RSS RSS Facebook Twitter Email
Pathfinder / Fiction / Tales / Novels

Pathfinder Tales: Queen of Thorns

4.30/5 (based on 26 ratings)
Pathfinder Tales: Queen of Thorns
Show Description For:
Non-Mint

Print Edition Unavailable

Add ePub/PDF $6.99

Non-Mint Unavailable

Facebook Twitter Email

Secrets of the Elves

In the deep forests of Kyonin, elves live among their own kind, far from the prying eyes of other races. Few of impure blood are allowed beyond the nation’s borders, and thus it’s a great honor for the half-elven Count Varian Jeggare and his hellspawn bodyguard Radovan to be allowed inside. Yet all is not well in the elven kingdom: demons stir in its depths, and an intricate web of politics seems destined to catch the two travelers in its snares. In the course of tracking down a missing druid, Varian and a team of eccentric elven adventurers will be forced to delve into dark secrets lost for generations—including the mystery of Varian’s own past.

From fan favorite Dave Gross, author of Prince of Wolves and Master of Devils, comes a fantastical new adventure set in the award-winning world of the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

400-page mass market paperback
ISBN–13: 978-1-60125-463-4
ePub ISBN-13: 978-1-60125-464-1

Queen of Thorns is also available as a digital edition on the following sites:

Queen of Thorns is sanctioned for use in Pathfinder Society Organized Play. Its Chronicle Sheet and additional are a free download (193 KB zip/PDF).

Product Availability

Print Edition:

Unavailable

ePub/PDF:

Fulfilled immediately.

Non-Mint:

Unavailable

This product is non-mint. Refunds are not available for non-mint products. The standard version of this product can be found here.

Are there errors or omissions in this product information? Got corrections? Let us know at store@paizo.com.

PZO8511

See Also:

21 to 25 of 26 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | next > last >>

Average product rating:

4.30/5 (based on 26 ratings)

Sign in to create or edit a product review.

5/5 —

The continuing adventures of Varian and Radovan continue, this time as they journey to the elven realm of Kyonin to get Varian's family heirloom carraige repaired. Of course, the duo are unable to travel to exotic lands without getting entangled in mysteries of the past and conspiracies of the current day. Along the way, they have to deal with spiteful and capricious elves, rabid demons, and a hidden power deep in the elven forrest. The alternating point of view chapters between Varian and Radovan provide a deeper insight into their characters, and a varied outlook on the other characters. Both are exceeding entertaining narrators with different views of the world as well as unique senses of humor, as Dave Gross provides another excellent dive into the world of Golarion with great attention to detail for both the lore of the world, and keeping within and building upon the Pathfinder RPG system rules. I'm also happy to say that this time around Varian and Radovan spend the entire book together, rather than having separate but interlinked stories.

Flipflopping First Person Perspective again! Really?

1/5 —

Picked this book up, flipped through one chapter ... OK, this is first person perspective of the noble.

Flip through next chapter ... OK, this is first person perspective of the bodyguard.

Put the book down and walked away.

I refuse to waste any more time on a novel written like this, it is annoying and unnecessary. I suffered through the writing of the previous novels with these characters, but i just cannot do it any more.

What he said

5/5 —

I'll second Mairkurion's comment. Gross again proves himself to be the master of Pathfinder fiction. The short and sweet of it: What's better than Radovan and Varian? Radovan, Varian and a Calistrian inquisitor! Although I've been on the fence w/ Kyonin - barring the great Winter Council stuff in Second Darkness, my impression of it has verged on cliched and generic - Gross gave the country some depth.
I could have done without the repeated descriptions of rangers with a capital R, and the party's path didn't seem to have anything to do with the map, but those are minor nitpicks. Gross does a great job of capturing the distinct voices of Radovan and Varian and I appreciated the incorporation of bits of Golarion lore like the Bleaching and the various minor demons from The Book of the Damned. Highly recommend and can't wait for the next installment.

Making Elves Cool Again.

5/5 —

This book is amazing, go read it now!

Now that's out of the way, on with the review. I've been subscribing to the Pathfinder Tales line since it's inception. Overall it's been a pretty good line. Always providing a solid fantasy adventure with a twist or two and relate-able characters who do some cool stuff.

This book is the best of the lot.

Written by Dave Gross, this is the third novel starring Count Varian Jeggare and his bodyguard Radovan. As always the heart of the novel is a mystery, a missing person's case with a deeply personal connection to Count Varian. Unlike previous novels Dave has kept the dynamic duo together for the majority of the adventure, allowing the pair to interact and bounce off each other. The chemistry between the two main characters absolutely drives the book, and I found myself laughing out loud at the pair's witty repartee. Balancing the humour is a great deal of pathos, these characters have been steadily evolving since their first appearance and even over the course of this novel the characters grow further still.

Each of the Varian/Radovan novels has a unique hook, and in this one it's elves and classic adventuring parties. Joined by agents of Kyonin's various factions you'll grow to know and like each of the characters Gross introduces. He has an economy of language, and mastery of voice. Furthermore he manages to introduce the complexities of elven politics in the best way possible, through the lens of characters who each are sympathetic in their own way.

It's a wonderful novel, and I devoured it in a day. So if you're interested in the ongoing saga of Count Varian Jeggare and Radovan, elves, dragons, adventures, magic, mystery, humour, pathos or fun. Read this book.

Even if you weren't previously interested. Read this book anyway. You'll be glad you did.

21 to 25 of 26 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | next > last >>
Search Thread

Search this Thread:

51 to 74 of 74 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | next > last >>
Dark Archive Contributor
Kajehase wrote:
Fimbulthicket... Long-winded with a hard to get through personality?

A valiant guess, but no, not quite what I was going for. It'll make sense after you've read a few chapters.

Sovereign Court RPG Superstar 2009 Top 32, 2010 Top 8

I hope there's at least one gnome/Arnisant conversation.

Preferably with "Hi there!"

As long as it don't end with Arnisant going om-nom-nom!
Dark Archive

Would love to see this dragon as a reaper mini
Dark Archive Contributor
Mazlith wrote:
Would love to see this dragon as a reaper mini

That is an outstanding dragon image.

Curious will this one be set before or after the events with the prince of wolves? If after I wonder the following. I.e will Varian have developed his scroll magic further? What will Radovan's relationship be like with Varian since Varian has come to see him more as his friend than his bodyguard? Will any of the characters beside the main two from POW make an appearance? Like Azra?
Sovereign Court
Pharier wrote:
Curious will this one be set before or after the events with the prince of wolves? If after I wonder the following. I.e will Varian have developed his scroll magic further? What will Radovan's relationship be like with Varian since Varian has come to see him more as his friend than his bodyguard? Will any of the characters beside the main two from POW make an appearance? Like Azra?

Have you read Master of Devils?

Varian and Radovan are the most storied characters on Golarion, so far I think the list below is everything. It is also in my best guess at chronological order.

Hell's Pawns
The Lost Pathfinder
Prince of Wolves
A Lesson in Taxonomy
A Passage to Absalom
Husks
Master of Devils
Dark Archive Contributor
Pharier wrote:
Curious will this one be set before or after the events with the prince of wolves? If after I wonder the following. I.e will Varian have developed his scroll magic further? What will Radovan's relationship be like with Varian since Varian has come to see him more as his friend than his bodyguard? Will any of the characters beside the main two from POW make an appearance? Like Azra?

Queen of Thorns takes place over a year and a half after the events of Prince of Wolves. Master of Devils occurred over the course of about a year between these stories.

Yes, there have been some changes to Varian's understanding and use of his riffle scrolls, but most of that comes to light in Master of Devils. What he faces in Queen of Thorns is a much more personal challenge. That said, the end of the new book involves big, big magic, and that's all I can tell you without being a big, big spoiler.

Yes, Varian and Radovan's relationship has evolved. More importantly, they're together for almost the entire story, unlike in the previous two books. (Since you asked this question, I'd encourage you to check out Master of Devils, since you seem especially primed to dig what happens by the end of that one.)

Azra does not appear in this novel, although she's "present" in the thoughts of those who do. Apart from the boys, the only character from Prince of Wolves who appears in the flesh in this one is Arnisant.

For a taste of Queen of Thorns, keep an eye on the web fiction page, where James Sutter is preparing to post the first chapter in which you see the book's "adventuring party" assemble and take on their first fight together. I hear the inimitable Eric Belisle will paint one of the characters. Eric's the genius who made this insanely perfect image of Count Jeggare, so I'm excited to see his new creation.
Dark Archive Contributor
2 people marked this as a favorite.
GeraintElberion wrote:
Pharier wrote:
Curious will this one be set before or after the events with the prince of wolves? If after I wonder the following. I.e will Varian have developed his scroll magic further? What will Radovan's relationship be like with Varian since Varian has come to see him more as his friend than his bodyguard? Will any of the characters beside the main two from POW make an appearance? Like Azra?

Have you read Master of Devils?

Varian and Radovan are the most storied characters on Golarion, so far I think the list below is everything. It is also in my best guess at chronological order.

Hell's Pawns
The Lost Pathfinder
Prince of Wolves
A Lesson in Taxonomy
A Passage to Absalom
Husks
Master of Devils

That's a good reading order, although chronologically "Taxonomy" comes first. Don't read it first, though.

Speaking of "Taxonomy," now would be a very good time to catch up on that one before October's web fiction prequel to Queen of Thorns. The story stands alone, but you'll get a smile if you've read "Taxonomy" and Master of Devils.
Sovereign Court
6 people marked this as a favorite.

Dave Gross = best thing to happen to Pathfinder Tales
Liberty's Edge

Love Radovan and Jeggare but I haven't read the non novels. I am certainly about to now.
Dark Archive Contributor

Laschoni, of the non-novels, I recommend "Husks." Since the boys are together the whole time, and it's full of action and intrigue, it's the nearest in style to Queen of Thorns.

For completely different reasons, I encourage everyone to (re)read "A Lesson in Taxonomy."
Contributor
1 person marked this as a favorite.

I love Radovan and Jeggare, but this is my favorite story yet. In addition to being a well-told, deftly paced fantasy adventure, it's...fun. That's not something that can rightly be said about a lot of fantasy books.

IMO, if you liked the first two books, you've going to love this one.
Sovereign Court
Elaine Cunningham wrote:

I love Radovan and Jeggare, but this is my favorite story yet. In addition to being a well-told, deftly paced fantasy adventure, it's...fun. That's not something that can rightly be said about a lot of fantasy books.

IMO, if you liked the first two books, you've going to love this one.

I completely agree, and think I sais something similar about the first book: Gross writes fantasy books which are witty without being spoofs or satires. That is a copasetic gift for which we should all be grateful.

Dark Archive

You've done it again! Great read.

Argh! One more day for the ebook version! Can't wait to read it at work.
Silver Crusade

Woot! Mine just shipped! Digging in now!

I'm back, boys!

Mine too shipped few hours ago, can't wait; pity it'll took about a week to get to me.
Dark Archive Contributor
Gandal wrote:
Mine too shipped few hours ago, can't wait; pity it'll took about a week to get to me.

Keep an eye on the Paizo Blog tomorrow. Something tells me you might be able to get a big head start on reading the novel this week. A big one.

2 people marked this as a favorite.
Pathfinder Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber

I laughed out loud at

Spoiler:
"you winsome, you lose some"

I am so ashamed. :)
Dark Archive Contributor
2 people marked this as a favorite.
mordion wrote:

I laughed out loud at ** spoiler omitted **

I am so ashamed. :)

When more than one person laughs at that point, I know the reading is going well.

Dark Archive Vendor - Fantasiapelit Tampere

Oh my god, I'm almost at the end, chapter 19 or something, and it has been amazing! Best Varian/Radovan book yet! Amazing characters and bold decisions about the past of the main characters! Like the one reviewer said, you just made the elfs cool again! I'm going to write longer post when I have finished the book. Thank you Dave for the best fantasy novel of the last few decades!
Dark Archive Contributor
Rosgakori wrote:
Oh my god, I'm almost at the end, chapter 19 or something, and it has been amazing! Best Varian/Radovan book yet! Amazing characters and bold decisions about the past of the main characters! Like the one reviewer said, you just made the elfs cool again! I'm going to write longer post when I have finished the book. Thank you Dave for the best fantasy novel of the last few decades!

If you feel the same way after finishing the book, I look forward to the review, especially if you write it in Finnish so I can play with Google translator some more.

Dark Archive Contributor

The many nice things readers are posting on my various sites give me a warm glow.

If you have a few minutes to post a review at amazon.com, that'd be an especially good boost while everyone is still doing their holiday shopping. The same is true for all the Pathfinder Tales novels, not just Queen of Thorns. Even if you've posted your review elsewhere, taking the time to put it up at Amazon helps reach a lot of eyes that might not have seen Pathfinder Tales before.

As the Geek Squad told me while describing their feedback form, "We like five stars!"
51 to 74 of 74 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Paizo / Product Discussion / Pathfinder Tales: Queen of Thorns All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.