Dragonlance: Dark Disciple Trilogy Volume 2: Amber and Iron

by: Margaret Weis

Even more than the first volume, Volume 2’s enjoyment rests on one major preference. Do you prefer your gods aloof and distant or really heading into the muck of the story acting as major focused players? For the longest time the gods of Dragonlance were important but definitively background characters. You could argue that Fizban and Astinus made this not so, but in truth they weren’t gods being gods. There was enough mystery to them that still distanced themselves from the mortals of Krynn.

Now in the Dark Disciple Trilogy, the gods really take center age. Interesting choice for an Age of Mortals. Now personally I prefer the aloof gods. To me, it is much like the choice between showing the monster in a horror film or hiding it. Imagination is very powerful and creates much better demons…and in this case powerful gods than any author can truly depict.

So it is difficult for me to commit to the story fully. With that being said, Weis is a talented enough writer that I can’t say I disliked the book either especially given the surprise ending does provide a reason for Weis to have thrust the gods on center stage.

What does work is the development of the newer characters. Rhys Mason’s self discovery journey is reminiscent of Tanis but I dare say it’s better crafted. Nightshade is able to break free from the Tas-clone curse that all non-Tas kenders endure when thrust into a Krynnish tale.

Even Ausic Krell was better this time around, because I expected him to be what he was, a worthless lump. He ruins the good name of death knights everywhere but it seems that’s his job.

The tale continues where it left off as Rhys and friends search for a way to destroy the Beloved and gain powerful allies with Gerard at Solace, Lady Jenna who is head of the Conclave of Wizards, and Dominique Helmsman a holy warrior of Kiri-Jolith. But is knowledge going to help or cause mass panic, given the difficult way to tell if someone is indeed a Beloved of Chemosh.

On the other side of the coin is the ever enigmatic Mina who longs to help her lover and lord Chemosh. Mina has always been an interesting character mostly due to her mysterious past as well as her sheer charisma.

And we learn why. At the end of the novel we discover that Mina is a god. A god who doesn’t know she is a god. It’s a shocking reveal and one I was unsure about. After reflecting I do think I like it. I wonder if this was a planned event from the beginning of the War of Souls. I prefer to think it was. But either way, it does explain a lot and even if was shoehorned in, it actually fits in well when you go back and re-read everything.

So it is impossible for this tale to be told without having the gods be such an active part. But I still can’t stop thinking that it was just too much. Too many times people were talking to gods and they were specifically answering…it just seemed all too much.

However, at the end, I have to say, I was excited to continue the saga so that is saying something.

B