Thoughts and Images

  Book: The Council of Blades Author: Pauli Kidd Pages: 310 Hard Core Scale: 2.5/4 Normal Scale: 8/10 Publish Date: 1995 About: A new technology and political intrigue will change the blade kingdoms forever. However, a young sorceress princess and inventor and a fiery bird amongst the madness might be the answer that the people seek in the shifting turmoil. Review: Again, just well written fun stuff. Also, some lovely critique of the perceived genre. Again, some stuff to cut and pacing issues. Perhaps just that smear of the old contract and word count. Been there. Some tell moments and an uncanny hyper simile that is a constant scene breaker. Bad habits from an early book in the career. Might be the most unique DND Forgotten realms book out there. Breaks the mold. Fun enjoyable.   Her tropes despite common reinforce instead of detract. Some reflection of real life here that haunts in a good way. Always that deeper thinking with tech and magic and its use in a session...

Book: White Plume Mountain Author: Pauli Kidd Pages: 310 Hard Core Scale:3/8 Normal Scale: 8/10 Publish Date: 1999 About: The Justicarr seeks to get to the bottom of a caravan attacks, but after a run in with a fairy, demons, and warring priests he finds his patience wearing thin on the long road to White Plume Mountain. Review: So fun, what Pauli does best. Perhaps I am too nice though…   The conflict is maddening, an obfuscating stupendous evil villain whose plan is outright benighted, but due to how tongue and cheek here it could perhaps be left to slide. Some of those plot points could be debated cut as they seem a means to an end and gunk up space, or perhaps it was just word contract and reflecting the bat shit insanity of Gygax dungeons over Anderson Dungeons. The beginning reeks of late 90s and early 2000s fantasy aesthetic. However, by act two Pauli cracks open the fun and gives monsters the goodness the genre at this period often lack. I love Enid and Cinder a ...