Paths of Darkness, Collector's Edition (Forgotten Realms) 
This collection of four New York Times best-selling novels from premiere fantasy author R.A. Salvatore includes The Silent Blade, The Spine of the World, Servant of the Shard, and Sea of Swords. These titles continue the tale of Salvatore’s signature character Drizzt Do’Urden™, one of the most well known figures in the Forgotten Realms setting.
Reviews
The only detraction in this series is the interminable philosophizing of the main character periodically throughout the book, the heavy handed moral introspection is extremely tedious. Fortunately this is done in italics so you know when to skip on in the book.
All in all, this is a very good read, very entertaining, and well worth the money.
OVERALL SCORE: (A-)
READABILITY: (A-), PLOT: (B-), CHARATERS: (B-), DIALOGUE: (B+), SETTING: (A+), ACTION/COMBAT: (A-), MONSTERS/ANTAGONISTS: (B+), ROMANCE: (C-), SEX: (n/a), AGE LEVEL: (PG)
While it is nice reading, and it did deliver to the standards as R.A. Salvatore can give, it must not be compared to its predecesors, The Dark Elf and Icewind Dale Trilogies, or suffer a less than generous review.
It has the usual elements in Salvatore's previous books: the detailed action sequences, the way the villains are introduced (usually at the epilogues or the first chapters), and the believably slow and gradual development of each characters and how they relate to each other. Its selling point is probably the reintroduction of Drizzt's archenemy, Entreri, with a twist. And a focus on the Drow mercenary chief, Jarlaxle, seems to give promise to the excitement of this epic.
As a whole, this book is recommended for those who vigilantly follow Drizzt Do'Urden's adventures. But to those who haven't read the Previous Trilogies and the Legacy of the Drow series, I suggest you read those first to fully appreciate this book. While it did not give the same level of excitement the previous books gave, it's still good reading for another piece of Drizzt, our friendly neighborhood drow.
