Elminster: The Making of a Mage (Ed Greenwood)

Elminster's life changed forever the day the dragon came. Helpless, he watched as its rider destroyed his parents and village. Left for dead, he vowed to get revenge on all the archmages in the realm . . . even if it took years to do so. But with their cruel hold so securely on the lands, what chance would he have?

The Making of a Mage traces the backstory of Elminster, a well-known character in the Dungeons & Dragons (Forgotten Realms) universe. The novel is told as a series of snapshots in his past, looking at how he spent time as a thief before being trained in magic by the elves and (then) a powerful sorceress until he became a great mage himself—strong enough to take down those who subjected his kingdom. For Elminster is also a prince.

I read my first Forgotten Realms book a few years ago and was pleased. This one wasn't as good—it was far too fast-paced for my liking. In each snapshot of the past, there are a lot of characters without introduction or backstory, making me wonder if the author was referencing characters familiar to those who play the roleplaying game. They weren't to me, so I felt lost part of the time. I was also confused by the way the magic system worked (though I also enjoyed it)—apparently every wizard knows different spells, and has finite ability to use them in a given situation (I guess they can run out like arrows can). Interesting but mystifying at times. Overall, it's not bad, but I enjoyed the Drizzt tale more.

Rating: B-