Pathfinder Tales: Nightblade

Being a fan of the Dragon Age world, I picked up her most recent book Dragon Age: Last Flight. She answered one of the enduring historical mysteries that nagged at me throughout the video game, comic, and movie series. I was impressed enough with her characterization that I sought this book, Nightblade, even though I was not familiar with the Pathfinder world. There are several interesting characters with different motives for being together and searching for a lost magical artifact. It reminded me of "Game of Thrones", in that the reader knew somebody was going to be a traitor, but you are not sure who until the author reveals it. Although some of the background might be more deeply enjoyed if you know the Pathfinder references dropped in the book, the knowledge is certainly not required and can be brushed off as background fluff (as in most fantasy novels that make passing references to past historical battles and events). I will now look froward to reading her other Pathfinder Tales book, Nightglass, and I hope that she keeps writing more!

Nightblade is the second book in a (hopefully to continue) series based in the campaign world of the Pathfinder RPG. I usually have low expectations for RPG-based books - just like movies based on video games, they have to weave between telling a good story and being faithful to someone else's vision for a world, while trying to match rules that are based on play balance to the way that a story needs to be woven. I felt that this book, and the book before it, did a better job than just about any other RPG-based book I've read. There are echoes of the Salvatore Drizzt books here - a person who is not irredeemable growing up in an evil world - but with a much more complex character. Also, the character of these books is less capable and less sure than Drizzt - and that's a good thing. Drama is driven by failings and unsurety. I'm not sure if I'd recommend the books to someone who's not already a fan of some game, but I would definitely recommend them to someone who's breaking into the Pathfinder world.

Isiem is a former Nidal wizard fighting against the Cheliax government to free them from the devil pact. When a friend tells him of a job to enter one of the darkest places of his old haunts to locate a weapon that might be able to put an end to the devils and the demons of the Worldwound, he joins up with a paladin, a Sarenite priest, an old shadowcaller friend, and a few members of the Aspis Consortium (they finally get to have some time in a book). But when they get there they discover the danger is not just physical - and if they are not careful they may just unleash a greater threat on Galorian, one that has been waiting thousands of years to be free. The author did a great job with the storytelling. From the beginning up to they locate the place you feel the weight of the locations, and when they find what they are looking for - the danger they have to keep it. My favorite parts was when they located the lair - he kept the oppressive atmosphere in his writting so you also felt what the characters felt (very cuthluesque). I good read (especially as i finished it on Halloween).

The story takes on enough twists & jitters into good versus evil & betrayal, doubting, & tested loyalties to keep the reader entertained throughout. Isiam is a character who is easy enough to comprehend & every character has a through-line within the high fantasy. I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy stories of rebellion, magic, loyalty, & especially twisted evils. Also, those who enjoy constant questioning of whether all characters are trustworthy at any given moment with any given decision.

Not a bad little read.

Awesome followup to an awesome book.

Great read-great series

I am half-way through. It starts out slow, and it's hard to understand who the characters are. But, when the company finally sets off, it gets good. Looking forward to the rest!