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The Legend of Drizzt #6
韦慰 蟺蔚蟿蟻维未喂 蟿慰蠀 围维位蠁位喂谓纬魏
Alternate cover edition can be found here
螣 蔚魏蟿蔚位蔚蟽蟿萎蟼 螒蟻蟿苇渭喂慰蟼 螘谓蟿蟻蔚蟻维喂 伪蟺维纬蔚喂 蟿慰谓 巍苇蟿味喂蟼 魏伪喂 慰未畏纬蔚委 蟿慰谓 蠂维位蠁位喂谓纬魏 蟽蟿畏谓 螝维位喂渭蟺慰蟻蟿, 魏伪蟿蔚蠀胃蔚委伪谓 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿伪 蔚魏未喂魏畏蟿喂魏维 蠂苇蟻喂伪 蟿慰蠀 螤慰蠀魏 螤伪蟽维. 螘谓 蟿蠅 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 慰 螤慰蠀魏 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃蔚委 伪蟺蔚纬谓蠅蟽渭苇谓伪 谓伪 蟺维蟻蔚喂 蠀蟺蠈 蟿慰谓 苇位蔚纬蠂蠈 蟿慰蠀 蟿畏谓 螕魏慰蠀苇谓纬慰蠀喂尾伪蟻, 蟿慰 渭伪纬喂魏蠈 蟺维谓胃畏蟻伪 - 魏伪喂 伪谓 蟿蔚位喂魏维 蟿伪 魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻蔚喂, 慰 巍苇蟿味喂蟼 胃伪 蠂维蟽蔚喂 蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈 蟺伪喂蠂谓委未喂 伪谓维渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蟿畏 纬维蟿伪 魏伪喂 蟿慰 蟺慰谓蟿委魏喂.
螤蟻慰蟽蟿伪蟿蔚蠀渭苇谓慰蟼 伪蟺蠈 渭喂伪 渭伪纬喂魏萎 渭维蟽魏伪 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰谓 尾慰畏胃维 谓伪 魏蟻伪蟿维 魏蟻蠀蠁萎 蟿畏谓 魏伪蟿伪纬蠅纬萎 蟿慰蠀, 慰 谓蟿伪蟻魏 蔚位蠁 螡蟿蟻喂蟿味蟿 螆蟻谓蟿蔚谓 尉蔚魏喂谓维 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 尾维蟻尾伪蟻慰 螕慰蠉位蠁纬魏伪蟻 纬喂伪 谓伪 蟽蠋蟽慰蠀谓 蟿慰谓 伪位伪蠁蟻慰蠂苇蟻畏 蠁委位慰 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺慰蟻蔚委伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 尾蟻委蟽魏慰蠀谓 苇谓伪谓 伪蟺蟻蠈蟽渭蔚谓慰 蟽蠉渭渭伪蠂慰. 螛伪 渭蟺慰蟻苇蟽蔚喂 蠈渭蠅蟼 蟿蔚位喂魏维 慰 巍苇蟿味喂蟼 谓伪 尾蟻蔚喂 蟽蠋慰蟼 魏伪喂 伪尾位伪尾萎蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟺伪纬委未伪 蟿慰蠀 螘谓蟿蟻蔚蟻维喂;
螠苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 苇谓伪 蟽蠀谓伪蟻蟺伪蟽蟿喂魏蠈 慰未慰喂蟺慰蟻喂魏蠈, 慰喂 蟽蠉谓蟿蟻慰蠁慰喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 螝慰喂位维未伪 蟿畏蟼 螤伪纬蠅谓喂维蟼 蟺慰位蔚渭慰蠉谓 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟺蔚喂蟻伪蟿苇蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 尉伪魏慰蠀蟽蟿萎 螒魏蟿萎 蟿慰蠀 危蟺伪胃喂慰蠉, 伪蠄畏蠁慰蠉谓 蟿喂蟼 蔚蟻萎渭慰蠀蟼 蟿畏蟼 螝维位喂渭蟽伪谓 魏伪喂 渭维蠂慰谓蟿伪喂 魏维胃蔚 蔚委未慰蠀蟼 蟿苇蟻伪蟿伪 蟺蟻慰魏蔚喂渭苇谓慰蠀 谓伪 蟽蠋蟽慰蠀谓 蟿慰 蠁委位慰 蟿慰蠀蟼... 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼.
螣 蔚魏蟿蔚位蔚蟽蟿萎蟼 螒蟻蟿苇渭喂慰蟼 螘谓蟿蟻蔚蟻维喂 伪蟺维纬蔚喂 蟿慰谓 巍苇蟿味喂蟼 魏伪喂 慰未畏纬蔚委 蟿慰谓 蠂维位蠁位喂谓纬魏 蟽蟿畏谓 螝维位喂渭蟺慰蟻蟿, 魏伪蟿蔚蠀胃蔚委伪谓 渭苇蟽伪 蟽蟿伪 蔚魏未喂魏畏蟿喂魏维 蠂苇蟻喂伪 蟿慰蠀 螤慰蠀魏 螤伪蟽维. 螘谓 蟿蠅 渭蔚蟿伪尉蠉 慰 螤慰蠀魏 蟺蟻慰蟽蟺伪胃蔚委 伪蟺蔚纬谓蠅蟽渭苇谓伪 谓伪 蟺维蟻蔚喂 蠀蟺蠈 蟿慰谓 苇位蔚纬蠂蠈 蟿慰蠀 蟿畏谓 螕魏慰蠀苇谓纬慰蠀喂尾伪蟻, 蟿慰 渭伪纬喂魏蠈 蟺维谓胃畏蟻伪 - 魏伪喂 伪谓 蟿蔚位喂魏维 蟿伪 魏伪蟿伪蠁苇蟻蔚喂, 慰 巍苇蟿味喂蟼 胃伪 蠂维蟽蔚喂 蟿畏 味蠅萎 蟿慰蠀 蟽蔚 苇谓伪 蟺蟻伪纬渭伪蟿喂魏蠈 蟺伪喂蠂谓委未喂 伪谓维渭蔚蟽伪 蟽蟿畏 纬维蟿伪 魏伪喂 蟿慰 蟺慰谓蟿委魏喂.
螤蟻慰蟽蟿伪蟿蔚蠀渭苇谓慰蟼 伪蟺蠈 渭喂伪 渭伪纬喂魏萎 渭维蟽魏伪 蟺慰蠀 蟿慰谓 尾慰畏胃维 谓伪 魏蟻伪蟿维 魏蟻蠀蠁萎 蟿畏谓 魏伪蟿伪纬蠅纬萎 蟿慰蠀, 慰 谓蟿伪蟻魏 蔚位蠁 螡蟿蟻喂蟿味蟿 螆蟻谓蟿蔚谓 尉蔚魏喂谓维 渭蔚 蟿慰谓 尾维蟻尾伪蟻慰 螕慰蠉位蠁纬魏伪蟻 纬喂伪 谓伪 蟽蠋蟽慰蠀谓 蟿慰谓 伪位伪蠁蟻慰蠂苇蟻畏 蠁委位慰 蟿慰蠀蟼 魏伪喂 蟽蟿畏谓 蟺慰蟻蔚委伪 蟿慰蠀蟼 尾蟻委蟽魏慰蠀谓 苇谓伪谓 伪蟺蟻蠈蟽渭蔚谓慰 蟽蠉渭渭伪蠂慰. 螛伪 渭蟺慰蟻苇蟽蔚喂 蠈渭蠅蟼 蟿蔚位喂魏维 慰 巍苇蟿味喂蟼 谓伪 尾蟻蔚喂 蟽蠋慰蟼 魏伪喂 伪尾位伪尾萎蟼 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 蟺伪纬委未伪 蟿慰蠀 螘谓蟿蟻蔚蟻维喂;
螠苇蟽伪 伪蟺蠈 苇谓伪 蟽蠀谓伪蟻蟺伪蟽蟿喂魏蠈 慰未慰喂蟺慰蟻喂魏蠈, 慰喂 蟽蠉谓蟿蟻慰蠁慰喂 伪蟺蠈 蟿畏谓 螝慰喂位维未伪 蟿畏蟼 螤伪纬蠅谓喂维蟼 蟺慰位蔚渭慰蠉谓 蟿慰蠀蟼 蟺蔚喂蟻伪蟿苇蟼 蟽蟿畏谓 尉伪魏慰蠀蟽蟿萎 螒魏蟿萎 蟿慰蠀 危蟺伪胃喂慰蠉, 伪蠄畏蠁慰蠉谓 蟿喂蟼 蔚蟻萎渭慰蠀蟼 蟿畏蟼 螝维位喂渭蟽伪谓 魏伪喂 渭维蠂慰谓蟿伪喂 魏维胃蔚 蔚委未慰蠀蟼 蟿苇蟻伪蟿伪 蟺蟻慰魏蔚喂渭苇谓慰蠀 谓伪 蟽蠋蟽慰蠀谓 蟿慰 蠁委位慰 蟿慰蠀蟼... 魏伪喂 蟿慰蠀蟼 蔚伪蠀蟿慰蠉蟼 蟿慰蠀蟼.
394 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
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About the author
R.A. Salvatore
743听books11k听followersAs one of the fantasy genre鈥檚 most successful authors, R.A. Salvatore enjoys an ever-expanding and tremendously loyal following. His books regularly appear on The New York Times best-seller lists and have sold more than 10,000,000 copies. Salvatore鈥檚 original hardcover, The Two Swords, Book III of The Hunter鈥檚 Blade Trilogy (October 2004) debuted at # 1 on The Wall Street Journal best-seller list and at # 4 on The New York Times best-seller list. His books have been translated into numerous foreign languages including German, Italian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Turkish, Croatian, Bulgarian, Yiddish, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, and French.
Salvatore鈥檚 first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do鈥橴rden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter鈥檚 Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer鈥檚 letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including 鈥淎dventure fantasy鈥� and 鈥淲hy young adults read fantasy.鈥� Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
Salvatore鈥檚 first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do鈥橴rden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter鈥檚 Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer鈥檚 letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including 鈥淎dventure fantasy鈥� and 鈥淲hy young adults read fantasy.鈥� Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 751 reviews
March 18, 2018
I can't even begin to explain how much I love these books and characters 鉂わ笍
My wonderful Wulfgar 鉂わ笍
The sharp tounged and awesome Bruenor Battleaxe 鉂わ笍
The lovely and bad to the bone Cattie-Brie 鉂わ笍
I didn't add Regis but I love him too. 馃槉
These friends do everything for each other, even die if they have to and I never want to see that day come 馃槴
The ending was so sweet. Wulfgar and Cattie-Brie. Bruenor ruling over his home again. And we shall see with Drittz, he's never sits long and he has his own thoughts and worries of the world. And Guenhwyvar is by his side once again 鉂わ笍
I want to leave it with a funny little excerpt. Bruenor and Cattie-Brie are riding a fiery chariot through the sky to quickly get to their friends and help.
Happy Reading!
Mel 鉂わ笍
MY BLOG:
AMAZON:
My wonderful Wulfgar 鉂わ笍
The sharp tounged and awesome Bruenor Battleaxe 鉂わ笍
The lovely and bad to the bone Cattie-Brie 鉂わ笍
I didn't add Regis but I love him too. 馃槉
These friends do everything for each other, even die if they have to and I never want to see that day come 馃槴
The ending was so sweet. Wulfgar and Cattie-Brie. Bruenor ruling over his home again. And we shall see with Drittz, he's never sits long and he has his own thoughts and worries of the world. And Guenhwyvar is by his side once again 鉂わ笍
I want to leave it with a funny little excerpt. Bruenor and Cattie-Brie are riding a fiery chariot through the sky to quickly get to their friends and help.
The silver dragon rolled over onto its back lazily, riding the morning winds with its legs-all four- crossed over it and its sleepy eyes half closed. The good dragon loved its morning glide, leaving the bustle of the world far below and catching the sun's untainted rays above the cloud level
But the dragon's marvelous orbs popped open wide when it saw the fiery streak rushing at it from the east. Thinking the flames to be the forerunning fires of an evil red dragon, the silver swooped around into a high cloud and poised to ambush the thing. But the fury left the dragon's eyes when it recognized the strange craft, a fiery chariot, with just the helm of the driver, a one-horned contraption, sticking above the front of the carriage and a young human woman standing behind, her auburn locks flying back over her shoulders.
Its huge mouth agape, the silver dragon watched as the chariot sped past. Few things piqued the curiosity of this ancient creature, who had lived so very many years, but it seriously considered following this unlikely scene.
A cool breeze wafted in then and washed all other thoughts from the silver dragon's mind. "Peoples," it muttered, rolling again onto its back and shaking its head in disbelief.
Happy Reading!
Mel 鉂わ笍
MY BLOG:
AMAZON:
November 12, 2010
Probably the worst one in the series so far. I actually didn't enjoy this one in the least.
Here's what this book reminded me of: I work a job where I scan a document into the computer as a picture then convert that picture into text using a "smart read" program. This program often messes up: interchanging I's, 1's and l's. It also mistakes O's and 0's and changes other things like t's to i's and ect. It even goes so far as to turn D's into I) or d's into cl. My job is to read through and correct these errors. A job which I don't need to bring home and do to a published book that should have gone through this editing process.
A lot of the time I found myself editing the book more than enjoying it. Guenhwyvar once again keeps changing sex throughout the book and the names of most main characters are places are spelled wrong like the indications above, eg: Drizzi.
I dislike all of the characters at this point and I wonder if Salvatore really knows how to create interpersonal conflict or realistic relationships between the characters. It's like most of these things happen behind the scenes and are brought out to parade before the reader as though Salvatore is saying "See they're in love." Then he reaches his maximum ability at writing emotionally and switches to another battle scene.
Nothing was believable. There was no romance in previous books between Drizzt and Catti-brie but here it is as though we are expected to believe it could've happened. The romance between Catti-brie and Wulfgar also comes out of nowhere. Of course we saw it coming but there was no build up. No sweet moments. No little fights. Nothing. Just a passionate kiss here and there and the worry they have for each other. Another relationship that's touched on but never explored is the one between Drizzt and Alustriel. It's high school writing at best in my opinion, I would expect much more from someone who changed their major so they could write for a living.
The characters are too overpowered. Catti-brie is never before mentioned having the ability to shoot a bow and arrow with unerring accuracy. Legolas, I mean Catti-brie, literally picks up a bow and suddenly is the world's greatest archer. Drizzt cannot be beat and Wulfgar has unending stores of "adrenalin" that get him through anything no matter how tired he is. The dwarf is stronger than an ox and apparently has no trouble leaping through the air to bash people in the face whereby they immediately die or pass out.
Character Development: Or lack there of. Or how can a character develop when there's nothing there? Flat. All of them. They were increasingly hypocritical, judgmental, and self-righteous. Bruenor says that the dwarves deal with Theives by cutting off their hands and that is it a fitting punishment because he so loathes them. And yet there is little Regis. Drizzt's morals seem only to apply when he isn't in battle and nothing seems to deter him from killing everything in sight when much more peaceful solutions can be reached. Wulfgar seems like he is nothing but a roaring, killing god. Nothing can stop him and he has no personality. It seems his role in the story is for action filler. And the biggest one of all. . . That's right, oh yes, it's: Catti-brie. The woman screams hypocrite every move she makes.
She's gets her own paragraph for this one: In one battle scene Catti-brie and Bruenor rush to the aid of Drizzt and Wulfgar while they battle pirates. Since Pirates are human Catti-brie refuses to kill them and instead takes a different approach, not killing them directly but making sure they can't hurt her friends. Then in the next fight scene she's involved in Catti-brie picks off bandits with her little bow like she's shooting cans in the backyard. She doesn't care. She has no lament about killing these humans or how she hates to murder them so she finds another way. No nothing like that. Without a single thought about how much she hates killing people she shoots them down. Made even worse by a line later in the book stated by Bruenor: "But it was Catti-brie, his beautiful daughter, who truly abhorred killing with all of her heart,". Yes and she really, truly shows it too.
The characters also never have to make any tough decisions that will effect one of the outcomes in the book. Bruenor, as king, should have to stay with his incoming troops and help with battle plans to reclaim his home. It's the sacrifice of a king, putting the needs of the many against the needs of ... Regis. In my opinion he really doesn't deserve to be a king since he can't be there when needed. He can't put the personal away and act as a leader.
I expect a lot more from an author and series people are saying is the best in the fantasy world. It seems his only concern is how awesome his characters have to be and how they must be able to defeat everything. How they can do whatever they want no matter what people think or believe (stealing a mask from an innocent ghost) as long as it justifies their actions to Salvatore so he can keep them happily killing. Anything to move that darn plot along. Anything to keep his precioussssssss Drizzt alive.
Here's what this book reminded me of: I work a job where I scan a document into the computer as a picture then convert that picture into text using a "smart read" program. This program often messes up: interchanging I's, 1's and l's. It also mistakes O's and 0's and changes other things like t's to i's and ect. It even goes so far as to turn D's into I) or d's into cl. My job is to read through and correct these errors. A job which I don't need to bring home and do to a published book that should have gone through this editing process.
A lot of the time I found myself editing the book more than enjoying it. Guenhwyvar once again keeps changing sex throughout the book and the names of most main characters are places are spelled wrong like the indications above, eg: Drizzi.
I dislike all of the characters at this point and I wonder if Salvatore really knows how to create interpersonal conflict or realistic relationships between the characters. It's like most of these things happen behind the scenes and are brought out to parade before the reader as though Salvatore is saying "See they're in love." Then he reaches his maximum ability at writing emotionally and switches to another battle scene.
Nothing was believable. There was no romance in previous books between Drizzt and Catti-brie but here it is as though we are expected to believe it could've happened. The romance between Catti-brie and Wulfgar also comes out of nowhere. Of course we saw it coming but there was no build up. No sweet moments. No little fights. Nothing. Just a passionate kiss here and there and the worry they have for each other. Another relationship that's touched on but never explored is the one between Drizzt and Alustriel. It's high school writing at best in my opinion, I would expect much more from someone who changed their major so they could write for a living.
The characters are too overpowered. Catti-brie is never before mentioned having the ability to shoot a bow and arrow with unerring accuracy. Legolas, I mean Catti-brie, literally picks up a bow and suddenly is the world's greatest archer. Drizzt cannot be beat and Wulfgar has unending stores of "adrenalin" that get him through anything no matter how tired he is. The dwarf is stronger than an ox and apparently has no trouble leaping through the air to bash people in the face whereby they immediately die or pass out.
Character Development: Or lack there of. Or how can a character develop when there's nothing there? Flat. All of them. They were increasingly hypocritical, judgmental, and self-righteous. Bruenor says that the dwarves deal with Theives by cutting off their hands and that is it a fitting punishment because he so loathes them. And yet there is little Regis. Drizzt's morals seem only to apply when he isn't in battle and nothing seems to deter him from killing everything in sight when much more peaceful solutions can be reached. Wulfgar seems like he is nothing but a roaring, killing god. Nothing can stop him and he has no personality. It seems his role in the story is for action filler. And the biggest one of all. . . That's right, oh yes, it's: Catti-brie. The woman screams hypocrite every move she makes.
She's gets her own paragraph for this one: In one battle scene Catti-brie and Bruenor rush to the aid of Drizzt and Wulfgar while they battle pirates. Since Pirates are human Catti-brie refuses to kill them and instead takes a different approach, not killing them directly but making sure they can't hurt her friends. Then in the next fight scene she's involved in Catti-brie picks off bandits with her little bow like she's shooting cans in the backyard. She doesn't care. She has no lament about killing these humans or how she hates to murder them so she finds another way. No nothing like that. Without a single thought about how much she hates killing people she shoots them down. Made even worse by a line later in the book stated by Bruenor: "But it was Catti-brie, his beautiful daughter, who truly abhorred killing with all of her heart,". Yes and she really, truly shows it too.
The characters also never have to make any tough decisions that will effect one of the outcomes in the book. Bruenor, as king, should have to stay with his incoming troops and help with battle plans to reclaim his home. It's the sacrifice of a king, putting the needs of the many against the needs of ... Regis. In my opinion he really doesn't deserve to be a king since he can't be there when needed. He can't put the personal away and act as a leader.
I expect a lot more from an author and series people are saying is the best in the fantasy world. It seems his only concern is how awesome his characters have to be and how they must be able to defeat everything. How they can do whatever they want no matter what people think or believe (stealing a mask from an innocent ghost) as long as it justifies their actions to Salvatore so he can keep them happily killing. Anything to move that darn plot along. Anything to keep his precioussssssss Drizzt alive.
July 21, 2019
A 300-page chase with some solid parts and a lot of not so solid parts.
Drizzt's journey continues, and the original trilogy, the Icewind Dale trilogy, ends. This one was definitely worth reading for its influential position in fantasy and published D&D literature, but it was definitely very weak overall, and reads like exactly what it is: a fantasy fan's first attempt at publishing some adventures himself.
The contrast is huge to the Dark Elf trilogy, written later but taking place earlier in the chronology, in which Salvatore has already grown his skills. I will definitely keep following the series and am excited to follow these characters around the world, especially now that I've gotten the low point out of the way.
Drizzt's journey continues, and the original trilogy, the Icewind Dale trilogy, ends. This one was definitely worth reading for its influential position in fantasy and published D&D literature, but it was definitely very weak overall, and reads like exactly what it is: a fantasy fan's first attempt at publishing some adventures himself.
The contrast is huge to the Dark Elf trilogy, written later but taking place earlier in the chronology, in which Salvatore has already grown his skills. I will definitely keep following the series and am excited to follow these characters around the world, especially now that I've gotten the low point out of the way.
October 11, 2022
This is a good example of sword and sorcery by way of the Forgotten Realms D&D settings. In a way, I'm just reminded of old Fritz Leiber, but in another, I'm just here for the settings.
Drizzt and Wulfgar take up most of the adventure, and it's a decent adventure spanning a lot of distance, and if all you want is a standard D&D adventure that gives you a big taste of the old worldbuilding (not to mention so many great video games, Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale), then I'm sure you're going to have a pretty good time here.
So what's my problem?
I guess I'm spoiled with great Fantasy literature. This only reads as fairly average. It's good for what it is and if you don't expect high literature (or even fantastic fantasy) then you'll be fine.
Perhaps I just want more. Almost every modern fantasy delivers more. But props where props are due: this one has been extremely popular and its effects are everywhere.
Drizzt and Wulfgar take up most of the adventure, and it's a decent adventure spanning a lot of distance, and if all you want is a standard D&D adventure that gives you a big taste of the old worldbuilding (not to mention so many great video games, Baldur's Gate, Icewind Dale), then I'm sure you're going to have a pretty good time here.
So what's my problem?
I guess I'm spoiled with great Fantasy literature. This only reads as fairly average. It's good for what it is and if you don't expect high literature (or even fantastic fantasy) then you'll be fine.
Perhaps I just want more. Almost every modern fantasy delivers more. But props where props are due: this one has been extremely popular and its effects are everywhere.
March 31, 2019
I had forgotten how many truly epic moments occur in this book and, as I was re-reading it, I completely understood why younger me was so taken by this series.
Terry Brooks, Tolkien, R.A. Salvatore, Tad Williams, Weis & Hickman, Raymond Feist...these authors were the cornerstone of my reading as a kid and are responsible for why I am so in love with the fantasy genre to this day.
The Halfling's Gem is, without a doubt, my favorite out of the Icewind trilogy. It's rapid-fire awesomeness from start to finish.
Terry Brooks, Tolkien, R.A. Salvatore, Tad Williams, Weis & Hickman, Raymond Feist...these authors were the cornerstone of my reading as a kid and are responsible for why I am so in love with the fantasy genre to this day.
The Halfling's Gem is, without a doubt, my favorite out of the Icewind trilogy. It's rapid-fire awesomeness from start to finish.
October 5, 2013
I'll write a full review when I have the time, but for now, here's...
DAVE'S FINAL JUDGMENT -
THE DEFENSE
- Salvatore once again proves that he's one of the best at describing action sequences
- Lightning quick pace and non-stop action ensures Salvatore has many opportunities to prove the above claim
- While Drizzt may be the star of the show, Bruenor, Wulfgar, Regis, and especially Cattie-Brie are all given their moments to shine
- Features more originality than the previous books of The Icewind Dale Trilogy
- Artemis constantly reminds us why he's one of the most popular villains in the Forgotten Realms
THE PROSECUTION
- While many interesting things happen, the overall story is disappointingly shallow and amounts to little more than a 300-page chase sequence
THE VERDICT
This book has much in common with a really good action movie. It doesn't reinvent the genre or challenge you cerebrally. Rather, it simply takes you on a wild ride and ensures you're enjoying it every step of the way!
DAVE'S FINAL JUDGMENT -
THE DEFENSE
- Salvatore once again proves that he's one of the best at describing action sequences
- Lightning quick pace and non-stop action ensures Salvatore has many opportunities to prove the above claim
- While Drizzt may be the star of the show, Bruenor, Wulfgar, Regis, and especially Cattie-Brie are all given their moments to shine
- Features more originality than the previous books of The Icewind Dale Trilogy
- Artemis constantly reminds us why he's one of the most popular villains in the Forgotten Realms
THE PROSECUTION
- While many interesting things happen, the overall story is disappointingly shallow and amounts to little more than a 300-page chase sequence
THE VERDICT
This book has much in common with a really good action movie. It doesn't reinvent the genre or challenge you cerebrally. Rather, it simply takes you on a wild ride and ensures you're enjoying it every step of the way!
June 1, 2020
I feel like this didnt age well and i hate how the characters that "died" were never really dead. It also was too drawn out.
March 17, 2010
For the first time in six books, I can see why people like R.A. Salvatore's Dark Elf series. I still don't like them myself, but isn't completely without merit.
I see that the series' greatest appeal must come from the obligatory and breathless battle sequences -- and those can be kind of entertaining.
contains the best of the series so far (taken in chronological order). From Rogues Circle to the Sewers of Calimport to Tarterus to victory, Salvatore rolls an utterly ridiculous ball of bloodshed, mayhem, and so-called honour. If it sounds like I am unimpressed by Salvatore's display it because I AM unimpressed by his display, but that can't change the fact that it is still, on some juvenile, simplistic, good vs. evil level, fun to read.
Unfortunately, the book is not just an asinine battle that spans 100 pages. If it were only the battle I would like it better. No, Salvatore wastes 200 pages leading us to the battle with more of his usual, ham-fisted attempts at creating depth of character and meaning.
Once again, we are reminded of the dangers of "judging a book by its cover." And this time Salvatore finally uses those very words. Meanwhile, Drizzt himself kills "evil" beings, or steals indiscriminately from "evil" beings (in this case a Banshee who provides safety to an entire village of "good" farmers), without ever taking the time to get to know the depth of their souls, nor the reasons for their badness. Nope. He just knows they're evil and that's enough.
Or then there is Breunor and his disgust with thieves, and his thoughts about the chest in Mithral Hall that is reserved for the hands of thieves, all the while ignoring the fact that Regis, the halfling he has slaughtered countless victims to "save," is a master thief. Breunor, apparently, has a different standard for non-evil races or, at least, his friends, because he completely ignores that Regis is willing to become the new guildmaster of thieves. Regis isn't just part of the mob. He makes himself the godfather, and Breunor doesn't blink an eye.
These contradictions wouldn't be so bad if the characters actually struggled with them internally. These problems, these obvious lapses of logic, would actually enhance the story if they weren't simply ignored or blithely dismissed.
But they are ignored and dismissed without engagement, and that weakens Salvatore's work beyond repair. His work is, at its core, some of the most poorly conceived and insidiously propagandist fantasy drivel I have ever read.
Before the huge silly battle began I had decided to not read any more of these books. Six was enough, I thought. But now I don't know. I may need to read them all to fully appreciate how bad Salvatore's series really is. Then again, if I finally saw why people like the series at Book VI, I may actually come to love the series myself when I reach Book XII.
I see that the series' greatest appeal must come from the obligatory and breathless battle sequences -- and those can be kind of entertaining.
contains the best of the series so far (taken in chronological order). From Rogues Circle to the Sewers of Calimport to Tarterus to victory, Salvatore rolls an utterly ridiculous ball of bloodshed, mayhem, and so-called honour. If it sounds like I am unimpressed by Salvatore's display it because I AM unimpressed by his display, but that can't change the fact that it is still, on some juvenile, simplistic, good vs. evil level, fun to read.
Unfortunately, the book is not just an asinine battle that spans 100 pages. If it were only the battle I would like it better. No, Salvatore wastes 200 pages leading us to the battle with more of his usual, ham-fisted attempts at creating depth of character and meaning.
Once again, we are reminded of the dangers of "judging a book by its cover." And this time Salvatore finally uses those very words. Meanwhile, Drizzt himself kills "evil" beings, or steals indiscriminately from "evil" beings (in this case a Banshee who provides safety to an entire village of "good" farmers), without ever taking the time to get to know the depth of their souls, nor the reasons for their badness. Nope. He just knows they're evil and that's enough.
Or then there is Breunor and his disgust with thieves, and his thoughts about the chest in Mithral Hall that is reserved for the hands of thieves, all the while ignoring the fact that Regis, the halfling he has slaughtered countless victims to "save," is a master thief. Breunor, apparently, has a different standard for non-evil races or, at least, his friends, because he completely ignores that Regis is willing to become the new guildmaster of thieves. Regis isn't just part of the mob. He makes himself the godfather, and Breunor doesn't blink an eye.
These contradictions wouldn't be so bad if the characters actually struggled with them internally. These problems, these obvious lapses of logic, would actually enhance the story if they weren't simply ignored or blithely dismissed.
But they are ignored and dismissed without engagement, and that weakens Salvatore's work beyond repair. His work is, at its core, some of the most poorly conceived and insidiously propagandist fantasy drivel I have ever read.
Before the huge silly battle began I had decided to not read any more of these books. Six was enough, I thought. But now I don't know. I may need to read them all to fully appreciate how bad Salvatore's series really is. Then again, if I finally saw why people like the series at Book VI, I may actually come to love the series myself when I reach Book XII.
June 28, 2017
Drizzt always has me wanting more.
I write crap reviews because I don't want to give anything away. I prefer to go into books fairly blind; as long as I know people that I tend to trust like a book, I'm game. So I'm still not going to give anything away, but just do your inner nerd a favour and read this series.
I write crap reviews because I don't want to give anything away. I prefer to go into books fairly blind; as long as I know people that I tend to trust like a book, I'm game. So I'm still not going to give anything away, but just do your inner nerd a favour and read this series.
June 14, 2016
Debo reconocer que no abord茅 la lectura con muchas expectativas; si bien la primera entrega de la trilog铆a me gust贸 mucho, la segunda flaque贸 bastante. Pero en estos libros descubr铆 al que se convertir铆a en uno de mis personajes favoritos, Drizzt Do鈥橴rden, por lo que quiero comenzar la trilog铆a de El Elfo Oscuro, pero no sin terminar la del Valle del Viento Helado (si, si, soy un poco estructurada para estas cosas).
La Gema del Halfling es una novela muy entretenida, con mucha acci贸n, buenos personajes y excelentes descripciones; es un cierre perfecto que deja algunos frentes abiertos para poder continuar con otras sagas que involucren a los personajes principales y, en efecto, as铆 ha sido.
Entonces, 驴d贸nde est谩 el pero? En el riesgo que se corre al leer una novela del g茅nero fant谩stico escrita hace tanto tiempo, en que a煤n se nota una fuert铆sima influencia del universo de Tolkien y, por ende, a pesar de ser una lectura que se disfruta mucho, no ofrece nada nuevo y la l铆nea argumental es absolutamente previsible. En los m谩s de veinticinco a帽os desde la primera edici贸n de este libro, el g茅nero fant谩stico ha evolucionado mucho, con historias m谩s oscuras y giros argumentales impactantes, por lo que las novelas de Salvatore se sienten casi como lectura para ni帽os.
La Gema del Halfling es una novela muy entretenida, con mucha acci贸n, buenos personajes y excelentes descripciones; es un cierre perfecto que deja algunos frentes abiertos para poder continuar con otras sagas que involucren a los personajes principales y, en efecto, as铆 ha sido.
Entonces, 驴d贸nde est谩 el pero? En el riesgo que se corre al leer una novela del g茅nero fant谩stico escrita hace tanto tiempo, en que a煤n se nota una fuert铆sima influencia del universo de Tolkien y, por ende, a pesar de ser una lectura que se disfruta mucho, no ofrece nada nuevo y la l铆nea argumental es absolutamente previsible. En los m谩s de veinticinco a帽os desde la primera edici贸n de este libro, el g茅nero fant谩stico ha evolucionado mucho, con historias m谩s oscuras y giros argumentales impactantes, por lo que las novelas de Salvatore se sienten casi como lectura para ni帽os.
April 19, 2025
Review of The Halfling鈥檚 Gem by R.A. Salvatore
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
(AKA: "Why yes, I do like fantasy carrots, thank you very much.")
Reading The Halfling鈥檚 Gem felt like slipping into a well-worn cloak from my old Advanced Dungeons & Dragons days鈥攃omplete with the smell of pizza, the clatter of dice, and that one guy who always played a chaotic neutral bard 鈥渇or roleplay reasons.鈥� In short: I had a blast.
This book is the third in the Icewind Dale Trilogy and by this point, Salvatore鈥檚 legendary band of adventurers鈥擠rizzt, Wulfgar, Catti-brie, Bruenor, and of course our beloved trouble-magnet Regis鈥攆eels like a group of old friends. You know, the kind of friends who would storm an assassin鈥檚 stronghold for you without hesitation and still find time to bicker on the way.
The plot? Tight and relentless. Regis has been taken by Artemis Entreri (the fantasy world鈥檚 version of a cold-blooded ninja-Hitman hybrid with perfect cheekbones), and the gang is on a rescue mission through pirate ships, shady cities, and one very awkward disguise sequence. There are fights, yes, but there are also feelings鈥攈onor, friendship, guilt, loyalty, and even some unexpected introspection from a certain scimitar-wielding drow.
Drizzt continues to be the overly competent introvert we all secretly wish we were. He鈥檚 a dark elf with a soul, a conscience, and the worst case of 鈥淚 don鈥檛 deserve happiness鈥� since Batman. And yet鈥攈e grows. He thinks. He doubts. And through it all, he protects his friends with a level of dedication that鈥檚 part noble, part tragic, and part 鈥渨hy does no one else notice how cool he is?鈥�
Wulfgar smashes, Bruenor growls, and Catti-brie keeps them all from flying apart鈥攑roving once again that she's the glue and the sword of the party. Oh, and did I mention that Salvatore鈥檚 action scenes still read like choreographed fantasy ballet? Every swing, dodge, and clever tactic jumps off the page.
But the real win here? The humor and heart. I laughed out loud. I grinned like a fool. It鈥檚 rare for a fantasy book鈥攅specially from the early '90s鈥攖o hold up so well emotionally. And yet this one does, because Salvatore never forgets that characters are what carry the adventure. These characters feel lived-in, flawed, and loyal in that messy, beautiful way only real companions can be.
I know it鈥檚 not the most 鈥渓iterary鈥� book. It doesn鈥檛 pretend to be. But that鈥檚 exactly why I love it. It knows what it is: a fun, fast, heartfelt ride through swords, danger, bad guys, and banter鈥攁nd sometimes that鈥檚 exactly what I need. Like carrots. Delicious fantasy carrots. With maybe a side of dwarven ale and a sarcastic halfling.
So yes鈥擨 laughed, I had fun, and I鈥檓 already grabbing Book 7. Because once you ride with this party, you don鈥檛 want to stop.
And if you know, you know.
鈽呪槄鈽呪槄鈽�
(AKA: "Why yes, I do like fantasy carrots, thank you very much.")
Reading The Halfling鈥檚 Gem felt like slipping into a well-worn cloak from my old Advanced Dungeons & Dragons days鈥攃omplete with the smell of pizza, the clatter of dice, and that one guy who always played a chaotic neutral bard 鈥渇or roleplay reasons.鈥� In short: I had a blast.
This book is the third in the Icewind Dale Trilogy and by this point, Salvatore鈥檚 legendary band of adventurers鈥擠rizzt, Wulfgar, Catti-brie, Bruenor, and of course our beloved trouble-magnet Regis鈥攆eels like a group of old friends. You know, the kind of friends who would storm an assassin鈥檚 stronghold for you without hesitation and still find time to bicker on the way.
The plot? Tight and relentless. Regis has been taken by Artemis Entreri (the fantasy world鈥檚 version of a cold-blooded ninja-Hitman hybrid with perfect cheekbones), and the gang is on a rescue mission through pirate ships, shady cities, and one very awkward disguise sequence. There are fights, yes, but there are also feelings鈥攈onor, friendship, guilt, loyalty, and even some unexpected introspection from a certain scimitar-wielding drow.
Drizzt continues to be the overly competent introvert we all secretly wish we were. He鈥檚 a dark elf with a soul, a conscience, and the worst case of 鈥淚 don鈥檛 deserve happiness鈥� since Batman. And yet鈥攈e grows. He thinks. He doubts. And through it all, he protects his friends with a level of dedication that鈥檚 part noble, part tragic, and part 鈥渨hy does no one else notice how cool he is?鈥�
Wulfgar smashes, Bruenor growls, and Catti-brie keeps them all from flying apart鈥攑roving once again that she's the glue and the sword of the party. Oh, and did I mention that Salvatore鈥檚 action scenes still read like choreographed fantasy ballet? Every swing, dodge, and clever tactic jumps off the page.
But the real win here? The humor and heart. I laughed out loud. I grinned like a fool. It鈥檚 rare for a fantasy book鈥攅specially from the early '90s鈥攖o hold up so well emotionally. And yet this one does, because Salvatore never forgets that characters are what carry the adventure. These characters feel lived-in, flawed, and loyal in that messy, beautiful way only real companions can be.
I know it鈥檚 not the most 鈥渓iterary鈥� book. It doesn鈥檛 pretend to be. But that鈥檚 exactly why I love it. It knows what it is: a fun, fast, heartfelt ride through swords, danger, bad guys, and banter鈥攁nd sometimes that鈥檚 exactly what I need. Like carrots. Delicious fantasy carrots. With maybe a side of dwarven ale and a sarcastic halfling.
So yes鈥擨 laughed, I had fun, and I鈥檓 already grabbing Book 7. Because once you ride with this party, you don鈥檛 want to stop.
And if you know, you know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 27, 2022
I really enjoyed this one the first time I read it many years ago but now it is one of my very favorite in the Drizzt Do'Urden series.
This one has the whole gang, Drizzt, Bruenor, Cattie-brie, Wulfgar, Regis, and Guenhwyvar, some more than others but they're all here. And some of their greatest enemies too.
Some books in the series you can detail a little bit about and be okay doing so but not this one. To say too much would just spoil the whole thing for y'all.
If you like D&D, fast-paced storytelling, characters you want to hug, fistbump, and laugh with, and you like Fantasy with actual magic in it, and swordplay, and heroes fighting monstrous creatures, all in a world that is so fully realized you want to live in it, or at the least, visit it for an extended time, than this is for you. Plus, for those that haven't yet it would be a good time to do so. There's a lot of D&D projects either hot right now (Magic the Gathering: Forgotten Realms card game, PS5 Dark Alliance video game) or coming soon to the movies and to Netflix in the form of a tv series that the D&D realm is going to expand right into your living room soon so you might have fun getting into this series now rather than waiting for everybody else to.
Looking forward to the next re-read in the series which is .
This one has the whole gang, Drizzt, Bruenor, Cattie-brie, Wulfgar, Regis, and Guenhwyvar, some more than others but they're all here. And some of their greatest enemies too.
Some books in the series you can detail a little bit about and be okay doing so but not this one. To say too much would just spoil the whole thing for y'all.
If you like D&D, fast-paced storytelling, characters you want to hug, fistbump, and laugh with, and you like Fantasy with actual magic in it, and swordplay, and heroes fighting monstrous creatures, all in a world that is so fully realized you want to live in it, or at the least, visit it for an extended time, than this is for you. Plus, for those that haven't yet it would be a good time to do so. There's a lot of D&D projects either hot right now (Magic the Gathering: Forgotten Realms card game, PS5 Dark Alliance video game) or coming soon to the movies and to Netflix in the form of a tv series that the D&D realm is going to expand right into your living room soon so you might have fun getting into this series now rather than waiting for everybody else to.
Looking forward to the next re-read in the series which is .
December 23, 2017
4-4.25/5
April 21, 2019
More of a 2.5-2.75* I think, but let's just round it up to 3.
April 2, 2020
Great ending to this trilogy! I look forward to reading more Drizzt books when I get back home!
July 10, 2024
鈥渙nly with the honest knowledge that one day I will die can I ever truly begin to live.鈥�
February 6, 2019
This series is such a roller coaster for me. I absolutely loved the last book and then this one just kind of went downhill again. Most of the book was an extended trip going from point a to point b without any real conflict. The only source of tension was whether they鈥檇 catch Artemis in time, and even then, the only reason they DID manage to come out on top, was because the primary villain, Pasha Pook, an evil criminal mastermind leading an entire guild of thieves, is surprisingly dumb鈥�
And after Streams of Silver, I could feel the tension mounting for a face-off between Drizzt and Artemis and I was so looking forward to it, but even THAT was completely lackluster. First, Cattie-Brie has an intervention with Drizzt and tells him that he鈥檚 bigger than Artemis and should let go of this stupid rivalry. It would have been a great moment, but Drizzt just kind of immediately gives in. He didn鈥檛 have an internal struggle to come to terms with it and get over the rivalry, it was all just instantly fixed by the magical Cattie-Brie. So now, if and when they do face off, the outcome doesn鈥檛 really matter to Drizzt. And that鈥檚 exactly what happened.
Artemis and Drizzt face off, but all that tension is just gone. We all know Drizzt is going to come out on top somehow, because he鈥檚 the protagonist and this isn鈥檛 the end of the series. But now, he just doesn鈥檛 even care about Artemis on top of it. There鈥檚 no good versus evil mentality, no rush knowing that Drizzt is fighting everything he could have been, everything he stopped himself from becoming, because who cares? Even if he loses it doesn鈥檛 matter to him anymore. So he starts to come out on top and Artemis finds a clever way to get away- oh, nope sorry. He ran away shrieking like a girl. WHAT!?
And after Streams of Silver, I could feel the tension mounting for a face-off between Drizzt and Artemis and I was so looking forward to it, but even THAT was completely lackluster. First, Cattie-Brie has an intervention with Drizzt and tells him that he鈥檚 bigger than Artemis and should let go of this stupid rivalry. It would have been a great moment, but Drizzt just kind of immediately gives in. He didn鈥檛 have an internal struggle to come to terms with it and get over the rivalry, it was all just instantly fixed by the magical Cattie-Brie. So now, if and when they do face off, the outcome doesn鈥檛 really matter to Drizzt. And that鈥檚 exactly what happened.
Artemis and Drizzt face off, but all that tension is just gone. We all know Drizzt is going to come out on top somehow, because he鈥檚 the protagonist and this isn鈥檛 the end of the series. But now, he just doesn鈥檛 even care about Artemis on top of it. There鈥檚 no good versus evil mentality, no rush knowing that Drizzt is fighting everything he could have been, everything he stopped himself from becoming, because who cares? Even if he loses it doesn鈥檛 matter to him anymore. So he starts to come out on top and Artemis finds a clever way to get away- oh, nope sorry. He ran away shrieking like a girl. WHAT!?
June 20, 2017
I think I've reached the end of my adventure in D&D literature (outside of the instruction manuals). As some of my D&D buddies would describe R.A. Salvatore's work, it's just fan fiction, nothing great, but nothing particularly terrible either.
After getting through six of these books, I would have to say my vocabulary concerning the Forgotten Realms has increased somewhat and I've been able to follow some of our adventures a little bit better since I have some more familiarity with the setting and context. However, the stories are nothing spectacular to read. It just feels like the main characters are going through the motions of their adventure in a sparsely painted backdrop. R.A. Salvatore's stories don't feel like they are placed in a vibrant society or backdrop. Instead, I get the impression that all the characters that Drizzt and friends interact with are hastily assembled actors.
Reading the first six (of thirty-three) Drizzt book was an experience and gives me a bit more insight into the world of D&D and a connection with some of the other people in D&D groups. However, there is a giant world of literature and history books out there drawing my attention instead. If I was still in Middle School and avidly rolling a D20, I think my continuation into the saga of Drizzt would be a much different story.
After getting through six of these books, I would have to say my vocabulary concerning the Forgotten Realms has increased somewhat and I've been able to follow some of our adventures a little bit better since I have some more familiarity with the setting and context. However, the stories are nothing spectacular to read. It just feels like the main characters are going through the motions of their adventure in a sparsely painted backdrop. R.A. Salvatore's stories don't feel like they are placed in a vibrant society or backdrop. Instead, I get the impression that all the characters that Drizzt and friends interact with are hastily assembled actors.
Reading the first six (of thirty-three) Drizzt book was an experience and gives me a bit more insight into the world of D&D and a connection with some of the other people in D&D groups. However, there is a giant world of literature and history books out there drawing my attention instead. If I was still in Middle School and avidly rolling a D20, I think my continuation into the saga of Drizzt would be a much different story.
September 30, 2019
The ruthless assassin Artemis Entreri has kidnapped the halfling Regis and is taking him to Calimport to deliver him to his erstwhile master, Pasha Pook - kingpin of Calimshan's criminal underworld. Fortunately for Regis, his friends Drizzt the drow elf and Wulfgar the barbarian are hot on their heels. Meanwhile, another friend thought lost struggles to survive a perilous situation. It is a case of out of frying pan and into the fire for the Companions of the Hall as they make their way to sprawling Calimport, the largest city in the Realms deep in the heart of the desert nation of Calimshan.
Regis, or Rumblebelly to his friends - or at least his friend, the dwarf Bruenor - has a lot to answer for. Not content with a life as the Pasha's most prized thief, he made the foolish error of stealing his master's most valued possession, a ruby Pendant of Beguiling able to charm any creature within sight of the gem. Taken at face value, one could argue he deserves whatever dire fate Pasha Pook has in store for him. Look a little deeper, however, and... well, he still kind of deserves the fate the Pasha has in store for him. I mean, Bruenor himself has a chest in Mithral Hall in which the severed hands of thieves are kept.
Hmm.
Muddy morals aside, honour demands that Drizzt and Wulfgar rescue their friend from the clutches of the wicked Artemis Entreri. What follows is a somewhat abbreviated journey south, aided by some rather convenient magic and punctuated by scenes that range from memorable to rather silly.
Firstly, the memorable: the tavern scene in which Wulfgar chooses restraint in talking down the hilariously-named Bungo shows some nice character growth. The scenes between Pook and his minions are frequently amusing and, as with Salvatore's earlier efforts, paint villains with greater nuance than some of his contemporaries. There is an exciting sea battle between the heroes and a small pirate fleet that rewards Drizzt with a heart-warming moment of acceptance as his race-altering mask slips and the crew choose to embrace him despite his heritage. The showdown between Drizzt and Entreri, when it eventually happens, is a blood-pumping confrontation that will have readers on the edge of their seats. As always, Salvatore writes combat with an energy and level of detail that highlights every thrust, slash, parry and wound dealt.
As mentioned, though, the justness of our heroes' cause is less sure in this novel. For all Drizzt's introspection regarding respect and honour, he allows his hunger to prove himself better than Entreri to occasionally cloud his thoughts. For his part, Entreri massacres an entire ship's crew in perhaps his most villainous act of his career. There's a certain twisted logic behind his doing so - but it feels gratuitous and jars with what we know of his character.
The novel's biggest misstep is the journey into Tarterus, an Outer Plane crawling with native fiends known as demodands. Here the action crosses over into the absurd, with the heroes surviving hordes of fiends (mostly) unscathed and constantly making million-to-one odds seem a sure thing. Drizzt's obvious attraction to Catti-Brie becomes a tad uncomfortable given she and Wulfgar are clearly an item - there's a stolen kiss from an unconscious Cattie-Brie that is certainly eyebrow-raising - and Drizzt claims highest-level hero privilege to shunt both Bruenor and Wulfgar to the side and become the star of the show in decidedly dickish fashion near the end. There's the feeling that here was where R.A. Salvatore decided a certain drow elf was absolutely the main event and plotted accordingly.
(Of course, the Dark Elf Trilogy remains the jewel in the crown of the roughly 400 subsequent Realms novels, so in that he was absolutely correct!)
One thing that grated that I must mention is the dialect used for some of the characters, particularly the Calishite Sali Dalib, whose broken English (or Common) is embarrassingly denoted using "de" instead of "the," among other abominations. Maybe it read better in 1990 - but, as with the stolen kiss, it makes for slightly uncomfortable reading in 2019.
All in all, The Halfling's Gem is the weakest of the original Icewind Dale Trilogy. It lacks the rough charm of the first novel and the charming character growth of the second. Nonetheless, it presents a memorable cast of secondary villains and henchmen which it delights in knocking down, and features an iconic showdown between two iconic characters. An uneven plot and some questionable character choices don't detract too much from the book serving as a satisfying conclusion to a story that brought to life some of the most prominent locales and colourful characters in the Forgotten Realms. For that achievement, the Icewind Dale Trilogy was crucial to the runaway success of the setting.
Regis, or Rumblebelly to his friends - or at least his friend, the dwarf Bruenor - has a lot to answer for. Not content with a life as the Pasha's most prized thief, he made the foolish error of stealing his master's most valued possession, a ruby Pendant of Beguiling able to charm any creature within sight of the gem. Taken at face value, one could argue he deserves whatever dire fate Pasha Pook has in store for him. Look a little deeper, however, and... well, he still kind of deserves the fate the Pasha has in store for him. I mean, Bruenor himself has a chest in Mithral Hall in which the severed hands of thieves are kept.
Hmm.
Muddy morals aside, honour demands that Drizzt and Wulfgar rescue their friend from the clutches of the wicked Artemis Entreri. What follows is a somewhat abbreviated journey south, aided by some rather convenient magic and punctuated by scenes that range from memorable to rather silly.
Firstly, the memorable: the tavern scene in which Wulfgar chooses restraint in talking down the hilariously-named Bungo shows some nice character growth. The scenes between Pook and his minions are frequently amusing and, as with Salvatore's earlier efforts, paint villains with greater nuance than some of his contemporaries. There is an exciting sea battle between the heroes and a small pirate fleet that rewards Drizzt with a heart-warming moment of acceptance as his race-altering mask slips and the crew choose to embrace him despite his heritage. The showdown between Drizzt and Entreri, when it eventually happens, is a blood-pumping confrontation that will have readers on the edge of their seats. As always, Salvatore writes combat with an energy and level of detail that highlights every thrust, slash, parry and wound dealt.
As mentioned, though, the justness of our heroes' cause is less sure in this novel. For all Drizzt's introspection regarding respect and honour, he allows his hunger to prove himself better than Entreri to occasionally cloud his thoughts. For his part, Entreri massacres an entire ship's crew in perhaps his most villainous act of his career. There's a certain twisted logic behind his doing so - but it feels gratuitous and jars with what we know of his character.
The novel's biggest misstep is the journey into Tarterus, an Outer Plane crawling with native fiends known as demodands. Here the action crosses over into the absurd, with the heroes surviving hordes of fiends (mostly) unscathed and constantly making million-to-one odds seem a sure thing. Drizzt's obvious attraction to Catti-Brie becomes a tad uncomfortable given she and Wulfgar are clearly an item - there's a stolen kiss from an unconscious Cattie-Brie that is certainly eyebrow-raising - and Drizzt claims highest-level hero privilege to shunt both Bruenor and Wulfgar to the side and become the star of the show in decidedly dickish fashion near the end. There's the feeling that here was where R.A. Salvatore decided a certain drow elf was absolutely the main event and plotted accordingly.
(Of course, the Dark Elf Trilogy remains the jewel in the crown of the roughly 400 subsequent Realms novels, so in that he was absolutely correct!)
One thing that grated that I must mention is the dialect used for some of the characters, particularly the Calishite Sali Dalib, whose broken English (or Common) is embarrassingly denoted using "de" instead of "the," among other abominations. Maybe it read better in 1990 - but, as with the stolen kiss, it makes for slightly uncomfortable reading in 2019.
All in all, The Halfling's Gem is the weakest of the original Icewind Dale Trilogy. It lacks the rough charm of the first novel and the charming character growth of the second. Nonetheless, it presents a memorable cast of secondary villains and henchmen which it delights in knocking down, and features an iconic showdown between two iconic characters. An uneven plot and some questionable character choices don't detract too much from the book serving as a satisfying conclusion to a story that brought to life some of the most prominent locales and colourful characters in the Forgotten Realms. For that achievement, the Icewind Dale Trilogy was crucial to the runaway success of the setting.
April 23, 2024
"Entreri odiaba de verdad a Drizzt, porque gracias al amor y la amistad que el drow hab铆a encontrado en la vida, hab铆a alcanzado la perfecci贸n con las armas; y cada vez que el drow repel铆a uno de sus ataques con una sucesi贸n de movimientos expertos, dejaba al descubierto el vac铆o que imperaba en su negra existencia".
Tercera y 煤ltima parte de esta trilog铆a, y tambi茅n mi preferida de las tres. Sin duda es una historia que, a pesar de ser sencilla y muy centrada en la acci贸n y en la aventura, va ganando profundidad y equilibrio a lo largo de cada libro.
Quitando el primero que se me hizo algo m谩s pesado, es una trilog铆a que en general me dio grandes dosis de diversi贸n y me transport贸 a esas historias de fantas铆a m谩s cl谩sicas de mi adolescencia. As铆 que podemos decir que, aunque esta sea la primera vez que la leo (no como la trilog铆a de "El elfo oscuro"), sigue de alguna forma tirando un poco de mi nostalgia.
En esta tercera parte nuestros aventureros emprenden un viaje de rescate de uno de sus compa帽eros, pasando en su traves铆a por puntos claves de Faerun. Se introducen personajes nuevos y se le da m谩s peso a otros, como el asesino y antagonista de Drizzt, Artemis Entreri. De nuevo es una aventura llena de acci贸n, con poco espacio para tomar aire, pero en la que quiz谩 ya se deje entrever un poquito m谩s el desarrollo de personajes.
Si es cierto que hay un momento del libro que se me hizo un poco inc贸modo y que creo que es uno de esos detalles que no han envejecido demasiado bien, y que sinceramente me sobraba un poco... Pero es un detalle que tampoco me ha empa帽ado demasiado el resto de la novela y al que despu茅s no se le da excesiva importancia. A pesar de esto, sigue siendo mi novela favorita de la trilog铆a.
Me quedo con ganas de seguir con la historia de Drizzt y sus compa帽eros. Voy a dejar reposar un poquito esta trilog铆a y quiz谩 antes de lo que pienso vuelva con estos personajes, a ver qu茅 m谩s aventuras les deparan.
PD (y en tono de humor): Por favor Salvatore, no hace falta que me sigas diciendo constantemente de qu茅 color tiene Drizzt los ojos en los siguientes libros, ya nos ha quedado claro que son preciosos xD
Tercera y 煤ltima parte de esta trilog铆a, y tambi茅n mi preferida de las tres. Sin duda es una historia que, a pesar de ser sencilla y muy centrada en la acci贸n y en la aventura, va ganando profundidad y equilibrio a lo largo de cada libro.
Quitando el primero que se me hizo algo m谩s pesado, es una trilog铆a que en general me dio grandes dosis de diversi贸n y me transport贸 a esas historias de fantas铆a m谩s cl谩sicas de mi adolescencia. As铆 que podemos decir que, aunque esta sea la primera vez que la leo (no como la trilog铆a de "El elfo oscuro"), sigue de alguna forma tirando un poco de mi nostalgia.
En esta tercera parte nuestros aventureros emprenden un viaje de rescate de uno de sus compa帽eros, pasando en su traves铆a por puntos claves de Faerun. Se introducen personajes nuevos y se le da m谩s peso a otros, como el asesino y antagonista de Drizzt, Artemis Entreri. De nuevo es una aventura llena de acci贸n, con poco espacio para tomar aire, pero en la que quiz谩 ya se deje entrever un poquito m谩s el desarrollo de personajes.
Si es cierto que hay un momento del libro que se me hizo un poco inc贸modo y que creo que es uno de esos detalles que no han envejecido demasiado bien, y que sinceramente me sobraba un poco... Pero es un detalle que tampoco me ha empa帽ado demasiado el resto de la novela y al que despu茅s no se le da excesiva importancia. A pesar de esto, sigue siendo mi novela favorita de la trilog铆a.
Me quedo con ganas de seguir con la historia de Drizzt y sus compa帽eros. Voy a dejar reposar un poquito esta trilog铆a y quiz谩 antes de lo que pienso vuelva con estos personajes, a ver qu茅 m谩s aventuras les deparan.
PD (y en tono de humor): Por favor Salvatore, no hace falta que me sigas diciendo constantemente de qu茅 color tiene Drizzt los ojos en los siguientes libros, ya nos ha quedado claro que son preciosos xD
April 3, 2022
THE HALFLINGS GEM is the third of the original Legend of Drizzt Trilogy and the culmination of a large number of plots leading up to it. The halfling Regis Rumblebelly has been led to the land of Calisham where he is subject to the Thieves Guild that he was formerly slave to. Drizzt and company try to rescue him.
Artemis Entreri, who was nothing more than a villain before, doesn't find the heroes' welcome he expects and the guild is now overrun with wererats. It's an interesting twist, especially given Artemis' increasing obsession with defeating Drizzt in single combat. I think this is a sign of the book's increasing complexity and the fact that it will only get better from here in terms of characterization, writing, and action.
Still, we're not quite there to peak Salvatore yet. Calisham is rather unfortunately stereotypical even if it's nice to get out of generic European Western fantasy for a bit. Regis is also just not that deep of a character and it's hard to care much for his fate. On the other hand, it's clear that RA Salvatore has a great grasp of who these people are.
Artemis Entreri, who was nothing more than a villain before, doesn't find the heroes' welcome he expects and the guild is now overrun with wererats. It's an interesting twist, especially given Artemis' increasing obsession with defeating Drizzt in single combat. I think this is a sign of the book's increasing complexity and the fact that it will only get better from here in terms of characterization, writing, and action.
Still, we're not quite there to peak Salvatore yet. Calisham is rather unfortunately stereotypical even if it's nice to get out of generic European Western fantasy for a bit. Regis is also just not that deep of a character and it's hard to care much for his fate. On the other hand, it's clear that RA Salvatore has a great grasp of who these people are.
May 15, 2025
Another really good time. These books are a ton of fun and this instalment closes out the Icewind Dale Trilogy. This is a full blown chase story and probably the most DnD like of any of the books so far. After a bit of a rocky start with book 1, book 2 and 3 really pick things up. I am looking forward to continuing with the Legacy of the Drow quartet. 4/5
April 28, 2022
Definitely the best of the he trilogy.
A decent read with some interesting character development. Still a full on D&D novel and good fun.
3.5 Stars.
A decent read with some interesting character development. Still a full on D&D novel and good fun.
3.5 Stars.
October 11, 2022
Well that one wasn't great.
I am rating the book two stars, but the COMIC book four stars for stellar art and panels as usual. But the story here is absolute garbage. The thin plot gets even thinner. What small loose ends lingered from the last book get stretched into an entire novel and it's painful.
The first Icewind book had a wizard randomly come across a powerful gem for no reason and thus begins his plans for dominion. A good Drizzt story is character focused and uses various incidents and situations to shape the characters along the way. That was how I would describe the amazing first three books in the Dark Elf Trilogy. The next three books have been completely shallow. I was able to stomach the first two for the sheer fun of it but this third wore out its welcome quickly. Characters are no longer explored in any way whatsoever, yet again the characters are chasing things down just for the sake of friendship--at least this time there's a central villain and something at stake. But it's almost identical and indiscernible from the last book storywise. By the end I was mostly just insulted.
Magic as usual is merely a convenience. Drizzt needs to find a mask that can change his face into a normal elf so he can travel safely. Or maybe just wrap up your face and act like a burn victim? Also, having to fight your way to this miraculous treasure doesn't make it less a convenience when you are the best swordsman to ever exist and it was never in question whether you could actually accomplish the task.
Apparently the only downside to wearing the mask is that it can fall off if you fight too hard. Oy ve. Hardly equivalent exchange.
Honestly at this point the series has just gotten frivolous and ridiculous. I am not even having fun with the action anymore.
Worse still, as part of my critique against the characters, Wulfgar is the one that makes the least sense as being with the party. Drizzt is with Bruenor because he is desperate for home and acceptance. He gets this from Bruenor, and Catti Brie who is with Bruenor through adoption. So they make sense. Catti Brie keeps getting pushed to the side but when Bruenor shows up (uninjured???????) after fighting a dragon of all things, they join up and CONVENIENTLY get a magical steed that takes them straight to the other companions without any effort. Why couldn't they all have taken this thing across the wilderness to begin with? Why not just solve everything magically? Why even write this story if there isn't any grounding or point whatsoever? I'm furiously disappointed here.
I am getting sidetracked. Wulfgar has no personality. He is just there to whack things with a hammer. He is with Bruenor only because Bruenor saved him from the losing side of a battle as a young boy and Drizzt trained him. Why doesn't he want revenge on the side that the barbarians fought against? Why does Catti Brie love him? For no reason other than mere attraction, I assume, as there isn't anything exchanged between the two of them ever. Just randomly kissing and saying they will be wed. It's absurd. I know how it plays out but the ends don't justify the means. This is just Deus Ex Machina the Fantasy book, and quite frankly there's too much of that crap out there in the world already for me to waste time on this. I loved the other books. I have to just imagine this was a complete rush job. I am utterly befuddled.
The one saving grace is I didn't read the actual book, thank heavens, and got the great comic, which has been an awesome series until now. And now I can skip the book.
I now only have one reason to continue this series. That reason is this trilogy was written BEFORE the Dark Elf prequel trilogy that was ten times better. That inspires a faint hope in me that the following books, having been written after Dark Elf, have the potential to be the best yet.
If they aren't the best yet...
....I may have to be done with this farce....
I am rating the book two stars, but the COMIC book four stars for stellar art and panels as usual. But the story here is absolute garbage. The thin plot gets even thinner. What small loose ends lingered from the last book get stretched into an entire novel and it's painful.
The first Icewind book had a wizard randomly come across a powerful gem for no reason and thus begins his plans for dominion. A good Drizzt story is character focused and uses various incidents and situations to shape the characters along the way. That was how I would describe the amazing first three books in the Dark Elf Trilogy. The next three books have been completely shallow. I was able to stomach the first two for the sheer fun of it but this third wore out its welcome quickly. Characters are no longer explored in any way whatsoever, yet again the characters are chasing things down just for the sake of friendship--at least this time there's a central villain and something at stake. But it's almost identical and indiscernible from the last book storywise. By the end I was mostly just insulted.
Magic as usual is merely a convenience. Drizzt needs to find a mask that can change his face into a normal elf so he can travel safely. Or maybe just wrap up your face and act like a burn victim? Also, having to fight your way to this miraculous treasure doesn't make it less a convenience when you are the best swordsman to ever exist and it was never in question whether you could actually accomplish the task.
Apparently the only downside to wearing the mask is that it can fall off if you fight too hard. Oy ve. Hardly equivalent exchange.
Honestly at this point the series has just gotten frivolous and ridiculous. I am not even having fun with the action anymore.
Worse still, as part of my critique against the characters, Wulfgar is the one that makes the least sense as being with the party. Drizzt is with Bruenor because he is desperate for home and acceptance. He gets this from Bruenor, and Catti Brie who is with Bruenor through adoption. So they make sense. Catti Brie keeps getting pushed to the side but when Bruenor shows up (uninjured???????) after fighting a dragon of all things, they join up and CONVENIENTLY get a magical steed that takes them straight to the other companions without any effort. Why couldn't they all have taken this thing across the wilderness to begin with? Why not just solve everything magically? Why even write this story if there isn't any grounding or point whatsoever? I'm furiously disappointed here.
I am getting sidetracked. Wulfgar has no personality. He is just there to whack things with a hammer. He is with Bruenor only because Bruenor saved him from the losing side of a battle as a young boy and Drizzt trained him. Why doesn't he want revenge on the side that the barbarians fought against? Why does Catti Brie love him? For no reason other than mere attraction, I assume, as there isn't anything exchanged between the two of them ever. Just randomly kissing and saying they will be wed. It's absurd. I know how it plays out but the ends don't justify the means. This is just Deus Ex Machina the Fantasy book, and quite frankly there's too much of that crap out there in the world already for me to waste time on this. I loved the other books. I have to just imagine this was a complete rush job. I am utterly befuddled.
The one saving grace is I didn't read the actual book, thank heavens, and got the great comic, which has been an awesome series until now. And now I can skip the book.
I now only have one reason to continue this series. That reason is this trilogy was written BEFORE the Dark Elf prequel trilogy that was ten times better. That inspires a faint hope in me that the following books, having been written after Dark Elf, have the potential to be the best yet.
If they aren't the best yet...
....I may have to be done with this farce....
June 19, 2018
Once again the intrepid, unusual friends of R.A. Salvatore's imagination ride out on another exciting adventure, leaving the familiar world of Icewind Dale behind for the Sword Coast, from Waterdeep to Baulder's Gate, to Calimport to save the lovable but thieving halfling, Regis. Regis was taken away by the assassin Artemis Entereri in the last book for a debt owed to a powerful guildmaster, Pasha Pook.
There are host of battles, as always, sea battles, spider creatures, wererats, demodand's from another astral plane.
Drizzt leads the way but can't do it alone. His friends, Wulfgar, Catti-brie and the still breathing king of Mithral Hall, Bruenor, are instrumental on every step of the journey.
Being a fan of R.A. Salvatore's work, especially the drow elf Drizzt, I felt this edition lived up to all the intrigue and adventure of the other volumes. Highly recommended.
There are host of battles, as always, sea battles, spider creatures, wererats, demodand's from another astral plane.
Drizzt leads the way but can't do it alone. His friends, Wulfgar, Catti-brie and the still breathing king of Mithral Hall, Bruenor, are instrumental on every step of the journey.
Being a fan of R.A. Salvatore's work, especially the drow elf Drizzt, I felt this edition lived up to all the intrigue and adventure of the other volumes. Highly recommended.
December 20, 2021
2.5 stars, rounded down for being wincingly problematic.
As with I don't understand why this is part of the Icewind Dale trilogy when it doesn't take place in Icewind Dale. Instead, we visit Longsaddle, Waterdeed, sail the sea, and stop in Calimshan on a hunt to rescue Regis and Guenhwyvar (we all know who Drizzt loves more). Also we see more of Artemis, the assassin that Salvator decided halfway through writing would be some sort of inverse of Drizzt through both looks and deeds.
There's a lot of this kind of ret-conning that the author doesn't properly hint at: Catti-Brie and Wulfgar's romance is rarely shown, Drizzt and Aretmis deciding to be obsessed with each other, Drizzt and Catti-Brie's blossoming romance.
This book is mostly just a big chase scene dragged out for 300+ pages. There's some good action but also too much of it. There's also some really bad 90s fantasy racism that you see depicted in Calimshan through both the way the people are described and how one sleezy merchant speaks.
Unfortunately this problematic writing gets worse at about the 90% mark when the heroes pop into Tartarus. Throughout this book and the last Drizzt has seen CB and Wulfgar are in a relationship, even though CB has been making a few hints to Drizzt that he's Too Pure to understand. Then, Drizzt sends Wulfgar off to hold a portal open which he can do "if he loves CB"--and Drizzt runs off to save an unconscious CB... only to kiss her on the mouth while she's still unconscious. This is never referenced again. I guess Drizzt forgot to drink his Respect Women Juice.
We see some serious hypocrisy with Bruenor, who apparently HATES thieves and is happy to see their hands lopped off... but it cool with Regis, who was trained and lived as a thief, become the new head of the thieves guild in Calimshan.
There's a lot of scenes like this that show the author didn't put a lot of thought into character motivation of what they would actually think or what their actions really mean. I've heard Salvatore is a great writer so I hope this is just some weak early writing, but... yikes.
As with I don't understand why this is part of the Icewind Dale trilogy when it doesn't take place in Icewind Dale. Instead, we visit Longsaddle, Waterdeed, sail the sea, and stop in Calimshan on a hunt to rescue Regis and Guenhwyvar (we all know who Drizzt loves more). Also we see more of Artemis, the assassin that Salvator decided halfway through writing would be some sort of inverse of Drizzt through both looks and deeds.
There's a lot of this kind of ret-conning that the author doesn't properly hint at: Catti-Brie and Wulfgar's romance is rarely shown, Drizzt and Aretmis deciding to be obsessed with each other, Drizzt and Catti-Brie's blossoming romance.
This book is mostly just a big chase scene dragged out for 300+ pages. There's some good action but also too much of it. There's also some really bad 90s fantasy racism that you see depicted in Calimshan through both the way the people are described and how one sleezy merchant speaks.
Unfortunately this problematic writing gets worse at about the 90% mark when the heroes pop into Tartarus. Throughout this book and the last Drizzt has seen CB and Wulfgar are in a relationship, even though CB has been making a few hints to Drizzt that he's Too Pure to understand. Then, Drizzt sends Wulfgar off to hold a portal open which he can do "if he loves CB"--and Drizzt runs off to save an unconscious CB... only to kiss her on the mouth while she's still unconscious. This is never referenced again. I guess Drizzt forgot to drink his Respect Women Juice.
We see some serious hypocrisy with Bruenor, who apparently HATES thieves and is happy to see their hands lopped off... but it cool with Regis, who was trained and lived as a thief, become the new head of the thieves guild in Calimshan.
There's a lot of scenes like this that show the author didn't put a lot of thought into character motivation of what they would actually think or what their actions really mean. I've heard Salvatore is a great writer so I hope this is just some weak early writing, but... yikes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2023
I love this series.
February 12, 2012
This, the third in the Icewind Dale trilogy, is better than the previous two entries, mostly for the change in scenery. Characters, major and minor, are still characterized with a heavy handedness to be found in bad fanfic, characters act outside their "good alignments," and this book manages to bring a little racial fun into play with the profoundly idiotic character Salib whatever his name is. Also, I am sick of the way Bruenor talks! I had to reread sentences a few times to figure out what the hell he was saying.
However, there are redeeming points. There is some humor, finally, though I am not sure if it's intentional.Drizzt shows some depth beyond being badass, and it was interesting to see Cattie-Brie touch on the source of his tension and hound-like obsession with Artemis. She reminds the reader of what "good" means (in a D&D sense) when she asks if Drizzt wants to kill him to protect the innocent, or simply to prove himself. Drizzt himself isn't sure.
On the other hand, this message would have been much, much more effective if Cattie-Brie didn't slaughter swathes of humans all the damn time. Each character demonstrates hypocrisy in this way. The supposedly good Drizzt and Wulfgar gleefully sack the treasure trove of a harmless ghost, Bruenor hates all thieves, except Regis, and Cattie-Brie, who suddenly becomes the world's best archer, hates killing but does it anyway.
I shall persevere onwards towards Passage To Dawn....
However, there are redeeming points. There is some humor, finally, though I am not sure if it's intentional.Drizzt shows some depth beyond being badass, and it was interesting to see Cattie-Brie touch on the source of his tension and hound-like obsession with Artemis. She reminds the reader of what "good" means (in a D&D sense) when she asks if Drizzt wants to kill him to protect the innocent, or simply to prove himself. Drizzt himself isn't sure.
On the other hand, this message would have been much, much more effective if Cattie-Brie didn't slaughter swathes of humans all the damn time. Each character demonstrates hypocrisy in this way. The supposedly good Drizzt and Wulfgar gleefully sack the treasure trove of a harmless ghost, Bruenor hates all thieves, except Regis, and Cattie-Brie, who suddenly becomes the world's best archer, hates killing but does it anyway.
I shall persevere onwards towards Passage To Dawn....
April 4, 2017
I will never be a super-fan of this series, but I can still certainly appreciate its appeal. I will try very hard not to complain about character names鈥攎any of them, I find completely ridiculous and sometimes even distracting. I mean, who wants an imaginary Halfling in their head who looks like Regis Philbin with furry feet?
There鈥檚 plenty of good action in this installment, several lost-and-found characters, plus incredible imaginary beasts. Positive from my point of view is Cattie-Brie getting a bit more page-time (although I still get hungry for cheese when I read about her).
Essentially one long chase scene, this book isn鈥檛 too complex. This is good, as there are commas sprinkled throughout the novel, like iron filings in a contaminated loaf of bread, making sentences very unclear. This requires the reader to back up and to try again to wrest the sense from them, not just once or twice, but repeatedly.
The obvious 鈥渂e who you are and don鈥檛 mind other people鈥檚 opinions鈥� message of Drizzt is a positive one for the age group that this series seems to be aimed at, namely the high school/young adult crowd.
Book 253 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project.
There鈥檚 plenty of good action in this installment, several lost-and-found characters, plus incredible imaginary beasts. Positive from my point of view is Cattie-Brie getting a bit more page-time (although I still get hungry for cheese when I read about her).
Essentially one long chase scene, this book isn鈥檛 too complex. This is good, as there are commas sprinkled throughout the novel, like iron filings in a contaminated loaf of bread, making sentences very unclear. This requires the reader to back up and to try again to wrest the sense from them, not just once or twice, but repeatedly.
The obvious 鈥渂e who you are and don鈥檛 mind other people鈥檚 opinions鈥� message of Drizzt is a positive one for the age group that this series seems to be aimed at, namely the high school/young adult crowd.
Book 253 in my Science Fiction and Fantasy Reading Project.
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