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Starlight & Shadows #1
Daughter of the Drow
Beautiful as she is deadly, Liriel Baenre flits through the shadows of Menzoberranzan, city of the dark elves. Amid treachery and murder that are the drow's daily fare, she feels something calling to her...something beyond this dusky world far removed from the sun. Yet as she ventures toward the surface and the lands of light, enemies pursue her unceasingly.
And one enemy may offer her the only hope of salvation.
A new version of one of Elaine Cunningham's most popular titles.
This rerelease of a top-selling title from one of the most popular authors writing in the Forgotten Realms setting debuts a new look for the Starlight & Shadows series, complete with all-new cover art. The recover of this title and its sequel, Tangled Webs, will precede an all-new concluding title to the series, Windwalker.
And one enemy may offer her the only hope of salvation.
A new version of one of Elaine Cunningham's most popular titles.
This rerelease of a top-selling title from one of the most popular authors writing in the Forgotten Realms setting debuts a new look for the Starlight & Shadows series, complete with all-new cover art. The recover of this title and its sequel, Tangled Webs, will precede an all-new concluding title to the series, Windwalker.
342 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1995
117 people are currently reading
2749 people want to read
About the author
Elaine Cunningham
153 books530 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Elaine Cunningham is an American fantasy author.
Elaine Cunningham is an American fantasy author.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
October 6, 2022
I have got to highlight this awful, terrible, very bad, no-good cover. What TSR executive insisted that his brother-in-law be allowed to pose for this book?
I don't know who's worse: Smurfette, or the greasy Renaissance faire reject.
On to the review: it was just okay for most of the book, if you can put up with Menzobarranzen drow’s constant scheming and luxuriating in betrayal, which gets tiresome quickly. They're your typical hand-rubbing evil plotters with no further depth. The protagonists were lively enough, though, and althoughSmurfette Lyriel is quite the Mary Sue at the outset, (also "not like other [Drow] girls",) she eventually gets stripped of her advantages and receives a decent redemption arc. Her pairing with the wise barbarian youth Fyodor is the best part of the story.
Elaine Cunningham is one of the better writers in the Forgotten Realms novel line, which isn’t saying much. She does a good job running with R.A. Salvatore's creations (owned by TSR, but seemingly used with Salvatore's tacit blessing here) and expanding the scope of the Drow race in the world. Menzoberranzan is a dreary setting to spend any length of time in, and the plot doesn't progress beyond a slow boil for most of the book. It got interesting with around eighty pages to go, but then the last ten pages were lousy again. On the whole, good enough (for a Forgotten Realms novel) that I won't dread the sequel when it comes up in my publication-order reading.
UPDATE: I am totally justified in my take on the cover. Thanks to letsreadtsr.com for this link to Elaine Cummingham's comments on many Forgotten Realms topics, including regarding this cover (bold emphasis is mine):
Source: https://www.candlekeep.com/library/ar...
I don't know who's worse: Smurfette, or the greasy Renaissance faire reject.
On to the review: it was just okay for most of the book, if you can put up with Menzobarranzen drow’s constant scheming and luxuriating in betrayal, which gets tiresome quickly. They're your typical hand-rubbing evil plotters with no further depth. The protagonists were lively enough, though, and although
Elaine Cunningham is one of the better writers in the Forgotten Realms novel line, which isn’t saying much. She does a good job running with R.A. Salvatore's creations (owned by TSR, but seemingly used with Salvatore's tacit blessing here) and expanding the scope of the Drow race in the world. Menzoberranzan is a dreary setting to spend any length of time in, and the plot doesn't progress beyond a slow boil for most of the book. It got interesting with around eighty pages to go, but then the last ten pages were lousy again. On the whole, good enough (for a Forgotten Realms novel) that I won't dread the sequel when it comes up in my publication-order reading.
UPDATE: I am totally justified in my take on the cover. Thanks to letsreadtsr.com for this link to Elaine Cummingham's comments on many Forgotten Realms topics, including regarding this cover (bold emphasis is mine):
TSR/WotC usually asks for "art notes," with a description of the characters and suggestions for a scene. The artist may or may not take these into account; in fact, several years ago one of the TSR editors told me that among their artists were those who refused to read even the one-page art notes. I'm inclined to believe this. For the original cover of Daughter of the Drow, an editor called me and asked for an "iconic image" that would tie the cover painting to the book. The artist knew he needed a human male and a drow female, so he painted himself and his significant other as Fyodor and Liriel, then added her spider-in-amber necklace so there would be some reference to the story. This was NOT because he did not have a detailed description--I was asked to write one and I did, including as always my contact info in case the artist wished to discuss anything. Either the artist was not given these notes, or he elected not to read them.
Source: https://www.candlekeep.com/library/ar...
August 10, 2017
Yeah, ok, so I'm getting re-addicted to Forgotten Realms novels. And what a superb way to fall off of the wagon!
DROW ELVES!
Anybody who's ever dipped their toe into Forgotten Realms books knows about the drow: the malevolent, chaotic, manipulative mirror-images of the elves of the surface word. They're a long-time favorite topic of mine, as far as fantasy reading goes. And this tale does not, in any single way, disappoint.
From the Underdark to surface forest meadows, from a living hut with chicken's legs to a two-headed mutant dragon, from all-out bloody warfare to subtle intrigue and plotted machinations, this book has me hooked.
DROW ELVES!
Anybody who's ever dipped their toe into Forgotten Realms books knows about the drow: the malevolent, chaotic, manipulative mirror-images of the elves of the surface word. They're a long-time favorite topic of mine, as far as fantasy reading goes. And this tale does not, in any single way, disappoint.
From the Underdark to surface forest meadows, from a living hut with chicken's legs to a two-headed mutant dragon, from all-out bloody warfare to subtle intrigue and plotted machinations, this book has me hooked.
September 28, 2011
I enjoyed this book for what it's worth. Liriel is a great character, and it was really nice to read a fantasy book with a strong female protagonist. This book really bothered me though. I don't like the idea of there being many drow who are not evil, or that there a many drow that live on the surface. Nisstyre's Vaehrun community didn't bother me as much as the Elistraee group. The whole point of the drow is that they are evil and conniving. It undermines that if there's a whole group of them out there helping people, acting as a force for good. It makes Drizzt less unique, and it changes the overall feel of the drow. I know there is variety in any and every race, but the idea in the realms is that humans have wide variety, while the other races are much more homogeneous. The first part of the book, that takes place in Menzoberranzan, is much more interesting that the latter parts on the surface. The interaction between Liriel and Fyodor is the one redeeming quality of the surface section.[return] [return]And what kind of name is Fyodor?!? Is he going to return to Rashemen to sell travel books about the realms? It just makes me think of those travel guide books we used to have.
July 7, 2016
As a fantasy nerd who cut her teeth on the Dragonlance Chronicles, I really wanted to like this book but the best I can say is that I shouldn't have had such high hopes for early-90s fantasy. Out of 300 pages, the first 250 suffered from mind-numbingly slow plot as the reader is immersed in the utter fanservice that is Drow culture. Once the action kicked in, I very nearly forgave all the tropes and cliches, but then we got to the 'sex scene'. I honestly thought we were going to make it through at least one book unscathed, but no...I really should have known better. It just wouldn't be believable to have a female main character travelling with a male character WITHOUT them having some sort of physical attraction toward one another! UGH.
September 25, 2017
This is what I define as "cereal fantasy" - mass-produced sugary fantasy, fortified with essential elements and heavily processed within a comprehensive, predefined rule set. Don't get me wrong, I love cereal just as much as when I was a kid. On occasion, I love to indulge my sweet tooth by returing to these wonderfully detailed, shared universes such as Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms. The only thing about eating saccharine cereal as an adult is that there is such a thing as too much and rather having a hearty full English breakfast instead.
I am fascinated by the Underdark, particularly Menzoberranzan, the City of Spiders, a large underground, matriarchal ruled city-state inhabited by the drow.
We have previously experienced this world through R. A. Salvatore's wonderful books of Drizzt Do'Urden. Now we get a fresh perspective from the rare female wizard, Liriel Baenre who is forced join the clerical academy of Arach-Tinilith, a temple devoted to the worship of Lolth.
Political intrigue and scheming ensue as Liriel battles internally for the meaning of being a drow and Lolth (Spider Queen of chaos), Vhaeraun (drow god of thievery and intrigue) and Eilistraee (the Dark Maiden, patron of song and swordcraft) compete for dominion over the drow.
I am fascinated by the Underdark, particularly Menzoberranzan, the City of Spiders, a large underground, matriarchal ruled city-state inhabited by the drow.
We have previously experienced this world through R. A. Salvatore's wonderful books of Drizzt Do'Urden. Now we get a fresh perspective from the rare female wizard, Liriel Baenre who is forced join the clerical academy of Arach-Tinilith, a temple devoted to the worship of Lolth.
Political intrigue and scheming ensue as Liriel battles internally for the meaning of being a drow and Lolth (Spider Queen of chaos), Vhaeraun (drow god of thievery and intrigue) and Eilistraee (the Dark Maiden, patron of song and swordcraft) compete for dominion over the drow.
March 29, 2019
The main character was very Mary Suey. There was two things she wasn't phenomenal at: sword fighting (although she was good at physical combat, just not particularly good at swords), and horse riding (there were no horses in the Underdark). At everything else, she was the best. She was the best magic user (for her age), she was the most cunning, she was the most famous, she was the most influential, she was the most desired, she was the most. I started reading the book wanting to read about the story of a female drow that felt different from other drows, and ended reading some mix of teenage fantasy protagonized by a wizard she-drizzt.
At one time, the book felt like it should be renamed to "Not the Daughter of the Drow", since it was basically about everything except her. We followed a bunch of other characters for what felt like forever without any of the "two" main characters showing their faces.
At one time, the book felt like it should be renamed to "Not the Daughter of the Drow", since it was basically about everything except her. We followed a bunch of other characters for what felt like forever without any of the "two" main characters showing their faces.
September 3, 2007
I only read this book because my brother, who is a massive sci-fi/fantasy fan, said I should. The book is great. I devoured it within 24 hrs. I wasn't sure if I would like it, because some of it, okay, most of it, is so dark. It is, after all, set in the Underworld, with dark elves and their culture. It was completely fascinating. Liriel, the main character, was likeable but flawed (like any good main character), and all the other major characters were interesting and well-developed as well. I felt engrossed in this book, much like I did reading the Harry Potter books or the Chronicles of Narnia. The only warning is that you may need to look up a few of the terms if you are not familiar with Dungeons and Dragons lore. But even so, the book is easy to follow and understand, as well as enjoy. I recommend it to anyone looking for a good escapist read.
June 23, 2025
100% D&D fun!!
Liriel lives a relatively easy life in the drow capital, aside from all the schemes and betrayals. She's a spoiled young noblewoman and a supremely talented wizard, both of which enable her constant thrill-seeking. But more than basic risks and pranks, she dreams of the unknown: the surface world. A chance encounter brings her a magic amulet that finally makes that dream possible. However, when news of her discovery spreads, every faction in Menzoberranzan turns on her, vying for this unheard-of route to power on the surface. Meanwhile, a human barbarian named Fyodor has left his warrior people on a pilgrimage to find a way to control his berserker rages. His only hope is an amulet that can store essential magics--the very amulet the drow stole from him.
The hijinks, shenanigans, and oddities are infinite, and it's because we're using D&D rules and WotC lore. This book is chock full of races I've never heard of, highly specific fantasy countries, and absolutely nonsense spells that only crazy high-level casters have read about. There's a lot of plain fun in this book. I ate up every bit of drow lore, whether or not I plan to use it.
The characters were the truly fun part. Liriel is my babygirl who can kill you. She's funny; she's coolly practical; she's stubborn and impulsive; she's smart and strategic. Her compassion and joy are smothered by drow culture and sometimes pure pragmatism, but they really feel genuine for all that. I enjoyed her tale from start to finish. Fyodor really grew on me. He is calm and decisive: a nice, easygoing counterpart to Liriel. His side of the story struck me as too simple at first, but it really does balance out. Besides, it leaves room for their personal conflict to be over real matters, not just clashing personalities. They developed a delightful dynamic that grew naturally.
The side characters (antagonists) were fun, too. The tight-laced, jealous business major. The liar trying to lead a male revolution. An unfortunately named wizard. They leaned somewhat mustache-twirling when I feel we could have delved deeper, but their chapters and scenes were still a great time.
[adds book 2 to my to-read] This is for you, babygirl!!
Liriel lives a relatively easy life in the drow capital, aside from all the schemes and betrayals. She's a spoiled young noblewoman and a supremely talented wizard, both of which enable her constant thrill-seeking. But more than basic risks and pranks, she dreams of the unknown: the surface world. A chance encounter brings her a magic amulet that finally makes that dream possible. However, when news of her discovery spreads, every faction in Menzoberranzan turns on her, vying for this unheard-of route to power on the surface. Meanwhile, a human barbarian named Fyodor has left his warrior people on a pilgrimage to find a way to control his berserker rages. His only hope is an amulet that can store essential magics--the very amulet the drow stole from him.
The hijinks, shenanigans, and oddities are infinite, and it's because we're using D&D rules and WotC lore. This book is chock full of races I've never heard of, highly specific fantasy countries, and absolutely nonsense spells that only crazy high-level casters have read about. There's a lot of plain fun in this book. I ate up every bit of drow lore, whether or not I plan to use it.
The characters were the truly fun part. Liriel is my babygirl who can kill you. She's funny; she's coolly practical; she's stubborn and impulsive; she's smart and strategic. Her compassion and joy are smothered by drow culture and sometimes pure pragmatism, but they really feel genuine for all that. I enjoyed her tale from start to finish. Fyodor really grew on me. He is calm and decisive: a nice, easygoing counterpart to Liriel. His side of the story struck me as too simple at first, but it really does balance out. Besides, it leaves room for their personal conflict to be over real matters, not just clashing personalities. They developed a delightful dynamic that grew naturally.
The side characters (antagonists) were fun, too. The tight-laced, jealous business major. The liar trying to lead a male revolution. An unfortunately named wizard. They leaned somewhat mustache-twirling when I feel we could have delved deeper, but their chapters and scenes were still a great time.
[adds book 2 to my to-read] This is for you, babygirl!!
May 16, 2010
Daughter of the Drow by Elaine Cunningham- This is the first book in the Starlight & Shadows trilogy. The second being Tangled Webs and Windwalker being the third. The events of the book take place after R. A. Salvatore's Siege of Darkness.
The story is about a young drow girl named Liriel Baenre, who is the daughter of the Archmage of Menzoberranzan, Gromph Baenre. The beginning tells of Liriel's early life, how Menzoberranzan has changed since the failed conquest of Mithral Hall, Liriel's wizardly training, and how she is forcibly made to become a priestess of Lolth, the Spider Queen. You are also introduced to Fyodor of Rashemen, a wandering berserker in search of an amulet called the Windwalker to control his berserk rage. Later on in the story, Liriel and Fyodor meet and start to travel together. You are also introduced to Shakti Hunzrin, a fellow priestess of Lolth who has a grudge against Liriel because she is the target of all of Liriel's pranks. She tries everything and anything to bring about Liriel's downfall. Also you meet a merchant captain and follower of Vhaeraun (the drow god of thieves) named Nisstyre who stole the Windwalker from Rashemen. Later on in the story, Liriel comes across the Windwalker (after meeting Fyodor) and manipulates it to allow her to cast her wizardly powers outside of the Underdark. Soon Shakti finds out about this and goes to accuse Liriel causing her to flee to the surface. Being chased by Shakti, Nisstyre, and all of Menzoberranzan, can she trust in Fyodor and go on her "grand adventure"?
Negatives:
1) Dancing. This is by far my biggest problem with the story. Evil drow DO NOT dance. Yet, what does Liriel throw? A party, with dancing. It just boggles my mind about why this would be, having drow dance and all. It just annoyed and bothered me like nothing else. When I think of drow, I think of them being heartless, evil, killing machines that have little joys in their lives. Joys being used very loosely because if you find "joy" in flaying off someone's skin, you need help. I just don't see how they could dance, yes it's meant to be competitive and everything but it just DOES NOT make any sense whatsoever. Leave the dancing to elves and Eilistraee (the drow goddess of good) worshipers.
2) The Ending. You have all this build up throughout the story only to have it all just rush by in a few chapters. I did like the build up that was happening, it was slow but it really worked. You had a lot of details and insights throughout the story only to have them be tossed aside and forgotten later. It just made me a little unhappy. Also, the ending wasn't really all that great. For one thing, everything just seemed so convenient and not really inspiring. Another thing is that the ending wasn't climatic or even remotely as exciting. You have the story building up to something special and it just ends in a way you weren't expecting and hoping it wouldn't end.
3) Bad Drow. There were things (Ahem, ...dancing...) that just didn't seem to fit into my idea of being an evil drow. It seemed at times that Elaine Cunningham didn't know anything about drow culture and life that it was just disheartening and confusing to understand what was happening. It's really hard to explain what I mean without some exposure to other stories with drow in them. For example, I wouldn't think that drow ...dance... or play pranks on one another. Yes, I can see the pranks bit, but the scenarios and pranks described seemed almost nice. I would think they would have been much more crueller and sinister. However, because these things are just small and insignificant (EXCEPT FOR DANCING), you easily forget about them. I will say though that Elaine Cunningham did a -
Positive:
1) Good Drow. - great job in capturing what it is to be a drow. For close to ninety percent of the story, you really see how twisted and evil these creatures are. All the backstabbing, turn on a dime personalities, and general horrible things they do to each other were really written wonderfully. Elaine Cunningham really does capture what a drow is and how heartless and cruel they are.
2) Liriel. She's just a great character. You really get to see into her mindset and thought patterns as things come up (such as the idea of friendship). It was also every interesting to see how she struggles with certain concepts that we, as humans, are so familiar with. At times she's like an excited child, always asking why about one thing, such as clouds, and this just really grounds her down into being a character that is for the first time seeing the surface and not knowing what these everyday things are. On the same token, she has another twist (yet not as twisted as a 'normal' drow) side. She is just as ruthless and evil as her heritage allows, but yet her curiosity generally gets the better of her. She's just an interesting look into how someone from one world is just placed into another and how they would adapt and learn.
3) Everything Up Until the Ending. The whole build up of the story was just great. It was a little slow and tedious at times but just added to the build up (and the eventual let down). How everyone's place in the main plot was ingenious. Menzoberranzan is actually painted in a new light as well and how everything after the failed conquest is rippling in the city was also very appealing. The other minor characters were well done and they really did add a lot to the story and the overall feel to it. It was just exciting and interesting, to put it simply.
Side notes:
1) What ever happened to Gromph? His plot line towards the end fizzled out and was just forgotten, it was and is a shame.
2) The sudden knowledge of who is Gorlist's (a warrior drow for Nisstyre merchant company) father was just out of the blue and frankly, dumb.
3) The cover of the 2003 version. I do like it, but I don't like the face of Liriel. It just doesn't fit the picture I had in my mind. It's just too human and round.
Overall: 4/5
Final Thoughts:
I really do like this story. Aside from the utter stupidity of dancing drow and the lackluster ending, it was really fun and entertaining. If you like stories about drow, then by all means, pick this up and read it. Heck, if you're a casual Forgotten Realms reader, pick it up. Liriel really is a wonderful character and definitely on my top 10 list of best Forgotten Realms characters.
The story is about a young drow girl named Liriel Baenre, who is the daughter of the Archmage of Menzoberranzan, Gromph Baenre. The beginning tells of Liriel's early life, how Menzoberranzan has changed since the failed conquest of Mithral Hall, Liriel's wizardly training, and how she is forcibly made to become a priestess of Lolth, the Spider Queen. You are also introduced to Fyodor of Rashemen, a wandering berserker in search of an amulet called the Windwalker to control his berserk rage. Later on in the story, Liriel and Fyodor meet and start to travel together. You are also introduced to Shakti Hunzrin, a fellow priestess of Lolth who has a grudge against Liriel because she is the target of all of Liriel's pranks. She tries everything and anything to bring about Liriel's downfall. Also you meet a merchant captain and follower of Vhaeraun (the drow god of thieves) named Nisstyre who stole the Windwalker from Rashemen. Later on in the story, Liriel comes across the Windwalker (after meeting Fyodor) and manipulates it to allow her to cast her wizardly powers outside of the Underdark. Soon Shakti finds out about this and goes to accuse Liriel causing her to flee to the surface. Being chased by Shakti, Nisstyre, and all of Menzoberranzan, can she trust in Fyodor and go on her "grand adventure"?
Negatives:
1) Dancing. This is by far my biggest problem with the story. Evil drow DO NOT dance. Yet, what does Liriel throw? A party, with dancing. It just boggles my mind about why this would be, having drow dance and all. It just annoyed and bothered me like nothing else. When I think of drow, I think of them being heartless, evil, killing machines that have little joys in their lives. Joys being used very loosely because if you find "joy" in flaying off someone's skin, you need help. I just don't see how they could dance, yes it's meant to be competitive and everything but it just DOES NOT make any sense whatsoever. Leave the dancing to elves and Eilistraee (the drow goddess of good) worshipers.
2) The Ending. You have all this build up throughout the story only to have it all just rush by in a few chapters. I did like the build up that was happening, it was slow but it really worked. You had a lot of details and insights throughout the story only to have them be tossed aside and forgotten later. It just made me a little unhappy. Also, the ending wasn't really all that great. For one thing, everything just seemed so convenient and not really inspiring. Another thing is that the ending wasn't climatic or even remotely as exciting. You have the story building up to something special and it just ends in a way you weren't expecting and hoping it wouldn't end.
3) Bad Drow. There were things (Ahem, ...dancing...) that just didn't seem to fit into my idea of being an evil drow. It seemed at times that Elaine Cunningham didn't know anything about drow culture and life that it was just disheartening and confusing to understand what was happening. It's really hard to explain what I mean without some exposure to other stories with drow in them. For example, I wouldn't think that drow ...dance... or play pranks on one another. Yes, I can see the pranks bit, but the scenarios and pranks described seemed almost nice. I would think they would have been much more crueller and sinister. However, because these things are just small and insignificant (EXCEPT FOR DANCING), you easily forget about them. I will say though that Elaine Cunningham did a -
Positive:
1) Good Drow. - great job in capturing what it is to be a drow. For close to ninety percent of the story, you really see how twisted and evil these creatures are. All the backstabbing, turn on a dime personalities, and general horrible things they do to each other were really written wonderfully. Elaine Cunningham really does capture what a drow is and how heartless and cruel they are.
2) Liriel. She's just a great character. You really get to see into her mindset and thought patterns as things come up (such as the idea of friendship). It was also every interesting to see how she struggles with certain concepts that we, as humans, are so familiar with. At times she's like an excited child, always asking why about one thing, such as clouds, and this just really grounds her down into being a character that is for the first time seeing the surface and not knowing what these everyday things are. On the same token, she has another twist (yet not as twisted as a 'normal' drow) side. She is just as ruthless and evil as her heritage allows, but yet her curiosity generally gets the better of her. She's just an interesting look into how someone from one world is just placed into another and how they would adapt and learn.
3) Everything Up Until the Ending. The whole build up of the story was just great. It was a little slow and tedious at times but just added to the build up (and the eventual let down). How everyone's place in the main plot was ingenious. Menzoberranzan is actually painted in a new light as well and how everything after the failed conquest is rippling in the city was also very appealing. The other minor characters were well done and they really did add a lot to the story and the overall feel to it. It was just exciting and interesting, to put it simply.
Side notes:
1) What ever happened to Gromph? His plot line towards the end fizzled out and was just forgotten, it was and is a shame.
2) The sudden knowledge of who is Gorlist's (a warrior drow for Nisstyre merchant company) father was just out of the blue and frankly, dumb.
3) The cover of the 2003 version. I do like it, but I don't like the face of Liriel. It just doesn't fit the picture I had in my mind. It's just too human and round.
Overall: 4/5
Final Thoughts:
I really do like this story. Aside from the utter stupidity of dancing drow and the lackluster ending, it was really fun and entertaining. If you like stories about drow, then by all means, pick this up and read it. Heck, if you're a casual Forgotten Realms reader, pick it up. Liriel really is a wonderful character and definitely on my top 10 list of best Forgotten Realms characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2014
3.5 stars for this tale about Liriel, a female dark elf whose curiosity takes her to the surface world, where she meets Fyodor, a man on a quest for a magical talisman to control his berserker rage.
Daughter of the Drow takes place after R.A. Salvatore's Siege of Darkness in the drow undercity of Menzoberranzan. It contains many dark elf characters created by Salvatore. However, the main characters are purely from the mind of Elaine Cunningham. I was pleasantly surprised that she stays true to the treachery, deceit, and malevolence that abounds in the dark elf culture.
While Liriel Baenre doesn't quite fit into the drow mold, she's not just another Drizzt Do'Urden. What sets her apart is her curiousity and sense of wonderment, yet she understands the nature of her people and isn't repulsed by it, as is Drizzt. In fact, she shows herself to be even more adept at trickery than many of her counterparts. Cunningham also gives us a glimpse of the leisure life of the drow; what they're doing when they're not either killing each other, or plotting to kill each other.
Their are plenty of characters that add color to this story, including Liriel's tutor, a mutated dragon, a competitive peer, and a leader of a merchant band, to name a few. Their paths converge and diverge in schemes, battles, alliances, and betrayals throughout the novel.
Cunningham introduces dark elf fans to two other Gods - Vhaeraun and Eilistraee - who play prominent roles in R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen Series.
The story holds up well on it's own, but it is better appreciated as part of Drow and Menzoberranzan history, as it explains what happens between Siege of Darkness and the War of the Spider Queen.
If there was one thing I could change about this book, it would be the title - "There's something about Liriel"
Daughter of the Drow takes place after R.A. Salvatore's Siege of Darkness in the drow undercity of Menzoberranzan. It contains many dark elf characters created by Salvatore. However, the main characters are purely from the mind of Elaine Cunningham. I was pleasantly surprised that she stays true to the treachery, deceit, and malevolence that abounds in the dark elf culture.
While Liriel Baenre doesn't quite fit into the drow mold, she's not just another Drizzt Do'Urden. What sets her apart is her curiousity and sense of wonderment, yet she understands the nature of her people and isn't repulsed by it, as is Drizzt. In fact, she shows herself to be even more adept at trickery than many of her counterparts. Cunningham also gives us a glimpse of the leisure life of the drow; what they're doing when they're not either killing each other, or plotting to kill each other.
Their are plenty of characters that add color to this story, including Liriel's tutor, a mutated dragon, a competitive peer, and a leader of a merchant band, to name a few. Their paths converge and diverge in schemes, battles, alliances, and betrayals throughout the novel.
Cunningham introduces dark elf fans to two other Gods - Vhaeraun and Eilistraee - who play prominent roles in R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen Series.
The story holds up well on it's own, but it is better appreciated as part of Drow and Menzoberranzan history, as it explains what happens between Siege of Darkness and the War of the Spider Queen.
If there was one thing I could change about this book, it would be the title - "There's something about Liriel"
February 26, 2012
I read this book after War of the Spider Queen and The Lady Penitent series at the encouragement of my partner. I felt very distanced from the Drow in most of the War of the Spider Queen books and felt that, in part, it was because of the lack of female perspective on the matriarchy.
In short, I greatly enjoyed this book. That isn't to say that I didn't feel there was flaws, but that I felt the good far outweighed the bad. It brought up interesting, new conundrums that weren't touched on heavily in previous books, and introduced new lore and ideas previously unexplored.
The character of Liriel was especially interesting. I know that other reviews have said something akin to 'but the drow are EVIL!' and that's not necessarily true. They are pragmatic, and they are required to be cold and calculating, and their Goddess is evil, however no group is homogeneous. I've loved Ellistrae's followers in both the War of the Spider Queen and The Lady Penitent series, and found them to be interesting and, having followed those two other books, I see no reason to fault this book for the followers of Ellistrae.
Daughter of the Drow was well written, introduced interesting new characters, as well as fleshing out already established characters, and had me fascinated from start to end. I found the hypocrisy of Vhaerun's followers to be especially subtle and well handled.
This was a book that could have easily fallen flat, but Elaine Cunningham managed it with enough grace and subtly to reignite my passion for the Drow. I would highly recommend this book to any who enjoyed The Lady Penitent series, in particular.
In short, I greatly enjoyed this book. That isn't to say that I didn't feel there was flaws, but that I felt the good far outweighed the bad. It brought up interesting, new conundrums that weren't touched on heavily in previous books, and introduced new lore and ideas previously unexplored.
The character of Liriel was especially interesting. I know that other reviews have said something akin to 'but the drow are EVIL!' and that's not necessarily true. They are pragmatic, and they are required to be cold and calculating, and their Goddess is evil, however no group is homogeneous. I've loved Ellistrae's followers in both the War of the Spider Queen and The Lady Penitent series, and found them to be interesting and, having followed those two other books, I see no reason to fault this book for the followers of Ellistrae.
Daughter of the Drow was well written, introduced interesting new characters, as well as fleshing out already established characters, and had me fascinated from start to end. I found the hypocrisy of Vhaerun's followers to be especially subtle and well handled.
This was a book that could have easily fallen flat, but Elaine Cunningham managed it with enough grace and subtly to reignite my passion for the Drow. I would highly recommend this book to any who enjoyed The Lady Penitent series, in particular.
March 30, 2019
I actually enjoyed this book a decent amount, but the way the story resolves the central conflict between the two main characters left me a bit disappointed. The storyline actually was really satisfying up until that point, and then it seems the author gave up on really digging into that tension and kind of side-stepped the issue with a bit of magic hand waving.
Still, I'm playing a female drow sorcerer in my current DND game and this novel helped give me more background/ideas for a drow character. I liked that (as opposed to the saintly Drizzt) Liriel is more of a product of her culture than someone born innocent and good to a fault. It mad her journey to a decent person more interesting, to me.
I would like to read more of the series, but I have to note that the audible version of this was pretty bad. The narrator sounded like she was reading something someone only just handed to her, and her weird emphasis on the wrong word/phrasing made some sentences sound truly ridiculous. Also, she mispronounces more words than I could count.
The writing was fine/serviceable, but I did notice a few phrases were a bit overused to my liking (curving lips into a smile is the one that springs to mind). Still, for a genre work in a D&D setting relevant to my interests, it worked for me.
Still, I'm playing a female drow sorcerer in my current DND game and this novel helped give me more background/ideas for a drow character. I liked that (as opposed to the saintly Drizzt) Liriel is more of a product of her culture than someone born innocent and good to a fault. It mad her journey to a decent person more interesting, to me.
I would like to read more of the series, but I have to note that the audible version of this was pretty bad. The narrator sounded like she was reading something someone only just handed to her, and her weird emphasis on the wrong word/phrasing made some sentences sound truly ridiculous. Also, she mispronounces more words than I could count.
The writing was fine/serviceable, but I did notice a few phrases were a bit overused to my liking (curving lips into a smile is the one that springs to mind). Still, for a genre work in a D&D setting relevant to my interests, it worked for me.
March 4, 2020
It's decently good, but not great.
I loved Elaine Cunningham's previous Forgotten Realms books, "Elfshadow" and "Elfsong," for the surprising depth of her characters and the mad humor underlying the adventures. "Daughter of the Drow" lacks both of these elements, sadly. Liriel Baenre is a fairly interesting character, and I liked Fyodor's folk-wisdom anecdotes, but the story felt ultimately hollow and lacking. Maybe it's because it seemed a fairly obvious set-up for future books, rather than its own complete story. Maybe it was the lack of a compelling villain; Shakti Hunzrin started out ineffectual and foolish, and morphed without warning into a tremendously powerful priestess, able to command the attentions of not one but TWO dark gods (with a little fat-shaming thrown in, thanks for that... the author misses no opportunity to point out that Shakti is stouter than the average drow).
On the whole, one of Cunningham's lesser efforts.
I loved Elaine Cunningham's previous Forgotten Realms books, "Elfshadow" and "Elfsong," for the surprising depth of her characters and the mad humor underlying the adventures. "Daughter of the Drow" lacks both of these elements, sadly. Liriel Baenre is a fairly interesting character, and I liked Fyodor's folk-wisdom anecdotes, but the story felt ultimately hollow and lacking. Maybe it's because it seemed a fairly obvious set-up for future books, rather than its own complete story. Maybe it was the lack of a compelling villain; Shakti Hunzrin started out ineffectual and foolish, and morphed without warning into a tremendously powerful priestess, able to command the attentions of not one but TWO dark gods (with a little fat-shaming thrown in, thanks for that... the author misses no opportunity to point out that Shakti is stouter than the average drow).
On the whole, one of Cunningham's lesser efforts.
Read
February 18, 2015Daughter of the Drow is the first book of Starlight & Shadows series, which was written by Elaine Cunningham in 1995.
I’ve bought Daughter of the Drow 7 years ago (2008) but could not find time to read it. This year I promised myself to read all unread books in my library.
Daughter of the Drow is an interesting book to learn the life of the Drow. Until this book I’ve only read R.A. Salvatore’s Drizzt Do'Urden books and all my knowledge is written by one author. Reading a different author is really good to learn new things and helped me to see from a different point view.
In this story we have a female wizard-priest drow who is named Liriel Baenre and a barbarian named Fyodor who could not control his berserker attitude.
Despite there are lots of interest things in the book I do not like the plot and the characterization. Everything is happening very fast in this book.
I’ve bought Daughter of the Drow 7 years ago (2008) but could not find time to read it. This year I promised myself to read all unread books in my library.
Daughter of the Drow is an interesting book to learn the life of the Drow. Until this book I’ve only read R.A. Salvatore’s Drizzt Do'Urden books and all my knowledge is written by one author. Reading a different author is really good to learn new things and helped me to see from a different point view.
In this story we have a female wizard-priest drow who is named Liriel Baenre and a barbarian named Fyodor who could not control his berserker attitude.
Despite there are lots of interest things in the book I do not like the plot and the characterization. Everything is happening very fast in this book.
April 15, 2024
I quite enjoyed this book for its expansion of Drow lore, it does a great job of filling in the gaps left by the Drizzt books and bringing Menzoberanzzan to life, making it a functional society albeit undeniably chaotic. Liriel's journey out of the Underdark and to new ways of thinking makes sense and I love her. I would read part of this book and then go play my Drow tav and go back and forth and I got a lot of inspiration for my character and her arc. I remember reading about Liriel encountering the priestesses of Eliistraee and then returning to my game and pulling Phar Aluve from the rock, it's so fun to have that connection.
That said, I'm really glad that the dnd source books and community have moved to the idea of Drow are shades of blue, purple, and gray, because reading this book today, the concept that there's these evil elves underground and they all have black skin is so obviously offensive to real people. Like the original cover for this book, good Lord.
Reading this book from a feminist theory lens is also fascinating because you can read a story about a matriarchy that's written by someone from a society that still has some patriarchal ideas, and you can see that bleed through.
All said I liked it
That said, I'm really glad that the dnd source books and community have moved to the idea of Drow are shades of blue, purple, and gray, because reading this book today, the concept that there's these evil elves underground and they all have black skin is so obviously offensive to real people. Like the original cover for this book, good Lord.
Reading this book from a feminist theory lens is also fascinating because you can read a story about a matriarchy that's written by someone from a society that still has some patriarchal ideas, and you can see that bleed through.
All said I liked it
January 7, 2009
This was the first book I read by Elaine Cunningham, and now I'm a big fan. I definitly have my favorites, mediocres, and loosers of the Forgotten Realms authors, and she is in the top three of my favorites.
She has several series that are much older than this one, and I look forward to reading those soon!
This story introduces a new character into the noblest of Drow families, Baenre!
Lireil is the daughter of Gromph, the eldest son in House Baenre and the High Mage of Menzoberanzan. Gromph has her mother killed and adopts Liriel when he first sees signs that she has a magical aptitued. She grows up with a silver spoon, but harbors a hatred for her father at the lose of her mother.
When she is older, we see that she has grown into quite a spit fire of a young princess. She has studied wizardry, but is told that she is now old enough to attend Arach Tinilith (the drow academy dedicated to training preistesses of Lloth). Well, Liriel is not interested in becoming a priest, but wants to continue learning about magic. However, her aunts, the rulers of Menzoberanzan make sure that she understands that she will be attending the priesthood. Being the sneaky and determined princess that she is, she agrees to indulge her aunts, but continues her studies of magic clandestinly.
While this is going on, we're introduced to Fyodor, a barbarian from Rashiman. He is looking for a magic item that will help him control his barbarian rage. You see, Fyodor is blessed and cursed with a rage that gives him great strength and power, but unlike his Rashiman bretheren, he is unable to turn off his rage when the battle is over and he fears that eventually he will not be able to differeinciate between friend and foe. A shamen of his tribe tells him that he has to find a sacred item (a chisel that is used in the art of ruin magic) if he is ever to be cured of his uncontrolable rage.
Fyodor almost had his hands on the item, or at least he knows where it is (inside a moving hut that walks on giant chicken legs...hahaha), but before he can go retrieve it, some drow on a raid attack the house and take everything, then teleport back into the underdark. Unsure about what to do, Fyodor hesitates, but decideds that he must aquire the chisel at all costs and follows the drow through the portal only to find himself lost in the endless night of the Underdark...Dun dun duuuun!!
Back in Menzoberanzon, Liriel has made an enemy at her new academy. She is a frumpy drow(I can't remeber her name, all call her fd), who is jelious of Liriel's talents and beauty. Liriel does not help the situation by playing practical jokes on fd, and she soon harbors a seething animosity towards the princess that builds and builds. Fd, through spying, discovers that Liriel is studing magic, and plans to expose her by using a dark naga to sneak into Liriel's room and steal her spell books. Somehow, Liriel avoids this, and exposes Fd for spying on her, but I don't remember how...
While Fd is plotting, Liriel takes a trip to a 'special place'. To get there she must ride a small boat through underground rapids and time her journey just right inorder not to make it into her special chamber and not be smashed or drowned. When she gets there, we are introduced to one of Liriel's freinds, a female shadow dragon with two heads!! (I don't remember her name either, but she plays an important role later on). We find out that the chamber is fused with strong magic (which maybe responsible for the dragons second head, which also makes it kinda' crazy, by the way). I think she went there to hide her spell books...maybe.
Later on Liriel is out exploring in the caverns around the city and discovers some dead drow bodies, eaten by babie giant bats. On the bodies she finds the chisel that Fyodor is searching for. At this point, she knows the chisel is a powerful magic item, but she doesn't know what it does.
Somehow, the two characters meet, and Liriel(being a typical drow) takes Fyodor captive. As she is leading him back to Menzoberanzan, he tricks her into trying his 'Fire Wine', which is so potent she is distracted and he escapes.
I don't remeber exactly how the plot progresses from here, needless to say, Liriel researches the chisel and learns about ruin magic and is determined to use it to keep her inate powers in the world above (as she has grown tired of the rules of Menzoberanzan). Fd has become more and more hateful of Liriel and has graduated from Arach Tilnith to become a high preistess of Lloth. Next she is approched by a preist of Vhrun, Lloth's hatful son, and offered the power of that god, as well. Lloth and Vhrun are not on good terms, needless to say, Fd must keep her practices secret within Menzoberanzan.
Liriel and Fyodor escape from the Underdark, but are persued by Quagoths (bear/cat people inslaved by the drow and sent to bring the two of them back). When they defeat them, they are persued by Vhrun worshiping drow. (I think that at one point, Liriel is introduced to some good drow women who worship the drow goddess of the moon and dance...that goddess's name slips my mind right now, too. I think that Liriel snides them)
Eventually, they escape the drow persuers and ingeinusly sneak their way into Waterdeep. Now they have some adventures in Skullport (the seedy underbelly of noble city). The shadow dragon friend of Liriel joins them to seduce another shadow dragon gaurding the treasue that they seek (pretty cool)....
And everyone lives to go on to greater things in the second book!!
She has several series that are much older than this one, and I look forward to reading those soon!
This story introduces a new character into the noblest of Drow families, Baenre!
Lireil is the daughter of Gromph, the eldest son in House Baenre and the High Mage of Menzoberanzan. Gromph has her mother killed and adopts Liriel when he first sees signs that she has a magical aptitued. She grows up with a silver spoon, but harbors a hatred for her father at the lose of her mother.
When she is older, we see that she has grown into quite a spit fire of a young princess. She has studied wizardry, but is told that she is now old enough to attend Arach Tinilith (the drow academy dedicated to training preistesses of Lloth). Well, Liriel is not interested in becoming a priest, but wants to continue learning about magic. However, her aunts, the rulers of Menzoberanzan make sure that she understands that she will be attending the priesthood. Being the sneaky and determined princess that she is, she agrees to indulge her aunts, but continues her studies of magic clandestinly.
While this is going on, we're introduced to Fyodor, a barbarian from Rashiman. He is looking for a magic item that will help him control his barbarian rage. You see, Fyodor is blessed and cursed with a rage that gives him great strength and power, but unlike his Rashiman bretheren, he is unable to turn off his rage when the battle is over and he fears that eventually he will not be able to differeinciate between friend and foe. A shamen of his tribe tells him that he has to find a sacred item (a chisel that is used in the art of ruin magic) if he is ever to be cured of his uncontrolable rage.
Fyodor almost had his hands on the item, or at least he knows where it is (inside a moving hut that walks on giant chicken legs...hahaha), but before he can go retrieve it, some drow on a raid attack the house and take everything, then teleport back into the underdark. Unsure about what to do, Fyodor hesitates, but decideds that he must aquire the chisel at all costs and follows the drow through the portal only to find himself lost in the endless night of the Underdark...Dun dun duuuun!!
Back in Menzoberanzon, Liriel has made an enemy at her new academy. She is a frumpy drow(I can't remeber her name, all call her fd), who is jelious of Liriel's talents and beauty. Liriel does not help the situation by playing practical jokes on fd, and she soon harbors a seething animosity towards the princess that builds and builds. Fd, through spying, discovers that Liriel is studing magic, and plans to expose her by using a dark naga to sneak into Liriel's room and steal her spell books. Somehow, Liriel avoids this, and exposes Fd for spying on her, but I don't remember how...
While Fd is plotting, Liriel takes a trip to a 'special place'. To get there she must ride a small boat through underground rapids and time her journey just right inorder not to make it into her special chamber and not be smashed or drowned. When she gets there, we are introduced to one of Liriel's freinds, a female shadow dragon with two heads!! (I don't remember her name either, but she plays an important role later on). We find out that the chamber is fused with strong magic (which maybe responsible for the dragons second head, which also makes it kinda' crazy, by the way). I think she went there to hide her spell books...maybe.
Later on Liriel is out exploring in the caverns around the city and discovers some dead drow bodies, eaten by babie giant bats. On the bodies she finds the chisel that Fyodor is searching for. At this point, she knows the chisel is a powerful magic item, but she doesn't know what it does.
Somehow, the two characters meet, and Liriel(being a typical drow) takes Fyodor captive. As she is leading him back to Menzoberanzan, he tricks her into trying his 'Fire Wine', which is so potent she is distracted and he escapes.
I don't remeber exactly how the plot progresses from here, needless to say, Liriel researches the chisel and learns about ruin magic and is determined to use it to keep her inate powers in the world above (as she has grown tired of the rules of Menzoberanzan). Fd has become more and more hateful of Liriel and has graduated from Arach Tilnith to become a high preistess of Lloth. Next she is approched by a preist of Vhrun, Lloth's hatful son, and offered the power of that god, as well. Lloth and Vhrun are not on good terms, needless to say, Fd must keep her practices secret within Menzoberanzan.
Liriel and Fyodor escape from the Underdark, but are persued by Quagoths (bear/cat people inslaved by the drow and sent to bring the two of them back). When they defeat them, they are persued by Vhrun worshiping drow. (I think that at one point, Liriel is introduced to some good drow women who worship the drow goddess of the moon and dance...that goddess's name slips my mind right now, too. I think that Liriel snides them)
Eventually, they escape the drow persuers and ingeinusly sneak their way into Waterdeep. Now they have some adventures in Skullport (the seedy underbelly of noble city). The shadow dragon friend of Liriel joins them to seduce another shadow dragon gaurding the treasue that they seek (pretty cool)....
And everyone lives to go on to greater things in the second book!!
June 16, 2021
Satu lagi novel dalam universe 'Forgotten Realms' (juga siri game Dungeons & Dragons), antara siri novel fantasi yg terkenal dan banyak peminatnya. Merupakan buku pertama dalam trilogi 'Starlight & Shadows', mengambil latar tempat di Menzoberranzan selepas peperangan di Mithral Hall, tapi tiada kaitan dengan siri 'The legend of Drizzt'. Novel kali tak se-best novel2 dalam siri 'The legend of Drizzt'. Elemen feminis banyak sangat, dan scene2 aksi pula biasa-biasa jer. Tak pasti nak follow ke tak 2 buku seterusnya...
Selepas kekalahan dalam peperangan di Mithral Hall, Menzoberranzan tidak sekuat dulu. Plot cerita tertumpu pada watak Liriel Baenre (dari keluarga terkuat di bandar itu) yg sukakan adventure. Kerana ada pihak yg dengki, dia akhirnya terpaksa menjadi pelarian di dunia atas (surface). Diburu musuh, dia terpaksa berkerjasama dengan Fyodor, pahlawan berserker yg tidak dapat mengawal amukannya...
Selepas kekalahan dalam peperangan di Mithral Hall, Menzoberranzan tidak sekuat dulu. Plot cerita tertumpu pada watak Liriel Baenre (dari keluarga terkuat di bandar itu) yg sukakan adventure. Kerana ada pihak yg dengki, dia akhirnya terpaksa menjadi pelarian di dunia atas (surface). Diburu musuh, dia terpaksa berkerjasama dengan Fyodor, pahlawan berserker yg tidak dapat mengawal amukannya...
March 15, 2017
To start off I got this book many years back when I was young. When reading was not something I would not do because I did not want to, but because of my dyslexia. This was the first book that pulled me to it as I walked through a book store. I could not but be pulled to it. After trying to read the first few pages. I found it filled with words I wanted to read and understand. I feel in love how the story pulled me in and got me hooked on the written word. She pulled me from the world of TV shows to a work of books. For this I want to thank Elaine Cunningham.
The story it self is a great read. Would tell anyone that listen to at least give this work a read once.
The story it self is a great read. Would tell anyone that listen to at least give this work a read once.
June 14, 2015
Nie ma co się z tym ukrywać. Jestem zarówno miłośnikiem fantastycznego systemu RPG, jakim jest Dungeons & Dragons oraz uwielbiam literaturę fantasy. Córka Mrocznego Elfa to jedna z licznych książek, których fabuła umiejscowiona jest w świecie Forgotten Realms (jednym ze światów wspomnianego przeze mnie systemu RPG), a skierowana jest tak dla ludzi, którzy czytują fantastykę, jak i do osób, które chcą zapoznać się nieco z klimatem tego świata.
Książka wypełnia swoje zadanie połowicznie. Jako źródło wiedzy o tzw. lore świata Zapomnianych Krain spisuje się świetnie. Pozwala zapoznać się ze stworzeniami je zamieszkującymi i zwyczajami ras i ludów spotykanych w Forgotten Realms.
Niestety nie można jej uznać, za wybitne dzieło fantasy. Bohaterowie są jak na mój gust niezbyt dopracowani. Fabuła jest dość przewidywalna, a intrygi antagonistów nie są zbyt porywające (a jakby nie patrzeć są one przecież chlebem powszednim mrocznych elfów z D&D).
Oceniając książkę należy jednak wziąć pod uwagę, że jest to przede wszystkim powieść, a nie przewodnik po świecie gry, przez co książka zdobywa u mnie ledwie 3 gwiazdki. Jest to niezbyt wciągająca powieść skierowana tylko i wyłącznie do miłośników Dungeons & Dragons (zwłaszcza tych lubujących się w sesjach osadzonych w Zapomnianych Krainach).
Książka wypełnia swoje zadanie połowicznie. Jako źródło wiedzy o tzw. lore świata Zapomnianych Krain spisuje się świetnie. Pozwala zapoznać się ze stworzeniami je zamieszkującymi i zwyczajami ras i ludów spotykanych w Forgotten Realms.
Niestety nie można jej uznać, za wybitne dzieło fantasy. Bohaterowie są jak na mój gust niezbyt dopracowani. Fabuła jest dość przewidywalna, a intrygi antagonistów nie są zbyt porywające (a jakby nie patrzeć są one przecież chlebem powszednim mrocznych elfów z D&D).
Oceniając książkę należy jednak wziąć pod uwagę, że jest to przede wszystkim powieść, a nie przewodnik po świecie gry, przez co książka zdobywa u mnie ledwie 3 gwiazdki. Jest to niezbyt wciągająca powieść skierowana tylko i wyłącznie do miłośników Dungeons & Dragons (zwłaszcza tych lubujących się w sesjach osadzonych w Zapomnianych Krainach).
October 25, 2008
I picked this book up at a used bookstore while I was finishing the Drizzt book "Seige of Darkness." I was a little cautious that it would be a rip off of Salvatore's works, and I actually returned the book to the dusty shelf once or twice. But, I kept picking the book up and looking at it, and decided then and there to buy it. I'm glad that I was not disappointed in the work.
Cunningham's style is much different than Salvatore's - she does not feel the need to move from one action-packed scene to another. Instead, the lives of the characters are laid out through their day-to-day interactions. The two central characters, the elf Liriel Baenre and the human Fyodor, don't even meet until almost halfway through the book. After the frenetic pacing of the Drizzt Do'Urden books, this measured style was a nice change.
Cunningham's style is much different than Salvatore's - she does not feel the need to move from one action-packed scene to another. Instead, the lives of the characters are laid out through their day-to-day interactions. The two central characters, the elf Liriel Baenre and the human Fyodor, don't even meet until almost halfway through the book. After the frenetic pacing of the Drizzt Do'Urden books, this measured style was a nice change.
December 31, 2012
I've read some other of her books and i really enjoyed them.
I also enjoyed this, but I found there to be some major flaws.
I'm not sure whether it's because WOTC made her edit the book down or not, but the pacing is really off.
New ideas are brought into the narrative that go nowhere or are red herrings, and this would work if it was a murder/mystery, but it's not, and it makes it feel sloppy and unbalanced.
I happen to like her lyrical style, but it does err towards being too passive...sometimes way too much, while the dialogue is minimal. This caused me to sometimes lose interest.
However, i love the situations she put the characters in, and i loved the setting, so i did like the book a lot...but i never really felt the cold, alien feel that Salvatore created in his books.
I will be reading the sequels.
I also enjoyed this, but I found there to be some major flaws.
I'm not sure whether it's because WOTC made her edit the book down or not, but the pacing is really off.
New ideas are brought into the narrative that go nowhere or are red herrings, and this would work if it was a murder/mystery, but it's not, and it makes it feel sloppy and unbalanced.
I happen to like her lyrical style, but it does err towards being too passive...sometimes way too much, while the dialogue is minimal. This caused me to sometimes lose interest.
However, i love the situations she put the characters in, and i loved the setting, so i did like the book a lot...but i never really felt the cold, alien feel that Salvatore created in his books.
I will be reading the sequels.
March 20, 2019
I read this book about a month ago although it’s been around for years (it was originally my dad’s). I am honestly really glad I got around to reading it because it was beautiful. Liriel’s struggles against her culture and her self are really powerful and realistic, despite that this is a fantasy novel.
There is romance, but it’s barely a subplot. The focus is on Liriel’s development and her adventures. I don’t tend to like female protagonist because they feel like the author trying to prove a point about a woman’s cabilities, but I didn’t sense that with her. She was amazing, strong, and smart, but she was also beautiful and feminine. I enjoyed reading about her self-realizations.
I’ve ordered the sequels and plan to thoroughly devour them. I’m excited to see what kind of person Liriel will become.
There is romance, but it’s barely a subplot. The focus is on Liriel’s development and her adventures. I don’t tend to like female protagonist because they feel like the author trying to prove a point about a woman’s cabilities, but I didn’t sense that with her. She was amazing, strong, and smart, but she was also beautiful and feminine. I enjoyed reading about her self-realizations.
I’ve ordered the sequels and plan to thoroughly devour them. I’m excited to see what kind of person Liriel will become.
April 23, 2023
A good start to the trilogy. I really liked seeing the Drow and the Underdark from another author's perspective from Salvatore. It made the backstory for the dark elves that much richer! Solid characters and great story progression make me want to pick up the next volume right away.
December 27, 2023
This was a delightful read as far as fantasy goes. The titular character was a stand out of character development. She served as a fantastic viewpoint into the world above and below, and through her and Fyodor's perceptions of each other, Cunningham was able to craft a very compelling story of cross culture relations that works even outside of the Forgotten Realms setting or fantasy writing as a whole. Cunningham breathed life and personality into her characters and through their reactions to the worlds around then, she further painted a picture of lands truly lived in that went beyond mere set pieces.
I will say, coming at this novel many years (and many D&D editions) later, there is a bit lost when it comes to the dire nature of the story's stakes. It could be a "different authors, different opinions" kind of thing, but it was noticeable as someone who has read many novels that take place in the same time period DR. It didn't matter much in the end, however. The story was gripping as an adventure of someone casting off the bonds of their upbringing and heritage and, in the processes, growing past their preconceived notions of ethnic superiority and cultural domination.
It was refreshing to see the characters recognize their prejudices and challenge themselves when they were exposed to developments that contradicted their perceived truths. Moreover, it was great to see this as a very gradual, realistic change. No one became a new person over night, and Liriel especially showcased some backsliding and lashing out as her worldview was forced to change. It was also good to see a drow of menzoberranzan that was neither evil or good beyond reproach. She was someone who really was more of a "normal" person who did not reverently adhere to the evil system of power but still took advantage of the gains it provided her. This made her changes more compelling as she realized that she had never fully bought in to the story, but was still distrustful and even aggressive towards those who would speak out against it. It certainly showed more Grey morality that I would have expected, and that was well appreciated.
I will say, coming at this novel many years (and many D&D editions) later, there is a bit lost when it comes to the dire nature of the story's stakes. It could be a "different authors, different opinions" kind of thing, but it was noticeable as someone who has read many novels that take place in the same time period DR. It didn't matter much in the end, however. The story was gripping as an adventure of someone casting off the bonds of their upbringing and heritage and, in the processes, growing past their preconceived notions of ethnic superiority and cultural domination.
It was refreshing to see the characters recognize their prejudices and challenge themselves when they were exposed to developments that contradicted their perceived truths. Moreover, it was great to see this as a very gradual, realistic change. No one became a new person over night, and Liriel especially showcased some backsliding and lashing out as her worldview was forced to change. It was also good to see a drow of menzoberranzan that was neither evil or good beyond reproach. She was someone who really was more of a "normal" person who did not reverently adhere to the evil system of power but still took advantage of the gains it provided her. This made her changes more compelling as she realized that she had never fully bought in to the story, but was still distrustful and even aggressive towards those who would speak out against it. It certainly showed more Grey morality that I would have expected, and that was well appreciated.
October 26, 2020
I have to begin by stating that I'm not a huge D&D fiction fan. Nonetheless, here I am, trying to get into the lore after all these years, but getting into it through this book is a bit of a slog.
The main characters are established early on; Liriel, who is a drow, and Fyodor, who is a human. A not-Russian human, might I add. The main characters are both after a certain amulet for their own reasons, which leads them tofight crime join forces in the quest for the amulet. The author does a good job of explaining that drow, a matriarchal underground breed of elves, are mostly evil and prone to backstabbing and factionalism. Indeed, in true 90's style there are lots of new concepts with their own conlang names, which the author then has to explain, and thus a lot of the book is taken up by info dumps. However, despite the choice excuses the author diligently deploys, drow society doesn't make a lot of sense. It's such a pity that the reader must spend so long reading about it, given that the plot isn't ultimately about underground machinations!
In name the plot is about Liriel wishing to explore the surface world. In practice, after rather too much zany school/religious drama (drow-style, i.e. with a lot of bloodshed) we finally end up on the surface with 100ish pages to go. And... not a whole lot happens on the surface. Only some fighting over this and that. The pacing is a bit disjointed; there is a big ending battle to which perhaps 20 or so pages are dedicated in total. Characters are left cardboardy and all the action happens lightning fast. Where did all those goddamn dragons come from anyway? It's definitely a fan product from the good old times when TSR still had control of the IP, but it's not much of a story. I will read the sequel to see if it works for setting up the next instalment.
The main characters are established early on; Liriel, who is a drow, and Fyodor, who is a human. A not-Russian human, might I add. The main characters are both after a certain amulet for their own reasons, which leads them to
In name the plot is about Liriel wishing to explore the surface world. In practice, after rather too much zany school/religious drama (drow-style, i.e. with a lot of bloodshed) we finally end up on the surface with 100ish pages to go. And... not a whole lot happens on the surface. Only some fighting over this and that. The pacing is a bit disjointed; there is a big ending battle to which perhaps 20 or so pages are dedicated in total. Characters are left cardboardy and all the action happens lightning fast. Where did all those goddamn dragons come from anyway? It's definitely a fan product from the good old times when TSR still had control of the IP, but it's not much of a story. I will read the sequel to see if it works for setting up the next instalment.
November 30, 2020
Claramente, Elaine Cunningham se cuenta entre los mejores autores de lo que podríamos llamar "franquicia de Reinos Olvidados".
Una historia que no es excesivamente original, debido a ese gran antecedente denominado Drizzt Do'Urden, pero que resulta fresca si se la compara con otros relatos de este universo. Liriel es de hecho un personaje bastante diferente de Drizzt, porque esa moralidad gris de la que carece la creación de Salvatore la aleja del héroe típico de estas novelas de fantasía genérica. Empero, Cunningham ha sabido individualizarla sin recurrir a la manida biografía minuciosa en la que el protagonista va creciendo capítulo tras capítulo.
La estructura es un tanto atípica, pues tras algunas escenas sucintas la cosa parece comenzar in media res. La trama coge ritmo muy pronto, y al ofrecer diversas perspectivas la lectura resulta muy ligera. Lo malo, lo absolutamente pésimo (para mí), es que la obra está escrita claramente como una primera parte. Prefiero con mucho las entregas que, incluso si forman parte de una serie, pueden leerse sin que eso importe demasiado. Esta novela puede leerse de forma individual, sí, pero conforme avanza su lectura resulta cada vez más palpable que la historia no es más que una introducción.
Aún con eso, de lo mejorcito que he leído para este universo.
Una historia que no es excesivamente original, debido a ese gran antecedente denominado Drizzt Do'Urden, pero que resulta fresca si se la compara con otros relatos de este universo. Liriel es de hecho un personaje bastante diferente de Drizzt, porque esa moralidad gris de la que carece la creación de Salvatore la aleja del héroe típico de estas novelas de fantasía genérica. Empero, Cunningham ha sabido individualizarla sin recurrir a la manida biografía minuciosa en la que el protagonista va creciendo capítulo tras capítulo.
La estructura es un tanto atípica, pues tras algunas escenas sucintas la cosa parece comenzar in media res. La trama coge ritmo muy pronto, y al ofrecer diversas perspectivas la lectura resulta muy ligera. Lo malo, lo absolutamente pésimo (para mí), es que la obra está escrita claramente como una primera parte. Prefiero con mucho las entregas que, incluso si forman parte de una serie, pueden leerse sin que eso importe demasiado. Esta novela puede leerse de forma individual, sí, pero conforme avanza su lectura resulta cada vez más palpable que la historia no es más que una introducción.
Aún con eso, de lo mejorcito que he leído para este universo.
September 3, 2023
I really didn't know how I was going to feel about this book, but it was very quickly engrossing
I became sucked into Liriel's constant plans for adventure. She craved knowledge and experience way to much to be stuck in cleric school. Although I guess that was the point. That didn't keep her from getting into or creating no end of mischief. You might think making someone you don't like smell like rotting garbage is funny, but its less funny when revenge makes her a deathly enemy.
I think I probably should have read a lot more Forgotten Realms books before this one, but I never felt lost.
I immediately loved Fyodor. He was the perfect companion for Liriel. Even she knew it deep down. She couldn't decide between keeping him out and curiosity of what he would do if he came back.
I just loved them together. I loved that he gave heevthe nickname of "little raven". I'm a sucker for a cute nickname. It brings me back to my Warcraft novel days when fighting and flirting went hand and hand. I know, I know they weren't together. But they were biblically together more than once so tomato tamato.
I did take a peek into the next two books to see if they would continue on the path together or not. I wasn't exactly happy with what I gleaned from the reviews. Hmmm. To read the rest or not, that is the question.
I became sucked into Liriel's constant plans for adventure. She craved knowledge and experience way to much to be stuck in cleric school. Although I guess that was the point. That didn't keep her from getting into or creating no end of mischief. You might think making someone you don't like smell like rotting garbage is funny, but its less funny when revenge makes her a deathly enemy.
I think I probably should have read a lot more Forgotten Realms books before this one, but I never felt lost.
I immediately loved Fyodor. He was the perfect companion for Liriel. Even she knew it deep down. She couldn't decide between keeping him out and curiosity of what he would do if he came back.
I just loved them together. I loved that he gave heevthe nickname of "little raven". I'm a sucker for a cute nickname. It brings me back to my Warcraft novel days when fighting and flirting went hand and hand. I know, I know they weren't together. But they were biblically together more than once so tomato tamato.
I did take a peek into the next two books to see if they would continue on the path together or not. I wasn't exactly happy with what I gleaned from the reviews. Hmmm. To read the rest or not, that is the question.
July 19, 2024
Un placentero regreso a Los reinos olvidados y en concreto a Menzoberranzan, la ciudad de los elfos oscuros. Desde que me leí la pentalogía de La reina de la araña que no volvía a visitar ese mundo y me sigue gustando tanto como entonces. Una sociedad matriarcal donde las mujeres son poderosas magas y las diferentes casas se disputan el poder de la ciudad de manera rastrera y traicionera.
Un entorno en el que a veces surgen almas buenas como Dritzz Do' Urden o la protagonista de este libro: Liriel Baenre.
Liriel, una prometedora niña con un gran poder es adoptada de forma innoble por la casa más poderosa de la ciudad: Los Baenre. Esta casa ha salido escaldada después de enfrentarse a Dritzz y sus amigos y necesita satisfacer a Lloth, la diosa araña que dominan la vida de los drow.
Pero Liriel es una joven muy curiosa que empezará a interesarse por los habitantes de la superficie y sus costumbres, muy diferentes de los de los habitantes de la antípoda oscura.
Esto libros siempre dan lo que prometen: magia, criaturas y fantasía clásica pero escritores como Greenwood, Cunningham, Margaret Weiss, Tracy Hickman o Bob Salvatore destacaron en la imnensa nómina de la compañia por saber desarrollar las tramas del juego en interesantes e entretenidas novelas como esta.
Un entorno en el que a veces surgen almas buenas como Dritzz Do' Urden o la protagonista de este libro: Liriel Baenre.
Liriel, una prometedora niña con un gran poder es adoptada de forma innoble por la casa más poderosa de la ciudad: Los Baenre. Esta casa ha salido escaldada después de enfrentarse a Dritzz y sus amigos y necesita satisfacer a Lloth, la diosa araña que dominan la vida de los drow.
Pero Liriel es una joven muy curiosa que empezará a interesarse por los habitantes de la superficie y sus costumbres, muy diferentes de los de los habitantes de la antípoda oscura.
Esto libros siempre dan lo que prometen: magia, criaturas y fantasía clásica pero escritores como Greenwood, Cunningham, Margaret Weiss, Tracy Hickman o Bob Salvatore destacaron en la imnensa nómina de la compañia por saber desarrollar las tramas del juego en interesantes e entretenidas novelas como esta.
November 14, 2024
Daughter of the Drow presents an intriguing premise with Liriel, a strong and compelling female protagonist. Her journey offers a fresh perspective on the drow race, a typically villainous group in the Forgotten Realms.
However, the novel's exploration of drow diversity feels inconsistent with established lore. While the idea of individual drow breaking free from the oppressive society of Menzoberranzan is compelling, the introduction of entire communities of good-aligned drow, such as Nisstyre's Vaehrun and Elistraee's followers, undermines the inherent darkness and intrigue of the drow race. This shift dilutes the uniqueness of Drizzt Do'Urden and alters the overall tone of the drow storyline.
The narrative's strength lies in its portrayal of the harsh realities of Menzoberranzan. The interactions between Liriel and Fyodor provide a poignant and well-developed subplot. Unfortunately, the later sections, set on the surface world, lack the same level of engagement and depth.
While Daughter of the Drow offers an interesting twist on the drow mythos, its execution is uneven. The novel's attempt to broaden the scope of drow society, while well-intentioned, ultimately weakens the overall impact of the story.
However, the novel's exploration of drow diversity feels inconsistent with established lore. While the idea of individual drow breaking free from the oppressive society of Menzoberranzan is compelling, the introduction of entire communities of good-aligned drow, such as Nisstyre's Vaehrun and Elistraee's followers, undermines the inherent darkness and intrigue of the drow race. This shift dilutes the uniqueness of Drizzt Do'Urden and alters the overall tone of the drow storyline.
The narrative's strength lies in its portrayal of the harsh realities of Menzoberranzan. The interactions between Liriel and Fyodor provide a poignant and well-developed subplot. Unfortunately, the later sections, set on the surface world, lack the same level of engagement and depth.
While Daughter of the Drow offers an interesting twist on the drow mythos, its execution is uneven. The novel's attempt to broaden the scope of drow society, while well-intentioned, ultimately weakens the overall impact of the story.
July 21, 2025
The cover is awful in an almost beautiful way but I was so pleasantly surprised by this book. Picked it up off my roommates DnD shelf on a whim amidst my Baldur's Gate 3 obsession to get some more wider world building and I ended up really loving it (and ordering the full box set from a thrift store in Ontario at 4am lol).
The writing was beautiful, lyrical and evocative without being overdone. The plot unfolded in a way I was continuously surprised by but it felt natural within the world and not contrived to fit a preconceived idea of an ending. The characters had a lot more depth than I anticipated.
Liriel is a fun protagonist, though she does serve a bit as a power fantasy archetype (almost to a Mary-Sue level, but within the realm of DnD it made sense).
My main gripe is that it's so short. Barely over 300 pages where I honestly think the level of intrigue could stretch out to a Game of Thrones length of novel.
Anyway, TL;DR I'm excited to read the rest of the trilogy and to see where this story leads me
The writing was beautiful, lyrical and evocative without being overdone. The plot unfolded in a way I was continuously surprised by but it felt natural within the world and not contrived to fit a preconceived idea of an ending. The characters had a lot more depth than I anticipated.
Liriel is a fun protagonist, though she does serve a bit as a power fantasy archetype (almost to a Mary-Sue level, but within the realm of DnD it made sense).
My main gripe is that it's so short. Barely over 300 pages where I honestly think the level of intrigue could stretch out to a Game of Thrones length of novel.
Anyway, TL;DR I'm excited to read the rest of the trilogy and to see where this story leads me
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