Ashes of the Tyrant
Alas, I often suffer from post-story depression. Oh, it's not crushing, but getting to the end of a series or novel or game is punctuated by a feeling of emptiness and "what now?" But what can you do?
So, Ashes of the Tyrant is the... fifth Brimstone Angels novel? Somehow, it doesn't feel like that many, but I guess that's right. I still love this series for its characters. I'll admit some of the situations feel a little forced to sustain drama, and the series has perhaps suffered from being so tied in with the Forgotten Realms (thus forced to keep up with game changes). I was pondering that point, and it seems to me the series started under 3.XE, with the Realms damaged by the Spell Plague and such. Since then, it's had to deal with changed pushed onto the setting for 4E and 5E. That seems like it would be maddening from the perspective of author, but Erin Evans seems to have done alright by painting the setting changes around the core of the characters and their relationships. And that's what I love most.
This outing gets into Mehen's history and a lot about the dragonborn as the main story takes place in a dragonborn city. It also shows a Realms where gods and demons seem to be seeping into the mortal realm more and more, whether they intend it or not. Lorcan fiiiinally is starting to understand his mixed blood can actually be an advantage as he realizes he can lie (something of a novelty in the Lawful Evil-aligned Hells). While the story centers nicely on familiar characters, the main threats of the book seem less personal and more tied to the goings on in the world this time around. Though in the end, the ghostly Brimstone Angel herself (who definitely is a more personal and direct antagonist to the group) finally seems to be making a move herself. It definitely leaves me wanting to see what happens next.
So, Ashes of the Tyrant is the... fifth Brimstone Angels novel? Somehow, it doesn't feel like that many, but I guess that's right. I still love this series for its characters. I'll admit some of the situations feel a little forced to sustain drama, and the series has perhaps suffered from being so tied in with the Forgotten Realms (thus forced to keep up with game changes). I was pondering that point, and it seems to me the series started under 3.XE, with the Realms damaged by the Spell Plague and such. Since then, it's had to deal with changed pushed onto the setting for 4E and 5E. That seems like it would be maddening from the perspective of author, but Erin Evans seems to have done alright by painting the setting changes around the core of the characters and their relationships. And that's what I love most.
This outing gets into Mehen's history and a lot about the dragonborn as the main story takes place in a dragonborn city. It also shows a Realms where gods and demons seem to be seeping into the mortal realm more and more, whether they intend it or not. Lorcan fiiiinally is starting to understand his mixed blood can actually be an advantage as he realizes he can lie (something of a novelty in the Lawful Evil-aligned Hells). While the story centers nicely on familiar characters, the main threats of the book seem less personal and more tied to the goings on in the world this time around. Though in the end, the ghostly Brimstone Angel herself (who definitely is a more personal and direct antagonist to the group) finally seems to be making a move herself. It definitely leaves me wanting to see what happens next.
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