The Simbul's Gift

[Cloudbringer]

Well, ages and ages ago, Memnoch asked me to do a review of Lynn Abbey's "The Simbul's Gift" and I am finally going to touch on it, after having answered a question in GD about the Seven Sisters.

This book is about the Simbul, the Storm Queen, Alassra Shentrantra, sixth of the Seven Chosen Sisters. The 'starting premise' as it were is that she wants to produce an heir and her means of doing so is to find the perfect gift to lure Elminster to the task. The plot is definitely engaging. I found myself equally interested in all sides of the various intrigues taking place in Alassra's Aglarond and amongst the Thay Red Wizards. Well written, believable characters and a plot that moves briskly. I highly recommend the book!

The following is reproduced from my post to AzureWolf over in GD where he asked which sisters were prefered by readers.



I hadn't read any of the Forgotten Realms works when I first joined Ironworks, but our Memnoch decided to gift me with the name of Storm Queen. So, curious as I am, I ordered lots of books! Have only met up with Alassra and Alustriel so far. I tend to like them both for different reasons.

Lynn Abbey's portrayal of Alassra Shenrantra is quite good. I find the Simbul to
be quite human in her reactions to things, very willful, impetuous at times and a tad self-centered. She's definitely got that inner child thing going! Yet she has an obvious desire to be more open to other's needs in there too. Her devotion to Aglarond, while perhaps secondary to her hatred of Thay Red Wizards, is nonetheless commendable. But of course her very reason for taking such an active role against those wizards in the first place is a sad and thoroughly human story of lost love, a nice touch, in my estimation. The revenge aspect is neatly balanced by the poingnancy of a true love taken away.

Abbey also mangages to portray Alassra as a powerful woman who is, by virtue of her vocation and Mystra's attentions, placed in a lonely position, having few people with whom she can share her daily losses and triumphs.

What you get of Alustriel in "The Simbul's Gift" is minimal, but I liked what I saw. Regal, cool and cautious. All the things her sister, Alassra, is not! I put some of that down to the elven influence. Abbey very definitely makes that distinction between the two sisters. Alustriel is patient and thoughtful when faced with decisions, Alassra wants to rush in deal with them immediately.

Still one more thing I liked here, was the obvious ties between the sisters. Despite the fact that their personalities are so different, they are family and know they can call on one another when help is needed. At one point the Storm Queen is in the middle of something very important to her, but her sister calls her true name and she drops what she's doing and goes to Alustriel. She's not happy about it, but she goes because it was her sister who called and thus it took precedence. That, for me, showed the measure of trust and family bonding that exists, at least for these two of the Seven Sisters.




Cloudy


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Raindancer of the Laughing Hyenas Clan
Storm-Queen
StormCloud of the Black Knight
Heart Mind Soul Forever

[This message has been edited by Cloudbringer (edited 05-13-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Cloudbringer (edited 05-14-2001).]

[AzureWolf]

Let me be the first to reply to this, I plan to read this book in the near future, sadly I havent yet but it sounds like such a good book and I love the sisters so much. But also do you know any more about the sisters other than Silverfall? Always trying to find more about them. After Ive read it ill post a reply on here to tell you what I think of it. Its one fo the books I want Memnoch to get for me.

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"I was born of darkness. My fathers eyes closed before mine opened. I am not of this world or the other, and I have the right to be what I am..."

[This message has been edited by AzureWolf (edited 05-13-2001).]

[Cloudbringer]

Hi Azure!

Nope, I am quite new to all the Forgotten Realms and am going to be reading the Icewind Dale trilogy next, most likely. Or the Avatar trilogy. So anything you want to tell me about the Seven Sisters will be welcome info!

Cloudy

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Raindancer of the Laughing Hyenas Clan
Storm-Queen
StormCloud of the Black Knight
Heart Mind Soul Forever

[AzureWolf]

Originally posted by Cloudbringer: Hi Azure! Nope, I am quite new to all the Forgotten Realms and am going to be reading the Icewind Dale trilogy next, most likely. Or the Avatar trilogy. So anything you want to tell me about the Seven Sisters will be welcome info! Cloudy

Well you should read my thread named memnoch over in BG2 forum it has a small bit of info about them. I highly recommend reading the Dark Elf trilogy before the Icewind Dale trilogy. It lets you find out more about drizzt beforehand And also I have only read a bit of the first book of the avatar series but from what I read it sounded really good
So go ahead and read some more FR!

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"I was born of darkness. My fathers eyes closed before mine opened. I am not of this world or the other, and I have the right to be what I am..."

[Memnoch]

Cloudy, this is brilliantly written.

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[Cloudbringer]

Originally posted by Memnoch: Cloudy, this is brilliantly written.

Thank you Mems, I enjoyed the book. Most glad you recommended it!
I may start the Dark Elf trilogy next as Azurewolf recommended. So much to read! Not nearly enough time!

Cloudy

*autographed copies of this review and Memnoch's treatise on the other sisters' tales are available in the lobby, as always we at CloudyCorp thank you for your patronage *

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Raindancer of the Laughing Hyenas Clan
Storm-Queen
StormCloud of the Black Knight
Heart Mind Soul Forever