The Art of Magic: The Gathering Book

Didn't enjoy this one as much as Elfshadow, Elfsong and Silver Shadows. I'm very much a fan of Cunningham's prose, her sense of humour and all those clever similies and metaphors. But the story here wasn't as compelling as the previously mentioned books. I gather the editorial demands, what this being a D&D tie-in and all, rendered too many strictures. In many sections, it read like a comic book, what with the character expressions and actions/reactions, which I found entertaining enough but probably more appropriate for short story formats. Furthermore, a lot of 'telling' rather than showing throughout the story left a detached and unengaged feel that left me skimming through a few paragraphs. Maybe having a story containing paladins, known for their rigid (and thus, boring) adherance to rightousness made it suffer. I mean, it's hard to make middle-of-the-road paladins interesting. Indeed, I laughed out loud upon reading of the miniature sword buried in cheese scene. Comic relief found in Alice and Ebenezer and a few touching maternal moments between Bronwyn and Cara were some positives and gave the story some heart.

There's a short story called "The Knights of Samular" in one of the "Best of FR" books. It serves as a decent coda to Thornhold, if you find the ending abrupt and unsatisfying (and you will).