Has anyone else been reading this series? If not, you're missing out! I just finished the third book, and I was left in awe.
I loved the first book, and I thought I knew where everything was heading... but boy was I wrong. Each book takes you deeper into parts of Eberron you've only ever dreamed of. (You'll get it if you're read it.)
Anyways... anyone else out there? What's your comments, praises or critiques?
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I though the first book was great in its depiction of Sharn. I didn't really get Eberron until I read that one, but it brought the whole thing alive - brilliant. I would say it is the iconic Eberron book - if you want to understand the setting, read this book. Also, the story in book 1 is more or less self-contained, whereas the end of book 2 is a cliffhanger.
I was less enamoured by the second book - it seemed to wander about slightly aimlessly in the first third or so, but got going again once they got into Xendrik.
The third was very surprising - a planar journey across Thelanis (the Faerie Court) and ultimately Dal Quor. This was inventive and a good read, but as it didn't take place actually in Eberron itself for most of the book, it didn't really drive my understanding of the setting that much. It also left a few loose ends hanging, though they may be resolved in later books (maybe).
So:
Book 1: 5 stars
Book 2: 3 stars
Book 3: 4 stars
I read the first book and liked it a lot (even if it occasionally lapsed into exposition mode), now I should go to the game store and pick the second part...
But indeed, there were some very odd twists and at leats one major "they killed *blank*! Those b******s!" (though wouldn't be surprised if that thing were to turn out differently as series progresses...)
I haven't read book three yet, but I really like the first two. I also think that if more people who played Eberron read these books by the creator, a lot of the debates on the WotC website about certain things would end (like how warforged can look different from each other). I look forward to book three.
...the second book - it seemed to wander about slightly aimlessly in the first third or so, but got going again once they got into Xendrik.
I thought that the second book seemed to wander as well, but I understood it by the end. I was so enamoured by everything in Sharn from the first book (Cyran refugees, old spy contacts, etc.) that I was hoping that the trilogy would continue in Sharn. I hope he brings it back there, as the end of the trilogy certainly leaves everything unfinished and certain ties to the characters in Sharn.
The third was very surprising - a planar journey across Thelanis (the Faerie Court) and ultimately Dal Quor. This was inventive and a good read, but as it didn't take place actually in Eberron itself for most of the book, it didn't really drive my understanding of the setting that much.
But the cosmology is still a part of the setting... potentially a huge part of the setting, and something that differs greatly from the cosmology of the other settings.
I loved the venture through Thalanis and Dal Quor, and I couldn't stop thinking about how to use the ideas in my game. I would love to write a feat or something based on their experiences in those realms.
I think that this book would make a wonderful Novel Approach article in Dragon. Now if only I were a good writer....
I also think that if more people who played Eberron read these books by the creator, a lot of the debates on the WotC website about certain things would end (like how warforged can look different from each other).
I agree! I think that these books really feel like they're in Eberron, where some of the other Eberron stories come across as a little generic for the genre... like a fantasy story with some Eberron words thrown in.
Maybe I'm giving credence due to the writer, but I think that the details in the story are what capture Eberron, not the over-arching plot and subplots.
But I've enjoyed the other Eberron novels I've read as well, don't get me wrong, but I think that Keith Baker really brings out the details of Eberron that draw you into the setting, such as describing the different warforged in ways that they are individuals, not mass-copies of storm troopers.
Now that I am slowly progressing through the series, there was one thing which really left me wondering in the first book...did Gargoyle win?
City of Towers was the best of the three. Anyone thinking about running a game in Eberron should definitely read this book first.
The Marked for Death series is much better.
Really?
I read the first one (and the short story in Dragon that was a loose "prequel" by the author) and I didn't find it to be nearly as good as most of the other eberron novels. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't good enough for me to pick up the 2nd or 3rd books, and I pretty much pick up ~3 novels a week. IMHO, there have been weaker eberron novels, but Marked for Death was pretty low on the scale itself.
Where as I thought City of Towers is one of the best Eberron novels to date.
The 2nd and 3rd books are a bit more like the Matrix sequels. The first novel (or movie) stands alone and is awesome. The 2nd and 3rd really are one big story split into two parts, and need to be taken as a whole.
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I must confess, I though the first book in the Lost Mark series was pretty pants, though I agree they did get better as things went along. Forbeck is pretty awful at pathos but his battle scenes are good and cinematic. The battle at the end of the second book, which went on for several chapters, was excellent.
The City of Towers is the definitive Eberron book in terms of describing the setting (or Sharn, anyway). I liked the others less, but still thought they were OK.
The worst Eberron book is probably The Crimson Talisman. The best: a toss-up between City of Towers, the Orb of Xoriat and Blood & Honour (the latter not mentioned much) though the whole of the Dragon Below series is pretty good too.