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max343's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
cloehr1's review against another edition
4.0
The start of another great Drizzt series from R.A. Salvatore. Loved it.
jess_eats_books's review against another edition
5.0
Spoilers because I’m going to fangirl.
This is the most fun I’ve had with a Drizzt novel in a while!
I screamed when Jarlaxle got Khazid’hea and jumped up and down a bit when he sculpted the hilt into a displacer beast. The timeline when posessed the Crystal Shard and the aftermath was absolutely spectacular so I’m looking forward to more of him battling (and hopefully failing to master) this sword. That scene alone was worth reading this book.
Dahlia’s consciousness is stirring and I am so excited to see her hopefully rip shit up when she’s back. I know she’s a bit extra, but she’s infinitely more interesting than Cattie Brie.
Athrogate has a girlfriend and I’m extremely happy for him. The scene where he called Bruenor his king made me tear up a bit.
Dwarves and war and stuff, all great.
The Gromph and Kimmuriel power struggle is fantastic. I love and hate it.
This is the most fun I’ve had with a Drizzt novel in a while!
I screamed when Jarlaxle got Khazid’hea and jumped up and down a bit when he sculpted the hilt into a displacer beast. The timeline when posessed the Crystal Shard and the aftermath was absolutely spectacular so I’m looking forward to more of him battling (and hopefully failing to master) this sword. That scene alone was worth reading this book.
Dahlia’s consciousness is stirring and I am so excited to see her hopefully rip shit up when she’s back. I know she’s a bit extra, but she’s infinitely more interesting than Cattie Brie.
Athrogate has a girlfriend and I’m extremely happy for him. The scene where he called Bruenor his king made me tear up a bit.
Dwarves and war and stuff, all great.
The Gromph and Kimmuriel power struggle is fantastic. I love and hate it.
mhuntone's review against another edition
3.0
Though I've read quite a few of R.A. Salvatore's Drizz't series, but it's probably been a couple decades since I've read one. So, while I enjoyed this, even with it being the start of a trilogy, I found myself lost for much of the story, trying to place characters and storylines. I don't think that's necessarily the fault of the author or the series, but just that this isn't necessarily designed to pick up by a brand new reader to the series. I guess I took for granted how much I retained from the series. Still, as I said, I did enjoy this, and if anything has caused me to want to go back and start the series over again.
vaderbird's review against another edition
3.0
5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish
astoriedsoul's review
5.0
The Companions of the Hall are together again for another high-stakes, fast-paced adventure that will see blades whirl, axes fall, and blood spilled in the name of what is good and just. This time, Drizzt will be pulled into the intrigue, darkness, and evil of the drow and his birth city of Menzoberranzan.
It’s hard for me to review any book by R.A. Salvatore because I don't want to be biased, but I admire his work so much so that I believe he’s this century’s J.R.R. Tolkien (yeah, forget George R.R, Martin, really). The Drizzt series as a whole has been the series (other than Harry Potter) that got me back into reading as a young adult. These were the books that kept me going back to the bookstore every day to get the next in the series because I couldn’t stop reading. That’s how amazingly immersive, imaginative, and fantastic Salvatore’s work is. This new installment, Archmage, is no exception.
A lot has happened to the Companions of the Hall; they’ve fought war against orcs, they’ve fought through the Spellplague, and then came the Darkening. Archmage begins with drow plots after Lolth’s plan to bring darkness to the surface of Faerun has failed–because of Drizzt. He became the conduit for ending the Darkening and now the drow threat from his birth city, Menzoberranzan, is growing, and a lot rests on Drizzt’s shoulders. On top of this, it’s time to retake Gauntlgyrm. All of this will explode into a story with a plot that fast, action-packed, and doesn’t relent. Readers will be whisked way on a fantastic and exciting ride from the start.
From the very start of this novel, be prepared to not put the book down until you turn the last page–Salvatore’s writing is that engrossing. It’s so incredibly fluid that it washes over you like a comforting, warm blanket. He is the best writer for the Realms in my opinion, and in the fantasy genre as a whole I feel he’s the best. Word choice, description, and emotion is written with a masterful authenticity. The world-building is phenomenal. Faerun, the Underdark, the dwarven kingdom, though fantastical in nature, seem as real as any city in this world. Salvatore has a skill in painting scenes and mapping out geography that will make the reader feel like they are really are seeing what Drizzt and his friends see. Battle scenes and everything in between is just as artful.
Drizzt himself is such a compelling character. He’s THE fictional character that I’ve grown with so much since I started his story about 12-14 years ago. His thoughts, his feelings, the changes he goes through are all so completely real, relateable, and acutely written that you see what we call humanity in an elf. A fictional character has never seemed so well-rounded and real to me. The companions have changed though, and much is different between them as readers will discover in this volume–so much so that we see the group’s path diverge in directions. And now, we are back in the Underdark, which presents interesting complications for Drizzt through the story.
I am so excited to see where this part of the story will go; yet, I don’t want to ever see Drizzt die like he did in the past. I hope this series goes on forever. It’s such a major part of my life and who I am, give it a try and I hope it becomes yours too.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review, which does not alter or influence my opinions.
This review originally appeared on my website: The Literarium
It’s hard for me to review any book by R.A. Salvatore because I don't want to be biased, but I admire his work so much so that I believe he’s this century’s J.R.R. Tolkien (yeah, forget George R.R, Martin, really). The Drizzt series as a whole has been the series (other than Harry Potter) that got me back into reading as a young adult. These were the books that kept me going back to the bookstore every day to get the next in the series because I couldn’t stop reading. That’s how amazingly immersive, imaginative, and fantastic Salvatore’s work is. This new installment, Archmage, is no exception.
A lot has happened to the Companions of the Hall; they’ve fought war against orcs, they’ve fought through the Spellplague, and then came the Darkening. Archmage begins with drow plots after Lolth’s plan to bring darkness to the surface of Faerun has failed–because of Drizzt. He became the conduit for ending the Darkening and now the drow threat from his birth city, Menzoberranzan, is growing, and a lot rests on Drizzt’s shoulders. On top of this, it’s time to retake Gauntlgyrm. All of this will explode into a story with a plot that fast, action-packed, and doesn’t relent. Readers will be whisked way on a fantastic and exciting ride from the start.
From the very start of this novel, be prepared to not put the book down until you turn the last page–Salvatore’s writing is that engrossing. It’s so incredibly fluid that it washes over you like a comforting, warm blanket. He is the best writer for the Realms in my opinion, and in the fantasy genre as a whole I feel he’s the best. Word choice, description, and emotion is written with a masterful authenticity. The world-building is phenomenal. Faerun, the Underdark, the dwarven kingdom, though fantastical in nature, seem as real as any city in this world. Salvatore has a skill in painting scenes and mapping out geography that will make the reader feel like they are really are seeing what Drizzt and his friends see. Battle scenes and everything in between is just as artful.
Drizzt himself is such a compelling character. He’s THE fictional character that I’ve grown with so much since I started his story about 12-14 years ago. His thoughts, his feelings, the changes he goes through are all so completely real, relateable, and acutely written that you see what we call humanity in an elf. A fictional character has never seemed so well-rounded and real to me. The companions have changed though, and much is different between them as readers will discover in this volume–so much so that we see the group’s path diverge in directions. And now, we are back in the Underdark, which presents interesting complications for Drizzt through the story.
I am so excited to see where this part of the story will go; yet, I don’t want to ever see Drizzt die like he did in the past. I hope this series goes on forever. It’s such a major part of my life and who I am, give it a try and I hope it becomes yours too.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review, which does not alter or influence my opinions.
This review originally appeared on my website: The Literarium
brandongallant's review
1.0
After reading the Companions Codex, I was hoping for Salvatore to follow up with a good Drizzt book. I was disappointed. I found so much of this book to be about the drow and not the Companions that it kind of ruined the experience for me. I do not think I will be continuing with the series after this.