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Paths of Darkness #1
The Silent Blade
A new chapter in the Legend of Drizzt saga begins: Can the Crystal Shard be destroyed at last?
Determined to destroy the evil Crystal Shard, Drizzt seeks out the help of a scholar-priest named Cadderly. But instead, his worst fears are realized when the artifact falls into the hands of the dark elf mercenary Jarlaxle and his unlikely ally Artemis Entreri.
Drizzt’s friends also experience their own hardships: Wulfgar, now freed from Errtu’s clutches, struggles with anger and bloodlust. Only in the far reaches of Luskan can he find solace from the torments that haunt him. Meanwhile, Regis’ ruby pendant—once the property of his old master, Pasha Pook—seems to be a magnet for all things evil and wicked . . .
The Silent Blade is the first book in the Paths of Darkness series and the eleventh book in the Legend of Drizzt series.
Determined to destroy the evil Crystal Shard, Drizzt seeks out the help of a scholar-priest named Cadderly. But instead, his worst fears are realized when the artifact falls into the hands of the dark elf mercenary Jarlaxle and his unlikely ally Artemis Entreri.
Drizzt’s friends also experience their own hardships: Wulfgar, now freed from Errtu’s clutches, struggles with anger and bloodlust. Only in the far reaches of Luskan can he find solace from the torments that haunt him. Meanwhile, Regis’ ruby pendant—once the property of his old master, Pasha Pook—seems to be a magnet for all things evil and wicked . . .
The Silent Blade is the first book in the Paths of Darkness series and the eleventh book in the Legend of Drizzt series.
416 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
433 people are currently reading
6828 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 296 reviews
September 29, 2019
A new storyline begins; another part of the neverending Legend of Drizzt. And I find myself wondering if it will ever find its way back to the real quality found in the Dark Elf trilogy.
It keeps getting very close, especially in books such as Siege of Darkness, but it is never quite there. Too many plots rehashed, too little creativity. The Drizzt books keep being enjoyable, but could easily be so much more.
I keep having to convince myself to continue, partly because I want to read some of the newer books in the series. Maybe I'll just skip ahead to them?
It keeps getting very close, especially in books such as Siege of Darkness, but it is never quite there. Too many plots rehashed, too little creativity. The Drizzt books keep being enjoyable, but could easily be so much more.
I keep having to convince myself to continue, partly because I want to read some of the newer books in the series. Maybe I'll just skip ahead to them?
September 30, 2020
This is my favourite Drizzt book so far! It has taken until book 11, but the plot is finally one designed for adults. Yes, there are the usual plethora of well written fight scenes, which seem to be Salvatore's main skill and the major reason for this series, but we get some kissing in this book too. (It reminds me of days watching Star Trek TNG, yelling at the script writers, “You need more kissing!”)
First we get an unsuccessful encounter between Wulfgar and Cattie-Brie, then there are actually some halfling sex workers, plus when a pissed off & despairing Wulfgar sets off on his own, he ends up with a tavern wench, Delly, warming his bed. This is unusual in a series where everything has been pretty chaste up to this point. It is refreshing to see a basic human dimension finally getting acknowledged.
Wulfgar's being back from being considered dead hasn't done him any favours—his inner turmoil can only be tamed through alcohol, another human frailty that has never been explored in this series before. Mind you, a period of black, drunken despair seems to be standard for barbarian characters (see Milla Vane's The Beast of Blackamore) so Wulfgar may just be following the script for his kind of character.
It's like the characters are finally breaking out of the cardboard cutouts that they've been trapped in for so long. Not only do some of the good guys have weaknesses, but Jarlaxle is a remarkably honourable villain, playing against the stereotype of the drow elf. I guess that Drizzt isn't the only anomaly in that society now. It gives the story a much more realistic outlook, shades of gray rather than stark black & white morality.
With Wulfgar involved with another woman, is Cattie-Brie now available for a romance with Drizzt? The last few books have been building towards this possibility, so I hope that the author doesn't lose his nerve.
Book 11. I had decided to give this series one more chance. And I got what I wanted. It will never be one of my favourites, but I'm convinced that I want to press on to see where things go. Preferably with more kissing.
Book number 380 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
First we get an unsuccessful encounter between Wulfgar and Cattie-Brie, then there are actually some halfling sex workers, plus when a pissed off & despairing Wulfgar sets off on his own, he ends up with a tavern wench, Delly, warming his bed. This is unusual in a series where everything has been pretty chaste up to this point. It is refreshing to see a basic human dimension finally getting acknowledged.
Wulfgar's being back from being considered dead hasn't done him any favours—his inner turmoil can only be tamed through alcohol, another human frailty that has never been explored in this series before. Mind you, a period of black, drunken despair seems to be standard for barbarian characters (see Milla Vane's The Beast of Blackamore) so Wulfgar may just be following the script for his kind of character.
It's like the characters are finally breaking out of the cardboard cutouts that they've been trapped in for so long. Not only do some of the good guys have weaknesses, but Jarlaxle is a remarkably honourable villain, playing against the stereotype of the drow elf. I guess that Drizzt isn't the only anomaly in that society now. It gives the story a much more realistic outlook, shades of gray rather than stark black & white morality.
With Wulfgar involved with another woman, is Cattie-Brie now available for a romance with Drizzt? The last few books have been building towards this possibility, so I hope that the author doesn't lose his nerve.
Book 11. I had decided to give this series one more chance. And I got what I wanted. It will never be one of my favourites, but I'm convinced that I want to press on to see where things go. Preferably with more kissing.
Book number 380 of my Science Fiction & Fantasy Reading Project.
Cross posted at my blog:
https://wanda-thenextfifty.blogspot.c...
June 29, 2020
Rescued this w/o the dust cover some time ago. I'm needing something different in my reading life right now, so despite the fact that I'm already reading several other books, I picked this one up and haven't been disappointed(so far). Two of the books I'm reading are collections and the other is mainly a bunch of vignettes and digressions so it's easy to let them go awhile while I read this. Last night's reading introduced a story with a number of links to past books. No surprise there: typical fantasy routine. Here's the menu so far: giants, halflings(?), dwarves, elves, yetis, magicians/sorcerers, assassins, orcs, goblins, barbarians(think Conan) and more. All this is set in a satisfyingly earthy, windy, muddy environment. As I said ... so far, so good(but not great).
Finished up with this adequate page-turner last night. I wanted Wulfgar to show up again, but I assume that's for the next book. I likely won't be reading any more of these. The writing is OK-ish, but there's a constant resorting to fighting and battling and a tendency to over-describe the action. Basically ... this is a mash-up of "The Lord of the Rings" and Jack Vance's "Dying Earth" tales. The author resorts occasionally to modern-speak(Tolkien would be mortified), particularly in the musings of Drizzt the super elf. This is the ELEVENTH(and not the last) in his apparently never-ending story.
- yer basic 3* book. NO DRAGONS!!! WTF?!?!
Finished up with this adequate page-turner last night. I wanted Wulfgar to show up again, but I assume that's for the next book. I likely won't be reading any more of these. The writing is OK-ish, but there's a constant resorting to fighting and battling and a tendency to over-describe the action. Basically ... this is a mash-up of "The Lord of the Rings" and Jack Vance's "Dying Earth" tales. The author resorts occasionally to modern-speak(Tolkien would be mortified), particularly in the musings of Drizzt the super elf. This is the ELEVENTH(and not the last) in his apparently never-ending story.
- yer basic 3* book. NO DRAGONS!!! WTF?!?!
March 5, 2010
I've always liked most of R.A. Salvatore's work. But I have to admit, this series starts to go downhill at this book. I don't like Wulfgar, and his decent into madness and drink feels a little bit overused. Gee...that also happened to an overly-tall warrior in another fantasy series (Dragonlance). And Drizzt's role (the only one I truly care about) starts to decrease. But Jarlaxle is a great villian, so he kind of makes up for it. And he continues into the next books, so that is one bonus.
I just dread getting back to the later books (I've read this series before, then dropped it because of time constraints and too many other books, and because of one character), because I loathe Pikel, the dwarven "doo-dad," which, even though I'm not a Druid, and I know that the Forgotten Realms Druidism holds very little in common with real Druidism, infuriates me. But, I want to keep reading about Drizzt, so I suppose I will suffer through Ivan and Pikel's inane dialogue. Please, Mr. Salvatore, no more Pikel. Please kill him off sometime...really soon.
I just dread getting back to the later books (I've read this series before, then dropped it because of time constraints and too many other books, and because of one character), because I loathe Pikel, the dwarven "doo-dad," which, even though I'm not a Druid, and I know that the Forgotten Realms Druidism holds very little in common with real Druidism, infuriates me. But, I want to keep reading about Drizzt, so I suppose I will suffer through Ivan and Pikel's inane dialogue. Please, Mr. Salvatore, no more Pikel. Please kill him off sometime...really soon.
December 18, 2012
Wow, I'm pretty sure this is the lowest rating I have ever given a Drizzt book! And it really is a character issue rather than a writing/storyline issue. As always, I love Salvatore's writing style, I love his detailed action scenes and setting descriptions, and I love Drizzt, Catti-brie, Bruenor, Gwen, and even Regis. But I've never liked Wulfgar, and that feeling just exploded in this book. He was a bit of a sexist pig in previous books, but he got a lot worse in this book. I'm sorry that you were tortured for years by an evil demon...but I'm pretty sure that punching Catti-brie in the face REALLY didn't help matters much. This is definately grounds for BEATING HIM THE FUCK UP in my opinion. And honestly, my first reaction to him doing this was, 'Oh shit...Drizzt is going to destroy him'. I was severly disappointed in everyone's actions. The rest of the gang was pissed for about five seconds before forgiving him. WHAT. I don't know if this was supposed to make me feel like their bonds of friendship is everlasting or whatever, but really it just made me roll my eyes and want to scream at the douchery of the situation.
Go away Wulfgar. You are a woman beating pig and no one likes you. The end.
Go away Wulfgar. You are a woman beating pig and no one likes you. The end.
April 10, 2025
3.5 stars
February 6, 2019
So, it it hasn't been painfully clear, I've been struggling with this series for the past couple books. I took a break and read some other stuff, but in the end, there was still a nagging part of my mind that kept telling me I need to come back. I need to read more. The books get better, because my three favorite books, the first ones I read, were written LAST, so really the series can only improve. So I came back and picked up Silent Blade and I am so glad that I did.
This book has everything I love about the series and it brings it back full force starting with... Artemis!? Yeah. I wasn't expecting to ever love him, but he's quickly becoming one of my favorite characters here and I honestly don't know whether to continue with Drizzt or run off into the Sellswords series to read more about him.
But there's also Cattie-Brie who's working to solidify herself as the worst character in the history of the world. So Wulfgar is home, but he's not himself. He spent the last six years being tortured and held prisoner. No one can expect him to be himself. Except everyone kind of does. Drizzt starts the party by making a half hearted attempt to remind Wulfgar of who he was. It doesn't work so he throws his hands up and says the others can do it better. Except Regis doesn't try, but I get it, they weren't as close as everyone else was. And Bruenor, Wulfgar's adopted father, also doesn't try to help him. Then there's Cattie-Brie. She proclaimed in the last book that she'd never forgotten Wulfgar, but now she's not really sure she loves him because she loves Drizzt, but she's not really sure how she feels and she doesn't want to lose the option of Wulgar so she takes pity on him and decides to have sex with him... yeah, she deserved to get punched in the face here. Thank you SOMEONE for finally giving her what she deserves even though you didn't do it intentionally.
After that, everyone throws their hands up and Wulfgar strikes out on his own to become a raging alcoholic who picks fights in bars and sleeps with random women (because again, problem solving) while the others continue their quest to destroy the Crystal Shard once and for all. Yay! Really, there are some questionable decisions here, but I didn't mind too much. Overall, I was too hung up on how amazing Artemis turned out to be this time around and he completely carried this book for me and reminded me why I love these books.
This book has everything I love about the series and it brings it back full force starting with... Artemis!? Yeah. I wasn't expecting to ever love him, but he's quickly becoming one of my favorite characters here and I honestly don't know whether to continue with Drizzt or run off into the Sellswords series to read more about him.
But there's also Cattie-Brie who's working to solidify herself as the worst character in the history of the world. So Wulfgar is home, but he's not himself. He spent the last six years being tortured and held prisoner. No one can expect him to be himself. Except everyone kind of does. Drizzt starts the party by making a half hearted attempt to remind Wulfgar of who he was. It doesn't work so he throws his hands up and says the others can do it better. Except Regis doesn't try, but I get it, they weren't as close as everyone else was. And Bruenor, Wulfgar's adopted father, also doesn't try to help him. Then there's Cattie-Brie. She proclaimed in the last book that she'd never forgotten Wulfgar, but now she's not really sure she loves him because she loves Drizzt, but she's not really sure how she feels and she doesn't want to lose the option of Wulgar so she takes pity on him and decides to have sex with him... yeah, she deserved to get punched in the face here. Thank you SOMEONE for finally giving her what she deserves even though you didn't do it intentionally.
After that, everyone throws their hands up and Wulfgar strikes out on his own to become a raging alcoholic who picks fights in bars and sleeps with random women (because again, problem solving) while the others continue their quest to destroy the Crystal Shard once and for all. Yay! Really, there are some questionable decisions here, but I didn't mind too much. Overall, I was too hung up on how amazing Artemis turned out to be this time around and he completely carried this book for me and reminded me why I love these books.
September 12, 2018
I'm already a big R.A. Salvatore fan and being late to the party, I'm catching up on some of his previous works. The Silent Blade is the first book in the 'Paths of Darkness' series.
While all the characters are known to me already, the depth of Wulfgar, Drizzt and Entreri become even more complex.
Wulfgar, the imposing barbarian from Icewind Dale, having suffered for six years, tormented by the demon Errtu, is delivered physically but unable to clear his head, suffering nightmares and delusions, unable to find joy or meaning, unable to function in reality. After a violent exchange with a friend, not wanting to injure anyone else he cares about, Wulfgar leaves to find his own road.
Drizzt, Bruenor, Regis and Catti-Brie are already invested in a quest to Spirit Soaring from which they cannot deviate. They must deliver the crystal shard artifact known as 'Crenshinibon' to Cadderly who will destroy it. They cannot stop to help their friend with his incomparable grief although their hearts and minds are always with him.
On the other side of the story, one of the dark elf Drizzt's chief rivals, the human assassin, Artemis Entreri, returns to Calimport where warring street gangs, unclear as to his motives for returning, engage him in several battles, a few gangs being cordial and friendly to a point. Eventually, Jarlaxle, a dark elf who once subjected Entreri to the brutal underworld environment of Menzoberranzan, the stronghold of Lolth, delivers the assassin from these gangs and aids his return.
Bringing more dark elves, kobolds and a psionicist to Calimport, opening and closing dimension portals, Entreri and Jarlaxle not only secure the city for trade between the humans and elves, but discover the whereabouts and mission of Drizzt and his companions. Jarlaxle decides it will be in his best interests to pursue and wrest this powerful artifact from them, although they don't know what Crenshinibon is or what it does.
Drizzt and his companions, meanwhile, on their quest, are harassed and beset by goblins and giants drawn to Crenshinibon's power.
I found 'The Silent Blade' to be one of the most entertaining of Salvatore's books so far and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
While all the characters are known to me already, the depth of Wulfgar, Drizzt and Entreri become even more complex.
Wulfgar, the imposing barbarian from Icewind Dale, having suffered for six years, tormented by the demon Errtu, is delivered physically but unable to clear his head, suffering nightmares and delusions, unable to find joy or meaning, unable to function in reality. After a violent exchange with a friend, not wanting to injure anyone else he cares about, Wulfgar leaves to find his own road.
Drizzt, Bruenor, Regis and Catti-Brie are already invested in a quest to Spirit Soaring from which they cannot deviate. They must deliver the crystal shard artifact known as 'Crenshinibon' to Cadderly who will destroy it. They cannot stop to help their friend with his incomparable grief although their hearts and minds are always with him.
On the other side of the story, one of the dark elf Drizzt's chief rivals, the human assassin, Artemis Entreri, returns to Calimport where warring street gangs, unclear as to his motives for returning, engage him in several battles, a few gangs being cordial and friendly to a point. Eventually, Jarlaxle, a dark elf who once subjected Entreri to the brutal underworld environment of Menzoberranzan, the stronghold of Lolth, delivers the assassin from these gangs and aids his return.
Bringing more dark elves, kobolds and a psionicist to Calimport, opening and closing dimension portals, Entreri and Jarlaxle not only secure the city for trade between the humans and elves, but discover the whereabouts and mission of Drizzt and his companions. Jarlaxle decides it will be in his best interests to pursue and wrest this powerful artifact from them, although they don't know what Crenshinibon is or what it does.
Drizzt and his companions, meanwhile, on their quest, are harassed and beset by goblins and giants drawn to Crenshinibon's power.
I found 'The Silent Blade' to be one of the most entertaining of Salvatore's books so far and look forward to reading the rest of the series.
December 8, 2009
Drizzt wall. Even though I still really enjoyed the story, I ended up hitting the Drizzt wall.
So yes, the story was entertaining and enjoyable, which I expect from a Drizzt novel. What I didn't expect, though (and ultimately, what I ended up struggling with) was the three different story lines. Drizzt and his traveling companions made up one part, Entreri and his dealings in Calimport and with Jarlaxle made up the second part, and Wulfgar and his whoring around Luskan made up the third.
I understand that Salvatore points the three separate story lines out to make their own branches in the Forgotten Realm, but I still took issue with the separation. Not only did I have to suffer through yet another book where Artemis Entreri repeatedly questions his manhood because of his past encounters with Drizzt, I was also accosted by Wulfgar's poor decisions and horrible actions. (Yeah, not a fan of Delly!)
Still...I'm way more intrigued by Jarlaxle after this book than I had been after some of the others that he snuck in to. For me, the final battle scene between Entreri and Drizzt, while action-packed and incredibly detailed, wasn't about their fight. For me, it was about Jarlaxle, the strings he pulled, the ideas he had, and the enjoyment he got from what he was watching. There's something about that drow that made the whole thing more tolerable than it should have been for me.
So I'll take another break from Salvatore, knowing that I now have choices as to which story I follow...but knowing that I'll more than likely follow the companions before I move on to Jarlaxle or Cadderly. I just love that I have the choices!
So yes, the story was entertaining and enjoyable, which I expect from a Drizzt novel. What I didn't expect, though (and ultimately, what I ended up struggling with) was the three different story lines. Drizzt and his traveling companions made up one part, Entreri and his dealings in Calimport and with Jarlaxle made up the second part, and Wulfgar and his whoring around Luskan made up the third.
I understand that Salvatore points the three separate story lines out to make their own branches in the Forgotten Realm, but I still took issue with the separation. Not only did I have to suffer through yet another book where Artemis Entreri repeatedly questions his manhood because of his past encounters with Drizzt, I was also accosted by Wulfgar's poor decisions and horrible actions. (Yeah, not a fan of Delly!)
Still...I'm way more intrigued by Jarlaxle after this book than I had been after some of the others that he snuck in to. For me, the final battle scene between Entreri and Drizzt, while action-packed and incredibly detailed, wasn't about their fight. For me, it was about Jarlaxle, the strings he pulled, the ideas he had, and the enjoyment he got from what he was watching. There's something about that drow that made the whole thing more tolerable than it should have been for me.
So I'll take another break from Salvatore, knowing that I now have choices as to which story I follow...but knowing that I'll more than likely follow the companions before I move on to Jarlaxle or Cadderly. I just love that I have the choices!
July 7, 2012
I would like to start off by saying that I'm tired of Drizzt Do'urden. He was cool for about the first seven or eight books in which he appeared but as the series goes on he has become a rather repetitive and boring character. Years ago I found myself enthralled by the many fight scenes in which he goes around slaughtering orcs, goblins or whatever else with his mighty scimitars but it has gotten to the point now to where such scenes are so common place and repetitive that they seem like filler to make for a longer book. At one point while reading this, I realized I was speed reading through most of the parts dealing with Drizzt so I could get to the more interesting parts about Entreri or Wulfgar. Compared to other books in this series, Artemis Entreri and Wulfgar come off as being the more complex characters due to Wulfgar's struggles with PTSD and Entreri's own depression and struggles with identity. It is a book that is worth reading for those who have read Salvatore's other Forgotten Realms novels but overall, it is far from the best in the series and so only deserves a three star rating.
November 15, 2015
Split thoughts on this one.
Salvatore is such a great writer - the things he can do with the written word are amazing and I always love to read him. I just wish he would write more books without Drizzt OR write a different story - sigh.
But I liked this.
We've got Drizzt, Cattie-Brie, Bruenor and Regis going on a journey, taking the crystal shard to Cadderly.
We've got Wulfgar trying to forget his time spent with the Demon Errtu.
We've got Artemis Entreri & Jarlaxle working together.
We've got Artmeis still not sure if he can beat Drizzt.
Really what's not to like (other than we've read this plot before).
The plot involving Artmeis Entreri was really great.
Wulfgar's story was interesting and I wanted to keep turning the pages.
Drizzt's plot was the least interesting in all the plotlines - not much happened, not much going on other than the usual one battle every 30 pages.
Nothing world changing in this book but it was entertaining, kept me turning the pages, kept me wanting more. Classic Salvatore. I'll keep reading him.
Salvatore is such a great writer - the things he can do with the written word are amazing and I always love to read him. I just wish he would write more books without Drizzt OR write a different story - sigh.
But I liked this.
We've got Drizzt, Cattie-Brie, Bruenor and Regis going on a journey, taking the crystal shard to Cadderly.
We've got Wulfgar trying to forget his time spent with the Demon Errtu.
We've got Artemis Entreri & Jarlaxle working together.
We've got Artmeis still not sure if he can beat Drizzt.
Really what's not to like (other than we've read this plot before).
The plot involving Artmeis Entreri was really great.
Wulfgar's story was interesting and I wanted to keep turning the pages.
Drizzt's plot was the least interesting in all the plotlines - not much happened, not much going on other than the usual one battle every 30 pages.
Nothing world changing in this book but it was entertaining, kept me turning the pages, kept me wanting more. Classic Salvatore. I'll keep reading him.
November 30, 2010
I enjoy Salvatore's writing, it does not require much thought or effort to read his books, which make them easy to just sit back and relish them. They are a simple and easy read. I have to say that I am not too excited about this series however. The same villians just keep coming back. Don't you have any new contendors for the Drow or do you have to keep recycling the same old bad guys again and again. Dont get me wrong I like Entreri, but at times I can't help but think that his time has past. I am sure Salvatore is going to keep resurrecting this character again and again, and eventually try to get us to see a good side to him just as they do in that silly "Heroes" tv show. I will keep reading the series, but out of enjoyment of action, and will try not to get bored with the same old sequences and characters again and again.
June 17, 2021
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 'Paths of Darkness' - menyambung kisah pengembaraan Drizzt Do'Urden dan rakan-rakannya (Bruenor Battlehammer, Wufgar, Cattie-Brie, dan Regis). Juga merupakan buku ke-11 (dari 34) dalam siri 'The legend of Drizzt'. Plot novel kali ni menumpukan pada banyak watak, jadi jalan ceritanya laju. Seperti novel2 sebelumnya, novel kali ni juga masih padat dengan aksi2 pertarungan dan elemen-elemen fantasi.
Plot novel kali ni mengisahkan tentang pengembaraan Drizzt dan rakan-rakannya dalam misi untuk memusnahkan Crystal Shard, satu relik purba dengan kuasa kegelapan. Juga mengisahkan tentang Artemis Entreri, pembunuh upahan ternama yg pulang ke negara asalnya di Calimshan dan cabaran yg terpaksa dia tempuhi di sana. Wulgar pula tidak seperti dulu kerana trauma atas seksaan Errtu, makhluk kegelapan dari Abyss...
Plot novel kali ni mengisahkan tentang pengembaraan Drizzt dan rakan-rakannya dalam misi untuk memusnahkan Crystal Shard, satu relik purba dengan kuasa kegelapan. Juga mengisahkan tentang Artemis Entreri, pembunuh upahan ternama yg pulang ke negara asalnya di Calimshan dan cabaran yg terpaksa dia tempuhi di sana. Wulgar pula tidak seperti dulu kerana trauma atas seksaan Errtu, makhluk kegelapan dari Abyss...
August 24, 2024
Mostly a generic adventure but with fairly decent fight scenes. Problems solved a little too conveniently most of the time. I do enjoy Artemis Entreri...I've always pictured him as Lee Van Cleef. 3.5 stars
October 21, 2025
My views over this book has changed since my first time reading & re-listening to the audiobook. After Wulfgar's rescue & return from his imprisonment under Errtu's control is dealing with PTSD from the 5 years of torture. The loving support of Catti-Brie, Drizzt, Bruenor & Regis isn't enough in helping Wulfgar overcome the horrors he experienced.
Meanwhile Artemis Entreri is struggling with purpose after returning to the surface from his stay in Menzoberrazan, he makes his way back to Calimport after being gone since the events in "The Halfling's Gem". Entreri sees how empty his life is when spending time in the Drow city & they all mirrored his own philosophy.
Drizzt having claimed the Crystal Shard after defeating Errtu & banishing the creature from their plan for 100 years takes to the road with the recently reunited Companions of the Hall. Traveling to Spirit Soaring & Cadderly to destroy it. Seeing Wulfgar not recovering well from his time in the Abyss after a situation involving Catti-Brie, Wulfgar leaves the group to make his own way until he can learn to cope.
This book was when I first started seeing Artemis Entreri as a more of a 3 dimentional character. His struggles with trying to find a place while questioning all he thought he knew. While Wulfgar is my least favourite friend of Drizzt touches a soft spot due to my own PTSD issues & how self-destruction seems to be the first step in our recovery in healing.
Meanwhile Artemis Entreri is struggling with purpose after returning to the surface from his stay in Menzoberrazan, he makes his way back to Calimport after being gone since the events in "The Halfling's Gem". Entreri sees how empty his life is when spending time in the Drow city & they all mirrored his own philosophy.
Drizzt having claimed the Crystal Shard after defeating Errtu & banishing the creature from their plan for 100 years takes to the road with the recently reunited Companions of the Hall. Traveling to Spirit Soaring & Cadderly to destroy it. Seeing Wulfgar not recovering well from his time in the Abyss after a situation involving Catti-Brie, Wulfgar leaves the group to make his own way until he can learn to cope.
This book was when I first started seeing Artemis Entreri as a more of a 3 dimentional character. His struggles with trying to find a place while questioning all he thought he knew. While Wulfgar is my least favourite friend of Drizzt touches a soft spot due to my own PTSD issues & how self-destruction seems to be the first step in our recovery in healing.
April 8, 2014
Here's a conundrum: how to write a review for a book that you finished only a few months ago, but have forgotten so entirely that you can't actually remember even a little of what it was about?
I have a fine memory for detail and actually enjoy this particular author, often quite a bit. When he's writing well, Salvatore still misses greatness, but he can pen as good a potboiler as anyone, and really, who needs a steady diet of Faulkner? When you're eating popcorn, it should taste like popcorn, not filet mignon.
So why can't I remember any of this? The Smartest Person in the World, who reads a crapton more books than I do, is always a little impressed by my ability to dredge up even minor plot points from my reading of years and years back. So why can't I recall any of this? Not where it goes in the Drizzt canon, not which characters are central to the plot, not even which ones are alive? I mean, I know it's a Drizzt book because (a) he's on the cover and (b) c'mon, it's R.A. Salvatore. Was it really that unmemorable? Not even enough to like or loathe it strongly enough to do anything but have tossed it into my 'to be reviewed' pile? That much a cipher?
Isn't that a kind of damning evaluation in and of itself?
Huh. I think I figured out the answer to my initial conundrum.
I have a fine memory for detail and actually enjoy this particular author, often quite a bit. When he's writing well, Salvatore still misses greatness, but he can pen as good a potboiler as anyone, and really, who needs a steady diet of Faulkner? When you're eating popcorn, it should taste like popcorn, not filet mignon.
So why can't I remember any of this? The Smartest Person in the World, who reads a crapton more books than I do, is always a little impressed by my ability to dredge up even minor plot points from my reading of years and years back. So why can't I recall any of this? Not where it goes in the Drizzt canon, not which characters are central to the plot, not even which ones are alive? I mean, I know it's a Drizzt book because (a) he's on the cover and (b) c'mon, it's R.A. Salvatore. Was it really that unmemorable? Not even enough to like or loathe it strongly enough to do anything but have tossed it into my 'to be reviewed' pile? That much a cipher?
Isn't that a kind of damning evaluation in and of itself?
Huh. I think I figured out the answer to my initial conundrum.
December 13, 2009
This book feels like a one big filler, I don't even know why. It just plods along, there's no big climax or anything. It follows three story lines: Drizzt, Catti-brie, Regis and Bruenor's, then Wulfgar's and Entreri's. It's a good book but, I don't know, the spark's missing, I guess.
Also, what really irked me was how Drizzt and Catti-brie, mostly it was those two, were all about how they wanted to give Wulfgar time and space to get better - and at the same time they kept nagging and nagging, wanting him to be the same Wulfgar he had been before the yochlol took him, as if they knew better what he needed/wanted. And when it didn't go well, it was hard for them to ~forgive~ Wulfgar his behavior. I was all WHAT? Wulfgar's the victim here, it should be about what ~he~ needs, not what ~you~ need. And the last straw? When Catti-brie consented to sleep with Wulfgar to ~help~ him - right, to sleep with someone out of pity is so good and pristine!
Yes, I'm tired of Drizzt and Catti-brie being the Marty-Sue and Mary-Sue of these books. They can't do any wrong, they are wise and serene and so zen! Right. You know, there's being the "good guy" and then there's "Marty/Mary-sue-ism", and this smacks of the latter.
Also, what really irked me was how Drizzt and Catti-brie, mostly it was those two, were all about how they wanted to give Wulfgar time and space to get better - and at the same time they kept nagging and nagging, wanting him to be the same Wulfgar he had been before the yochlol took him, as if they knew better what he needed/wanted. And when it didn't go well, it was hard for them to ~forgive~ Wulfgar his behavior. I was all WHAT? Wulfgar's the victim here, it should be about what ~he~ needs, not what ~you~ need. And the last straw? When Catti-brie consented to sleep with Wulfgar to ~help~ him - right, to sleep with someone out of pity is so good and pristine!
Yes, I'm tired of Drizzt and Catti-brie being the Marty-Sue and Mary-Sue of these books. They can't do any wrong, they are wise and serene and so zen! Right. You know, there's being the "good guy" and then there's "Marty/Mary-sue-ism", and this smacks of the latter.
October 9, 2011
I feel sooo bad. But I am just not in the mood for this book. I have about 80 pages left but am going to give up and move onto another book.
Edit* I have decided to not go back and finish this book. When I jump on the Drizzt bandwagon again I will just skip this one. With 80 pages left I simply look up what ends up happening.
This book is all filler and I can't take it!
http://angelasanxiouslife.blogspot.co...
Edit* I have decided to not go back and finish this book. When I jump on the Drizzt bandwagon again I will just skip this one. With 80 pages left I simply look up what ends up happening.
This book is all filler and I can't take it!
http://angelasanxiouslife.blogspot.co...
December 4, 2023
New Review:
ლოთი და "ემო" ვულფგარი ამაზრზენი კიარა გადასარევად დაწერილი პერსონაჟი გამოდგა. ზოგადადაც მთელი სერია რერიდზე აშკარად ბევრად სასიამოვნო წასაკითხი გამოდგა.
Old Review:
არტემის ენტრერი მთელი თავისი დიდებულებით.
ჯარლაქსლი ხო საერთოდ. ამოყვეს როგორც იქნა ცხვირი მენზობერანზანიდან, ამას ველოდები რამდენი ხანია.
ერთდროულად ლოთი და ემო ვულფგარი ამაზრზენია, ამას ჯობდა ისევ მკვდარი დაეტოვებინა.
ლოთი და "ემო" ვულფგარი ამაზრზენი კიარა გადასარევად დაწერილი პერსონაჟი გამოდგა. ზოგადადაც მთელი სერია რერიდზე აშკარად ბევრად სასიამოვნო წასაკითხი გამოდგა.
Old Review:
არტემის ენტრერი მთელი თავისი დიდებულებით.
ჯარლაქსლი ხო საერთოდ. ამოყვეს როგორც იქნა ცხვირი მენზობერანზანიდან, ამას ველოდები რამდენი ხანია.
ერთდროულად ლოთი და ემო ვულფგარი ამაზრზენია, ამას ჯობდა ისევ მკვდარი დაეტოვებინა.
April 12, 2023
Wreszcie po wielu dniach skończone.
Moje odczucia są mieszane, ponieważ jestem zauroczona historią Drizzda i jego przyjaciół aczkolwiek jest to 11 część jego opiwiesci. Miałam duże wymagania i zastanawiałam się jak autor uchwyci to piękno i zaciekawi czytelnika do przeczytania. Otóż nawet mu się to udało, pierwsza połowę przeczytalam tak szybko że nawet nie zdawałam sobie sprawy, że strony mi tak uciekały. Później miałam lekki problem. Bo autor skupił się na drugiej bardzo ważnej postaci lekko odchodząc od Drizzda, która moim zdaniem powinna zginac ze dwa tomy temu. Nie do końca mi się podobało to wplatywanie, ale trwało to może z jakieś 50 stron więc do wytrzymania. Końcówka mnie rozwaliła totalnie. Plot twist na koniec, co ciekawe zostały mi jeszcze dwa tomy więc zabieram się do czytania i zobaczymy jak akcja się dalej utrzyma.
Czasami akcja mi się dłużyła ale taki tip( najlepiej mi się ta serię czyta przy sluchaniu melodii z gry o tron- wtedy gdy są sceny walki dodaje to mocnego uroku książce hahaha i moja wyobraźnia działala jeszcze lepiej wyobrażając sobie te cudowne opisy sztuki walki)
Moja ocenka to: 4.5/5
Moje odczucia są mieszane, ponieważ jestem zauroczona historią Drizzda i jego przyjaciół aczkolwiek jest to 11 część jego opiwiesci. Miałam duże wymagania i zastanawiałam się jak autor uchwyci to piękno i zaciekawi czytelnika do przeczytania. Otóż nawet mu się to udało, pierwsza połowę przeczytalam tak szybko że nawet nie zdawałam sobie sprawy, że strony mi tak uciekały. Później miałam lekki problem. Bo autor skupił się na drugiej bardzo ważnej postaci lekko odchodząc od Drizzda, która moim zdaniem powinna zginac ze dwa tomy temu. Nie do końca mi się podobało to wplatywanie, ale trwało to może z jakieś 50 stron więc do wytrzymania. Końcówka mnie rozwaliła totalnie. Plot twist na koniec, co ciekawe zostały mi jeszcze dwa tomy więc zabieram się do czytania i zobaczymy jak akcja się dalej utrzyma.
Czasami akcja mi się dłużyła ale taki tip( najlepiej mi się ta serię czyta przy sluchaniu melodii z gry o tron- wtedy gdy są sceny walki dodaje to mocnego uroku książce hahaha i moja wyobraźnia działala jeszcze lepiej wyobrażając sobie te cudowne opisy sztuki walki)
Moja ocenka to: 4.5/5
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 24, 2020
Після тривалої перерви продовжив читання романів з циклу "Забуті королівства". Перерва сприяла відновленню зацікавлення пригодами дворфа Бреннора, темного ельфа Дрізта, лучниці Кетті Брі, гафлінга Реджиса, велетня Вульфгара та інших. Герої рушають у похід з певною метою. Уламок магічного кристала притягує різних ворогів, з якими доводиться змагатися. Вульфгар після визволення з полону демона Ерту страждає певним посттравматичним синдромом, залишає компанію та пиячить (виявляється про цей синдром у жанрі фентезі писали задовго до сучасних українських авторів). Убивця Артеміс Ентрері повертається до рідного міста і потрапляє у вир пригод та інтриг. І знову завершальний поєдинок між Дрізтом і Ентрері...
November 30, 2021
Wow, I actually enjoyed that. I’ve had a nice break from Drizzt, and I think it was needed. Paths of Darkness seems like it will be better than Legacy if the Drow of this keeps up, favorite since Streams of Silver.
July 1, 2020
These books realy were never ment for me. I enjoyed milking the drama to my co-workers but I think me and Drizzit need to see other people.
May 18, 2023
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would.
November 21, 2024
This was an easy book to read. I look forward to reading the next book
December 31, 2024
As usual, very action packed and another chapter in the follow up to the last books. Focus is turning to Wulfgar, be interesting to see what happens next
April 15, 2025
fabulous storytelling as always
June 20, 2025
I do love Jaraxle, he’s an amazing villain. Not enjoying wulfgars plot but we’ll see. I want Drizzt to have his romance
Read
October 1, 2025PEAK
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