An Excellent Attention Getter For One Who Is Not Usually A Reader

books:


	• Homeland (Forgotten Realms: The Dark Elf Trilogy, Book 1) R. A. Salvatore Wizards of the Coast, 2004 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 194 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Welcome to the Underdark and the realm of the drow...

Salvatore grabbed our attention with the Icewind Dale trilogy, and one of the heroes of that unlikely group of friends was Drizzt Do'Urden, a drow (or dark elf, as they are often called). To our delight, Salvatore's next project, dubbed the Dark Elf trilogy, served as a prequel, to tell us about Drizzt's past, and to introduce us to the world of the drow.

I cannot recall another author who so brilliantly immerses a reader in a wholly foreign world. It is one thing, to describe a world similar to ours, such as Raymond E. Feist's introduction of the Tsurani, yet even that is loosely based on Asian culture. It is quite another to transport the reader into another world so radically different from our own, and do it with a style which keeps us turning the pages at an addictively fast pace.

The book begins on the night Drizzt is born, where he is to be sacriced to Lloth, the drow deity, often referred to as the Spider Queen. Yet, as is normal within this dark and twisted subterranean world, his older brother kills the eldest brother. With a Do'Urden male having been sacrificed, Lloth is appeased, and Drizzt is spared. In an interesting inversion, the world of the drow is matriarchal, and family is everything. The head of the family is female, and the holders of the seats in Council (the leadership of the drow city of Menzoberranzan) are all female. Males are, in that world, secondary to females, and are useful only as cannon fodder in times of war, and as donors in the act of reproduction.

Right from the start, Drizzt is remarked on as being very different, with lavender coloured eyes. Yet his true difference is inside, for he is posessed with morales and compassion - virtues which are practically unheard of in a drow. Fortunately, his father, Zaknafein, is mostly responsible for his weapons training from the age of 16, where Drizzt is somewhat sheltered from the true nature of the evil drow, as Zaknafein is a kindred spirit to Drizzt.

After, Drizzt is sent to the Academy, to further advance his skill at fighting. For 10 years he remains there, learning the true nature of the drow, and battling to hold on to his spirit and morals. If he fails, he risks falling prey to the lies of the Spider Queen, and turning into everything he hates.

I'll say no more, for I encourage you to read this book. I cannot recommend it highly enough. The only thing I'll warn you of, is how very difficult it is to put the book down once you've started! Salvatore does an excellent job in immersing us in the world of the drow, and in better understanding the emotional battles and sacrifices the noble character of Drizzt Do'Urden went through, to mold him into the fighter/ranger he became.

for more information click here

a good read 4 stars!

I've read a lot of fantasy novels in the past 10 years. Some of my favorites are Robert E.Howard's Conan , The(original) Dragonlance Novels by Weis and Hickman, Lord of the Ring to name a few . OF all the 50-60 fantasy novels Ive read I'd say about 10% are great and 30% are pretty good. There are a lot of not so good fantasy novels out there.
So I thought I'd give The Dark Elf Series a try. I try to research a series and its author before I begin one. After reading many reviews of this book from Amazon and other outlets I had mixed feelings to what this book might be.
Well....
Its a great story. Full of action with a rich plot. The realm the writer conjures is deep with dark and ancient evil, mystery, and suspence. There are a few typos.Not a huge issue.
But over all I give it 4 stars. I can not wait to read part 2 Exile!

PROS:
Strong plot
Lots of well described action
Dark and Evil Magic
Well fleshed out characters
Good ending
CONS:
Some typos
Idea behind main character is a bit hard to swallow at times
is a bit too short
Print too small (this copy only)

for more information click here

Great read

After reading the Hunter's Blade trilogy I really enjoyed the character and wanted to read more about him. This book was everything I hoped for. I definitely recommend this book for all fans of this genre. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.

An Excellent Attention Getter For One Who Is Not Usually A Reader

I was never much for reading because most books could not keep my attention. This book however grabbed my attention and held it. Cleverly written, entertaining, with descriptive visuals that bring the story to life, Homeland, along with the other books in this series, is non-stop action. I highly recommend this book!!! I have since read the rest of the trilogy and I am currently reading The Crystal Shard, which is the beginning of the next trilogy.

for more information click here

I can't do it justice.

There is not much more I can say that hasn't been said. I actually picked the first two re-issue hardcover books up at bookstore going out of business and it sat on the shelf for a long time. This book has actually got me reading on a regular basis again after a long break. The story is engaging enough that I am already trying to decide if I want this whole series in hardcover, which is quite a bit of investment. R.A. Salvatore has the ability to write a story in a way few authors can. If you like Fantasy, and especially Drow, this is the only way to go.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

This stunning new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel recounts the origins of Salvatore's signature dark elf character Drizzt Do'Urden and is the first-ever release of this Forgotten Realms novel title in hardcover. This title kicks off The Legend of Drizzt series, which will showcase the classic dark elf novels in new, deluxe hardcover editions. Each title will feature annotations by the author, all- new cover art, and forewords written by those who have become familiar with Salvatore and Drizzt over the years.

for more information click here

hot