There's probably a perfect age to read this book and find it fun and novel. My guess is around 16. Otherwise... it just gets a bit dull. The Drow are a neat idea, but Menzoberranzan comes across more as a module setting with the constant exposition. Drizzt's treatment as a Saturday morning cartoon hero doesn't really help much either.

Hopefully it gets better. The Underdark is such a well-loved setting that it would be nice to discover what makes it so popular. ( )

Homeland by R.A. Salvatore.
The Legend of Drizzt #1

I read these books back in highschool. Lots of years ago. More than I like to admit to myself. For about the next month I want to read something that I don’t have to think about. These, along with the Dragonlance books, were my first introduction to fantasy novels. There’s a lot of nostalgic baggage that goes along with these books.

I would never recommend these books to someone who has sort of “matured’ in their fantasy reading. But for someone who just wants a good sword and magic vacation book, these are perfect.

When I read this series the first time I started with the Icewind Dale trilogy. These three dark elf books are prequels. But in most reading lists you see see them listed first. And it’s true, chronologically they come earlier.

But I would strongly disagree.

Reading these books first, it gives the impression that Salvatore is trying to create a gritty, dark and edgy storyline. But that’s just not what these books are.

Drizzt is a short skinny nimble Connan the Barbarian. Since the announcement for the next Drizzt book in 2014 just came out, I don’t think I’m spoiling anything by telling you that he always figures out a way to win out over the forces of evil. You know he’s going to win. You know he’s going to do the right thing. And you know he’s going to kick some ass along the way. He’ll protect his friends, and fight fiercely to protect the innocent.

This isn’t A Game Of Thrones where you get all anxious about your favorite character getting suddenly and violently offed in the next chapter. You’re safe to kick back and enjoy and know that the good guys are going to win.

But there’s the problem with reading the “Underdark” books first. They are meant to fill out the back story. To give Drizzt a bit of a troubled past. But if you start here, it’s his present, not his past. Sure, you get the story told in chronological order, but I would argue that it’s not as good as the Drizzt story where his Underdark days are more of a flashback.

For your enjoyment, start with the Icewind Dale trilogy.

These are just fun books, so I don’t know if it’s worth the deeper discussion. But, I wonder if the order you read them in doesn't just change your enjoyment, but if there’s a less harmless change to the over all theme too. I read a harsh, but good, review of these book. A reader who was disturbed with the relentless and unredemptive darkness and violence in this book. The reviewer wasn't wrong. And without the context of the moral beacon and defender of justice that Drizzt become, I’d have to agree with that assessment.

Flip it.

Start with Drizzt as a character always struggling with the “right thing”, and then step back into the dark past, and it makes his moral compass more remarkable.

Aaaaanyway…. Fun books. But start with the Icewind Dale trilogy. Take them on vacation. Or read them when you have to work stupid hours at work for a couple months and just want something to read while you’re going to sleep, or don’t want to think too much. Good action sequences. Swords, wizards, monsters, action galore. Nothing too deep.
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Just a few quick words. I'm rereading the series. I wanted something really light. Something I could in bed in the minutes before I fall asleep. Something where it wouldn't matter if I forgot most of what I'd read the night before.

This fits the bill.

I don't know why I have to feel like I need to justify my feelings about these books. I'm not saying they are great books. I think they are pretty solid three star books.

I would say this again, start with the trilogy that was written first, but that comes after these chronologically. I gave a bit on the why with my review in the last book (Homeland) and I'll give a bit more in the next on (Sojourn).

There are plot holes, the written is extremely cliche in spots, there are quite a few typos in the book. But I'm willing to bet that the majority of people who make it to the end of this book start to get attached to the cuddly wuddly lovable dark elf that is Drizzt Do'Urden.

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I fell in love with the story and Drizzt's spirit! ( )

Just as good as the 1st one. ( )