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Title: The Lone Drow (Forgotten Realms: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 2) by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0-7869-3012-8 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 28 October, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $25.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.31 (52 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: R.A. Salvatore scores again with this great read
Comment: The Lone Drow continues R.A. Salvatores newest epic the Hunters Blades Trilogy. Those who read the first novel in this series were chomping at the bit, for this continuation. I couldn't wait to see what had happened to Bruenor, Wulfgar, Cattie Brie and especially Drizzt.
Salvatore shines the spotlight on a few newer characters. Nanfoodle and Shoudra leap off the pages, as you see what an unlikely pair they make. Meanwhile Pikel and his brother dwarf step up in more of a leading role than in past books. Let's not forget about Obould Many Arrows the Orc King that has rallied thousands of Orcs and an assortment of Frost Giants and trolls to his banner. This character has developed into a real threat unlike any faced by the companions before.
Drizzt finds himself battling alongside two surface elves and pondering "What if" thoughts since he believes his friends are gone. This book highlights all the passion, pain and adventure that are integral elements of Salvatores stories, and takes it to a new level. Never before has this band of heroes and their friends faced such a threat. Can they rally and win the day....we will see in next chapter......I can't wait.
Rating: 3
Summary: If 3 stars is mediocre, then mediocre it is.
Comment: I have read and absorbed a few of the previous reviews for R.A. Salvatore's latest Drizzt installments and not once has anyone touched on the glaring similarity to the recently released Lord of the Rings movies. I began reading about Drizzt over 10 years ago, falling in love with a character that I could totally relate to (the single most important factor in establishing character development). The Thousand Orcs.....The Two Towers. The release of the book, not to mention the eerily similar content, coincided very harmoniously with the movie. We have an assembly of many, many snarling and bloodthirsty orcs in both cases. Now if this doesn't reek of a cash-grab, I don't know what does. I whole-heartedly agree that Drizzt et troupe have become characatures of themselves. The names of the secondary characters, not to mention their dialogue ("oo, oi"???) have slid uncerimoniously from the sublime to the absolute ridiculous. Give us some credit Rob, we've grown up with Drizzt. Whay hasn't he grown up with us? The "poor me" syndrome he seems steeped in just doesn't cut it anymore for a warrior of his stature. Forget about D&D stats, here is a fully fleshed-out character that really does need to mature and develop his own path. Perhaps Drizzt's inability to mature and "move on" is symptomatic of R.A. Salvatore's inability to create what he loves without WotC breathing down his neck about revenues and deadlines. I don't care how long it takes Rob to write another Drizzt novel, but please, for the sake of this wonderful, enduring and lovable character you have blessed us with, let him loose. Take a journey back across the worlds you have created and look at the very reason you set out on the journey. We love you Drizzt.
Rating: 5
Summary: Drizzt Alone amidst Tens of Thousands of Goblinkin
Comment: The Lone Drow is the second novel in the Hunter's Blades trilogy, following The Thousand Orcs. In the previous volume, the goblinkin topple Withegroo's tower and overrun Shallows town. King Bruenor was injured in the crashing tower and the orcs believed him to have been killed. However, some of the defenders, including the injured dwarf king, escaped within a wooden sculpture of Gruumsh, the orcish god.
In this novel, Drizzt has been killing orcs, goblins and giants outside the siege lines and believes his friends to have died when the town fell. In his pain, he retreats into the Hunter state and loses himself in the killing. He is not quite alone among the goblinkin, for two surface elves, Tarathiel and Innovindil, and their pegasi mounts are also ambushing and raiding the orc army. However, Drizzt is avoiding these elves since they were friends of the deluded and deceased Ellifain.
Bruenor is deep within a coma, being kept alive only by the healing magic of the dwarf clerics, but he is not yet dead. Regis has been appointed Steward to manage the affairs of Mithral Hall as Bruenor would have wanted it run. Catti-brie and Wulfgar are supporting Banak Brawnanvil in holding back the orc army on the cliffs overlooking Keeper's Dale to the west of Mithral Hall.
The dwarves from Mirabar under Torgar Hammerstriker are also fighting with Banak on the western cliffs. Marchon Elastul of Mirabar is incensed at this betrayal and sends Shoudra Stargleam and Nanfoodle the gnome alchemist to cause trouble in Mithral Hall. However, Shoudra and Nanfoodle soon have other plans.
King Obould Many-Arrows has attracted even more goblinkin after the fall of Shallows and the supposed death of King Bruenor. The orc shamans begin to follow Arganth Snarrl, who is proclaiming Obould as the avatar of Gruumsh. Obould's son, Urlgen Threefist, commands the orcs facing Banak on the cliffs, but his father is holding back replacements and thus stealing the victory from him. Gerti, the queen of the frost giants, is beginning to see Obould taking charge and leaving her in a subordinate role. The four renegade drow advising Obould also see their influence lessening and Kaer'lic, priestess of Lloth, is beginning to fear Drizzt intensely.
In this story, the orc army in the west and the trolls in the east are beginning to grind down the dwarves and their allies. Although Banak is devastating the goblinkin attacking him, the orcs are receiving reinforcements and the dwarves are not. Moreover, King Obould is starting to make sound decisions, unlike the usual orc style of warfare.
For those who prefer action, this story may exceed your every desire. Whenever Drizzt is feeling depressed, he goes out and kills more orcs and giants. Meanwhile, the orcs are throwing themselves at the dwarves defending Mithral Hall. Thank goodness for the occasional introspection piece by Drizzt to allow the pulse rate to return to normal.
This story shows the dwarves on the defense. Moreover, Drizzt is mostly alone (except for Guenhwyvar) and convinced that he is the sole survivor among the companions. Nesme has fallen to the trolls and the survivors fled. Other than Mirabar, the dwarf allies are on the wrong side of the Subrin defense built by the goblinkin. The situation looks dark. Can the author save all in the concluding volume, The Two Swords?
Highly recommended for Salvatore and Forgotten Realm fans and for anyone else who enjoys epic tales of beleaguered heroes facing powerful and wicked foes.
-Arthur W. Jordin
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Title: The Thousand Orcs (Forgotten Realms: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 1) by R. A. Salvatore ISBN: 0786929804 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 13 July, 2003 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: Condemnation (Forgotten Realms: R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen, Book 3) by Richard Baker ISBN: 0786928247 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 30 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Extinction (Forgotten Realms: R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen, Book 4) by Lisa Smedman ISBN: 0786929898 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 28 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Insurrection (Forgotten Realms: R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen, Book 2) by Thomas M. Reid ISBN: 0786927860 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 04 December, 2002 List Price(USD): $24.95 |
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Title: Dissolution (Forgotten Realms: R.A. Salvatore's War of the Spider Queen, Book 1) by Richard Lee Byers ISBN: 0786929448 Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Pub. Date: 18 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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