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It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again).
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Author:  Rorinthas [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:59 am ]
Post subject:  It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again).
Rori Reviews Salvatore! It's dirty job, but someone's got to do it, and after a decade or so I'm kinda pot committed ;)

In annual tradition I finished up the newest Drizzt book, Gauntlgrym, and in annual tradition I'm here to put in my two cents.

There's a lot of post Realmpocalyptic overtones as one can expect. Apparently, since we are dealing with an angst filled, post Realmpocalyptic Toril we can't intro any real honest to goodness heroes, just various shades of gray anti-hero archetypes. However these less than moral paragons are fairly written and in Salvatore style kick all kinds of butt.

I think despite all the post Realmpocalyptic overtones (and those are Wizard's Fault anyway right). I think it's an improvement from the last series and it's the first book in a long time that actually feels like a win (mostly) for the so called protagonists instead of a successful failure. It's a fairly good read and I'm excited to see where the next two books in the Trilogy go. Hopefully we'll put some of the more negative issues to rest by then (Maybe not by I can dream).

Also most important thought to take from the book: If you're getting moral and emotional advice from Jarlaxle Baenre, maybe it's time to rethink your life.

Thank you folks for tuning in, and I'm looking forward to next year already.
Author:  Numbuk [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again.
Is Entreri in it?

That yes or no answer almost decides if I am going to read a Salvatore book or not.

:D
Author:  TheRiov [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:51 pm ]
Post subject: 
Pretty sure he's not. Looking at the synopsis the book covers something like 140 years. But there is some character who looks just like him, so......
Author:  Rorinthas [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 5:44 pm ]
Post subject:  It's that somewhat annual time of the year again.
Numbuk wrote:
Is Entreri in it?

That yes or no answer almost decides if I am going to read a Salvatore book or not.

:D

Maybe. there is someone running around who looks just like him and oddly enough his Boss wields Charon's Claw.

Also it's been mentioned that all the life sucking Enteri did may have effectively extended his life by unknown amounts.
Author:  Numbuk [ Fri Feb 25, 2011 11:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again.
So is this a different Drizzt then? Like a reboot?
Author:  Rorinthas [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:12 am ]
Post subject:  It's that somewhat annual time of the year again.
Its not a reboot, just a new chapter in his life. Essentially Drizzt is moving on from being "Drizzt and the companions of the Hall" to being Drizzt and other supporting characters.

He's still wrestling with that transition in this book.
Author:  TheRiov [ Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
Spoiler:
Of the Companions of the Hall/original characters of Salvatore's the only one who's death isn't confirmed is Wulfgar, Danica, and their dwarf companions, and he's pushing 150 I think by the end of the novel. Cattie-Brie and Regis died from spellplague. Pwent and Bruenor die in Gauntlgrym. Captain Deudermont is killed in the fight for Luskan, an Cadderly gave up his life to bind the Crystal Shard/Dracoliche of Hephestus.
Author:  Rorinthas [ Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:29 am ]
Post subject:  It's that somewhat annual time of the year again.
Spoiler:
double check that. Wulfgar is in the eternal glade at the end of the book
Author:  Rorinthas [ Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again)
Yep folks it that somewhat Annual time of the year once more, and I've decided to necro-post last years thread to cover it.

Neverwinter by RA Salvatore. Read it. Get past the fact that the Companions of the Hall era is over, and enjoy some really great Salvatore action scenes. I did and you can do it too if you give it a chance. The action in this book is probably some of Salvatore's best.

Spoiler:
And yes a Certain Assassin comes back from the dead, or rather it is revealed that a person we thought was a Certain Assassin actually is a Certain Assassin. And he kicks some serious butt in this novel.


The post Realmpocalyptic overtones (I still Blame WOTC) are still there, but they've seemed to have mellowed out slightly, or maybe i've just gotten used to them. We've fallen back into a classic let's kill the bad guy with awesome action scenes motif I've come to know and love. Also it seems like this is the first novel that you can fully call a win. So I'm really hopeful for the future of the franchise (rather than just hanging on because I'm emotionally invested) for the first time since the dawning of the Realmpocalypse. Seriously folks, this book feels more like The Silent Blade than the stuff that has been coming out recently.

Spoiler:
Also, speaking of The Silent Blade "Arrow Through the Insubstantial Warlock" could be the coolest thing since "Delayed Blast Fireball Down the Throat"


Also I thought I was behind on my getting the novel done this year, but it seems I'm twelve days under last year.
Author:  Numbuk [ Mon Feb 13, 2012 1:50 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again)
Spoiler:
Seeing the spoiler about Cattie Brie is dead actually makes my interest perk up a bit more. I never did like the whole "Well, I like Drizzt more than Wulfgar now, so I am going to give Cattie Brie to him" love triangle crap. In fact, I hated it.

Hell, the idea that most/all companions of the hall are dead actually makes this sound like a breath of fresh air. Drizzt was never originally planned on being the star of the show. He was originally meant to be a sidekick to Wulfgar.* So he had to wedge and shoehorn a lot of things in to the following books. It never sat well with me. So I may have to give these new books a read, if his companions are all reset.




* This knowledge is decades old and not Wiki'd.
Author:  Rorinthas [ Mon Feb 13, 2012 5:42 pm ]
Post subject:  It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again).
It is kind of liberating in its own way. Yes I'm aware that Wulfgar was originally supposed to be the hero of the piece, and when his story was moved from Moonshae to Icewind, Drizzt was created to be his mentor and sidekick. The deal that Wulfgar got in the books after Icewind Dale is one the poorer things of the franchise. He should at the very least have died a hero in the yochlol attack.

Do give the future a chance though. You could probably go ahead and read the first book of the Neverwinter trilogy without feeling very lost.
Author:  Talya [ Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:55 am ]
Post subject: 
You didn't mention the fate of the Bouldershoulder brothers.
Author:  Rorinthas [ Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:40 pm ]
Post subject:  It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again).
That was in the last trilogy. I forget exactly what happened to them.
Author:  Rorinthas [ Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again)
Hmm, seems like I'm ahead of schedule this year, despite the pit stop to finish Honor.

While I do possess my much beloved Annual Christmas Hardcover, I actually read Charon's Claw in digital format, preserving said hardcover for my collection. I wonder if that has anything to do with my being ahead of schedule, as I carry my tablet places i don't carry my much beloved Annual Christmas Hardcovers

I enjoyed my somewhat annual time of year again, and it leaves me sad and wanting more. Yes again, we are faced with more Post-Realmpocalyptic Quasi-Heroes, more sadness and loss, and a lot more questions than answers, especially for what should be the end book of the trilogy. Also Salvatore is not subtle, especially after 15 years, and the "major reveal", and the "big surprise" were both seen coming. However this book is chock full of "proper drow" badness that really carried the book for me. Hopefully we get to hear more about them. Also the fight scenes rock, especially the showdown on the bridge. Call me a fanboi, call me a hack. I don't care. I'll see you all here next year, Lord willing.

Spoilers (caution, contains both spoilers and rants)
Spoiler:
Enteri/Dahlia/Drizzt love triangle needs go. Period.. Preferably with Drizzt coming to his senses that he can do better. Dahlia is cool as far as Post Realmpocalyptic Quasi-heros go, but she has no business handling Drizzt's weaponry. The teasing that we might be getting there is enough to keep me going.

Curse you Salvatore for Leaving Gwen unresolved and for whatever that was with turning Pwent into a shade or whatever

Errtu's Banishment time coming to and end can only be a good thing, storywise. I prefer him as a villain over Shadowvar.

The whole exchange with Enteri and the priestess of Lloth (and the admission afterword) is quite amusing and good for a chortle.
Author:  Numbuk [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again)
Spoiler:
I didn't read the full spoiler, but enough to see Entreri is around? Is he still nimble and cool? Is he less a classic "I'm a villain! I am unflappably evil! Nyeaaaah!" and more conflicted as was shown in later books?

If all of these are yes, please tell me what book to start reading and I will read it.
Author:  Rorinthas [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 5:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again)
Spoiler:
He's awful spry and kicks a lot of butt for a ~200 year old man However, He's too busy kicking said butt and making moves on Drizzt's new "woman" (frankly they deserve each other, see my spoiler again) to get into any deeper moral issues. He's also very witty and manages to pull off conning a Lolthite priestess into not killing everyone.
Author:  Rorinthas [ Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again)
Also you would want to start at Gauntlgrym (Neverwinter book one) and read the rest of the trilogy.
Author:  Rorinthas [ Fri Dec 27, 2013 11:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again)
No I'm not done yet, but I feel I have to break tradition and record my early thoughts as part of the process. The following is only a spoiler if you aren't caught up prior to this years offering.

Spoiler:
So Salvatore finally gets around to explaining why the Companions are in the eternal glade instead of their respective after lives


I'm not sure how to feel about this idea. Initially my thought was what a horrible deus ex this is, but I'm thinking that maybe it has the potential to be awesome.

More after I'm done.
Author:  Rorinthas [ Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:30 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: It's that somewhat annual time of the year again (Again)
So um, yeah, I actually finished up a couple of days ago. Hopefully that tells you how much I enjoyed it by tearing through it that fast. I'm having problems putting my thoughts down on this book. I don't think I can explain how I feel without going into the details a bit more than traditionally have. At least this book is about finally getting gods and magic to work again and doing away with the Realmspocalypse.

Spoiler:
So yeah, the companions of the Hall get to leave their I guess not quite eternal glade and get reincarnated, only they get to keep their memories, and promised to meet with Drizzt back on Kelvins Cairn on their 21 first birthday.

This is what i was angst'ing on at first. If you read my other stuff in this thread I was resigned to the fact the Companions of the hall era is over, but really as your progress through the book. I think it's going to be great to have them back.

So the book doesn't deal with Drizzt, almost to the point were we don't really understand what he's doing nearly dead on Kelvin's Cairn (Hopefully he goes back in the next book and expose this). The book deals with the lives of the reincarnated companions, and each one has their own challenges, and makes new friends and enemies (read: future plot hooks).

I like the "what would you do if you could live your life over again?" aspect of the story and this really comes out in Regis's storyline, as he tries to make up for his perceived shortcomings of his prior life.


Since this was technically a "Sundering" Series book, Bob's got another full fledged Drizzt book due on March 4. So I guess you won't have to wait another year to hear me prattle like a rabid fanboi. I'm sure you all are as thrilled as I am.
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