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Hunter's Blades #1-3 omnibus
The Hunter's Blades Collector's Edition
Believing his friends to be dead and his home overrun by vicious orcs, an isolated Drizzt Do'Urden takes on the solitary role of avenger as the Hunter, risking everything to destroy the orc king Obould, in an omnibus edition containing the three novels from the Hunter Trilogy--The Thousand Orcs, The Lone Drow, and The Two Swords. 20,000 first printing.
1056 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
13 people are currently reading
1373 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Salvatore
606 books11.4k 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 21, 2017
I have to say I am a Drizzt Do'Urden fan, and I though with the title being the Hunter's Blades there would be a lot more of Drizzt in this book. Epically the last story focused more on Wulfgar. Apart from Drizzt's surgical attacks he was pretty ordinary in this book. The few battles he slipped into the Hunter were amazing, but this arc was more about the King Benovier, Drizzt get separated from the group and carries his personal war to the Orks, even in this he is pretty ineffectual. I have a feeling this leads into the Ork King this trilogy is more like filler than anything else. Bit disappointing really. Even the other Drow in this story were not just useless but pointless aside from possible setting up something in the next book.
November 6, 2007
All three books were excellent! Reading them in the same volume was as if it was one epic. Killing, killing and more killing, but written in such a fantastic way. I'm not a morbid person, if you are unfamiliar with R.A. Salvatore, then don't read into my previous statement. For those that are, i won't have to say anything more than i have. I will read this trilogy again, as i know i missed some details from reading more than a few parts too fast because i wanted to know what was going to happen. The next book The Orc King (2007) starts off where the last book of this trilogy (The Two Swords) left off(I started it the same day i finished the Hunter's Blades trilogy!).
November 23, 2008
The Hunter's blade Trilogy is actually books 17 18 and 19 in Salvatore's series about Drizzit the Dark Elf that turned away from his dark civilization to live a moral existence.
I'd have to say that this is the most disappointing series for me so far. Practically the whole trilogy was about the war with the Orcs in the Spine of the World. For me, the best part of the Drizzt books are the individual journeys and adventures. This series is all about war, so there really is no adventuring. I found it very annoying that Drizzit assumes his friends are dead without really even trying to find out for sure. While he has good reason to suspect they may have NOT survived, he also completely ignores the evidence that they may HAVE survived.
Despite the fact that I was disappointed with this series, I felt it was worth reading. I am really hoping that it is the set up for great things in the next series. There have been definite hints about great things to come for the dwarfs that will make the great city of Mithril hall pale in comparison. I look forward to that time, but in the mean time I read this to keep up with the story and be ready for the next series. Keeping up has definitely been worth it so far.
I'd have to say that this is the most disappointing series for me so far. Practically the whole trilogy was about the war with the Orcs in the Spine of the World. For me, the best part of the Drizzt books are the individual journeys and adventures. This series is all about war, so there really is no adventuring. I found it very annoying that Drizzit assumes his friends are dead without really even trying to find out for sure. While he has good reason to suspect they may have NOT survived, he also completely ignores the evidence that they may HAVE survived.
Despite the fact that I was disappointed with this series, I felt it was worth reading. I am really hoping that it is the set up for great things in the next series. There have been definite hints about great things to come for the dwarfs that will make the great city of Mithril hall pale in comparison. I look forward to that time, but in the mean time I read this to keep up with the story and be ready for the next series. Keeping up has definitely been worth it so far.
June 24, 2008
Another awesome trilogy. Obviously I am a huge R.A. Salvatore fan. My favorite author.
April 20, 2017
Drizzt torna ai livelli degli inizi. Tante spade (come sempre), qualche lagna di troppo (come sempre), ma stavolta c'è una storia. Peccato solo che il cattivo sia solo un orco.
January 30, 2019
A fellow writer suggested to me this world of Drizzt Do'Urden by R. A. Salvatore for the author's technical skill in describing battle scenes, particularly for the dual sword wielding of the main character. And so of course I had to jump into the middle of the story instead of doing the sensible thing and starting at the beginning; I've been making a bad habit of that lately, it seems. That aside, I have to say that Salvatore is rather good at writing battle, the strategic and tactical choreography is thorough, which I can appreciate because I've never been all that swell at strategy. I always lose those games.
I can't say too much about the characters, since I met them fourteen books into the series, but I find them energetic, loyal, and almost obscenely enthusiastic about killing orcs. The entire theme of the dwarves, humans, and elves enjoying that so much kind of took me aback. Not that the orcs were helping their own case, though. Of the entire cast, Pikel Bouldershoulder might just claim the spot as my favorite character; he's such a fun, unconventional little dwarf. The trilogy ended on a note practically sweeping into the sequel, with more of a respite from the challenges of current events than any real resolution, and I can't decide if I'd rather continue from here or go back and start from the beginning.
Either way, it's a huge step up from my previous conceptions of this world. A few years ago I read Daughter of the Drow, and was not impressed, which gave me misgivings about returning to the Forgotten Realms. This storyline alleviated those concerns, and the only downside that stood out to me throughout the trilogy (other than the sick glee for slaughtering orcs mostly just because they're orcs) was the obviously overused word 'obviously'. It stuck out to me often, especially after seeing it three times within two pages, and it disrupted the flow of the narrative for me a little bit. I felt it wasn't really necessary to have most, if any, of them in order to get the point across, because it's already apparent how observant and good the characters are at reading the atmosphere. I'm kind of surprised that they're ever surprised at all.
Nevertheless, it was an interesting story focusing more on dwarves than the (obviously) more popular elves throughout the epic fantasy genre, and Drizzt's journey through loss and grief, from hatred and despair to acceptance moving forward was, I thought, fairly well done . . . even if in the end he found out all his friends were still alive, he grieved for nothing, and nobody in the main cast even died. Gotta love plot armor, and I speak as someone who uses it just as much as anyone else.
I think I'll go back to the beginning and start with Homeland.
I can't say too much about the characters, since I met them fourteen books into the series, but I find them energetic, loyal, and almost obscenely enthusiastic about killing orcs. The entire theme of the dwarves, humans, and elves enjoying that so much kind of took me aback. Not that the orcs were helping their own case, though. Of the entire cast, Pikel Bouldershoulder might just claim the spot as my favorite character; he's such a fun, unconventional little dwarf. The trilogy ended on a note practically sweeping into the sequel, with more of a respite from the challenges of current events than any real resolution, and I can't decide if I'd rather continue from here or go back and start from the beginning.
Either way, it's a huge step up from my previous conceptions of this world. A few years ago I read Daughter of the Drow, and was not impressed, which gave me misgivings about returning to the Forgotten Realms. This storyline alleviated those concerns, and the only downside that stood out to me throughout the trilogy (other than the sick glee for slaughtering orcs mostly just because they're orcs) was the obviously overused word 'obviously'. It stuck out to me often, especially after seeing it three times within two pages, and it disrupted the flow of the narrative for me a little bit. I felt it wasn't really necessary to have most, if any, of them in order to get the point across, because it's already apparent how observant and good the characters are at reading the atmosphere. I'm kind of surprised that they're ever surprised at all.
Nevertheless, it was an interesting story focusing more on dwarves than the (obviously) more popular elves throughout the epic fantasy genre, and Drizzt's journey through loss and grief, from hatred and despair to acceptance moving forward was, I thought, fairly well done . . . even if in the end he found out all his friends were still alive, he grieved for nothing, and nobody in the main cast even died. Gotta love plot armor, and I speak as someone who uses it just as much as anyone else.
I think I'll go back to the beginning and start with Homeland.
December 27, 2020
Battle at helms deep on steroids !!! Awesome !!
December 30, 2016
While this isn't my favorite of Salvatore's Forgotten Realms series, it would rank close to the top. The Hunter's Blades trilogy is much darker than his previous books, with a pervasive feeling of loss and doom hanging over nearly the whole thing. All of the characters go through pretty extreme emotional turmoil, but Drizzt in particular has a rough time of it, reverting back to the Hunter and struggling with his belief that his friends are dead. Regis, Wulfgar, and Catie-Brie don't know where Drizzt is and are watching Bruenor slowly die through much of the trilogy. And everybody is in very desperate straights as a seemingly unstoppable orc horde grows and grows to where there doesn't seem any way the people of the North can hold back the tide.
This trilogy greatly expands (sometimes temporarily) the host of characters, and is really a character-driven story. New allies such as Banak Brawnanvil, Tred McKnuckles, Dagnabbit, and Nikwillig expand the scope of the story. Also, great new villains are introduced, including Proffit the troll, Gerti Orelsdottr, Tos'un, Ad'non, and of course Obould. We get much of the story told from their perspective, which is a fairly new strategy used by Salvatore.
The first book, The Thousand Orcs picks up right where 'SEA OF SWORDS' left off. The companions are reunited (with the addition of Delly Curtie and baby Colsen), and Bruenor and the gang are setting off for Mithril Hall where Bruenor will take up the kingship. Unbeknownst to them, a powerful leader has emerged in the orc tribes of the Spine of the World, uniting the orcs and allying with a band of frost giants and renegade drow. As Drizzt and Co. travel to Mithril Hall they encounter many signs of heavy orc activity and decide to patrol the region and warn its inhabitants of the danger. They also make a stop at Mirabar, a rival of Mithril Hall, to stir up trouble and remind Mirabar's dwarves of their heritage. The whole book comes down to a desperate situation with the Companions being trapped in the town of Shallows during a siege of overwhelming strength. The final battle takes up the majority of the second half of the book and is quite intense.
The Lone Drow picks up with the dwarves falling back to Keeper's Dale outside Mithril Hall and Drizzt believing that all of his friends were killed. During his broken-hearted rampages against the orcs, Drizzt encounters Tarathiel and Innovindil, who help bring him back to sanity and then aid him in disrupting the greenskin army. Some characters from Mirabar, introduced in the first book, were further developed here, particularly Torgar Hammerstriker, Shoudra Stargleam, and Nanfoodle. The orc king, Obould Many-Arrows, through blessings from his god and increased support from his kin, becomes a worthy foe for the powerful Companions.
My favorite book of the trilogy was The Two Swords, in which Drizzt and Obould finally face off and the dwarves of Mithril Hall defend their home against a determined press and link up with their allies. Wulfgar's new wife, Delly Curtie, plays a major role in this one, as do all of the old characters we love so much. Also, we get the reunion of the Companions that we've been looking forward to so long. One very pleasing thing about this book was the emotional (and physical) play between Innovindil and Drizzt, perhaps the first time that we see some weakness in our hero. While the ending isn't as conclusive as I had hoped, I'm sure Salvatore has great plans for the next trilogy, Transitions.
If you liked the other Drizzt books, you'll probably like this one too. Its not really any better or any worse, and doesn't change too much except for possibly becoming a little more mature, with some rather graphic scenes and a couple of uses of the word 'bitch'. I was extremely pleased with this trilogy and look forward to reading the next one.
This trilogy greatly expands (sometimes temporarily) the host of characters, and is really a character-driven story. New allies such as Banak Brawnanvil, Tred McKnuckles, Dagnabbit, and Nikwillig expand the scope of the story. Also, great new villains are introduced, including Proffit the troll, Gerti Orelsdottr, Tos'un, Ad'non, and of course Obould. We get much of the story told from their perspective, which is a fairly new strategy used by Salvatore.
The first book, The Thousand Orcs picks up right where 'SEA OF SWORDS' left off. The companions are reunited (with the addition of Delly Curtie and baby Colsen), and Bruenor and the gang are setting off for Mithril Hall where Bruenor will take up the kingship. Unbeknownst to them, a powerful leader has emerged in the orc tribes of the Spine of the World, uniting the orcs and allying with a band of frost giants and renegade drow. As Drizzt and Co. travel to Mithril Hall they encounter many signs of heavy orc activity and decide to patrol the region and warn its inhabitants of the danger. They also make a stop at Mirabar, a rival of Mithril Hall, to stir up trouble and remind Mirabar's dwarves of their heritage. The whole book comes down to a desperate situation with the Companions being trapped in the town of Shallows during a siege of overwhelming strength. The final battle takes up the majority of the second half of the book and is quite intense.
The Lone Drow picks up with the dwarves falling back to Keeper's Dale outside Mithril Hall and Drizzt believing that all of his friends were killed. During his broken-hearted rampages against the orcs, Drizzt encounters Tarathiel and Innovindil, who help bring him back to sanity and then aid him in disrupting the greenskin army. Some characters from Mirabar, introduced in the first book, were further developed here, particularly Torgar Hammerstriker, Shoudra Stargleam, and Nanfoodle. The orc king, Obould Many-Arrows, through blessings from his god and increased support from his kin, becomes a worthy foe for the powerful Companions.
My favorite book of the trilogy was The Two Swords, in which Drizzt and Obould finally face off and the dwarves of Mithril Hall defend their home against a determined press and link up with their allies. Wulfgar's new wife, Delly Curtie, plays a major role in this one, as do all of the old characters we love so much. Also, we get the reunion of the Companions that we've been looking forward to so long. One very pleasing thing about this book was the emotional (and physical) play between Innovindil and Drizzt, perhaps the first time that we see some weakness in our hero. While the ending isn't as conclusive as I had hoped, I'm sure Salvatore has great plans for the next trilogy, Transitions.
If you liked the other Drizzt books, you'll probably like this one too. Its not really any better or any worse, and doesn't change too much except for possibly becoming a little more mature, with some rather graphic scenes and a couple of uses of the word 'bitch'. I was extremely pleased with this trilogy and look forward to reading the next one.
August 11, 2013
The Drizzt Do'Urden stories of R.A. Salvatore are an acquired taste that I have to admit took me far too long to acquire. My love of role playing games and the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons should have led me to these much sooner. Reading a single book in the series is simply not enough. These characters are more than just fantasy ciphers. They are realistic people who have talents, failings, humorous foibles, and dark scars from a hard life. In the course of all these stories they learn life lessons, discover themselves, grow old, grow wise, and eventually die. Oh, and occasionally they kill a dragon. ...And not all of them are people, of course, some of them are elves and dwarves and halflings and even orcs. It is a fantasy universe that can actually teach you things about real life in this universe. The catch is, you have to read them all. And you will get hooked.
July 8, 2011
This trilogy is a feeble addition to the Drizzt tales, failing to provide adventure and turmoil. The main characters have long since wrestled their demons and achieved stability. The story forces minor discussions to reaffirm friendships and contrives tension to slow the unstoppable heroes. Orcs and giants march, battles happen, and descriptions and conversations repeat, don't ye doubt.
Positives include the Bouldershoulder brothers, especially the doo-dad; the aftermath of Bruenor's cagey visit to Mirabar; the power struggle between Gerti and Obould; Gutbusters doing what they do best; and well crafted dwarven fights, including a fiery surprise.
Positives include the Bouldershoulder brothers, especially the doo-dad; the aftermath of Bruenor's cagey visit to Mirabar; the power struggle between Gerti and Obould; Gutbusters doing what they do best; and well crafted dwarven fights, including a fiery surprise.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2008
This book is sweet its about a a dark elf Drizzt Do'urden who forsake his races evil ways and came to the surface and meets these great people and he befriends them. The first books in the series all explain these and the adventures they go on and eventually he even gets captured by the people he forsake.
In this book though Drizzts whole world is collapsing around him because his home and friends are all being attacked and overrun by orcs and are being led by a sweet evil dude named Obould.
In this book though Drizzts whole world is collapsing around him because his home and friends are all being attacked and overrun by orcs and are being led by a sweet evil dude named Obould.
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June 26, 2008I ended up reading this set of books in a single sitting. After reading about these characters over the last 10 years, the story line really took a twist and I had to see what was going to happen next. Salvatore has a way of drawing you into the fight scenes so that you feel like you are actually there. His word usage is very descriptive and makes it come to life. And even in the most intense parts, he manages to throw in some humor.
March 25, 2008
well this is a trilogy and I am on the third book in that trilogy and all i can say so far is wow. it is fantastic teh only hing that kind of bugs me is that Salvatore always recaps previous books becasue this is a large series. while it is necessary for new readers, since i am a dedicated fan it jstu gets in teh way now.
March 16, 2007
Still readable and entertaining but by this point in the series the story has really lost it's edge. Seems like these were just an excuse to have the main character fight thousands of plucky bad guys. The internal struggle that drove the other books seems gone.
June 28, 2008
The unresolved thing is there for the majority of the time again, but this gets five stars for how it's resolved at the very end! yum. unless there's another one that I don't know about and he unresolved it again.
July 15, 2012
Really? Regis brought him back with his gem? You must have really been fighting for ideas.
The positive side of this trilogy is that the little philosophical snippits that by now you either love or hate are quite enlightening.
The positive side of this trilogy is that the little philosophical snippits that by now you either love or hate are quite enlightening.
July 31, 2007
Drizzt, shitloadssa killing, insane action.
November 9, 2007
A fantstic story. A great continuation of the Drizzt story. I loved the dwarven warfare presented in this book and i love Nanfoodle the gnome because he likes to make things explode as much as i do.
December 31, 2007
its amazing for all the people who like fantasies and such
March 13, 2008
So far this one is only mildly interesting but im only on page 20 or so and i know it will get better!
Read
June 18, 2008loved the series because of the change it brings to the story.
July 14, 2008
I feel like crying over the anguish that Drizzt is going through.
Read
August 8, 2011This was the first book I read out of all his series and now has me reading all the books leading to this one.
Read
August 10, 2011Really long book that I just couldn't put down...
February 3, 2017
4.5 Stars
July 26, 2019
a very powerfull trilogy
the last one that i was really invested on the journey of drizzt
after that... either i got old or salvagore seemed to me peretitive
the last one that i was really invested on the journey of drizzt
after that... either i got old or salvagore seemed to me peretitive
October 11, 2012
see book 1
June 20, 2017
Read the first 2 books of this series several years ago and finally started reading the last book in the collector's edition the past couple of months. I just couldn't get into this set. They style is still irrevocably Bob's, but the content just didn't grip me as much as the previous novels. The emotional turmoil of the characters feels about right but a certain dark elf's approach just makes me want to throttle him. Still going to finish this though in hopes the next set will be better.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews