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Transitions #3
The Ghost King
Don't miss the gripping conclusion to Salvatore's New York Times best-selling Transitions trilogy!
When the Spellplague ravages Faerûn, Drizzt and his companions are caught in the chaos. Seeking out the help of the priest Cadderly–the hero of the recently reissued series The Cleric Quintet–Drizzt finds himself facing his most powerful and elusive foe, the twisted Crenshinibon, the demonic crystal shard he believed had been destroyed years ago.
When the Spellplague ravages Faerûn, Drizzt and his companions are caught in the chaos. Seeking out the help of the priest Cadderly–the hero of the recently reissued series The Cleric Quintet–Drizzt finds himself facing his most powerful and elusive foe, the twisted Crenshinibon, the demonic crystal shard he believed had been destroyed years ago.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
287 people are currently reading
6406 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Salvatore
607 books11.3k followersAs one of the fantasy genre’s most successful authors, R.A. Salvatore enjoys an ever-expanding and tremendously loyal following. His books regularly appear on The New York Times best-seller lists and have sold more than 10,000,000 copies. Salvatore’s original hardcover, The Two Swords, Book III of The Hunter’s Blade Trilogy (October 2004) debuted at # 1 on The Wall Street Journal best-seller list and at # 4 on The New York Times best-seller list. His books have been translated into numerous foreign languages including German, Italian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Turkish, Croatian, Bulgarian, Yiddish, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, and French.
Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer’s letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.
His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.
The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer’s letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.
Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.
Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.
When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 288 reviews
March 27, 2023
THE GHOST KING is the third of the Transitions novels and I can't say I've enjoyed them as much as the previous Drizzt novels. Part of this is just how much I hated the 4th Edition treatment of the Forgotten Realms with the Spellplague, death of Mystra, and so much other misery incorporated into my much-loved setting. You can tell that RA Salvatore isn't happy about it either as an aura of misery hangs over everything. Cattie-Brie and Regis are both dying of a horrific magical disease while Cadderly's cathedral is under siege by a dracolich. The dracolich is a recycled Crystal Shard and I'm kind of annoyed we didn't just get a new villain.
It was okay but just too depressing.
It was okay but just too depressing.
December 31, 2015
I'm a little conflicted about this book.
It's about 8 years after the fall of the Hosttower in Luskan. Cattie-Brie has been struck dumb by some kind of magical force sweeping the world. The Weave that holds magic together is failing. Things are changing. Seems like this will be a big novel for character/world changes.
So let's look at Forgotten Realms timelines. This book takes place in 1385 DR, which is several years after the Pirate King (1377 DR). We have the spell plague going on, which began with the book Plague of Spells in 1385 DR (published in 2008). Spell Plague lasts until 1396 DR. 1409 DR is the year Gauntlgrym begins. That book ends in 1462 DR, the same year the Companions series begins.
So a lot of that's in the future, but we're building toward it.
In this novel we have a good battle at the Spirit Soaring with Cadderly and Danica. They were fighting some strange creatures that have huge jaw-heads with razor teeth. Good way for a main character to die, but none did.
I have a hard time following the Caradoon refugee storyline. Shortly after that we have the loss of two major characters from the quintet...I think. This actually turns into a nice trick.
There's a good dracolich battle, interesting play between the mental entities, and some false deaths. Lots of action in this book.
Good final fight scenes. Awesome stuff when Drizzt gets mad and takes on a 20-foot Night Walker giant thing. Boom, takes it out.
Finally, the ending. It's kind of a let-down. Like I mentioned earlier, we got 25 years before the next book, and then about 80 more in the same volume. It seems like some characters are stuck/dead and this is bothersome as a reader.
I guess I'll have to get the next book, but this ending feels forced and I'm not too happy with it.
It's about 8 years after the fall of the Hosttower in Luskan. Cattie-Brie has been struck dumb by some kind of magical force sweeping the world. The Weave that holds magic together is failing. Things are changing. Seems like this will be a big novel for character/world changes.
So let's look at Forgotten Realms timelines. This book takes place in 1385 DR, which is several years after the Pirate King (1377 DR). We have the spell plague going on, which began with the book Plague of Spells in 1385 DR (published in 2008). Spell Plague lasts until 1396 DR. 1409 DR is the year Gauntlgrym begins. That book ends in 1462 DR, the same year the Companions series begins.
So a lot of that's in the future, but we're building toward it.
In this novel we have a good battle at the Spirit Soaring with Cadderly and Danica. They were fighting some strange creatures that have huge jaw-heads with razor teeth. Good way for a main character to die, but none did.
I have a hard time following the Caradoon refugee storyline. Shortly after that we have the loss of two major characters from the quintet...I think. This actually turns into a nice trick.
There's a good dracolich battle, interesting play between the mental entities, and some false deaths. Lots of action in this book.
Good final fight scenes. Awesome stuff when Drizzt gets mad and takes on a 20-foot Night Walker giant thing. Boom, takes it out.
Finally, the ending. It's kind of a let-down. Like I mentioned earlier, we got 25 years before the next book, and then about 80 more in the same volume. It seems like some characters are stuck/dead and this is bothersome as a reader.
I guess I'll have to get the next book, but this ending feels forced and I'm not too happy with it.
March 16, 2010
*SPOILERS CONTAINED HEREIN*
I enjoy R.A. Salvatore, truly I do. I've read nearly every story he's written involving the Forgotten Realms and relished each adventure, each challenge, each moment of his character's lives as they played out on the pages before me.
That being said: this wasn't his best work. It felt a bit too 'forced' to me, and I didn't care for the death scenes of Cattie-brie and Regis, nor really for the end of Cadderly, to be honest.
While I know that not every hero dies gloriously-or well-for these characters, their end felt like a disappointment. I've not always seen eye-to-eye with Mr. Salvatore regarding the dispensation of his characters (after all, I always thought Cattie-brie should have stayed with Wulfgar) but this is the first time when I've ever put down one of his books and thought the ending-the last two pages of the book-really left much to be desired.
Beyond that, as I stated earlier, the story felt forced. There was too much going on at once, too many threads Salvatore was trying to tie into and provide closure for in this last Transitions.
Mr. Salvatore, I salute your endeavor, but the plot just didn't quite gel for me. Others may disagree, and are welcome to, but as for me, I could have done without knowing exactly where Regis and Cattie-brie ended up, and especially without that last, depressive line.
I mourn the ending of an era with the passing of such iconic characters, and look forward with hope to your next story.
I enjoy R.A. Salvatore, truly I do. I've read nearly every story he's written involving the Forgotten Realms and relished each adventure, each challenge, each moment of his character's lives as they played out on the pages before me.
That being said: this wasn't his best work. It felt a bit too 'forced' to me, and I didn't care for the death scenes of Cattie-brie and Regis, nor really for the end of Cadderly, to be honest.
While I know that not every hero dies gloriously-or well-for these characters, their end felt like a disappointment. I've not always seen eye-to-eye with Mr. Salvatore regarding the dispensation of his characters (after all, I always thought Cattie-brie should have stayed with Wulfgar) but this is the first time when I've ever put down one of his books and thought the ending-the last two pages of the book-really left much to be desired.
Beyond that, as I stated earlier, the story felt forced. There was too much going on at once, too many threads Salvatore was trying to tie into and provide closure for in this last Transitions.
Mr. Salvatore, I salute your endeavor, but the plot just didn't quite gel for me. Others may disagree, and are welcome to, but as for me, I could have done without knowing exactly where Regis and Cattie-brie ended up, and especially without that last, depressive line.
I mourn the ending of an era with the passing of such iconic characters, and look forward with hope to your next story.
November 15, 2012
At this point in the series it probably boils down to personal preference, but this at least seemed better than The Pirate King to me. This is a very dark part of the Drizzt legend. The cast of characters is getting whittled down, which is either good or bad depending on your point of view. In the run up to the Neverwinter saga, however, this does make sense to me. If you’re very emotionally invested in the Drizzt saga... well, read it and see.
It’s a bit of a weird read, as Salvatore incorporates the changing D&D rules and the unravelling of the weave (the Spellplague) into his story. Expect to be confused at times.
Too much of the novel is taken up by characters from the Cleric Quintet. So much so that you might find yourself wondering whether this novel isn’t a continuation of that particular series. In fact, Drizzt doesn’t actually feature much in this book at all. The sequences with Cadderly’s children were tiresome, as I couldn’t find it in myself to give two hoots about any of them. Too much of Cadderly’s brats and too little of Drizzt, considering that this is, after all, a Drizzt novel, is a sorry trade-off. And finally, like another reviewer also noted, the endless fighting sequences with assorted skeletons, zombies and “dead fish” are a bit tedious.
In a nutshell then: it’s cool, ‘cos it’s Drizzt, but it won’t change the way you look at the world (or fantasy fiction for that matter). I’m looking forward to the Neverwinter novels now. Transitions was always going to be exactly that, a transition between two (decidedly different) eras. Let’s hope the new Drizzt is all that.
It’s a bit of a weird read, as Salvatore incorporates the changing D&D rules and the unravelling of the weave (the Spellplague) into his story. Expect to be confused at times.
Too much of the novel is taken up by characters from the Cleric Quintet. So much so that you might find yourself wondering whether this novel isn’t a continuation of that particular series. In fact, Drizzt doesn’t actually feature much in this book at all. The sequences with Cadderly’s children were tiresome, as I couldn’t find it in myself to give two hoots about any of them. Too much of Cadderly’s brats and too little of Drizzt, considering that this is, after all, a Drizzt novel, is a sorry trade-off. And finally, like another reviewer also noted, the endless fighting sequences with assorted skeletons, zombies and “dead fish” are a bit tedious.
In a nutshell then: it’s cool, ‘cos it’s Drizzt, but it won’t change the way you look at the world (or fantasy fiction for that matter). I’m looking forward to the Neverwinter novels now. Transitions was always going to be exactly that, a transition between two (decidedly different) eras. Let’s hope the new Drizzt is all that.
December 26, 2024
3.5/5 stars - Another good Drizzt book but I definitely liked Pirate King and Orc King more. I think the plot and structure flowed better in those, whereas Ghost King felt a bit chaotic and like it didn't quite get off the ground in the way it could have. There were still many awesome scenes though, like paladin Drizzt ripping through crawlers at the end. The epilogue was also sad but done well imo. The loose ends make me wonder what's in store in Gauntlgrym and interested to see where things go with Jarlaxle.
March 12, 2015
I REALLY enjoyed some aspects of this book, yet others ultimately prompted me to deduct a star WITH ABANDON.
Pikel, whom I find annoying, got nearly as much page time as Jarlaxle, which just doesn't seem right now matter what plane of existence you dwell upon.
Remember Wulfgar? I do and I love him. Salvatore, not so much. His name gets mentioned once or twice in passing and that's it. I was so frustrated I almost yelled out "Tempus!"
Enough plotlines were left open or completely vague so that I am very curious to see how the eternal saga of Drizzt evolves with the 100 year time jump coming up with the next series.
Pikel, whom I find annoying, got nearly as much page time as Jarlaxle, which just doesn't seem right now matter what plane of existence you dwell upon.
Remember Wulfgar? I do and I love him. Salvatore, not so much. His name gets mentioned once or twice in passing and that's it. I was so frustrated I almost yelled out "Tempus!"
Enough plotlines were left open or completely vague so that I am very curious to see how the eternal saga of Drizzt evolves with the 100 year time jump coming up with the next series.
September 9, 2018
Last book in the Transitions series and I knew something big was coming as this was the series where Wizards of the Coast announced they were moving the timelines up 100 years for D&D next edition.
We've got trouble with magic - the Weave is coming apart. We've got Crenshinibon back and merged with a dragon and a mind flayer (creating a dracolich "The Ghost King").
We've got pretty much everyone in this one - Cadderly, Danica, the Bouldershoulders, Drizzt, Bruenor, Cattie-Brie and Jarlaxle.
And the adventure starts...
The reason this isn't a 5 star book for me is - believe it or not, there is too much action and not enough story/character development. But this is a solid 4 star book. Great characters, great fight scenes, great writing...just needed some more depth.
Everyone that I had talked to about this book told me they fell apart into a crying, blubbering mess the last 20 pages (and I knew this going in) and I figured there is no way that'll happen to me, I pretty much know what's going to happen and I'm braced for it.
But
Couldn't help it - 20 pages left in the book and I'm a crying mess. So emotional.
Highly recommended.
We've got trouble with magic - the Weave is coming apart. We've got Crenshinibon back and merged with a dragon and a mind flayer (creating a dracolich "The Ghost King").
We've got pretty much everyone in this one - Cadderly, Danica, the Bouldershoulders, Drizzt, Bruenor, Cattie-Brie and Jarlaxle.
And the adventure starts...
The reason this isn't a 5 star book for me is - believe it or not, there is too much action and not enough story/character development. But this is a solid 4 star book. Great characters, great fight scenes, great writing...just needed some more depth.
Everyone that I had talked to about this book told me they fell apart into a crying, blubbering mess the last 20 pages (and I knew this going in) and I figured there is no way that'll happen to me, I pretty much know what's going to happen and I'm braced for it.
But
Couldn't help it - 20 pages left in the book and I'm a crying mess. So emotional.
Highly recommended.
July 9, 2021
Salah satu novel dari universe Forgotten Realms (juga siri game Dungeons & Dragons), antara siri novel fantasi yg terkenal dan banyak peminatnya. Merupakan buku terakhir dalam trilogi 'Transitions' - menyambung kisah pengembaraan Drizzt Do'Urden dan rakan-rakannya (Bruenor Battlehammer, Catti-Brie, Regis, dll). Juga merupakan buku ke-19 (dari 34) dalam siri 'The legend of Drizzt'. Buku kali ni menfokuskan pada banyak watak, plotnya laju dan tak bosan. Elemen2 aksi dan slice of life banyak mendominasi jalan cerita.
Plot novel kali ni mengisahkan tentang bencana yg diakibatkan oleh spellplague (kegagalan sumber magis). Crystal Shard (Crenshinibon) yg sepatutnya telah musnah telah bergabung dengan dua individu - Hephaestus (red dragon) dan Yharaskrik (mind flayer) lalu menghasilkan satu entiti baru yg berkuasa iaitu Ghost King. Walaupun tidak sekepala; Jarlaxle, Drizzt, Cadderly, dan rakan-rakan mereka yg lain harus berkerjasama untuk menghentikan ancaman entiti tersebut...
Plot novel kali ni mengisahkan tentang bencana yg diakibatkan oleh spellplague (kegagalan sumber magis). Crystal Shard (Crenshinibon) yg sepatutnya telah musnah telah bergabung dengan dua individu - Hephaestus (red dragon) dan Yharaskrik (mind flayer) lalu menghasilkan satu entiti baru yg berkuasa iaitu Ghost King. Walaupun tidak sekepala; Jarlaxle, Drizzt, Cadderly, dan rakan-rakan mereka yg lain harus berkerjasama untuk menghentikan ancaman entiti tersebut...
May 18, 2010
The Ghost King by R. A. Salvatore- This is the third and last book in the Transitions trilogy. The first book is The Orc King and the second book is The Pirate King. The trilogy is a part of the Drizzt Do'Urden saga, this being the most recent installment.
The story starts with Jarlaxle, a drow mercenary leader, and his traveling companion, a dwarf named Athrogate, traveling to around. Jarlaxle gets troubled by dreams he has in which a dragon and an ancient artifact, thought destroyed, threaten to find and kill him. At the same time, Drizzt Do'Urden and his wife, Catti-brie, are returning to Mithral Hall when blue fire consumes Catti-brie. The fire puts her into a lethargic state in which she is oblivious to everything around her and at times recalls past experiences and conversation. Drizzt, in obvious shock and terror, quickly returns to Mithral Hall and tries desperately to figure out what is happening. Catti-brie adoptive father, Bruenor Battlehammer is in the similar state of disbelief. With nothing working, Regis, with his magical ruby, tries to reach Catti-brie but instead gets trapped in the same nightmare with her, only more violent and destructive. Jarlaxle thinking that the cause of his problems could be solved by a priest of Deneir named Cadderly Bonaduce, persuades Drizzt and company to help them, by saying that Catti-brie could be helped by Cadderly as well. The reason Jarlaxle needs Drizzt and Bruenor's help is because Jarlaxle can never return to Spirit Soaring, the cathedral of Deneir. So desperate to find anyone or anything that could help them, the group embarks to Spirit Soaring. At the same time, Cadderly and a meeting of mages and priest are trying to understand what is happening to the world and magic. But soon darkness and a creature more powerful than anything imaginable descends upon the cathedral. Can Cadderly help Catti-brie and Regis? Will Jarlaxle find answers? And can Cadderly protect his family and home, and figure out what is wrong with the world?
Negatives:
1) Missing Dialogue. There were parts and times when something was left unsaid and it seemed like it wasn't supposed to. Then there were other times when dialogue didn't even fit into what was actually being said. For example, there was a scene when Danica, Cadderly's wife, is talking to Jarlaxle and Drizzt about something and bursts out with something so random that it made me take a double take.
2) Cadderly's Children. Honestly, I didn't really care to read their parts. Sure they were interesting in their own ways, but it just felt at times to be more of the stories focus. It didn't help that other scenes with other characters were so engaging that when the children's scenes came up, I honestly didn't really care. Not to mention that they seemed so general. Hanaleisa, the daughter and twin of Temberle, is a basic carbon copy of Danica. Temberle, the fighter, was just so underdeveloped and plain that I just didn't really care. Rorick, the youngest child and a mage, was the most different and therefore, the most interesting, barely had anything to say. They just weren't as engaging as say, Athrogate and Pwent or Jarlaxle, Bruenor, and Drizzt.
Positives:
1) "The Group." To put it simply, when Jarlaxle and Athrogate meet up with Bruenor, Drizzt, Pwent, and a lethargic Catti-brie, it was just amazing. The utter fascination that Pwent has with Athrogate's hell boar was just funny. Then you had the fighting styles between the group. When the first fight happens, it was neat to see how Jarlaxle and Bruenor fought, side by side, than later on how Jarlaxle and Drizzt complimented each other. They were the main focus of the story, and I really could have used more.
2) The Ending. It really leaves you on a sad, depressing note. I'm not giving away anything, but I know people who have teared up and cried about it. After going in, knowing what happens, I even got a little upset. It's so powerful and written so well. Even the last line, "... for guests who never came", was just so powerful and sad that you couldn't believe it.
Side Notes:
1) The illithid. What happened to him? I mean seriously. Did he just get consumed by the Ghost King's other desires?
2) Cover Art. Simple, but good. Seeing the Ghost King trying to chomp Drizzt and seeing Drizzt just jump away is beautifully drawn.
Overall: 5/5
Final Thoughts:
This is a really hard book for me to review. The whole Drizzt series is my first foray into fantasy, not counting The Hobbit. So after a good eight or nine years of my life, Drizzt and company were in them. And losing even one of them is a little hard. But overall the book was great. It's funny and powerful at the same time. It really keeps you interested and invested in the story, and it almost forces you to keep reading it. Even the faults I mentioned weren't terrible. Cadderly's children were still pretty good, albeit general and the little bit of missing or confusing dialogue didn't hamper the experience the slightest. The story is was the driving force of this book.
The story starts with Jarlaxle, a drow mercenary leader, and his traveling companion, a dwarf named Athrogate, traveling to around. Jarlaxle gets troubled by dreams he has in which a dragon and an ancient artifact, thought destroyed, threaten to find and kill him. At the same time, Drizzt Do'Urden and his wife, Catti-brie, are returning to Mithral Hall when blue fire consumes Catti-brie. The fire puts her into a lethargic state in which she is oblivious to everything around her and at times recalls past experiences and conversation. Drizzt, in obvious shock and terror, quickly returns to Mithral Hall and tries desperately to figure out what is happening. Catti-brie adoptive father, Bruenor Battlehammer is in the similar state of disbelief. With nothing working, Regis, with his magical ruby, tries to reach Catti-brie but instead gets trapped in the same nightmare with her, only more violent and destructive. Jarlaxle thinking that the cause of his problems could be solved by a priest of Deneir named Cadderly Bonaduce, persuades Drizzt and company to help them, by saying that Catti-brie could be helped by Cadderly as well. The reason Jarlaxle needs Drizzt and Bruenor's help is because Jarlaxle can never return to Spirit Soaring, the cathedral of Deneir. So desperate to find anyone or anything that could help them, the group embarks to Spirit Soaring. At the same time, Cadderly and a meeting of mages and priest are trying to understand what is happening to the world and magic. But soon darkness and a creature more powerful than anything imaginable descends upon the cathedral. Can Cadderly help Catti-brie and Regis? Will Jarlaxle find answers? And can Cadderly protect his family and home, and figure out what is wrong with the world?
Negatives:
1) Missing Dialogue. There were parts and times when something was left unsaid and it seemed like it wasn't supposed to. Then there were other times when dialogue didn't even fit into what was actually being said. For example, there was a scene when Danica, Cadderly's wife, is talking to Jarlaxle and Drizzt about something and bursts out with something so random that it made me take a double take.
2) Cadderly's Children. Honestly, I didn't really care to read their parts. Sure they were interesting in their own ways, but it just felt at times to be more of the stories focus. It didn't help that other scenes with other characters were so engaging that when the children's scenes came up, I honestly didn't really care. Not to mention that they seemed so general. Hanaleisa, the daughter and twin of Temberle, is a basic carbon copy of Danica. Temberle, the fighter, was just so underdeveloped and plain that I just didn't really care. Rorick, the youngest child and a mage, was the most different and therefore, the most interesting, barely had anything to say. They just weren't as engaging as say, Athrogate and Pwent or Jarlaxle, Bruenor, and Drizzt.
Positives:
1) "The Group." To put it simply, when Jarlaxle and Athrogate meet up with Bruenor, Drizzt, Pwent, and a lethargic Catti-brie, it was just amazing. The utter fascination that Pwent has with Athrogate's hell boar was just funny. Then you had the fighting styles between the group. When the first fight happens, it was neat to see how Jarlaxle and Bruenor fought, side by side, than later on how Jarlaxle and Drizzt complimented each other. They were the main focus of the story, and I really could have used more.
2) The Ending. It really leaves you on a sad, depressing note. I'm not giving away anything, but I know people who have teared up and cried about it. After going in, knowing what happens, I even got a little upset. It's so powerful and written so well. Even the last line, "... for guests who never came", was just so powerful and sad that you couldn't believe it.
Side Notes:
1) The illithid. What happened to him? I mean seriously. Did he just get consumed by the Ghost King's other desires?
2) Cover Art. Simple, but good. Seeing the Ghost King trying to chomp Drizzt and seeing Drizzt just jump away is beautifully drawn.
Overall: 5/5
Final Thoughts:
This is a really hard book for me to review. The whole Drizzt series is my first foray into fantasy, not counting The Hobbit. So after a good eight or nine years of my life, Drizzt and company were in them. And losing even one of them is a little hard. But overall the book was great. It's funny and powerful at the same time. It really keeps you interested and invested in the story, and it almost forces you to keep reading it. Even the faults I mentioned weren't terrible. Cadderly's children were still pretty good, albeit general and the little bit of missing or confusing dialogue didn't hamper the experience the slightest. The story is was the driving force of this book.
October 12, 2009
The Ghost King: Transitions Book III, By R.A. Salvatore
(Advance Copy)
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (October 6, 2009)
“When the Spellplague ravages Faerûn, Drizzt and his companions are caught in the chaos. Seeking out the help of the priest Cadderly–the hero of the recently reissued series The Cleric Quintet–Drizzt finds himself facing his most powerful and elusive foe, the twisted Crenshinibon, the demonic crystal shard he believed had been destroyed years ago.”
I think one of the coolest parts of writing reviews is not only getting to read a lot of material, but to really get in to the nuts and bolts of how that material is “assembled”. In this case I have been fortunate to read a LOT of Forgotten Realms novel by R.A. Salvatore as well as others such as Paul Kemp. Having read all the “Drizzt Novels” to date, I can say with certainty that the author has improved his craft greatly over the years.
R.A. Salvatore, like any writer clearly has a deep relationship with many of his characters. While some writers are able to outline and crank out material in a mechanical fashion more often then not they go through a sort of adventure of their own; discovering the world and characters as they write. It’s like a journey for the characters as well as the writer. In doing so the author learns to love and hate characters and tries to share it with us…the readers.
I think it is a measure of success when the author is able to manipulate the heart-strings of the reader, and R.A. Salvatore has done a masterful job at this over the years. Some times more than others, I admit it. I don’t expect a baseball player to hit a home run every time at the plate. I don’t expect a writer to write “the perfect novel” every time either. Stephen King is a good example of this.
R.A. Salvatore has been building up steam throughout this whole series. Transitions. In the Transitions series we are seeing the tale of how Faerun is going through some massive changes. Much of the face of The Forgotten Realms will be different afterward. At the heart of this are changes in direction and flavor of D&D 4th Edition and the 4e Forgotten Realms setting.
Like it or not, love it or hate it, Wizards of the Coast owns D&D and the setting that these novels reside in, and they have mandated change.
Our intrepid author is responsible for writing novels explaining how we get from the Forgotten Realms we have all known for the past 25 years…to this new setting.
What does that mean for the author? It means that in the jump in time that occurs the vast majority of humans and short-lived races will have died and left some sort of legacy (or not). Many of the characters which have been so lovingly crafted will die. That means core protagonists (and antagonists) will be no more.
R.A. Salvatore in this series has been building this up, and I have to say, he has most certainly delivered.
Without spoiling the story for you, I’ll say that all the protagonists and antagonists have a rough ride through the story. The Spellplague is up-close and personal in this novel. Actually, previous to this novel I thought the Spellplague to be a little trite. A game designer’s tool to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Salvatore put a “human” face on it, made it personal. Now I get it. Now I understand it and accept it and in the process understand how we can leave the previous edition’s Faerun for the new future.
I can’t help to feel sorry for the author in this. You can certainly feel the pain. You know something is coming. It’s like watching a train wreck…you just can’t look away. This is a book of heroism in the face of impossible odds. Acceptance of fate as well as stoic denial of it. It’s about loss…and hope.
There is only so much I can say about it. Usually I can drone on and on about this or that in a novel. Not this time. You have to read it for yourself. It’s good. Seriously. Probably R.A. Salvatore’s best work. I cried like a baby. It took several tries to get through the last dozen pages.
(Advance Copy)
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast (October 6, 2009)
“When the Spellplague ravages Faerûn, Drizzt and his companions are caught in the chaos. Seeking out the help of the priest Cadderly–the hero of the recently reissued series The Cleric Quintet–Drizzt finds himself facing his most powerful and elusive foe, the twisted Crenshinibon, the demonic crystal shard he believed had been destroyed years ago.”
I think one of the coolest parts of writing reviews is not only getting to read a lot of material, but to really get in to the nuts and bolts of how that material is “assembled”. In this case I have been fortunate to read a LOT of Forgotten Realms novel by R.A. Salvatore as well as others such as Paul Kemp. Having read all the “Drizzt Novels” to date, I can say with certainty that the author has improved his craft greatly over the years.
R.A. Salvatore, like any writer clearly has a deep relationship with many of his characters. While some writers are able to outline and crank out material in a mechanical fashion more often then not they go through a sort of adventure of their own; discovering the world and characters as they write. It’s like a journey for the characters as well as the writer. In doing so the author learns to love and hate characters and tries to share it with us…the readers.
I think it is a measure of success when the author is able to manipulate the heart-strings of the reader, and R.A. Salvatore has done a masterful job at this over the years. Some times more than others, I admit it. I don’t expect a baseball player to hit a home run every time at the plate. I don’t expect a writer to write “the perfect novel” every time either. Stephen King is a good example of this.
R.A. Salvatore has been building up steam throughout this whole series. Transitions. In the Transitions series we are seeing the tale of how Faerun is going through some massive changes. Much of the face of The Forgotten Realms will be different afterward. At the heart of this are changes in direction and flavor of D&D 4th Edition and the 4e Forgotten Realms setting.
Like it or not, love it or hate it, Wizards of the Coast owns D&D and the setting that these novels reside in, and they have mandated change.
Our intrepid author is responsible for writing novels explaining how we get from the Forgotten Realms we have all known for the past 25 years…to this new setting.
What does that mean for the author? It means that in the jump in time that occurs the vast majority of humans and short-lived races will have died and left some sort of legacy (or not). Many of the characters which have been so lovingly crafted will die. That means core protagonists (and antagonists) will be no more.
R.A. Salvatore in this series has been building this up, and I have to say, he has most certainly delivered.
Without spoiling the story for you, I’ll say that all the protagonists and antagonists have a rough ride through the story. The Spellplague is up-close and personal in this novel. Actually, previous to this novel I thought the Spellplague to be a little trite. A game designer’s tool to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Salvatore put a “human” face on it, made it personal. Now I get it. Now I understand it and accept it and in the process understand how we can leave the previous edition’s Faerun for the new future.
I can’t help to feel sorry for the author in this. You can certainly feel the pain. You know something is coming. It’s like watching a train wreck…you just can’t look away. This is a book of heroism in the face of impossible odds. Acceptance of fate as well as stoic denial of it. It’s about loss…and hope.
There is only so much I can say about it. Usually I can drone on and on about this or that in a novel. Not this time. You have to read it for yourself. It’s good. Seriously. Probably R.A. Salvatore’s best work. I cried like a baby. It took several tries to get through the last dozen pages.
April 24, 2015
Porque enfrentarse a un dragón normal es de mediocres, aquí hay uno enorme que es como la Sagrada Trinidad, con hordas de esbirros de este y otro mundo..., ¡y además está muerto! Aquí tenemos, ni más ni menos, que al padre de todos los dracolich: forjando héroes a través de la sombra y la muerte.
El Rey Fantasma es el cierre de la saga y muestra lo que sucede varios años después de que cierto sacerdote, cierto asesino y cierto drow uniesen sus fuerzas para acabar, de una vez por todas, con cierto artefacto mágico. Pero la magia está descontrolada, el Tejido se ha vuelto loco y existe una brecha entre realidades que afecta a los mismísimos dioses. Así que no hay que dar nada por supuesto, y el Rey Fantasma es la fusión de ciertos elementos, tomando forma definida en un mundo de caos y sombras.
No quiero desvelar nada, ni siquiera aunque aparezca en las primeras páginas. Así que, sin ser explícito, he de confesar que me ha enganchado de principio a fin. La acción es casi constante, con breves descansos para tomar aire proporcionados por las vicisitudes de ciertos personajes que se encuentran (como a Salvatore le gusta) en algún tipo de crisis emocional o existencial. Estos (lloriqueos) momentos son más íntimos aunque repetitivos, si bien aportan la atmósfera necesaria para adentrarte en sus sentimientos y pensamientos. Y volver a la acción.
La historia y las numerosas luchas que se narran, están separadas por grupos de personajes que tampoco paran en toda la novela. Uno puede ir a su bola y encontrarse una horda de muertos vivientes y luego puede acabar encontrándose a toda su promoción del instituto para acabar con una riada de monstruos de sombra. Muy loco todo. Sea como sea, aquí hay epicidad a patadas de Danica y Pwent, hachazos de Bruenor e Iván Rebolludo, espadazos de Drizzt y manguales de Athrogate... Además de los trucos de Jarlaxle, Pikel y Cadderly "El Puto Amo" Bonaduce. Porque si el Rey Fantasma es el laxante definitivo, necesitará enemigos a su altura. Y créeme, aquí son épicos hasta los hijos de Cadderly y Danica, y hasta las mulas que tiran de la carreta.
Sin embargo, este libro hay que verlo como se veían las pelis de los 80. Hay que dejarse llevar por su magia y perdonar las licencias que se toma o no habrá por dónde cogerlo. Hay momentos muy flipados, donde es posible lo imposible y te lo tienes que creer. Punto. Pero estamos leyendo fantasía, así que más o menos estamos acostumbrados. Sin embargo, hay ciertos aspectos que han sido tratados de cualquier manera para cuadrar el cierre y al final deja una sensación de comida a medio tragar. Te sientes como sucio. Pensé que en el siguiente libro encontaría respuestas con las que empujar la bola pero, tras buscar información, me da que en Gauntlgrym no las encontraré. Al menos espero que Drizzt madure un poco como personaje, que ya tiene una edad.
El Rey Fantasma es el cierre de la saga y muestra lo que sucede varios años después de que cierto sacerdote, cierto asesino y cierto drow uniesen sus fuerzas para acabar, de una vez por todas, con cierto artefacto mágico. Pero la magia está descontrolada, el Tejido se ha vuelto loco y existe una brecha entre realidades que afecta a los mismísimos dioses. Así que no hay que dar nada por supuesto, y el Rey Fantasma es la fusión de ciertos elementos, tomando forma definida en un mundo de caos y sombras.
No quiero desvelar nada, ni siquiera aunque aparezca en las primeras páginas. Así que, sin ser explícito, he de confesar que me ha enganchado de principio a fin. La acción es casi constante, con breves descansos para tomar aire proporcionados por las vicisitudes de ciertos personajes que se encuentran (como a Salvatore le gusta) en algún tipo de crisis emocional o existencial. Estos (lloriqueos) momentos son más íntimos aunque repetitivos, si bien aportan la atmósfera necesaria para adentrarte en sus sentimientos y pensamientos. Y volver a la acción.
La historia y las numerosas luchas que se narran, están separadas por grupos de personajes que tampoco paran en toda la novela. Uno puede ir a su bola y encontrarse una horda de muertos vivientes y luego puede acabar encontrándose a toda su promoción del instituto para acabar con una riada de monstruos de sombra. Muy loco todo. Sea como sea, aquí hay epicidad a patadas de Danica y Pwent, hachazos de Bruenor e Iván Rebolludo, espadazos de Drizzt y manguales de Athrogate... Además de los trucos de Jarlaxle, Pikel y Cadderly "El Puto Amo" Bonaduce. Porque si el Rey Fantasma es el laxante definitivo, necesitará enemigos a su altura. Y créeme, aquí son épicos hasta los hijos de Cadderly y Danica, y hasta las mulas que tiran de la carreta.
Sin embargo, este libro hay que verlo como se veían las pelis de los 80. Hay que dejarse llevar por su magia y perdonar las licencias que se toma o no habrá por dónde cogerlo. Hay momentos muy flipados, donde es posible lo imposible y te lo tienes que creer. Punto. Pero estamos leyendo fantasía, así que más o menos estamos acostumbrados. Sin embargo, hay ciertos aspectos que han sido tratados de cualquier manera para cuadrar el cierre y al final deja una sensación de comida a medio tragar. Te sientes como sucio. Pensé que en el siguiente libro encontaría respuestas con las que empujar la bola pero, tras buscar información, me da que en Gauntlgrym no las encontraré. Al menos espero que Drizzt madure un poco como personaje, que ya tiene una edad.
July 13, 2013
I don't know what it is, but ever since "The Halfling's Gem," Salvatore has a hard time closing out a trilogy with a true sense of finality. It seems that, in this, he has become like his inspiration, J.R.R. Tolkien, who also had problems closing out LOTR (blasphemy, I know, but Tolkien's problem was a little different )
Salvatore seems to keep entirely too many threads open when a trilogy finishes, and in the case of his last two "book 3s" - "The Ghost King" and "Road of the Patriarch" - it seems he does so because he needs all of these characters he's introduced (and especially the ones who've survived an infinite number of battles) to survive. Or, if they don't, that it's not 100% certain they won't come back. It's like the worst trait of comic books. Characters either don't die, or tend not to stay dead, or otherwise return in some other incarnation.
This book also wanders, and sometimes, it seems like the only reason is for some of the storylines to exists at all is to fill the requisite 300-330 pages that Wizards of the Coast seems to require for Forgotten Realms novels.
The action sequences, as always, are dazzling. The build from the initial confrontation to the final showdown is well done. But there sure is a lot of fluff here.
Things that irked me:
What I enjoyed a HELL (or Nine) of a lot:
Salvatore seems to keep entirely too many threads open when a trilogy finishes, and in the case of his last two "book 3s" - "The Ghost King" and "Road of the Patriarch" - it seems he does so because he needs all of these characters he's introduced (and especially the ones who've survived an infinite number of battles) to survive. Or, if they don't, that it's not 100% certain they won't come back. It's like the worst trait of comic books. Characters either don't die, or tend not to stay dead, or otherwise return in some other incarnation.
This book also wanders, and sometimes, it seems like the only reason is for some of the storylines to exists at all is to fill the requisite 300-330 pages that Wizards of the Coast seems to require for Forgotten Realms novels.
The action sequences, as always, are dazzling. The build from the initial confrontation to the final showdown is well done. But there sure is a lot of fluff here.
Things that irked me:
What I enjoyed a HELL (or Nine) of a lot:
December 5, 2025
IMHO, this is the most maudlin trilogy in the entirety Legend of Drizzt series. There was foreshadowing here, looking back in hindsight, I never played 4th edition Dungeons & Dragons so I'm not entirely sure what the significance of the Spellplague was about. From what I could garner from the book it sounds to be similar to the Time of Troubles in how arcane/divine magic fails/unpredictable when casting. The set up of the book felt like that fantasy version of the Walking Dead with the dead coming back to attack the living.
The one thing that is evident in this book is the change in Jarlaxle with how he interacted with Drizzt, Bruenor, Cadderly & Danica. While I've never believed that Jarlaxle was ever evil in the usual way the Drow actions are preceived, he was a true opportunitst in how he saw the world in the actions he took. This took was the start of Jarlaxle's transformation.
The deaths of Cattie-Brie & Regis while hearbreaking were treated completely different. Both Drizzt & Bruenor spent the entirety of the book worrying about Catti-Brie in an effort to bring her back from "the Shadowfell", but once they left Mithral Hall for Spirit Soaring Regis wasn't mentioned again until their return to Mithral Hall. Regis felt more like an afterthought or oh by the way. While he was the least powerful of the Companions it was just sad how little regard they gave him.
Cadderly deserved better than the end he received. I don't know if Salvatore was trying to try up endings to characters since there was a lot of years in between each of these books. From this point on you don't hear anything more on Danica or their children. We will continue to see the amazing Bouldershoulder brothers. While there were only a few run ins with Cadderly & Danica through the Legend of Drizzt they were still interesting characters & way underutilised.
My last comment about this book/trilogy was the narration, Mark Bramhall wasn't a great narrator. Why does every dwarf talk with a Scottish brogue? Some of the pronunciations of common people/places/dieties he used were just irritating as hell to me. I'm glad to be done with this part of the Legend of Drizzt & back to hearing Victor Bevine as the narrator.
The one thing that is evident in this book is the change in Jarlaxle with how he interacted with Drizzt, Bruenor, Cadderly & Danica. While I've never believed that Jarlaxle was ever evil in the usual way the Drow actions are preceived, he was a true opportunitst in how he saw the world in the actions he took. This took was the start of Jarlaxle's transformation.
The deaths of Cattie-Brie & Regis while hearbreaking were treated completely different. Both Drizzt & Bruenor spent the entirety of the book worrying about Catti-Brie in an effort to bring her back from "the Shadowfell", but once they left Mithral Hall for Spirit Soaring Regis wasn't mentioned again until their return to Mithral Hall. Regis felt more like an afterthought or oh by the way. While he was the least powerful of the Companions it was just sad how little regard they gave him.
Cadderly deserved better than the end he received. I don't know if Salvatore was trying to try up endings to characters since there was a lot of years in between each of these books. From this point on you don't hear anything more on Danica or their children. We will continue to see the amazing Bouldershoulder brothers. While there were only a few run ins with Cadderly & Danica through the Legend of Drizzt they were still interesting characters & way underutilised.
My last comment about this book/trilogy was the narration, Mark Bramhall wasn't a great narrator. Why does every dwarf talk with a Scottish brogue? Some of the pronunciations of common people/places/dieties he used were just irritating as hell to me. I'm glad to be done with this part of the Legend of Drizzt & back to hearing Victor Bevine as the narrator.
February 24, 2012
>Well.. what can I say... nothing lasts forever, not even cold november rain.
defenitively one of the best books in the series. Action packed from start to finish. Not a minute rest.. no moral doubts.. no nothing,. just plain survival minute after minute.
I was begining to grow tired of drizzt's palladin posture... allways good.. always moraly correct. Well, he didn't have any moral doubts here. Just killing.
Spoiler....
The end is seriously messed up, none of the bad guys die, and 3 of the good guys die. Spirit soaring lays in ruins, cadderly is dead to the mortal world, condamned to forevermore walk the perimeter of his belowed cathedral. deneir is lost, as are most of other deities and magic. Regis dies, cattie brie dies.. well their spirits live on.. but they are dead.. buried under stone cairns. Wulfgar left the band 2 books ago.. so it's official, the drizzt do'urden and his friends are no more. I know the easiest way to end the series is to kill most, or all of the carachters.. but what the hell.. drizzt lives on.. pained with the loss of his beloved,, bruenor lost both of his "kids".. after all they wen't through.. cattie didn't even begun to be a proper mage,,, I mean.. come on... what kind of a non happy end is this? THEY COULD HAVE LAIN THEIR WEAPONS,.. go and live on an astral plane.. die of old age... or atleast die in a final epic battle.. but no.. she lost her sanity ... banged his brains out one last time... and died...
ghost king remains.. traped in the circle of cadderly's making.. yharaskirk lives on the astral plane.. what's with magic? what's with lady alustriel?... to many questions left hanging in the air...either mr Salvatore plans on writing some sequels including only drizzt.. pained with loss and back in his hunter mode killing everybody and everything.. or this is the worst serial ending i have ever red
defenitively one of the best books in the series. Action packed from start to finish. Not a minute rest.. no moral doubts.. no nothing,. just plain survival minute after minute.
I was begining to grow tired of drizzt's palladin posture... allways good.. always moraly correct. Well, he didn't have any moral doubts here. Just killing.
Spoiler....
The end is seriously messed up, none of the bad guys die, and 3 of the good guys die. Spirit soaring lays in ruins, cadderly is dead to the mortal world, condamned to forevermore walk the perimeter of his belowed cathedral. deneir is lost, as are most of other deities and magic. Regis dies, cattie brie dies.. well their spirits live on.. but they are dead.. buried under stone cairns. Wulfgar left the band 2 books ago.. so it's official, the drizzt do'urden and his friends are no more. I know the easiest way to end the series is to kill most, or all of the carachters.. but what the hell.. drizzt lives on.. pained with the loss of his beloved,, bruenor lost both of his "kids".. after all they wen't through.. cattie didn't even begun to be a proper mage,,, I mean.. come on... what kind of a non happy end is this? THEY COULD HAVE LAIN THEIR WEAPONS,.. go and live on an astral plane.. die of old age... or atleast die in a final epic battle.. but no.. she lost her sanity ... banged his brains out one last time... and died...
ghost king remains.. traped in the circle of cadderly's making.. yharaskirk lives on the astral plane.. what's with magic? what's with lady alustriel?... to many questions left hanging in the air...either mr Salvatore plans on writing some sequels including only drizzt.. pained with loss and back in his hunter mode killing everybody and everything.. or this is the worst serial ending i have ever red
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2023
Had to get around to actually writing my review before I passed the point of no return.
The 23rd (or 19th depending on how you count) book in the Legend of Drizzt, which I've mostly been reading for nostalgia and to finish a series a loved as a kid. For the most part, my memories of it haven't been tarnished, because I think I kinda knew what they were when I read them. Fun, actiony adventure fantasy books. I've definitely hit some low points (the book immediately preceding this one was notably) but for some combination of reasons, likely most of them subjective, I really enjoyed this one.
I think it was primarily due to Salvatore cashing in on the credit he's earned with all the larger-than-life characters that populate his books, with many of my favorites (Jarlaxle in particular) playing central roles and expanding on their characterization. The stakes were high and the supporting characters (Cadderly and his family) were memorable, which hasn't always been the case. Seeing Drizzt and Bruenor paired with Jarlaxle and Athrogate was a high point, along with the fact that the villain was a call-back to the very early books in the series.
I have seen and can understand some negative responses to the so it didn't bother me as much as it might've had it happened earlier in the series.
The 23rd (or 19th depending on how you count) book in the Legend of Drizzt, which I've mostly been reading for nostalgia and to finish a series a loved as a kid. For the most part, my memories of it haven't been tarnished, because I think I kinda knew what they were when I read them. Fun, actiony adventure fantasy books. I've definitely hit some low points (the book immediately preceding this one was notably) but for some combination of reasons, likely most of them subjective, I really enjoyed this one.
I think it was primarily due to Salvatore cashing in on the credit he's earned with all the larger-than-life characters that populate his books, with many of my favorites (Jarlaxle in particular) playing central roles and expanding on their characterization. The stakes were high and the supporting characters (Cadderly and his family) were memorable, which hasn't always been the case. Seeing Drizzt and Bruenor paired with Jarlaxle and Athrogate was a high point, along with the fact that the villain was a call-back to the very early books in the series.
I have seen and can understand some negative responses to the so it didn't bother me as much as it might've had it happened earlier in the series.
September 28, 2014
I knew I'd be a mess when I finished this book, but not how much of a mess. Wow.
For further thoughts on the Transitions Trilogy, visit my blog.
For further thoughts on the Transitions Trilogy, visit my blog.
June 16, 2010
No way can any Drizzt fan finish this one with a dry eye!
January 28, 2018
"What a force they were! But what an enemy they had found. The Ghost King did not lift away and flee, did not shy even from Drizzt and that awful weapon."
Fantastic book. By far my favorite of the Transitions books and I loved the first two. Amazing fight scenes. So much heart. So many challenges from so many characters, the story coming to focus on Spirit Soaring, a temple library constructed by Cadderly, spirit, bone and blood, wood, stone and glass.
As the Weave turns to tatters and magic fails becoming unreliable, the warriors of the world, the monks, wizards and zealots face misshapen, seemingly mindless monstrosities. The dragon Hephaestus, embodied by liches, the crystal shard and a mind slayer, reek havoc.
R.A. Salvatore has managed to keep this enormous story and cast driven and hectic, fun and energetic, dwarves and elves with flair and personalities the reader falls instantly in love with. A must read for fans of fantasy adventures.
Fantastic book. By far my favorite of the Transitions books and I loved the first two. Amazing fight scenes. So much heart. So many challenges from so many characters, the story coming to focus on Spirit Soaring, a temple library constructed by Cadderly, spirit, bone and blood, wood, stone and glass.
As the Weave turns to tatters and magic fails becoming unreliable, the warriors of the world, the monks, wizards and zealots face misshapen, seemingly mindless monstrosities. The dragon Hephaestus, embodied by liches, the crystal shard and a mind slayer, reek havoc.
R.A. Salvatore has managed to keep this enormous story and cast driven and hectic, fun and energetic, dwarves and elves with flair and personalities the reader falls instantly in love with. A must read for fans of fantasy adventures.
November 12, 2025
I am sort of surprised, but I really liked this book.
The introduction, and very quickly the plot, led me to believe that this novel would be a big bummer. And there definitely are some sad things that happen...the whole books feels more of a "fight that cannot be won" than any of the previous books. And Salvatore plays with the concept that "even if we win, how will things ever be okay again." It felt very appropriate for what is happening in the world.
I think this trilogy was aptly named "Transitions", as we see the face of Toril being changed by fel magics.
This is one of the first Realms books I've read out of order in a looooong time. So there were things introduced that I knew happened because of updates to the table top game, but I don't know specifically what caused these changes, so I am not going to delve into them. I've got about 30 books in between where I am at chronologically and the next Drizzt book...wish me luck!
The introduction, and very quickly the plot, led me to believe that this novel would be a big bummer. And there definitely are some sad things that happen...the whole books feels more of a "fight that cannot be won" than any of the previous books. And Salvatore plays with the concept that "even if we win, how will things ever be okay again." It felt very appropriate for what is happening in the world.
I think this trilogy was aptly named "Transitions", as we see the face of Toril being changed by fel magics.
This is one of the first Realms books I've read out of order in a looooong time. So there were things introduced that I knew happened because of updates to the table top game, but I don't know specifically what caused these changes, so I am not going to delve into them. I've got about 30 books in between where I am at chronologically and the next Drizzt book...wish me luck!
July 9, 2020
Premessa: oggettivamente non è un libro da 5 stelle.
Ma per me se le merita! Stavolta Salvatore è riuscito a romanzare ottimamente quello che sembra un'avventura per personaggi di 15°-20° livello per il gioco di ruolo più famoso al mondo© . Una catastrofe magica, un cattivo potentissimo e un gruppo di eroi come raramente si è visto nei Reami. Peccato che la side-quest dei figli di Cadderly è parecchio sottotono. Finale davvero TOP.
♥♥♥ Jarlaxle + Athrogate + Pwent ♥♥♥
P.S. Consigliata la lettura della serie The Cleric Quintet prima di leggere questo libro.
Ma per me se le merita! Stavolta Salvatore è riuscito a romanzare ottimamente quello che sembra un'avventura per personaggi di 15°-20° livello per il gioco di ruolo più famoso al mondo© . Una catastrofe magica, un cattivo potentissimo e un gruppo di eroi come raramente si è visto nei Reami. Peccato che la side-quest dei figli di Cadderly è parecchio sottotono. Finale davvero TOP.
♥♥♥ Jarlaxle + Athrogate + Pwent ♥♥♥
P.S. Consigliata la lettura della serie The Cleric Quintet prima di leggere questo libro.
July 13, 2025
Spoilers
Texted my wife. I finished my book and everyone’s dead…. I’m sad.
Texted my wife. I finished my book and everyone’s dead…. I’m sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2010
Of the three books featured in this Transitions series, I liked this one the most. The Orc King was all right (let's not talk about The Pirate King) but I preferred this one. This one had a lot more character development, and plenty of battle scenes to keep the plot interesting, plus it feels as if all hell is breaking loose. What more could you want? I actually rather liked the concept of the undead horde rising, magic running amok, basically the world going to shreds which kept me interested in the book (the last two were a bit on the dry side, this one made up for it entirely.) Fans of Drizzt and his friends would be glad to see the usual cast of characters, and also including Cadderly and his family (whom I am not familiar with, but will soon be once I pick those books up). There is also the return of Jarlaxle, and some cameo appearances of other characters from other Forgotten Realms books - which is nice to see and makes Faerun a much "smaller world" if you get my meaning. Who I was very excited to see was Valas Hune (who is mostly in the War of the Spider Queen series) even though it was only a cameo appearance.
The plot was good, with plenty of fighting action that is standard in these Forgotten Realms novels. What's really nice to see is Drizzt developing as a character throughout the book. Also what I enjoyed was seeing a different side of Jarlaxle (the one that's not so selfish and always wanting something in return). I think both of these characters developed in some way or another. A word of warning however, there will be some fans that might be sad and dissapointed with the ending of this book. It does leave a lot in the open so naturally we can only look forward to more Drizzt and of his friends.
Despite the ending, I was satisfied with how this series ended. It leaves me wanting more and leaves me with a lot of questions unanswered. Fighting was standard, and although there were a few scenes where I wished the story would move along a bit faster, everything else about the book was good. Definitely recommended for Drizzt fans everywhere. Those that have just started with the series though, it's a good idea to just read the past books for a little background information as it might help you understand what's happening a bit more clearly. I haven't read all of them but it was enough information for me to get by. I'm sure if I actually completely read the entire Drizzt series it would be one hundred percent more clearer.
Overall a great book for the Drizzt fans.Fantasy lovers might want to start with The Crystal Shard or Homeland both also by Salvatore.
The plot was good, with plenty of fighting action that is standard in these Forgotten Realms novels. What's really nice to see is Drizzt developing as a character throughout the book. Also what I enjoyed was seeing a different side of Jarlaxle (the one that's not so selfish and always wanting something in return). I think both of these characters developed in some way or another. A word of warning however, there will be some fans that might be sad and dissapointed with the ending of this book. It does leave a lot in the open so naturally we can only look forward to more Drizzt and of his friends.
Despite the ending, I was satisfied with how this series ended. It leaves me wanting more and leaves me with a lot of questions unanswered. Fighting was standard, and although there were a few scenes where I wished the story would move along a bit faster, everything else about the book was good. Definitely recommended for Drizzt fans everywhere. Those that have just started with the series though, it's a good idea to just read the past books for a little background information as it might help you understand what's happening a bit more clearly. I haven't read all of them but it was enough information for me to get by. I'm sure if I actually completely read the entire Drizzt series it would be one hundred percent more clearer.
Overall a great book for the Drizzt fans.Fantasy lovers might want to start with The Crystal Shard or Homeland both also by Salvatore.
January 8, 2017
This is the hardest book I have ever had to read. Here we say goodbye to the Companions of the Hall, possible for good.
Warning: Do not read if you're a person who does not like "spoilers"
Everyone comes back for this one. All the Companions, Cadderly and his family, Jarlaxle and Athrogate, the only one missing is Artemis Entreri. They come together to face the danger of the Ghost King.
In the Cleric Quintet, Cadderly outsmarts and kills a red dragon, which leads Jarlaxle back to him in the Sellswords saga, to take the infamous Crystal Shard to Hephaestuas, a red dragon, and trick him into destroying it. A mind flayer joins the party, in an attempt to save the shard.
In the end of the Sellswords, the Crystal Shard is destroyed by the breath of the red wyrm, along with the mind flayer and the sight of Hephaestus. Or so we think, because in the beginning of the Ghost King, we find that the sentience of the Crystal Shard and the mind flayer fused with Hephaestus, turning him into a dracolich, the Ghost King, and giving him the ability to phase between the realm of the living and the dead.
Of course he is defeated, but not without casualty.
Cattie-Brie is touched by the Blue Fire after the death of Mystra, and when Regis tries to heal her with his pendant, she draws him into her dark prison, and takes him with her when Mielikki comes for her soul.
Cadderly sacrifices himself so that his soul is left walking the grounds of Spirit Soaring, defending it against undead for all eternity after the final battle with the Ghost King.
Jarlaxle and Athrogate stay in Mithril Hall, picking up the broken pieces of Drizz't and Bruenor after the final deaths of Cattie-Brie and Regis.
The only complaint for this book is that Drizz't seems to be finally broken. Understandable considering what he has lost, but after bouncing back after everything else that has been thrown at him in his relatively short life, it seems almost a shock that he has finally lost his heart.
All in all a beautiful, wonderful, heartbreaking end to a two decade long series. Goodbye dear friends. We will miss you.
Warning: Do not read if you're a person who does not like "spoilers"
Everyone comes back for this one. All the Companions, Cadderly and his family, Jarlaxle and Athrogate, the only one missing is Artemis Entreri. They come together to face the danger of the Ghost King.
In the Cleric Quintet, Cadderly outsmarts and kills a red dragon, which leads Jarlaxle back to him in the Sellswords saga, to take the infamous Crystal Shard to Hephaestuas, a red dragon, and trick him into destroying it. A mind flayer joins the party, in an attempt to save the shard.
In the end of the Sellswords, the Crystal Shard is destroyed by the breath of the red wyrm, along with the mind flayer and the sight of Hephaestus. Or so we think, because in the beginning of the Ghost King, we find that the sentience of the Crystal Shard and the mind flayer fused with Hephaestus, turning him into a dracolich, the Ghost King, and giving him the ability to phase between the realm of the living and the dead.
Of course he is defeated, but not without casualty.
Cattie-Brie is touched by the Blue Fire after the death of Mystra, and when Regis tries to heal her with his pendant, she draws him into her dark prison, and takes him with her when Mielikki comes for her soul.
Cadderly sacrifices himself so that his soul is left walking the grounds of Spirit Soaring, defending it against undead for all eternity after the final battle with the Ghost King.
Jarlaxle and Athrogate stay in Mithril Hall, picking up the broken pieces of Drizz't and Bruenor after the final deaths of Cattie-Brie and Regis.
The only complaint for this book is that Drizz't seems to be finally broken. Understandable considering what he has lost, but after bouncing back after everything else that has been thrown at him in his relatively short life, it seems almost a shock that he has finally lost his heart.
All in all a beautiful, wonderful, heartbreaking end to a two decade long series. Goodbye dear friends. We will miss you.
June 28, 2011
O.M.W.
I really don't know what to say about this book. Seriously. Just finished it about 15 minutes ago and...I'm in shock. DARN R.A. SALVATORE!!!!!!!!!!! X'-( (here comes the rant)
HE SPENT LIKE 20 FRICKIN' BOOKS GETTING CATTIE AND DRIZZT TOGETHER AND THEN HE JUST KILLS HER OFF!!!! LIKE, WHO GIVES A CRAP?! WELL, I SURE FRICKIN' DO!!!!!!!!!! NOW DRIZZT IS IN DESPAIR AND I'M IN TEARS AND EATING ICE CREAM, AND THERE'S NO ICE CREAM TO MAKE DRIZZT FEEL BETTER!!! In essence...THIS WAS A FREAKIN' AMAZING AND TERRIBLE BOOK!
Ya...that's my review in short, emotional form. Here's long version.
Ok, so, as always, Salvatore is an amazing writer! The action scenes were plentiful and well-done, the emotion was constantly on a high, the challenges were well executed...but, sadly, I'm emotionally confliced about the ending. I'm questioning whether Salvatore killed Cattie-Brie off simply to not have to deal with her getting old or because it made a really surprising twist. I certainly didn't see it coming. The romance he finally put together between Drizzt and her was so wonderful and sweet...not perfect, but darn near it! I still don't understand why he HAD to kill her off...this will certainly make the next book an interesting read from Drizzt's point of view...I hope it's not all "screw the world, all is lost, woe is me", b/c his constant perseverance made his character very admirable.
In any case, the book was incredibly well done, despite my anguish at Cattie's demise. It just proves to show how amazing Salvatore's story is: he makes Drizzt so relatable and his story so fascinating, that you're instantly sucked in, and emotionally attached. Drizzt's heartache is your own, his joys are your own. I must adimit, I have yet to find fantasy series quite like this one.
I really don't know what to say about this book. Seriously. Just finished it about 15 minutes ago and...I'm in shock. DARN R.A. SALVATORE!!!!!!!!!!! X'-( (here comes the rant)
HE SPENT LIKE 20 FRICKIN' BOOKS GETTING CATTIE AND DRIZZT TOGETHER AND THEN HE JUST KILLS HER OFF!!!! LIKE, WHO GIVES A CRAP?! WELL, I SURE FRICKIN' DO!!!!!!!!!! NOW DRIZZT IS IN DESPAIR AND I'M IN TEARS AND EATING ICE CREAM, AND THERE'S NO ICE CREAM TO MAKE DRIZZT FEEL BETTER!!! In essence...THIS WAS A FREAKIN' AMAZING AND TERRIBLE BOOK!
Ya...that's my review in short, emotional form. Here's long version.
Ok, so, as always, Salvatore is an amazing writer! The action scenes were plentiful and well-done, the emotion was constantly on a high, the challenges were well executed...but, sadly, I'm emotionally confliced about the ending. I'm questioning whether Salvatore killed Cattie-Brie off simply to not have to deal with her getting old or because it made a really surprising twist. I certainly didn't see it coming. The romance he finally put together between Drizzt and her was so wonderful and sweet...not perfect, but darn near it! I still don't understand why he HAD to kill her off...this will certainly make the next book an interesting read from Drizzt's point of view...I hope it's not all "screw the world, all is lost, woe is me", b/c his constant perseverance made his character very admirable.
In any case, the book was incredibly well done, despite my anguish at Cattie's demise. It just proves to show how amazing Salvatore's story is: he makes Drizzt so relatable and his story so fascinating, that you're instantly sucked in, and emotionally attached. Drizzt's heartache is your own, his joys are your own. I must adimit, I have yet to find fantasy series quite like this one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 27, 2016
The best of the Transitions trilogy books! The magic is harder, crueler, and more challenging. Heroes and enemies of the past come together for the greater good. Love breaks hearts. The trilogy is about change. And the changes in rulers, magic and comrades are happening, to change the face of Faerun. At the end of The Pirate King, I expected someone to die in The Ghost King. This book is not to be missed! I eagerly wait to see what R. A. Salvatore does to the future of Drizzt, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and the drow of Menzoberranzan.
Crenshinibon, the Crystal Shard is destroyed but not gone. It makes its return with the combined aid of Hephaestus the dragon and Yharaskrik the illithid, to become the Ghost King. Mystra’s Weave is torn asunder in such a way that magic can not be trusted, across all of Faerun. Practitioners are getting hurt, maimed and killed by using magic.
Catti-brie is struck by a wild and wandering strand of Mystra’s Weave, and is put in a coma like state because of it. Without the knowledge of anybody around her, talking to her, or helping her, she is in the dark realm of Shadowfell, and at times reliving her past both good and terrible. Drizzt and Bruenor are at a lose as to what to do to help her. Not even one of the Seven Sisters, Chosen of Mystra, Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon is of help.
The always entertaining partners Jarlaxle and Anthrogate sleaze their way to Spirit Soaring, using Catti-brie’s state against Drizzt and Bruenor. Cadderly’s children get their chance to fight, instead of reading about it and practicing. Horrific and undead monsters attack Hanaleisa, Rorick, and Temberle, on their way to Carradoon. But, they will have the comic relief of Uncle Pikel and Uncle Ivan to help them.
Crenshinibon, the Crystal Shard is destroyed but not gone. It makes its return with the combined aid of Hephaestus the dragon and Yharaskrik the illithid, to become the Ghost King. Mystra’s Weave is torn asunder in such a way that magic can not be trusted, across all of Faerun. Practitioners are getting hurt, maimed and killed by using magic.
Catti-brie is struck by a wild and wandering strand of Mystra’s Weave, and is put in a coma like state because of it. Without the knowledge of anybody around her, talking to her, or helping her, she is in the dark realm of Shadowfell, and at times reliving her past both good and terrible. Drizzt and Bruenor are at a lose as to what to do to help her. Not even one of the Seven Sisters, Chosen of Mystra, Lady Alustriel of Silverymoon is of help.
The always entertaining partners Jarlaxle and Anthrogate sleaze their way to Spirit Soaring, using Catti-brie’s state against Drizzt and Bruenor. Cadderly’s children get their chance to fight, instead of reading about it and practicing. Horrific and undead monsters attack Hanaleisa, Rorick, and Temberle, on their way to Carradoon. But, they will have the comic relief of Uncle Pikel and Uncle Ivan to help them.
July 23, 2012
Oh my goodness, the most poignant heart-rending ending I've ever read. I've read of losses that hurt, but when Wulfgar 'died' several books ago it touched me nothing like the loss of Cattie-brie and Regis. What a beautiful gift Meiliki gave her in the end, after all the horrors of being trapped in the Shadowfell for tendays on end, to spend one last night in the arms of her beloved Drizzt, then retrieve the soul of her fellow sufferer Regis (who only ended up like that by trying to save her), and go to a heaven specially for them.
Started with the ending there, didn't I? The rest of the book was phenomenal too. As Mystra's Weave unravels and tears Toril apart, only Cadderly finds the power to save them all. He accesses god-like spells that destroy and dissolve the undead and creatures from the plain of Shadow, in the end sacrificing his life to ensure the Ghost King remain dethroned in either world, taking the mantle upon himself.
His wife Danica and their children, plus the beloved Bouldershoulder Brothers are featured at their finest. Young adults now, Hanaleia has followed in her mother's footsteps and become a monk, while her twin brother Temberle is quite the fighter, and young Rorick has found the use of magic. Not one of them, of course, has been neglected in the art of fighting, for their wise parents and guardians are quite familiar with the trickiness of magic and its unreliability when the gods or the weave fails.
Started with the ending there, didn't I? The rest of the book was phenomenal too. As Mystra's Weave unravels and tears Toril apart, only Cadderly finds the power to save them all. He accesses god-like spells that destroy and dissolve the undead and creatures from the plain of Shadow, in the end sacrificing his life to ensure the Ghost King remain dethroned in either world, taking the mantle upon himself.
His wife Danica and their children, plus the beloved Bouldershoulder Brothers are featured at their finest. Young adults now, Hanaleia has followed in her mother's footsteps and become a monk, while her twin brother Temberle is quite the fighter, and young Rorick has found the use of magic. Not one of them, of course, has been neglected in the art of fighting, for their wise parents and guardians are quite familiar with the trickiness of magic and its unreliability when the gods or the weave fails.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2010
This is the final book in the "Transitions" trilogy. The Ghost King continues with the overall story from the other novels in the trilogy. With the obvious exception of Wulfgar, everyone else is in this story in varying capacities. This is one of the darkest novels I've read featuring Drizzt, but it is also one of the most gripping. Without spoiling too much, the Crystal Shard was destroyed in a previous novel by a dragon, but it wasn't completely obliterated. It and the dragon merge, along with the Illithid, to create an undead dragon. Filled with rage and revenge, the dragon aims to destroy the group of heroes that caused it so much pain. To further complicate matter, the Weave is coming undone making magic ineffective or outright dangerous to use, directly affecting one of the heroes. I had to re-read the last few pages several times to confirm that I did not mis-read what happened. Needless to say, it is sad, shocking, and happy all at the same time. I'm not sure if Transitions is the last Drizzt trilogy, but if it is not, the next books about that character are bound to be interesting given how this one ended.
August 18, 2011
Not bad, but not splendid. It was certainly much more interesting than the Pirate King, though Salvatore seems to be transitioning his characters for the future name of the book series suggests. Major turns that seem more determined to actually get their job done then to create an enjoyable read were the biggest drawback to this book. A sad day indeed, as I never thought that a book with Jarlaxelle as one of the main characters would result in a less than stellar read (I do so enjoy him, though not as much as Artemis)
Good to see Cadderly and Danica, Ivan and Pikel Bouldershoulder, as well as a few other faces new and old alike. The main antagonist of the book was an interesting twist, and I enjoyed the plot even if I feel like Salvotre was less than thrilled to write the thing. Even so a better read than the Pirate King, and I look forward to the next book, though I fear that too will seem all too rushed and lacking that seemingly divine spark that so pulled me into the Forgotten Realms, Drizzt Do'urden, Bruenor Battlehammer, and Salvatore himself in the first place.
Good to see Cadderly and Danica, Ivan and Pikel Bouldershoulder, as well as a few other faces new and old alike. The main antagonist of the book was an interesting twist, and I enjoyed the plot even if I feel like Salvotre was less than thrilled to write the thing. Even so a better read than the Pirate King, and I look forward to the next book, though I fear that too will seem all too rushed and lacking that seemingly divine spark that so pulled me into the Forgotten Realms, Drizzt Do'urden, Bruenor Battlehammer, and Salvatore himself in the first place.
December 30, 2013
Action packed from start to finish, in classic Salvatore style, this book is entertaining, but my praise ends there. Salvatore fails in unspectacular fashion to buck the comic-book feel Drizzt novels have taken on. His struggle closing story lines (Crenshinibon again? Really? How many books do we have to suffer through with a silly magical crystal as the primary antagonist?) and especially with killing off characters is painfully evident, not only through the meandering chapters, but during the "internal dialogue" sequences, which actually read more like Salvatore's internal debates regarding the direction of the series than Drizzt's thoughts concerning events at hand. The ending feels rushed, as if Salvatore wanted to get the unsavory business of moving the entire story forward over with. And even in that attempt he doesn't go far enough. This book had rave reviews, but in my mind it is simply a continuation of the downward spiral of this series, although I will keep reading as I am committed to the journey at this point.
March 13, 2014
SPOILER ALERRRRTTTT!!!
one thing I have to commend ra Salvatore for is how he portrays drizzt do'urden and how I have grown so attached to that character that when he is distraught and miserable and alone I feel like giving him such a big bear hug. well obviously since drizzt has 20+ books.
at the end when cattie brie left, I bawled my eyes out. not for her sake but bcoz of drizzt and how emotionally distraught he became. I felt so so sad and cried for a good 10 mins straight. call me dramatic but heck I know some of you would understand me. I'm just thankful this isn't the last book.
there wasn't as much drizzt scenes as I would've liked there too be. but jarlaxle present made it nice :) I had some trouble picturing the scenes in the book or what was going on at some point when the scepters were tearing a rift in the weave to let in the creatures. with ra Salvatore books or any fantasy book you gotta have wicked imagination. so that was the only thing that didn't sit well with me but that was my fault. hehehe. all in all a good good read but left me in tears
one thing I have to commend ra Salvatore for is how he portrays drizzt do'urden and how I have grown so attached to that character that when he is distraught and miserable and alone I feel like giving him such a big bear hug. well obviously since drizzt has 20+ books.
at the end when cattie brie left, I bawled my eyes out. not for her sake but bcoz of drizzt and how emotionally distraught he became. I felt so so sad and cried for a good 10 mins straight. call me dramatic but heck I know some of you would understand me. I'm just thankful this isn't the last book.
there wasn't as much drizzt scenes as I would've liked there too be. but jarlaxle present made it nice :) I had some trouble picturing the scenes in the book or what was going on at some point when the scepters were tearing a rift in the weave to let in the creatures. with ra Salvatore books or any fantasy book you gotta have wicked imagination. so that was the only thing that didn't sit well with me but that was my fault. hehehe. all in all a good good read but left me in tears
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