The thing about Knaak is his books all run around in a circle until they end lately. "Night of the Dragon" was almost the most disappointing book they've published (Still not quite edging out the pointless and crazy-short "Cycle of Hatred"). Some people go into Grim Batol, then come out. Other people go into Grim Batol, then come out. The groups mingle and go into and out of Grim Batol. Some one else shows up and goes into Grim Batol and then comes out. It's the same action over and over until everyone goes home. "Stormrage" wasn't as ridiculous, but it got close. "We have to go into the Dream! We have to get out of the Dream! We have to get back into the Dream! We got knocked out of The Dream!" etc. Sheesh. At least in Golden's books, things actually happen. Knaak's books feel like a few plot points from Blizzard and hundreds of pages of filler from Knaak. I'm really hoping he gets right for "Wolfheart." Varian needs to be made more sympathetic, especially after his behavior in "The Shattering." "I hate problems, I'm just gonna kill dwarves 'til they go away!" "Dad, you can't do that." "I guess you're right..."

One of my favorite things about this book was watching Thrall experience things the players have already seen firsthand. His reactions to the flooding of Thousand Needles, to Coldarra, to the Caverns of Time, it was fun. Even in "The Shattering," he was mostly just standing around being told what to do or arguing with people. Here he finally gets to go on another adventure. It was cool to finally see him out in the world doing things instead of sitting on a chair or staring into a hole.

Also, I never liked Kalecgos. All I knew him for was abandoning his betrothed to chase around a human girl and later being all whiny in "Night of the Dragon." But Golden made me change my mind in this. He's presented as a much more complex and noble character here.

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