While I am fine with all of the characters, I think the main ones have very little agency. They seem to always being saved/protected and shuttled around by others.
I second that. But don't get me wrong Terry: I really, really enjoyed reading the book, I think it is great and I wished there was a sequel for that cliffhanger you left me with. Ever since working with the Folenn stuff for Bladestorm, I remember reading (in Master Atlas II??) about the fellows finding the entrance to a Coral Road. What on Kulthea do you have in store for them there ? Or was it just a teaser?
I must admit that I am a very lazy reader and it takes quite a story to draw me in for hours. Loremaster Legacy took it's time to get everybody introduced, but when the story started to take off, I loved how you changed settings and characters while pulling the strings ever closer. In the end, I couldn't put it out of my hands.
I followed Loremaster Legacy up with "Stormriders" because I wanted to stay in the Kulthea setting and it is a pity that there are not more novels revolving around the the Shadow World. The most successful role playing games in Germany are all supported by novels which help players get settled in the world and also keep the mind on the game while not being able to actively play in a group ("The Dark Eye" (Das Schwarze Auge), ShadowRun, Splittermond, Engel, Battletech). As a side effect, those novels (as long as they can be considered "canon") tend to broaden the background for players and game masters.
So yes, Loremaster Legacy is a great and much needed novel for Shadow World that sparks appetite for much more.