Customer Reviews
Excellent story 
2007-10-11
I am enjoying the series so far. It is an interesting story which sounds like it's going to change the Dark Elf race for all time. I am starting to like Q'arlynd Melarn more, but he seems to be more of a drow who is leaning towards the good side. I think he's a bit torn like Halisstra is. A new player invades the sava match between Lloth and Eilistraee.. it's interesting because the match is actually a simulation of what is actually happening down on Toril.
Q'arlynd is more of the main character in this series than Halisstra I think. In the last book he was torn between his past, and a future as a follower of Eilistraee.. So he finds his own path in a city where mages rule, perfect for someone like him, but he has some challenges along the way, and the pull of Eilistraee as well...
I am enjoying the story a lot, and I think this series is going to effect the future of the drow than the War of the Spider Queen did.
Now if only someone could resurrect Phaerun, I'd be happy :)
AWESOME!!! 2007-09-13
This is the 2nd book for the lady penitent series. It is AWESOME!!! If you have read the 6 books of the War of the Spider Queen series, this new series is a Must Have! It begins where the War of the Spider Queen books left off. Great new characters enter the story & epic battles take place between the gods of the Drow and their most devoted followers!
If you are interested in Drizzt, or Dark Elves in general, this series is a good read! I would strongly suggest reading all 6 of the war of the spider queen series before these ones. I would also suggest reading all of R.A. Salvatore's "Legend of Drizzt" books too!
Enjoying This Series 
2007-09-13
After the apparent death of my favorite drow god in the last volume I wasn't sure I wanted to continue with this series. I really ended up enjoying volume 2 though. It's about time the males got some respect - even the females that follow the Dark Maiden have always seemed like terrible chauvinists. The body is count is high enough that you just can't be sure who will survive, adding to the excitement.
Many questions were answered, but enough are still unanswered that I'm anxious to see what happens in the third volume.
To jumbled - nothing like book 1 
2007-09-10
Storm of the Dead by Lisa Smedman is the second book in the Lady Penitent trilogy, the first book of which is Sacrifice of the Widow (Forgotten Realms: The Lady Penitent, Book 1). This trilogy focus mostly on the goddess Eilistraee and other aspects of the Drow pantheon. After reading the first book it is evident that there are certainly many changes ahead for the Drow, but also for the world of Fareun as well. As with the first book, fans who have read the War of the Spider Queen series will recognize many faces, names, and places in this novel. While it is not necessary to read the War of the Spider Queen series before reading this trilogy, I would strongly advice it. Events will have much more meaning, and character motivations and actions will be clearer as well. Since this is the second book of the trilogy, you really do need to read the first book before embarking on this novel.
Much like the plot line of the first book; in that it is not your traditional one main plot line with a few sub-plots sprinkled in. To me, this book felt like it was merely several sub-plots woven together to create a novel. I think the same story could have been expressed in three or four short stories. The various sub-plots in this novel just didn't seem to mesh well together to create a cohesive story. The main sub-plot-ish story in this novel is that of something causing drow magic to not work and other consequences. It's an interesting enough storyline, however, I never felt really engaged by it. I kept reading the book hoping, that somewhere along the way, the story would pick up and become interesting. In actuality the most interesting parts of this novel were the prelude and the coda where the perspective focused on the sava game between the gods. Other than that I felt this was a very bland plot.
The characters in this novel are largely the same as they were in the first book. While the character are fairly well written and interesting, I think this book suffers from to many characters. The reason I say this is that there are so many things going on in this book, which all need characters, yet by trying to have so many things going on characters get lost in the shuffle. For instance I felt I never really knew a whole lot about the Nightshadows. They sound like a very interesting group, yet they were just there mostly. The same can be said about the Protectors. By and large there was very little real character development. Off the top of my head when I think about this novel the only characters that really developed were Q'arlynd and Cavatina. Beyond those two I can't recall much development at all.
I really enjoyed the first book in this trilogy, yet this one left me feeling disappointed and let down. The flow and pace that I commented on in the first book is altogether gone from this novel. There are parts of the novel that made reading it feel like a chore. This book certainly suffers from the `middle book' syndrome in my opinion. Since this trilogy obviously has large ramifications for the entire Forgotten Realms, I am hoping the third book will be more like the first than the second.
Overall, I think fans of the Forgotten Realms need to read this book to understand the events that seem to be occurring slowly. However, the casual fantasy fan may feel disappointed by this novel and not really care overly much for the characters or the lack of a true plot. I have usually enjoyed Ms. Smedman's work, however, I really can't say that about this novel. Unless the person is an ardent Forgotten Realms fan, I would be rather hesitant to recommend this novel.
Shaking up the Drow Pantheon 2007-09-04
While I have mixed feelings about the amount of changes Lisa Smedman is making to Forgotten Realms lore, I do have to give her credit for taking the reader on a memorable journey with interesting characters, twists, and delving deep into the origins of many basic tenets of Drow society and racial abilities.
R.A. Salvatore helped bring Menzoberranzan to life, and rather than retread ground that has already been laid, Lisa Smedman has taken to fleshing out the lesser known, but no less important, Drow Pantheon and societies above and below the surface.
Primarily focusing on the followers of Ellistrae, this book takes place about two years after the first book in the series. Lolth and Ellistrae begin the book playing their board game, and Kiaransalee (drow goddess of undeath, vengeance, necromancy, etc.) is bored and decides to join in against both of them. With the pieces set, the game begins, and we are taken to the settings from the first book, where the followers of Ellistrae are attempting to reconcile their beliefs with the new converts to their church, leftover followers of Vhaeraun who join with them as their god's power, portfolio, and very existence is joined with Ellistrae's church.
This book focuses on the inevitable internal power struggles of the nightshadows and protectors. Ellistrae's creed of "always be kind" is diluted with the new messages of assassination, trickery, and other tenets which are designed as means to the end of Lolth's ultimate defeat.
Hallistra Melarn (The Lady Penitent) continues with her unclear motives, as you cannot really tell whom she ultimately serves through her actions which bring jeopardy to anyone who dares to trust her. Her brother Q'arlynd Melarn is once again drawn into the fold of Ellistrae and learns much of his house's history and some surprising things that spell out his destiny to come. Both of them play a pivotal role in the story, and the ultimate side on which House Melarn will fall is still hanging in the balance as neither is truly trustworthy enough to serve the side that they are technically "on" due to selfish beliefs and desires.
If anyone had to make the changes that occur, Lisa Smedman seems up to the task, and I enjoyed this book immensely. I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
Good book 2008-04-23
The book it self was a very good read, I'd recommend it to those familiar with Forgotten Realms. Those not too familiar might not understand some of the references, but will still enjoy the book on it's own. I ordered books 1 and 2 at the same time, and was very pleased with the delivery. They arrived in 4 days and in excellent shape, packed carefully and no damage to the book covers at all. Overall, still very pleased with Amazon.
Not horrible, but definitely felt like it was lacking, could've been more memorable 
2008-04-21
I really looked forward to this middle book of quite an important trilogy to the entire Realms setting. I enjoyed the first book and was ready to really dive into this one. The introduction with the savva game was neatly set-up and I couldn't wait to see how it would play out with the characters thereafter.
It was nice to the books turn back to the Underdark and I enjoyed the set-up of the different characters all coming together for their quest to overcome an undead city. I felt a tad too much time went into going into vivid detail on the kiris and the other glowing rock stuff that hinders the Drow's magic. Although it was important to understand it just seemed like they took too much time explaining it, almost like page-filler to make sure they hit the required pages required for a WOTC book.
Alot of hype was set-up to reach the undead city and with all the characters along with their own powers and abilities, not much is really done once they get there and some characters are never really discussed again. It just felt rushed at the end. I really wish they would've gone on less about the kiriis and rocks with more going into the final battle. It had the perfect set-up for quite a show-down. The third book should be interesting, but I think I know who will win...
Great Continuation of the Series 2007-11-15
Lisa Smedman has done it again! This book continues the battle for the souls of the drow and follows the struggle of Hilistra Milarn (sp?). The plot was easy to follow and very well written. Many twists in the story made me think wow that is really cool. I for one can not wait for the third book in this series.
Seconds of a book 2007-10-16
This book did not have the same fast place flow of the first book. This does not make it in any way worse.In this book, the characters are pitted against some lesser god of death, but this was not where the real emphasis lied. The book was really about the power plays between the Nightwalker/Mask people and Elistree's people. The other main thing it did was set up the next book by introducing that (falsee?) the energy negating stuff in the underdark was growing in power and something had to soon be done about it. I gave it a 4 because the end was so erupt. I believe that was because the defeating of the lesser god was not that crucial to the book growth, but c'mon, she was defeated in like 2 paragraphs.
The story moves well and keeps you guessing. 2007-10-12
This book is great and I would recommend it but I agree with other reviewers that it should be longer and more in depths. The characters are great and the book's story is not predictable. I wasn't expecting the this book series to be this good.
