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Daughter of the Drow (Forgotten Realms: Starlight and Shadows, Book 1)

Daughter of the Drow (Forgotten Realms: Starlight and Shadows, Book 1)

List Price: $6.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Underdark adventures with a human touch
Review: I enjoyed Daughter of the Drow immensely. Much more than I initially expected. As some of the other reviews here suggest, this novel provides a fresh interpretation on the life of the Drow. Liriel Banre (sp?) is a fantastic, exciting and mischevious leading character suffering under a restrictive society. She is sharp and full of life and Fydor, the 2nd lead character is her perfect foil.

The reason for the different style of writing is mainly due to a talented female building an environment that imbues the D & D world with mystery, passion and excitement - not just hack and slash etc etc. There is a feeling of something regal about Menzoberranzan - a place that is to be admired and feared.

I also I enjoyed the discovery of new Drow Gods - what a great way to expand the Drow pantheon than by "underground" (pardon the pun) Gods, that most of the Drow don't know about. Convenient, yes, but also apt for the Drow culture with all their backstabbing and plotting behind the scenes.

Highly recommended, and a must if you've ready any other underdark novels or played an underdark module!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Liriel is a better character than Drizzt.
Review: I have come to find that anything Elaine Cunningham writes for AD&D is great, and this book is no execption. "Daughter of the Drow" tells the story of Liriel, a noble drow from Menzoberranzan, who like Drizzt, is not the average noble drow. I liked this book better than R.A. Salvatores writings because I have come to realize that Drizzt whined constantly about morality, which just got annoying.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Book
Review: I have enjoyd reading the book very much. I strongly recommend this book for those who want a good reading. Elaine shows us here a part of the drow society, and, I must tell that I'm not pleased at all with her vision.Drows are evil,and the kill for pleaseru.This is partialy dismised int this book,but for this, the book is great.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Wonderful. I'm Glad I Read This.
Review: I have never read anything by Elaine Cunninham before. Beyond that, I tried to stay away from the world of the Drow (save the amazing Drizz't). That said, I'm glad I picked this book up. I was astonished at all I would have missed! Liriel Baenre is made to fit the part perfect. If I had to give a name, it would be an "innocent drow child" (I know, not possible). Though Liriel is a great character, she isn't my favorite. Fyodor is defintely more my style. A man that can bash some brains in but possesses some of his own as well. The the details of his background are a little shakey, The present Rashemi berserker warrior is good enough for me. Maybe it's just me, but I found Fyodor to be the kind of person I would think of when I consider a sane Minsc (Balder's Gate). I really like Minsc. The only part of this book I had a little trouble with was there was no really extravegant baddies. The bad guys you can't help but like. No Jarlaxles, Artemis Entreri's, Ringwraiths, etc. That kind of bothered me; it seemed to through the balance of the story off. The whole time I'm thinking, "okay, so Menzobarrenzan is against her. When is she going to drop the brat antics and become a good guy so we can make room for the real evil?" Never. But that's why it's book one. Onward to bigger and greater things, namely book two. Oh, I forgot, don't make the mistake I made and try to avoid the world of the Drow. It's too wonderfully twisted and detailed to miss.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: love it
Review: I love Drizzt and I wish the humans of Earth were all like him. I was very happy with this book. It takes us into the city of menzo and lets us know what happen after the drow war. For i as was wondering about that after i finshed R.A. Salvatore's books. I found that reading both of Elaine's books is important to understand the whole story.For true D&D fans know that there are good Drow as well as evil just like all other races. I hope that Drizzt and Liriel meet each other and become friends. Then Drizzt will know that he is not alone. That is what is so wonderful about TSR books, all the races blend together to make one whole adventure. I have read every single book of the forgotten realms and other worlds so i know it is true. If you love Drow and adventure then read Elaine's 2 novels of the underdark.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I loved it
Review: I love this book. I feel with the characters. I even find the bad guys interesting (I usually get bored with the vilians).

Maybe I like this better than others because I'm not a Salvatore fan. Only read the Icewind Dale trilogy, and wasn't impressed at all.

DotD has everything to make it great. It worked for me. I loved the way teh drow were. "Without joy." Striving for, not knowing it didn't exist. Liriel's first understanding of friendship was great. She never imagined a situation like that, a state of being like that, possible. To her frienship was hanging out with someone until they tried to kill her.

Yes, she was a spoiled brat. She was meant to be. Nobility and honor were things she had to learn. So was the reality of consequences for actions. She had to grow up. By the end of Tangled Webs, we believe she's done it well.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Good thing you made it a two book series, Elaine!
Review: I must be one of the biggest fans of Elaine Cunningham and her works. That is why "only" 3 stars seems to be a very low ranking. In my humble opinion however, they are justified. Let me explain... The idea of a new underdark novel is a good one. Although I have only read two novels by R.A. Salvatore I was already a bit annoyed by his pseudo perfect do-gooder protagonist Drizzt. Elaine can give the drow and Menzoberranzan more depth than Salvatore ever could. Also I think she wanted to try out a new female protagonist, with her previous hero Arilyn (although I loved her) being a bit on the cold, "too elven", honorable, no fun side. I was much more fond of Elaith and that was just the point as I read on in this novel. Cunningham's drow seem so much less like the evil dark elves of Salvatore's Underdark, but more like her wicked surface elves. If Elaith had been a female sorcerer instead of a warrior...Liriel is just the way he would have turned out. I don't think Cunningham really got into the drow but rather projected her existing elf characteristics on them! That is my main point of criticism... the story is still good and makes you want to read more, but it can at times be confusing and uncoordinated. When the book was over, I somehow had the feeling that nothing really happened, which I really hate. I suggest only buying it if you also buy the sequel which makes a bit up for it. Divination

Rating: 5 stars
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: 3 stars
Summary: Too bad
Review: It really is a crime to let anyone other than Salvatore write about Menzoberranzan. Under Salvatore's careful tutelage Menzoberranzan is the type of evil city one can only imagine; his one character with perspective(Jarlaxle, NOT Drizzt) is enigmatic, and the whole city is mired in a bloody haze that conveys the frantic struggle for Lloth's favor that grips the drow.

Elaine Cunningham's attempt flushes all this, to a large degree. Don't get me wrong, the book isn't all bad, but while Liriel is off partying like its an orgy, Drizzt was helping his family obliterate other clans. It simply adds an atmosphere that ruins the magical setting.

Liriel is not really as engaging as Drizzt, and none of the other characters show much promise. One's fascination is Rothe herding - oooooh!

This book is like Casablanca with B movie actors and a lousy director - its still Casablanca, but not nearly as good. (Kind of like Batman I vs. Batman IV.) If you aren't planning on reading Salvatore, pick this one up. If you've already read Homeland, however, there isn't anything in this that will satisfy your appetite.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I'd noticed something
Review: It seemed to me, all the people who didn't just love this book were comparing it do another author. You shouldn't done, I enjoyed more because I'd never read another book about the Drow. The characters, were far from perfect there very flaws and quirks made it interesting. The switch back and forth of Liriel to enemny, to friend with Fyodor is fun to read about. The second books goes into more detail. I just loved, it's a good thing I nothing to compare I guess.


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