I admit, I like Forgotten Realms novels more for the characters than I do the action, and because of this I always feel a little bogged down in the second books. It’s not a fault of the author, it’s just that by the second book you know the characters and it’s much more about advancing the plot, especially in a trilogy.

Because of this, I found the first part of the novel a bit long for my personal tastes – which means it will be ideal for people who enjoy action and plot oriented storylines.

The second part of it, however, when more developed between Fyodar and Liriel, I was absolutely absorbed. I love their relationship and how it’s developed. Elaine Cunningham has a real knack for interpersonal relationships, and I feel she may be a bit limited by the expectation of action and fighting in D&D novels.

She’s a woman I’d love to do a fantasy romance. I think she’d do an amazing job of it. ( )

I really enjoyed all the interesting water creatures in this book. Watching Liriel change was also very enjoyable. The story moved pretty well, and the characters and situations were quite dynamic. I was a little surprised at how far the plot went. This book finishes up what the characters set out to do in the first book, and it’s only the second book. I can’t imagine what’s going to happen in the next book. This is the best 2nd book in a trilogy that I’ve read in a long time. ( )