Amber and Ashes (Dragonlance: The Dark Disciple, Vol. 1) (v. 1)
Amber and Ashes (Dragonlance: The Dark Disciple, Vol. 1) (v. 1)
The paperback edition of the new novel from New York Times best-selling author Margaret Weis. The paperback edition of the opening title in a new trilogy from Dragonlance setting co-creator Margaret Weis takes up where the War of Souls series left off with the central character Mina. While following her story, this new trilogy also explores the chaos that is post-war Krynn. This is Weis’s first solo trilogy in the Dragonlance world.
User Ratings and Reviews
3 Stars Mina’s Next Move
Amber and Ashes by Margaret Weis is the first volume in her trilogy The Dark Disciple, and this series is a follow-up to The War of Souls trilogy by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman. In War of Souls we first met Mina, the disciple of the goddess Takhisis. In this new series, Mina continues to play a major role, as do the gods and goddesses we have read about since the initial Dragonlance books. Other familiar characters are still with us to varying degrees of importance, e.g., Garard (now the sheriff of Solace) and Palin Majere (now the mayor of Solace).
New characters fill the key roles. We are introduced to Rhys Mason, a shepherd and monk of Majere at the beginning of the book, and to Nightshade Pricklypear, his kender companion during their journeys. For readers accustomed to Tasslehoff Burrfoot , Nightshade is a very different type of kender. He is not adept at relieving people of the worldly possessions as are normal kenders. He also is a nightstalker, i.e., he has the ability to talk with the spirits of the dead. In addition to those two, we meet Rhys’ dog Atta. She is just a wonderful companion. She follows Rhys and Nightshade without question, protects them, and aids them in their tasks. She is an excellent addition to the story.
I don’t want to explain the plot at any length. It should unfold for you as you read the story. It begins where War of Souls left off. Takhisis is dead. Mina and Galdar, her minotaur companion, are standing guard over the tomb. From there the tale takes off in an entirely different direction from War of the Souls. Mina becomes a follower of Chemosh, Lord of Death, and eventually is put in charge of acquiring new followers. The methods of convincing mortals to follow Chemosh are extremely grim, but effective. Rhys and Nightshade represent the opposing side and travel the continent trying to stop Chemosh’s plans.
The story is entertaining. Most of the characters are interesting to follow, and I’m sure that numerous surprising developments are in store for the next two books of the series. As usual with books published by Wizards of the Coast, I wish they would devote more effort to proofreading. Typos in their books have just come to be expected. Also, don’t expect the same amount of humor as in the early Dragonlance books. It’s not there. Amber and Ashes is worth reading, but it is certainly not the author’s best effort.
3 Stars I agree with the reviewer…
… who wanted to give this book 2 1/2 stars!
This is an okay book if you need a quick non-taxing fantasy fix before bedtime - and therein lies the problem: it reads just as quickly as it seems to have been written!
The characters are flat and unengaging except for Mina who is outright annoying. She has apparently escaped from her Takhisis-experience unchanged and unscathed - no, I take that back! She must have taken one too many hits to the head because she throws in her lot with yet another dark deity. Or maybe she’s just stupid.
This could have been an interesting book if it had at least explored the dynamics between Chemosh and Mina and truly developed their relationship. He supposedly falls in love with her, but as I see it, she is just a sex slave, without will or personality. I don’t understand how any god could find that attractive.
Oh well, I guess this whole effort is mostly about the authors being attracted by the God of Money!
5 Stars a great addition
I was skepticall about this book for a long time and then I finally decided to give it a try.I am very glad that I gave this book a chance.I have read many reviews about it and alot of people seem to think this book is boring and unfulfilling.I know everyone it titled to there opinion but this is a story you need to learn how to read between the lines.Just open your imaginations and you will find this book as wonderfull as I do.I have yet to be dissapointed by any book in the Dragonlance series.
5 Stars I like This series
I had this book in my collection from day one but never opened it to read, I did after reading that most rotten book ever put out ( Breaking Dawn) I needed to clear my head of all the bad writing and the gross, yuk that was stuck in my head. I have to say after reading this I went back and picked up the rest of the books that went into this series and I love them all
5 Stars Enjoy A Good Story; Enlighten Your Dragonlance Campaign
Perhaps it’s only Weis/Hickman’s interpretation of the world of Krynn you enjoy. If so, you will probably find this book 3 stars instead of my 5. The storyline is decent, but it’s not lifechanging. The writing is decent, but it won’t utterly captivate you. (i.e. War of the Lance, Twins Series, and War of the Souls). But it’s good summer reading, a trilogy that I’ll finish in the next few months. Let me preface my message with that.
However, if you’re like me, you are the type of person that wants to know every aspects of Krynn, the other gods for example, or other religions, this is your book. Perhaps it’s because I’m familiar with not only D&D but the Dragonlance Campaign Setting that I have such a desire to see other classes, know other gods, see other towns of Krynn, know what the atmosphere was like after the War of the Souls. This book will give you incredible insight into Krynn if this is the case. It will help you run better D&D sessions set in a Dragonlance campaign.
At the end of the book it even has items and characters that were mentioned in the book, to allow you to take on this storyline yourself. That’s such a brilliant idea in my opinion.
Learn more about Chemosh - God of Death, Zeboim - Goddess of the Seas, Majere - God of Nature, Nuitari - God of the Black Robes and their ambitions, their drive. Experience the religious mentality of monks serving Majere, the typical wizard serving Nuitari, kender who aren’t apt to constantly ‘borrow’ things. It’s a worthy read, deserving of the Dragonlance stamp.
Filed under: Dragonlance Reviews
