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The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle #3
Bastion of Darkness
Twice the combined might of Ynis Aielle's greatest heroes and wizards has hurled back the demon armies of Morgan Thalasi. Always the Black Warlock has rebounded, stronger and more evil. But never has he wielded such power as now. With the Staff of Death, Thalasi can raise a new army from out of the very ground -- soldiers who cannot be killed because they are already dead.
As the Black Warlock and his fearsome general -- the foul wraith that was once Hollis Mitchell -- prepares a devastating attack, the humans and elves of Ynis Aielle are staggered by a fresh calamity. The beautiful Rhiannon, daughter of the Emerald Witch, has been captured by Mitchell and given over to his dark master. Now the last hope of defeating Thalasi -- and Rhiannon's last hope as well -- lies at the heart of a mountain, guarded by a dragon as old as the world itself. . .
As the Black Warlock and his fearsome general -- the foul wraith that was once Hollis Mitchell -- prepares a devastating attack, the humans and elves of Ynis Aielle are staggered by a fresh calamity. The beautiful Rhiannon, daughter of the Emerald Witch, has been captured by Mitchell and given over to his dark master. Now the last hope of defeating Thalasi -- and Rhiannon's last hope as well -- lies at the heart of a mountain, guarded by a dragon as old as the world itself. . .
348 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2000
16 people are currently reading
685 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Salvatore
607 books11.3k followersAs one of the fantasy genre’s 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’s original hardcover, The Two Swords, Book III of The Hunter’s 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’s 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’Urden. 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’s 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’s 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 “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” 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.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
Salvatore’s 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’Urden. 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’s 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’s 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 “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” 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.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 23, 2024
Sensible, if predictable ending to the trilogy. Not R.A. Salvatore's finest work, but I imagine it's an enjoyable enough conclusion if you're invested after the first two books. For me, the return of the most milquetoast character after already suffering the resurrection of another cartoonish moron kept this one at a low rating.
February 21, 2019
Lots of twist and turns
July 23, 2024
This whole series was entertaining, but most of the characters didn't feel like real people.
November 4, 2015
I have mixed feelings about this trilogy. After reading the second book I had considered not even buying the third one, but since I am a big fan of Salvatore I decided it was worth trying, and I didn't regret it.
I usually do not enjoy stories that portray the main characters as good and the antagonists as evil without giving any shades in between. It is important to note though that the whole trilogy is set in a fantasy world where good and evil are absolute concepts, obviously strongly inspired by the world that Tolkien created.
Thus I believe the book must be read keeping this in mind, and knowing that some Deus ex machina is acceptable in such a story, where there are powers well beyond the characters portrayed.
All in all, it is a page turner, as most of Salvatore's books, and it never gets boring. I'm not saying it's perfect either, it seems as if he forgot about some story lines, or didn't give enough importance to some characters, and some action scenes are exaggerated.
I would like to give it 4.5 but it isn't possible so I gave it 5 stars because I believe that any fan of Salvatore's books will probably enjoy it.
I usually do not enjoy stories that portray the main characters as good and the antagonists as evil without giving any shades in between. It is important to note though that the whole trilogy is set in a fantasy world where good and evil are absolute concepts, obviously strongly inspired by the world that Tolkien created.
Thus I believe the book must be read keeping this in mind, and knowing that some Deus ex machina is acceptable in such a story, where there are powers well beyond the characters portrayed.
All in all, it is a page turner, as most of Salvatore's books, and it never gets boring. I'm not saying it's perfect either, it seems as if he forgot about some story lines, or didn't give enough importance to some characters, and some action scenes are exaggerated.
I would like to give it 4.5 but it isn't possible so I gave it 5 stars because I believe that any fan of Salvatore's books will probably enjoy it.
November 16, 2015
Bastion of Darkness starts off two months after The Witch's Daughter ends. What I really liked about this book, and it really shows how R.A. Salavatore's writing style has grown, is how there is no real main character in the book, just a lot of really great ones. After all, this book was published 11 years after The Witch's Daughter. I found that I really liked the last book to this trilogy.
The writing was excellent and the story development had me hard-pressed to put the book down at night. In fact, I would read until the the book practically fell out of my hand as I was falling asleep. Unlike the second book in this trilogy, the entire book is not about a war.
Bastion of Darkness slowly builds focusing on all of the characters until the final confrontation is achieved. There area a lot of fantasy writers out there these days, but I am hard-pressed to name many that are better than R.A. Salvatore. This man knows how to write excellent fantasy.
So, if you are looking for a fun fantasy trilogy to pick up, try The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle. You won't be disappointed.
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
The writing was excellent and the story development had me hard-pressed to put the book down at night. In fact, I would read until the the book practically fell out of my hand as I was falling asleep. Unlike the second book in this trilogy, the entire book is not about a war.
Bastion of Darkness slowly builds focusing on all of the characters until the final confrontation is achieved. There area a lot of fantasy writers out there these days, but I am hard-pressed to name many that are better than R.A. Salvatore. This man knows how to write excellent fantasy.
So, if you are looking for a fun fantasy trilogy to pick up, try The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle. You won't be disappointed.
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
July 3, 2013
I really enjoyed this trilogy. The more I got into the story, the more I loved (or hated) the characters involved. The plot took several twists and turns that were unexpected which I also love. The whole premise of the story which takes place after an earth destroying nuclear holocaust caused by all out war, really gets you thinking about where our world is headed today. A very thought provoking book.
October 3, 2014
I think this one would be 3.5. I love R.A. Salvatore and have since Drizzt. This isn't his best work but still quick and entertaining read. I have to say, it is really nice when the author keeps to the 3 book format. I just don't want to get into another 10 book saga right now. So a double plus.
September 10, 2011
Read it with bated breath.
The perfect ending, a perfect and full cirle. I loved it.
The perfect ending, a perfect and full cirle. I loved it.
September 27, 2011
I read this out of order I'll have to backtrack and catch up on the books that take place earlier. This was a good read. It's rather typical of fantasy books but I like that stuff.
April 21, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. I like the neatly tied up ending.
August 6, 2014
Again, 3.5
April 28, 2013
I enjoyed the trilogy but felt that the ending was very rushed as if it was trimmed to suit a page limit.
July 28, 2008
One of only two books that has made me cry!
October 15, 2011
Awesome conclusion to the trilogy...however i wish he had written more on this world!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews