I am honestly unsure whether to rate this a one or three. This is a terrible book. This is the second worst book I have ever read. And yet, on some level, I actually kind of enjoy it simply because it is SO HILARIOUSLY BAD.The characterization of...well, everyone, was a complete 180 degree turn from their canon in-game personalities, not to mention Athans has a bad habit of killing off characters as soon as they are no longer useful for his purposes. The story really doesn't make much sense, it skips around a lot, and there are more plot holes than I can count. It's also just a little too gory for my tastes. Now I'd be lying if I said it didnt have its moments. Every once in a while, it actually gets good enough to geniunely draw me in for a while, before throwing me off again and just going back to being hilariously bad. I also grudgingly admit that I actually did kind of like Xan as a character, even if he's absolutely nothing like he was in the game. Too bad I never felt anything of the sort for Abdel or Jaheira. Abdel was utterly unlikeable, and Jaheira was reduced to nothing more than a screaming damsel in distress. Don't even get me started on Cardboard Cutout Khalid. The characterizations of Montaron, Xzar, and Yeslick were actually pretty good and I considered them to be fairly interesting characters in the story. Unfortunately, they are only in very short portions of the book. Sarevok did not feel threatening as a villain at all and was more like some generic bad guy. The anticlimactic final battle did nothing to help this impression. Anyways, if you're a fan of the game, don't read this expecting anything like the game, because it's nothing but a cruel mockery of the source material. But if you like to read really bad fantasy literature from time to time just to laugh at how bad it is, this is the book for you.
The book completely mutilates the original story. I was incredibly excited upon aquiring the book but after around 10 pages I was devastated. The game and it's sequels are incredible, I hoped maybe the book would have more to do with the actual events in game, rather than 'invented' situations, but I was dead wrong. Also, characters in the book all have a personality redesign which is annoying, and the main character is the worst of the lot.I liked some fight descriptions, and at times the book was (unintentionally) incredibly funny. But it's not enough to rate it even as OK.
What do You think about Baldur's Gate (1999)?
The video game this is based off has better characterisation, better story and generally better everything.Also, this book ruins Jaheira as a character so badly that you'd think the author a.) hates women and b.) was trolling. Unfortunately, he's just a talentless hack who makes Stephanie Meyer look like bloody Shakespeare.Only worth reading as part of a masochistic drinking game wherein you down a shot every time you find yourself comparing the book (unfavourably) to 'The Eye of Argon' (a fantasy book so bad that it's funnier than most actual comedy stories).
—Bob_the_antichrist
Baldur's Gate being my favourite CRPG series, I thought it would be great to start reading the books. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a BIG mistake, since this book is propably one of the worst I've ever read. Even finishing it felt like an achievement. Just stick with the games for your own mental health. This might sound harsh, but consider that most of the people that will buy the book will be hoping for an experience close to the excellent game. For those people, the dissapointment factor will be huge.
—Asterios
"Baldur's Gate" is the novelization of a video game. Honestly, that is really all there is to it. It follows the narrative of the critically-heralded role-playing game from BioWare and Black Isle Studios with a generic protagonist and a host of familiar characters lifted direct from the game's roster. There is some fun to be had within these pages; the journey through the Cloakwood is of particular interest as the story nears its conclusion, and there is a romantic subplot that manages to ascend above most of what I have read in fantasy, albeit only slightly. "Baldur's Gate" probably isn't for the average fantasy reader, but I feel safe recommending it to those who are significantly invested in the Forgotten Realms setting, as well as fans of the video game.
—Robbie Hastings
