Extinction: A Book Review

I should really get back into the habit of writing these reviews on the day that I finish the book in question. Anyway, on with this write up. Extinction by Lisa Smedman is a Forgotten Realms novel, and the fourth book in the six part War of the Spider Queen saga. It follows on directly from the end of Condemnation with only a day or two having passed in the interim period between the end of that novel and the start of this one.

The opening finds Quenthel, Jeggred, Ryld, Valas, Pharaun, Halisstra and Danifae deep in the forest of Cormanthor searching for a way to get back down into the Underdark. Almost all of the party are distracted to one extent or another, by what they saw in the Abyss and what it meant. Quenthel is determined to return to the Abyss and find where Lolth has gone too. Jeggred, obidient as ever is her faithful bodyguard, but is becoming increasingly short tempered, the quest beginning to gnaw at his self control. Pharaun wants to end up on the winning side but doesn't want to have to choose a side until he has no other choice. Halisstra's faith is shaken to the core, both by Lolth's absence and by the last words a stranger she murdered said to her. Ryld is distracted by thoughts of Halisstra, while Danifae schemes to get herself free of the Binding that ties her fate to Halisstra. The only one who seems unaffected is Valas Hune, as the mercenary seems content to follow orders and do what he is good at.

Summoning a demon (and playing a nice trick on it), Pharaun learns of a vessel called a Ship of Chaos that got stranded on Faerun years back. The ship is capable of "sailing" between worlds and dimensions... if they can find it, find out how to operate it and feed it! From the demon the party learn that the ships last known location was near the Aboleth (big slimy tentacled fish-like genius monsters) city of Zanhoriloch. With Valas leading the way, they set out for the city through the tunnels and caves under the surface... all but Halisstra and Ryld that is, who leave the group in secret to be together on the surface.

Meanwhile things are going poorly for Menzoberranzan. With the Duergar and the Scourged Legion laying siege to the city, House Agrach Dyrr having betrayed the city to side with the invaders and the Archmage Gromph Baenre missing, things look bleak as the city is attacked from within and without. Still Gromph is a powerful wizard and powerful wizards do not go down easily. Nor do they take well to being imprisoned and it is not long before he figures out a way to escape the magical cell that the lich Dyrr cast him into. Once free he lends his considerable power to the defence of the city, whilst preparing for a re-match with the lich.

Halisstra and Ryld encounter a group of priestesses sworn to serve Eilistraee (Goddess of Dance), who while initially hostile to the pair, are more accepting when Halisstra mentions Seyll (the woman who she murdered) whose last words were to tell the drow that she had hope for her still. Troubled and moved by her words, Halisstra seeks to learn more about Eilistraee. Ryld for his part, is struggling to adapt to the strange above ground world, but despite himself, he is smitten with Halisstra and so he accompanies her (even when she tells him not too) as she is put through tests to judge her worthiness to serve a new goddess, one that Ryld doesn't really understand.

Reaching Zanhoriloch, Valas scouts ahead and undergoes a truly horrifying transformation at the hands of the alien Aboleth creatures, the attempt to talk to them then falling to Pharaun and Danifae. What follows is a couple chapters of outright skullduggery and brilliantly written intrigue as Pharaun, Danifae and Quenthel play a game of oneupmanship. It is also in parts very funny (particularly Pharaun's snappy style of chat).

Lisa Smedman has come a long way from the games designer she used to be. Back when she was writing adventure modules for the Ravenloft D&D setting, they often got poor reviews. Writing novels though seems far more suited to her strengths, as this is a great book and I've read other novels by her and liked them also. I'm going to give this book 4/5 though, because while it is as well written as the three novels before it (all of which got 5/5 from me), the whole storyline with Halisstra and Ryld just failed to capture my interest. I was always keen to get through those parts of the book and get back to the main group, or Menzoberranzan, or see what Aliisza and Kaanyr were up too etc.