Neverwinter (Forgotten Realms: Neverwinter, #2; Legend of Drizzt, #21)

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Neverwinter (Neverwinter #2)

4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 · rating details · 1,763 ratings · 107 reviews

With the last of his trusted companions having fallen, Drizzt is alone--and free--for the first time in almost a hundred years. Guilt mingles with relief, leaving Drizzt uniquely vulnerable to the persuasions of his newest companion--Dahlia, a darkly alluring elf and the only other member of their party to survive the cataclysm at Mount Hotenow. But traveling with Dahlia i...more

Hardcover, 352 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by Wizards of the Coast

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Jul 13, 2012 Livy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: sci-fi-fantasy-fav-shelf

I have to admit, when I heard that this new series was coming out, I didn't know what Salvatore would do. He'd just killed off all of Drizzt's friends that he'd written about in the past 20 books and now he was basically starting over. And it was GENIUS :-) Salvatore opened up a whole new chapter for Drizzt, showing a doorway into the rest of his life. Naturally, the action was great, the new romance was interesting, and Drizzt is ever faithful and amazing. The twist with (spoiler warning!) Barr...more

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Jul 10, 2012 Jeff rated it 2 of 5 stars Recommends it for: only the most hard-core of Drizzt fanbois

Recommended to Jeff by: no one

Salvatore can do better than this. This book was a step down from the previous one, which wasn't a good read at all (though it did have a lot of emotional endings in it). Neverwinter, however, is not a good book. The story does not move forward, it is stagnant and predictable. The characters are bland and boring. Reading about Drizzt in this is like watching a different actor play him, and play him badly. There is no drive, no sense of adventure, no resolved ending. The conflict is confusing and...more

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Jan 17, 2012 Chy rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have to give Salvatore his props. I mean, if I had to list my influences, when I came to fight scenes, this is where I go. I could never hope to equal him, here, and I have no real aspirations to be this detailed, but yeah.

The thing is, I’ve never been a fan of the detailed fight scenes, but Salvatore gets me into them.

On top of that, I know he’s working with the 4.0 version of D&D’s Forgotten Realms here, and that’s admirable. I only know what I’ve heard of that version, because everyone...more

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Oct 30, 2011 John rated it 2 of 5 stars

I miss the Companions of the Hall. There, I said it.

I realize after 14 or whatever books about them, that Salvatore was ready to move on. I respect his right to do so as an author. But, I still miss them. They were all near and dear to me. Drizzt was always my favorite, and I am glad his tale continues, but I miss the others. I can’t think of a character from a book that I had a bigger crush on than Catti-brie.

A friend of mine floated the idea that the vast majority of authors only have one st...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Robert rated it 5 of 5 stars

Disclaimer-If you read the review and feel there is a spoiler in it, please let me know and I will remove that section. Also, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask. Thank you.

Neverwinter is the second book in the Neverwinter saga. The first book is Gauntlgrym. The third book untitled at this time will no doubt be released October 2012.

Neverwinter continues from where Gauntlgrym left off with Drizzt and his new partner getting ready to check on an old “friend”. There is still much unre...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Daniel rated it 4 of 5 stars

The second book in the Neverwinter saga continues the story the first began. Whereas the initial novel in the saga, Gauntlgrym, was all about filling in story and introducing new characters, the second increases the action. As such, it isn't as deep as Gauntlgrym but more exciting. The Thayans continue to build the Dread Ring and hope to cause a cataclysm that will fully power it. Given Neverwinter city's current state, they have launching attacks at it. Meanwhile, Dahlia joins Drizzt to find Ja...more

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Oct 10, 2011 Hollie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I love Drizzt. And yes, I totally mean that in a creepy fan girl type of way ;) Ok, maybe not really, but I do always love books about Drizzt. I even created Drizzt and Catti-Brie costumes for my brother and I, possibly the most kick-ass cosplay ever. Salvatore delivers, over and over, quickly, and with the same quality every time. He has to be one of the best fighting scene writers ever.

I wish I'd re-read the first book in this new series first, as I was a little lost if I'm gonna be honest. I...more

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Mar 20, 2013 Josh rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, high-fantasy

a decent middle volume of a trilogy that is no more than decent.

Salvatore remains outstanding at describing action, and his combat sequences are descriptive, tightly focused, and often thrilling. but the rest of it just isn't up to snuff, really. Salvatore has turned this neck of the Forgotten Realms into a dire place with little hope for anyone who isn't a fairly ruthless killer. I guess that's a good setup for the MMO game that's coming? Bah.

Moreover, Salvatore enjoys spinning out information...more

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Dec 13, 2012 Ben Arispe rated it 5 of 5 stars

I don't understand why some people didn't like this one. I thought it was absolutely great. I'm no the biggest fan of Drizzt moving on with his life, and I really don't like the fact that we don't see any dwarves in the story anymore. That being said, I like the "new" direction Drizzt is heading as a character. It seems to me like this is nothing less than him growing up (for lack of a better term) And leave it to Salvatore to throw in something like Barrabus the Gray just to keep things interes...more I don't understand why some people didn't like this one. I thought it was absolutely great. I'm no the biggest fan of Drizzt moving on with his life, and I really don't like the fact that we don't see any dwarves in the story anymore. That being said, I like the "new" direction Drizzt is heading as a character. It seems to me like this is nothing less than him growing up (for lack of a better term) And leave it to Salvatore to throw in something like Barrabus the Gray just to keep things interesting. I must say, the fact that Dahlia is such a great warrior and an elf really gives her character some possiblity in the future with Drizzt. I always thought we would see Lady Alustriel in this way, but Dahlia fits with Drizzt so much better. The fact that they could become enemies later on down the road makes it much more interesting. Oh, and I absolutely LOVE the detail in the fight scenes! NO other author does anything like it, nor can they compare with Salvatore. That's one of the primary reasons I love him as an author, simply because I feel like I can see the fight as it progresses. I don't think that takes away from the story at all. In fact, whenever I read any other author, that's usually my main complaint about them, is the lack of detial in the fighting. Plus, the addition of characters that aren't his own creation really gives Salvatore a lot more to play with now post-Spellplague. Szass Tam is a good character for a Sauron-type villain in Faerun, though I've only seen him in one other series so far. It fits Drizzt in with the rest of the lore in Forgotten Realms, not just in the Icewind Dale or Mithral Hall area. I would love to see Drizzt travel the world of Faerun, much like in the anthonlogy of the Grand History of the Realms. I doubt that would happen though, wishful thinking on my part! Anyway, this was a great read, and one of the only stories that makes me jump straight into the next volume! I must say, I will proabably take my sweet time with the next one, seeing as we might not see another one for quite a while!(less)

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Aug 20, 2012 Victor rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

After the events that transpired in Gauntlgrym, Drizzt Do'Urden finds himself alone, and craving for adventure. His desire to wild the twin blades, Twinkle and Icingdeath, as well as his newfound freedom, together with the unsatisfiable curiosity for the elf Dahlia Sin'Felle will propel Drizzt once more to the adventurer's path, one that will shake the foundations of his established set of Principles.

Neverwinter as a story is different by all Drizzt's standards. Drizzt 's confidence in his virtu...more After the events that transpired in Gauntlgrym, Drizzt Do'Urden finds himself alone, and craving for adventure. His desire to wild the twin blades, Twinkle and Icingdeath, as well as his newfound freedom, together with the unsatisfiable curiosity for the elf Dahlia Sin'Felle will propel Drizzt once more to the adventurer's path, one that will shake the foundations of his established set of Principles.

Neverwinter as a story is different by all Drizzt's standards. Drizzt 's confidence in his virtuous life shaken, and he is dares exploring the grey area he has strived to avoid throughout all his life, even before leaving Menzoberranzan. At the same time, the last threat of Drizzt's past makes an appearance to find solace once and for all, and he leaves hints as to what might happen at the end of the book and in teh future.

In general lines, I felt that this was more of a middle book, rather than a continuation of a story. We get some unneccesary narrative that contributes little to the story and in general we feel the main villains from last book are incompetent and overconfident. Salvatore does introduce two new power players that are intriguing and cunning, yet their true motives are not revealed wich makes them filler characters for most of the book. The ending does contain surprises but in general, we can deduce how the book will. I feel that some other minor characters (such as Dor'Crae) could have had some more explanation since they are introduced and later forgotten.

I still aplaud the decision of providing a new path in life for Drizzt; it is proving to be very entertaining; but this novel was a little more stagnant for my taste. Drizzt is very interested in what story Dahlia has to tell, but that relationship is presented as a dangerous thrist and is very stagnant, much like the book. I expect that the conclusion to this series, Charon's Claw, provides an entire different surprise to Drizzt and his fanbase.

Salvatore once again does not dissapoint; he introduces a new set of villains that are more intriguing and cunning and we instantly know that things are more dire than they weremakes his again center stage (he crept mostly in the shadows during Gauntlgrym) (less)

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Jan 28, 2013 Jay Requard rated it 3 of 5 stars

**SPOILERS AHEAD***

So I am actually giving this a 3.7 out of 5 stars, because at its essence Neverwinter is indeed a good book. Coming off the emotional roller coaster that was Gauntlgrym, there were a lot of places Salvatore could have taken his greatest character, and for the most part he delivers. Drizzt is not the same dark elf now that he is truly without the Companions of the Hall, as Salvatore has masterfully blended aspects of his stoic-yet-honorable behavior with more of his Hunter ment...more **SPOILERS AHEAD***

So I am actually giving this a 3.7 out of 5 stars, because at its essence Neverwinter is indeed a good book. Coming off the emotional roller coaster that was Gauntlgrym, there were a lot of places Salvatore could have taken his greatest character, and for the most part he delivers. Drizzt is not the same dark elf now that he is truly without the Companions of the Hall, as Salvatore has masterfully blended aspects of his stoic-yet-honorable behavior with more of his Hunter mentality. Added to this is his progressing relationship with the clearly Chaotic Evil Dahlia, a character who contrasts well with her more noble lover and partner in adventure. There is also a lot of great writing and interaction done with Barrabus the Grey, aka Artemis Entreri, who along with Hergzo Alegni really sets the stage for the third part of the series, Charon's Claw (which is already on my bookshelf, and I am eager to open it up and go back on the journey.)

What really takes away from the book is actually the places where the story isn't focused on Drizzt and Dahlia or Artemis and Herzgo. Considering that those two pairings are not villains, the actual bad guys in the story came off as very lackluster. Sylora of Thay is a cardboard flunky, never really demonstrating any reason for me as a reader to consider her a serious threat as she tries to expand the Dread Ring, a magical manifestation of pure evil that creates death by zombies as it expands. Along with her is Valindra, a lich who is hellbent on resurrecting her dead boyfriend and is prone to saying silly things that are meant to be evil but just come across as meaningless dribble. What honestly stopped me from giving this novel 4 out of 5 stars can be placed squarely on the fact that the writing for these baddies was not up to snuff in comparison with the heroes, and while a story needs strong heroes to right the wrongs, it more often than not needs even better villains to drive the plot.

And there is the main crux of the problem: I don't know if the story meant anything. Drizzt is trying to save Neverwinter, but the Dread Ring is never seen as anything other than an annoyance (they stopped another one like it in the previous book), and if you can keep beating the villains so easily it makes it hard to care about a plot device that has been seen before. Maybe if Salvatore upped the ante in this book things would have been vastly different, but the Ring itself was given very little in the way of stage time to really develop into something worth fearing.

What stops this book from being a 5 out of 5 is simple: The writing isn't up to the usual level Salvatore gives us. There are a lot of extraneous sentences and details, a lot of POV jumps which are handled in a rather clumsy manner (which is very striking, as he is usually a master at Third-Omniscient POV), and this is the first Drizzt novel I have read EVER where the fight scenes packed no punch. It looks like this book was hardly even edited in some cases, as there are numerous typos and formatting errors, along with a really inconsistent voice that ripped me right out of the story. Neverwinter is just not the author's finest work, but even then, that is like saying a small inclusion in a diamond makes a diamond worthless.

I would recommend this book to those who have read all of the Drizzt novels beforehand, as this one is not bad by any means-- it is just not at the top of the stack if the entire collection were to be taken into account. (less)

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Apr 08, 2013 Mphecker rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've had trouble adjusting to Drizzt in the 4E version of the Forgotten Realms. The loss of the Companions of the Hall never sat well with me, though I've always known it had to eventually happen since Drizzt would have a much longer natural lifespan than anyone else. For the most part, this novel was so-so, and Dahlia's constant "anything you can do I can do better" mentality didn't help me enjoy it any more. The final four chapters or so, however, were a very welcome shift with the team-up bet...more

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Mar 17, 2013 Hacedores Desierto rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: khardan, light-fantasy, fantasía-épica, fantasía, fantasy, fantasia-ligera

Salvatore lo ha vuelto a conseguir. Recuerdo que con las Transiciones lo pasé realmente mal, porque ese Drizzt y todo lo que le pasaba no molaba para nada. Ahora, por fin, puedo decir que nos encontramos con un Drizzt más en la línea de la nueva fantasía heroica. Oscuridad y luz luchan de manera compleja, tanto en los personajes como en el mundo. Dahlia es un personaje femenino tremendamente interesante que hace de contraparte y de "nueva conciencia" de Drizzt, asomándonos con ella a partes de F...more

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Aug 18, 2012 Katrin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

oh, finally a new salvatore book! :) he publishes them annually and i normally read them in a couple of days and right away lament that another year has to pass for the next one xD drizzt continues his journey alone, without his former companions, since they are mortal and he can far surpass them in age. his new affair, dahlia, is truly interesting. i love her as a character, i love her, because she is so different from cattie. well done salvatore for this unusual pair, i start to like the coupl...more

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Dec 22, 2011 Chris rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: d-d-books, fantasy

Like the first book in this trilogy, "Neverwinter" suffers under its reliance on combat. Salvatore lingers too long in fight scenes instead of investing more serious effort in making the reader care about what's at stake.

Some really interesting things happen to Drizzt, as far as developing his character, thanks to his interactions with the starkly opposite Dahlia. At first I was hoping Drizzt wouldn't fall for her charms, but I enjoyed the contrast between them - and the irony that the dark elf...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Travis rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

Neverwinter by R. A. Salvatore

Neverwinter is the second book in The Neverwinter Saga and is the twenty-first novel in The Legend of Drizzt series. The first book in the saga is Gauntlgrym and the next book is yet to be named at the time of this review. Neverwinter takes place in the Forgotten Realms universe of Dungeons and Dragons. The Legend of Drizzt series consists of The Dark Elf Trilogy (Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn), The Icewind Dale Trilogy (The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, and The...more Neverwinter by R. A. Salvatore

Neverwinter is the second book in The Neverwinter Saga and is the twenty-first novel in The Legend of Drizzt series. The first book in the saga is Gauntlgrym and the next book is yet to be named at the time of this review. Neverwinter takes place in the Forgotten Realms universe of Dungeons and Dragons. The Legend of Drizzt series consists of The Dark Elf Trilogy (Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn), The Icewind Dale Trilogy (The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, and The Halfling’s Gem), Legacy of the Drow (The Legacy, Starless Night, Siege of Darkness, and Passage to Dawn), Paths of Darkness (The Silent Blade, Spine of the World, Sea of Swords), The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy (The Thousand Orcs, The Lone Drow, and The Two Swords), and Transitions (The Orc King, The Pirate King, and The Ghost King) are all apart of The Legend of Drizzt series. Some other characters in the saga are found in The Sellswords trilogy (Servant of the Shard, Promise of the Witch King, and Road of the Patriarch) and The Cleric Quintet (Canticle, In Sylvan Shadows, Night Masks, The Fallen Fortress, and The Chaos Curse). R. A. Salvatore has also written a few other books set in shared universes. He has written two Star Wars based books, Vector Prime and Star Wars Episode Two: Attack of the Clones, and he has also written a book based on Tarzan called Tarzan: The Epic Adventures. R. A. Salvatore has also written a few books in his own created worlds, Ynis Aielle (Echoes of the Fourth Magic, The Witches Daughter, and Bastian of Darkness), Spearwielders Tales (The Woods Outback, The Dragon’s Dagger, and Dragonslayer’s Return), The Crimson Shadow (The Sword of Bedwyr, Luthien’s Gamble, and The Dragon King), Demon Wars (The Demon Awakens, The Demon Spirit, The Demon Apostle, and Mortalis), Demon Wars: Second Saga (Ascendance, Transcendence, and Immortalis) and the Saga of the First King (The Highwayman, The Ancient, The Dame, and The Bear). He also co-wrote The Stone of Tymora (The Stowaway, The Shadowmask, and The Sentinels) with his son Geno Salvatore. Along with all that, he has written a few short stories. Neverwinter was released in October 2011 and is published by Wizards of the Coast LLC.

After losing the last of his friends, Drizzt Do'Urden finds himself seeking a new adventure. His only companion, the Thayan elf Dahlia Sin'felle, wants to take revenge on her former master, Sylora Salm. What else can Drizzt do but join her and hope to avenge all those lost due to Sylora's involvement in causing a massive eruption which wiped out all of Neverwinter. But Sylora has plans of her own to take down her former champion, as well as, conquer all of the newly thriving Neverwinter in the name of Thay. The only thing stopping her is the Empire of Netheril, who has plans for Neverwinter as well. Unfortunately for Drizzt, traveling with Dahlia isn't something that he expected and he finds himself challenged by her views the world.

Criticisms:
1) Drizzt. There are quite a few problems with Neverwinter, but one of the more prominent problems is, surprisingly enough, Drizzt Do'Urden. Drizzt feels like he's losing what it takes to be a main character. The only interesting thing that Drizzt undergoes is that he is starting to slowly question his morals. Unfortunately, this 'dilemma' is only briefly mentioned and wasn't explored any further than a brief mention. It would have been interesting to see Drizzt to start to question his views, but these scenes only brought up the fact that he is starting to see the world in a slightly different light. That said, they didn't really introduce this, they really only brought it up. Aside from that, Drizzt came off as very annoying. For the past few novels, Drizzt has became increasingly whiny and annoying. In Neverwinter, this quality of the more recent Drizzt is amplified. There were times when he became genuinely frustrating. Drizzt is no longer the "outsider trying to fit in" character that he was for the longest time. He should have moved past that quality and mindset, but it seems to continue popping up. Sure, he lost all his friends, but he seems to be getting over the loss and it never felt like the reason for his attitude. The weirdest thing about his lack of changing personality is that you barely noticed it before. But in this novel, this qualities seem to be amplified. The main problem with Drizzt in Neverwinter is that there is nothing new added to him to give him more depth as a character, and he feels like he is the same character that he has always been.
2) Story. Neverwinter had a story that never really felt like a story. That might be an odd or confusing statement, but it is the most accurate way to explain it. Neverwinter only felt like a short story expanded with slightly related events to make the novel over three hundred pages in length. Basically, it felt like the main plot could have been told in a fifty page short story or even a short novella. The main plot really involves Dahlia and Drizzt returning to Neverwinter to take down the Thayan presence in the area, or more specifically, to allow Dahlia her revenge against her former master, Sylora Salm. It's not a very strong concept to start with. The whole revenge premise is very plain for a Drizzt novel and it has been done before in the series. This revenge plot just feels weak and really couldn't carry this story. Then you have the forced-in side story to try to pad out the story to the three hundred forty-six page length novel. These side stories only seemed to want to build-up to the next novel, which is what a bridge novel like Neverwinter should do. However, the side stories don't feel like they are that important. The main reason for this is that Neverwinter is full of action with little more than that. This focus on action really harms the story overall, giving it a very boring narrative and little character development. When you really look at Neverwinter's story, it is just action and more action, and because of this it never felt like an actual story.
3) New. There is one problem that will bother dedicated Drizzt fans is that there doesn't seem to be anything new added to the series with Neverwinter. You can claim Drizzt's budding relationship with Dahlia, but it felt like that was happening in the first book of the trilogy. You can also claim Dahlia is something new, but it isn't for the same reason. The only real 'new' thing that Neverwinter can claim is that now there is a warlock character who is introduced. That's really it. The story felt dry and bland because of the lack of innovation. If Neverwinter continued what the previous novel was setting up, the idea that Drizzt is now alone with no friends he can count on, that could have been something relatively new and could have potentially added another dimension to an old character. But that is hardly brought up and only really mentioned in Drizzt's first reflective moment in the novel. While there are a few things introduced, nothing really made Neverwinter feel any different.

Praises:
1) Barrabus. Before I potentially spoil anything concerning Barrabus, I will say that I would not consider this to be a spoiler in any way, shape, or form due to the fact that within the first chapter, it is revealed that Barrabus is Artemis Entreri. That said, Entreri is one of the strongest characters in Neverwinter. I'm going to honest here, when I first considered Entreri to be Barrabus, I was disappointed. I'm happy to say that I couldn't have been more wrong. Entreri's scenes are probably some of the strongest in the novel and do add a lot to his character. The main reason for this is that the majority of Entreri's scenes aren't focused solely on action, they really rely on Entreri's reasons for what he is doing and the way he says and does things. That's not to say that Entreri doesn't fight, he does, quite a bit in fact. But there's motivation and reason to his fights, something that ninety-percent of the other fights seem to lack. Through his actions and words, we start to see an entirely different person appear. Entreri is still Entreri, but there is an obvious change to how he carries himself and his personality. Fans of Entreri won't be shocked by his slight change, but it is still noticeable. It also makes you wonder how he round-up getting to where he is at now. It's a nice change to an old character and something that Drizzt is sorely lacking.
2) Dahlia. There is another character who helps make Neverwinter tolerable, and that's Dahlia. She has some great moments in the story that help develop her more. The most impressive thing about Dahlia is that she is constantly challenging Drizzt's morals and ideals. She really puts him into place and she is something new and exciting in Drizzt's life. That said, she doesn't give the story that feeling of something new, but it is a welcome change over his past companions. While reading, you can't help but notice that Dahlia is a surprisingly deep early on. She has a very developed and unique personality and meshes well with Drizzt's. In the previous novel, Dahlia felt tack-on. In this one, she's a powerhouse and single-handily makes Drizzt's scenes bearable. Dahlia gives this story something exciting, and without her, Neverwinter would have been more of a chore to get through than it already was.

Side Notes:
1) Neverwinter. The setting really does seem to be interesting. I wouldn't mind learning more about the area.
2) Fights. For fans of R. A. Salvatore's fight scenes, you won't be disappointed with Neverwinter as it is chalked full of them.
3) Cover Art. The cover for Neverwinter isn't bad, but it feels old-hat. Seeing Drizzt fight someone isn't anything new and seeing him take on Barrabus isn't as exciting looking as it should be. The background, thankfully, looks wonderful. There is a lot of detail going on and you'll most likely find yourself staring at it for a while. I also must mention that the original version of the cover art had Dahlia and Herzgo Alegni, Barrabus' master, fighting in the background. To see this removed is slightly disappointing, but understandable as the two never cross weapons. It's a decent cover with a beautiful background.

Overall: 2/5
Final Thoughts:
Neverwinter felt like the weakest Drizzt Do'Urden novel written to date, and that's hard for me to say because I am a Drizzt fanboy. There are a lot of problems that just make Neverwinter one of the hardest, annoying novels I've read. The story is bland, the characters felt underused and severely underdeveloped, and there isn't anything new added to the Drizzt series. Drizzt himself is annoying and almost unbearable. He just comes off as whiny and doesn't seem to really do much. Drizzt didn't grow as the progressed and he felt like the same old character that hasn't really changed that much as the years passed. The story is as disappointingly simple as possible. There is hardly a story, focusing more on action. This makes everything suffer because the characters felt thin and underdeveloped. Truth be told, Neverwinter felt like it should have just been a short story. Thankfully, there are two bright spots that do help in making Neverwinter bearable. Those two are Dahlia and Barrabus. Both of these characters were the only ones that felt like they grew as the story went on. Barrabus was amazingly good. You wanted to know how he round-up in the situation he is in and you are glad to seem that he has changed as the years have passed. With Dahlia, she is just great. She makes the scenes with Drizzt bearable, and at times she's the only good thing. Unfortunately, these two don't save the novel from being as weak as it is. When it comes down to it, Neverwinter is just disappointing and I can only really recommend it to die-hard Drizzt fans.(less)

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May 23, 2013 David Williams rated it 5 of 5 stars

Neverwinter, the second book in R. A. Salvatore’s Neverwinter series, picks up where Gauntlgrym left off. The last of Drizzt’s old companions are gone. King Bruenor fell in battle as he worked to stave off another great cataclysm. Now for the first time in a century Drizzt is free. He is no longer tied down by anyone. Now he is traveling with the deadly female elf warrior Dahlia. First they travel to Waterdeep to try and find some trace of Jarlaxle. While they are unable to locate the mercenary...more

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Jan 18, 2012 Jim rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

I hate to say it, but I think this is the first time I've ever been disappointed by one of Salvatore's novels. By now we all know his reputation as being the best at writing fight scenes, but I think he falls prey to his own hype here too much; the book is filled with battles to the detriment of any actual character development beyond the obvious and superficial. On a personal note, I suppose I'm not yet used to the new reality the story has moved into, and the things I miss detract from my enjo...more

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Apr 17, 2013 Shaun Mcdonald rated it 5 of 5 stars

OK. OK. I know what you're thinking. "Five stars?" "Really?" "No, I mean a true SNL...Really, Shaun, Really?"

Well, erm, EFING YEAH! I did it, and frikin' meant it! Oh, but don't urban out on me. The why. They why, my literarily salacious friend, is deep indeed. And, BTW, yes I've finally found the one thing worse than someone who ignores spellcheck, an outdated spellchecker!

So...here's the bawdy tagline of what will probably be an ongoing review of any Salvatore book on the Drow, it reads...

"Hol...more

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Dec 03, 2011 Michael rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Let's put it this way: in the final chapter of this book, a Thayan sorceress flees her castle (in a giant Dread Ring) in the form of a raven as she's pursued by Barnabus the Gray (who is really Artemis Entreri) on the back of his pet nightmare, who--along with some evil(?) elf female who bears an artifact of great power and Drizzit (who is riding on his unicorn)--and is being observed by an semi-insane lich (who is being controlled by the aboleth?) through the eyes of zombies after defeating a S...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars

As much as I love R.A. Salvatore, I think it's safe to say that the forced changes to the world of Faerun have messed with his ability to craft interesting characters. Salvatore falls prey to the old issue of telling, instead of showing. Characters that could have a sense of mystery and intrigue around them are instead spelled out for us explicitly. Additionally, Salvatore seems to be telling us that Drizzt was only the character we love because of the friends around him. Now that they are all d...more

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Feb 16, 2012 Lunamoth rated it 4 of 5 stars

First and foremost I would like to say, I miss the companions of the hall! Yes, I know Salvatore has been writing the Drizzt books for over 10 years and yes I know that new directions must be made but.. why Bruenor? Why?!

Ahem. Back to the review.

Neverwinter starts off a bit after Gauntlgrym. The town of Neverwinter has been demolished and is in the midst of rebuilding, the ashen zombies brought forth by the Lich Valindra are however hindering that notion. Herzgo Alegni is still plotting his sche...more First and foremost I would like to say, I miss the companions of the hall! Yes, I know Salvatore has been writing the Drizzt books for over 10 years and yes I know that new directions must be made but.. why Bruenor? Why?!

Ahem. Back to the review.

Neverwinter starts off a bit after Gauntlgrym. The town of Neverwinter has been demolished and is in the midst of rebuilding, the ashen zombies brought forth by the Lich Valindra are however hindering that notion. Herzgo Alegni is still plotting his schemes and Barrabus is still his slave. Sylora still is trying to complete her dread ring while harboring hatred for Dahlia who is now traveling with Drizzt in order to stop Sylora once and for all.

Enough plots for you? Indeed, the twists and turns in this book are many and can become cumbersome, however not to the point of making you want to stop reading, truly Salvatore shines in his action packed battles and there are plenty abound! I love the usage of swordplay and sorcery in this series and Neverwinter delivers on both while still making you think.

The characters themselves are complex and you know who you should and should not like. However, I still feel distanced from Dahlia. She is still much an enigma and the way she makes Drizzt question his ‘goodly’ nature is not endearing. I like my lavender eyed drow to be good, not undecided. We are also introduced to a few more new characters that add spice and intrigue into the story.

Do NOT think you will find romance in this story, there is none. The few encounters that could possibly be romantic are few, short and only hinted at. That’s how I like it though, I do not enjoy a book that focuses on lovey dovey drama, give me blood and gore and fighting any day and you have a happy fangirl.

While the companions are not in tow anymore and while the series is taking new directions, I like where it is going. There is still fighting, mystery and of course Drizzt and that is what I always keep coming back to Salvatore for. (less)

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Oct 11, 2011 Christopher Stilson rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, pulp

Typical Drizzt fare, thankfully lighter on the maudlin angst, although replacing it with combat scenes is somewhat less welcome. The dynamic established between Drizzt and Dahlia in the first book of this series has slipped a bit due to the need for characters to actually communicate in words, and I find myself missing their unspoken rapport. The absence of Jarlaxle is likewise galling, as his role as a contrast to Drizzt is not as ably filled by either Dahlia or Barrabus. Valindra Shadowmantle...more

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May 11, 2012 Timothy Pecoraro rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit I really liked this book. The fact that in this story the author has completely dropped comic relief was such a great thing. I'm just tired of the halflings, dwarves, etc... That he normally NEEDS to put in just about everything single book he writes for Forgotten Realms. This was SO NICE. I would all most say that I liked this book as much as the original Dark Elf Trilogy although I think those are some of his best books of all time. While I wasn't a big fan of last one quarter...more

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Apr 24, 2012 Sensitivemuse rated it 4 of 5 stars

It’s best if you read Gauntlgrym before diving into this one. Lots of events are referenced to the previous book and the story is continuous.

Again, this book does not disappoint the typical Drizzt fan. I really like how his character is developing so far. There are moments throughout the book where I too, feel the loss of his previous closest friends but yet these new experiences Dahlia is introducing to him is also welcoming.

I really am liking Dahlia as a character. In a sense, it’s nice to r...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Traci rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy

The rating is a bitter reflection of how this book made me feel. When I first started reading these books awhile ago now I fell in love with the sword and sorcery fun of it. The heroes enjoyed each others company and what they did. A lightness that is missing more and more in modern fantasy. It was refreshing. But it wasn't to last. Whatever the reason the series started to get bogged down with melodrama seriousness. And just plain preachiness and whinniness, okay maybe that's not a word. But th...more

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Feb 13, 2012 Jrumrill rated it 5 of 5 stars

Been waiting for sooo long!
And so far, so good. It's refreshing, after so many books, that the main character has changed his tune a little bit.

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May 24, 2013 Larry Naeyaert rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was good but not great. It was a little uneven. Too much focus on the fighting and not enough exposition on the new people in Drizzt's life. Also, Salvatore has made this series much darker than the previous books. That's not a criticism, it's just a little surprising. I don't have the feeling that Drizzt will overcome every obstacle (but we know he will) and the choices of who to ally with are between evil and more evil. It's not a clear cut, black and white world anymore. And that's...more

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Aug 03, 2012 Mike Friesen rated it 3 of 5 stars

Here we have another adventure of Drizzt with his newest companion, Dahlia. In the end, if you buy this book this late in the series, you know exactly what it is going to be and exactly what is going to happen in the story. The characters are exactly what you expect and every "plot twist" is visible from a mile away.

Does that make this a bad book? Not at all. I enjoy this series a great deal and I have read all the entries in the series. Salvatore is masterful at describing combat. i wait eagerl...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have read every single book that R.A. Salvatore has penned for the Forgotten Realms setting. Like many others, I was hooked by the character Drizzt Do'Urden many years ago. Having read all twenty-five novels, plus short stories, that Drizzt has starred or appeared in, I had thought that maybe the character had no surprises left for me. "Neverwinter" dispelled that notion.

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

Having lost almost everything and everyone that he held dear, Drizzt is left to ponder his place...more I have read every single book that R.A. Salvatore has penned for the Forgotten Realms setting. Like many others, I was hooked by the character Drizzt Do'Urden many years ago. Having read all twenty-five novels, plus short stories, that Drizzt has starred or appeared in, I had thought that maybe the character had no surprises left for me. "Neverwinter" dispelled that notion.

**WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD**

Having lost almost everything and everyone that he held dear, Drizzt is left to ponder his place in the world and the path he should take. It is refreshing to see this uncertainty. This hearkens back to the young Drizzt Do'Urden that readers fell in love with. His ideals and convictions coming into question as his worldview collides with those around him. To see the great ranger not so sure of himself is at once saddening and exhilarating. When Drizzt feels the sting of losing his friends Bruenor and Wulgar, or the longing for his wife Catti-brie, I feel that sting too. After years of regaling in their adventures and exploits they were my family as much as his, but it is the way this loss forces Drizzt to examine himself and the world around him in new ways that makes this new tale so wonderful.

R.A. Salvatore has shown new facets of his signature drow character in this latest trilogy. The ever steady, ever certain warrior is left confused by the emotions he feels for the elf Dahlia and her very grey morality. Salvatore's willingness to allow Drizzt to move on to another lover might sting some readers but I round it realistic and engaging. Also, his willingness to force Drizzt into situations where his own moral code does not so easily mesh with the maturing drow's pragmatism is also a treat. That Drizzt's wide-eyed idealism is being tempered by his years of experience among surface-dwellers, his years of introspection and his recent losses is only to be expected. I for one do not wish to Drizzt become a hardened cynic in his later years but if Mr. Salvatore sees the character going that way I will still be along for the ride. I'm sure it will just as enthralling as the journey thus far. (less)

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About R.A. Salvatore

As one of the fantasy genre’s most successful authors, R.A. Salvatore enjoys an ever-expanding and tremendously loyal following. His books regularly appear on The New York Times best-seller lists and have sold more than 10,000,000 copies. Salvatore’s most recent original hardcover, The Two Swords, Book III of The Hunter’s Blade Trilogy (October 2004) debuted at # 1 on The Wall Street Journal best-...more As one of the fantasy genre’s most successful authors, R.A. Salvatore enjoys an ever-expanding and tremendously loyal following. His books regularly appear on The New York Times best-seller lists and have sold more than 10,000,000 copies. Salvatore’s most recent original hardcover, The Two Swords, Book III of The Hunter’s Blade Trilogy (October 2004) debuted at # 1 on The Wall Street Journal best-seller list and at # 4 on The New York Times best-seller list. His books have been translated into numerous foreign languages including German, Italian, Finnish, Greek, Hungarian, Turkish, Croatian, Bulgarian, Yiddish, Spanish, Russian, Polish, Portuguese, Czech, and French.

Salvatore’s first published novel, The Crystal Shard from TSR in 1988, became the first volume of the acclaimed Icewind Dale Trilogy and introduced an enormously popular character, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. Since that time, Salvatore has published numerous novels for each of his signature multi-volume series including The Dark Elf Trilogy, Paths of Darkness, The Hunter’s Blades Trilogy, and The Cleric Quintet.

His love affair with fantasy, and with literature in general, began during his sophomore year of college when he was given a copy of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings as a Christmas gift. He promptly changed his major from computerscience to journalism. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Fitchburg State College in 1981, then returned for the degree he always cherished, the Bachelor of Arts in English. He began writing seriously in 1982, penning the manuscript that would become Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Salvatore held many jobs during those first years as a writer, finally settling in (much to our delight) to write full time in 1990.

The R.A. Salvatore Collection has been established at his alma mater, Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, containing the writer’s letters, manuscripts, and other professional papers. He is in good company, as The Salvatore Collection is situated alongside The Robert Cormier Library, which celebrates the writing career of the co-alum and esteemed author of young adult books.

Salvatore is an active member of his community and is on the board of trustees at the local library in Leominster, Massachusetts. He has participated in several American Library Association regional conferences, giving talks on themes including “Adventure fantasy” and “Why young adults read fantasy.” Salvatore himself enjoys a broad range of literary writers including James Joyce, Mark Twain, Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, Dante, and Sartre. He counts among his favorite genre literary influences Ian Fleming, Arthur Conan Doyle, Fritz Leiber, and of course, J.R.R. Tolkien.

Born in 1959, Salvatore is a native of Massachusetts and resides there with his wife Diane, and their three children, Bryan, Geno, and Caitlin. The family pets include three Japanese Chins, Oliver, Artemis and Ivan, and four cats including Guenhwyvar.

When he isn't writing, Salvatore chases after his three Japanese Chins, takes long walks, hits the gym, and coaches/plays on a fun-league softball team that includes most of his family. His gaming group still meets on Sundays to play.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/rasalv...(less)

More about R.A. Salvatore...

Books by R.A. Salvatore

Homeland (Forgotten Realms: The Dark Elf Trilogy, #1; Legend of Drizzt, #1)

Exile (Forgotten Realms: The Dark Elf Trilogy, #2; Legend of Drizzt, #2)

Sojourn (Forgotten Realms: The Dark Elf Trilogy, #3; Legend of Drizzt, #3)

The Crystal Shard (Forgotten Realms: Icewind Dale, #1; Legend of Drizzt, #4)

The Halfling's Gem (Forgotten Realms: Icewind Dale, #3; Legend of Drizzt, #6)

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