Bassingthwaite, Don Books

Doom of Kings, The: Legacy of Dhakaan, Book 1 (Legacy of Dhakaan)

Don Bassingthwaite

Amazon Price: $6.29 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wizards of the Coast Amazon Marketplace: 45 new & used starting at $2.46

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Bassingthwaite, Don
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Fantasy -> Magic & Wizards
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Fantasy -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Fantastic start to the trilogy 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Doom of Kings by Don Bassingthwaite is the first novel in the trilogy Legacy of Dhakaan set in the world of Eberron. Mr. Bassingthwaite recently completed his first Eberron trilogy The Dragon Below; The Binding Stone (The Dragon Below, Book 1), The Grieving Tree: The Dragon Below, Book 2 (The Dragon Below), and The Killing Song: The Dragon Below, Book 3 (The Dragon Below). Readers of my reviews may remember that I was somewhat critical of Mr. Bassingthwaite's Dragon Blow trilogy, however for the most part he held my interest with that trilogy so I decided to give this book a go. Here are my thoughts on the novel.

The plot of this book seems somewhat traditional at first. In so much as it focuses on a king wanting to further unite his people and set up a succession once he passes away. What makes this book interesting is that it focuses on goblins; you know hose commonly only used as fodder goblins. I was a little apprehensive about goblins being main characters, however, let me be the first to say it worked. In fact it worked very well. The culture of goblins is explored in a very tasteful way, giving readers some insight into them as a race and expanding on the fact that they are not mindless fodder that they can be civilized and have goals and dreams. The main plot focused on Lhesh Haruuc wanting to keep the empire he created whole. There is also a subtle mix of political intrigue. This is an aspect I was not really expecting to find in the novel, so its presence was surprising but fitting in with the overall story. I would love to say more about the plot, but I think if I did there would be spoilers, so please forgive my vagueness.

The characters are simply fantastic. A few of the character resurface from the Dragon Below trilogy; Geth, Ashi, and Ekhaas. However, they are written in such a way that readers need not have read the Dragon Below trilogy to understand this book, granted it may help in a few minor instances but it is by no means necessary. There are several new characters introduced as well such as Haruuc, Vanni, Tariic, and Chetiin. The mix of established characters with new characters is nearly flawless. These characters are by no means one-dimensional, in fact most (if not all) have faults that cause them to make decisions that may not be the best given their situations. However, these faults and individual motivations make them much more real. The emotions the characters show is a wide range as well, whether it's Ashi's rage or Haruuc sorrow, they are written in a way that the reader can't help but feel for them.

Some minor criticisms with this novel:

1 - There were a few spots in the book where the language choice made me stutter and have to re-read a sentence or two. It didn't affect the flow too much but it was there, and it could just have been me to maybe others won't experience that.

2 - Some of the dialogue seemed a little forced to me. Now, here's the caveat of that though. It wasn't in the high emotion scenes it occurred in the transition scenes for me so it wasn't a huge deal more of a gnat flying by your ear once and awhile.

Some positives about this novel:

1 - The little things! My favorite parts of this book are how Mr. Bassingthwaite shows goblin emotion. Let me preface this by saying I have a dog who's ears stick up so I understand the emotion that can be shown by ears. In this book the goblins do that very thing. Ears twitching, ears flat against their head etc. It seemed so real and easy to relate to. I loved it.

2 - The untraditional nature of the book. I like the fact that this book is about goblins, even though I was unsure at the start. Goblins have long been written about in terms of fodder and just filler. It's nice to see them getting attention and showing another side.

3 - The flow, pacing, and prose of this novel. Where I was critical in other books by Mr. Bassingthwaite, I need to be equally as commending for this book. It flows almost seamlessly and the pacing is right on target. I don't recall there being a slow moment in this book. It was more the author daring the reader to put down the book.

In the past couple of years I have become a fan of the Eberron setting more and more. The Inquisitives series solidified my love for the world. This books allows me to remember why this world is special. Fans of the Eberron setting really need to pick this novel up. People who are considering reading novels set in this world should consider this one being one of the books they read first. I am eagerly looking forward to where this series goes in books two and three. A fantastic start to the trilogy!

Editorial Review:

The return of the shifter Geth!

In the wake of the Last War, a new king has risen and seeks to unite the newly formed goblin kingdom of Darguun under his rule. He seeks an ancient scepter, a symbol under which to unite his people and hires Geth, a shifter who owns one of the trio of artifacts to which the scepter once belonged, to find it. But will the artifact do what the Darguul king needs it to?

The Binding Stone (The Dragon Below, Book 1)

Don Bassingthwaite

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wizards of the Coast Amazon Marketplace: 57 new & used starting at $1.48

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> Dark Fantasy
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Bassingthwaite, Don
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Fantasy -> Magic & Wizards

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

A surprisingly good read 4 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

I am very reluctant to buy books based on RPG worlds, movies and the like since the books themselves have a sort of mass produced cookie cutter feel, with bland characters who are nothing more than representations of their character class and/or if you know the rules of the game, you spend the whole book trying to figure out what spell is being used, what class skill let's them do that? Not so with this book.

I picked up on a lark as I'd been out of D & D for years, right when Forgetten Realms started, due to lack of interest. Eberron's setting was interesting to me so I gave this book a shot. First, the author's writing style is praiseworthy. The descriptives are good, his vocabulary excellent and sentence style varied. I mention this to show the writer isn't some mass production hack. Second, the book involves three characters whose backgrounds are all Eberron specific, so you get a flavor for how these races and classes work in this universe. Third, the book does an excellent job giving a sense of tension as the heroes are chased relentlessly and are forced to escape rather than win every battle. Fourth, the heroes screw up and don't perform every task with perfection. Fifth, the villain(s) are well written, complex and you actually dislike them rather than being ambivalent about the outcome.

My only quibble is that two of the characters in the party hate each other from an event that happened years before during a war that shaped the current Eberron setting. I think they become allies a tad too easily, in spite of the circumstances, to really seem proper. If you've had a 7 year desire to exact revenge, I think it would be hard to put it aside so easily. I'd have liked a little more conflict between the characters from that standpoint.

Other than that, I think this book is well worth the read.

Editorial Review:

The last in the trilogy of Forgotten Realms novels from Thomas M. Reid. This is the concluding novel in a trilogy exploring the political intrigue of a mercenary society in the Forgotten Realms world. Author Thomas M. Reid has written the entire trilogy, which takes place in an area of the world little before explored in novels.

The Grieving Tree: The Dragon Below, Book 2 (The Dragon Below)

Don Bassingthwaite

Amazon Price: $6.99 List Price: $6.99 Usually ships in 24 hours By: Wizards of the Coast Amazon Marketplace: 54 new & used starting at $2.58

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Action & Adventure
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Bassingthwaite, Don
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Fantasy -> Epic

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A great story with great characters 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

"The Grieving Tree" is the second book in the "Dragon Below" trilogy, set in the world of Eberron. Like the first book in the trilogy ("The Binding Stone"), this book is a fast-paced, exciting adventure book. The plot revolves around a mixed bag of heroes who are caught up in a life or death struggle with Dah'mir, a charismatic priest of the dragon below who turns out to be more than he appears.

"The Grieving Tree" picks up where "The Binding Stone" left off with the heroes learning of a riddle which could lead them to an important clue about Dah'mir's origins. The riddle is obscure and the path they must follow is filled with danger. As mentioned above the book is fast-paced and full of action. The plot is well thought-out and well written.

The strength of this series is in its characters all of whom have interesting back-stories which are slowly revealed over the course of the story. The good guys, are not your typical hero-types. Each has his or her own flaws and their shared past often creates tension between some of the members of the party. This adds a sense of urgency and excitement to the story. Throughout the book, the reader is left guessing about what will happen next and how this sometimes fragile alliance will hold together. If you are a fan of characters who are "shades of grey" and of character development, then you will enjoy this book.

And the villains are equally interesting. My favourite was the very unique Hruucan, who is an undead creature who feeds off on fire and peoples life-forces. A very interesting villain indeed. One thing I enjoyed is that, while Dah'mir was not above using and discarding his followers, the bad guys are not the typical bad guys whose in-fighting leads to their downfall.

In my humble opinion, this book has something for everyone. There is action, adventure, magic, and even a little mystery. The story is interesting and the characters are well-written.

I would recommend this book to all fans of epic fantasy, but especially to fans of Eberron.

One word of warning, this is the second book of the series, and while there is a very nice summary of book 1 at the beginning, I would recommend first reading "The Binding Stone," which is also an excellent book.

Editorial Review:

For three heroes, the past is about to come back to hunt them.

A renegade warrior, a mystic exile, and a magic-wielding soldier are on the run. Their enemies are closing in. Some want to control them, some want to rob them, and others just want them dead.

In a land of monsters and renegades, their one hope for survival may be an ancient device of evil, the long-lost Grieving Tree. . . .

The Yellow Silk (Forgotten Realms: The Rogues, Book 4)

Don Bassingthwaite

List Price: $6.99 By: Wizards of the Coast Amazon Marketplace: 15 new & used starting at $2.91

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Children's Books -> Literature -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery & Horror -> Science Fiction, Fantasy, & Magic
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Bassingthwaite, Don
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Fantasy -> Series -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 6 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Fantastic tale 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Like one of the reviewers here, I must applaud the author of this book for giving creedance to an oft-overlooked class in D&D literature: The Bard. Tychoben Arisaeen is as unlikely a hero as ever, described as a short hairy singer, but his gifts for music and mirth, as well as getting into trouble, kept this reader highly entertained.

The author, Don Bassingthwaite, excels in his bardic abilities as well, because I could almost hear the music in this novel. And the magic behind it? Magnificent!

The story takes place in the Port City of Spandeliyon in Altumbel, but don't let the charming name fool you. In the winter, this port is dark and cold and full of villains you wouldn't want to meet in a down-trodden tavern, much less an alleyway!

But the heroes are warm and engaging and I found myself caring for them quite easily. Tycho has an excellent everyman quality mixed with charm, a rapier wit and a good heart. His mentor, the once great Veseene "the Lark", is a wise and wily old bird whom anyone would love to have as an honored grandmother. Li Chieng, a fighter from Shou Lung makes Tycho an unlikely partner, but his story is full of the secrets of a young man trying to regain his family honor. And the luscious Laera, a rich young woman with aspirations of bardhood is a welcome addition.

On the other side of the fence are the villains, and boy, are they nasty! I was reluctant at first to mentally accept a halfling as the main master of villainy, but the retired one-eyed pirate named Brin is WICKED. As one reviewer put it, he's very Napoleonic, and the fact that he can control and frighten a world of "big people" certainly says something. He is a terror.

I don't want to give away the other villains because that would spoil this finely woven tale which had me hanging on every word. Buy it! Read it! And enjoy!

Editorial Review:

The last title in a series of stand-alone adventures about the shadowed life of rogues.

The Yellow Silk is the fourth and final title in the Forgotten Realms novel series focusing specifically on the iconic character class of the rogue. Each novel in the series is a stand-alone adventure, making this an easy way to get acquainted with the rich Forgotten Realms world.

Such Pain (World of Darkness. Mage)

Don Bassingthwaite

List Price: $4.99 By: Harper Prism Amazon Marketplace: 61 new & used starting at $0.01

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Bassingthwaite, Don
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Fantasy -> General
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Fantasy -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Magicians battle each other and then a demon Pig 3 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

My wife got this for me because she knows I love horror novels. Lord knows I would have skipped it myself. The book is a pleasent enough time waster, but there is a lot of better material out there to pass the time of day with. Worth skipping.

If you can find it - Buy it. 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 4 people found this review helpful.

I was very sceptical about this book which I bought for the equivalent of $1 in a bargain bookshop in the UK(where I live). I have never been so glad about taking a risk on a book in my life. It is exciting from start to finish. I would read it again if I hadn't misplaced it!

Surprisingly good. 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Books based on role-playing game systems frequently have their problems, as what makes for a good game doesn't necessarily make for a good story. The White Wolf "World Of Darkness" books are no exception; some of them are quite good, while others are much weaker, but all of them show occasional cracks where the author tries to rationalize game mechanics into the flow of the story. This book does suffer from that problem occasionally, but for the most part, it is a very well-written action-horror story based on the "Mage" game, one of the better of the White Wolf offerings.

Editorial Review:

Assuming control of a giant financial empire, former international playboy Aaron Barry plans to fire all of his father's financial advisers, get acquainted with a sexy young reporter, and return to the home that terrifies him.

*OP Pomegranates Full and Fine (The World of Darkness)

Don Bassingthwaite

List Price: $5.99 By: White Wolf Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 17 new & used starting at $0.01

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> General
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> General AAS
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Bassingthwaite, Don

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

One of the best books in the World of Darkness series. 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 4 people found this review helpful.

As all WoD Vampire books, it contains plots and subplots, intrigue and backstabbing. I usually dislike Changeling a lot, but the mix of Vampires and Changelings in this book is awesome. If you like the WoD series, all I can say is: READ IT!! :)

Great merging of all different 'dark realms' 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 5 people found this review helpful.

I really liked the book a lot. It was refreshing to see a couple queer characters, and really great to watch the interactions between the changeling, vampire and mage communities.

An EXCELLENT World of Darkness novel!!! HIGHLY recommended! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

This is the only good White Wolf novel that I've read so far. It is VERY enjoyable! I have to admit, I had no interest in Changeling before reading this, but now my interest has been piqued. The writing is great, the story is compelling and is set in Toronto (one of my favorite cities in the world!) After having read this, I'm dying to go back there (I even bought a MAP of the city to follow along where the characters went in certain parts of the book!) Kudos, Don Bassingthwaite!!!

If Whispers Call (Dark Matter, Book 2)

Don Bassingthwaite

List Price: $6.99 By: Wizards of the Coast Amazon Marketplace: 20 new & used starting at $0.01

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> General AAS
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Bassingthwaite, Don
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Fantasy -> Contemporary

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The series comes into focus 4 out of 5 stars.
2 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Very good story, with good character development and a mystery that makes sense and pulls you in. The first one was a bit disappointing, but it is crucial for you to understand this one at all. This story will certainly make you want to read the rest of them. Have fun.

Really good ghost story 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I thought it was a great for the DarkMatter fan, as a game resource, or just by itself as a extreamly good ghost mystery.

Really good ghost story 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I thought it was a great for the DarkMatter fan, as a game resource, or just by itself as a extreamly good ghost mystery.

Editorial Review:

In the world of DarkMatter, all you see is not all there is. And sometimes, the answers lie on the other side.

A young woman lies in a coma, inexplicably lost to this world. Meanwhile, investigators from the Hoffman Institute unravel the dark secrets of a ghost seen wandering a Chicago cemetery.

DarkMatter novels will find an eager audience among many different types of fans. They're an ideal source of inspiration for roleplayers as well as an entertaining read for science fiction enthusiasts.

*OP Breathe Deeply (World of Darkness)

Don Bassingthwaite

List Price: $5.99 By: White Wolf Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 26 new & used starting at $0.46

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> United States
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> General
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Genre Fiction -> Horror -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 10 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Pretty good, but not as good as the other reviewers claimed 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I special ordered this book, because I saw all the good reviews on it. I have to admit that it's a lot better than the other werewolf book I read. There was quite a bit of surprises in the story that I didn't expect. A lot of good character development, especially with the main character and his "pack". I recommend it, but definitely not a 5.

I'm not much of a fantasy fan, but . . . 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book was a pleasant surprise. I must admit that before reading it, I knew nothing at all about the WoD, Rage, or even White Wolf Studios. I picked it up at a used book sale because it looked slightly interesting, but because it is based on a card game I didn't expect it to be any better than a second-rate novel. Boy, was I wrong. The plot was interesting, the characters were fascinating (and kudos on the sensitive handling of the gay issue), and Bassingthwaite's anthropological training shone through admirably in his great depictions of the Garou tribal system. The only problem for me was the large number of obvious typos within the text, but that is most likely the editor's fault, not the author's.

Book of the Kindred (World of Darkness)

Don Bassingthwaite, Graeme Davis, Tom Dowd, Mark Rein-Hagen

List Price: $9.95 By: White Wolf Publishing Amazon Marketplace: 18 new & used starting at $0.01

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Puzzles & Games -> Role Playing & Fantasy -> General
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Puzzles & Games -> Role Playing & Fantasy -> General AAS
Subjects -> Entertainment -> Television -> General

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

My opinions regarding the Book od the Kindred 3 out of 5 stars.
17 of 19 people found this review helpful.

If you already have the sourcebooks for Vampire: The Masquerade or The Guide to the Camarilla, you may not want this book. It provides some information about each of the clans in the Camarilla (Pre Gangrel departure, vampric vernacular, explanations of some terms, the Traditions of the Camarilla as well as the Book of Nod. You may like to buy the book for the stories it contains or for allowing a beginner to read it and get a feel for the World of Darkness rather than throwing the game books at them. I believe that would be the most useful part of this book, for loaning to someone who has not played Vampire: The Masquerade before to learn about what they may have to expect in the games as well as observing current gaming sessions. The stories may give an insight to the new player of the adult horror and themes of Vampire.

Mage (World of Darkness)

Don Bassingthwaite

By: Boxtree Ltd Amazon Marketplace: 5 new & used starting at $6.00

Buy at Amazon.com

Browse similar items by category:
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> Authors, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Bassingthwaite, Don
Subjects -> Science Fiction & Fantasy -> General AAS