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A review by alice_lufenia
Daughter of the Drow by Elaine Cunningham
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.