What do you think?
Rate this book
The Way of the Drow #1
Starlight Enclave
From New York Times bestselling author R. A. Salvatore comes a new trilogy and adventure of Drizzt and fantasy's beloved characters from Dungeons & Dragons' Forgotten Realms.
After the settling dust of the demon uprising and two years of peace, rumblings from the Menzoberranzan drow have Jarlaxle nervous. Worried his allies may be pulled into a Civil War between the great Houses, he is eager to ensure Zaknafein is armed with weapons befitting his skill, including one in particular: Khazid'hea. A powerful artifact, the sword known as "Cutter" has started wars, corrupted its users, and spilled the blood of many, many people. Nonetheless--or maybe because of that--the rogue Jarlaxle and a small group of friends will go on an expedition looking for the weapon's last wielder, Doum'wielle, in the freezing north, for she may be the key to unlocking the sword's potential...and perhaps the key to preventing the bloodshed looming over the Underdark.
And as they explore the top of the world, Drizzt is on a journey of his own--both spiritual and physical. He wants to introduce his daughter Brie to Grandmaster Kane and the practices that have been so central to his beliefs. But, having only recently come back from true transcendence, the drow ranger is no longer sure what his beliefs mean anymore. He is on a path to determining the future, not just for his family, but perhaps the entire northlands of the Realms themselves.
Two different roads. On one, Jarlaxle and Zaknefein are on a quest to find pieces that could offer salvation to Menzoberranzan. On the other, Drizzt seeks answers that could offer salvation to not just his soul, but all souls.
And no matter the outcome of either journey, the Realms will never be the same again.
After the settling dust of the demon uprising and two years of peace, rumblings from the Menzoberranzan drow have Jarlaxle nervous. Worried his allies may be pulled into a Civil War between the great Houses, he is eager to ensure Zaknafein is armed with weapons befitting his skill, including one in particular: Khazid'hea. A powerful artifact, the sword known as "Cutter" has started wars, corrupted its users, and spilled the blood of many, many people. Nonetheless--or maybe because of that--the rogue Jarlaxle and a small group of friends will go on an expedition looking for the weapon's last wielder, Doum'wielle, in the freezing north, for she may be the key to unlocking the sword's potential...and perhaps the key to preventing the bloodshed looming over the Underdark.
And as they explore the top of the world, Drizzt is on a journey of his own--both spiritual and physical. He wants to introduce his daughter Brie to Grandmaster Kane and the practices that have been so central to his beliefs. But, having only recently come back from true transcendence, the drow ranger is no longer sure what his beliefs mean anymore. He is on a path to determining the future, not just for his family, but perhaps the entire northlands of the Realms themselves.
Two different roads. On one, Jarlaxle and Zaknefein are on a quest to find pieces that could offer salvation to Menzoberranzan. On the other, Drizzt seeks answers that could offer salvation to not just his soul, but all souls.
And no matter the outcome of either journey, the Realms will never be the same again.
444 pages, Paperback
First published August 3, 2021
495 people are currently reading
2853 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...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews
September 9, 2021
Rivendell. Hogwarts. Red London. Menzoberranzan. Krondor. So many amazing fantasy locations. And now…
Callidae.
Somehow, nearly 40 tales into this series, R.A. Salvatore is not only crushing it and writing some of the best books in the bunch, he’s also standing up new cities threatening to crack my All-Time Top 5 I Want to Go To There Fantasy Locales.
Here’s the short version: if you’re invested in Drizzt and the Companions of the Hall, you will absolutely, 100% want to add Starlight Enclave to your collection. If you haven’t yet taken the plunge, go grab the Dark Elf trilogy and get started because it’s a journey you’re going to want to take from the start, and you are in for one of the greatest literary adventures of your life (don’t worry—I’ll wait for you to catch up).
What I want to talk about here is not how great the book is (it’s really great), how much it ripped my heart to shreds and then expertly sewed it back together (ZAKNAFEIN!), or how I would happily read stories focused on Catti-Brie/Jarlaxle/Zak/Entreri for the next 50 years (I hope you’re taking your vitamins, Bob). What I want to talk about here is a city that somehow simultaneously recalibrates drow—and reevaluates the idea of racism—in the Forgotten Realms, serves as the setting for a rip-roaring tale, and is so beautifully and wonderfully rendered that it crushes me that I can’t actually visit it.
Take heed: there be some spoilers ahead, mateys.
I mentioned Menzoberranzan above, and it always has been and remains one of the most enchanting fantasy places I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about—not enchanting in the same way as, say, Rivendell, because, by and large, the residents of Menzoberranzan would vastly prefer to carve out your kidneys and feed them to driders than cordially walk you through a “Lembas from Scratch!” cooking class (note to Netflix: that would be a hell of a cooking show). But, it’s fascinating—complex, dark, mysterious, and deadly, yet filled with beauty, power, intelligence, and the highest levels of commitment to craft. It’s the kind of place you really want to visit, but only if you can do so invisibly and intangibly lest you end up hearing the very distressing sound of oversized arachnids snacking on your internal organs.
The last time we adventured with Drizzt and company, though, we glimpsed a tantalizing new possibility: maybe the Lolth-driven chaos of Menzoberranzan was not always how things were. Maybe drow haven’t always acted so cruelly and maliciously to feed the needs of an insatiable and ruthless goddess. Maybe they were once reasonable beings ruled not by the chaotic whims of a cruel, chaos-driven deity (I am trying so, so hard not to make MAGA jokes here, people), but by their own passions and desires—in other words, they were free-thinking creatures capable of making choices both good and bad of their own volition.
Salvatore runs wild with that idea in Enclave, creating the beautiful community of Callidae, where starlight elves (or aevendrow) frolic alongside dwarves, orcs, and humans of various stripes. It’s not a utopia, by any means—the city is located in the northernmost region of the world, where cold can kill, and surrounded by deadly giants and frog-like slaadi. But, it is a communal enclave populated by a people that plays as hard as it lives, where passion predominates, and where the fight for survival and the appreciation of life are two sides of the same coin, leading to a highly developed sense of commitment to community and a recognition of the importance of one’s role not solely as an individual, but as an individual contributing to a greater whole.
Like Menzoberranzan, it is a place of great danger and great beauty. Unlike Menzoberranzan, however, it is a place that gives the lie to racial stereotypes, suggesting that while a group of people who come from the same stock might share some cultural characteristics, they are by no means a monolith, and who they are, who they truly are at their core, depends on a combination of factors from genetic to environmental to cultural to individual.
It’s glorious, and it liberates the drow—and, by extension, so many other historically “evil” creatures—from tropes that are ripe for reinvention, at least within the context of the Forgotten Realms. And, it offers the tantalizing possibility that dark elves we’ve followed for decades—Drizzt, Jarlaxle, Zaknafein—might finally, after so very long, find a place to call home (or, if not home, a home away from home) that speaks to something deep within them, something lost and buried, but something powerful: a sense of belonging and a sense identity that goes beyond the lives and reputations they’ve managed, through long struggle, to build as individuals.
At a moment in time when the world feels more fractured, more confused, and more disillusioned than ever, I took great comfort in visiting Callidae. For what better to think about right now than a community where you belong so fully and completely, where you can truly be yourself and be recognized for the unique value that you bring, but where you have a place and a role and you know that others will support you when you’re down, celebrate with you when you’re up, and mourn you when you’re gone to ensure that your spirit, your legend, your life has meaning and will always be remembered?
See? I told you this was a journey you were going to want to go on. I’ll make sure the wine, persimmons, and cheese are waiting.
Callidae.
Somehow, nearly 40 tales into this series, R.A. Salvatore is not only crushing it and writing some of the best books in the bunch, he’s also standing up new cities threatening to crack my All-Time Top 5 I Want to Go To There Fantasy Locales.
Here’s the short version: if you’re invested in Drizzt and the Companions of the Hall, you will absolutely, 100% want to add Starlight Enclave to your collection. If you haven’t yet taken the plunge, go grab the Dark Elf trilogy and get started because it’s a journey you’re going to want to take from the start, and you are in for one of the greatest literary adventures of your life (don’t worry—I’ll wait for you to catch up).
What I want to talk about here is not how great the book is (it’s really great), how much it ripped my heart to shreds and then expertly sewed it back together (ZAKNAFEIN!), or how I would happily read stories focused on Catti-Brie/Jarlaxle/Zak/Entreri for the next 50 years (I hope you’re taking your vitamins, Bob). What I want to talk about here is a city that somehow simultaneously recalibrates drow—and reevaluates the idea of racism—in the Forgotten Realms, serves as the setting for a rip-roaring tale, and is so beautifully and wonderfully rendered that it crushes me that I can’t actually visit it.
Take heed: there be some spoilers ahead, mateys.
I mentioned Menzoberranzan above, and it always has been and remains one of the most enchanting fantasy places I’ve ever had the pleasure to read about—not enchanting in the same way as, say, Rivendell, because, by and large, the residents of Menzoberranzan would vastly prefer to carve out your kidneys and feed them to driders than cordially walk you through a “Lembas from Scratch!” cooking class (note to Netflix: that would be a hell of a cooking show). But, it’s fascinating—complex, dark, mysterious, and deadly, yet filled with beauty, power, intelligence, and the highest levels of commitment to craft. It’s the kind of place you really want to visit, but only if you can do so invisibly and intangibly lest you end up hearing the very distressing sound of oversized arachnids snacking on your internal organs.
The last time we adventured with Drizzt and company, though, we glimpsed a tantalizing new possibility: maybe the Lolth-driven chaos of Menzoberranzan was not always how things were. Maybe drow haven’t always acted so cruelly and maliciously to feed the needs of an insatiable and ruthless goddess. Maybe they were once reasonable beings ruled not by the chaotic whims of a cruel, chaos-driven deity (I am trying so, so hard not to make MAGA jokes here, people), but by their own passions and desires—in other words, they were free-thinking creatures capable of making choices both good and bad of their own volition.
Salvatore runs wild with that idea in Enclave, creating the beautiful community of Callidae, where starlight elves (or aevendrow) frolic alongside dwarves, orcs, and humans of various stripes. It’s not a utopia, by any means—the city is located in the northernmost region of the world, where cold can kill, and surrounded by deadly giants and frog-like slaadi. But, it is a communal enclave populated by a people that plays as hard as it lives, where passion predominates, and where the fight for survival and the appreciation of life are two sides of the same coin, leading to a highly developed sense of commitment to community and a recognition of the importance of one’s role not solely as an individual, but as an individual contributing to a greater whole.
Like Menzoberranzan, it is a place of great danger and great beauty. Unlike Menzoberranzan, however, it is a place that gives the lie to racial stereotypes, suggesting that while a group of people who come from the same stock might share some cultural characteristics, they are by no means a monolith, and who they are, who they truly are at their core, depends on a combination of factors from genetic to environmental to cultural to individual.
It’s glorious, and it liberates the drow—and, by extension, so many other historically “evil” creatures—from tropes that are ripe for reinvention, at least within the context of the Forgotten Realms. And, it offers the tantalizing possibility that dark elves we’ve followed for decades—Drizzt, Jarlaxle, Zaknafein—might finally, after so very long, find a place to call home (or, if not home, a home away from home) that speaks to something deep within them, something lost and buried, but something powerful: a sense of belonging and a sense identity that goes beyond the lives and reputations they’ve managed, through long struggle, to build as individuals.
At a moment in time when the world feels more fractured, more confused, and more disillusioned than ever, I took great comfort in visiting Callidae. For what better to think about right now than a community where you belong so fully and completely, where you can truly be yourself and be recognized for the unique value that you bring, but where you have a place and a role and you know that others will support you when you’re down, celebrate with you when you’re up, and mourn you when you’re gone to ensure that your spirit, your legend, your life has meaning and will always be remembered?
See? I told you this was a journey you were going to want to go on. I’ll make sure the wine, persimmons, and cheese are waiting.
July 17, 2021
R. A. Salvatore does it again. This new chapter in the continuing adventures of Drizzt and his friends is a period of apprehensive waiting. What will come of the revelations about the true history of Menzoberranzan? The foundations of everything the Underdark Drow believe about themselves and Lolth have been called a lie and challenged. Jarlaxle believes there will be a costly Civil War and enlists Zaknafein, Entreri and Cattie-Brie to join him on a quest. He believes Doum'wielle can be recovered from her banishment in the far north and used as an ally in the upcoming conflict.
As they continue in their arctic quest things begin to go wrong for the group. Day seems to never end. Their sense of direction is completely befuddled as the sun seems to be cirling them instead rising and setting. It is growing colder and their enchantments are failing to protect them. Even Jarlaxle's famous bag of tricks starts to fall short. Finally they discover even Cattie-Brie's magic has failed them. Still Jarlaxle stubbornly insists they must continue leaving his companions wonder what he knows that he hasn't told them.
Drizzt is left behind during this quest to the north because he is dealing with his own internal struggles. After his transcendence he is finding it difficult to feel any desire or urgency to participate in the battles of his friends. If everything is fleeting, temporary and just a small part in a bigger universe then why fight? He takes Brie, his and Cattie-Brie's daughter, with him to visit Grand Master Kane for some guidance. His journey so far is secondary to that of Jarlaxle's band, but both story lines promise to be extremely interesting and I can't wait for the next book in this new trilogy.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the e-ARC of Starlight Enclave.
As they continue in their arctic quest things begin to go wrong for the group. Day seems to never end. Their sense of direction is completely befuddled as the sun seems to be cirling them instead rising and setting. It is growing colder and their enchantments are failing to protect them. Even Jarlaxle's famous bag of tricks starts to fall short. Finally they discover even Cattie-Brie's magic has failed them. Still Jarlaxle stubbornly insists they must continue leaving his companions wonder what he knows that he hasn't told them.
Drizzt is left behind during this quest to the north because he is dealing with his own internal struggles. After his transcendence he is finding it difficult to feel any desire or urgency to participate in the battles of his friends. If everything is fleeting, temporary and just a small part in a bigger universe then why fight? He takes Brie, his and Cattie-Brie's daughter, with him to visit Grand Master Kane for some guidance. His journey so far is secondary to that of Jarlaxle's band, but both story lines promise to be extremely interesting and I can't wait for the next book in this new trilogy.
Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for the opportunity to read the e-ARC of Starlight Enclave.
August 19, 2021
Starlight Enclave Review
Starlight Enclave is book 37 in this super long running series and really felt like a return to form for the most part.
Takes place about two years after the last book, we see Cattie Brie, Jarlaxle, Entreri and Zak off on an adventure into the far north in search of Doum’Wielle.
Don’t remember who Doum’Wielle is?
Good, Neither did I. Thanks Google.
Concurrently, Drizzt takes his daughter to visit the monastery and meet Grand Master Kane.
In the background we start to see hints of a revolution beginning in Menzoberranzan. Many of our characters are trying to decide if they are joining it.
I want to go ahead and get the negatives out of the way first.
If you are reading this book strictly because you love the main character, prepare to be dissapointed. For the 4th book or so in a row, he is almost non existent. He first tells us that he is struggling to care about almost anything since his transcendence. And then precedes to whine about the gods and religion for the entire book. Remember when he used to just ponder this stuff in his journal entries?
I disliked almost every chapter that was centered around him in this book, except when he was doing dad things with his daughter, as a father myself I was able to relate to them and it was great.
I’ve always read these novels similarly to watching an 80’s action flick. Bobs strength has always been having great characters and then throwing them into intense situations where they mostly need to use their skill in combat to escape.
It’s like having a book series about Rambo, but in the 4th movie instead of slaughtering things with a minigun he decides to take up knitting instead.
A few other characters also had moments where I thought to myself, would they actually do that? But it was pretty minor and didn’t really bother me much.
Surprisingly, Cattie Brie is a character I haven’t really ever considered to be more than average, but she rocked it this book. I enjoyed almost every chapter that was in her POV and I loved the buildup of her relationship with both Zak and Entreri in this book.
In fact the whole adventure that her, Zak, Entreri and Jarlaxle go on was super good and a big return to the olden days of the series. Back then a lot of the books were centered around the adventure, and traveling to unknown places. This book had that in spades.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the place they travel to, I thought the people they met and the experiences they had there were a joy to read about. I really hope to see a few more stories centered around this location.
However, be prepared for a huge cliffhanger, this book is most definitely setting us up for the next book in the trilogy.
Even though it may seem like I complained a lot, this was honestly one of the best books in the series in a good while. It would have been an easy 5 star rating from me if I wouldn’t have hated the main characters POV chapters so much. So I’m giving it a healthy 4.
Enjoy :P
Starlight Enclave is book 37 in this super long running series and really felt like a return to form for the most part.
Takes place about two years after the last book, we see Cattie Brie, Jarlaxle, Entreri and Zak off on an adventure into the far north in search of Doum’Wielle.
Don’t remember who Doum’Wielle is?
Good, Neither did I. Thanks Google.
Concurrently, Drizzt takes his daughter to visit the monastery and meet Grand Master Kane.
In the background we start to see hints of a revolution beginning in Menzoberranzan. Many of our characters are trying to decide if they are joining it.
I want to go ahead and get the negatives out of the way first.
If you are reading this book strictly because you love the main character, prepare to be dissapointed. For the 4th book or so in a row, he is almost non existent. He first tells us that he is struggling to care about almost anything since his transcendence. And then precedes to whine about the gods and religion for the entire book. Remember when he used to just ponder this stuff in his journal entries?
I disliked almost every chapter that was centered around him in this book, except when he was doing dad things with his daughter, as a father myself I was able to relate to them and it was great.
I’ve always read these novels similarly to watching an 80’s action flick. Bobs strength has always been having great characters and then throwing them into intense situations where they mostly need to use their skill in combat to escape.
It’s like having a book series about Rambo, but in the 4th movie instead of slaughtering things with a minigun he decides to take up knitting instead.
A few other characters also had moments where I thought to myself, would they actually do that? But it was pretty minor and didn’t really bother me much.
Surprisingly, Cattie Brie is a character I haven’t really ever considered to be more than average, but she rocked it this book. I enjoyed almost every chapter that was in her POV and I loved the buildup of her relationship with both Zak and Entreri in this book.
In fact the whole adventure that her, Zak, Entreri and Jarlaxle go on was super good and a big return to the olden days of the series. Back then a lot of the books were centered around the adventure, and traveling to unknown places. This book had that in spades.
I also thoroughly enjoyed the place they travel to, I thought the people they met and the experiences they had there were a joy to read about. I really hope to see a few more stories centered around this location.
However, be prepared for a huge cliffhanger, this book is most definitely setting us up for the next book in the trilogy.
Even though it may seem like I complained a lot, this was honestly one of the best books in the series in a good while. It would have been an easy 5 star rating from me if I wouldn’t have hated the main characters POV chapters so much. So I’m giving it a healthy 4.
Enjoy :P
May 1, 2022
Book 1 of another 3 volume story by Salvatore mainly focuses it's A story on Jarlaxle, Entreri, Zaknafein, and Cattibrie's journey to the far most northern point in Toril, on a mission to find the lost half drow female Doum'wielle, in order to prevent a major civil war of the drow in Menzoberranzan.
The B story is Drzzt and his toddler daughter Brie on their journey to see Grandmaster Kane for spiritual enlightenment and more self exploration thinking it would be good for his daughter to get the exposure as well since it did a lot for him.
The four companions find a hidden race of drow who are completely closed off from the rest of the world of Toril and go about life and their daily existence under a whole different set of values, morals, logic and way of being. A major cliff-hanger ends the book and I am now eagerly looking forward to book 2.
I was expecting this book to have more of the drow politics happening in it, but was disappointed. I still think Salvatore could write a major book on the origins of Drow history in a nice three volume set.
The B story is Drzzt and his toddler daughter Brie on their journey to see Grandmaster Kane for spiritual enlightenment and more self exploration thinking it would be good for his daughter to get the exposure as well since it did a lot for him.
The four companions find a hidden race of drow who are completely closed off from the rest of the world of Toril and go about life and their daily existence under a whole different set of values, morals, logic and way of being. A major cliff-hanger ends the book and I am now eagerly looking forward to book 2.
I was expecting this book to have more of the drow politics happening in it, but was disappointed. I still think Salvatore could write a major book on the origins of Drow history in a nice three volume set.
August 18, 2021
Overall this is a thoroughly enjoyable novel with some caveats. Drizzt's portion in the book is minimal and turns out to be a lengthy series of philosophical/theological/metaphysical conversations with several different characters. I thought these portions interesting if not the most thrilling reading. The remainder of the novel was actually quite interesting and the "villain" monsters and interesting choice and something I personally haven't seen in a D&D novel. Last, and perhaps most important to me, THE BOOK ENDS ON A CLIFFHANGER.
August 13, 2021
I've read a lot of Salvatore and am thankful for him and his books. That being said can't say I love how somber he makes Drizzt these days and though he's probably bored of writing about him I'd rather Drizzt have a more prominent role.
Also would love my fantasy books not to have real world politics in them but oh well that's the way of the world now.
Also would love my fantasy books not to have real world politics in them but oh well that's the way of the world now.
July 19, 2023
4 ⭐️ I really enjoyed following Catti-Brie in this book and seeing the new location we haven’t ever seen before was also great. Drizzt is still a little annoying for me with his current iteration of philosophizing, and he was BARELY in this book so that was nice since I’ve been finding him annoying lately. 🤣 Jarlaxle remains awesome and outlandish and I love him. In typical Drizzt fashion this is not really a story in its own so I am with holding full judgment until I finish this trilogy. If you’ve never tried Drizzt before I definitely do NOT think that this is the place to start.
August 16, 2021
The Search for the Lost City of Drowlantis
Every sword fight I think
"My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die"
This was a good adventure. Jarlaxle, Catti-Brie, Zaknafein and Artemis set off to search for Doum'wielle who was banished to the ends of the world and to search for a fabled Drow lost city, Jarlaxle's secret.
Drizzt was to busy melting his physical body into everythingness, becoming a part of all that is around him and changing his daughters diapers to accompany his wife, father and friends. Thanks Drizzt. Stay warm.
The Callidaeans, the lost city of the Drow our secret, are a strange motley crew. The rugby game mixed with fight club was a blast.
"You cannot bite, kick the head of a fallen player, and you cannot gouge the eyes with a finger. A knuckle yes. Oh, and you cannot grasp and twist the genitals of a man."
Let the games of Callidae begin! The Callidaeans are a strange people.
Ends with a major cliffhanger. Remember what happened to Han Solo at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. Kylo Ren killing Han Solo is still difficult to watch.
Every sword fight I think
"My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die"
This was a good adventure. Jarlaxle, Catti-Brie, Zaknafein and Artemis set off to search for Doum'wielle who was banished to the ends of the world and to search for a fabled Drow lost city, Jarlaxle's secret.
Drizzt was to busy melting his physical body into everythingness, becoming a part of all that is around him and changing his daughters diapers to accompany his wife, father and friends. Thanks Drizzt. Stay warm.
The Callidaeans, the lost city of the Drow our secret, are a strange motley crew. The rugby game mixed with fight club was a blast.
"You cannot bite, kick the head of a fallen player, and you cannot gouge the eyes with a finger. A knuckle yes. Oh, and you cannot grasp and twist the genitals of a man."
Let the games of Callidae begin! The Callidaeans are a strange people.
Ends with a major cliffhanger. Remember what happened to Han Solo at the end of The Empire Strikes Back. Kylo Ren killing Han Solo is still difficult to watch.
August 13, 2021
* Selesai juga akhirnya baca buku ke-34 (latest) dalam siri 'The legend of Drizzt'. Ambil masa dari 20/5 - 13/8/2021 utk baca semua 34 buku. Pergh...
Salah satu novel dari universe Forgotten Realms (juga siri game Dungeons & Dragons), antara siri novel fantasi yg terkenal dan banyak peminatnya. Merupakan buku pertama dalam trilogi 'The Way of the Drow' - menyambung kisah pengembaraan Drizzt Do'Urden dan rakan-rakannya. Juga merupakan buku ke-34 (ter-latest) dalam siri 'The legend of Drizzt'. Buku kali ini bagai satu pembaharuan bagi siri ni, lebih menghiburkan berbanding buku2 sebelumnya. Watak2 utama yg dijadikan 'traveling companion' tak terjangka, dan memberikan suatu yg baru pada jalan cerita. Jalan ceritanya juga straight forward dan tidak bosan. Penamatnya pula tergantung, kena tunggu buku ke-2 dan ke-3.
Novel ni mengisahkan tentang Jarlaxle, Zaknafein, Catti-Brie, dan Artemis Entreri yang mengembara ke pergunungan salji di utara untuk mencari Doum’wielle, dalam usaha untuk mencari jalan mengelakkan perang saudara di Menzoberranzan. Di sana, mereka telah menemui bandar rahsia yg dihuni Aevendrow, satu komuniti dark elf yg tidak jahat dan hidup secara aman dengan kaum2 lain. Sub-plot pula mengisahkan tentang pengembaraan Drizzt dan anaknya, Brie-Zara ke Damara untuk melawat Grandmaster Kane, guru Drizzt...
Salah satu novel dari universe Forgotten Realms (juga siri game Dungeons & Dragons), antara siri novel fantasi yg terkenal dan banyak peminatnya. Merupakan buku pertama dalam trilogi 'The Way of the Drow' - menyambung kisah pengembaraan Drizzt Do'Urden dan rakan-rakannya. Juga merupakan buku ke-34 (ter-latest) dalam siri 'The legend of Drizzt'. Buku kali ini bagai satu pembaharuan bagi siri ni, lebih menghiburkan berbanding buku2 sebelumnya. Watak2 utama yg dijadikan 'traveling companion' tak terjangka, dan memberikan suatu yg baru pada jalan cerita. Jalan ceritanya juga straight forward dan tidak bosan. Penamatnya pula tergantung, kena tunggu buku ke-2 dan ke-3.
Novel ni mengisahkan tentang Jarlaxle, Zaknafein, Catti-Brie, dan Artemis Entreri yang mengembara ke pergunungan salji di utara untuk mencari Doum’wielle, dalam usaha untuk mencari jalan mengelakkan perang saudara di Menzoberranzan. Di sana, mereka telah menemui bandar rahsia yg dihuni Aevendrow, satu komuniti dark elf yg tidak jahat dan hidup secara aman dengan kaum2 lain. Sub-plot pula mengisahkan tentang pengembaraan Drizzt dan anaknya, Brie-Zara ke Damara untuk melawat Grandmaster Kane, guru Drizzt...
August 11, 2021
This series is still one of my favourite series. With that said I did enjoy the overall story with the start of a new trilogy. The character growth & changes with Zaknafein & Artemis Entreri are an astounding ones. I do miss Wulfgar & Regis, Wulfgar seems to have been moved back to a support role as I'm not sure if he was mentioned more than once or twice through out the book.
Drizzt himself was pushed back to being a secondary plot for about 2/3 of the book before completely disappearing. I did enjoy the philosophical discussions between Drizzt & Kimmuriel.
I know that Salvatore has decided to address & alter the monstrous ideations of what it is to be Drow. Which I'm just not sure if I have a true opinion on this subject, as I know that characters need to grow & change or become stagnant, but its this change of a race being altered due to politics?
I will continue to keep reading Drizzt as long as Bob keep writing them. I do long for a simpler story with fewer characters.
Drizzt himself was pushed back to being a secondary plot for about 2/3 of the book before completely disappearing. I did enjoy the philosophical discussions between Drizzt & Kimmuriel.
I know that Salvatore has decided to address & alter the monstrous ideations of what it is to be Drow. Which I'm just not sure if I have a true opinion on this subject, as I know that characters need to grow & change or become stagnant, but its this change of a race being altered due to politics?
I will continue to keep reading Drizzt as long as Bob keep writing them. I do long for a simpler story with fewer characters.
July 25, 2022
This book is told from two prospective. You've got Drizzt (duh) as he spends time with his daughter and goes through an existential crisis. The second prospective follows Catti-brie, Artemis Entreri, Zaaknafein, and Jarlaxle on an adventure in the north.
This book suffers from a problem sometimes found when you read more than one prospective. I liked one of the prospectives and hated the other. Drizzt's chapters were boring. I don't care about his struggles with religion and his purpose in life. I appreciate what Salvatore is trying to do with those chapters but I want action.
The adventure story is really cool. After years of appropriate backlash for making the dark skinned drow naturally evil, Salvatore addresses that drow's evilness has nothing at all to do with the color of their skin but from living underground so long. We're introduced to surface dwelling drow who are wonderfully kind. I'm looking forward to seeing where this story goes.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley. I was not required to leave this review.
This book suffers from a problem sometimes found when you read more than one prospective. I liked one of the prospectives and hated the other. Drizzt's chapters were boring. I don't care about his struggles with religion and his purpose in life. I appreciate what Salvatore is trying to do with those chapters but I want action.
The adventure story is really cool. After years of appropriate backlash for making the dark skinned drow naturally evil, Salvatore addresses that drow's evilness has nothing at all to do with the color of their skin but from living underground so long. We're introduced to surface dwelling drow who are wonderfully kind. I'm looking forward to seeing where this story goes.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley. I was not required to leave this review.
August 25, 2021
The story takes a bit to really get started, since there's a lot of setup until the small expedition comprised of Jarlaxle, Zaknafein, Entreri and Catti-Brie makes its way to the really far north in search of a former wielder of the sword Cutter but also an additional secret objective Jarlaxle didn't mention, but once you get there it becomes really interesting.
The parts with Drizzt and his constant navel-gazing as he makes his way to Grandmaster Kane's monastery with his two-year-old daughter were boring as fuck, so I'm glad that they were comparatively brief and the novel, much like most of the previous trilogy, didn't focus much on him. The only interesting bits were his discussions with Kimmuriel Oblodra and Dab'nay Tr'arach about faith and the afterlife.
Much to my surprise, my wish from the previous trilogy got granted in that early in the novel we get a scene where Zaknafein and Dab'nay interact but, more to my surprise, they act like they see each other as merely acquaintances and barely acknowledge each other, which was a disappointment since I was hoping they'd pick up their relationship from back in Menzoberranzan now that they're free to do whatever they want.
I did really enjoy how the upcoming Drow civil war for the soul of Menzoberranzan that resulted from the events of the previous trilogy ties directly with the main plot of Jarlaxle's quest to track down a rumored city of non-Lolthian Drow in the arctic and how the author proceeds to describe this astoundingly different Drow society that evolved on its own beyond Lolth's grasp.
I'll definitely read the future sequels in this series and they'll hopefully retain their focus on the more interesting characters and not on boring-ass Gary Stu old man Drizzt.
The parts with Drizzt and his constant navel-gazing as he makes his way to Grandmaster Kane's monastery with his two-year-old daughter were boring as fuck, so I'm glad that they were comparatively brief and the novel, much like most of the previous trilogy, didn't focus much on him. The only interesting bits were his discussions with Kimmuriel Oblodra and Dab'nay Tr'arach about faith and the afterlife.
Much to my surprise, my wish from the previous trilogy got granted in that early in the novel we get a scene where Zaknafein and Dab'nay interact but, more to my surprise, they act like they see each other as merely acquaintances and barely acknowledge each other, which was a disappointment since I was hoping they'd pick up their relationship from back in Menzoberranzan now that they're free to do whatever they want.
I did really enjoy how the upcoming Drow civil war for the soul of Menzoberranzan that resulted from the events of the previous trilogy ties directly with the main plot of Jarlaxle's quest to track down a rumored city of non-Lolthian Drow in the arctic and how the author proceeds to describe this astoundingly different Drow society that evolved on its own beyond Lolth's grasp.
I'll definitely read the future sequels in this series and they'll hopefully retain their focus on the more interesting characters and not on boring-ass Gary Stu old man Drizzt.
August 5, 2021
Getting back to the Drizzt stories every year is like visiting an old friend and reminiscing. The Companions have been through so much that it gets rather difficult for the story to be fresh, it is however as enjoyable as ever, and more so than some of the other recent books.
We have yet again a book with very very little of Drizzt himself. He's off doing his own thing being a dad and trying to cope with transcendence or something like that. Instead, we have a new clique of companions, going off on ...VACATION, ahem, ADVENTURES. Catti-brie, Jarlaxle, Entreri and Zak. All the makings of a full utility RPG party.
Less action than we were used to, with battle scenes few and far between. However, no less fun for this fact as it seems like the world of the drow is now being expanded instead of spinning within the same circle. I quite enjoyed that.
What I also immensely enjoyed is how the racial judgement topic is weaved within the story and is one way of getting a message of benevolence across to younger readers. I hope my own kids will be reading this series.
Predictably ending with a major cliffhanger to build off upon in the next novel in the new trilogy.
We have yet again a book with very very little of Drizzt himself. He's off doing his own thing being a dad and trying to cope with transcendence or something like that. Instead, we have a new clique of companions, going off on ...VACATION, ahem, ADVENTURES. Catti-brie, Jarlaxle, Entreri and Zak. All the makings of a full utility RPG party.
Less action than we were used to, with battle scenes few and far between. However, no less fun for this fact as it seems like the world of the drow is now being expanded instead of spinning within the same circle. I quite enjoyed that.
What I also immensely enjoyed is how the racial judgement topic is weaved within the story and is one way of getting a message of benevolence across to younger readers. I hope my own kids will be reading this series.
Predictably ending with a major cliffhanger to build off upon in the next novel in the new trilogy.
June 25, 2021
I thought with last series the adventures of Drizzt were over but then saw that he this series coming out. Couldn't have been happier with another series. This is another one where Drizzt is really still trying to figure out his own purpose and his very nature. This is not favorite thing with all the introspection but the story so far focuses more on the other characters. We have the action which is what I really like and the various forms of magic and tools. So many creatures and demons and stuff as usual as well. This was a fun read overall just like most of the previous books. They are an easy read for me and even with some of the heavier direction he tries to do sometimes that is still not so complicated that it makes wonder how smart or stupid you are trying to understand the ideas of the story. There are some twists and turns that I like and he set up things for the next book at the end. Hope to see more Drizzt in that one though. The wild adventures continue.
June 28, 2022
I have read all his books about Drizzt but for this series. This was by far the worst one and frankly I think I am done with his works. It is boring, and the plot weak and the book overall wasn’t even a decent read. I think it is time he moved on to new characters as the Drizzt series is beyond needing to end.
January 4, 2023
Writing: 4/5
World building: 5/5
Story: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
World building: 5/5
Story: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
August 6, 2021
Wow
I didn’t have any idea what to expect from this continuation of the story of the companion’s of the hall but this was certainly a direction I never anticipated. The story is compelling and interesting. I am only disappointed that I will have to wait a year to read what happens next.
I didn’t have any idea what to expect from this continuation of the story of the companion’s of the hall but this was certainly a direction I never anticipated. The story is compelling and interesting. I am only disappointed that I will have to wait a year to read what happens next.
November 16, 2021
I enjoyed this. I liked how well the new city was fleshed out so that you will feel something for it when something goes wrong. The twist ending was well done as well.
September 29, 2021
You would think that after 36 books Salvatore would be rolling out tired plotlines and rehashed character notes but he somehow manages to continually reinvent and evolve these characters and world in such an authentic and believable way it is astounding. Book 37 (which is ridiculous when I say it like that) was one of the very best in the series and has set the tone for an entirely new phase of these stories that have been such a wonderful part of my life.
September 2, 2021
A great new entry with all new characters and possibilities. Not a “Drizzt” book AT ALL though. This is a throwback to when some of the books were about the greater world and characters and not just his story.
Upsides: New location, enemies, and characters. New “ethos” even… not as much philosophical rambling as prior books. New development of a different band of adventurers formed from old well known characters. The story moves quickly and doesn’t bounce around in weird ways like prior books.
Downside: it’s not a complete book with a “cliffhanger” ending. Almost no development of the new Drizzt and Cattibrie family except Drizzt is still weirdly a pacifist and angsty. Battle scenes are a little stilted and not as well drawn out as in the past.
Overall, a very good book and worth the read. I’m glad the series is still drawing breath.
Upsides: New location, enemies, and characters. New “ethos” even… not as much philosophical rambling as prior books. New development of a different band of adventurers formed from old well known characters. The story moves quickly and doesn’t bounce around in weird ways like prior books.
Downside: it’s not a complete book with a “cliffhanger” ending. Almost no development of the new Drizzt and Cattibrie family except Drizzt is still weirdly a pacifist and angsty. Battle scenes are a little stilted and not as well drawn out as in the past.
Overall, a very good book and worth the read. I’m glad the series is still drawing breath.
August 27, 2021
In many ways this felt like a return to form--agreed that Drizzt has returned to form what, ten times before in this never ending series, and that Drizzt is not in that much of this installment...
A Fun look even further north--lots of great call backs to reasons to love the realms, amazing fight scenes (which really is Salvatore's strength), lots of wonderful character interaction, amazing environments, really a good continuing look into the FR.
A passing awareness of the last few Drizzt series is likely required to enjoy this one--many of the characters have changed a LOT since their original introduction.
Much has been made of the PC corrections contained in this book, but honestly they are not that earth shattering or even that interesting--by and large this books reads as the first three part series that is likely to be fantastic.
Recommended to readers of Drizzt and anyone interesting in the Forgotten Realms.
A Fun look even further north--lots of great call backs to reasons to love the realms, amazing fight scenes (which really is Salvatore's strength), lots of wonderful character interaction, amazing environments, really a good continuing look into the FR.
A passing awareness of the last few Drizzt series is likely required to enjoy this one--many of the characters have changed a LOT since their original introduction.
Much has been made of the PC corrections contained in this book, but honestly they are not that earth shattering or even that interesting--by and large this books reads as the first three part series that is likely to be fantastic.
Recommended to readers of Drizzt and anyone interesting in the Forgotten Realms.
August 27, 2021
Rating of 4.5.
The icon of the fantasy world, R. A. Salvatore, returns with a new adventure set in the world of his acclaimed Drizzt Do’Urden novels, with Starlight Enclave, the first book in The Way of the Drow trilogy.
Two years after the miraculous end to the Drow siege of Gauntlgrym, peace reigns throughout the Forgotten Realms. However, while some revel in the hard-won tranquillity, others worry about the future. Despite having cemented his rule over the pirate city of Luskan, the Drow rogue Jarlaxle is deeply troubled by the difficulties plaguing his people. Despite the apparent magical miracle that showed her as a false gold, the demonic Spider Queen Loth is still worshiped in the dark Drow city of Menzoberranzan, and civil war appears likely as the powerful Drow houses battle for the city’s soul.
Determined that Loth be thrown down once and for all, Jarlaxle looks for every advantage and weapon he can get his hands on. One of his more ambitious plans leads him to arm his closest friend, the recently resurrected Zaknafein Do’Urden, with two mighty swords of power, including the notorious blade Khazid’hea, better known as Cutter. With a sly and dark intelligence of its own, Khazid’hea has corrupted many wielders over the years, and its last master, the half-Drow Doum’wielle, may prove to be the missing piece in Jarlaxle’s latest master plan. Unfortunately, Doum’wielle was lost years before, thrown through a magical portal to the far north, and to find her Jarlaxle will need to embark on another dangerous quest.
Gathering three mighty companions in Zaknafein, the human priestess Cattie-brie and the former assassin Artemis Entreri, Jarlaxle leads them to the extreme far north, a place few have travelled. However, they are unprepared for just how dangerous this northern land can be, with new foes and mysterious phenomenon they have no idea about. But there are far great surprises waiting in store for them, ones that could change the very fabric of the world and alter the course of the upcoming Drow civil war.
Starlight Enclave is another compelling and fun fantasy novel from Salvatore who continues to expand and polish his iconic characters and settings with another great adventure narrative. This latest book contains a fantastic story that not only takes the series back to its bold adventurous roots, but which also sets up a great new trilogy that will no doubt be some of my favourite books of the next couple of years.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2021/08/27/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
The icon of the fantasy world, R. A. Salvatore, returns with a new adventure set in the world of his acclaimed Drizzt Do’Urden novels, with Starlight Enclave, the first book in The Way of the Drow trilogy.
Two years after the miraculous end to the Drow siege of Gauntlgrym, peace reigns throughout the Forgotten Realms. However, while some revel in the hard-won tranquillity, others worry about the future. Despite having cemented his rule over the pirate city of Luskan, the Drow rogue Jarlaxle is deeply troubled by the difficulties plaguing his people. Despite the apparent magical miracle that showed her as a false gold, the demonic Spider Queen Loth is still worshiped in the dark Drow city of Menzoberranzan, and civil war appears likely as the powerful Drow houses battle for the city’s soul.
Determined that Loth be thrown down once and for all, Jarlaxle looks for every advantage and weapon he can get his hands on. One of his more ambitious plans leads him to arm his closest friend, the recently resurrected Zaknafein Do’Urden, with two mighty swords of power, including the notorious blade Khazid’hea, better known as Cutter. With a sly and dark intelligence of its own, Khazid’hea has corrupted many wielders over the years, and its last master, the half-Drow Doum’wielle, may prove to be the missing piece in Jarlaxle’s latest master plan. Unfortunately, Doum’wielle was lost years before, thrown through a magical portal to the far north, and to find her Jarlaxle will need to embark on another dangerous quest.
Gathering three mighty companions in Zaknafein, the human priestess Cattie-brie and the former assassin Artemis Entreri, Jarlaxle leads them to the extreme far north, a place few have travelled. However, they are unprepared for just how dangerous this northern land can be, with new foes and mysterious phenomenon they have no idea about. But there are far great surprises waiting in store for them, ones that could change the very fabric of the world and alter the course of the upcoming Drow civil war.
Starlight Enclave is another compelling and fun fantasy novel from Salvatore who continues to expand and polish his iconic characters and settings with another great adventure narrative. This latest book contains a fantastic story that not only takes the series back to its bold adventurous roots, but which also sets up a great new trilogy that will no doubt be some of my favourite books of the next couple of years.
To see the full review, click on the link below:
https://unseenlibrary.com/2021/08/27/...
For other exciting reviews and content, check out my blog at:
https://unseenlibrary.com/
September 2, 2022
I honestly don't know how Salvatore does it. Book after book, he churns out interesting stories and ways to keep me coming back.
Starlight Enclave picks up almost immediately after Relentless (what's a time skip of 2 years to a drow?) and immediately throws us into the thick of it regarding the unrest and strife that has grown from within the Drow of Menzoberranzan. Lolthian faith has been shaken in some, while others scream heresy and demand justice in the eyes of the Spider Queen.
This both is and is not the main focus of the book, as our story does not take our heroes to the Underdark, but yet the troubles in the City of Spiders is in the forefront of their minds.
Drizzt kind of takes on the role of a side character in this book (akin to the book mainly about Wulfgar) as most of the focus shifts to Jarlaxle and his quest to rescue Doum'wielle.
The parts that do focus on Drizzt, however, reveal a growing number of Drow who have felt as he has, and in essence walk the same path he does - following in his footsteps as someone who escaped the clutches of the Spider Queen, essentially.
Mostly though, this story focuses on Jarlaxle and his traveling companions - Zak, Cattie-brie, and Entreri (who I am still getting used to not being an enemy) - trekking through the frozen North - further North than Icewind Dale - in search of a Drow who may help turn the tide in Menzoberranzan and prevent thousands of "heretics" from dying for renouncing Lolth.
The introduction of a new group of Drow - the Aevendrow - was smoothly done and a brilliant change made to the world. To begin the process of showing that not all races of beings are evil - with exceptions such as Drizzt - is a nice breath of fresh air that gives more meaning to the world and removes the notion that an entire race is evil just because they are.
These revelations are happening slowly - the people of Luskan taking to Bregan D'aerthe, Cattie-brie meeting kind, goodly orc-kind, Drizzt reaching new levels of understanding with Kimmuriel and others of Bregan D'aerthe, Bruenor beginning to forge weapons and armor for the Menzoberranzanean Drow determined to decry and turn away from Lolth - are all slow changes that are not enough to truly turn the page on this new chapter of Toril, but they are a start.
Starlight Enclave has begun to turn the page, and the rest of this trilogy may do just that. I am excited to see where this story will take us, and the growth we will see from our heroes as they continue the journey and try to help others break free from Lolth's clutches.
Starlight Enclave picks up almost immediately after Relentless (what's a time skip of 2 years to a drow?) and immediately throws us into the thick of it regarding the unrest and strife that has grown from within the Drow of Menzoberranzan. Lolthian faith has been shaken in some, while others scream heresy and demand justice in the eyes of the Spider Queen.
This both is and is not the main focus of the book, as our story does not take our heroes to the Underdark, but yet the troubles in the City of Spiders is in the forefront of their minds.
Drizzt kind of takes on the role of a side character in this book (akin to the book mainly about Wulfgar) as most of the focus shifts to Jarlaxle and his quest to rescue Doum'wielle.
The parts that do focus on Drizzt, however, reveal a growing number of Drow who have felt as he has, and in essence walk the same path he does - following in his footsteps as someone who escaped the clutches of the Spider Queen, essentially.
Mostly though, this story focuses on Jarlaxle and his traveling companions - Zak, Cattie-brie, and Entreri (who I am still getting used to not being an enemy) - trekking through the frozen North - further North than Icewind Dale - in search of a Drow who may help turn the tide in Menzoberranzan and prevent thousands of "heretics" from dying for renouncing Lolth.
The introduction of a new group of Drow - the Aevendrow - was smoothly done and a brilliant change made to the world. To begin the process of showing that not all races of beings are evil - with exceptions such as Drizzt - is a nice breath of fresh air that gives more meaning to the world and removes the notion that an entire race is evil just because they are.
These revelations are happening slowly - the people of Luskan taking to Bregan D'aerthe, Cattie-brie meeting kind, goodly orc-kind, Drizzt reaching new levels of understanding with Kimmuriel and others of Bregan D'aerthe, Bruenor beginning to forge weapons and armor for the Menzoberranzanean Drow determined to decry and turn away from Lolth - are all slow changes that are not enough to truly turn the page on this new chapter of Toril, but they are a start.
Starlight Enclave has begun to turn the page, and the rest of this trilogy may do just that. I am excited to see where this story will take us, and the growth we will see from our heroes as they continue the journey and try to help others break free from Lolth's clutches.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2021
When you have been a life long fan of Salvatore's writing (particularly the Drizzt books) as I have, the release of a new novel is a time of celebration. Old friends return to the forefront of your mind, and you know that new adventures will be both entertaining and unpredictable. Just when you think you can't be surprised... well, let me just say that this book has one of the biggest cliffhangers ever! (For fans, this one is one par with the end of The Last Threshold.)
Starlight Enclave, the first in a new trilogy called "The Way of the Drow", divides into two main stories: 1) Catti-Brie, Jarlaxle, Zaknafein, and Entreri use the sentient blade of Khazid'hea to search for Doum'wielle Armgo, hoping to secure her trust to help in the coming war in Menzoberranzan. Having doubts about their goddess, Lolth, the society is starting to come apart at the seams. Perhaps the answer they really seek is in the barren snow lands of the top of the world, in a community of Aevendrow...
2) Drizzt has a daughter now. Briennelle Zaharina, named for both of her grandfathers, Bruenor and Zaknafein, is such a curious little one. Brie-Zara, or Brie, undertakes a journey with her father to the Monastery of the Yellow Rose to meet Grandmaster Kane. Drizzt hopes that she might begin to train, even at her young age.
Like all good trilogies, neither story is finished, but Salvatore has begun something here that will definitely change not only Forgotten Realms, but perhaps the very definition of what it means to be Drow. I will definitely be along for the ride, as I have been for 30 years already.
Strong recommend. A must read for fans.
Starlight Enclave, the first in a new trilogy called "The Way of the Drow", divides into two main stories: 1) Catti-Brie, Jarlaxle, Zaknafein, and Entreri use the sentient blade of Khazid'hea to search for Doum'wielle Armgo, hoping to secure her trust to help in the coming war in Menzoberranzan. Having doubts about their goddess, Lolth, the society is starting to come apart at the seams. Perhaps the answer they really seek is in the barren snow lands of the top of the world, in a community of Aevendrow...
2) Drizzt has a daughter now. Briennelle Zaharina, named for both of her grandfathers, Bruenor and Zaknafein, is such a curious little one. Brie-Zara, or Brie, undertakes a journey with her father to the Monastery of the Yellow Rose to meet Grandmaster Kane. Drizzt hopes that she might begin to train, even at her young age.
Like all good trilogies, neither story is finished, but Salvatore has begun something here that will definitely change not only Forgotten Realms, but perhaps the very definition of what it means to be Drow. I will definitely be along for the ride, as I have been for 30 years already.
Strong recommend. A must read for fans.
June 24, 2022
37 books in 13 months and 9 days. What a journey.
I love this series, I loved this book. The aevendrow are amazing, Callidae is amazing. I can’t wait for Glacier’s Edge to come out. It’s going to be a painful wait even if it’s only a month away…
I love this series, I loved this book. The aevendrow are amazing, Callidae is amazing. I can’t wait for Glacier’s Edge to come out. It’s going to be a painful wait even if it’s only a month away…
June 28, 2023
Honestly couldn’t get more than 10% through this book before I gave up. The book starts in the middle of conflict with a lot of info dumping and without character building, world building, scene description or really anything fun to read at all. Very serious, reminded me a bit of Wizard of EarthSea but worse.
May 27, 2021
If you love Salvatore and his Drizzt novels this one does not disappoint. It throws several curveballs and keeps you intrigued from start to finish. The new Aevendrow are possibly my new favorite Drow. Read it and you will see why.
August 22, 2021
I never have anything bad to say about RA Salvatore's Drizzt Series. There is so much growth in the characters and so much wisdom in the monologues. This book does not disappoint.
September 13, 2021
Loved it! The story of the Drow just keeps getting better.And new and more dangerous monsters etc .Yes I recommend it along with everything Salvatore writes.
August 10, 2021
Tolkien was my real gateway into fantasy. But like a lot of kids in the 80s and 90s, a huge part of my fantasy reading was devoted to D&D tie-in novels. Outside of the Dragonlance Chronicles, R.A. Salvatore was the king of the tie-in novel, and he created what has to be THE marquee D&D tie-in character, Drizzt Do’Urden. Drizzt spawned a small publishing empire of his own. I was never a Drizzt fanboy, but I read a bunch of the earlier Drizzt books and even non-D&D fantasy by Salvatore like The Sword of Bedwyr. The Drizzt stories somehow soldiered on without my $8, and The Legend of Drizzt superseries is at 37 books, I think, with this latest entry. So parachuting in with book #37 is a bit of a leap but not completely crazy, and I have fond memories of the early books (especially The Crystal Shard), so when offered an ARC of Starlight Enclave I gladly said yes.
Unsurprisingly, that context matters a lot. If you have already read all 36 previous Drizzt books, of course you are going to read this one. If you haven’t read any Drizzt books, of course you wouldn’t start here. If you walk in with some context but not full knowledge, like me, you can enjoy this book but there are downsides too. Drizzt sells books, so he gets his picture (maybe) and his name on the cover, but this isn’t really a Drizzt book. The tension between feature Drizzt to sell books and Salvatore really wanting to tell another story creates some issues. The pacing early gets bogged down by Drizzt presence despite his plot irrelevance. It gets better as the book progresses. Drizzt steadily gets fewer and fewer pages, with his presence eventually being distilled down to philosophical ruminations. Which are his real role here, and they do play an important role setting up I assume will be a grand theme of the new trilogy.
Another major issue is how Salvatore presents the other characters. His approach reminds me a lot of what Kevin Anderson did in The Dark Between the Stars, another series starter that really continues a prior series. Neither tries to introduce characters in the way a first book would, instead opting to just sort of tell us what they have been up to. It probably works fine for readers of the earlier work, but it doesn’t hook a reader walking in already invested in the characters (or even one whose investment has just waned from long neglect).
The plot involves both a book-level quest and the setup for what I assume is a series-level conflict. The latter gets limited development but has immense potential. A cadre of drow are convinced that the drow of Menzoberranzan are not inherently evil but rather live in an evil society due to the baleful influence of the chaotic evil spider goddess Lloth. And they are willing to start a civil war to prove it. (Whether a race in inherently evil is an important philosophical and practical debate among the characters themselves and could prove a very rich theme if done well.)
The book-level quest is to what must be the planet’s north pole to rescue a half-moon elf/half-drow magically flung there. You can tell this isn’t Drizzt’s book because he isn’t in the quest party. It instead consists of Catti-Brie (now married to Drizzt and a cleric), the roguish drow Jarlaxle, Drizzt’s dad Zaknafein, and the assassin Artemis Entreri (now a good guy, apparently). I don’t want to spoil things, but the quest turns into a very good Lost World story.
My views on Salvatore’s storytelling haven’t really changed: I like but don’t love it. The main thing he has working against him these days is greater competition. I have simply been exposed to far more really, really good fantasy than I had twenty-five years ago. Setting aside the issues created by my parachuting in to the story, my real issue with this book is what I expect is a baleful influence from the D&D tie. Too much time gets bogged down in detailed descriptions of monsters, locations, and magical items. So, so many magical items. (The more traditional fantasy worldbuilding when they reach the Lost World, on the other hand, I very much welcomed.)
Okay, that wasn’t my final gripe. Salvatore, for some reason, did not see fit to give us a complete book. Instead we get most of a book that ends not with climax and denouement but instead half-climax and cliffhanger. No.
Gripes aside, I enjoyed it. And if it hasn’t inspired me to read 2-3 dozen Drizzt books, or maybe even to finish the series, it has inspired me to reread The Crystal Shard.
Unsurprisingly, that context matters a lot. If you have already read all 36 previous Drizzt books, of course you are going to read this one. If you haven’t read any Drizzt books, of course you wouldn’t start here. If you walk in with some context but not full knowledge, like me, you can enjoy this book but there are downsides too. Drizzt sells books, so he gets his picture (maybe) and his name on the cover, but this isn’t really a Drizzt book. The tension between feature Drizzt to sell books and Salvatore really wanting to tell another story creates some issues. The pacing early gets bogged down by Drizzt presence despite his plot irrelevance. It gets better as the book progresses. Drizzt steadily gets fewer and fewer pages, with his presence eventually being distilled down to philosophical ruminations. Which are his real role here, and they do play an important role setting up I assume will be a grand theme of the new trilogy.
Another major issue is how Salvatore presents the other characters. His approach reminds me a lot of what Kevin Anderson did in The Dark Between the Stars, another series starter that really continues a prior series. Neither tries to introduce characters in the way a first book would, instead opting to just sort of tell us what they have been up to. It probably works fine for readers of the earlier work, but it doesn’t hook a reader walking in already invested in the characters (or even one whose investment has just waned from long neglect).
The plot involves both a book-level quest and the setup for what I assume is a series-level conflict. The latter gets limited development but has immense potential. A cadre of drow are convinced that the drow of Menzoberranzan are not inherently evil but rather live in an evil society due to the baleful influence of the chaotic evil spider goddess Lloth. And they are willing to start a civil war to prove it. (Whether a race in inherently evil is an important philosophical and practical debate among the characters themselves and could prove a very rich theme if done well.)
The book-level quest is to what must be the planet’s north pole to rescue a half-moon elf/half-drow magically flung there. You can tell this isn’t Drizzt’s book because he isn’t in the quest party. It instead consists of Catti-Brie (now married to Drizzt and a cleric), the roguish drow Jarlaxle, Drizzt’s dad Zaknafein, and the assassin Artemis Entreri (now a good guy, apparently). I don’t want to spoil things, but the quest turns into a very good Lost World story.
My views on Salvatore’s storytelling haven’t really changed: I like but don’t love it. The main thing he has working against him these days is greater competition. I have simply been exposed to far more really, really good fantasy than I had twenty-five years ago. Setting aside the issues created by my parachuting in to the story, my real issue with this book is what I expect is a baleful influence from the D&D tie. Too much time gets bogged down in detailed descriptions of monsters, locations, and magical items. So, so many magical items. (The more traditional fantasy worldbuilding when they reach the Lost World, on the other hand, I very much welcomed.)
Okay, that wasn’t my final gripe. Salvatore, for some reason, did not see fit to give us a complete book. Instead we get most of a book that ends not with climax and denouement but instead half-climax and cliffhanger. No.
Gripes aside, I enjoyed it. And if it hasn’t inspired me to read 2-3 dozen Drizzt books, or maybe even to finish the series, it has inspired me to reread The Crystal Shard.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 170 reviews