Rating: 
Summary: unoriginal
Review: Lirel is not a very interesting character. I was thinking that she wasn't well described, but I think Elaine Cunningham did a very good job at describing a very boring person.The books major problem is that it is formula drive and there is nothing original about it. The bad guys are more interesting, but it's not written so we should care about them. If there was no Lirel and the book was about everyone else, then I would have like to see who came out ahead even thought they are all scum. The books first 10 pages are tbe best. It slowy goes downhill, but the las 100 pages are unbearable. Why does she have to make the story end like a hollywood movie?
Rating:
Summary: Drizzt vs Liriel
Review: There are two distinct visions of what Menzoberanzan really is. One, is that of Drizzt, the Salvatore character. The other is Liriel, the Cunningham character. I have read all the books by both authors, and they are all well written. The primary difference is that each character undergoes differing sets of circumstances. Drizzt is a noble male raised in a violent matriarchal society. Liriel is a noble female in the same society. Liriel, through her series of books, has to learn the lessons of honor and loyalty, not mention responsibility and proper behavior because it was never taught to her. Liriel's story is the the female perspective of drow culture. Drizzt's is the male. As a reader of both, I found Salvatore did not really emphasize female perspective. To truly understand the drow cities, be it Menzoberanzan of Ched Nasad, both authors are a must read.
Rating: 
Summary: Dire.
Review: The author has no grasp of Drow society and her attempt to make a teenage love story out of what should have been an exciting book is a total failure.
The main character has no depth at all and the whole story is shallow. I suggest Ms. Cunningham should take some time to learn about the Drow before she writes any more about them.
As for the evil Drow turns good theme... Salvatore already used that one past it's peak, this is just plain boring now.
Rating:
Summary: Only for patient Drow fans
Review: While the story flows well, Ms. Cunningham's grasp of Drow culture in Menzoberranzan and life in the underdark is at best tenuous. At times I felt as if I was reading a bad episode of "Menzoberranzan goes Beverly Hills 90210". Liriel, the main character is interesting however for a magic user incredibly skilled as a warrior. The introduction of the other drow deities is the book's saving grace. I believe Ms. Cunningham should stick to writting about the surface elves, where she's more cofortable with the setting, henceforth making for much better stories.
Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Novel
Review: This was the first Forgotten Realms novel I read. After reading it I found the others I read to be somewhat "corny." The author actually gives the characters depth and purpose. They aren't just out adventuring for the hell of it acting all righteous. This novel's characters come alive when you read it. I would reccomend this novel even for someone who does not normally enjoy fantasy novels.
Rating: 
Summary: Finally a complex Drow
Review: Without taking anything away from RA, (without whom I probably wouldn't have heard about the FR world) I would like say how refreshing it is to see a complex drow. While Drizzt is definitely thoughtful and easy to love, he always does the right thing. Lireal however, does not reject everything Drow, and this leads to an interesting character mesh. As Lireal is chased out of Menzo, she discovers how many options there truly are in Toril. She travels with a virtous human warrior and the romance that develops between them is not only free from the moral condescension of Drizzt's love life, but filled with doubt and uncertainty. By the end of the book I found myself really rooting for the two to get together. The two main characters themselves were great. I really cared about them. As mentioned above, Lireal doesn't always do the right thing. She uses her looks to her advantage, she doesn't reject Lolth, she's not above kicking men in the groin. On the other hand she isn't evil. You can follow her internal debates as her Menzo heritage tells her to handle a situation one way, but some inner feeling disagrees. Overall she comes across as a fun-loving adventure seeker who doesn't know any better. Fyodor (her traveling buddy) is constantly trying to reform her, but reserves the moral judgements that he could have applied. This book is great. The characters, their interaction, the alternate Drow gods introduced, this was a fine work by Elaine Cunningham and the next book "Tangled Webs" is a great follow-up so you don't have to worry about being left hanging.
Rating:
Summary: Menzobarranzan becomes a place, not just a name
Review: One thing I never really thought Salvatore did a complete job in was his portrayal of Menzobarranzan. He would describe it, and affairs in it, as accurately as needed. Yet he never made it a place that stood alone, it was always portrayed in relation to Drizzt, a moral drow in a ultimately immoral place. No wonder Drizzt didn't have fun there, that type of fun didn't even enter his head. But what is an evil city without wild parties full of chaos as only Lloth herself could fully appreciate? Even though Liriel is not evil, at least not entirely, she does not know how to not be evil, so she does the best she can. This book shows yet another facet of the forgotten realms world. And Cunningham introduces another appeal into an already exciting world.
Rating:
Summary: A must read!
Review: If you like Elaine Cunningham, The Underdark, The Drow, or a combination of all three, you will get your fix by reading this book. I read one half one day and the other half the next. I loved this book. OK, I'm biased, I love the Drow as a race and as a unique culture all thier own. Still, It's an exellent read, nonetheless.
Rating:
Summary: Kept me on the edge of my seat
Review: For those of you interested in the Forgotten Realms world, this is a must-read. I enjoyed every passage of this book, keeping me on the edge of my seat most of the time. The descriptions are well-written, giving a vivid image of whats going on in the story. The characters are portrayed very well, giving excellent descriptions of their personalities which will make you cheer them on. A wonderful addition to the collection of any RPG gamer or fan.
Rating:
Summary: And here I thought I hated Drow
Review: This book brought the drow to a new perspective for me. Having only recently getting involved with TSR/WotC, I had someone literally push this book into my hands and tell me to read it...And thank GOD they did. Liriel Baenre is an incredible leading character that brings the Drow alive for me. I was never a big Drow fan, but this book had me hook, line and sinker. Now I'm just waiting for the next installment....
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