spoilers), I feel that Mister Baker lost control of his Deus Ex Machina. Having one in the story isn't a bad thing, and in most of this story it is handled well, but for a very short portion of the story it wasn't handled very well.

Certainly, I can't wait to see where the rest of this trilogy will take us. Keith is nothing if not innovative. The one sour apple in the bushel of fresh fruit just had to be mentioned.
#3
Hellcow
Nov 24, 2008 10:08:36
Special thanks to Keith for coming up with the offer to buy a signed copy through him!

For those interested in this offer, you can find information here, though I won't be able to ship books until December 3rd when I get back from traveling. I'm actually going to be doing a special offer at that point (those of you who've already gotten books from me, don't worry - you'll benefit from it too), so keep an eye on the blog.
#4
elrodian
Nov 24, 2008 13:25:51 i love steel he is real funny in his own way. I also love the back story with the Queen of Stone and other people in the book. I am all most done after waiting until 21th to get it. Although i was hopeing for a little something about the Son of Khyber in the back of the book.
#5
skrapsan
Nov 24, 2008 15:09:31 I enjoyed the story, and I enjoyed the read, but the ending seemed a bit too rushed for my taste. Now I did not know that a prequel was planed, so this certainly made a impact on my view on it all. But anyways, looking forward to the next one.
#6
eehamburg
Nov 24, 2008 15:23:42 Prequel? What prequel? Tell what you know.
#7
mhacdebhandia
Nov 24, 2008 15:27:00 I assume that poster meant "sequel" and was talking about Son of Khyber - the "rushed ending" doesn't matter so much if the story continues.

I didn't feel like the story was rushed, actually. The climax of the story runs at a high level of tension until it breaks - it's a good stylistic choice for this kind of spy story.
#8
skrapsan
Nov 24, 2008 23:43:39
I assume that poster meant "sequel" and was talking about Son of Khyber - the "rushed ending" doesn't matter so much if the story continues.

Indeed that is correct (for more info see disclaimer in my signature).

The next book is Son of Khyber, due out in "Fall 2009". I do wish I didn't have to wait that long to read it, which I suppose is all that really needs to be said.

And that is all I know
#9
eehamburg
Nov 25, 2008 9:42:45
Indeed that is correct (for more info see disclaimer in my signature).

Not holding anything against you ... just thought that maybe you knew about a prequel ... which would be awesome if you did.
#10
skrapsan
Nov 25, 2008 10:19:25
Not holding anything against you...

Did not take it that way, just thought it might be nice to explain the reason once in a while. And no I know of no prequels (yes prequel :P ) unless you are writing one and is about to tell me.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 mhacdebhandia Nov 23, 2008 23:31:43	I finished reading Keith Baker's latest novel Queen of Stone today. It's the first in his Thorn of Breland series, following the adventures of the eponymous half-elf Thorn, one of the King's Dark Lanterns. I really enjoyed the setting of this novel: a diplomatic summit at the Crag in Droaam, called by the Daughters of Sora Kell to discuss their newborn nation's admission to the Treaty of Thronehold. It kicks off in Graywall, and I was happy to recognise landmarks from Keith's Dragon article Backdrop: Graywall. Interestingly, this is yet another female protagonist for Keith, following on the heels of Lei in The Dreaming Dark, Greykell in The Eye of the Wolf, Zaehr in "Principles of Fire", and Shadow in Shadows of Stormreach. Frankly, I appreciate it; too many writers use the typical tough male adventurer. I also think it's interesting that Lei and Thorn - whose real name is Nyrielle Tam - have something else in common. There's no point describing the plot, but I must say that I enjoyed the way the tension of the narrative and the stakes of the situation kept ramping up. In retrospect I also like the way Keith foreshadows certain revelations early on, and then distracts you with much more immediate problems for Thorn before you can turn them over in your mind too much. It's also fun to see little moments of Eberron colour, like the argument with a soldier of Valenar sharing a coach with Thorn on the way to the summit, and I liked Thorn's "sidekick", Steel the intelligent magical dagger. The other supporting characters are very well drawn - I loved getting a chance to meet the gnolls of the Znir Pact - and I look forward to seeing more of them in further books, along with resolution of certain questions brought up at the climax of Queen of Stone. If you liked any of Keith's earlier work, I recommend this novel to you. It's a quick read, but a fun one. Special thanks to Keith for coming up with the offer to buy a signed copy through him! It came very quickly. I had forgotten that I'd already ordered a copy from Amazon, but whatever; now I have one to give to a friend! The next book is Son of Khyber, due out in "Fall 2009". I do wish I didn't have to wait that long to read it, which I suppose is all that really needs to be said.
#2 famoth83 Nov 24, 2008 2:11:32	Well, you said most of what needs to be said. Most of this story is of a quality that would place it amoungst the best books I've ever read. At an undefined point near the end (actually very defined by I'm avoiding spoilers), I feel that Mister Baker lost control of his Deus Ex Machina. Having one in the story isn't a bad thing, and in most of this story it is handled well, but for a very short portion of the story it wasn't handled very well. Certainly, I can't wait to see where the rest of this trilogy will take us. Keith is nothing if not innovative. The one sour apple in the bushel of fresh fruit just had to be mentioned.
#3 Hellcow Nov 24, 2008 10:08:36	Special thanks to Keith for coming up with the offer to buy a signed copy through him! For those interested in this offer, you can find information here, though I won't be able to ship books until December 3rd when I get back from traveling. I'm actually going to be doing a special offer at that point (those of you who've already gotten books from me, don't worry - you'll benefit from it too), so keep an eye on the blog.
#4 elrodian Nov 24, 2008 13:25:51	i love steel he is real funny in his own way. I also love the back story with the Queen of Stone and other people in the book. I am all most done after waiting until 21th to get it. Although i was hopeing for a little something about the Son of Khyber in the back of the book.
#5 skrapsan Nov 24, 2008 15:09:31	I enjoyed the story, and I enjoyed the read, but the ending seemed a bit too rushed for my taste. Now I did not know that a prequel was planed, so this certainly made a impact on my view on it all. But anyways, looking forward to the next one.
#6 eehamburg Nov 24, 2008 15:23:42	Prequel? What prequel? Tell what you know.
#7 mhacdebhandia Nov 24, 2008 15:27:00	I assume that poster meant "sequel" and was talking about Son of Khyber - the "rushed ending" doesn't matter so much if the story continues. I didn't feel like the story was rushed, actually. The climax of the story runs at a high level of tension until it breaks - it's a good stylistic choice for this kind of spy story.
#8 skrapsan Nov 24, 2008 23:43:39	I assume that poster meant "sequel" and was talking about Son of Khyber - the "rushed ending" doesn't matter so much if the story continues. Indeed that is correct (for more info see disclaimer in my signature). The next book is Son of Khyber, due out in "Fall 2009". I do wish I didn't have to wait that long to read it, which I suppose is all that really needs to be said. And that is all I know
#9 eehamburg Nov 25, 2008 9:42:45	Indeed that is correct (for more info see disclaimer in my signature). Not holding anything against you ... just thought that maybe you knew about a prequel ... which would be awesome if you did.
#10 skrapsan Nov 25, 2008 10:19:25	Not holding anything against you... Did not take it that way, just thought it might be nice to explain the reason once in a while. And no I know of no prequels (yes prequel :P ) unless you are writing one and is about to tell me.