Rating: 
Summary: Thank Lolth...
Review: After the last two books I was starting to lose faith in this series faster than Lloth's followers were losing faith in her.
Athans may not win any awards for his writing in this book, but it's definitely better than the previous two.
Now I must speak on the "inconsistencies" some may point out in regards to the characters and events: What may appear as Athans having not been paying attention to the characters' personalities and actions in the previous books, is actually an inevitable and essential aspect to any good story. The characters must go through some sort of change. If the characters are not changed in some way by the events in the story, then that means the story wasn't powerful enough to influence them and hence not powerful enough to captivate the audience.
That being said, there were some things that I didn't like to see played out (see Ryld ch 24), and some things that could have been played out better (see Danifae's scheming). But, more importantly, there were many things that I did not expect, and that's what keeps me turning pages (after all, why read a book if you know what's going to happen).
In short, I'm glad to, finally, be once again looking forward to the next book out of suspense for what's going to happen next (see books 1 & 2), rather than the hope that the next book will be better (see books 3 & 4).
Rating: 
Summary: what the heck...
Review: Agree strongly with whats been posted already. I awaited the printing of this book because the first 4 where great. this book left me disapointed and turned off to the whole series. What happened to ryld was a complete waste. If it had been for a purpose fine... but it seemed to be completly meaningless. I will not be picking up book 6.
Rating:
Summary: Basura!
Review: Definitely the worst of the series. Can't believe what Athans did to all characters: none was the same as in previous books.
I finished this book beacuse my sadistic mind kept telling me this was just a bad dream of Jeggred who finally awakes at the end! (Yes, that would have been a better plot!)
And I agree with many others: (spoiler coming.....) Ryld's death is pointless, stupid, inconsequential, ilogical and, worst of all, boring.
The worst is you can't skip it and go directly to book 6.
PD. I'll never buy another book by Athans.
Rating:
Summary: Entertaining and Enjoyable Read!
Review: Having read all of the War of the Spider Queen Series, I would say that I am impressed by all the authors who had the difficulty of working on such a project as this. But I must say that I was surprised at Phillip Athans. After having read his book,Baldur's Gate, I hated his work. But after reading Annihilation I was very surprised. I enjoyed the violence, bloodshed, and overall dark fantasy type writing that he envoked in this book. I actually enjoyed the way that Athans spaced out the fight between Gromph and Dyrr, and I loved the way it ended as well. I cannot wait until the next book, which is supposedly to be written by Paul S. Kemp, a master of dark fantasy. If anything I would complain that all the Forgotten Realms novels are too short, as if Wizards of the Coast does not allow the authors to expand what they are writing about because of budget. Overall awesome book!
Rating: 
Summary: worst book in the series
Review: I did not like the way the author altered the characters to his liking. To assume Quenthel would be weak and stupid just doesnt make sense. Someone of her power wouldn't waiver in her faith to Lolth.
The plot was just plodding to me. The Dyrr/Gromph fight took way too long. The way Ryld dies is just weak to me. He's such a great character and you are gonna off him so easily?
Phaurun did appear more powerful in this book which I enjoyed seeing. I hope he gets Jeggred in the final book, that creature is just annoying at this point.
If you are a fan of the series then read the book, we can't change what has already been butchered.
Rating: 
Summary: A fun series continues.
Review: I have really enjoyed this series, and feel it keeps getting better all the time, although I can't honestly say that I enjoyed this book as much as the others. My biggest complaint was that the duel took overly long, and that Hallistra would have never trusted Danifae in any way. I felt the other characters were true to their personalities. What I enjoy most about this series is its serious tone and dark characters. I have always thought that Salvatore's drow books were kind of silly, and I find the Spider Queen books much truer to the nature of drow. Thank you for having no silly Bouldershoulder type characters!
Rating:
Summary: What happened?!?!
Review: I started the "War of the Spider Queen" series because the Drow have always been one of my favorite fantasy races, and the premise appealed to me. Books one to four were enjoyable, if predictable, entertainment [though I wish the Matriarchal Drow had stronger female characters in the published fiction] and I looked forward to book five.
Boy, was I disappointed.
Did the author even read the previous novels? The characterizations are inconsistent, the plot is plodding and hackneyed, and there are narrative holes you could drive a pack lizard through [including a supposedly dead enemy who is resurrected without even a single mention of his previous demise to explain a "miraculous escape"]. I especially hated the cliched direction one particular romantic subplot took; Couldn't the writer have done the unexpected? The whole thing frustrated the heck out of me from start to end.
If this had been the first book in the series, I would never have wasted my money on the rest of them. You do need it to complete the series, but I recommend skimming it over for the [very] few pertinent plot points and waiting for book six to end the tale.<BR(...)
Rating:
Summary: good book
Review: I thought that this was a good book, but it had the definite feel of a transitionary book, not the final chapter of a five part series.A lot of the characters seem to take a back seat to what is going on. Pharun is muted throughout the book, he has a role definitely, but he has a distand feel. Danifrae, the battle captive has a much wider role, they finally fleashed out her character more like they'd been hinting at. Gromph begins his his assault on Dyrr, with a lengthy battle, a really lengthy battle. Quenthell is unfortunately absent throughout a lot of the book. This is curious considering they hint throughout the book that there is a lot more to her than you can see. This could be foreshadowing something more, I hope. The siege on the drow city was also only sparsely mentioned in this novel. but they do something that answers a bunch of questions about what has been going on with the Spider Queen. In practically the same breathe they raise dozens more. All in all this was a good book, but definitely not a standalone book. It focuses heavily on the trip to the abyss aboard the chaos ship as well as the duel between archmage and lichdrow. It answers questions and raises even more with the answer. But it fulfills the main requirements, making you interested in the next book. Hopefully there will be another book, I don't think that this would end it properly. Though all in all this is an enjoyable book that keeps you reading wishing there was more at the end.
Rating: 
Summary: Just passing thru
Review: Not really the best book in the series, but at the same time when you are working on a series setup by one of the best fantasy writers in the Wizards arsenal it isn't all bad. If this book serves nothing else than to be a somewhat half hearted attempt to get the story write between two other great books, and it is only 1 bad book of six it will be alright. Have fun reading this series, the dark elves are one of the most dynamic races in fantasy at this time.
Rating:
Summary: Some Love It, Some Hate It, You Gotta Read It
Review: Ryld Argith, Weapons Master of Melee-Magthere, has trained for any eventuality and has found himself at least the equal of any foe he's yet encountered. But with the Spider Queen still unable or unwilling to acknowledge her followers, and with drow society perched on an ever weaker edge over an ever deeper chasm, Ryld will find himself drawn to a woman who is in turn drawn to a goddess. And that goddess isn't Lolth. When his own heart turns against him, will he be man enough to follow it, or drow enough to survive?
That's from the flyleaf of the book, so mentioning it here isn't telling you any more than your looking over the book. This is the fifth in the series created by R. A. Salvatore. As with any series where the world is designed by one person and the actual books are written by others, some will love this one, some will hate it. But if you're into the series you gotta read it, no question about that at all. Otherwise how can you possibly be ready for the next book. As for myself, I enjoyed it a great deal.
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