Okay, so I randomly grabbed this AD&D novel from a dusty shelf because the cover had a cool glowing rod illustration. Best impulse buy ever!

The story follows these two halflings who get yeeted into an epic cosmic battle between Law and Chaos. Imagine Frodo Baggins meets Alice in Wonderland - one minute they're normal hobbit-folk, next thing you know they're getting magically compelled to collect rod pieces while reality itself goes bonkers around them.

What I loved: The sheer unpredictability! One chapter they're sailing, then POOF - desert. The halfling grows giant-sized at one point? Classic D&D nonsense in the best way. The rod's 'lawful' influence creates this weird tension where the characters aren't fully in control of their actions.

What's meh: Some fights feel like cutscenes where NPCs do all the work. And yeah okay, the plot railroads harder than Thomas the Tank Engine on steroids. But honestly? That kinda fits with the whole 'cosmic forces manipulating mortals' vibe.

Final verdict: Not high literature, but perfect for when you want that old-school D&D feel where logic takes a backseat to Rule of Cool. 4/5 stars because any book that can make me yell 'WHAT EVEN IS HAPPENING' multiple times deserves credit.