Lesser Evils
So, I close out 2012 reading with Lesser Evils, the sequel to Brimstone Angels. That leaves me with, I believe, two hard-copy books to go through yet and shifting my focus over to digital versions going forward. So, on to thoughts of the book...
Simply put: loved it.
It still feels a little odd to be reading a license-based book like this, but it's not so jarring to me now. As a D&D story, it makes me sort of jealous. I wish I could get together such an unlikely collection of characters working together (mostly) through such a tale. Alas, my jaded gamer mind sees numerous places where, lacking a script, experienced (ie. paranoid from experience) PCs would never have the same experiences. Pulling character heart-strings with fears and making doubles of party members is infinitely harder to make work in a game.
But much of what really makes these books sing for me is the interaction between the characters. The tiefling twins are late-teen girls growing up. They love one another dearly, but are jealous too. The aging priest/spy is responsible, if reluctant about it. He's constantly trying to do everything himself to protect the others and acts as something of a father figure (since Mehen is largely absent for this outing), but has the most trouble dealing with his own daughter. Add in the others, and there's a sort of troubled-family dynamic to the entire group. And Lorcan... well, it would be neat and pretty to reform him (he's only half-devil, after all), but he's pretty much unwavering evil. That isn't always bad when interests align, but however nice he might be at any given time, he's always looking out for himself first.
Really, I can't wait for more of this series.
Hmm... looks like 41-42 books read this year. Not bad, though it felt like more than that.
Simply put: loved it.
It still feels a little odd to be reading a license-based book like this, but it's not so jarring to me now. As a D&D story, it makes me sort of jealous. I wish I could get together such an unlikely collection of characters working together (mostly) through such a tale. Alas, my jaded gamer mind sees numerous places where, lacking a script, experienced (ie. paranoid from experience) PCs would never have the same experiences. Pulling character heart-strings with fears and making doubles of party members is infinitely harder to make work in a game.
But much of what really makes these books sing for me is the interaction between the characters. The tiefling twins are late-teen girls growing up. They love one another dearly, but are jealous too. The aging priest/spy is responsible, if reluctant about it. He's constantly trying to do everything himself to protect the others and acts as something of a father figure (since Mehen is largely absent for this outing), but has the most trouble dealing with his own daughter. Add in the others, and there's a sort of troubled-family dynamic to the entire group. And Lorcan... well, it would be neat and pretty to reform him (he's only half-devil, after all), but he's pretty much unwavering evil. That isn't always bad when interests align, but however nice he might be at any given time, he's always looking out for himself first.
Really, I can't wait for more of this series.
Hmm... looks like 41-42 books read this year. Not bad, though it felt like more than that.
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