Showing posts with label salvatore. Show all posts
Showing posts with label salvatore. Show all posts

The Silent Blade (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 1) Review

The Silent Blade (Forgotten Realms:  Paths of Darkness, Book 1)
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The Silent Blade (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 1) ReviewI have grown to genuinely feel for the characters in Salvatore's Dark Elf Series. The characters are almost real, their trials becoming the reader's trials.
This book was excellent, and paved the road for many more to come (hoping, of course, that Mr. Salvatore has no intention of ending the series).
The ending was slightly confusing, since Entreri's burning need to face his arch-nemesis once and for all on fair ground is brought into play. The end of this fight seems a bit anticlimactic, however, unles it plays a larger role later. Jarlaxle communicates to Drizzt after the fight the Entreri will no longer bother him because Drizzt is believed to be dead.
The problem as I see it with this line is this: In a world where Drizzt Do'Urden has made such a far-reaching impression as to be accepted almost universally despite his drow heritage, news of his still being quite alive and well would not be long in reaching the ears of Artemis Entreri.
Future conflict? Perhaps, but how many more continually unresolved fights can there be between them?
As for Wulfgar, he always took far too much of the world upon his shoulders. His apparent descent into the world of evil is a fitting continuation for a man haunted by demons he has created for himself. These can be far more effective than the tortures of the Abyss...The Silent Blade (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 1) OverviewWhen the vile Crystal Shard once again reveals itself, Drizzt must race against his most formidable enemies in hopes of destroying it before it finds the one being that can help it enslave the world: a dark elf named Jarlaxle.Winner of the Origins Award for best game-related novel of 1998, The Silent Blade marked the return of Drizzt to the wind-swept tundra of the Forgotten Realms world. This deluxe reissue features a new Todd Lockwood cover and an introduction from The New York Times best-selling author Philip Athans, who has served as Salvatore's editor for almost a decade, starting with the original release of this book.From the Hardcover edition.

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Paths of Darkness, Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms) Review

Paths of Darkness, Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms)
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Paths of Darkness, Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms) ReviewThe Paths of Darkness compendium includes R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms novels published from 1998 to 2001. The principle storyline for this series is the return of Wulfgar from imprisonment by the demon Erttu, and his stuggle to come to grips with his new life. Three of the books included in this one make up the final part of the 'Legend of Drizzt'. One book, Servant of the Shard, seems to have been included in this volume only because of publication order. It is actually the first book of the separate 'Sellswords' trilogy and doesn't really have anything to do with Drizzt and Co.
In The Silent Blade (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 1), a fresh new adventure for the Companions of the Hall is began. As Drizzt and Co. head out to Spirit Soaring to have Cadderly destroy the (same old) Crystal Shard, monsters hound them at every turn. Wulfgar struggles with inner demons until he finds a place as a bouncer for a rough tavern in Luskan, where he has a great time bashing heads and drinking booze. Artemis Entreri travels back to his roots in Calimport to begin reestablishing his name and fortune. Jarlaxle has ventured out of Menzoberanzan in the search for power and wealth and coaxes Entreri to join his plans. Character development is the primary thing that stands out in this book. Wulfgar, Entreri, and Jarlaxle especially grow as characters. [4-star rating].
The Spine of the World (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 2) is completely devoted to the continuing struggle of Wulfgar, who cannot seem to overcome his inner demons and allows himself to fall into a rather shameful existence. The story consists of two separate plot-lines that briefly come together near the end of the book. Wulfgar and Morik (who develops nicely here) fight, are framed, get beat, leave Luskan, fight, are framed, get beat, and so on. The other story was actually the more intriguing to me. It involves characters that we've never met before and their emotional wrangling. A hi-bred lord courts a lowly peasant (Meralda), who goes along with it for her family's sake but makes a big mistake in getting knocked up by another man. The two stories come together in an unpredictable way that results in a hugely surprising and satisfying ending. [3-star rating]
The third book in the Paths of Darkness, Servant of the Shard (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 3), probably shouldn't have been included in this collection. It is really somewhat of a duplicate book, released two different times with different looking covers, the second time as book one of The Sellswords. It is also one of the most enjoyable Salvatore books to date. The Sellswords series follows the adventures of Artemis Enreri and Jarlaxle. This perfect couple is extremely well-developed and are fun to read about. In book 1, the Crystal Shard occupies center stage as the story began in The Silent Blade is continued. The annoyingly pious Cadderly plays a part in the latter parts of the book, but doesn't do too much harm to the story. Excellent fighting scenes and plenty of action make for a fun and exciting read. [5-star rating].
In Sea of Swords (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness), the story of Wulfgar is rejoined for the final book of the Legend of Drizzt. As the Companions of the Hall set out to retrieve Aegis-Fang from the pirate Sheila Kree, it seems nothing could stand in their way. Wulfgar finally comes to terms with his new place in life, and is reunited with his old friends before the final battle. A mysterious elf from Drizzt's past has plotted to slay Drizzt for years and the two meet in an epic clash. Overall, this was a bit disappointing for a Drizzt novel, particularly because of its being the last in the series. [3-star rating].
Overall, these books really start to lose interest as the reader becomes inundated with Drizzt and his friends. The heroes (except Wulfgar ironically) become practically invincible and the stories become predictable. I'm just glad that I'm finally through the Legend of Drizzt (although I probably will read The Hunter's Blades trilogy).Paths of Darkness, Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms) OverviewThis collection of four New York Times best-selling novels from premiere fantasy authorR.A. Salvatore includes The Silent Blade, The Spine of the World, Servant of the Shard, and Sea of Swords. These titles continue the tale of Salvatore's signature character Drizzt Do'Urden, one of the most well-known figures in the Forgotten Realms setting.

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Starless Night (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow, Book 2) Review

Starless Night (Forgotten Realms:  Legacy of the Drow, Book 2)
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Starless Night (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow, Book 2) ReviewAfter reading a lot of the reviews for this book, i thought i would add my own opinion of it. So far i have been a loyal fan of salvatore's. i have, in fact read every book of the drizzt series from the first to the most recent several times, and starless night, i think, is one of the best ones. salvatore places some of our favorite, non-drow characters into the drow's infamous home city. it was a nice change of setting for the reader as well as the characters, especially since i love reading about the extraordinary city of menzoberanzan. i think that drittz acted completely in character in his actions when you consider all that he has been through that led him up to this point. i see no problem with him wanting to sacrifice himself to save his loved ones, when he believs that all he has ever done was brought harm to everyone he cared for. I liked this book because it brought back some old characters from drizzt's childhood, as well as some new ones from the city. and it also put his dearest friend and greatest enemy in a dangerous, yet intriguing situation. as always, salvatore was excellent in his battle scenes and small exepected twists that turn the whole storyline around. I think this is one of the better books to the series,but will always belive that Homeland is the best yet. I agree with most people that the cover art is the worst i have seen, although the most recent books haven't been much better. You would think that someone would know how to draw an elf by now! And as to drittz's age, if you follow his age throughout all of the books, as i have done many times, you will find that he is somewhere between 60 and 70.Starless Night (Forgotten Realms: Legacy of the Drow, Book 2) OverviewThe Underdark. A place of brooding darkness, where no shadows exist, and where Drizzt Do'Urden does not wish to go. The noble dark elf must return there, though, must go back to find his friends in the gnome city ofBlingdenstone, and on to Menzoberranzan, the city of drow. Only then can Drizzt discern what perils might reach out from that dark place to threaten his friends in Mithril Hall.From the Hardcover edition.

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Forgotten Realms: The Legend of the Drizzt Omnibus, Vol. 1 (v. 1) Review

Forgotten Realms: The Legend of the Drizzt Omnibus, Vol. 1 (v. 1)
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Forgotten Realms: The Legend of the Drizzt Omnibus, Vol. 1 (v. 1) ReviewI would really like to know is this a book or a grafic novel.
So please, do tell if you bought Drizzt omnibus vol.1
Forgotten Realms: The Legend of the Drizzt Omnibus, Vol. 1 (v. 1) OverviewBased on R.A. Salvatore's best-selling The Legends of Drizzt series of novels, the Forgotten Realms Trilogy: Omnibus combines all three books - Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn - into one great book! This story takes you from the moments before the birth of Drizzt to the point where he leaves his home world and ventures to the unknown.

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Streams of Silver (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 2) Review

Streams of Silver (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 2)
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Streams of Silver (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 2) ReviewRA Salvatore has created his own cult following in the world of D&D with his culture of the drow and Icewind Dale, the glacier community in the Forgotten Realms. This book picks up right where "Crystal Shard" left off, with Drizzt Do'Urden and pals fulfilling their promise to help dwarf Bruenor Battlehammer find his lost homeland, Mithral Hall. But! Regis the Halfling, always in trouble, is in the worst of his life, and an evil assassin is on his trail. Salvatore treats us to a new hateful-but-seductive villain in Artemis Entreri. My only complaint about this book is Salvatore's persistent use of the Irish brogue for his characters, which gets a bit annoying to read, and his seeming attempt to make a PC statement by focusing so heavily on racism. Written at the beginning of the PC 1990s, Salvatore repeatedly refers to the drow as "black elves" in this book rather than Drow, which he doesn't do in any of the other books in this series. Seemed a bit pandering to me, although Drizzt is definitely a victim of prejudice in the drow-hating Realms. Highly recommend as this is a fabulous adventure series!Streams of Silver (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 2) OverviewStreams of Silver"Yer eyes'll shine when ye see the rivers runnin' silver in Mithril Hall!"Bruenor the dwarf, Wulfgar the barbarian, Regis the halfling, and Drizzt the dark elf fight monsters and magic on their way to Mithril Hall, centuries-old birthplace of Bruenor and his dwarven ancestors.Faced with racism, Drizzt contemplates returning to the lightless underworld city andmurderous lifestyle he abandoned. Wulfgar begins to overcome his tribe's aversion for magic. And Regis runs from a deadly assassin, who, allied with evil wizards, is bent on the companions' destruction. All of Bruenor's dreams, and the survival of his party, hinge upon the actions of one brave young woman.Streams of Silver is R.A. Salvatore's second book in the Icewind Dale Trilogy, based on the Forgotten Realms fantasy setting.

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The Fallen Fortress (Forgotten Realms: The Cleric Quintet, Book 4) Review

The Fallen Fortress (Forgotten Realms:  The Cleric Quintet, Book 4)
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The Fallen Fortress (Forgotten Realms: The Cleric Quintet, Book 4) ReviewI should first say that I grew up on Salvatore's books and have always considered him as a master of fantasy writing... until I read this one. Having enjoyed Canticle, been ok with In Sylvan Shadows, and absolutely loved the concept of the Ghearufu in Night Masks - The Fallen Fortress, as title suggests, fell flat on its face.
Suddenly, Cadderly's steady growth as a character ground to a flat halt. In Fallen Fortress, he is omniscient, all-powerful, etc, etc. He can do anything; nothing affects him. The rendition of his emotional turmoil in this book is flat and hard to sympathize with. This makes for very boring reading. Maturity of characters? I don't think so - everyone here is predictable and does not grow.
Plotwise, there is nothing interesting - there is nothing to match the invention of Cadderly's yo-yo or crossbow in the earlier books, or the originality of the evil artifact mentioned above. Instead, potential plotlines are disappointingly dashed aside. Eg. I was intrigued when a certain villain "came back" - that would have made perfect material for advancing the plot. But instead, the book kills him off unceremoniously, without exploiting his potental (to the plot) - what a waste.The Fallen Fortress (Forgotten Realms: The Cleric Quintet, Book 4) OverviewR.A. Salvatore's The Cleric Quintet tells the tale of the scholar-priest Cadderly, who is plucked from the halls of the Edificant Library to fulfill a heroic quest across the land of Faerûn.Cadderly leads the combined forces of Carradoon and Shilmista against Castle Trinity, stronghold of his enemy Aballister. But another mission calls him on a journey leading into a past he hoped he would be able to forget.

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The Crystal Shard (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 1) Review

The Crystal Shard (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 1)
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The Crystal Shard (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 1) ReviewThis was the first ever public offering of R. A. Salvatore's writing ability. It's no wonder he's written so many others since! He's a great author, and this book showcases his writing ability. It's filled with plot twists & subplots & everything else that makes a story interesting. Anyone who is interested in reading through the Drizzt Do'Urden storyline, I advise reading "The Dark Elf Trilogy" first to get more of a chronological progression in the character's developement, however, nothing is lost by reading this book first. It's a great story by a great storyteller.The Crystal Shard (Forgotten Realms: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, Book 1) OverviewAkar Kessel, a weak-willed apprentice mage sets in motion events leading to the rediscovery of the magical device, the crystal shard. But is it merely an inanimate device . . . or is it capable of directing the defeat of Ten-Towns?Or have the barbarians already arranged for that themselves? Their brutal attack on the villages of Ten-Towns seals their fate, and that of the youn barbarian Wulfgar. Left for dead, Wulfgar is rescued by the dwarf, Bruenor, in exchange for five years of service . . . and friendship. With the help of the dark elf, Drizzt, Bruenor reshapes Wulfgar into a warrior with both brawn and brains.But is Wulfgar strong enough to reunite the barbarian tribes? Can an unorthodox dwarf and renegade dark elf persuade the people of Ten-Towns to put aside their petty differences in time to stave off the forces of the crystal shard?

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The Orc King: Transitions, Book I Review

The Orc King: Transitions, Book I
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The Orc King: Transitions, Book I ReviewThe Orc King by R.A. Salvatore is the first book in his new trilogy titled Transitions. The second book in this trilogy is titled the Pirate King and will be published in October, 2008; the third and final book of this trilogy is titled the Ghost King and is set to be published in October, 2009. For fans of the Mr. Salvatore's trademark character, Drizzt, this novel picks up right after the events of the The Hunter's Blades Trilogy Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms)Trilogy, in particular The Two Swords (The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 3). If you are just happening among the Drizzt saga, I highly suggest you go back and start from the beginning of his story with Homeland: The Dark Elf Trilogy, Part 1 (Forgotten Realms: The Legend of Drizzt, Book I) which is book one of the The Dark Elf Trilogy, Collector's Edition (Homeland, Exile, Sojourn). Of course, you can most likely read this book without the entire history, but several references and stories will lose most of their luster and meaning.
As I said above, the plot of this book picks up right after the events of the Two Swords in that Obould still has his orc army camped, and fortifying, outside of Mithral Hall. The main storyline of this book is how the dwarves want to deal with an uneasy peace between the two groups. There are also several subplots sprinkled throughout this novel as well. Things such as political infighting within the orc ranks, there is the story arc of Wulfgar and Cattie-brie trying to find Colson - and just what do they do with her if they find her, and then there is Breunor's quest to find the lost dwarven city of Gauntlgrym. There are also a couple other subplots included, but I will refrain from discussing those due to the spoiler potential. As with almost ever Salvatore book, the plot lines and overall story are well conceived and executed to near perfection. The pacing of this novel is also spot on. It's written in such a way as to defy the reader to put the book down. Fans of Salvatore will most assuredly appreciate the depth and scope of this novel.
The characters in this novel are largely the characters that fans have become familiar with over the past several years. Mainstays such as Drizzt, Cattie-brie, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis all make appearances in this novel. While this book is billed as a Drizzt novel, and he is certainly front and center of many scenes, it appears that this book is really more about Obould and his situation. One drawback of reading about certain characters for so many years, is that the characters tend to become complacent and bland. After all, one can assume that there is really only so much character development that can go into a character. However, with this novel, Mr. Salvatore throws that out the winder and appears to be reshaping a few of his characters. There is a great deal of character development for several of the `big name' characters. Just who they are, and what those developments are, you will have to read the book for. I don't want to spoil anything. It is nice to see the sometimes subtle changes occurring, along with the blatantly obvious changes. It adds a sense of realism to the characters, but more importantly it adds a sense of uncertainty. All through the Hunter's Blade Trilogy I never felt that any of the main characters were in any danger, however, this book (and hopefully the trilogy) gave me a sense of uneasiness towards the characters. I didn't have that feeling that the characters were invincible. A subtle change, but a very important one in my opinion.
Traditional Forgotten Realms fans will be particularly interested in the prelude of this novel. It offers readers a glimpse of Drizzt's life one hundred years into the future. The title of this trilogy, Transitions, is a harbinger of things to come, both in the life of Drizzt and company, but also to the Forgotten Realms as a whole. It appears there are dramatic changes in store for the Realms, time will tell just how dramatic they truly are.
Fans of Salvatore will no doubt enjoy this book. It offers everything that he is known for; solid characters, enjoyable plots, and well choreographed fight scenes. Mr. Salvatore's prose is like wearing an old pair of shoes. No matter how many times you wear them, they are just as comfortable as before.
This novel is a very good addition to the Drizzt saga. It furthers the story of many characters and resolves several issues that have been left hanging over the past couple books. It also advances the Forgotten Realms a little, which is something that Salvatore does not always do. I am fairly confident that most Forgotten realms fans will enjoy this novel, I know I certainly did. You may be asking yourself, if I liked this book so much, why only a four start rating. While I really enjoyed this novel, I didn't feel the wow factor. I like to try and save the five stars for truly special books, and while this is certainly a very good book there is something missing, not sure what but there is just something missing to make it truly a great book. Never-the-less, I would still recommend this book to most fantasy fans.
The Orc King: Transitions, Book I OverviewDrizzt is back, and facing a world changed forever!An uneasy peace between the dwarves of Mithral Hall and the orcs of the newly established Kingdom of Many-Arrows can't last long. The orc tribes united under Obould begin to fight each other, and Bruenor is determined to finish the war that nearly killed him and almost destroyed everything he's worked to build. But it will take more than swords and axes to bring a lasting peace to the Spine of the World. Powerful individuals on both sides may have to change the way they see each other. They may have to start to talk. And it won't be easy.The paper-back of the novel that, for the first time since the #4 New York Times best seller The Lone Drow, brought Drizzt Do'Urden to center stage in a book that set fans of Drizzt and the Forgotten Realms line on notice--be prepared for anything! This book wasn't just the next installment in the long-running saga of the famous dark elf, but the beginning of a bold new trilogy that will help change the face of the Forgotten Realms world forever.

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The Best of the Realms (Forgotten Realms Anthology) Review

The Best of the Realms (Forgotten Realms Anthology)
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The Best of the Realms (Forgotten Realms Anthology) ReviewI bought this book primarily to get the R.A. Salvatore story that appears in it. This story is the only first-appearing story in the collection. The others are all reprints of stories that have appeared in the various "Realms of..." anthologies over the past decade or so. I will only review some of the other stories, since they have all appeared previously.
"Empty Joys" by Salvatore is the final story in the book, but I review it first since it is the only new story. This is another tale of Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle adventuring together. In this case, they join up with a band of highwaymen. Salvatore gives some tantalizing information regarding the nature of the relationship between the two fighters, giving some insight into how they regard one another. It seems that Jarlaxle might not be quite so trusting and cavalier toward Artemis as some readers might have thought.
"Rite of Blood" by Elaine Cunningham tells a story of a young drow female being subjected to her test of adulthood. The exposition was a bit long compared to a very abrupt resolution, but the treachery and deadly efficiency of the drow is driven home. My favorite part of this story is the mention of the drow Jarlaxle, suggesting to me that this story takes place further in the past than Salvatore's works. Other of Salvatore's characters appear and are good to meet again from a different writer.
"Elminster at the Magefair" by Ed Greenwood is an okay story, though the end is just unsatisfying. Again, there is great characterization and development early, only to suffer a brief conflict and resolution. Basically, Elminster is tricked into collecting a particular item, later being attacked in something of a robbery attempt. But the reader is left wondering about the backstory of the robber and the item(s) he was after.
"And the Dark Tide Rises" by Keith Strohm is a good story. A young man is lured by a sea elf to the shore and tasked with a mission. After completing his mission, he manages to get into some trouble trying to revisit said elf. The end is a pyrrhic victory at best. This story was very well-written, with good characterization and exposition.
"The Rose Window" by Monte Cook is just great. A priest acquires a special window for his abbey from another being torn down. He and his assistant begin seeing things in the glass, and things get progressively worse from there. Cook did a great job of writing a Lovecraftian story in the Realms setting. The ending makes it so rewarding.
"Red Ambition" by Jean Rabe is a good tale of some Red Wizards of Thay. The typical backstabbing and underhanded reversals of this treacherous group are all highlighted. However, though they are skilled at deception, are they the best? Rabe gives a good accounting for those who might think otherwise.
"The Greatest Hero Who Ever Died" by J. Robert King is another winner. Telling of a scheming and murderous plot that brought low a well-respected knight, King draws in the reader with a god plot and good characters. The tale takes place in a lonely tavern on a cold winter's night, told by a traveler. The tale takes place in the not-too-distant past, with something of a twist before all is done. Another great ending.
"Six of Swords" by Connors and "The Common Spell" by Novak-Grubb are pretty worthwhile reads. Both rely on slight twists to resolve things. "Blood Sport" by Golden is a good read, telling another part of the life if the elven vampire Jander Sunstar. The other stories in the book are pretty pedestrian, but not terrible to read.The Best of the Realms (Forgotten Realms Anthology) OverviewThe best stories, the best authors, together in one volume for the first time!This anthology presents your favorite stories from a decade of Forgotten Realms anthologies--every one of them chosen by you. In addition, this anthology contains a brand new story by R. A. Salvatore.Contents"Rite of Blood" by Elaine Cunningham"Elminster at the Magefair" by Ed Greenwood"Darksword" by Troy Denning"Blood Sport" by Christie Golden"Six of Swords" by WIlliam W. Connors"The Rose Window" by Monte Cook"The First Moonwell" by Douglas Niles"The Greatest Hero Who Ever Died" by J. Robert King"Tertius and the Artifact" by Jeff Grubb"Red Ambition" by Jean Rabe"The Common Spell" by Kate Novak-Grubb"Assassin's Shadow" by Jess Lebow"And the Dark Tide Rises" by Keith Francis Strohm"Empty Joys" by R.A. Salvatore

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Realms of Valor (A Collection of Short Stories) Review

Realms of Valor (A Collection of Short Stories)
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Realms of Valor (A Collection of Short Stories) Review"Oldies, but Goodies," still hold true today. I re-dug this book out of the boxes of Forgotten Realms books and read it again for the first time. Valor isn't just a word, it's an idea. Take a spin and read this book, as you put yourself in each main character's shoes, and see if you think you might have Valor. I highly recommend this book to those who think deeply and have an open mind to different opinions in Valor.Realms of Valor (A Collection of Short Stories) OverviewFrom the secret annals of Realms history come eleven never-before-published tales of valor, featuring the greatest heroes of that magical world -- Drizzt Do'Urden, Arilyn Moonblade, Adon, Elminster of Shadowdale, Jander Sunstar, and many others -- told by your favorite authors, including:Ed Greenwood, R.A. Salvatore, Douglas Niles, Troy Denning, Christie Golden, and others

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Transcendence (The Second DemonWars Saga, Book 2) Review

Transcendence (The Second DemonWars Saga, Book 2)
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Transcendence (The Second DemonWars Saga, Book 2) ReviewWhen a writer finds himself competing with himself for the top of the best-seller list, you know he has acheived a certain level of success.
R.A. Salvatore's sixth book in the world of the Demon Wars is a brilliant creation of original fantasy.
Sadly, due to the unfortunate timing of its release in the same week as the guaranteed best-seller STAR WARS Episode II, this great book may well slip unnoticed by the wayside.
Salvatore is well-known for his character development and his excellent descriptions of combat, as well as for his most famous Dark-Elf character upon whose shoulders the Forgotton Realms world rides. In more recent years he has also become well-known for his work in the Star Wars universe, but what many of his fans are missing out on is the amazing world of the Demon Wars. This original land he has developed brings to his work new levels of maturity in the depth of characterization and subtlety of plot. Twists and turns of political development, honor battling against love, true power and great tragedy fill all the books of these series so far, with many more levels of understanding than is typical of modern fantasy-fiction.
Ascendance steps away (for the moment) from the now-familiar nation of Honce The Bear, and follows the young Ranger Brynn Dharielle as she and her Touel-Alfar companion Belli mar Juraviel head south to the conquered nation of To-Gai-Ru. In an attempt to lead her native people to freedom from the oppression of the Behrenese conquerers and their immortal God-King, Brynn will find herself living a life of legends, learning what it means to be ready to die... but more importantly, what it means to be ready to live.
Any fan of fantasy - indeed, any open-minded fan of honest and deep characters - will be more than pleased with this book. On the other hand, those looking for typical Salvatore adventure and great combat sequences will not be disappointed. Overall, this book continues what is proving to be Salvatore's greatest and most powerful series, the Demon Wars sagas.Transcendence (The Second DemonWars Saga, Book 2) Overview

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Immortalis (The Second DemonWars Saga, Book 3) Review

Immortalis (The Second DemonWars Saga, Book 3)
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Immortalis (The Second DemonWars Saga, Book 3) ReviewIn this final volume of the Demon Wars saga, Salvatore delivers a truly great story. Combining the settings and storylines of the two previous books, Mortalis and Transcendence, Salvatore succeeds in wrapping up many storylines.
In the northern kingdom of Honce-the-Bear, Aydrian, the son of Pony and Elbryan, is consolidating his rule while striking out in new directions. He sends forces to the southern land of Behren, where Brynn Dharielle threw off the tyranny of the capital Jacintha and plunged that kingdom into chaos. Aydrian's forces are perhaps too ambitious, and Brynn's To-Gai-Ru get involved with resisting the northerners, along with her faithful companions Pagonel (an excellent character reminiscent of other Salvatore characters) and Agradeleous the Dragon.
In the north, Pony seeks to warn her friends of the danger of her son, after he let her go free. She also seeks something of retribution from the elves for their misguided rearing of him.
Prince Midalis, the rightful king after Aydrian the usurper killed Midalis' brother, is rallying allies to oppose the ambitious boy. His distance from the seat of power and lack of numbers does not fare well for him.
The elves are faced with a danger unlike any they have ever faced, in a demon-corrupted boy of incalculable power who knows where they live and hates them. The result of his vengeful attacks comes back to haunt him.
There are MANY instances of remarkable and heroic self-sacrifice, though too much success for those who work evil. There is a gathering in this book of heroes, a gathering perhaps unmatched since Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring (Please note that I am not making a comparison here, simply trying to cite a previous example of a large band of larger-than-life heroes that readers might identify). Opposing them, however, is an array of evil that in many ways equals them. Miscalculations, overestimations, and plain old mistakes combine with derring-do, cunning and courage to bring about the resolution of the many conflicts in this storyline. Note that many threads are not completely resolved, perhaps being saved for a new series.
There were points in this book that I thought were too like Mortalis, in which evil simply seemed unstoppable and would win the day. The glimmers of light through that dark cloud are too few. I can say that the final 250 pages or so were riveting. The stage had been set and the action and scheming were nearly unrelenting. There are some telling losses, but also some great victories. There was a surprising number of grammar errors and typos, which I felt did detract slightly from the enjoyment, but near the end I did not notice them as the story was too gripping. The ending is so heartwrenching that I cannot really describe it.
Please read this book! There are not many novels released that are so good as this one!Immortalis (The Second DemonWars Saga, Book 3) Overview

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Luthiens Gamble (Crimson Shadow) Review

Luthiens Gamble (Crimson Shadow)
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Luthiens Gamble (Crimson Shadow) ReviewR.A. Salvatore proves with this book that he was, at the time, running short on original ideas. Drizzt is my favorite character of all time, so I am fully aware of Salvatore's talents, but this book is lacking - much like the others in the series. For starters, there are just TOO many similarities to Tolkien to be ignored - the names Luthien and Eriador have been ripped right out of Middle-earth. The battle with the dragon is clearly the confrontation between Smaug and Bilbo modified to fit into Salvatore's story. And lastly, the character Brind'Amore, though a decent character, seems very much akin to Gandalf and therefore lacks in originality. The two major things that make this book worth reading, however, are Salvatore's trademark action scenes and the wonderful "highway-halfling," Oliver De'Burrows. But if you haven't read any of the Drizzt books, read them instead.Luthiens Gamble (Crimson Shadow) OverviewIn this sequel to The Sword of Bedwyr, the Crimson Shadow must rouse the peasants and fierce tribes of Eriador to fight the demonic Wizard-King Greensparrow's bloodthirsty warriors and save their beloved city of Caer MacDonald.

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The Demon Spirit (The DemonWars Trilogy, Book 2) Review

The Demon Spirit (The DemonWars Trilogy, Book 2)
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The Demon Spirit (The DemonWars Trilogy, Book 2) ReviewI just literally finished reading The Demon Spirit about two minutes ago. While I was expecting a good read, I wasn't expecting one quite of this calibre.
The description of this book sounded something like that of the first one. The Goblins/Powries are still rampaging, Elbryan & Pony are still fighting, and Markwart (I don't feel right giving him the title of Abbot) is still scheming to get those stones back, and has made not one, but two Brothers Justice.
But this book takes entirely different turns from the first one. And it was even darker, which in itself is quite astonishing. (Though not so much so that you are left without hope, even at the end)
About the only real complaints I have with this one is the battles. They are well written, in the usual Bob style, but I felt that there were too many, particularly near the beginning of the book. But this is very much a minor complaint in what is otherwise an excellent novel.
Arguably, this was the best book thus far in Salvatore's career. (Though I really liked Homeland)
And to think that the next book is due out any day now...
Congratulations, Bob! Should you return to Vancouver for another booksigning, I shall certainly be there to congratulate you in person.The Demon Spirit (The DemonWars Trilogy, Book 2) Overview

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Bastion of Darkness: Book Three in The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle Review

Bastion of Darkness: Book Three in The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle
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Bastion of Darkness: Book Three in The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle ReviewFirst I just wanted to say that another review on this page contains major spoilers for this book. Be warned!This is the third book in the Chronicles of Ynis Aielle, which began with Echoes of the Fourth Magic and continued with The Witch's Daughter. If you liked those books, you will like this one too...Eventually. It has a very slow beginning that doesn't have the the usual quality Salvatore feel to it. It has the action but the characters and plot are both very hollow. It seems as if the author had a little trouble gettng back into the flow of this series. JUST KEEP READING- it gets very good. The plot really takes off with the usual R.A. Salvatore combination of Great Characters+Great Aciton=Great Story. In fact the story becomes so good that it is easy to forgive the slow start. A very worthy addition to the wonderful Chronicles of Ynis Aielle series.Bastion of Darkness: Book Three in The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle OverviewTwice the combined might of Ynis Aielle's greatest heroes and wizards has hurled back the demon armies of Morgan Thalasi. Always the Black Warlock has rebounded, stronger and more evil. But never has he wielded such power as now. With the Staff of Death, Thalasi can raise a new army from out of the very ground -- soldiers who cannot be killed because they are already dead.As the Black Warlock and his fearsome general -- the foul wraith that was once Hollis Mitchell -- prepares a devastating attack, the humans and elves of Ynis Aielle are staggered by a fresh calamity. The beautiful Rhiannon, daughter of the Emerald Witch, has been captured by Mitchell and given over to his dark master. Now the last hope of defeating Thalasi -- and Rhiannon's last hope as well -- lies at the heart of a mountain, guarded by a dragon as old as the world itself. . .

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Promise of the Witch-King (Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 2) (Bk. 2) Review

Promise of the Witch-King (Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 2) (Bk. 2)
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Promise of the Witch-King (Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 2) (Bk. 2) ReviewR. A. Salvatore just has a gift for creating memorable characters, whether they are protagonists or antagonists. In fact, when I sit and think about it I can name nearly every character he's ever created. But the obvious one is Drizzt, and perhaps second to him is Drizzt's mortal enemy Entreri. Any fan of Salvatore knows this name, and no doubt hates (in a good way, to be sure) this character as much as they love Drizzt.
Promise of the Witch King is the sequel to Servant of the Shard, the first book that contains Entreri but no Drizzt, and it was a brilliant book. In fact, it still ranks highly among my all time favorite action fantasy books.
In Witch King, Salvatore does even more to separate Entreri from Drizzt by placing him and his partner--or manipulator--Jarlaxle in an entirely new setting (it can be found in Demon Stone, a video game written by Salvatore). Still, it has the Salvatore touch with action scenes written as easily as we would sign our own name, and a stream of new, lovable characters.
Now, without spoiling, I will attempt to describe the plot of this story. In the wild lands of Bloodstone, only recently freed from the dark clutches of an evil lord, Entreri and Jarlaxle are attempting to make a name for themselves while also acting as double agents for two dragons. In the opening, they are battling in a magically created tower, which had once belonged to the terrible and powerful Witch King, who long ago died yet still has a grip on the land. When a second tower is magically constructed, warriors seeking fame and fortune decide to defend the realm and perhaps save two dying souls that are directly tied to the tower. But with the rag-tag band comes clashes and plenty of secrets, and as these secrets unravel, disaster eventually strikes and the heroes becomes enemies with each while they are still battling the evil forces of the Witch King. In the end, it leaves a few more revelations about Entreri that weren't there before, and he ends up, I think, as a more likable character. And, of course, Jarlaxle is up to his same old mischief.
What's best about this novel is not the book itself, but the promise (ironic, really) of the future to come for these two characters, for by the end an entirely new element is introduced and should end up making the Sellswords series as good as any Salvatore has written before.
I'd recommend this to long-standing fans of Salvatore, fans of Dungeons and Dragons--though it's not required, as I'm no such fan--or lovers of classic swords & sorcery stories, as Salvatore is easily the best there is right now. I can't recommend this to anyone seeking to get into Salvatore now, however, because you will be left lost among the characters and history, which is long and deep.Promise of the Witch-King (Forgotten Realms: The Sellswords, Book 2) (Bk. 2) Overview

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The Demon Awakens (DemonWars) Review

The Demon Awakens (DemonWars)
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The Demon Awakens (DemonWars) ReviewI've been a Salvatore fan since I first read the Icewind Dale Trilogy, and I actually am enjoying this series a little more. The story follows Elbryan, a youth in Dundalis who is left orphaned after his town is sacked by goblins and giants, Pony, Elbryan's playmate and love interest who grew up with him, and Avelyn a monk studying the magic holy stones in the Abellican church. They all come together and must face off against an evil demon dactyl that is gathering an army of powries, which are evil bloodthirsty dwarves, goblins, and giants.
The transitions between each character work well by chapter, and you really end up caring about each of the main characters. The difference between this and the Drizzt novels is that all the charactes are vunerable. In other words, some of the characters you come to love may not last, let's just leave it at that.
The only problems are the usual problems with Salvatore's writing, overuse of certain words (ex. stoic, stoically...). It's a small price to pay for such a fun and exciting book. The holy stones make magic seem new and interesting also.
Definitely pick up this book if you have the chance, you won't regret it.The Demon Awakens (DemonWars) Overview

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The Two Swords (The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 3) Review

The Two Swords (The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 3)
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The Two Swords (The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 3) Review'The Two Swords' is the third volume of the 'Hunter's Blade Trilogy.' Interestingly enough, R.A. Salvatore decided not to resolve most of the plot lines started in the first two novels of this trilogy. The focus of the novel is how Drizzt will reunite with his friends, whom he believes dead, and how his friends are struggling to deal with the massive orc presence outside the gates of Mithral Hall.
The only major plot line to reach a conclusion in this novel is that of what Drizzt will do about Cattie-Brie. There has been a bit of a love triangle between these two characters and Wulfgar since early on in the series. Finally, Drizzt makes his decision. Just when it appears resolved, events in Wulfgar's world cloud the picture. Any more details than that will spoil the story.
Other than that, the novel fails to resolve the rest of the major plot lines, and instead resolves a few more minor ones. Drizzt and the surface elf Inovindil bring their quest for the captured pegasus to a conclusion. A few more characters meet their demise in this novel. However, none of them were really major characters in the trilogy.
Ultimately, the novel keeps open the major plot lines for future novels, and introduces a few more. For instance, anxious to read about how the heros deal with Obould? Although there are confrontations, nothing is resolved here. Same for the presence of the Orcs outside Mithral Hall.
This novel ends with essentially the introduction to the next novel or trilogy in the series. I did find that irritating. While I don't mind authors setting up future novels or trilogies in their current trilogy, it seemed a bit odd to not conclude this trilogy within the trilogy. There may not be a conclusion to this trilogy in the next few novels either because Salvatore has already introduced new plot lines that promise to shape the next novel or two.
All this being said, I still enjoyed the book. There are plenty of detailed and expertly woven fight scenes. Salvatore seems to be the master of dark elves and dwarves and has created a very identifiable species stereotype for each. Salvatore's characters are classics, if not a bit invincible. If the reader had a dime it appeared one of the five major characters received a fatal blow, then nobody would have to buy his books. Still, they are familiar, unique, and occassionally imitated but never really duplciated. Fans of the Drizzt series will enjoy this book, but the one they'll really be looking forward to will be coming a bit farther down the line.
Grade: 4 stars.The Two Swords (The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 3) OverviewPaperback version of the #4 New York Times best-selling hardcover.This title is the third and final book in the latest trilogy from R.A. Salvatore, which once again features his popular dark elf character Drizzt Do'Urden™. The hardcover release of this title had the highest debut ever on The New York Times best seller list for a Salvatore title with Wizards of the Coast at #4. The title stayed in the top twenty for five weeks. Both of the previous titles in the series were also New York Times best sellers upon hardcover release, and the first title, The Thousand Orcs, hit the list upon mass-market release as well.

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The Lone Drow: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book II Review

The Lone Drow: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book II
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The Lone Drow: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book II ReviewTo summarize my review before I get into it: R.A. Salvatore's Drizzt-books have evolved into Saturday morning cartoons rather than staying as the Tolkein-esque stories they first started out to be.
I have been a Salvatore-Drizzt-book reader ever since 1990 when I read The Crystal Shard. I have read every Drizzt-book since then, but with this last book I have decided to give up the series until some drastic changes are made. Instead of an exhaustive review of this book, I'll just point to 6 ways as to how this entire series is on its death-bed. Salvatore can cure these maladies by listening to the following:
1.) DRIZZT AND HIS FRIENDS HAVE BECOME SATURDAY MORNING CARTOON CHARACTERS - In cartoons the main characters never die, they are invincible, they are unflawed. In The Drizzt books, no main character can ever die. They fight hundreds and hundreds of "bad guys," only to score perfect victories each time. If it seems that one of the main character has died, or will, it's only a red herring that sets you up for that character to inevitably "save the day."
2.) DRIZZT'S ENEMIES HAVE TURNED INTO THE "VILLAIN OF THE WEEK VARIETIES" - In cartoons, the heros are usually pitted by a different villian each week. The villians are rarely fleshed-out, and they're just around for the purpose of getting killed by Drizzt and Co. If a villian is fleshed-out, Salvatore becomes attached and cannot kill him, only send him away (Artemis Entreri, Jarlaxle, etc).
3.) SUPPORTING CHARACTERS ARE LIKE THE "YOMAN" CHARACTER FROM STAR TREK - Remember in Star Trek how Captain Kirk would beam down to a planet with some unnamed officer, and inevitably, the unnamed officer would die while Kirk would be unharmed? Okay, now substitute "Captain Kirk" with "Drizzt" and you have Salvatore's new books. A seasoned reader knows that when a character is introduced, he's not likely to be a permanent fixture.
4.) YOU CAN'T GO 2 PAGES WITHOUT BEING REMINDED THAT DRIZZT & CO. ARE THE TOUGHEST, BADDEST CHARACTERS IN THE WORLD - It's not that you see this through their actions, but Salvatore spells it out for you before every fight. Hypothetical example: "The orcs were heavily armed and outnumbered the weakened drow twenty five to one. But this was Drizzt Do-Urden, and he was no ordinary drow!" Please ...
5.) SALVATORE'S EDITORS NEED TO BACK OFF OF HIM AND LET HIM WRITE - if you've noticed in the past several books, Salvatore paces the story nicely, then has to suddenly end the story because the editors limit the number of pages he can have. When you get 4/5s the way through it, you think "wow, I'm almost finished, and there's so much left! Hell, (enter character's name) isn't even within a 10-day ride from the others?!" ANSWER: Robillard the mage shows up and magically teleports the character wherever they need to go.
6.) THE FIGHT SCENES ARE A BIT TOO DETAILED - Everyone knows Drizzt is a bad mutha-sucka, but when Salvatore gets carried away and writes, "Drizzt then shifted his balance to the right and pivoted low with a perfect center of gravity, slicing his left scimitar right, then feinting back, swinging his left scimitar in a downward arc, pulling back, then upward pivoting to his right, bringing his swords at a downward V-angle, parrying each blow, then rolling to his left, followed by an inverted cone flip to the front, slicing diagnally with his left right-ended scimitar...." I just find myself skimming paragraphs.
MY SUGGESTION FOR SALVATORE & DRIZZT:
-------------------------------------
Set the next series some 100 years into the future. Drizzt, as an elf, will continue to live for several more centuries. Cattie-Brie, Wulfgar, Regis and Bruenor will not. Go ahead and jump forward and write the novel that you wanted to with THE LONE DROW. It's time for Drizzt to move on.
I think Salvatore knows that. He toys with the ideas of Drizzt and Cattie-brie's grim future, but I don't think he has the nerve to actually kill anyone off. So just jump to the future and make it happen.
And get rid of those annoying dwarf brothers! They are the Jar Jar Binks of the Drizzt world. I would welcome any feedback from Salvatore fans. I still am one, but I feel like I'm watching a good thing go down the tubes.
Be critical, people. Don't just throw praise at a book because teh main character is cool and has potential. I can tell by the writing style of the majority of these reviewers that they are somewhere between 10-16 years old. That's how old I was when I read The Crystal Shard. I want to feel the same way about these new books as I did when I was that age reading the early adventures. I've matured, so now must the Drizzt storyline.The Lone Drow: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book II OverviewThe latest New York Times best-seller from R.A. Salvatore is now in paperback!The Lone Drow is yet another top release from premiere Forgotten Realms author R.A. Salvatore. This mass market reprint focuses primarily on his signature character, Drizzt Do'Urden, who has been the subject of most of Salvatore's best-selling Forgotten Realms titles. This title includes a sample chapter from the author's next hardcover, The Two Swords.

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Legacy of the Drow: Collector's Edition Review

Legacy of the Drow: Collector's Edition
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Legacy of the Drow: Collector's Edition ReviewThis four book series continues the adventures of R.A. Salvatore's best known characters: Drizzt, Catti-Brie, Wulfgar, Bruenor, and Regis. It picks up where Icewind Dale left off, but it does help to have read the Dark Elf Trilogy, which predates Icewind despite its later publishing date. As the title of this collection suggests, the Drow are up to their usual nasty tricks, which does not bode well for our heroes.
Mr. Salvatore is well known for his light humor, thrilling pace, and detailed descriptions. These qualities shine in the Legacy series, which represents some of his best work. For those who can't get enough of Drizzt, this leads directly into the Paths of Darkness novels, which in turn lead into the new Hunter's Blades books. Out of all the Forgotten Realms novels published, it can't be denied that these are the most popular and well known. If you haven't read any of them, you're seriously missing out.
For those that have read the Cleric Quintet and wondered what the heck happens after the ending, you'll see some form of conclusion in this series as Drizzt & Co. make a brief stop-over in the Snowflake Mountains. Without revealing too much of the plot, it spans a vast portion of Faerun's surface, but largely centers on Drizzt's most favored places- Mithril Hall and Icewind Dale. It is a pleasure for the reader (if not the hero) to once again see such villainous villains as Artemis Entreri, Jarlaxle, and the remnants of Drizzt's evil heritage coming back to haunt him. The pace doesn't slacken throughout the series, and you'll find it hard to set this collection down.Legacy of the Drow: Collector's Edition OverviewA collection of four New York Times bestselling novels by R. A. Salvatore. The Legacy of the Drow Collector's Edition brings together four bestselling novels: The Legacy, Starless Night, Siege of Darkness, and Passage to Dawn. The adventure begins in seeming serenity as we find Drizzt Do'Urden enjoying a rare state of peace. But he did not arrive at this station without leaving powerful enemies in his wake. Lolth, the dreaded Spider Queen deity of the evil Dark Elves, counts herself among these enemies and has vowed to end the drow's idyllic days. Thus begins a severe and lasting chain of events that make these collected Forgotten Realms novels unforgettable reads.

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