Neverwinter by R. A. Salvatore (Neverwinter Book II)

Neverwinter, the second book in R. A. Salvatore’s Neverwinter series, picks up where Gauntlgrym left off. The last of Drizzt’s old companions are gone. King Bruenor fell in battle as he worked to stave off another great cataclysm. Now for the first time in a century Drizzt is free. He is no longer tied down by anyone. Now he is traveling with the deadly female elf warrior Dahlia. First they travel to Waterdeep to try and find some trace of Jarlaxle. While they are unable to locate the mercenary Drow they are able to run into a great deal of trouble. Old enemies of Dahlia attack them and they are forced from the city. Next they travel to the woods outside Neverwinter. Here they have come to do battle against the evil Sylora Salm. Before the novel is over Drizzt and Dahlia will be forced to deal with Sylora, the lich Valindra Shadowmantle, who is slowly regaining her sanity, and they will have to deal with the killer known as Barrabus. Meanwhile Barrabus is operating in Neverwinter. A great secret will be revealed concerning this mysterious killer.

Neverwinter is a good book. It is a major step for Drizzt. Now that he is free of his friends, and dealing in a world that is descending deeper in to chaos Drizzt needs more than ever to find something good to cling to. He will be hard pressed to find the goodness in Dahlia. She is constantly pushing him to let loose. The battle of ideas is Drizzt’s idealism against Dahlia’s pragmatic view. There is a lot of new thematic material appearing here. Drizzt is growing and being challenged. How will he cope with this new world and will he stand strong or give in to the ways of the world. All of that and so much more in this amazing fantasy novel. As always, lot of action and adventure in the Forgotten Realms.

Gauntlgrym by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

Gauntlgrym, the ancient homeland of the dwarves. Ever dwarf has heard of it. They sing about it in legend. It has been lost for many generations. This is the final quest for King Bruenor and his companion Drizzt Do'Urden. Bruenor wants to find the ancient homeland of his people before he dies. Drizzt has no real concern for Gauntlgrym, all he wants to do is travel and fight. The loss of Catti-Brie and Regis still breaks his heart and his only solace is in battle. So now they travel.

At the same time new forces of evil have entered the land. Two new groups seek to dominate the land. Their exact intentions are not perfectly clear yet, but they are not good. The Shadovar have sent an agent into the city of Neverwinter to try and secretly take control of the city. The ruler of Thay has sent a force in to the same area to create a Dread Ring that will bring death to the region and power to the evil leaders. 

The elf Dahlia is in the service of Thay. She is sent to find Gauntlgrym to release an energy that will bring about the destruction needed for the Dread Ring. She is not happy with these orders and chafes at them. She allies herself with the mercenary drow Jarlaxle. Before it is over Dahlia, Drizzt, Bruenor, and Jarlaxle will have to fight for their lives to avert a major catastrophe. A wonderful first novel in the new Neverwinter saga. Salvatore's writing grows better every year.

The Ghost King by R. A. Salvatore (Legend of Drizzt)

The great and evil sentient artifact Crenshinibon was destroyed by the dragon Hephaestus. Or so it was believed. The powerful priest Cadderly joined with the mercenary drow Jarlaxle and the assassin Artemis Entreri to destroy the eveil item once and for all. Something has happened to the world since that day. The vey weave of Mystra that makes the realm of magix possible is coming undone. As a loose thread crosses the remnants of the destroyed artifact it reawakens the evil within. The artifact is joined with the now blinded Hephaestus. It slays the drragon and turns him into a lich, an undead being of great evil and power. Now this new Ghost King is out for revenge. He seeks to destroy his enemies.

What will happen and who will be left standing will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat through much of the book. It will also leave you in tears. This book is the most emotionally driven book of the series. It is the last book for several characters that we have come to know and love over the last nineteen volumes. I can't tell you much more than that or I will spoil the story. It was hard to read and I felt like I lost some old friends. Salvatore's writing has never been better. Going back and re-reading all of these books over the last four months I have been able to see how he has progressed as a writer. Even thought this book is bittersweet it is still enjoyable and a magnificent work of fantasy.

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The Pirate King by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

The city of Luskan has long been known as a rough port town. The city is run behind the scenes by a rivalry between the five high captains and the great wizards of the Hosttower. This balance of power has become unstable as on of the high captains seeks to increase his power. At the same time the head of the Hosttower is an evil lich who seeks to gain more power as well. The battle for Luskan is then joined by those in Waterdeep who seek to bring order to their neighbor to the north. They recruit the noble pirate chaser Captain Deudermont to aid them.

Drizzt and Regis have left Mithril Hall to search for Wulfgar. They want to find out what fate has come to their friend. They pass through Luskan on the way north and see the shape of the city. When they return they are caught up in the battle for Luskan. The fate of many will be decided not by honor on the battlefield, but by intrigue and manipulation. Many good men will die in this cause. The question that everyone will ask in the end: was it worth it?

This is the second book in the Transitions Trilogy. This is the darkest cycle in the Legend of Drizzt saga. As always the battle scenes are intense and well written. Salvatore is doing something different. With every novel he seems to grow as a writer. This book takes the passion, the adventure, and the heartbreak to a whole level. The story of the Companions is winding down and as painful as it is he is taking on this process with amazing skill.

The Orc King by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

The war between the orcs and the dwarves has ended in an uneasy truce. Both sides think that it can’t last. Obould wants to build a new kingdom, a kingdom for orcs. He sees a chance to create a kingdom like other races, to build cities, to engage in trade. This is not in the orcish tradition. Many of his followers are waiting for the war to start again. The dwarves do not trust the orcs. Orcish nature is to kill and plunder. Some of Obould’s closest advisors are working against him in the shadows. They send for a clan of half-orcs half-ogres to see if they can push Obould into a fight with the dwarves.

In the meantime Wulfgar and Catti-Brie set out to find Wulfgar’s adopted daughter. His wife, alone and afraid, fell under the spell of the sentient sword Khazid’hea. She handed their daughter over to a refugee and headed out, only to be slain by orcs. Now Wulfgar wants his daughter back. After finding her he leaves Catti-Brie to journey back to the north. He needs to discover his place in the world.

Bruenor is unhappy with an orc horde at his door. More than that he wants to find the ancient dwarven city of Gauntlgrym. He believes that he may have seen it at an earlier time just before the orc war started. With Drizzt, Regis, Pwent, and others he travels to the location. There he finds not what he is looking for, but simply more puzzles.

The stage is set, can Obould control his unruly horde? Will Wulfgar find his way home? Will the truce end? What can Regis learn from the scrolls taken from the buried city? These are the questions that have to be answered. The ending is quite surprising as Salvatore takes a major step in the development of his characters. A lot of great story telling and a lot of groundbreaking work. Salvatore hits it out of the park again.

The Two Swords by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

The dwarves of Mithril Hall are still besieged. Somehow their king Bruenor Battlehammer has returned from them. All thought that he had gone to the halls of his fathers even though the clerics had kept his body going. Somehow Regis had been able to reach inside and pull him out again. Now Bruenor is leading the dwarves once again. Reinforcements are on their way. The orc horde of Obould still holds strong. Obould is now believed to be possessed with the powers of the orcish god. Meanwhile outside of Mithril Hall Drizzt continues his personal war against the orcs. Still believing his friends slain he fights with no other purpose than revenge. He has joined with the Moonwood elf Innovindil as they seek to avenge the death of her lover. In addition to helping Drizzt fight the orcs she also teaches him that he must learn to live his life in short spans when dealing with friends of the lesser races. If he refuses to live and love then he will always be alone. The pain of loss will come, but that is offset by the joy of living.

This novel has some great parts. The ending really isn’t an ending, it’s more of a setup for the next trilogy. The important part of this book is Drizzt finally learning to come to grips with his own emotions. There is love, loss, heroism and heartbreak in this volume of the Legacy of Drizzt. It is more high action from the king of Sword and Sorcery fantasy.

The Lone Drow by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

The orcs of the mountains have come down in force. Led by the chieftain Obould Many-Arrows they have swept all before them. The dwarves have been pushed back to a defensive position. Obould is like no other orc chieftain before. His goal is not plunder, but instead he seeks to establish a kingdom. In Mithril Hall King Bruenor Battlehammer lies at death’s door. Regis has been named regent. Catti-Brie and Wulfgar fight at the defensive lines hoping that something will bring them victory. Help comes from many places. The Bouldershoulder brothers Ivan and Pikel have joined the fight. Dwarves from all over begin to stream to the aid of Mithril Hall. The orcs seem to be a vast horde and the only hope lies in the natural tendency of orcs to turn on each other. Drizzt meanwhile is outside. Still believing his friends slain he seeks to kill as many orcs as possible. Two elves of Moonwood try to befriend him, but he keeps them at arms length. Slowly Drizzt is once again becoming the Hunter. The Hunter was the persona that he became during his years alone in the Underdark. As the Hunter he lives to slay the dark things, he feels nothing. 

The Thousand Orcs by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

The Companions of the Hall are together again. The call has come to Bruenor. It is time for him to return to Mithril Hall and take up the kingship. So the companions set out for the great city of the dwarves. Along the way they encounter hostile forces, but they seem to treat the entire trip as a light adventure. Unknown to them a new force is rising. The orc chieftain Obould is raising the tribes living in the Spine of the World. They are moving out in force. Obould is no ordinary chieftain. He has bigger aim in mind. He will come to see himself as the founder of a new nation.

The orc forces encounter the Companions and their Dwarven guard in a town. The defense of the city seems hopeless. Drizzt goes out to fight the frost giants who are helping the orcs. In the battle he is swept from his friends. He believes that they are all slain. Now the Hunter has returned. Drizzt lives only to slay more orcs, but what can he do against a host this mighty? 

Sea of Swords by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

With Sea of Swords Salvatore returns to the story of Drizzt and his companions. Drizzt, Catti-Brie, Regis, and Bruenor have returned to Icewind Dale. They still miss Wulfgar, but have found other things to occupy them. While Bruenor has reopened his old mines Regis has once again made his way to the Council. Drizzt and Catti-Brie have taken up hunting the bandits that are plaguing the caravans from Icewind Dale to Luskan. After defeating one of the bandit groups they capture a bandit who has a brand on her shoulder. They recognize the brand as having been made by Wulfgar’s hammer Aegis-Fang. The companions decide that it is time to find their missing friend. 

Meanwhile Wulfgar has taken up with the famed pirate hunter Captain Deudermont. Together they are searching for the female pirate captain Sheila-Kree. Wulfgar has learned that she is the one who has Aegis-Fang. Even though he has worked through many of his problems Wulfgar is still not in control of his rage in battle. This causes problems as he tends to put his comrades in danger in battle.

How will the companions finally meet up with each other? Will they be able to defeat this pirate captain? Who is this elf warrior Le’lorinel who seems to have no greater desire in the world than the death of Drizzt? Why this intense hatred for one he has never known? All off these questions are answered amidst the action and adventure that one expects from a Drizzt novel.

Spine of the World by R. A. Salvatore

Spine of the World picks up the story of Wulfgar from The Silent Blade. Broken in spirit by his many years as a prisoner of the demon Errtu, Wulfgar has left his friends and become a bouncer at a bar known as the Cutlass in the city of Luskan. He has found that the only way to drown the pain is to drink. At night he drinks and fights and drinks some more. His new companion is an unsavory character known as Morik the Rogue. Before the book ends Wulfgar will have plunged to the very depth of his soul. He will dig himself out and begin the process of trying to find himself again.

The is the first of the novels to focus on one of Drizzt’s companions other than the drow ranger. Salvatore gives a fascinating look at the character of Wulfgar and what it means for a man to try and find redemption and to find his sanity again after losing everything and going through unspeakable tortures. Wulfgar’s journeys take him from Luskan to the Spine of the World. The greatest journey though is the one within. How does the nobel barbarian finally find his way back? For that you have to read this difficult, but excellent book.

The Silent Blade by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

At the end of Passage to Dawn it was discovered that Wulfgar was not dead. Instead he had been held prisoner for many years by the demon Errtu. He was freed during the battle between Errtu and Drizzt. At the end of the battle Drizzt also gained control of Crenshinibon, the sentient crystal shard. Drizzt hopes that Cadderly will be able to help him destroy the evil artifact once and for all. The five companion, Drizzt, Bruenor, Regis, Catti-Brie, and Wulfgar head out for Spirit Soaring, Cadderly’s magnificent cathedral. 

The book splits into three stories. After a bad flashback to his imprisonment by the demon Wulfgar hits Catti-Brie. After doing this he doesn’t trust himself with his friends and goes off on his own. He stumbles to the city of Luskan where he finally finds work as a bouncer in a bar. It seems that drink and violence are the only thing that can take his mind off of his past.

Drizzt and his remaining friends continue on their journey to Spirit Soaring. Their journey is made far more difficult along the way by the powerful artifact. Crenshinibon continually calls out to dark creatures such as orcs, trolls, ogres, and even men with evil designs. All are drawn by the power of the shard.

In the third thread we follow the story of Artemis Entreri. Entreri was able to escape from the drow city of Menzoberranzen and now he has finally made his way back to Calimport. There he tries to renew his alliances among the criminal elements of the city. He becomes embroiled in the turmoil that is taking place among the criminal pashas. Before long he discovers a new ally. It sees that Jarlaxle has decided to bring his Bregan D’Aerthe organization to the surface in a clandestine way.

Salvatore weaves these stories together quite well. There is a lot going on in this book and the stage is being set for the next few novels. A lot of action and a lot of exploration of the characters, particularly Entreri and Wulfgar. A fun fantasy novel in a great series.

Passage to Dawn by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

At the end of Siege of Darkness the drow army was defeated. A restless Drizzt set off on his own to find adventure. Catti-Brie has followed him on this excursion. A the beginning of Passage to Dawn we see them joined up with their old friend Captain Deudermont. They have found their adventures on the high seas as pirate chasers. A new adventure begins when a shape-shifter takes on the form of the Captain and attacks Drizzt and Catti-Brie. To find answers they must seek out a mysterious island. There they will learn that someone dear to Drizzt is held prisoner by a demon that is an old foe. They journey in search of the location. On this quest they will meet the great Cleric Cadderly, they will encounter old friends, old enemies, and will battle against the power of the demon Errtu which is enhanced by the artifact Crenshinibon. 

Adventure on the high seas, wizards, demons, and sword fights galore. another great Drizzt novel from the master of sword and sorcery R. A. Salvatore.

Siege of Darkness by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

Drizzt has escaped from capture in the drow city of Menzzoberanzan. Along with his friends he caused a great deal of chaos in the wake of their escape. The leaders of the drow have decided that it is time to wipe out the renegade once and for all. Matron Mother Banrae has consolidated her power and formed an army to attack the dwarven city of Mithril Hall. Standing against the forces of the Underdark are the armies of Mithril Hall, the knights of Silverymoon, the barbarian kindred of Wulfgar, and other allies. Will they be able to defeat the overpowering forces of the drow? Will darkness descend on the region or will the forces of good triumph. Old racial prejudices new bad blood has to be overcome if they are to defeat the drow.

This is a pure action adventure sword and sorcery novel. All the classics are here. Overwhelming evil armies, nobel warriors fighting the hopeless fight. The Drizzt novels always promise lots of great old fashioned fantasy storytelling and they never disappoint.

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Starless Night by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

In the last novel a raid was launched to capture Drizzt and return him to the city of Menzzoberanzen. Drizzt was able to escape with the help of his friends, but not without a price. The noble barbarian Wulfgar fell in battle with an creature from another dimension. His friends grieve over his loss. Bruenor can barely function as king in Mithril Hall. Drizzt knows that his enemies will keep coming for him no matter what. So he decides to end it. What is plans are never become quite apparent. He decides to return to the city of his birth. Along the way he will pass many old places of memory. He will renew old friendships. He will have an encounter with his god. Most of all he will learn that he is not alone, that he must trust in his friends.

Suspenseful and moving this is a a good novel in the Drizzt saga. Here, for the first time Drizzt comes to a greater understanding about his place in the world.

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The Legacy by R. A. Salvatore (A Drizzt Novel)

Drizzt Do'Urden has finally found a home. Together the companions rescued Regis from the clutches of a vengeful pasha. Drizzt battled his enemy Artemis Entreri into a retreat. Afterwards the led a dwarvish army against Bruenor's ancient realm of Mithril Hall and took it again for the king. Now Bruenor sits on his throne and the biggest concern that the companions have is the wedding of Catti-Brie and Wulfgar. Things are not as peaceful as they seem. Unbeknownst to the companions an old enemy lurks below them. Drizzt's family has not forgotten his betrayal. The chief matron of Menzoberranzen sends a war party out to capture Drizzt and put an end to this renegade.

The drow are always confident in their skills, but they underestimate the power of the companions. Bruenoer, Catti-Brie, and Wulfgar all go after Drizzt. Joining them is Thibbeldorf Pwent, a dwarf known as a gutbuster. His somewhat unique style of fighting is to wear armor that is covered with razor sharp spikes. He simply hurls himself as a living weapon at his enemies. It will take all of the cunning and skill of Drizzt and his companions to survive this encounter. Not all of them will make it.

More great sword and sorcery work from the great master himself. Salvatore's stories are always a lot of fun. If you like good adventure style fantasy then check out this book.

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The Chaos Curse by R. A. Salvatore (Cleric Quintet 5)

Cadderly has fought many battles against the forces of Castle Trinity and has been victorious. Now it is time to return to the Edificant Library. He dreads the return because he knows that his return will cause a split among those in his order. He has grown too powerful and is in favor with his god. The hierarchical structure is not happy with this. Little does he know that a much worse fate awaits him.

The fallen priest Kierkan Rufo has returned in secret to the Library. He has been convinced by the imp Druzil that the answer can be found in the Chaos Curse. Rather than simply uncovering and releasing the curse Rufo drinks it. The result is to turn him into a vampire of tremendous power. Now Rufo sets out to bring down the library. Some will join him, some will oppose him, but none can stop him. Can Cadderly and his companions defeat this evil, or will it destroy them?

This is the last book in the Cleric Quintet. This is one of the best Fantasy cycles out there. The battle of good in the face of nearly unstoppable evil rages in this book. The ending is amazing and caps off this amazing quintet. Highly Recommended.


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Night Masks by R. A. Salvatore (Cleric Quintet 3)

After the brutal battles in Shilmista Forrest Cadderly Bonaduce takes leave of the Edificant Library and moves to the city of Caradoon. He is afraid that he has lost his faith. Once again in battle he was forced to kill and he is not sure how to handle the feelings that go along with that. As he moves forward in his studies he begins to develop new powers. These powers begin to grow in him in new and frightening ways. At the same time he is being stalked by a deadly group of assassins known as the Night Masks. They have been hired by the leaders of Castle Trinity who are tired of the young priest showing up and ruining their plans.

Danica and the Bouldershoulder brothers join him in Caradoon and before long they are all fighting for their lives against an insidious assassin known as The Ghost. Their survival will depend on them working together. Most of all their survival will depend on Cadderly coming to an understanding of these new powers and recapturing his faith.

This book is a pivot point in the series. Cadderly and Danica take their relationship to a whole new level. He has to become a true leader in the fight against their foe. Most of all the young agnostic priest has to come to grips with his place in the universe and learn to believe. By the end he has found his way and knows what he has to do.


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In Sylvan Shadows by R. A. Salvatore (Cleric Quintet 2)

Having failed to bring down the Edificant Library with the Chaos Curse, the evil forces of Castle Trinity have moved against the elven homeland of Shilmista Forest. The elves are outnumbered and overwhelmed. Cadderly has spent the last year trying to determine the origin of this foe Cadderly leaves to see the action up close. He is joined by the young warrior monk Danica and his fellow priest Kierkan Rufo. In the forest they meet up with their dwarvish friends Ivan and Pikel Bouldershoulder. Along the way they are forced to battle against an overwhelming foe. Will this be the end of the elven realm?

For Cadderly this is his first journey into the larger world. He is a gentle spirit and is greatly disturbed by the killing around him. Once he is forced to take part in the battle how will he be able to deal with the strain? Will he come out stronger, or will his faith reach the breaking point.Will the other priest Rufo overcome his own lack of character? Cadderly's quest for truth will propel him further than he could ever imagine.

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Canticle by R. A. Salvatore (Cleric Quintet 1)

A young priest of powerful skills, but a somewhat lazy disposition is forced to confront dark forces and an evil cleric. Young Cadderly Bonaduce is a very gifted priest at the Edificant Library who should have a great future ahead of him. His only problem is that he is a bit absent minded. Unknown to Cadderly or any of his fellow priests there is a malignant force at work. A dark cult has crafted a new powerful spell, The Chaos Curse. It is decided to release this curse against the Library. The chief cleric of the order enters the library and tricks Cadderly into releasing the curse. Things become chaotic and Cadderly has to join with the Bouldershoulder brothers Ivan and Pikel, as well as the young warrior monk Danica to fight this evil.

This book is the first of five in the Cleric Quintet. It is a change in direction from the usual sword fighting books of Drizzt. That’s not to say that there is no fighting. There is plenty of that. There is also more humor than you generally find in the Drizzt books. The wonderful dwarven Bouldershoulder brothers are some of the funniest characters in fantasy. The character of Danica is also very intriguing. She is a monk trained to use her body as a weapon. The skills that she is studying will serve her well in this and the future volumes. The young Cadderly is on a quest to try and understand what he believes and why. It will take all of his skills and all of his faith to defeat the foe that has attacked his home.


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The Halfling's Gem by R. A. Salvatore

This is the third novel in the Icewind Dale Trilogy by R. A. Salvatore. In the previous book, Streams of Silver, Regis had been taken prisoner by the assassin Artemis Entreri. Bruenor had fallen to his death in Mithril Hall in battle with a dragon. We learn in the beginning of this book that Bruenor is not dead, but was saved from the dragon fire by the magic of Drizzt's sword Icingdeath. Drizzt and Wulfgar set out for Calimport on the trail of Regis and Entreri. Catti-Brie remains behind to gather a dwarven army to retake Mithril Hall from the deugar, a race of treacherous dwarven type creatures. Along the way Drizzt and Wulfgar meet Captain Deudermont, a character who will appear in many more of the novels. The search will bring the four companions together again. The only question is will they be in time to save Regis.

An ongoing theme in the Drizzt novels is the theme of prejudice. Many of the races and peoples of The Forgotten Realms dislike each other. Some races are more hated than others. Orcs, trolls, and goblins are universally loathed. The drow, the race of dark elves who live deep in the earth in the Underdark are among the most hated and feared of all races. Drizzt understands this of course. His race is known for their cruelty and treachery. Their entire culture is built on such ideas. Their evil goddess Loth, the Spider Queen, is nourished by treachery and chaos. Drizzt rejected his people's ways and set out on his own. Everywhere he goes he has to prove over and over that he is different. In this story he fears that the rejection of his race will hinder him in the search for Regis. A friend gives him a magical mask that will change his features to that of a light elf. He uses it, but it causes him great emotional pain. The need for the mask also pains and angers his loyal friend Wulfgar. Along the way though Drizzt will find that his deeds always make him welcome among good people.

All of the usual elements of a great Salvatore novel are here. Salvatore is rightly famous for his fight scenes. The battle between Drizzt and Entreri is legendary and long. Classic Sword and Sorcery fantasy at it's best.

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