Azriel’s Infinite Book Shelf-Condemnation : The War of the Spider Queen Book III

My incredible journey in the Forgotten Realms continue with the third installment of the series War of the Spider Queen, Condemnation.

The search for Lolth continues as the unlikely party that survived the obliteration of Ched Nasad embark on an even more treacherous journey.

The rag tag group comprised by Quenthel Baenre, Pharaun Mizzrym, Jeggred Baenre, Halisstra Melarn, Danifae Yauntyrr, Ryld Argith, and Valas Hune escape thru a portal and find themselves of the surface world, on the ruins of the city Hlaungadath, once a thriving floating city, now the desert is slowly swallowing it.

Destiny’s path brought them there to a priest, Tzirik, acolyte of Vhaerun, the mischievous god of the males Drow. In their desperation to find why the Silence of Lolth still prevails they seek answers in the most treacherous of places.

With the help of a stolen artifact, Tzirik , transport them to the astral plane in which the Spider Queen dwells, the Demonweb Pits. To their surprise the rogue priest has other plans, the destruction of Lolth and the rise of Vhaerun in her stead.

With the odds against them,they barely escape with their lives thanks to the heroics of the body guard Jeggred in the material realm, in which he destroys the physical body of the rogue priest, pulling them abruptly from the astral plane with even more questions about the faith of Lolth.

 As the party fights for their very existence a conspiracy brews in Menzoberranzan. The assassin Nimor Imphraezl, part of the brotherhood of Jaezred Chaulssin, comprised by Drow males that are part Shadow Dragons, is plotting to overthrow the ruling matriarch rule of the City of Spiders.

The all out melee descents on Menzoberranzan, as Nimor makes an alliance with the gray dwarf King Horgar Steelshadow and the Half-Demon Kaanyr Vhok. A horde of duergar (gray dwarfs) and tanarukks (orcs tainted by the dark powers) descent on the battle of the Pillars of Woe, an enormous cave just south of the City of Spiders.

Almost one third of the Menzoberranzan army is destroyed, luckily, a small contingent of warriors from House Baenre come to their rescue and cover their retreat. Now, with a decimated army, the faith of the City of Spiders hangs on a treat, as they prepare for the siege and their goddess still remains silent

In this book the nature of the treacherous Drow comes in full swing, the alliances and betrayal shift almost at every turn of the page. You can feel the desperation of the priestess in face of the Silence of Lolth, what was regarded as a problem on the city of Menzoberranzan has now shifted into a cosmic catastrophe, were other deities are taking advantage to move up on the pecking order

My favorite part was the exploration of the Astral Plane, is refreshing to read a more detailed description of the realm from where one of the coolest characters from the whole Realms comes, the mysterious black panther Guenhwyvar, loyal companion of the greatest hero of all time, Drizzt Do’Urden

I’m dying to jump back into the next chapter of this enthralling series, Extinction, let’s hope the title is not a self fulfilling prophecy.

Condemnation : War of the Spider Queen Book III

Author: Richard Baker

No. Of pages: 459

Date of Publishing : May, 2003