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Rating: 
Summary: Elves, what's not to like?
Review: I must admit elves are my favorite fantasy race, so for me buying this book was a no-brainer. I was very pleased with what I found. It has three new elven subraces and pc stats for all the elven subraces in the Monster Manual(including drow). It has lots of equipment elves use and many prestiege classes for them to join. The thing I like best is the rules for elven high magic! Add in new feats, new combat styles and an in-depth look at elven culture and this book is a solid buy for any D&D fan, and, if you like elves, a no-brainer of a purchase.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, not quite great
Review: This book can certainly help a DM (and players) add some depth to elven characters in a campaign. Elven alchemy and herbalism are great touches, as are the elf-specific feats. There are also some new items that can add a distinctive flavour to your elves.The archery trick-shots are much appreciated. My own players have been suggesting they ought to be able to perform stunts like this with the feats they had and now this book provides rules for it, which saves me the headache of having to do so. On the other hand, some sections will only be useful if your imagination needs a kick-start. Most DMs and players should be able to come up with their own basic ideas for elven strongholds and character concepts. On top of that, most of the subraces section is basically a reprint of material from the MM and DMG with the exception of the three new subraces. None of the prestige classes looked particularly striking. Also, while they present a bladesong fighting style (not a prestige class), I found it lacking. WotC's (corrected) prestige class is a much better take on the concept, in my opinion. Ultimately, I rate D&D supplements on how much use I get out of them. If elves are going to play a major role in your campaign, this book can help you add the detail to make them that much more. It doesn't quite live up to its "quintessential" claim, though.
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