This is Book 2 in the Transitions trilogy and is the 18th book in the overall series featuring Drizzt Do'Urden.
I admit that it must be difficult to keep a series fresh after 18 books, and this latest
installment proves just that.
As the Drizzt series has progressed, the tone of the books has shifted away from the travel, action, and adventure that made the earlier books so much fun to read. These last two installments have found the main characters more settled. Adventure is more likely to come in the form of politics and diplomacy rather than through swordplay, and the Companions of the Hall find themselves following their own individual roads.
This book primarily focuses on Drizzt, Regis, Robillard and Deudermont. The other 'main' characters are given courtesy nods in their own short paragraphs but are essentially absent in the story. The plot itself centers around conflict, politics, turmoil, and intrigue within the city of Luskan.
I found this book to be something of a stand-alone within the Drizzt saga. It was a slow moving book compared to previous works. Salvatore is usually very good at creating conflict and suspense and making you stay up late to read "just one more chapter" to see the resolution, yet in this book he wastes those few suspenseful opportunities with quick fixes and flimsy escapes.
In all I found this book to be rather depressing. The Drizzt saga is not better for the telling of this tale and in the end the entire book just seemed like a waste. I'm not sure what Salvatore's purpose was in spending an entire book on this event, but at this point it seems that he is finally running out of engaging material. I'm not sure where he is going with the story, but I do have hope that he will redeem himself with 'The Ghost King'. After that, it just might be time for Drizzt to retire.
I admit that it must be difficult to keep a series fresh after 18 books, and this latest
installment proves just that.
As the Drizzt series has progressed, the tone of the books has shifted away from the travel, action, and adventure that made the earlier books so much fun to read. These last two installments have found the main characters more settled. Adventure is more likely to come in the form of politics and diplomacy rather than through swordplay, and the Companions of the Hall find themselves following their own individual roads.
This book primarily focuses on Drizzt, Regis, Robillard and Deudermont. The other 'main' characters are given courtesy nods in their own short paragraphs but are essentially absent in the story. The plot itself centers around conflict, politics, turmoil, and intrigue within the city of Luskan.
I found this book to be something of a stand-alone within the Drizzt saga. It was a slow moving book compared to previous works. Salvatore is usually very good at creating conflict and suspense and making you stay up late to read "just one more chapter" to see the resolution, yet in this book he wastes those few suspenseful opportunities with quick fixes and flimsy escapes.
In all I found this book to be rather depressing. The Drizzt saga is not better for the telling of this tale and in the end the entire book just seemed like a waste. I'm not sure what Salvatore's purpose was in spending an entire book on this event, but at this point it seems that he is finally running out of engaging material. I'm not sure where he is going with the story, but I do have hope that he will redeem himself with 'The Ghost King'. After that, it just might be time for Drizzt to retire.
