The Fallbacks might not be Faerun’s first choice for saving the day, but if the money’s right they’ll get the job done. In this ragtag band of adventurers, each member plays a vital role: Tess the disciplined elven thief; Anson the courageous fighter; Lark the cunning bard; Baldric the wily cleric; Cazrin the inquisitive wizard; and Uggie, their pet monster who eats garbage. Squint a little and they’re the heroes Faerun needs.
Fresh off a harrowing journey into the infinite dungeon of Undermountain and the defeat of a powerful undead lich (with the help of a giant hungry worm or two), the adventurers are now a proven and dedicated team, ready for a new adventure which will take them to strange new realms.
The Fallbacks: Dealing with Dragons by Jaleigh Johnson will be published July 29, 2025. Random House provided an early galley for review.
I have read several of the author's Marvel novels in the past. This is the second book in the new series of Dungeons and Dragons novels by her (the first, The Fallbacks: Bound For Ruin, came out in 2024 and slipped under my radar).
This novel opens with the crew in the middle of a mission. We're introduced to them through their actions; not a lot of details given at first on the back stories as (I suspect) much of that came in book one. Still, the narrative is easy enough to follow with necessary information dropping in as needed.
The Fallbacks are an interesting mix of personalities. Several take classic character archetypes and give them a subtle twist. As far as the world and creatures that inhabit it, it is targeted for readers familiar with the world of D&D as not a lot of time is spent fully describing things outside of what the story needs. That can be a double-edged sword.
Overall, I found the novel to be very enjoyable. As someone who dabbles in his own fantasy tales of similar tone (both as a dungeon-master and a writer), I will certainly draw some inspiration from tales such as this one.
No comments:
Post a Comment