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ashes_of_ambition's review against another edition
5.0
I was excited to read about the tale of my Favorite wizard daughter. Especially when it comes to the iron rules and treachery of the drow society.
ayamawa's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
kalliahlunar's review against another edition
5.0
I quite enjoyed this book for its expansion of Drow lore, it does a great job of filling in the gaps left by the Drizzt books and bringing Menzoberanzzan to life, making it a functional society albeit undeniably chaotic. Liriel's journey out of the Underdark and to new ways of thinking makes sense and I love her. I would read part of this book and then go play my Drow tav and go back and forth and I got a lot of inspiration for my character and her arc. I remember reading about Liriel encountering the priestesses of Eliistraee and then returning to my game and pulling Phar Aluve from the rock, it's so fun to have that connection.
That said, I'm really glad that the dnd source books and community have moved to the idea of Drow are shades of blue, purple, and gray, because reading this book today, the concept that there's these evil elves underground and they all have black skin is so obviously offensive to real people. Like the original cover for this book, good Lord.
Reading this book from a feminist theory lens is also fascinating because you can read a story about a matriarchy that's written by someone from a society that still has some patriarchal ideas, and you can see that bleed through.
All said I liked it
That said, I'm really glad that the dnd source books and community have moved to the idea of Drow are shades of blue, purple, and gray, because reading this book today, the concept that there's these evil elves underground and they all have black skin is so obviously offensive to real people. Like the original cover for this book, good Lord.
Reading this book from a feminist theory lens is also fascinating because you can read a story about a matriarchy that's written by someone from a society that still has some patriarchal ideas, and you can see that bleed through.
All said I liked it
espressoreader's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in 1996 for the first time. I was caught in how beautifully written the first paragraph was and I begged my grandparents to buy it for me so I could finish reading it.
I fell deeply in love with Cunningham's lyrical writing and the characters were wonderfully written.
I fell deeply in love with Cunningham's lyrical writing and the characters were wonderfully written.
alice_lufenia's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
My first attempt at branching out from the established dark elf intrigue as developed by R.A. Salvatore was to check out Elaine Cunningham's contribution to the Forgotten Realms' drow mythos.
What struck me right away was that Cunningham's Starlight & Shadows series starred a lady drow, in contrast to Salvatore's underdog Drizzt. This was a fantastic choice in my opinion, as I feel Liriel Baenre ranks up there among the best of Forgotten Realms' heroic (more or less) drow exiles, up there with Drizzt himself and her uncle Jarlaxle, even if her story never really crosses over with the boys. Also for a setting where most of the women are villains, it's just refreshing to have a female drow be her own protagonist, and break free of that tiresome role.
As a contrast to Drizzt, Liriel couldn't be more different. Adopted by the archmage of House Baenre, she grew up with the highest privileges imaginable; gifted her own mansion at age 16, tutored personally by her father in wizardry, and allowed to basically run amok adventuring most of her early adult life, it is only in her 40s that she is pressured by the matron of the house to finally enter her priestess training, nearly 20 years tardy.
Liriel is a free spirit to a fault, which ironically still makes her one of the nicest drow noblewomen in FR canon, being more curious and lacking the stereotypical cruelty of drow women, though still just as paranoid and willing to use violence at a moment's notice. She has survived decades longer in Menzoberranzan than Drizzt ever had to, after all.
Her truent tendencies eventually lead her to finding a magical talisman called the Windwalker. She forms an unlikely alliance with a human named Fyodor, who is on a quest seeking the talisman to control his berserker rages, while she wants to use said talisman to contain her drowic magic, allowing her to venture onto the surface. Their shared quest leads them to discover much about each other's cultures, eventually leading to romance, and ultimately joining forces with the followers of the good drow goddess Eilistraee to defeat their pursuers.
Both the dancers of the Dark Maiden Eilistraee and followers of her evil brother, Vhaeraun, feature prominently, a refreshing look at the greater drow pantheon beyond Lolth. While some dislike the presence of these non-Lolth aligned drow in stories, I enjoy them immensely, and find they make the isolation of Lolthite drow more interesting in contrast. Some feel that these alternatives to Lolth take away from Drizzt's struggles to escape his old life, but I honestly never understood that viewpoint. Drizzt is special for the journey he's taken, not because he needs to be the "only liberated drow" or something.
As someone who already enjoys the Legend of Drizzt stories, I find Liriel's story all the more interesting for being so boldly NOT like him at all. Liriel comes from privilege and basically never really grows out of that mindset. Even while journeying with Fyodor, she'll scold and threaten him for killing a spider, only to be disarmed by his amused reaction to the idea. Even in exile, Liriel remains proud of her drow heritage, and takes personal pride in her skills of wizardry. So much so that her entire quest with the talisman is to preserve and honor her drowic magic, and allowing her to use it even on the surface world.
It's honestly so refreshing to see a drow protagonist who doesn't make being "not like other drow" her entire personality. Liriel remains selfish, pragmatic, cunning, dangerous, and paranoid. She is also caring, curious, loving, clever, funny, and willing to take risks for those she cares about. For carrying so much baggage from her homeland with her, she handles herself splendidly in my opinion.
I would recommend Daughter of the Drow to anyone looking for a more even handed introduction to the dark world of Menzoberranzan, for those familiar with the Legend of Drizzt and who want a different take on a drow protagonist, and if you want a female-led fantasy adventure that isn't afraid to let the leading lady be flawed but lovable.
What struck me right away was that Cunningham's Starlight & Shadows series starred a lady drow, in contrast to Salvatore's underdog Drizzt. This was a fantastic choice in my opinion, as I feel Liriel Baenre ranks up there among the best of Forgotten Realms' heroic (more or less) drow exiles, up there with Drizzt himself and her uncle Jarlaxle, even if her story never really crosses over with the boys. Also for a setting where most of the women are villains, it's just refreshing to have a female drow be her own protagonist, and break free of that tiresome role.
As a contrast to Drizzt, Liriel couldn't be more different. Adopted by the archmage of House Baenre, she grew up with the highest privileges imaginable; gifted her own mansion at age 16, tutored personally by her father in wizardry, and allowed to basically run amok adventuring most of her early adult life, it is only in her 40s that she is pressured by the matron of the house to finally enter her priestess training, nearly 20 years tardy.
Liriel is a free spirit to a fault, which ironically still makes her one of the nicest drow noblewomen in FR canon, being more curious and lacking the stereotypical cruelty of drow women, though still just as paranoid and willing to use violence at a moment's notice. She has survived decades longer in Menzoberranzan than Drizzt ever had to, after all.
Her truent tendencies eventually lead her to finding a magical talisman called the Windwalker. She forms an unlikely alliance with a human named Fyodor, who is on a quest seeking the talisman to control his berserker rages, while she wants to use said talisman to contain her drowic magic, allowing her to venture onto the surface. Their shared quest leads them to discover much about each other's cultures, eventually leading to romance, and ultimately joining forces with the followers of the good drow goddess Eilistraee to defeat their pursuers.
Both the dancers of the Dark Maiden Eilistraee and followers of her evil brother, Vhaeraun, feature prominently, a refreshing look at the greater drow pantheon beyond Lolth. While some dislike the presence of these non-Lolth aligned drow in stories, I enjoy them immensely, and find they make the isolation of Lolthite drow more interesting in contrast. Some feel that these alternatives to Lolth take away from Drizzt's struggles to escape his old life, but I honestly never understood that viewpoint. Drizzt is special for the journey he's taken, not because he needs to be the "only liberated drow" or something.
As someone who already enjoys the Legend of Drizzt stories, I find Liriel's story all the more interesting for being so boldly NOT like him at all. Liriel comes from privilege and basically never really grows out of that mindset. Even while journeying with Fyodor, she'll scold and threaten him for killing a spider, only to be disarmed by his amused reaction to the idea. Even in exile, Liriel remains proud of her drow heritage, and takes personal pride in her skills of wizardry. So much so that her entire quest with the talisman is to preserve and honor her drowic magic, and allowing her to use it even on the surface world.
It's honestly so refreshing to see a drow protagonist who doesn't make being "not like other drow" her entire personality. Liriel remains selfish, pragmatic, cunning, dangerous, and paranoid. She is also caring, curious, loving, clever, funny, and willing to take risks for those she cares about. For carrying so much baggage from her homeland with her, she handles herself splendidly in my opinion.
I would recommend Daughter of the Drow to anyone looking for a more even handed introduction to the dark world of Menzoberranzan, for those familiar with the Legend of Drizzt and who want a different take on a drow protagonist, and if you want a female-led fantasy adventure that isn't afraid to let the leading lady be flawed but lovable.
lordslaw's review against another edition
4.0
Daughter of the Drow by Elaine Cunningham is a beautifully written Forgotten Realms adventure. The story moves along at a brisk and engaging pace and is filled with magic, combat, adventure, dragons. The book's protagonist, Dark Elf Liriel Baenre, is complex and well-written. Cunningham's descriptions of Drow society are fascinating. This is a very well done fantasy novel.
shaynexb's review against another edition
4.0
Yeah, ok, so I'm getting re-addicted to Forgotten Realms novels. And what a superb way to fall off of the wagon!
DROW ELVES!
Anybody who's ever dipped their toe into Forgotten Realms books knows about the drow: the malevolent, chaotic, manipulative mirror-images of the elves of the surface word. They're a long-time favorite topic of mine, as far as fantasy reading goes. And this tale does not, in any single way, disappoint.
From the Underdark to surface forest meadows, from a living hut with chicken's legs to a two-headed mutant dragon, from all-out bloody warfare to subtle intrigue and plotted machinations, this book has me hooked.
DROW ELVES!
Anybody who's ever dipped their toe into Forgotten Realms books knows about the drow: the malevolent, chaotic, manipulative mirror-images of the elves of the surface word. They're a long-time favorite topic of mine, as far as fantasy reading goes. And this tale does not, in any single way, disappoint.
From the Underdark to surface forest meadows, from a living hut with chicken's legs to a two-headed mutant dragon, from all-out bloody warfare to subtle intrigue and plotted machinations, this book has me hooked.
cyrille6k's review against another edition
3.0
Daughter of the Drow presents an intriguing premise with Liriel, a strong and compelling female protagonist. Her journey offers a fresh perspective on the drow race, a typically villainous group in the Forgotten Realms.
However, the novel's exploration of drow diversity feels inconsistent with established lore. While the idea of individual drow breaking free from the oppressive society of Menzoberranzan is compelling, the introduction of entire communities of good-aligned drow, such as Nisstyre's Vaehrun and Elistraee's followers, undermines the inherent darkness and intrigue of the drow race. This shift dilutes the uniqueness of Drizzt Do'Urden and alters the overall tone of the drow storyline.
The narrative's strength lies in its portrayal of the harsh realities of Menzoberranzan. The interactions between Liriel and Fyodor provide a poignant and well-developed subplot. Unfortunately, the later sections, set on the surface world, lack the same level of engagement and depth.
While Daughter of the Drow offers an interesting twist on the drow mythos, its execution is uneven. The novel's attempt to broaden the scope of drow society, while well-intentioned, ultimately weakens the overall impact of the story.
b00kdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
zskies92's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0