Spellstorm (Book) Review
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When news that the mythical Lost Spell has been found, all hell breaks loose in Cormyr. Ed Greenwood brings his most popular character, Elminster of Shadowdale, to great peril and great fun in his latest adventure. As the story begins, violence erupts in a generally quiet tavern as archmages duel it out over a […]
When news that the mythical Lost Spell has been found, all hell breaks loose in Cormyr.
Ed Greenwood brings his most popular character, Elminster of Shadowdale, to great peril and great fun in his latest adventure. As the story begins, violence erupts in a generally quiet tavern as archmages duel it out over a washed up noble – who, unfortunately, takes a great deal of damage in the fight. But why would such powerful wizards even care about the man? Rumor has it that he has found the Lost Spell of legend, a powerful piece of magic that could enable its holder with the power to quite literally rule the world. It’s the sort of thing that many are willing to kill for.
And so sets off a chain of events that leads to Elminster and his crew being locked in the noble’s drafty old mansion with a group of murderous archmages. At the behest of his goddess, Elminster is pretending to have retired and taken a job with the noble, and he’ll be helping to decide who gets the honor of purchasing the spell – at a high price, of course. Since the noble’s mind is quite fried, Elminster has the help of a ghost princess who takes up residence in his body and says all the right things, as well of two if his more powerful friends who work as the kitchen crew. The band of four is pretty formidable in its own right, and the help of a goddess doesn’t hurt either – but when faced with a group of trapped archmages duelling it out for the spell, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll end up on top.
Spellstorm is a book that grips you right from the start. There is plenty of Forgotten Realms lore, tons of magic and fantastical creatures – everything you’d expect from a Wizards of the Coast book. But there is also a lot of humor, and enough mystery to keep you guessing till the end. It’s a great read, even for those who’ve never delved into the Forgotten Realms before.