Siege of Darkness: The Legend of Drizzt, Book IX (The Legend of Drizzt) 
asked by caramel on November 13, 2006 8:05 AM
The premium line of Salvatore hardcover releases continues with this haunting tale.
This new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel continues the tale of Salvatore’s signature dark elf character Drizzt Do’Urden™. The series has now been re-numbered to tell the story of Drizzt’s life in chronological order rather than initial release order. Each title in the series showcases these top-selling novels in new, deluxe hardcover editions which feature brand-new cover art by Todd Lockwood and new introductions written by those who have become familiar with Salvatore and Drizzt over the years.
R.A. Salvatore was born in Massachusetts and still makes his home there. He has published numerous Forgotten Realms novels with Wizards of the Coast, Inc., most of which have been New York Times best-sellers. He is also know as the best-selling author of the Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones novelization from Del Rey.
This new release of the classic R.A. Salvatore novel continues the tale of Salvatore’s signature dark elf character Drizzt Do’Urden™. The series has now been re-numbered to tell the story of Drizzt’s life in chronological order rather than initial release order. Each title in the series showcases these top-selling novels in new, deluxe hardcover editions which feature brand-new cover art by Todd Lockwood and new introductions written by those who have become familiar with Salvatore and Drizzt over the years.
R.A. Salvatore was born in Massachusetts and still makes his home there. He has published numerous Forgotten Realms novels with Wizards of the Coast, Inc., most of which have been New York Times best-sellers. He is also know as the best-selling author of the Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones novelization from Del Rey.
Reviews
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As Drizzt and Co. excape Menzoberanzan in dramatic fashion, and the drow prepare for an invasion of the surface world, the Time of Troubles (when the avatars of the gods come to the material plane and magic falters) hits and the drow establishment is thrown into uncertainty. Baenre ends up reestablishing dominance with the return of magic (and the favor of Lloth) and continues the plans for invasion. Catie-Brie and Drizzt have some kind of strange love relationship going on and Catie-Brie battles within herself for mastery. The siege of Mithril Hall is an epic battle with lots of heroes and groups of allies coming together to fight off the dark elves and their slaves. It actually might be my favorite major battle scene thus far in the Drizzt series, ending with surprising finality.
The only thing about this book that didnt' really fit in very well was the inclusion of the Time of Troubles. I guess that this theme had been thought up before and needed to be meshed with the Forgotten Realms story as a whole. Salvatore obviously wasn't too interested in it, never really explaining why or how it happened, only conforming his story to include it. It seemed forced and took away from the usual clarity found in the Drizzt books. Still, this is really another great book in the series, you won't be dissapointed.
The only thing about this book that didnt' really fit in very well was the inclusion of the Time of Troubles. I guess that this theme had been thought up before and needed to be meshed with the Forgotten Realms story as a whole. Salvatore obviously wasn't too interested in it, never really explaining why or how it happened, only conforming his story to include it. It seemed forced and took away from the usual clarity found in the Drizzt books. Still, this is really another great book in the series, you won't be dissapointed.
reviewed by reader99 on November 14, 2006 11:40 PM
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There are really two sections to this book, one is the sub-par inclusion of the TSR mandated, and ill-conceived in my opinion, Time of Troubles where the avatars of the gods walk the earth and magic stops functioning. This really does nothing but include the effects of the Time of Troubles from the Avatar series in this series and set up the unfortunate happenings in the next book.
The other part of the story is the siege of Mithril Hall. Though uncomfortably similar to Helm's Deep it is very well written. Salvatore does do battles well and here he writes a non-stop battle focusing on small squad tactics of several different groups on several parts of the battlefield.
He even manages to make the Harpell's, and Pwent the battle-rager, previously annoying comic relief, become less annoying and almost useful characters that contribute to the plot, the readers emotions and the battle.
Though having the siege basically undone by the internecine drow politics causing several houses to retreat may be unsatisfying, it is at least logically consistent with their culture, and not without real historical precedent. I believe on of the Khans turned his army back on the eve of victory in order to take care of problems back at home.
No real development of anyone here, but the long battle scenes make for an exciting bit of mind-candy storytelling.
The other part of the story is the siege of Mithril Hall. Though uncomfortably similar to Helm's Deep it is very well written. Salvatore does do battles well and here he writes a non-stop battle focusing on small squad tactics of several different groups on several parts of the battlefield.
He even manages to make the Harpell's, and Pwent the battle-rager, previously annoying comic relief, become less annoying and almost useful characters that contribute to the plot, the readers emotions and the battle.
Though having the siege basically undone by the internecine drow politics causing several houses to retreat may be unsatisfying, it is at least logically consistent with their culture, and not without real historical precedent. I believe on of the Khans turned his army back on the eve of victory in order to take care of problems back at home.
No real development of anyone here, but the long battle scenes make for an exciting bit of mind-candy storytelling.
reviewed by wellness on November 28, 2006 5:18 PM
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I do not have much to say about this book but that it is good. It is typical work of R.A. Salvatore. I definately recommend it.
reviewed by potato on November 29, 2006 7:25 PM
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There was something almost magical about the final battle in The Crystal Shard. The build up throughout the book had been well constructed, the characters were deep and the environment was simply unique. The climactic battles of Ten Towns concurrent with the personal battles of the main characters were blended together in a way where you genuinely cared about what happened to them.
How I wish R.A. Salvatore would return to those days. Instead, we have The Siege of Darkness. Book three in a sad series that seems to get worse as it goes on. To say it was a drudge to get through this one is an understatement.
This book has two plot lines: the "Time of Troubles" and the attack by the Drow army on Mithril Hall. I'm still trying to figure out Salvatore's justification for the "Time of Troubles". This brief moment that comes at just the right time seems completely forced as the only possible way he could tie up a loose story end.
The real event is the Drow army advance and eventual attack. All of the subplots, all of the characterization, all of the book is spent building up for this final climactic moment. When it eventually comes, the battle doesn't really live up to it's expectations and the character's individual ruminations just fall flat out.
Instead of hardy barbarians, we are treated to the likes of Pwent and his battleragers and more of the Harpells. This leads to another problem I have with this book: way too much comic relief. It seems that every single time Salvatore's plot seems to be dragging he puts in another silly moment like the battleragers running into stone walls for practice, or a recently cured Biderdoo Harpell wishing he had his former curse back so he could be a dog again. While some moments are genuinely funny, Salvatore seems to include these moments at inopportune times and as a result they seem more as a filler or as a way to shore up a loose plot line.
The final half of this book really is just about the drow vs. dwarf battle. It's long, it's drawn out, but it does have some shining moments. Salvatore's strength has always been his ability to write a clear action story.
The focus, of course, is always on the leaders and their impossible exploits which bring them fame and victory. Ss with all Salvatore books you always know Drizz and company are going to win, and if by some freak chance someone gets killed *cough* Wulfgar *cough* you know that character is coming back later. They always do. Just talk to Artemis.
Which leads me to my final point. I will read Passage of Dawn and I will hope that things make a change, but if I don't see improvement this will be the last Salvatore series I pick up. This entire series seems forced and perhaps as I read other reviews it makes sense. If Salvatore was forced to write this to appease TSR it only makes sense that all of his heart wouldn't go into it.
How I wish R.A. Salvatore would return to those days. Instead, we have The Siege of Darkness. Book three in a sad series that seems to get worse as it goes on. To say it was a drudge to get through this one is an understatement.
This book has two plot lines: the "Time of Troubles" and the attack by the Drow army on Mithril Hall. I'm still trying to figure out Salvatore's justification for the "Time of Troubles". This brief moment that comes at just the right time seems completely forced as the only possible way he could tie up a loose story end.
The real event is the Drow army advance and eventual attack. All of the subplots, all of the characterization, all of the book is spent building up for this final climactic moment. When it eventually comes, the battle doesn't really live up to it's expectations and the character's individual ruminations just fall flat out.
Instead of hardy barbarians, we are treated to the likes of Pwent and his battleragers and more of the Harpells. This leads to another problem I have with this book: way too much comic relief. It seems that every single time Salvatore's plot seems to be dragging he puts in another silly moment like the battleragers running into stone walls for practice, or a recently cured Biderdoo Harpell wishing he had his former curse back so he could be a dog again. While some moments are genuinely funny, Salvatore seems to include these moments at inopportune times and as a result they seem more as a filler or as a way to shore up a loose plot line.
The final half of this book really is just about the drow vs. dwarf battle. It's long, it's drawn out, but it does have some shining moments. Salvatore's strength has always been his ability to write a clear action story.
The focus, of course, is always on the leaders and their impossible exploits which bring them fame and victory. Ss with all Salvatore books you always know Drizz and company are going to win, and if by some freak chance someone gets killed *cough* Wulfgar *cough* you know that character is coming back later. They always do. Just talk to Artemis.
Which leads me to my final point. I will read Passage of Dawn and I will hope that things make a change, but if I don't see improvement this will be the last Salvatore series I pick up. This entire series seems forced and perhaps as I read other reviews it makes sense. If Salvatore was forced to write this to appease TSR it only makes sense that all of his heart wouldn't go into it.
reviewed by costa on November 29, 2006 7:30 PM