Tag: r.a. salvatore

Servant of the Shard by R.A. Salvatore

I’m happy that these characters have their own series as they’re too interesting to just be left as side characters.

3/5 stars
Hardcover, 348 pages.
Read from January 2, 2019 to January 8, 2019.

I said to myself that I wasn’t going to touch this series and just stick with the ones about Drizzt but I couldn’t help myself. Especially with how the Neverwinter series went, I just had to know more about these supposed bad boys Jarlaxle and Artemis.

This novel takes place while the companions are all still together and instead of following Drizzt and his crew you see what’s happening on the other side with Jarlaxle and Artemis. This story shows what happens to the infamous Crystal Shard when it lands in Jarlaxle’s hands. Artemis has found himself within the company of drow, a precarious situation, but he has learned much about how this aggressive race of elves work and think. He is also aiming at robbing a highly guarded sword with which he hopes to have the help of his questionable ally, Jarlaxle. Jarlaxle, however, has found himself in a bit of bind as he doesn’t realize that the precious Crystal Shard is manipulating him. To make matters worse, Bregan D’aerthe, his own family, is trying to turn on him. Both Jarlaxle and Artemis have managed to be successful in their assassinating and scheming endeavours because they never trust anyone but in order for the two of them to come out of this situation alive, they’re going to have to address some of their trust issues.

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Artemis and Jarlaxle by WhiteElzora on Deviant Art

This book was exactly what I expected. The characters are consistent with what I have read in the Drizzt books. I’m also happy that these characters have their own series as they’re too interesting to just be left as side characters. It’s intriguing to see Artemis as a parallel to Drizzt and reading this book helps define Artemis’ character further within Drizzt’s story, especially in the Neverwinter books. Artemis has his own moral compass, it’s just not aligned the way Drizzt’s is, which of course, Drizzt comes to see in the Neverwinter books.  Having read those books first, I am curious as to what happens between Jarlaxle and Artemis at the end of this trilogy as the Neverwinter books allude to an event. I enjoyed reading about these two rogues and look forward to reading the remainder of the trilogy.

The Last Threshold by R.A. Salvatore

Oh man, THAT ENDING?! I mean, it can’t be true right? 

4/5 stars.
Hardcover, 384 pages.
Read from November 8, 2018 to November 13, 2018.

I think this book was meant to be the last one on Drizzt but as I am clearly behind with the series by a few years so it’s consoling to know that it isn’t, because, oh man, THAT ENDING?! I mean, it can’t be true right?

Drizzt is still travelling with Dahlia and his former arch-enemy Artemis. Drizzt is beginning to distance himself from Dahlia as he can see that there is a bond forming between her and Artemis. He needs to explore his feelings further as his initial jealousy fades away into nothing and he isn’t sure why. Dahlia is still working on dealing with her past and will find herself in a position to redeem herself with her son, Effron. Drizzt is surprised when his companions decide to follow him on his next adventure to Icewind Dale, especially Artemis as he begins to show his true character, but Drizzt will need their assistance when it comes to battling out what Tiago Baenre has in store for him.

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Does else have a fictional crush on Drizzt like I do?

Drizzt makes the revelation we were all hoping that he would come to in this book but definitely not with the ending the Salvatore gave us. Many fans were disappointed with the ending and I can understand why but I personally don’t think it could have ended any other way. Drizzt is too much of badass fighter and a decent person to have it end any other way. I admit, I am disappointed it came from Dahlia, as I wasn’t her biggest fan, but ultimately I agree with Salvatore’s choice of ending. It’s hard to talk about the book without spoiling a bit so here is your warning. Drizzt does ditch Dahlia. This is one thing many fans were happy about, myself included. Dahlia’s character just wasn’t dynamic enough for me and I didn’t feel that she was a worthy partner to Drizzt. However, in terms of rebound relationships, Dahlia was perfect for Drizzt as he learned so much from the time he spent with her and was able to get back to his roots and true self in the end along with new perspectives on his beliefs on righteousness. I secretly hope that Dahlia and Artemis become a thing now they might be good for each other.

It was also this book that made me decide to read The Sellswords series which is a side trilogy that follows the time Artemis and Jarlaxle spend together which I wasn’t initially planning on reading. However, this Neverwinter series alludes so much to that time that I really wanted to know all the additional details. I also found myself really liking Artemis and now I want to know more about his change in character.

Now that this major part of the expansive series is done, I can hardly wait to see where the next book is going to take me. Where will Drizzt be in the next book and who will he be with? Ahhh I can’t wait!

Charon’s Claw by R.A. Salvatore

Will Drizzt act on his building jealousy? Where will this path of revenge lead him?

3/5 stars.
Hardcover, 352 pages.
Read from June 27, 2018 to July 5, 2018.

In anticipation of the newest release the in Legend of Drizzt series, I have been trying to make a bit of progress through this immense series. If I am honest though, I don’t really want to catch up. This series has always been a reliable go-to easy and enjoyable read that has almost always gotten me out of book slumps. While the last book in this series, Neverwinter I found a bit lacklustre, this book helped revive the story a bit.

Drizzt is still following his lover, Dahlia, on her path for revenge against the Netherese lord Herzgo Alegni. This is not typical behaviour for Drizzt as he has often followed a path of righteousness, or at least he did with his old companions. As in Neverwinter, you get to see a darker side to Drizzt that wasn’t present in the previous novels. Drizzt does not feel the same remorse while killing and he finds himself feeling something he has never felt before: jealousy. Dahlia and Drizzt’s frenemy Artemis have a connection and an understanding of suffering that he cannot relate to. A suffering that has lead the two of them to questionable lives, in Drizzt’s opinion, but is also drawing them closer together. Dahlia seems a little too concerned about the impending end of Artemis as the journey to kill Herzgo and destroy the sword that has enslaved Artemis well past his human lifespan. Will Drizzt act on his building jealousy? Where will this path of revenge lead him?

It’s kind of nice to see Drizzt have a few faults. I mean, the elf is damn near perfect otherwise and the darker themes lend well to developing his character. Do I like Dahlia? Not particularly. Do I feel bad for her awful childhood? Yes. Artemis, I have always had a thing for as he mirrors the other side of Drizzt. Unfortunately, there are a lot of side characters in this book that I don’t care for that convolute the plot, a problem I also had with this book’s predecessor. I am still, however, looking forward to the final book in this four-part series and will continue to follow Drizzt until the end of the total series in which I am still about 10 books behind in.

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