Book XI in the Legend of Drizzt 
There are eighteen books in this series, and with that many pages a reader would expect to encounter two aspects: deeper characterizations and repetition. Both are on full display in The Silent Blade, the eleventh in the Drizzt Do’Urden series.
The previous book (Passage to Dawn) ended with Wulfgar being rescued from the demon Urtuu. One of the best features of this new book is Wulgar’s struggles against his feelings of defeat and guilt brought about by his many years of torture at the hands of the demon. In a telling scene he beats his once fiance’ Catti-brie, thinking she is actually a succubus, a tactic that Urtuu tormented him with. Wulfgar leaves the group and falls into alcoholism and brawling, both of which give him some release from his inner conflict. (more…)
A first time novelist’s first time at the show
I went to BEA (and took my wife and son) for many reasons:
- My first book (Dusk Before the Dawn) was up for a 2006 Book of the Year Award from ForeWord Magazine;
- I love books;
- I wanted to meet a few of the friends I’d made in the book business;
- It was in New York City and we like to visit;
- Did I mention we like books?
I’ve visited and exhibitted at many software and technology conferences, but few had the excitement and sheer hectic nature of BEA. It was a three-day conference preceeded by meetings and seminars; we only attended the first day (Friday), and we were worn out, my son especially for playing sherpa and carrying the books!
Now, let me emphasize that we did not go to BEA with the intention of grabbing every book in sight. It just felt like that is what we did! We ended up with forty books, some ARC/AREs (Advanced Reading Copies/Editions), some unedited, some fully released. I have almost one hundred reviews on this site, with more coming, so hopefully the authors and publishing houses will feel some benefit from the publicity. My wife and son are going to contribute some reviews as well.
Some of the books we got (that we will be posting reviews for) were:
- The Dark River by John Twelve Hawks (the book after Traveler); my review
- The Orc King by R. A. Salvatore (the next Drizzt novel);
- The Day of Battle by Rick Atkinson (the book after the Army at Dawn, about the liberation of Europe in WWII);
- The Almost Moon by Alice Seybold (author of The Lovely Bones); my review
- The Crocodile and the Crane by Authur Rosenfield (from YMAA books, publisher of some of the best martial arts books available);
- Exit Ghost by Philip Roth;
- The Spanish Bow by Andromeda Romano-Lax (story summary reminds me of The Shadow and the Wind);
- How Life Imitates Chess by Garry Kasparov
- The Human, The Orchid and The Octopus by Jacques Cousteau and Susan Schiefelbein
- Dragons of the Highlord Skies by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman (The Lost Chronicles Vol. 2)
I also got to meet in person several author friends, including: (more…)
3 stars: Very predictable, but pulls in some interesting new characters
After ten books (three in the dark elf trilogy, three in the icewind dale trilogy and four in the legacy of the drow series), the characters are becoming familiar and the interaction and culture of the races are known quantities. Unfortunately, the plots are becoming pretty familiar as well.
Salvatore delivers as always with his battle sequences, where his writing is always well done (makes me wonder if he physically steps through the fighting himself so as to better write it). This book also contains time on the ship Sea Sprite, and battles with pirate ships, which are well done. I also enjoyed the new characters of the wizard Cadderly and his wife Danica, although their appearance was short.
But bringing back the Crystal Shard, Ertuu (who we knew from the previous few books was going to have to make a return appearance) and the bringing of a main character back from the dead makes for a fairly predictable plotline.
I know people who have read the entire series (which at this point is seven more books), but I have to question what additional events and devices can be brought into this series to make it interesting and enjoyable. If characters die, except on soap operas they should stay dead.
5 stars: The Drow attack the Dwarves
Book IX in The Legend of Drizzt
Siege of Darkness, book 9 chronologically in the Drizzt series, finally gives what the last few books have been leading up to: the epic battle as the underground drow attack Mithril Hall, home of King Bruenor Battlehammer and his clan of dwarves. The battle turns epic when the forces of the barbarians, the Riders from Silverymoon and Nesme, and even the svirfnebli join forces with the dwarves against overwhelming odds.
The first part of the book cleans up the mess left in Menzoberranzan, home of the drow, after Drizzt and co.’s escape and destruction of House Baenre’s temple. A side story includes the temporary halt of all magic through some battle of the gods, which lets us see more of Lolth the Spider Queen and the Monster Errtu (whom Drizzt and Wulfgar defeated in an earlier book), and this so-called “Time of Troubles” is a useful device in several plots…they have little to do with the epic battle, but they either continue previous story lines or assumingly lay ground for the next book.
Writing battle scenes is one of Bob Salvatore’s greatest skills, and the battles in the caves and out in the valley are some of the best written in this series.
There is also a plot line involving Berkthgar, the barbarian who takes over as king for the fallen Wulfgar. He initially believe he needs Aegis-fang, the weapon King Bruenor crafted specifically for Wulfgar, and Catti-brie and Drizzt convince him otherwise, that he needs to build his own name in battle and not rely on Wulfgars. In the battle scenes, he certainly does that. He becomes an interesting character, hopefully there will be more from him.
Lots of groundwork laid for the next book, including the mysterious prisoner the Lolth gives to Errtu to help him get back to the Material Plan and go after Drizzt. I assume this will be the focus of the next book.
4 stars: Artemis Entreri just won’t die
Starless Night, book 8 chronologically in the Drizzt series, shows the main characters still suffering from the death of one of their own in the previous book. Because of this guilt, Drizzt ventures back to the underground world of Menzoberranzan, to determine the true drow threat himself. Catti-brie follows, once she finds that he has slipped out on his own.
I thoroughly enjoyed the character development of Jarlaxle, the mercenary drow, and it was great to see a small glimpse of strong Belwar again. My only problem with this series is that characters just won’t stay dead once killed (or twice killed!), as Artemis Entreri shows up again. Mr. Salvatore keeps the readers guessing that Entreri and perhaps Jarlaxle are not as evil as they seem.
As with the three initial books in the series, the drow homeland is well described, as are the political machinations that keep the drow world in check.
Not as good as the first three (which are classics), but moves the character development forward and brings Jarlaxle, a very interesting character, to the fore.
