Numenera: The Night Clave

Return to the world of Numenera tabletop RPG with The Night Clave by Monte Cook and Shanna Germain. In the Ninth World, priests work to decipher and utilize technology from the eight previous civilizations. One such priest decides to use the unusual tech for his own reasons and drives a once peaceful land into the darkness. A group bands together and attempts to stop him at any cost, even if they lose their land in the process.

The Night Clave isn’t quite as good as the first book in the series. The characters are bland and mostly identified by their weapons and class type. While this works for RPG games, it makes for a slow read. The initial assassination attempt mission, which is filled with tension and well-paced, and the final chapters are the highlight. The relationship between the two main characters serves as a pivotal plot point, especially in the climax. Unfortunately, the middle block suffers from too much exposition and detail overload. Overall, the book is a fun read and serves as taste of the RPG system with its intricate lore and unique use of technology.