Tangled Webs: Starlight & Shadows, Book 2 [Mass Market Paperback]

 

 

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Despite its flaws, I did find Daughter of the Drow interesting enough to read the sequel. What did I find? A typical Elaine Cunningham book - and that is not a compliment. Tangled Webs is way over the top. Yet again, there was far too much going on, and the plot was just silly.
Liriel and Fyodor go on the next stage of their joint quest. He is seeking a way to control his berserker rages, she a way to keep her drow magic on the surface, and both of them need to use the Windwalker amulet to do so. That's fine, as far as it goes. But Cunningham cannot resist the temptation to let her heroes fall into a many-layered plot (yawn) with significant repercussions for the Forgotten Realms (again) that only the heroes can bring to a successful resolution (naturally). Along the way, we get pointless cameos (Caladorn, the doppleganger), the return of old foes (Shakti - going nowhere, as usual), and way too many villains (monstrous and otherwise). I would have much preferred a quieter, less "significant" tale that really focused upon the characters of Liriel and Fyodor and their relationship with each other - I do believe that Cunningham has the talent to pull it off. This story was overloaded with action and with too many characters and plot elements, and it all added up to very little in the end.
Fyodor is not a bad character, though he's given little to do except admire Liriel or worry about her. The whole "those who think, and those who dream" thing is becoming a bit tired, too. Liriel is a real problem. Cunningham just cannot allow her to be limited in any way. She's beautiful, noble, rich, charming, miraculously able to win everyone's trust despite the fact that she's a drow. The way drow are (rightly) demonised elsewhere, I found it hard to believe that she could gain such acceptance at all, let alone so quickly. And her magical powers are way over the top, considering her age and the training she has had access to. Why is it that she can learn and cast any spell, no matter how high its level, whenever she pleases - often from a single reading? Why should she expect to keep her drow magic at all? Why is it that she can wield considerable clerical powers, despite her ambivalence about Lloth and her own lack of clerical training and commitment? The way Cunningham excuses her characters from having to conform to the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules is extremely irritating. Weis and Hickman stuck to the rules in classic Dragonlance, so why can't Cunningham? (Another little thing that grated - the cleric of an evil goddess would command the undead, not turn them) And the issue of whether Liriel is good but misguided, or neutral and wavering, is never made clear enough for my liking. In this, as in everything else, Cunningham allows Liriel to get away with too much.
None of the other characters in Tangled Webs made me care about them; in fact, the Ruathym were unpleasant, and I even found myself somewhat in sympathy with the evil twin sister. The final battle was too chaotic. And as for the scene where Liriel carves her rune - was the sex really necessary? And what was the rune, and where did it come from?
If you want a great deal of intricate action and plot and aren't concerned by depth, then fine, you might enjoy Tangled Webs. Cunningham certainly has a good flow to her writing. But if you want anything more than that, this is not the book for you.
By the way, when will someone portray drow the way they actually look on book covers?

This was a good continuation the story, though a background in sword coast geography and rivalries might be helpful it was not really needed.

The story at sea and later on the island of Ruathym had a lot of twists and turns and was a page turner.

Following on the footsteps of Daughter of the Drow, Cunningham brings our favourite mischeivous drow back in all her elven glory. Truly, I have never found anyone who writes elves as well as Cunningham. The dark elves, or drow, are by far the most difficult to write. Yet Cunningham pulls it off with brilliance! Liriel continues on with Fyodor to solve some mysteries and bring her adorable impish charm into our hearts and minds. Again, I rave about Cunningham's talent in bringing her characters to life. Few authors pull this off as well as she does. You simply can't stop reading!

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1.0 out of 5 stars Nothing to see here.
Ug. I just finished reading this book less than 5 minutes ago and I feel like I need to hurry up and write my summary because this is a book I don't care to remember. Read more

Published on Sep 10 2003 by David Courtney

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, Great character depth
I have been a fan of Cunningham's for quite awhile now, and I feel that this is definitely her best work as of yet. Read more

Published on Jan 14 2003 by K. Laurie

5.0 out of 5 stars What can I say but GREAT!
This book picks off right were daughter of the drow left off. The main characters from the first book come back (even Shakti). Read more

Published on April 28 2002 by A fan

5.0 out of 5 stars Elaine Cunnigham books rival Salvotores Drizzt Saga
If you are the person that is more interested in action than plot then this is for you. If you are type of person that doesn't care about action as long as it got a really... Read more

Published on Feb 2 2002 by Andrew M. Randolph

5.0 out of 5 stars Easily as good as Salvatore's work
I am a HUGE fan of R.A. Salvatore's Dark Elf novels and as such, I approached Elaine Cunningham's Female Dark Elf series with some skepticism, but after reading Daughter of the... Read more

Published on Nov 27 2001 by A. Shohat

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite Forgotten Realms titles
I enjoyed this book more than any of Elaine Cunningham's other novels because I felt as though Liriel and Fyodor were much better developed than Danilo Thann and Arilyn Moonblade... Read more

Published on Sep 29 2001 by Geoffrey Connolly

3.0 out of 5 stars Actually, it's quite entertaining ...
... granted that in the end, it's still light reading. But one thing I'd like to say that I didn't notice anyone else saying is this: for ME, at least, Liriel seemed real where... Read more

Published on Sep 27 2001

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Sequel of the First
Great!I enjoyed reading this book more(if it is possible)than the first. I miss again the ancient evil of the drows,that it is'nt shown at full in the series,but great indeed. Read more

Published on July 18 2000 by Aitor Mendaza Ormaza

5.0 out of 5 stars Give me More!
This book, along with the previous one, DotD, is excellent. Just like Salvatore's Drizzt Books left me wanting to be a drow ranger, this book made me quickly change that wish... Read more

Published on May 20 2000

5.0 out of 5 stars The next Drizzt?
How can people even consider talking bad of this book? one said everyone shouldn't be afraid of her. Read more

Published on April 16 2000 by Dorothy Nelson

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