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The Threat from the Sea #1
Rising Tide
From the murky depths of the Shining Sea rises a pre-historic menace who commands a rising tide of invasion to crash over the shores of .
Iakhovas has plotted for long, bitter years to regain the powers that were torn from him by an angry goddess. Now, nothing will stand in his way, and the face of Toril will never be the same again.
Oblivious to the growing danger of the undersea civilizations, the surface world is about to awaken to a new, horrifying threat from the sea.
Iakhovas has plotted for long, bitter years to regain the powers that were torn from him by an angry goddess. Now, nothing will stand in his way, and the face of Toril will never be the same again.
Oblivious to the growing danger of the undersea civilizations, the surface world is about to awaken to a new, horrifying threat from the sea.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
20 people are currently reading
672 people want to read
About the author
Mel Odom
278Ìýbooks269ÌýfollowersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ database with this name.
aka Jordan Gray
Mel Odom is a bestselling writer for hire for Wizards of the Coast's Forgotten Realms, Gold Eagle's Mack Bolan, and Pocket's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel book lines. His debut SF novel Lethal Interface made the Locus recommended list . The Rover was an Alyx Award winner. He has also written a scientific adventure of the high seas set in the 19th century entitled Hunters of the Dark Sea. He lives in Oklahoma.
aka Jordan Gray
Mel Odom is a bestselling writer for hire for Wizards of the Coast's Forgotten Realms, Gold Eagle's Mack Bolan, and Pocket's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel book lines. His debut SF novel Lethal Interface made the Locus recommended list . The Rover was an Alyx Award winner. He has also written a scientific adventure of the high seas set in the 19th century entitled Hunters of the Dark Sea. He lives in Oklahoma.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
February 10, 2020
A sword's steel splintered the weak moonlight, sweeping toward his head.
Ah. The old shared-world hack-and-slash adventure fantasy fiction. More specifically: Forgotten Realms. I purchased (way back), on the strength of its cover art. My introduction to fantasy was Tolkien, the Icewind Dale Trilogy and the original Dragonlance Chronicles. When I was younger, I enjoyed shared-world fiction, and Forgotten Realms in particular, because of the potential for immersion. So, I suppose it’s no real surprise that I still, every so often, get a nostalgic kick out of this sort of thing. Also, I’m not as picky as literary critics (self-appointed or otherwise). It’s not like I get paid toforce my opinion on others write book reviews, so I have the singular privilege of, well, reading random books purely for the sake of a yarn. I’ve also come to the conclusion that I’m easily sold on fantasy that features interesting or exotic settings. So, to it then:
The general consensus seemed to be that he'd gone insane, and everyone knew the gods favored those too stupid to save themselves.
Though it isn’t the silliest D&D story I’ve ever read (not even close) it’s pretty representative of this kind of fiction in at least one sense: namely it reads like a B-movie� all plot and not too much characterization. Every situation seems to be an excuse for some sort of confrontation. This isn’t by default a bad thing if you’re looking to read something that’s pretty much action oriented, featuring exotic settings and strange beings, and reads at a fair trot. I also found the use of Sahuagin as the enemy at least somewhat novel, tying in as it does with a big event in the greater Forgotten Realms universe.
The action scenes are competently written (often exceptionally so), which is important in a story such as this, in which it takes front and center. In fact, there are sequences that are the literary equivalent of a fireworks show. In small ways that I appreciated, the book illustrates wonderfully how unknown factors, such as the use of magic or alchemy, can change the course of events and battles just so. A large portion of the book deals with the battle for Waterdeep after being attacked from the sea. I probably found this whole sequence more exciting than I had any right to, but I can’t apologise for that.
I was partial to the bard Pacys as far as characters were concerned. Jherek initially struck me as too much of a straight arrow trope, albeit an extremely unlucky one, but he eventually grew on me. Events seem to suggest that he is being groomed to become a Paladin, which could be interesting.
In the end it’s a fairly typical D&D story with all the expected trimmings, but with the added benefit of some interesting underwater locales and critters, and written very competently to boot. I’m certainly not naïve enough to view this as top shelf fantasy fiction, but for nostalgic value and a nice quick old-school fantasy-buzz it will get you there. If you regularly read and enjoy Forgotten Realms stories, this should be on your list. It’s the first in a trilogy, and I am rather invested in seeing what happens next.
In closing: there is also a brobdingnagian albino Kraken in this book, which surely accounts for at least one of the stars awarded.
Ah. The old shared-world hack-and-slash adventure fantasy fiction. More specifically: Forgotten Realms. I purchased (way back), on the strength of its cover art. My introduction to fantasy was Tolkien, the Icewind Dale Trilogy and the original Dragonlance Chronicles. When I was younger, I enjoyed shared-world fiction, and Forgotten Realms in particular, because of the potential for immersion. So, I suppose it’s no real surprise that I still, every so often, get a nostalgic kick out of this sort of thing. Also, I’m not as picky as literary critics (self-appointed or otherwise). It’s not like I get paid to
The general consensus seemed to be that he'd gone insane, and everyone knew the gods favored those too stupid to save themselves.
Though it isn’t the silliest D&D story I’ve ever read (not even close) it’s pretty representative of this kind of fiction in at least one sense: namely it reads like a B-movie� all plot and not too much characterization. Every situation seems to be an excuse for some sort of confrontation. This isn’t by default a bad thing if you’re looking to read something that’s pretty much action oriented, featuring exotic settings and strange beings, and reads at a fair trot. I also found the use of Sahuagin as the enemy at least somewhat novel, tying in as it does with a big event in the greater Forgotten Realms universe.
The action scenes are competently written (often exceptionally so), which is important in a story such as this, in which it takes front and center. In fact, there are sequences that are the literary equivalent of a fireworks show. In small ways that I appreciated, the book illustrates wonderfully how unknown factors, such as the use of magic or alchemy, can change the course of events and battles just so. A large portion of the book deals with the battle for Waterdeep after being attacked from the sea. I probably found this whole sequence more exciting than I had any right to, but I can’t apologise for that.
I was partial to the bard Pacys as far as characters were concerned. Jherek initially struck me as too much of a straight arrow trope, albeit an extremely unlucky one, but he eventually grew on me. Events seem to suggest that he is being groomed to become a Paladin, which could be interesting.
In the end it’s a fairly typical D&D story with all the expected trimmings, but with the added benefit of some interesting underwater locales and critters, and written very competently to boot. I’m certainly not naïve enough to view this as top shelf fantasy fiction, but for nostalgic value and a nice quick old-school fantasy-buzz it will get you there. If you regularly read and enjoy Forgotten Realms stories, this should be on your list. It’s the first in a trilogy, and I am rather invested in seeing what happens next.
In closing: there is also a brobdingnagian albino Kraken in this book, which surely accounts for at least one of the stars awarded.
January 29, 2021
Mel Odom has a way with exploring his characters that worked for me. Tear jerking father figure/son moments, a bards relationship with music, a clerics relationship with his God, missed opportunities and promises broken. Did I say this was DnD? Great fighting, magic and monsters galore. A true BBEG and complex relationships formed for power. I can't wait to...dive into part 2.
May 22, 2013
Her face took on a more somber look. "Know too, that there are those who would stop you in your journey," she said. "They fear you, fear what you will become, and with good cause because your life will touch the lives of many. There is a darkness out there, greater than any darkness you've known. Should you live, understanding and more will be yours."
"And should I die, lady?"
She looked at him, gave him a small smile and said simply, "Don't."
Synopsis: The fish people get pissed and get magic and go whup on some land-dwellers, finding them crunchy and good with ketchup. Also there's a subplot about the world's wieniest secret pirate.
The sahuagin are kind of sea goblins, and one of their princesses gets it into her head to track down a mysterious and forgotten manuscript. Because that always goes so well. And indeed she follows the manuscripts directions to the undersea tomb of a dessicated naked dude, which a) is reason number one never to go on forgotten manuscript adventures and b) results in two fellow princesses getting immediately eaten, because the dessicated naked dude is secretly a great white shark. And boy is he annoyed.
Of course he wasn't a good great white shark, he was an evil one, and that's how he got imprisoned in an underwater tomb without any trousers. I guess whoever stuck him there thought a lack of pants would totally stop this dude. Who's a shark. Anyway, Iakhovas the Sharkshifter decides to wreak his revenge on basically everyone he can get his hand-fins on, including the sea goblins. He launches an amphibious attack on Waterdeep and uses the full kitchen sink: water dragons, giant turtles, sea serpents, bloodworms, were-rats, aboleths (which I had to go look up in the sourcebooks), sahuagins, marine scrags (which I'm still kind of unclear on), more sahuagins, jellyfish, just everything he could lay his hands on. And yet, all of them pale in significance before the scariest monster in the book, and indeed in any Forgotten Realms book I've read, the raggamoffyn.
The raggamoffyn are a race of sentient scraps of cloth. Cloth. Apparently there are good raggamoffyns and evil ones, but the one in this book was supposed to be good and it full-on mummified a nine-year-old boy:
Before anyone could react, the raggamoffyn exploded into hundreds of wet fabric pieces that flew through the air. They hovered around the boy like a bee swarm, twisting and turning like gulls gliding through storm weather. The fabric pieces covered every inch of the boy's body, including his eyes, nose and mouth, slamming into place with wet splashes ... The raggamoffyn held fast, following every movement with its shape. The boy clawed at the fabric pieces, trying to rip them free.
...BAD DEADLY BLANKET! Bad bad blanket!
Its name is Skeins, btw.
Also, pro-tip: if you watch Venture Brothers, then go back and read 90s swords and sorcery books, you WILL wind up picturing Brock Sampson as the dude who rolls up on horseback all, "Let's do this." And saves the city. With help from the city mage. As played by Dr Orpheus. And when that city mage is described as being in a hissy bitchfight with the other city mage you'll wind up picturing Dr Orpheus' monk friend.
"I am Piergeiron!" he roared in a loud voice that echoed from the buildings and over the water. "Called Paladinson and Known Lord of Waterdeep." He drew his great sword Halcyon and held it aloft so it gleamed. "As long as I can fight, this city will remain standing and be free!" He lifted the sword, and as if in answer, a salvo of flaming rock seared across the sky from Castle Waterdeep's catapults. They splashed down in the harbor around the bloodworms and dragon turtles.
Take your pick from the smorgasbord of awesomeness. Do you want the sharkshifter, the rat shifters, the city mage slapfight, the 70-foot-long sea serpents or the DEADLY BLANKET?
There's also a subplot about the world's wieniest secret pirate (Who's not a pirate! Honest! He's just terrified of his father! Who IS a pirate! And his pirate tattoo won't come off! And he gets kicked out of the house! And people see his tattoo and realize he's a pirate even though he worked so hard not to be a pirate! Life is so UNFAIR.) who is basically milquetoast in a leather apron (Yes, that's all he wears. It gets so hot working on ships! And running away from girls! And being a secret pirate!).
Anyway, his subplot has like, zero bloodworms or firedrakes. It has pirates, but they're mainly just him hiding in a crow's nest reading romance novels (not making this up) and being sad about being a secret pirate.
But back to Waterdeep and the live-action Iron Maiden album unfolding there:
Maskar Wands [city mage numero uno] stood in a flying chariot drawn by a pair of red firedrakes whose claws struck sparks from the sky as they ran. The wizard's hairline had receded over the years to reveal his broad forehead, but silver hair still flowed in the wind. He wore the robes of a wizard. ...Maskar gestured at the chariot and firedrakes and they disappeared. The wizard gazed blackly at the snake hanging from the huge hand he'd conjured. "Now," he said sternly, "now we show these invaders that Waterdeep will never bend, much less break."
Oh yeah. The city mage saves Waterdeep from the 70-foot-long sea serpent by wizarding up a giant hand that chokes the snake. And there is exactly zero irony present in any of the snake-choking scene. None.
IT'S. AWESOME.
The prose is, in case you have not guessed, a little stilted, like how someone feels a rabid mouse "coiling in his guts" when he gets scared (three guesses who) and that thing with the severed foot in the title never really gets explained, but takes four full pages to not be explained in. And you either love this kind of epic nonsense or you already know it's not really your kind of thing.
But really, how can you say no to a book where the SHARKSHIFTER is one of the least notable things about it?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2018
This was a very surprisingly good book. You have to grind your way through the first 75 pages and then it gets good. I originally bought this series on the fact that Odom was the writer of the series, but because of the sea theme plus the fact that the Realms short stories were lousy, this series sat on my shelf forever. However, because I needed a very short break in the Dresden novels, this looked like a quick snack and so far, surprisingly well written. Looking forward to the next two.
December 9, 2013
Well, I honestly didn't know what to expect out of this series. I had thought about reading it for quite a few years, being a Forgotten Realms fan and just never got around to it.
So I powered through this book over the weekend and I find that Mel Odom is a pretty decent writer. He has made some interesting characters and a plot that I am interested in seeing played out.
On to book 2.
So I powered through this book over the weekend and I find that Mel Odom is a pretty decent writer. He has made some interesting characters and a plot that I am interested in seeing played out.
On to book 2.
May 8, 2022
I really enjoyed this!
I feel like it's important to say that I rate Forgotten Realms books against other Forgotten Realm books; not the entire fantasy genre. And this one was one of the best I've read in a long time!
In an attempt to read all of what the Realms has to offer, I am back reading and filling in gaps where I had skipped over stories that did not originally interest me (e.g. The Maztica Trilogy, Murder in Haluraa, and the second Baldur's Gate II [?]). I'm not sure why the Sahuagin never interested me, but I am glad that I have finally started this series.
To add to it, anyone that has read a number of Forgotten Realms books will know that the events in these novels are referred back to in lots of other stories. "The Attack on Waterdeep" is definitely referenced throughout the "world", and is the catalyst for other events that happen in later novels. So again, probably something I should have read a long time ago.
Odom does a great job with his characters and world building in this first book. We focus on three characters; a stereotypical hero with a dark past, a somewhat anti-hero who is forced to serve an evil being much too powerful to oppose, and an old mysterious story-teller who's roll we do not yet fully understand. We follow each individual's tale, and the whole novel feels somewhat like a prelude, or set-up, for what is to come next. Not exactly a cliff-hanger, but the reader is definitely left wanting more.
Loads of good characters, fun and flawed main characters, good plot, some impressive fight scenes, and excellent world building in my most favorite fantasy world to visit. All and all, a Good Read.
I feel like it's important to say that I rate Forgotten Realms books against other Forgotten Realm books; not the entire fantasy genre. And this one was one of the best I've read in a long time!
In an attempt to read all of what the Realms has to offer, I am back reading and filling in gaps where I had skipped over stories that did not originally interest me (e.g. The Maztica Trilogy, Murder in Haluraa, and the second Baldur's Gate II [?]). I'm not sure why the Sahuagin never interested me, but I am glad that I have finally started this series.
To add to it, anyone that has read a number of Forgotten Realms books will know that the events in these novels are referred back to in lots of other stories. "The Attack on Waterdeep" is definitely referenced throughout the "world", and is the catalyst for other events that happen in later novels. So again, probably something I should have read a long time ago.
Odom does a great job with his characters and world building in this first book. We focus on three characters; a stereotypical hero with a dark past, a somewhat anti-hero who is forced to serve an evil being much too powerful to oppose, and an old mysterious story-teller who's roll we do not yet fully understand. We follow each individual's tale, and the whole novel feels somewhat like a prelude, or set-up, for what is to come next. Not exactly a cliff-hanger, but the reader is definitely left wanting more.
Loads of good characters, fun and flawed main characters, good plot, some impressive fight scenes, and excellent world building in my most favorite fantasy world to visit. All and all, a Good Read.
March 8, 2018
Finished reading. Its a good story. I like the descriptions of the sea creatures. Looked in my monster manual a few times to get a good idea about them. Now on book 2 and its still keeping me interested.
January 8, 2023
This is one of those old TSR books where the villains are just so much more interesting than the main character. This book is especially guilty of this as the main character has all the charisma of soggy toast and may be the archetype of "Lawful Stupid"
July 24, 2019
One thing that helps start this off.
It is partially set, in world/ realms already established.
So does not lose a lot there, having to build it for the reader.
You get an opening, with a different species coming into play.
As well as some new characters being developed and introduced.
Decent pacing, and quite a bit of action start to finish.
One a priestess of the underwater enemy. That due to dark magic. Is forced to serve an evil master.
Bent on destroying the world of men above the water.
One a young sailor and fighter. Son of a dangerous pirate. Branded, trying to escape his past.
Another a bard, in his later years.
The town of Waterdeep attacked by enemy aquatic foes and animals.
Part of a larger plan. To give the world, over to those living in the seas.
One thing that took away from this. The order of the telling.
You get to a build up, and battle.
Then flip to a chapter of the bard assessing wines. While sharing remembrances with an old friend.
Before getting back to the pitched fight.
I will be honest one time. I did jump past to the fight. Then back to that chapter.
Men, mermen, and creatures of the deep.
Make plans to defeat their enemies.
While a sinister force, not man. Yet cloaked as one. Plots to rule them all.
It is partially set, in world/ realms already established.
So does not lose a lot there, having to build it for the reader.
You get an opening, with a different species coming into play.
As well as some new characters being developed and introduced.
Decent pacing, and quite a bit of action start to finish.
One a priestess of the underwater enemy. That due to dark magic. Is forced to serve an evil master.
Bent on destroying the world of men above the water.
One a young sailor and fighter. Son of a dangerous pirate. Branded, trying to escape his past.
Another a bard, in his later years.
The town of Waterdeep attacked by enemy aquatic foes and animals.
Part of a larger plan. To give the world, over to those living in the seas.
One thing that took away from this. The order of the telling.
You get to a build up, and battle.
Then flip to a chapter of the bard assessing wines. While sharing remembrances with an old friend.
Before getting back to the pitched fight.
I will be honest one time. I did jump past to the fight. Then back to that chapter.
Men, mermen, and creatures of the deep.
Make plans to defeat their enemies.
While a sinister force, not man. Yet cloaked as one. Plots to rule them all.
August 27, 2021
I picked up this book because it takes place in locations well known from Baldur's Gate and Baldur's Gate II computer games. Here is my beloved city of Athkatla, the capital of Amn, with its Moorish architecture and Spanish flavor. And the overland path to truly medieval Baldurs Gate, haunted by a curse of Baal. And many other places well known from the Forgotten Realms setting, like the duchy of Cape Velen. Initially, I thought that nothing good should be expected from the book apart from these ...
And I was terribly mistaken. The novel has interesting and distinctive characters, a fascinating storyline and many exciting battles. In some reviews, I read that it is not very realistic when various young girls constantly make unsuccessful advances to a young man. I would have agreed with them if I myself had not witnessed a similar phenomenon. We often judge what is happening only by our own experience, forgetting that it is pretty limited.
And I was terribly mistaken. The novel has interesting and distinctive characters, a fascinating storyline and many exciting battles. In some reviews, I read that it is not very realistic when various young girls constantly make unsuccessful advances to a young man. I would have agreed with them if I myself had not witnessed a similar phenomenon. We often judge what is happening only by our own experience, forgetting that it is pretty limited.
July 20, 2017
I loved this series as a kid; I was a stupid kid. Now, re-reading it brought a lot of laughs unintended by the author.
The main character is pretentiously pure-hearted. We're introduced to him with a beautiful, powerful older woman offering him money for sex, but he believes in Love. Then he's randomly victimized. As a kid, that was totally my jam, but now I'm like, "Dude, hit that."
I haven't read a book where an innocent young man is approached by so many sexually aggressive women since the last time I gave literary fiction a try.
The writing is clunky.
But IDK. It's got a decent amount of 'potato chip' factor. It's a very easy read. If it weren't for how much I loved this when I was 12 or so, I probably wouldn't have bothered finishing it just now, but as it is, I'll probably read the next one.
The main character is pretentiously pure-hearted. We're introduced to him with a beautiful, powerful older woman offering him money for sex, but he believes in Love. Then he's randomly victimized. As a kid, that was totally my jam, but now I'm like, "Dude, hit that."
I haven't read a book where an innocent young man is approached by so many sexually aggressive women since the last time I gave literary fiction a try.
The writing is clunky.
But IDK. It's got a decent amount of 'potato chip' factor. It's a very easy read. If it weren't for how much I loved this when I was 12 or so, I probably wouldn't have bothered finishing it just now, but as it is, I'll probably read the next one.
September 23, 2017
I cut my teeth on Forgotten Realms books back in high school and credit those books for turning me into a fervent reader. While I have good memories of many of those books, I've moved on from the shared world-style books. I took a chance on this one now because I found it cheap and Mel Odom is an author whose work on Forgotten Realms and Shadowrun I've always enjoyed. I was hoping to be surprised by this one, but at the end of day, I'm just too old for these books. My younger self would've liked it, but there's just a generic feel to the fantasy that left me uninterested. Not to say others won't enjoy it, but for myself, I now know that I won't be diving back into the Forgotten Realms.
February 28, 2024
There were certainly some parts of this novel that were lacking, but overall I’ll give it 4 stars to help boost its rating. When it comes to FR novels, they can be super hit or miss, often leaning towards the latter. “Rising Tide� is a simple swashbuckling sea adventure, and it’s pretty solid material for Dungeon Masters looking for inspiration for seafarering quests. I intend to use these events paired with fifth edition Saltmarsh!
February 2, 2020
Great reintroduction to the Realms
I haven’t read any Forgotten Realms books since I was in high school, sticking to other sorts of fantasy. I’m not sure what made me pick this book up twenty years later but it was a great read. Interesting characters and the setting of Toril is as fun as it ever was. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy.
I haven’t read any Forgotten Realms books since I was in high school, sticking to other sorts of fantasy. I’m not sure what made me pick this book up twenty years later but it was a great read. Interesting characters and the setting of Toril is as fun as it ever was. I’ll definitely be reading the rest of the trilogy.
December 14, 2022
A fun sea adventure following three characters on the Sword Coast. One is a sahuagin, another a young human sailor, and the last is an aging bard. Odom is quite a fun writer that I have read before with other Forgotten Realms� novels. If you want sea adventure, you don’t really need to know Forgotten Realms to enjoy this.
May 12, 2025
3.5 stars.
It was -fine-. Not the best, and my brain skipped over a few passages, but definitely not the worst either.
I'm definitely intrigued enough to continue though! The book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I am curious to see what happens next.
It was -fine-. Not the best, and my brain skipped over a few passages, but definitely not the worst either.
I'm definitely intrigued enough to continue though! The book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I am curious to see what happens next.
December 17, 2015
Mer-monsters versus men in world of Dungeons & Dragons!
I’m enjoying a bit of a Dungeons & Dragons renaissance of late, scoffing up the fantasy game’s old books and rulebooks wherever I can find them -- either digitally or at second-hand bookstores. I recently found all three of Mel Odom’s The Threat From The Sea trilogy at a 2nd & Charles bookstore (love that place!) and dug into book one of the series, The Rising Tide, which offers a credible beginning to the war between the surface civilizations of the Forgotten Realms and the dark denizens of the underwater deep.
Odom does a great job selling the maritime setting, and some of the strongest scenes of the book take place aboard ship (the encounter with a half-sunken merchantman is particularly tense and unnerving) or under the waves. His heroes are well-drawn and likable -- though for having been around the waterfront a bit, their near total naïveté is a bit of a stretch � and there’s a pretty good battle royale in the city of Waterdeep. Odom does a good job sticking to the D&D mythos, crafting compelling action sequences and spell-casts, though admittedly some of this stuff � such as cameos of the Forgotten Realms� glitterati (which was probably pretty cool when more kids were actually playing more D&D than video games) � go right past my old head.
The negative? Though the monsters and the setting have changed, there is a formula being followed here. Reluctant hero with a dark secret? Check! Evil antagonist, imprisoned for centuries, now released and scheming to conquer the world? Check! Darth Vader-esque ‘daddy� issues? Check! It’s essentially the same set-up you get in many a fantasy book � though well enough crafted that you don’t mind so much. What I think is the biggest miss is that the original D&D game was all about teamwork � a diverse group of adventures coming together to embark on a common quest. The first Dragonlance book, which kicked off the D&D novel craze, captured that dynamic and wonderfully exploited the ensemble cast. In Rising Tide, our protagonist, Jherek, is very much a lone wolf and that isolation keeps this one from truly channeling the main strength of the game that inspired the story.
However, Odom does put all pieces into play by the end of the novel, and here’s hoping that -- now that groundwork has been laid -- the plot will offer a few new twists and turns that go beyond the typical fantasy tropes. I’m intrigued enough to give the second book in trilogy, Under Fallen Stars, a shot.
February 21, 2017
What can I say? This is pretty basic fantasy based on sea creatures (for the most part). This story jumps right into it without much in the way of background or history of the world it is set in and that is okay. It is written so that you really don't need to know anything about the Forgotten Realms in order to enjoy this although I get a sense there is quite of bit of connection to other series. I never felt like I was missing anything important and was able to just flow along with the story. The characters were interesting and the whole thing moved along at a good pace. I enjoyed this very much for what it is and will be continuing the series.
February 11, 2018
I really enjoyed this one, it felt new and not at all like any other Forgotten Realms novels I've read to date. I enjoyed the sea setting and both the above and below water characters are developed enough to keep you invested in them and discovering their fate. The main characters are interesting enough , but our "hero" is a bit much sometimes. I'm hoping his character will grow more interesting in the next book.
I can say it's an easy read that keeps you turning the pages without effort. The story will keep you intrigued enough to enthusiastically move on to book 2.
This one gets a 4 out of 5.
I can say it's an easy read that keeps you turning the pages without effort. The story will keep you intrigued enough to enthusiastically move on to book 2.
This one gets a 4 out of 5.
April 19, 2015
Well, this is a curious book. It's quite an interesting story, although the characterization is a bit thin, there are some nice descriptive passages.
My major criticism of this book is that not enough happens, there is enough incident in the book for the 'part 1' of a traditional fantasy doorstop however it's rather unsatisfying when this is spread over a whole book.
I'll give book two a go eventually but I'm not going to rush.
My major criticism of this book is that not enough happens, there is enough incident in the book for the 'part 1' of a traditional fantasy doorstop however it's rather unsatisfying when this is spread over a whole book.
I'll give book two a go eventually but I'm not going to rush.
January 20, 2011
I could have given it 4 stars but I couldn't shake the feeling that the first book was incomplete. I felt like I was reading a really long prologue.
I understand there's a second book but I would have liked something more in this.
On the positive side, it has a great plot and I like this form of narration. Every chapter makes you want to read the next one to see what happens.
I understand there's a second book but I would have liked something more in this.
On the positive side, it has a great plot and I like this form of narration. Every chapter makes you want to read the next one to see what happens.
August 23, 2023
I loved the first 75 or so pages about the sahaugin (fish people). The shark-god priestess Laaqueel seems like a great character. The mystery man is someone that I'm very interested in finding out more about. I can't say I liked the human parts of the story, but they're pretty average for a Forgotten Realms book.
I'll be continuing this series, and hoping more of it takes place underwater.
I'll be continuing this series, and hoping more of it takes place underwater.
Currently reading
June 15, 2007Hard to put down this book.
Shelved as 'sold'
February 23, 2012Sold to Lewis White on eBay on 7-Jun-11:
September 20, 2014
I read it long ago and looking back on it, it really wasn't a good reading... even compared to the other Forgotten Realms books.
April 1, 2017
3 stars [Fantasy]
Writing: 2 stars. Plot: 2.5 stars. Realmslore: 3.5 stars. Verisimilitude: 4 stars.
More of a mixed bag than most fantasy I've read. Many of the characters are simplistic, and a few are even infantile. Jherek, particularly (one of the lead characters), is written only slightly better than Christopher Paolini's hackneyed cast of Eragon. Odom cannot seem to mold a definitive code of character for him. He is "honest," but he lies at convenience. Odom spills dozens of adjectives and character traits via other characters' out-of-place comments or thoughts. In general, most characters act exactly as one might expect if they had a script in their pockets. The only truly imaginative character is Iakhovas (though Sabyna isn't shabby). Iakhovas is one character done well: the bearing of an ancient, and one of true power - one who is coldly confident and need not display his power.
The romance between Jherek and Sabyna isn't too bad; I suppose I compliment Odom for the attempt: most fantasy writers do not even try, as the nerd-heavy audience of fantasy can be easily distracted upon a hint of romance. Authors that do try tend to carry over too many 20th/21st century Western Civ ideas into the equation for credibility - something that Odom does not entirely avoid.
The strength of this book (and, I suspect, the rest of the series) is its focus on the sea, and here the descriptions shine. For fantasy aficionados who wish for a furlough from land terrains, kings, swords and sometimes-uninspiring climaxes in which magic overcomes plot problems, The Rising Tide offers something pleasingly different in the clouded Deep.
Writing: 2 stars. Plot: 2.5 stars. Realmslore: 3.5 stars. Verisimilitude: 4 stars.
More of a mixed bag than most fantasy I've read. Many of the characters are simplistic, and a few are even infantile. Jherek, particularly (one of the lead characters), is written only slightly better than Christopher Paolini's hackneyed cast of Eragon. Odom cannot seem to mold a definitive code of character for him. He is "honest," but he lies at convenience. Odom spills dozens of adjectives and character traits via other characters' out-of-place comments or thoughts. In general, most characters act exactly as one might expect if they had a script in their pockets. The only truly imaginative character is Iakhovas (though Sabyna isn't shabby). Iakhovas is one character done well: the bearing of an ancient, and one of true power - one who is coldly confident and need not display his power.
The romance between Jherek and Sabyna isn't too bad; I suppose I compliment Odom for the attempt: most fantasy writers do not even try, as the nerd-heavy audience of fantasy can be easily distracted upon a hint of romance. Authors that do try tend to carry over too many 20th/21st century Western Civ ideas into the equation for credibility - something that Odom does not entirely avoid.
The strength of this book (and, I suspect, the rest of the series) is its focus on the sea, and here the descriptions shine. For fantasy aficionados who wish for a furlough from land terrains, kings, swords and sometimes-uninspiring climaxes in which magic overcomes plot problems, The Rising Tide offers something pleasingly different in the clouded Deep.
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