Customer Reviews

SWORD PLAY

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was an entertaining book that I would read again. I felt that the only real draw backs came in the lack of information about the land and people that the story takes place in. A little more background information would have been nice. Also, what kind of a name is "Sunbright Steelshanks" for a barbarian? Shouldn't the name be more gutteral? Sunbright sounds like the name of a preistess of sune or some such thing. If you can get passed the name of the hero, and the general feeling of not really being familiar with the land it takes place in, then you will enjoy this book.

Sword Play, the first volume in the Netheril Trilogy, is a fast-packed, hack and slash, sword and sorcery tale. The book immediately jumps into the action and continues almost non-stop throughout the book. There is an extended lull about a third of the way through the book which lasted a bit too long -- hence my rating of four stars instead of five.

After the lull ends, the action starts again with the meeting with the One King and his task to Sunbright, the barbarian main character. The basis for the story is two wizards placing a bet on the barbarian's survival. Eventually, the bet comes back to haunt them and they, in addition to Sunbright and his newfound companion Greenwillow, must try to right the wrongs caused by the bet.

Creatures abound in this one -- dragons, pit fiends, hordes of Nine Hells creatures, etc. It's a fun read, but don't look for much character development. Although the trilogy is now out-of-print, copies can still be found ...

Clayton Emery is an author I had never heard of before reading this tale. The book is so enthralling and breathtaking I have read it more than five times now. Every single paragraph is well detailed and carefully worded. The characters seem to come to life as you read more and more. Reading about Sunbright as he adventures through the Nine Hells is more fun than one could imagine.

It was better than the novels of poor authors like Greenwood. In other words, every single female in the book didn't end up naked and the heros weren't invicible.

It was worse than the novels of great authors like Salvatore and Niles. That doesn't mean it was a bad novel. There were some enjoyable parts but overall Sword Play was mediocre.

Sword Play starts good and ends better. The action, monsters, and close calls were so well described I'd brake out in sweat and start to shake as I read. If you read this book plan on reading it strait through, you WONT put it down.

Clayton Emery realy gets into the charicters. A book filled with action and suspense leaving you anxious to turn the page and see whats next. If you would like to talk to me E-mail me.

This book has everything. If you ever want to read a great book, this is it. If you like battles, magic, and creatures from other planes it has it. And if you read this one you gotta read the sequels. In it Sunbright Steelshanks battles creatures sent down by these mages. Their names are Candlemas and Sysquemalyn who are under a powerful archmage Lady Polaris. Sunbright, by trickery, is sent on errands by Candlemas. Well if you want to kwow more read the book.

Ya know, every book in the Netheril trilogy is a real piece of art, and this first one is what got me wanting to read the other two. Clayton Emery describes every explosion, cackle, screech, shriek, severed artery and punctured aorta with astounding detail. I could picture every moment in my head. This book is a definite five star book, and I think you should check it out.