So, you’re officially an influencer! I found you on Worldhoppers and then binged your whole channel. A couple of days later, I was at Barnes and Noble, and I ended up buying the entire dark elf trilogy. And then this video- the timing!
Haha yayyyy I’m glad I influenced you to get some good books muahahaha. 🤣 and thanks so much it makes me happy that you enjoyed my content enough to binge it
The Forgotten Realms means so much to so many. It was definitely an escape for me growing up. It still is! I’m currently reading the Elminster series and I’ve been a long time fan of the Drizzt series but I plan to read all these wonderful books! Thank you.
Yaaaas love to hear more FR love! I still need to read the final Elminster book. I’ve owned it since it came out but just don’t want that series to be over 😅 I hope you enjoy your continued adventures in Faerun
You are hilarious my friend. The story of you and your husband was so wholesome and cute. Definitely a great explanation on how to get yourself into the daunting task of the forgotten realms. Keep it up!
I always tell people Drizzt is a great start. But lately I've been reccomending the dungeons sub series. It's 4 stand alone books that are classic dungeon dives. Depths of madness being my favorite as Twilight is probably my favorite FR character. Thanks for this video
Very nice. I tend to hesitate to tell people to start with Drizzt because people get intimidated by a 30+ book ongoing series 🤣 I haven’t read the dungeons series’s sounds like I need to check it out 👀
I love the Forgotten Realms ever since I played the first Baldur's Gate game. (The BG series is my absolute favorite game series.) I haven't however read alot of novels from the Forgotten Realms. Just the two first Drizzt trilogies, a short story compilation from the Underdark, and two other books. I watched tons and tons of lore videos and regularly read articles in the Forgotten Realms wiki, though. I want to get back to some novels. Thanks you for this video! ❤
Yaaaaaas Baldur’s Gate!!! That was my husbands gateway as well. For me it was BG Dark Alliance. 🙌🏻🙌🏻 I hope you love any novels you choose to pick up in Faerun!
Good recommendations all. I listened to a lot of RA.Salvatore book years go, and this is perfect for me to try to branch out. Especially with BG3 being the current game
Yay! So helpful you found this helpful. Ooooh BG3 is so good, already done 2 full playthroughs. I have never tried the Drizzt audiobooks, how are they?
Started with Dark Elf and after being one book into Icewind Dale I'm glad I did it that way. I'd miss the friend he has in IWD too much if I went to Dark Elf after. Really enjoying the series so far though.
@Rodger's Reads I read the first legend of drizzt trilogy. I'm currently reading dragonlance. I'm addicted to buying books. I have a used book sale at my local library, and I get some cool book to try. I got a cool warhammer 40k book and some western book.
@@sotochristopher76 Oooh what subseries of Dragon Lance are you on?! 👀👀 I love Drizzt, and it is the only Forgotten Realms series being published currently, but I wish people would check out the hundreds of other series and dozens of other authors that world has been enriched by over the years. And if I hear one more person say R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms I might lose my mind. FR was created by Ed Greenwood and he read and gave continuity feedback on all 300-400 novels in the FR people.... lolol That's awesome. We always say book reading and collecting are two totally separate hobbies.
@Rodger's Reads omg! I Never thought of it like that. I have books that I want to read and books I'm never gonna read but have cause they are cool to me.
@@RodgersReads I have the Dark Elf books and the Spider Queen ones! However, you got me interested in the shark books 🤣. I’ll have to go find those now lol
I absolutely love the Forgotten Realms series. My favorite is the trilogy Pool of Radiance, Pools of Darkness and Pool of Twilight. All written by James Ward and Anne Brown. A great read for anyone that want a lot of action with magic. One of the main characters of these books is a ranger/ thief by the name of Ren O` the Blade and is my all time favorite. I am in the process of recreating this character to run in a D&D campaign in the next couple of weeks. Now with that being said my question to u is have u heard of a character named Ren O` the Star and if so what book titles would he be in? Well anyways great video with great information!!!
Fun! I never read that trilogy but played the PC game of the same name. I’ll have to see if I can hunt down that one. 👀 I’m assuming you’re he Ren O’s are all from Ward and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything from him so I have no idea 🤣
@@RodgersReads after further research 🧐 I found that Ren O`the Star was in a video game from 1989 called Hillsfar. So he never was in a book, 🤗 thought I would share that!
Excellent list! I own them all and only read everything about the drow and most of the Elminster books (these books started my obsession with reading Fantasy). I have nothing to add to your recommendations, because it is perfect for people who want to start in the Forgotten Realms!!
Aw thanks so much glad you enjoyed it!! I’m due for a new recommendation video. 🤔 I’ll start working on one haha. Oooh hope you love it if/when you get to it I’m due for a reread of that series it’s so unique and fun!
Yayyyyyy Spellfire is so good at least in my nostalgia brain. I need to reread that series soon. 🤔 I’m glad I haven’t led you astray, and I’m glad you’re liking my content I’ve been trying to improve with editing and thumbnails to make “quality” content. 😅🙌🏻
@@RodgersReads finished it and while it's not high art it was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to finishing Shans story. Unclean just came in the mail today the first in the "undead" trilogy I THINK it's called so I may start that. But the erivis cale books and the dungeons sub series are calling my name too. Soooo many choices. A very good problem to have!
@@wadejohnston4305 yay! I’m happy you enjoyed it. Yes FR is much more just incredibly fun escapist adventures not necessarily the deepest themes with gorgeous prose 🤷🏻♂️
Pretty good video for FR novels. My first start was the Moonshae trilogy by Douglas Niles. :D I'll just add a couple other books i read: - Drow: Starlight & Shadows trilogy by Elaine Cunningham. - Mages (especially shadow magic users): Return of the Archwizards by Troy Denning - Clerics: The Priests by various authors. Each are standalone novels taking a look into a clerics life of different deities of the Realms. (Lady of Poison, Mistress of the Night, Maiden of Pain and Queen of the Depths) - Druids: Moonshae trilogy and Druidhome -Cormyr saga by Ed Greenwood & Jeff Grubb gives more insight into one of the most powerful nations in the Realms and the Obarskyr royal family. Probably one of my favourite FR series. - Harper agents, assassins and elves: Songs & Swords by Elaine Cunningham
Yaaaas thanks for all the additional recs for people. I hope after the new movie Wizards of the Coast will make more FR novels because I just love Faerun.
@@RodgersReads Glad to help. I hope they reprint some of the older novels too. I've had a hard time finding some of the older harper books in book stores over the years. 😔
I really appreciate this Rodger. This series has always been daunting for me, and I’ve never actively played D&D lol. You simplified everything really well, and I think I’ll likely start with the Dark Elf saga. Drizzt has always intrigued me.
Great video. I have read and adore all of the books you mentioned. One other series that show cases a variety of locations, Gods/magic, and races is Sembia: Gate Way to the Realms.
Yay forgotten realms love!! That particular series has recently come to my attention and is part of a bigger project I’m currently working on with another booktuber who love the forgotten realms so…stay tuned 👀 🤣
Hello from Europe and thanks for a great video! I´ve always loved Forgotten Realms, mainly because of videogames. I´ve read few books in the past but now, I want to dive deeper (Yes, it´s because of Baldur´s Gate III :) ) My only problem is, that lot of older FR books are not available as e-books for Kindle. But it´s not that important. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Hi! So fun getting to connect with people from other countries over our shared love of book. Baldur’s Gate 3 was so good!!! It is annoying that so many of the books are out of print and aren’t always available in e-formats. I hope you can get your hands on some and get to have more adventures in Faerun!!!
Great stuff. Been reading these since the mid nineties but now I guess there aren't new books anymore outside of Drizzt's? I love Richard Baker's two trilogies, particularly The Last Mythal (don't know if you've read it but it's awesome!) I wish he would do more.
Thank you!!! I’ve probably only been reading them since the late nineties/early 2000’s. That’s mostly correct that they aren’t publishing new ones outside of Drizzt outside of the two novels that were prequel stories about some of the characters from the new movie. I have indeed read the Last Mythal and totally agree it’s fantastic!
I’m new to your channel and have been watching some of your videos. Now I totally want to read Threat from the Sea and maybe some others. I love sharks and all sea life. My first tattoo was a shark and my second a killer whale. I’m off tomorrow and looking for these books! Thanks for the recommendations!
Welcome to the channel!! Yaaaaas Threat from the sea is so fun!! How cool that you love sharks and have tattoos of sea life. Hope you can find these books!! 🤗
This was a great breakdown, Thanks Rodger! I have a much better understanding of the Forgotten Realms .. unfortunately for my TBR I want to read them all.
Aw thanks!! I’m glad I could impart my knowledge after having read more than 100 books in this world I felt like I could give some solid recs. Also if you like dragons in particular and want to see a story from their viewpoint there the rage the rite and the ruin (the year of rogue dragons trilogy)
Yaaaaaas excellent choice Elminster is so fun. Who doesn’t want to follow the rise and life of an Uber powerful archmage? Like modern fantasy is great and all but does the magic always have to be gone and suddenly coming back to the world? 🤣
ah u left out my fav - The Erevis Cale Trilogy he is a bit of an edgelord but it dont get more epic than an expert assassin powered up by shadow magic to take on vampier lords and demon princes. the whole story has the baldur's gate feel to it, he literally shanked mask (god of shadow) and lived to tell the tale, papa bhaal only wish he can pull that off im in to snakes tho, ill check out the yuan ti one thanks!
Haha sorry I left it out, but I never read that trilogy. I’ll have to add it to my list to check out when I need a comfort read back in Faerun so thank you for the rec!! Yaaaas I hope you love House of Serpents it’s a lot of fun.
I have read Drizzt novels I have read the spider queen war I have read the cleric quintet I have read daughter of the drow trilogy What is next? Elminster or Spellfire?
Oooooh good question. If you want a series that spans a huge portion of time than Elminster, if you want a more contained adventure trilogy go for Shandril’s Saga (Spellfire)
Only just watched this video, because it somehow got lost in my Watch Later list, BUT thank you so much for making this, I find it suuuuper helpful!! 🥰 I have to admit that I had no clue The Forgotten Realms consists of SO MANY series, lol. The Drizzt books were definitely on my radar, but they haven't intrigued me enough to actually dive into this world. The Shandril's Saga immediately piqued my interest though, so I am adding that one to my list. Sounds like there is a lot to love in this world, very excited to give it a shot! 🤩
Aww thank you I’m glad it was helpful!! And the great thing about FR is if you try one series and don’t like it there are so many authors to also try 🤣
Loved this. Thanks for the details. I am searching for good Monk characters in the Forgotten Realms. Suggestions? I've heard Cleric Quintet could work.
The Cleric Quintet definitely has some monk stuffs going on (the main character is Cadderly who’s not a monk but there is a main character in there named Danica and she is) uhmmmmm I can’t think of any series that specifically focus on monks. In the more recent Drizzt books he trains with monks but there like 25+ books before you get to those parts 🤔
@@RodgersReads The Yellow Silk maybe? Haven't read it myself but there is a character from Shou Lung in it. I've only read the Alabaster Staff from the Rogue quadrilogy and was quite a long time ago. 😅
I've watched this video many times now. I just finished spellfire and really liked it. I've read a handful of FR books now. The first Erivis cale book. Spellfire. 2 books from "the dungeons " sub set and a few others. I also LOVE that you pretty much say it's DnD fantasy it isn't fucking HIGH ART. I see SO MANY reviews for ANY fr book where people are like "bad writing" "simple plot" " full of tropes". It's sword and sorcery DnD books people. It's not a freaking Brandon Sanderson novel where the magic is broken down to a molecular level. Ahaha sorry for that tangent but it just isn't said enough. These books are FUN quick easy reads. Eventually I want to read and own all of them and you've really helped me pick starting points for different parts of the world with different characters. I love that one book can be a simple coming of age tale and the next could be a horror book. Or a love story. Or how a thief became a LICH. Just SO MUCH GOODNESS in this world. I love love love it and your channel. Also I'm sorry you didn't have the greatest childhood but im SO GLAD these books were able to take you away and make you happy. That's what they're there for IMHO. Thank you very very much good sir! Never change that hilarious sass of yours "Dip a pinky toe in" AHAHA you crack me the fuck upppp
Yayyy someone else who sees the beauty in fun adventures. Not everything needs to be the next Pulitzer or Hugo or whatever deep complex thing. And aww thank so much for the kind words what a great message to wake up to. 🤗
@@RodgersReads I loved the first book(Shadowdale), but i'm still missing part 2 and 3 (found part 4 and 5). Just bought the War of the Spider Queen books and read the Dark Elf trilogy, thanks to your channel! Loved it! I just started playing Baldurs Gate 3, and reading the books really enhanced the experience.😀
Fingers crossed you like it! The first book (Elminster: The Making of a Mage) is much more classic fantasy training type stuff and Elminster doesn’t get super intense and epic until the second and third books. Let me know what you think when you get to it!
Thanks for this Rodger! I feel like an idiot because you mentioned Baldur's Gate and that was my favorite pc game growing up. I had no idea it was part of this book series.
Yaaaaaaas let me know what you think you’ll probably have to get used copies off Amazon or eBay since they are out of print but I promise it’s worth it 🤣
Great video Rodger !! I have a question if you could please help ! I am a Salvatore reader and i am currently reading the Orc king. (Luckily i have finished the Cleric Quintet before the Transitions) I kinda forgot that i have the War of The Spider Queen books to read. Do you know where the story stands before i progress to the Neverwinter saga ?
Oooh yaaaas love that you’re having your Drizzt saga journey. Conveniently the Orc King starts in 1372 DR which is also the same year the first 3 books of the war of the spider Queen takes place. The other three books are in 1373 DR. So after orc king it is time for WotSQ!!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 come back and let me know your thoughts 👀
Finally after 7 months as i am a slow reader i finished the War of the Spider Queen !! What a ride it was. Love the conflict and the build up . I found the first book hard to read because of the way it was written. English is not my first language so compared to the other authors i found it the hardest. It was at the second book that i realized these series are going to be epic . Ched Nassad was amazing .. with all the new characters and a very gory scene that had me on edge. As for the Finale it makes me fell i want to learn more. So here is another dilemma. I decided to pause Drizzt cause i also finished the transitions (3rd book left me shattered for days) I am between starting either Lady Penitent🕷 as its a followup or go to the past and read Starlight & Shadows. AND THEN once i have read these i consider adventuring to books like: The Haunted Lands Erevis Cale books Or maybe ssssnake people ...🐍 Long comment i know but the hype is real ! Love to hear your thoughts and please feel free to suggest where to go from here.
Spellfire and it's successors may be my favorite Ed Greenwood books. Like them more than his Elminster books. I still should give his Elminster books another shot.
I somehow never knew when people talked about Drist (sp?) that it was in a DnD universe! This was an amazing guide and I might actually try one of the novellas or standalones you mention. Although the avatar series also intrigued me
Yay I’m so glad it was helpful! The avatar series is my husbands favorite series of all time I think because the ending of that series kind of kicks off the events in the video game Baldur’s Gate. But you can’t go wrong with Silverfall
Just started reading my first D&D novel, The Brotherhood of the Griffon: The Captive Flame by Richard Lee Byers and I am loving it. It's excellent so far. I'm wondering though... are there any D&D novels with gay male characters?
Yaaaaas love to hear it. Uhmmm I can’t think of any that feature a gay male lead but the Brimstone Angels series by Erin M Evans and Death Masks by Ed Greenwood have gay male side characters. Unfortunately, Wizards stopped publishing forgotten realms books right when they were becoming more inclusive in that way.
Watching your video had me going through my epub library and reorganizing them. I've ordered them by pub date which is *not* the recommended reading order but oh well 🤷♂
I sure am. I think I need to re-read the Dragonlance Chronicles before I pick up the new one that's coming out this year...Dragons of Deceit. Are you also a fan?
@@RodgersReads I’ve only read a few hear and there and the Dragons of autumn twilight trilogy. I was a fan …. I think Weis and Hickman were a lot of fun. I have the one with the twins on my shelf. Going to read it soon 🤞🤞. My journey started late … But looking forward to it
Oooh I’ll have to keep an eye out for it! My nerdy heart is filled with joy that people are talking about forgotten realms! So even if you were I wouldn’t be mad about it as long as you talk to me about forgotten realms. 🤣 do you agree with my suggestions?
@@RodgersReads There are too many, and many I haven’t read yet, though I did mention a few I hadn’t read, I tried to keep those to a minimum. You definitely formatted your video better than I did mine.
@@LiamsLyceum there are a TON I’ve read maybe 100 in this world and I stick to ones I’ve read. Aw you’re too kind I bet you’re is good I saved it to my watch later 🙌🏻
@@jarret45 you are very correct definitely misspoke when I did the intro calling it the world of Faerun. Although if we’re speaking strictly about the books set in the Forgotten Realms they do largely take place in Faerun, but thanks for popping in to clarify for anyone who sorts through the comments!
So, you’re officially an influencer! I found you on Worldhoppers and then binged your whole channel. A couple of days later, I was at Barnes and Noble, and I ended up buying the entire dark elf trilogy. And then this video- the timing!
Haha yayyyy I’m glad I influenced you to get some good books muahahaha. 🤣 and thanks so much it makes me happy that you enjoyed my content enough to binge it
The Forgotten Realms means so much to so many. It was definitely an escape for me growing up. It still is! I’m currently reading the Elminster series and I’ve been a long time fan of the Drizzt series but I plan to read all these wonderful books! Thank you.
Yaaaas love to hear more FR love! I still need to read the final Elminster book. I’ve owned it since it came out but just don’t want that series to be over 😅 I hope you enjoy your continued adventures in Faerun
You are hilarious my friend. The story of you and your husband was so wholesome and cute. Definitely a great explanation on how to get yourself into the daunting task of the forgotten realms. Keep it up!
Aw thanks so much!! Yaaaas so glad someone agrees on how to approach the FR it’s so worth it:
I love this break down - it makes it so much more approachable for me!!
Yayyyy that was the goal. If you end up reading any books in the forgotten realms let me know!! 😊
Thanks! You have a very natural charisma that is very refreshing.
Aw that’s so kind of you to say. I’m so glad you enjoyed this one! I LOVE the forgotten realms so I hope you enjoy any journeys you take in Faerun!
Thanks Rodger, I'll have to look for some of these in my used bookstores!
Yaaaaas I hope you love any you manage to get your hands on!!
@@RodgersReads I picked these today:
House of Serpents book 3
Avatar series books 3-5
Cleric Quintet book 3
War of the Spider-Queen books 4 and 6
I always tell people Drizzt is a great start. But lately I've been reccomending the dungeons sub series. It's 4 stand alone books that are classic dungeon dives. Depths of madness being my favorite as Twilight is probably my favorite FR character. Thanks for this video
Very nice. I tend to hesitate to tell people to start with Drizzt because people get intimidated by a 30+ book ongoing series 🤣 I haven’t read the dungeons series’s sounds like I need to check it out 👀
I love the Forgotten Realms ever since I played the first Baldur's Gate game. (The BG series is my absolute favorite game series.)
I haven't however read alot of novels from the Forgotten Realms. Just the two first Drizzt trilogies, a short story compilation from the Underdark, and two other books. I watched tons and tons of lore videos and regularly read articles in the Forgotten Realms wiki, though.
I want to get back to some novels. Thanks you for this video! ❤
Yaaaaaas Baldur’s Gate!!! That was my husbands gateway as well. For me it was BG Dark Alliance. 🙌🏻🙌🏻 I hope you love any novels you choose to pick up in Faerun!
Good recommendations all. I listened to a lot of RA.Salvatore book years go, and this is perfect for me to try to branch out. Especially with BG3 being the current game
Yay! So helpful you found this helpful. Ooooh BG3 is so good, already done 2 full playthroughs. I have never tried the Drizzt audiobooks, how are they?
@@RodgersReads Listening to them now and they're great. The narrator is really good.
I recently started reading Dragonlance and I figured I might as well read Forgotten Realms as well. Thanks for the video!
Yaaaas love both of those series. Hope you enjoy your time in Faerun as much as Krynn
@@RodgersReads Thanks! I definitely love it so far
@@MrPonytron yaaaas love to hear it
Started with Dark Elf and after being one book into Icewind Dale I'm glad I did it that way. I'd miss the friend he has in IWD too much if I went to Dark Elf after. Really enjoying the series so far though.
Yay!! Yeah this is definitely one of those rare situations I think chronological>publication order for sure.
Great job, I love your passion about the books.
Thanks so much. I love these books so much so I’m happy it came across. 🤗 have you read much in the forgotten realms?
@Rodger's Reads I read the first legend of drizzt trilogy. I'm currently reading dragonlance. I'm addicted to buying books. I have a used book sale at my local library, and I get some cool book to try. I got a cool warhammer 40k book and some western book.
@@sotochristopher76 Oooh what subseries of Dragon Lance are you on?! 👀👀 I love Drizzt, and it is the only Forgotten Realms series being published currently, but I wish people would check out the hundreds of other series and dozens of other authors that world has been enriched by over the years. And if I hear one more person say R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms I might lose my mind. FR was created by Ed Greenwood and he read and gave continuity feedback on all 300-400 novels in the FR people.... lolol
That's awesome. We always say book reading and collecting are two totally separate hobbies.
@Rodger's Reads omg! I Never thought of it like that. I have books that I want to read and books I'm never gonna read but have cause they are cool to me.
Thank you for this! I’ve had these books on my TBR for a long while but I had no idea where to start.
Yaaaaas I’m happy I could help. If you couldn’t tell I LOVE this world. 🤣 what series do you have on your shelf?
@@RodgersReads I have the Dark Elf books and the Spider Queen ones! However, you got me interested in the shark books 🤣. I’ll have to go find those now lol
@@jenniferkuo5412 yaaaaas I mean it’s pretty unique when else have you had a character who shape shifts into a megalodon? 🤣
I absolutely love the Forgotten Realms series. My favorite is the trilogy Pool of Radiance, Pools of Darkness and Pool of Twilight. All written by James Ward and Anne Brown. A great read for anyone that want a lot of action with magic. One of the main characters of these books is a ranger/ thief by the name of Ren O` the Blade and is my all time favorite. I am in the process of recreating this character to run in a D&D campaign in the next couple of weeks. Now with that being said my question to u is have u heard of a character named Ren O` the Star and if so what book titles would he be in? Well anyways great video with great information!!!
Fun! I never read that trilogy but played the PC game of the same name. I’ll have to see if I can hunt down that one. 👀 I’m assuming you’re he Ren O’s are all from Ward and I don’t think I’ve ever read anything from him so I have no idea 🤣
@@RodgersReads after further research 🧐 I found that Ren O`the Star was in a video game from 1989 called Hillsfar. So he never was in a book, 🤗 thought I would share that!
@@jasonkowitz4598 thanks for the info 😊
Excellent list! I own them all and only read everything about the drow and most of the Elminster books (these books started my obsession with reading Fantasy). I have nothing to add to your recommendations, because it is perfect for people who want to start in the Forgotten Realms!!
Thanks so much. Yaaaas glad I’ve gotten another FR fans stamp of approval 🙌🏻
Thanks for making this, I'm eager to try that fallen gods book or Avatar series. That sounds like a crazy good premise for a story.
Aw thanks so much glad you enjoyed it!! I’m due for a new recommendation video. 🤔 I’ll start working on one haha. Oooh hope you love it if/when you get to it I’m due for a reread of that series it’s so unique and fun!
Waiting on spellfire to come in the mail. UncYou've not steered me wrong yet good sir! I adore your channel. Unclean just came today!
Yayyyyyy Spellfire is so good at least in my nostalgia brain. I need to reread that series soon. 🤔 I’m glad I haven’t led you astray, and I’m glad you’re liking my content I’ve been trying to improve with editing and thumbnails to make “quality” content. 😅🙌🏻
I'm really enjoying it! Sword and sorcery goodness!
@@wadejohnston4305 yayyyyy I’m glad you’re enjoying it!! 😊😊
@@RodgersReads finished it and while it's not high art it was a very enjoyable read and I look forward to finishing Shans story. Unclean just came in the mail today the first in the "undead" trilogy I THINK it's called so I may start that. But the erivis cale books and the dungeons sub series are calling my name too. Soooo many choices. A very good problem to have!
@@wadejohnston4305 yay! I’m happy you enjoyed it. Yes FR is much more just incredibly fun escapist adventures not necessarily the deepest themes with gorgeous prose 🤷🏻♂️
10/10
First time I’ve ever liked, commented, and subscribed!
Oooh high praise indeed im glad this video motivated you to do all three. Thanks! 🙌🏻😊
I loved the war of the Spider queen!! Wish I could find the audiobook somewhere!
Yaaaaas. Unfortunately the audiobooks for the series are Audible exclusives 🙈
@@RodgersReads Where are the Pirates when you need them?!?! lol
This was such a great video! Thank you very much 😊
Thank you so much I’m so glad you found it useful or entertaining 🤗
Thanks for your video, great intro!
Thank you I’m so glad you found it helpful!
I think I will start with Avatar series. Thanks for your recommendation :)
Yaaaas come back and let me know how you like it 👀
Pretty good video for FR novels. My first start was the Moonshae trilogy by Douglas Niles. :D
I'll just add a couple other books i read:
- Drow: Starlight & Shadows trilogy by Elaine Cunningham.
- Mages (especially shadow magic users): Return of the Archwizards by Troy Denning
- Clerics: The Priests by various authors. Each are standalone novels taking a look into a clerics life of different deities of the Realms. (Lady of Poison, Mistress of the Night, Maiden of Pain and Queen of the Depths)
- Druids: Moonshae trilogy and Druidhome
-Cormyr saga by Ed Greenwood & Jeff Grubb gives more insight into one of the most powerful nations in the Realms and the Obarskyr royal family. Probably one of my favourite FR series.
- Harper agents, assassins and elves: Songs & Swords by Elaine Cunningham
Yaaaas thanks for all the additional recs for people. I hope after the new movie Wizards of the Coast will make more FR novels because I just love Faerun.
@@RodgersReads Glad to help. I hope they reprint some of the older novels too. I've had a hard time finding some of the older harper books in book stores over the years. 😔
I really appreciate this Rodger. This series has always been daunting for me, and I’ve never actively played D&D lol. You simplified everything really well, and I think I’ll likely start with the Dark Elf saga. Drizzt has always intrigued me.
Yay I’m glad you found it helpful! Yay for the Dark Elf Trilogy my nostalgia for that one is real let me know what you think when you get to it!!
@@RodgersReads I definitely will!
Great video. I have read and adore all of the books you mentioned. One other series that show cases a variety of locations, Gods/magic, and races is Sembia: Gate Way to the Realms.
Yay forgotten realms love!! That particular series has recently come to my attention and is part of a bigger project I’m currently working on with another booktuber who love the forgotten realms so…stay tuned 👀 🤣
Hello from Europe and thanks for a great video! I´ve always loved Forgotten Realms, mainly because of videogames. I´ve read few books in the past but now, I want to dive deeper (Yes, it´s because of Baldur´s Gate III :) ) My only problem is, that lot of older FR books are not available as e-books for Kindle. But it´s not that important. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Hi! So fun getting to connect with people from other countries over our shared love of book.
Baldur’s Gate 3 was so good!!! It is annoying that so many of the books are out of print and aren’t always available in e-formats. I hope you can get your hands on some and get to have more adventures in Faerun!!!
Great stuff. Been reading these since the mid nineties but now I guess there aren't new books anymore outside of Drizzt's? I love Richard Baker's two trilogies, particularly The Last Mythal (don't know if you've read it but it's awesome!) I wish he would do more.
Thank you!!! I’ve probably only been reading them since the late nineties/early 2000’s. That’s mostly correct that they aren’t publishing new ones outside of Drizzt outside of the two novels that were prequel stories about some of the characters from the new movie. I have indeed read the Last Mythal and totally agree it’s fantastic!
Hi thank you for recommending fantasy books!! Happy reading to you!! 📝
Thank you!
I’m new to your channel and have been watching some of your videos. Now I totally want to read Threat from the Sea and maybe some others. I love sharks and all sea life. My first tattoo was a shark and my second a killer whale. I’m off tomorrow and looking for these books! Thanks for the recommendations!
Welcome to the channel!! Yaaaaas Threat from the sea is so fun!! How cool that you love sharks and have tattoos of sea life. Hope you can find these books!! 🤗
This was a great breakdown, Thanks Rodger! I have a much better understanding of the Forgotten Realms .. unfortunately for my TBR I want to read them all.
Aw thanks!! I’m glad I could impart my knowledge after having read more than 100 books in this world I felt like I could give some solid recs. Also if you like dragons in particular and want to see a story from their viewpoint there the rage the rite and the ruin (the year of rogue dragons trilogy)
I have mostly read the Dritzz books by Salvatore but will try out Elmister next
Yaaaaaas excellent choice Elminster is so fun. Who doesn’t want to follow the rise and life of an Uber powerful archmage? Like modern fantasy is great and all but does the magic always have to be gone and suddenly coming back to the world? 🤣
ah u left out my fav - The Erevis Cale Trilogy
he is a bit of an edgelord but it dont get more epic than an expert assassin powered up by shadow magic to take on vampier lords and demon princes. the whole story has the baldur's gate feel to it, he literally shanked mask (god of shadow) and lived to tell the tale, papa bhaal only wish he can pull that off
im in to snakes tho, ill check out the yuan ti one thanks!
Haha sorry I left it out, but I never read that trilogy. I’ll have to add it to my list to check out when I need a comfort read back in Faerun so thank you for the rec!!
Yaaaas I hope you love House of Serpents it’s a lot of fun.
I have read Drizzt novels
I have read the spider queen war
I have read the cleric quintet
I have read daughter of the drow trilogy
What is next? Elminster or Spellfire?
Oooooh good question. If you want a series that spans a huge portion of time than Elminster, if you want a more contained adventure trilogy go for Shandril’s Saga (Spellfire)
Only just watched this video, because it somehow got lost in my Watch Later list, BUT thank you so much for making this, I find it suuuuper helpful!! 🥰
I have to admit that I had no clue The Forgotten Realms consists of SO MANY series, lol. The Drizzt books were definitely on my radar, but they haven't intrigued me enough to actually dive into this world. The Shandril's Saga immediately piqued my interest though, so I am adding that one to my list.
Sounds like there is a lot to love in this world, very excited to give it a shot! 🤩
Aww thank you I’m glad it was helpful!! And the great thing about FR is if you try one series and don’t like it there are so many authors to also try 🤣
Great explanation, I didn't know much about this series. I might check out the mage books.
Yay I’m glad you enjoyed. Yaaaas Elminster 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Loved this. Thanks for the details. I am searching for good Monk characters in the Forgotten Realms. Suggestions? I've heard Cleric Quintet could work.
The Cleric Quintet definitely has some monk stuffs going on (the main character is Cadderly who’s not a monk but there is a main character in there named Danica and she is) uhmmmmm I can’t think of any series that specifically focus on monks. In the more recent Drizzt books he trains with monks but there like 25+ books before you get to those parts 🤔
@@RodgersReads thanks!
@@RodgersReads The Yellow Silk maybe? Haven't read it myself but there is a character from Shou Lung in it. I've only read the Alabaster Staff from the Rogue quadrilogy and was quite a long time ago. 😅
I've watched this video many times now. I just finished spellfire and really liked it. I've read a handful of FR books now. The first Erivis cale book. Spellfire. 2 books from "the dungeons " sub set and a few others. I also LOVE that you pretty much say it's DnD fantasy it isn't fucking HIGH ART. I see SO MANY reviews for ANY fr book where people are like "bad writing" "simple plot" " full of tropes". It's sword and sorcery DnD books people. It's not a freaking Brandon Sanderson novel where the magic is broken down to a molecular level. Ahaha sorry for that tangent but it just isn't said enough. These books are FUN quick easy reads. Eventually I want to read and own all of them and you've really helped me pick starting points for different parts of the world with different characters. I love that one book can be a simple coming of age tale and the next could be a horror book. Or a love story. Or how a thief became a LICH. Just SO MUCH GOODNESS in this world. I love love love it and your channel. Also I'm sorry you didn't have the greatest childhood but im SO GLAD these books were able to take you away and make you happy. That's what they're there for IMHO. Thank you very very much good sir! Never change that hilarious sass of yours
"Dip a pinky toe in" AHAHA you crack me the fuck upppp
Yayyy someone else who sees the beauty in fun adventures. Not everything needs to be the next Pulitzer or Hugo or whatever deep complex thing. And aww thank so much for the kind words what a great message to wake up to. 🤗
Great video! Just started with the Avatar series 😊
Yaaaaas how are you liking that series?
@@RodgersReads I loved the first book(Shadowdale), but i'm still missing part 2 and 3 (found part 4 and 5).
Just bought the War of the Spider Queen books and read the Dark Elf trilogy, thanks to your channel! Loved it! I just started playing Baldurs Gate 3, and reading the books really enhanced the experience.😀
hell yea. could immediately tell from the enthusiasm that you're the guy whose gonna tell me whats what
Aww thank you!! I sure will!
Right giving Elminster a shot. Better not stear me wrong!
Fingers crossed you like it! The first book (Elminster: The Making of a Mage) is much more classic fantasy training type stuff and Elminster doesn’t get super intense and epic until the second and third books. Let me know what you think when you get to it!
Thanks for this Rodger! I feel like an idiot because you mentioned Baldur's Gate and that was my favorite pc game growing up. I had no idea it was part of this book series.
Ooh you should read the Avatar Series then it basically sets up Baldur’s Gate with a certain god 👀
@@RodgersReads Thanks for the personalized recommendation Roger! Need to find some copies ASAP :D
Yaaaaaaas let me know what you think you’ll probably have to get used copies off Amazon or eBay since they are out of print but I promise it’s worth it 🤣
Great video Rodger !!
I have a question if you could please help !
I am a Salvatore reader and i am currently reading the Orc king. (Luckily i have finished the Cleric Quintet before the Transitions)
I kinda forgot that i have the War of The Spider Queen books to read.
Do you know where the story stands before i progress to the Neverwinter saga ?
Oooh yaaaas love that you’re having your Drizzt saga journey. Conveniently the Orc King starts in 1372 DR which is also the same year the first 3 books of the war of the spider Queen takes place. The other three books are in 1373 DR. So after orc king it is time for WotSQ!!!! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻 come back and let me know your thoughts 👀
Finally after 7 months as i am a slow reader i finished the War of the Spider Queen !! What a ride it was.
Love the conflict and the build up .
I found the first book hard to read because of the way it was written. English is not my first language so compared to the other authors i found it the hardest.
It was at the second book that i realized these series are going to be epic . Ched Nassad was amazing .. with all the new characters and a very gory scene that had me on edge.
As for the Finale it makes me fell i want to learn more.
So here is another dilemma. I decided to pause Drizzt cause i also finished the transitions (3rd book left me shattered for days)
I am between starting either Lady Penitent🕷 as its a followup or go to the past and read Starlight & Shadows.
AND THEN once i have read these i consider adventuring to books like:
The Haunted Lands
Erevis Cale books
Or maybe ssssnake people ...🐍
Long comment i know but the hype is real !
Love to hear your thoughts and please feel free to suggest where to go from here.
Spellfire and it's successors may be my favorite Ed Greenwood books. Like them more than his Elminster books. I still should give his Elminster books another shot.
Spellfire is so good I need to reread that trilogy
I somehow never knew when people talked about Drist (sp?) that it was in a DnD universe! This was an amazing guide and I might actually try one of the novellas or standalones you mention. Although the avatar series also intrigued me
The cat otro gets me every time 😂
Yay I’m so glad it was helpful! The avatar series is my husbands favorite series of all time I think because the ending of that series kind of kicks off the events in the video game Baldur’s Gate. But you can’t go wrong with Silverfall
Yaaaaas Jujubee with a lions roar I was proud of myself when I came up with that one 🤣
Thank you! You made this series less intimidating!
Oooh yaaaaaas we love to hear it! I hope you enjoy your adventures in Faerun!!!
Wonderful review Rodger. I was wondering who your favourite characters are in the Drizzt series and why?
Thank you!! Hmmm probably Jarlaxle because I love his shenanigans with how he escapes every situation, a magical trinket for every situation 🤣
My favourite is joint first place between Jarlaxle and Artemis, followed by Bruenor.
Love this video and the sass!
Me?! Sassy?! 💀🤣🤣
Just started reading my first D&D novel, The Brotherhood of the Griffon: The Captive Flame by Richard Lee Byers and I am loving it. It's excellent so far. I'm wondering though... are there any D&D novels with gay male characters?
Yaaaaas love to hear it. Uhmmm I can’t think of any that feature a gay male lead but the Brimstone Angels series by Erin M Evans and Death Masks by Ed Greenwood have gay male side characters. Unfortunately, Wizards stopped publishing forgotten realms books right when they were becoming more inclusive in that way.
Thanks homie!!
Glad I could help! 😊
The Forgotten Realms sounds so cool.
Oooh yay!!! I hope you pick up a series in it… did any of them in particular catch your interest? 😊
@@RodgersReads Probably with Homeland. I don’t mind long series.
I like this guy your awesome dude thanx for the info
Thanks so much! I’m glad the info was helpful 🙌🏻
Subbed, like the vibes haha. Cheers!
Haha sweet thanks for sticking around for the chaotic gay vibes 🤣 ooh you have a channel too? Saved you TBR to watch later 👀
@@RodgersReads Aw thank you :p Honestly, I love your energy! Happy Reading!
@@RekindledReader aww you’re too kind thanks so much 🤗
Watching your video had me going through my epub library and reorganizing them. I've ordered them by pub date which is *not* the recommended reading order but oh well 🤷♂
Hahaha I mean live your life, 🤣
The mage series looked good. Thanks for the video. Are you a fan of dragonlance too?
I sure am. I think I need to re-read the Dragonlance Chronicles before I pick up the new one that's coming out this year...Dragons of Deceit. Are you also a fan?
@@RodgersReads I’ve only read a few hear and there and the Dragons of autumn twilight trilogy. I was a fan …. I think Weis and Hickman were a lot of fun. I have the one with the twins on my shelf. Going to read it soon 🤞🤞. My journey started late … But looking forward to it
@@mastersal4644 yaaaaas I love that second trilogy focusing in Raistlin and Caramon!!
what a nice video! you earned a sub!"
Aw thanks. Yay!!! Thanks for the sub 😊😊
thank uuuu queen
Thank you for watching!! 🤗🤗👑👸🏻👑
All you gotta know is the legend of Drizzt
🤣 but there’s so much more than Drizzt 🥺😜
So sassy!
Who?! Me?! 💀🤣🤣🤣
I’m actually just about to film a similar video, funny how that works, I’m not copying you 😆
Oooh I’ll have to keep an eye out for it! My nerdy heart is filled with joy that people are talking about forgotten realms! So even if you were I wouldn’t be mad about it as long as you talk to me about forgotten realms. 🤣 do you agree with my suggestions?
@@RodgersReads I agree, more FR love the better! I do like your suggestions here, yeah, I have some of the same on my list and some different ones.
@@LiamsLyceum cool! I realized after I finished that I should have also mentioned the rage the rite and the ruin but oh well 🤣
@@RodgersReads There are too many, and many I haven’t read yet, though I did mention a few I hadn’t read, I tried to keep those to a minimum. You definitely formatted your video better than I did mine.
@@LiamsLyceum there are a TON I’ve read maybe 100 in this world and I stick to ones I’ve read. Aw you’re too kind I bet you’re is good I saved it to my watch later 🙌🏻
For the algorithm.
Cadderly's a cleric. His girlfriend is the monk 🤣
Did I call him a monk? Whoopsie. 🤣
hhhwat is ? Nice video
Thanks so much
The world is Toril. Faerun is the continent my boy.
@@jarret45 you are very correct definitely misspoke when I did the intro calling it the world of Faerun. Although if we’re speaking strictly about the books set in the Forgotten Realms they do largely take place in Faerun, but thanks for popping in to clarify for anyone who sorts through the comments!
@@RodgersReads Anytime my good man.
The overanimated mannerism is off-putting ;- x
Thanks for the engagement even though you don’t like my personality. Maybe next time just go to a different video and don’t comment mean things. ;-x