45 réponses à ce sujet

[sniper_arrow]

For those who have read the novels, which is your favorite of all?

 

http://strawpoll.me/7303588

[lynroy]

Tough choice, but I'm going to go with The Stolen Throne. I have a soft spot for that one and The Calling. I didn't enjoy Asunder. I really only finished reading The Masked Empire because of Felassan, I couldn't stand anyone else in that book. And I always forget that The Last Flight exists because it was so boring to me.

[IllustriousT]

For me, the order goes:

 

1. The Masked Empire

2. The Stolen Throne

3. The Calling

4. Asunder

5. Hmmm...I think there was another one...oh...that's right, The Last Flight - Ha...silly me, I almost forgot.

[Gilli]

1. Asunder

2. Last Flight & The Masked Empire

2. The Stolen Throne & The Calling

 

*waits for the tomatoes* 

[Exile Isan]

I didn't vote because the only one I've made it all the way through is Asunder. I read part of The Stolen Throne, but found Marric an unbelievable character so I never finished it. I read part of The Masked Empire but I dislike Orlesian society so it made for a difficult read, much as I like the way Patrick Weekes writes, so I never finished that book either. And I haven't even tried The Calling or The Last Flight.

I have, however, read all the Mass Effect novels (except Deception because it is completely ridiculous. So many lore errors it's not even funny.)

[lynroy]

For me, the order goes:

 

1. The Masked Empire

2. The Stolen Throne

3. The Calling

4. Asunder

5. Hmmm...I think there was another one...oh...that's right, The Last Flight - Ha...silly me, I almost forgot.

I always forget it's there! Whenever people ask me about the novels I completely leave that one out. On accident, but I always do.

[Gilli]

I always forget it's there! Whenever people ask me about the novels I completely leave that one out. On accident, but I always do.

 

Just as history forgot Garahel's sister Isseya, reader forget Last Flight

[lynroy]

Who?

Teasing.

[Serza]

I'm going with The Last Flight, because I'm a fan of the Wardens.

 

Then The Stolen Throne, The Calling, Asunder and finally Masked Empire (damn Orlesians!)

 

1. Asunder

2. Last Flight & The Masked Empire

2. The Stolen Throne & The Calling

 

*waits for the tomatoes* 

 

*throws tomato*

[PapaCharlie9]

For me, the order goes:

 

1. The Masked Empire

2. The Stolen Throne

3. The Calling

4. Asunder

5. Hmmm...I think there was another one...oh...that's right, The Last Flight - Ha...silly me, I almost forgot.

 

Same for me, except I haven't read Asunder yet. Also, I'd probably put The Calling as #99 out of 90. Not that it was written badly, more because I hate the direction it set for the whole franchise, which culminated in Warden-Commander Clarel's monumental stupidity.

[nightscrawl]

Asunder.
 
It is the most well written of David Gaider's DA novels. I liked that it carried over the mage/templar issues from DA2. I liked the protagonist and that the characters were mature adults. For all of the terrible stuff that goes on, there was comparatively little angst and emo-ness in this novel, unlike the previous two.
 
The Masked Empire also fits most of those criteria as well, and is also well written, but I'm just not into The Game and elfy stuff, so that puts a damper on my enjoyment of it.

 

5. Hmmm...I think there was another one...oh...that's right, The Last Flight - Ha...silly me, I almost forgot.

I always forget it's there! Whenever people ask me about the novels I completely leave that one out. On accident, but I always do.

Despite the fact that it was entertaining, I think this is understandable if you consider that Last Flight isn't really connected to the games in any appreciable way. The current events take place about as far from the DAI action as one can get (in the Anderfels!) and most of the book is a recounting of past events. All of the other novels, whether they are pre- or post-game, have that connection.

[Heimdall]

I thought Masked Empire had some of the best writing and plotting of the novels. Asunder would be a close second because it's the best of Gaider's DA novels but I still find the way he writes some of his characters annoying.

Last Flight comes in third, I actually liked that it was so distant from the events and characters of the games.

[nightscrawl]

Asunder would be a close second because it's the best of Gaider's DA novels but I still find the way he writes some of his characters annoying.

Just curious, any specific reasons or examples?

[Inkvisiittori]

Masked Empire. It was nice not only to read about these characters but also to get to know them in the game. I loved Briala and Felassan, and hated Celene and Michel (who are both dead now which makes me like the book even better). Patrick Weekes is a very good writer, I enjoyed how he described everything and was able to provide many different viewpoints through different characters. I haven't read anything else from him but I do hope he writes another Dragon Age book. My favorite part of the entire book is the very beginning when Celene visits the University of Orlais. I immediately fell in love with the narrative style. I also enjoyed other orleasian stuff, the game, the civil war and of course learning more about the eluvians and the crossroads. Only thing I didn't like was how the dalish were presented. Very different from the one's Marric and Loghain met in The Stolen Throne. Then again, like Solas explained, all dalish clans are different. Since these elves had lived so many years near the human city maybe most of them were descended from runaway city elves (instead of the actual noble families of dalish kingdom). Would explain few things.

 

I liked how all characters had clear flaws. Also this is the first Dragon Age book where I didn't despise the main character. I love Briala and maybe that's why I liked the story so much. She had clear flaws like all other characters - she was sometimes smug, arrogant, naive, stupid and overconfident - but it was also clear that she cared deeply about her people and had made best of the situation she was in. I wish the book had been longer and slower. Events seemed to move too fast forward and I didn't like all the narrative choices - I loved the beginning when the story focused on the Game, and the very end when they traveled in the Crossroads. I didn't like the adventure part (before and after finding the dalish clan). I think it's the weakest part in the story. Also weird how Celene was able to kill many men and even fight against a varterral but then Florianne was able to kill her so easily. I would have preferred if Celene had stayed in her palace and not join the adventure with others - it felt out of place and I didn't like that. It felt like forced plot line to keep all the main characters together when that is not really necessary. I would have enjoyed the book much more, if it had two points of views: one with Celene and Gaspard in capital playing the Game, and other with Briala, Michel and Felassan adventuring. That was the one big flaw in the book for me, but other than that I enjoyed the story. It was only too short and I wish the characters had had more time to evolve. 

 

The ending was perfect. All the fight scenes were also very well written. The stories Felassan told Briala were interesting. Their friendship was my favorite part of the book. I wish some future game would focus more on the city elves - seems like there has not been much told about them. Zevran was a crow first, elf second and Sera was Red Jenny who some old noble woman had raised as her daughter and she hates elves. I would like the next games protagonist to be city elf since the Inquisitor was dalish - and city elf companion would be nice too. Someone who has lived there, who cares about the people, tries to help them and would tell us more about what their life is like - someone like Shianni... or Briala. I would love it if Briala would become a companion (and LI)...

[Ieldra]

Both Asunder and The Masked Empire are well-written but I like David Gaider's style and his plots better, so Asunder is my favorite with The Masked Empire a close second.

 

The Last Flight is also nice but I couldn't connect as well to the story and its protagonist.

 

The Calling and The Stolen Throne both suffer from serious pacing issues and have some silly clichés I suspect were taken unreflected from roleplaying conventions, so I can't call these books good.

[Heimdall]

Just curious, any specific reasons or examples?

Strangely it's mostly in the novels rather than the games. Maybe because it's mostly the protagonists. Maric and Rhys were both annoying to me, being written to be both highly capable yet selectively dimwitted amongst other things. I found them both a bit hard to credit. I also don't think Gaider is very good at writing close emotional connections between his novel characters. I have yet to see one from him that didn't seem forced or shallow. To don't get me started on Fiona...

[Iakus]

I also liked Asunder best.  The Masked Empire was also good, but I thought it had a rather slow start, so I dock a few points for that.

[Beerfish]

I enjoyed parts of them all.  I will say that I am very much in the minority in how I feel about the characters in Asunder however.  I totally detested the protagonists and thought highly of the antagonists or at least could see why they did what they did.

[straykat]

I have to admit, I liked Masked Empire the most. Despite not liking Patrick Weekes as much as Gaider.

 

I only wish Masked Empire and Asunder played a bigger part in the games. I've carried on too much about that subject though.

 

This setting could do with more novels. I liked these stories more than any of the games. Or rather, I like the medium.

[Abyss108]

Masked Empire.

 

Stolen Throne is a terrible mess, with unbelievable characters, bad writing and "deus ex machina"s every few pages. I seriously don't understand how anyone could like this.

 

The Calling is better, but is just kinda boring.

 

Asunder was OK. Best of the Gaider novels, and a perfectly fine read for train Journeys.

 

Masked Empire is amazing. Love that book to bits. The other books I just read whilst traveling, but this one I couldn't put down once I got home. 

 

Last Flight - Also a great novel, but not quite as good as Masked Empire.

[Dancing_Dolphin]

Asunder and The Masked Empire are my faves.

[GreaterGoodIreland]

The Masked Empire... apart from being great, it provided lots more details about Orlais. Which I appreciated greatly.

[JD Buzz]

Asunder, because of Cole's backstory, the mage/templar war and Rhys and Evangeline.

 

I also enjoyed The Masked Empire, since it gave a lot of detail about the Orlesian civil war, the game and its three leaders. Still have to finish reading The Calling and Last Flight. 

[GreaterGoodIreland]

Asunder, because of Cole's backstory, the mage/templar war and Rhys and Evangeline.

 

I also enjoyed The Masked Empire, since it gave a lot of detail about the Orlesian civil war, the game and its three leaders. Still have to finish reading The Calling and Last Flight. 

I don't think it's possible to make a fully informed decision at Halamshiral as the Inquisitor until you've read The Masked Empire...

[vertigomez]

The Masked Empire was my favorite. I found it interesting from the beginning, and exciting right through the end. Right on its tail is Asunder, and then Last Flight, and theeen the others.