The Thousand Orcs (Forgotten Realms: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, Book 1)

Rating:
Summary: Salvatore does it again!
Review: This book is excellent, it is just what I have come to expect from Salvatore. I could not put it down! The only thing about it that dissapointed me was that Drizzt and Catti-Brie's relationship was not worked out. I can't wait for the next book because this book really leads up to it nicely and leaves you wanting more. I would definetely recommend it to any fantasy fans out there.

Rating:
Summary: Another Salvatore Masterpiece
Review: This was the first "Drizzt" novel I read, and I was utterly amazed by it. The Bouldershoulder Brothers Ivan & Pikel are absolutely hilarious. We meet two new vilains in the orc king Obould Many-Arrows and the frost giant princess Gerti Orelsdottr. Racial issues also play a major role in this book, with the inner strife in Mirabar between the corpulent marchion and the dwarves, led by Torgar hammerstriker and Shingles McGruff. We get an inside look at Drizzt's turmoil over killing ellifain, an elf he actually saved many years prior. In Wulfgar, we see a man whose overcome both gut-wrencing torture at the hands of a demon and immense inner torment. My sole complaint lies with the map on the opening page. Not only is it not of the quality of those in Streams of Silver and Silent Blade but it is also some what misleading. other than that, an excellent(and well-timed given the surge in interest in LOTR-inspired works) novel.

Rating:
Summary: Good to have them back
Review: While the story starts a little slow, I may attribute that to the fact I haven't read this type of book in awhile (although I remain always faithful to Drizzt's band and Salvatore's wonderful writing). The book really flows and you eventually find yourself not wanting to put it down.
I really like the detail with which Salvatore describes the actions (you can almost see the orcs piling up around the adventurer's!). I like also that he did do a lot more with the other characters. Regis and Cattiebrie are much more in the forefront this time (Wulfgar already had his moment in the spotlight). And Bruenor ends up being the main character of this book, which I find delightful.
I really enjoyed this one and will be purchasing book two shortly).

Rating:
Summary: ah yes... excellent reading
Review: Salvatore returns to his action origins and shows just how much he has grown as a writer since the first set of books (The Icewind Dale Trilogy) came out. The action is just as vivid as ever, refined and filled with movement. But Salvatore continues to raise the stakes, both on a personal and a universal level. Obould is a smart orc and he has come to power and wants the Northlands for himself. What's new about this? Orcs usually have only wanted to kill kill kill, but this Obould has a vision. The adventures begin right off and the companions battle fiercely for the cause of right. Excellent storytelling and easily read introspection engage the reader fully. This is a fine beginning to an exciting new trilogy by our favorite fantasy writer.

Rating:
Summary: Best Fantasy novel I've read
Review: When I started to read this book for a report in High school, I thought I would read it and get it over with. Exept when I started it I got so compelled to read it I read the straight for a week and couldn't put it down. R.A.Salvitore puts you right in the struggle for survival.when you start to read this book you will be compelled to keep reading.The night that I finished The Thousand Orcs I bought the sequel the very same night.Any one looking for a fantasy novel pick this one up.'10 out of 10'.

Rating:
Summary: Progression
Review: I admit I can't help but enjoy R. A. Salvatore's stories, and this is an excellent beginning to what promises to be a wonderful trilogy.
In truth, however, it's the introspection of Drizzt and his slow development that I enjoy folowing the most. Slow because he has centuries to live as opposed to the vast majority of his friends and companions, who don't. His thoughts and observations break up the story and give a unique perspective that allows us for that moment to step back and take our own view of things.
Of course, there are all the "usual suspects", some old friends, as well as new friends-and of course some we would not call friends-all very original characters. Some very humorous, some not. Some unusual heroes, and some very promising villians. In common, they all have their own different points of reference and background, and that makes it easier to see their different perspectives.
Book 1 of The Hunter's Trilogy sets the stage very well for Book 2. I will say no more than that. If you are a follower of Drizzt, this is a must read. If not, it should make you want to go back to read earlier works to fill in his past history.

Rating:
Summary: Heavy Foreshadowing, But Companions Reunited
Review: This book is an excellent continuation of the storyline developed by R.A. Salvatore, an improvement over some of the most recent books preceding it.

The first half or so of the book overuses the device of foreshadowing, giving an exaggerated impression of impending doom that is hard to believe.

The second half of the book really picks up though, and the desperate fight in Shallows is gripping and keeps you involved and turning pages to see what happens.

If you have already been reading the exploits of the Companions of the Hall, you will not regret continuing with this volume.

Rating:
Summary: The Thousand Orcs' Review
Review: This book is one of his finest. It most definitely captures your attention. Once you pick it up, you can't put it down. The problem with this trilogy was you had to wait every October from 2002 to 2004 to read all three. The books lacks nothing and is a very entertaining and excellent read.

Rating:
Summary: Although Drizzt
Review: ...doesn't do battle in this book. There are some views and opinions that he is reflecting on his relationship with Catti-Brie, death, and spirituality. The plot is ongoing and more entertaining at times because in the second book he still thinks that his friends were killed in the battle at Shallows. This book is worth adding to my shelf and I felt that my money was worth it!

Rating:
Summary: A great fantasy read!
Review: This is one of my first entries into the Drizzt Do'Urden saga, but nonetheless I was blown away by what I read. The way characters interacted and the action was described kept me reading from one page to another, and once again I found a book that I could read up to fifty pages in one night - or in this book's case, a hundred pages when I got near the end. I suppose one explanation could be I have always been fascinated with military action and political intrigue, of which the book had all of the above. From Drizzt, his troupe, and a large band of dwarves fighting orcs in the mountains to the problems between human rulers and nationalistic dwarves, I didn't lose a chance to finish the next chapter. Salvatore made the land and its characters come alive to me, and I felt like I really was in that part of a mythical world. Plus, I appreciated the slapstick humor of Pikel and Ivan (imagine Laurel and Hardy as dwarves).

I should give a warning to people who haven't read the book yet that the "Thousand Orcs" in question only make an appearance at the end. However, believe me there are plenty of orcs to combat our heroes and their dwarven allies and there are a lot more orcs than where that thousand came from (try at least twenty thousand). Some people have criticized the action of the book and the competance of the orcs. I guess they skipped the opening part of the book where the Orcs whipe out a band of dwarves. Or perhaps they think they might fair better against a tall barbarian with a battlehammer. Either way, people have to remember near the end of the story characters show SURPRISE at how competant and organized the orcs eventually become. Orcs in general in this world (in fact, any fantasy world I've read) are known to be big and stupid, relying on brute strength alone.

I only had one quarrel with this book, and pardon if I sound vague but I don't want to give the ending away: how does Drizzt not know that [character] is not alive, if not by the evidence left alone? This is a character who can see a leaf on the ground and tell how many orcs there are, what they're wearing, and maybe even what they were talking about at the time - he can't figure a false ID out with given evidence alone? I might also add whenever he entered a pitched battle he seemed to have a great sense of what was happening around him. Why can't he see what's going on at the climactic battle while he's on top of the cliffs?

That and the constant "wherever the road might take us" references almost made me give this book four stars, but I've started "The Lone Drow" and I've already picked up my reading frenzy there. I would recommend any one into the genre try this book out.