Shadowdale: The Avatar Series, Book I (Mass Market Paperback)

*******MINOR SPOILERS********

The Tablets of Fate have been stolen! Ao has cast the gods of Toril to the earth untill they have been returned. The gods are forced to take on Avatars (Mortal Form).

Magic is now unstable since the gods have begun to walk the realms. Cleric can only cast their spells if they are withing 1-mile of their diety's. The arcane weave is wild. Sometimes spells work, and sometimes they go haywire producing effects unimaginable and usually horrible.

Bane & Mykrul: The god of strife and the god of the dead team up with the intention of returning to their kingdoms and destroying Ao.

Mystra: Searches for a shard of power she had hidden with a mortal being before being cast from the heavens by Ao.

Four mortals are drawn into the conflict. Kelemvor, a warrior with a dark and deadly curse. Midnight, a mage with a strange pendant grafted to her neck. Adon, a cleric of Sune. And Cyric the rogue.

What will happen? Who will live? Pick up the novel and find out yourself.

The Time of Troubles has begun!

The concept for the novel is intriguing, particularly if you have some basic knowledge of its place in the mythology of the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. The four main characters (Kelemvor, Midnight, Adon and Cyric) find themselves in a world turned upside down by the expulsion of the gods from the heavens. The gods have taken avatars (i.e. human hosts) and are attempting to reassert themselves; only adding to the chaos in the Realms.

Unfortunately, the potential of that tale was not met. With the notable exceptions of Kelemvor and Cyric, I felt that the characters were one-dimensional and wholly uninteresting. The story itself was thin, with leaps in logic that I found implausible. To put it quite simply, it was fluff.

I was entertained enough to attempt the second book in the trilogy (Tantras). However, I only made it a few chapters before I gave up because it was simply too much of a stretch. I suppose, to wrap up, I agree with those that have said it is the best DnD module they have ever read. The books did feel like Mr. Awlinson played in a game with that plotline and then attempted to turn it into a novel.

I would only recommend the book if you are looking for an easy read to kill some time.