Dungeons & Dragons: Frost Giant's Fury #3by Sheena McNeilReviews may contain information that could be considered 'spoilers'. Readers should proceed at their own risk. Publisher
Credits Grade: 6 Shandie comes up with a plan to get a captured giant to tell them what they need to know. The group uses a fast and treacherous path up the mountain and strikes a deal with the white dragon, Nilanthe. The rest of the giants arrive, quickly gaining the upper hand.I love Shandie's plan; I like how it combines real magic and a bluff. I wasn't a real fan of her before, but this has won me over; before it seemed like she would act without thinking, but now we can see that's she's clever and quick on her feet. Minsc continues to stand out in an awkward way. By now it's obvious he's meant to be the "dumb jock" of the group, which is unfortunate (though it does allow the cast of female characters to shine more as lead characters). His "funny" lines seem forced and, thus, fall flat. The hamster line would be funnier if he were written better and weren't so stiff; as it is, it's too random. I love how the coloring helps set the temperature as well as the tone for different scenes. The inside-by-torchlight is especially well done -- warm, comforting, and strong. The only confusing part was the gold in the dragon's cave which seems to glow with a light of its own and even lights the dragon and guests from below! It was probably done as a convenience, especially with it being so dark outside the cave. I love that Nilanthe is the first to realize / recognize that they may want to talk before acting. White dragons may not be as smart as other dragons, but she just showed up all the species in the questing party. I also love that we get to see her as a mother and a victim and not as a stereotypical "bad" dragon. The end is a cliffhanger, devastating yet also providing a path of sorts for the heroes. This a stronger issue than the previous two, but at this point I really am mostly involved with the Nilanthe's story and not the heroes'. Time will tell if that will play out well. Written: June 17, 2017
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