Rating: 
Summary: A magnificent start to the origins of the drow ranger!
Review: I have heard about Drizzt Do'Urden, the dark elf ranger, from many sources over the internet. Of course, so have many readers, as is obvious here. After reading The Crystal Shard, I was hooked. As Terry Brooks had said (not in these exact words), once you start reading, you do not want to stop until the book is done. I have read the Icewind Dale Trilogy, and thought to start on the series that details the origins of Drizzt, the noble dark elf.
This book is definitely a fine example of the cruel society of the drow, and it is very interesting to see such a wise and intelligent character as a young and naive one in this novel. It is quite a contrast actually, but it does make sense.
All fans of Drizzt NEED to read this novel sometime, and the others in the series as well, to see how he went from a drow warrior of an evil society to a noble ranger. I would recommend this book, as well, to any who would like to see why R.A. Salvatore has such a famous character!
Rating: 
Summary: Very well-written, but somehow unsatisfying
Review: R.A. Salvatore proves himself worthy of being considered among the best Fantasy fiction authors writing today with this definitive novel of the brutal and deadly underground drow city of Menzoberranzan. Salvatore's novel kept me up late turning pages to reveal another chapter of the lives of the amoral and deceitful drow elves while chronicling the life of the young and troubled protagonist, the drow noble Drizzt of house Do'Urden. Drizzt and most of Salvatore's characters are well-developed and capable of inspiring strong emotion in readers whether it be hatred of Drizzt's maniacal and malevolent mother Matron Malice and her brutish, power-hungry daughter Briza or a mixture of contempt and pity for the troubled Sword-Master Zaknafein. I must confess that I was more than a bit turned off by how much of an aberration the highly ethical Drizzt proves to be within the licentious drow society. Much of the plot deals with Drizzt's internal struggles as he is unable to reconcile himself with the depraved ways of his kin and their fanatical devotion to the chaotic and evil goddess, the Spider Queen. However, as the novel progressed, I found myself hoping against hope, even though it became more and more unlikely with each turn of the page, that Drizzt would give in to the murderous ways of his race. Drizzt's high level of morality eventually made his actions very predictable and left me wanting more tales of drow deceit, murder and betrayal unhindered by a tragic hero's moral concerns.
Rating:
Summary: Fun light fantasy, and plenty of action and great settings
Review: Last year, Salvatore's "Icewind Dale Trilogy" caught me by surprise, turning out to be a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy romp. As basic entertainment, it delivered. Then I turned to his second trilogy, this one a prequel about the early life of the rebellious drow (dark elf), Drizzt Do'Urden. Drizzt has a huge following among contemporary fantasy readers. He's certainly no Elric, Conan, or Aragorn, but he's an enjoyable action character with the right amount of tragedy to keep him interesting. The first book of his youthful adventures relates how he rebels against the rigid, cruel world of the drow and their undergound homeland. Salvatore pours on the action set pieces and monsters, although the politics between the drow houses do overburden the story in the final third. The best part of the book is the author's portrait of the sinister subterranean world of the Underdark. It's a unique setting for an entire fantasy novel, and Salvatore invests it with equal parts wonder and dread. Get ready for the next two in the trilogy, _Exile_ and _Sojourn_. They're just as good.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent piece of literature. A classic!!
Review: From the second I pick up book 1 of the Dark Elf Trilogy, I was captivated by the intense way of writing. This book has given me a profound new way of reading. I just completed Homeland and can't wait to begin Book 2: Exile. Salvatore is and absolute genius. I would find myself up into the early morning reading of Drizzt's struggle in a world with no integrity that he could not appreciate. It's amazing that an author can come up with a society such as the Drow. This book has definately created a new interest in my reading, and I am definately going to read more like it. Salvatore's stunning writing and play of words captivated me like no other book has. From the moment of Drizzt's birth, to the stunning climax, and up until the moment Drizzt disappears and leave his only home, I found myself not wanting to miss a single word. And the imagery of Guenhwyvar as being the only one who understands Drizzt is absolutely pure genius.
Rating:
Summary: Home Sweet Home
Review: In a community, individuals must work together. They must work as one single unit in order to achieve the ultimate goal: survival. However, in the great city of Menzobaranzan, this basic rule of survival is not obeyed, quite the opposite is followed in fact. Instead of working together as a coloney, dark Elves, or Drow are killing each other to gain personal elevation on the mountain of social status that makes up Menzobaranzan. The Dark Elves thrive in a world that rejects integrity, all except one, that is.
The first book in the "Dark Elf Trilogy", "Homeland" relates how one Dark Elf rebels against the chaotically cruel world of the Drow. Drizzt Do'Urden is a skilled warrior and a noble of house Do'Urden, 9th house and only one step away from a seat on the ruling council of Menzobaranzan. There is no apparent reason why he should not thrive in the murderous society that is his home, however, by reading the first chapter of this book, one can easily tell that Drizzt Do'Urden is not an average Dark elf. For some reason, this one is different.
By the time that he was just one decade old, still considdered an infant by drow society, Drizzt knew that his society was sick and twisted. How can a society hope to survive when they are busy attempting to assassinate each other? It is no secret that Drow Elves have numerous enemies. Drizzt knows he has to escape, but as the time of his escape draws nearer, an impending threat to his house becomes more obvious. Should he help fight in the epic battle that could make or break house Do'Urden, or should he flee to the dangerous enexplored terrain of the Underdark?
R.A. Salvator's method of writing has a way of making one feel that he or she is trapped inside the Underdark along with the treacherous Drow. I would reccomend this book to any reader who has a strong love for fantasy, or who feels alone or out of place in their environment. This book demonstrates that there is more than one place to find acceptance, and that there are no ties that can't be broken. The complexity of this story has as many layers as the Dark Elves hatred, and there are as many twists and turns in the plot as there are tunnels in the Underdark. R.A. Salvator's talent is apparent in this wonderful story of acceptance and escape.
Rating:
Summary: Great action and provides understanding of the drow.
Review: This is a great book about Drizzt's upbringing as a drow and his struggles against his culture. A lot of light is shown on the mysterious world of Menzoberanzon and the rest of the underdark, as well as the drow ways and society.
With lots of action and great story telling, this book is hella fun to read. The intrigue and secret (but not so secret) plotting and betrayals that are so common in Drizzt's homeland help the reader to better understand the ways of the drow and the reasons for the corruption of most drow people. The fights between Drizzt and Zak were sweet and the last part of the book, in which Drizzt killed Masoj and Alton and defied his matron mother Malice, was awesome. Exciting stuff.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Piece of Work
Review: I absolutely loved this brilliant piece of work. For one let me tell you that this was the first time I read one of Mr. Salvatore's books and I was absolutely blown away by the amount of detail and depth there is in this book. The characters are all unique in their own way and the descriptions are all very real and vivid. My favorite character would be Drizzt all the way. He has very real feelings and you feel how trapped he is in the drow world of Menzoberranzan. His dark kin are ruthless in their pursuit of their dark desires and Drizzt can't comprehend how evil they are. I would highly recommend this book to any fantasy reader out there who enjoys a good adventure packed book with deep characters.
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT!!!
Review: Definitely a great fantasy epic and one of my personal favorites, The Dark Elf Trilogy-Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn, brings to life the story of a good hearted dark elf ranger named Drizzt Do'Urden and his adventures in the Underdark Drow city of Menzoberranzan in the World of Faerun. The books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another universe and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. RA Salvatore has truly outdone himself and has presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work and in authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies. Duty, honor, bravery, magic, and swordfights are all about. A great trilogy indeed and a "must read" along with RA Salvatore's The Icewind Dale Trilogy!
Rating:
Summary: Homeland of Drizzt
Review: Wow! Bob outdid himself once again. What a great book. It's amazing how you can get sucked in and understand Drizzt's situation. The infamous horrors of Menzoberranzan are revealed and horribly detailed. Drizzt has to live through all this...
I'm amazed how one with his special attitude survived the horrors of the underdark. Very emotional book. Best read of Salvatore yet!
Rating:
Summary: A captivating fantasy of a society built upon ruthlessness
Review: Now with an exclusive interview of the author, Homeland reprints the story of the Dark Elf fighter Drizzt Do'Urden growing up in the treacherous city of Menzoberranzan, where power is coveted and there is always a rival waiting to place a dagger in one's back. A captivating fantasy of a society built upon ruthlessness as a way of life, and one individual's struggle to break free of it; since Homeland chronologically narrates Drizzt's earliest years, it is the ideal starting point for readers new to his legend.
|
