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Stone of Tymora #1
The Stowaway
From the author of more than a dozen New York Times best sellers and his son, comes the first installment of a brand-new fantasy trilogy written just for young readers...
Barely a teen and already guarding a secret that could jeopardize his young life, Maimun is marked for death. With the help of a mysterious stranger, the boy escapes his village and flees out to sea, stowing away on the pirate hunting ship, Sea Sprite, where he comes across a most unlikely the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden. With a half-demon determined to destroy him, and a crew of sailors resentful of the trouble he's caused, Maimun must find the courage to prove his worth, both to his friends and to himself.
Nearly two decades ago, R.A. Salvatore introduced the world to Drizzt D'Urden in a series that has since become a fantasy classic and a consistent presence on best seller lists. Now, for the first time, Salvatore partners with his son Geno to craft a brand-new story just for young readers, featuring a cameo of the most beloved fantasy character of all time.
For young readers seeking the next great fantasy saga or for long-time fans who can't miss any installment in the Drizzt saga, this book delivers all the action, intrigue, and magic you've come to expect from the Salvatore name.
Barely a teen and already guarding a secret that could jeopardize his young life, Maimun is marked for death. With the help of a mysterious stranger, the boy escapes his village and flees out to sea, stowing away on the pirate hunting ship, Sea Sprite, where he comes across a most unlikely the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden. With a half-demon determined to destroy him, and a crew of sailors resentful of the trouble he's caused, Maimun must find the courage to prove his worth, both to his friends and to himself.
Nearly two decades ago, R.A. Salvatore introduced the world to Drizzt D'Urden in a series that has since become a fantasy classic and a consistent presence on best seller lists. Now, for the first time, Salvatore partners with his son Geno to craft a brand-new story just for young readers, featuring a cameo of the most beloved fantasy character of all time.
For young readers seeking the next great fantasy saga or for long-time fans who can't miss any installment in the Drizzt saga, this book delivers all the action, intrigue, and magic you've come to expect from the Salvatore name.
287 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
57 people are currently reading
1382 people want to read
About the author
R.A. Salvatore
606 books11.4k followersAs 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 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...
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...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
June 29, 2021
As dull as it is blissfully short.
January 26, 2025
Continuing my journey into the Forgotten Realms with Stowaway, which is the first book related to the Legend of Drizzt series, that isn't written by R.A. Salvatore, at least, not solely. It actually seems to be written primarily by his son Geno, with assistance and oversight by Robert, at least that's my best guess, because while it does feel clearly related to Robert's books, the writing prose also feels notably different in many ways, however, I don't consider that inherently negative, if anything it's a nice way to palate cleanse for a while, before jumping into the next set of books.
The plot of the book is certainly interesting, the story features a young orphaned boy named Maimun as the protagonist, and he's on the run from a demonic being named Asbeel, who seems to believe he has some right over Maimun's life. Right off the bat, the scale of things in this book feels larger than the Dark Elf Trilogy or Icewind Dale Trilogy, not in the sense that there's more at stake, though there certainly could be, but in terms of the levels of power at play.
Asbeel seems to be incredibly powerful, as do Maimun's adoptive allies who fight against him, the battle scenes in the book are certainly grander in scale than those against Errtu, Shimmergloom, or Icingdeath, which has me very interested in the demon and what his purpose is. It also has me very curious to read more about Maimun, because I want to understand what is so important about him, that such a powerful demonic being is interested in him, and while such powerful allies fight to defend him.
I truly enjoyed my time with this book and found it to be almost as much of a page-turner as Robert's individually created works, however, I can't rank it as highly as many of them for two primary reasons.
The first of which, is the writing itself, while not bad by any means, it certainly doesn't feel as polished as Robert's own works, and that's to be expected. I believe Geno was fairly young, a teenager, when he sat down to write these stories with his day, and thus, didn't have the same level of experience as him.
The second is that this book is clearly more of a set-up novel than it is an epic adventure. The entire middle section of the book just details Maimun's past, so that we have a better understanding of where he came from and what he's been through, which is very important for world-building and character development, but is not inherently as fun to read.
All in all though, I still greatly enjoyed my time with it and will be rushing into the next book of the trilogy very soon. I'll give Stowaway a 3.5 out of 5 stars, and something tells me that its sequels will be rated even higher!
Wanna check out my other Forgotten Realms book reviews? Check em out below!
The Legend of Drizzt - Homeland: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - Exile: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - Sojourn: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - The Crystal Shard: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - Streams of Silver: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - The Halfling's Gem: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stone of Tymora - The Shadowmask: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stone of Tymora - The Sentinels: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Cleric Quintet - Canticle: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The plot of the book is certainly interesting, the story features a young orphaned boy named Maimun as the protagonist, and he's on the run from a demonic being named Asbeel, who seems to believe he has some right over Maimun's life. Right off the bat, the scale of things in this book feels larger than the Dark Elf Trilogy or Icewind Dale Trilogy, not in the sense that there's more at stake, though there certainly could be, but in terms of the levels of power at play.
Asbeel seems to be incredibly powerful, as do Maimun's adoptive allies who fight against him, the battle scenes in the book are certainly grander in scale than those against Errtu, Shimmergloom, or Icingdeath, which has me very interested in the demon and what his purpose is. It also has me very curious to read more about Maimun, because I want to understand what is so important about him, that such a powerful demonic being is interested in him, and while such powerful allies fight to defend him.
I truly enjoyed my time with this book and found it to be almost as much of a page-turner as Robert's individually created works, however, I can't rank it as highly as many of them for two primary reasons.
The first of which, is the writing itself, while not bad by any means, it certainly doesn't feel as polished as Robert's own works, and that's to be expected. I believe Geno was fairly young, a teenager, when he sat down to write these stories with his day, and thus, didn't have the same level of experience as him.
The second is that this book is clearly more of a set-up novel than it is an epic adventure. The entire middle section of the book just details Maimun's past, so that we have a better understanding of where he came from and what he's been through, which is very important for world-building and character development, but is not inherently as fun to read.
All in all though, I still greatly enjoyed my time with it and will be rushing into the next book of the trilogy very soon. I'll give Stowaway a 3.5 out of 5 stars, and something tells me that its sequels will be rated even higher!
Wanna check out my other Forgotten Realms book reviews? Check em out below!
The Legend of Drizzt - Homeland: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - Exile: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - Sojourn: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - The Crystal Shard: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - Streams of Silver: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Legend of Drizzt - The Halfling's Gem: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stone of Tymora - The Shadowmask: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Stone of Tymora - The Sentinels: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Cleric Quintet - Canticle: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 6, 2021
Okay, so this was fun.
It's not exceptional writing, and is definitely geared for an audience of children. However, if you are a fan of the realms and want to start your child on this fantasy world, this would be a great place to start. The genius of this book is that the Salvatore's drop our new character right in to some scenes we've read from previous books about Drizzt; so you kinda get to relive moments from your own youth (If you read RA Salvatore when you were younger like me).
The plot is a bit lacking and fast paced, as one would expect from a children's book. But I do think this would hold the attention of someone who reads "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe", or "The Weirding Stone of Brisingamen". I think I got through it in about 4 days; quick, easy, entertaining if you need an escape and aren't expecting much.
It's not exceptional writing, and is definitely geared for an audience of children. However, if you are a fan of the realms and want to start your child on this fantasy world, this would be a great place to start. The genius of this book is that the Salvatore's drop our new character right in to some scenes we've read from previous books about Drizzt; so you kinda get to relive moments from your own youth (If you read RA Salvatore when you were younger like me).
The plot is a bit lacking and fast paced, as one would expect from a children's book. But I do think this would hold the attention of someone who reads "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe", or "The Weirding Stone of Brisingamen". I think I got through it in about 4 days; quick, easy, entertaining if you need an escape and aren't expecting much.
December 6, 2025
a good inclusion to the legend of drizzt even in periphery but doesn't nearly carry the same weight.
August 7, 2018
I'm going to let this stand as my review for all three books. I enjoyed them and it was really neat seeing a different angle on stories I'm already familiar with.
To clarify what I mean, this story follows a young boy and throughout his adventures, he crosses paths with Drizzt many times. This takes place during the time that he and the gang are hunting down Regis and Artemis Entreri. You get to see bits and pieces of that same adventure through the lens of this young boy. As far as I'm aware, this is the first time that Geno has had a hand in this world. I think it's a good starting point for him. He gets to dip a toe without having the inevitable comparison of his version of the characters with his fathers.
That does happen to an extent, though. I don't know how much his father was involved, but the few characters that we're all familiar with, just don't really seem like themselves. Again, it's well written, they just come off as, off from their normal personality. Especially Captain Deudermont who is the most heavily featured of all the standard cast of characters. His character seems most out of place based on what I know of him.
There were only a couple of things that really stood out to me as errors. One is when one of the books has a guard and an equine. It's not the main equine of the story, whom I don't have a problem with, but just a regular horse that doesn't act in the manner of any horse I've ever been around.
Overall, though, it was a good section of books to add to this series. It let's Geno dip his toe in these waters without "sullying" the main characters. I'm happy that this was a side series. They're also about half the length of the main books so they're also a quick read. I also like some of the other realistic parts, such as not having a young child be a master swordsman, even if they receive some training. Too often characters are made natural savants instead of having to struggle to gain mastery. I think that's much more relateable.
To clarify what I mean, this story follows a young boy and throughout his adventures, he crosses paths with Drizzt many times. This takes place during the time that he and the gang are hunting down Regis and Artemis Entreri. You get to see bits and pieces of that same adventure through the lens of this young boy. As far as I'm aware, this is the first time that Geno has had a hand in this world. I think it's a good starting point for him. He gets to dip a toe without having the inevitable comparison of his version of the characters with his fathers.
That does happen to an extent, though. I don't know how much his father was involved, but the few characters that we're all familiar with, just don't really seem like themselves. Again, it's well written, they just come off as, off from their normal personality. Especially Captain Deudermont who is the most heavily featured of all the standard cast of characters. His character seems most out of place based on what I know of him.
There were only a couple of things that really stood out to me as errors. One is when one of the books has a guard and an equine. It's not the main equine of the story, whom I don't have a problem with, but just a regular horse that doesn't act in the manner of any horse I've ever been around.
Overall, though, it was a good section of books to add to this series. It let's Geno dip his toe in these waters without "sullying" the main characters. I'm happy that this was a side series. They're also about half the length of the main books so they're also a quick read. I also like some of the other realistic parts, such as not having a young child be a master swordsman, even if they receive some training. Too often characters are made natural savants instead of having to struggle to gain mastery. I think that's much more relateable.
May 3, 2017
The book was very interesting but the story was not very easy to understand the problem is that it starts with the main character telling his story to a pirate of how he was running but after 20 chapters the main character decided to start his story when he was born and then it was very confusing what time the story was taking place but after all it ended very well
July 28, 2019
A fun start to a new trilogy that really feels fresh and fun for a Salvatore series. The cameos by well known characters seem a little forced and unnecessary as the main characters of the book are interesting enough.
January 25, 2025
I'm reading the Stone of Tymora trilogy as part of the Drizzt saga, which apparently comes right after The Icewind Dale trilogy chronologically. These stories are authored by R. A. Salvatore and his son Geno, but it's apparent from the beginning that Geno probably has more influence on the writing. The style is completely different and is written in the 1st person POV, which is a drastic change from the 3rd person POV in the other Drizzt novels. This is fine except writing in the 1st person can be difficult to pull off. This story also uses only one POV, further limiting the storytelling ability.
Overall, the story is mediocre at best. However I give it (3) stars because of its affiliation with Drizzt and the events that took place in the Halfling's Gem. The story is simple and short and a nice edition to the saga. This was a wise choice as there is only one main plot and it is definitely written for a younger audience.
Overall, the story is mediocre at best. However I give it (3) stars because of its affiliation with Drizzt and the events that took place in the Halfling's Gem. The story is simple and short and a nice edition to the saga. This was a wise choice as there is only one main plot and it is definitely written for a younger audience.
March 19, 2020
I really liked this book. It is fantasy set in medieval times in a different universe. One of the things I didn't like so much was that the writing wasn't that good. The book is structured in a very interesting fashion; it started with the main character being interrogated by a pirate captain and then he tells the captain a story, then he tells the captain the story leading up to the original story, and then he tells him the story that takes place after the original story. I think this structure was an interesting choice, and the authors did a pretty good job of the strange structure but it was a little bit hard to follow. One thing I enjoyed about the book is that this author has written countless other books in this same world with various characters and plot lines but this book was much less dense and you didn't need to have read ALL of the other books to understand this one.
July 18, 2017
I have always loved R. A. Salvatore's novels, especially those with Drizzt Do'Urden. This novel brought me back the familiar characters of those stories. Maimun is an orphan who is taken care of by Perrault, a fatherly figure who is also his guardian. Through the frame story Maimun is sharing, we learn how he came in possession of a Stone of Tymora and of his adventures with Asbeel, a demon who wants the stone. The novel ends with a cliffhanger, definitely making me want to read the next novel of the trilogy. I especially enjoyed how this story fit in with Drizzt's tale of rescuing his halfling friend Regis.
November 11, 2017
I grew up reading Salvatore. He was the very writer that got me hooked on Fantasy, on worlds and characters beyond on own. Despite reading much criticism about his writing technique, I would always standfast that he is a great writer who stirs imagination.
This book is garbage. I do not believe it was actually written by R.A. Salvatore. There is not a single redeeming quality about it. It felt like it was written by a 10-year old who does not know how to write. If not for the name on it, no decent publisher would even consider it.
This book is garbage. I do not believe it was actually written by R.A. Salvatore. There is not a single redeeming quality about it. It felt like it was written by a 10-year old who does not know how to write. If not for the name on it, no decent publisher would even consider it.
September 29, 2023
Honestly, the book was good enough to read, but I’m a little disappointed. It felt like a children’s book. It was just so… simple. And plain. If you follow the Drizzt books, I encourage you to read it just to stay on top of the story line. I read all the way through the Ghost King so far and though this series and the Cleric Quintet is not required, future books do allude to these stories. It’s a small book so you don’t have to dedicate a lot of time to it at least.
November 16, 2022
Honestly, kinda dull. Because of the order in which the story is told, you know that Maimun survives past the point in which you are reading and you know when and where Perrault even if you aren't told how and so you don't end up building any connection with him and so his death reaps no emotion from you. And Maimun is just not interesting as a narrator.
November 23, 2019
I don’t think I would’ve like this book much if it wasn’t connected to Legend of Drizzt, but because it is and you see Drizzt and his companions in small
Scenes it makes this book a fun read. It feels jumpy at parts and lacks detail, but it is meant to be a simpler read and it’s still enjoyable.
Scenes it makes this book a fun read. It feels jumpy at parts and lacks detail, but it is meant to be a simpler read and it’s still enjoyable.
August 14, 2021
Fairly standard fantasy affair. Curious chronological shifts and a lack of depth as to our central antagonists, but it's entertaining and moves quickly enough. I enjoyed the atmosphere, and the hints at the framing story.
November 9, 2023
I can't deal with a kid being the hero of an epic quest. Sure, he has the luck of the Stone and powerful friends to pull him through danger and difficulties, but ultimately I'm reading about a kid (actually a couple kids) doing way more than he/they should be capable of.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 27, 2017
Shadowmask
Amazing as always. Salvatore senior & now his son are truly genius'when it comes to fantasy. Keep it up. Eagerly looking forward to more.
Amazing as always. Salvatore senior & now his son are truly genius'when it comes to fantasy. Keep it up. Eagerly looking forward to more.
September 19, 2018
While enjoyable, this book is clearly not a whole story. The writing just stops. They probably looked for a good spot to chop the actually story. There is no completion.
October 11, 2019
This book is good because it has a lot of adventures that bungs you through it.
March 28, 2020
i finished it in a day.
January 17, 2022
Not a review, just notes
Introduces Maimun, Perrault who's probably a sentinel, elbeth who's probably related to the sentinels, and asbeel, the cambion bad guy.
Introduces Maimun, Perrault who's probably a sentinel, elbeth who's probably related to the sentinels, and asbeel, the cambion bad guy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 25, 2022
Intriguing new character in Faerun. Drizzt makes a cool cameo.
November 12, 2025
Fast, quick-paced, fun. A decent afternoon diversion.
November 14, 2022
Honestly, this made me go out and buy almost all of the recent Legend of Drizzt novels along with other Forgotten Realms series just so I could dive right back into a world I absolutely adored when I was in High School. Not to mention Perrault was a straight up badass. Loved that man.
April 12, 2010
The Stowaway is the first book in the Stone of Tymora trilogy by R.A. and Geno Salvatore. The second book is The Shadowmask and the third being The Sentinels, will be released in September 2010. For those who may not know, Geno is the son of Drizzt fame author R.A. Salvatore. Now even though R.A. Salvatore's name is on the cover, this book has more the feel of Geno's writing and I believe his father was more there to lend his characters and guidance.
The Stowaway is a Young Adult (YA) story about a boy, Maimun, who is an orphan that is captured by a pirate and in telling his tale to him, is using the pirate's curiosity to stay alive. It takes place from his earliest memories of living tin the woods to traveling the Sword Coast of the Forgotten Realms to his time at sea all the while being chased by a demon named Asbeel. Through his travels, he comes across Captain Deudermont of the ship Sea Sprite and Drizzt and companions Catti-brie, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis. Drizzt and company form only a smidgen of the story. Other characters are Perrault, a father figure and mentor, Elbeth, and a brief encounter with a girl named Joen who leaves a lasting impression on Maimun.
This book is a fast read definitely geared towards a YA crowd but enjoyable enough for adults. The chapters are short and the printing big making it a fast read. The story, however, was not as engaging for me. I did enjoy it, don't get me wrong, but I didn't feel the need that I had to drop what I was doing to finish it. The characters were well written enough to hold my interest and the whole older person mentors child was not as cliched as in other fantasy works. Each character had thier own voice and were easily distinguishable. Also, the secondary characters had a nice impact on the storyline and the development of the main character. The book flows well enough and there is enough action to hold the reader. The pace is of an average first book and it is a typical, get the characters established and the story started type pacing.
Some Criticisms:
1. First off, this is written in a first person point of view (POV) and so there is only so much the author can do with only one vantage point to work from. Since this is the form of telling a tale to someone else anyway, it does make sense that this POV is used, however, I feel this book could have been more with a different POV.
2. Being a fan of the realms and knowing that Drizzt is in this book, and the fact I'm reading Mr. Salvatore's Transitions trilogy as I write, I would have like to have known when this story was taking place. I have already read The Shadowmask and thankfully that one was more direct and so I can tell you this one happens somewhere after The Crystal Shard and before The Halfling's Gem from the Icewind Dale trilogy.
3. The time shifts make the story a bit disjointed to me. It starts off getting the main plot moving, then goes back in the past to describe how he got there, then finished further along. It is probably just me, but it seemed to break this up too much.
4. I am not a fan of cliff hanger endings. This one has just such an ending to it. The reader gets ready for a climax and then, bang, to be continued. Thankfully, I had the second book ready to go so I could continue right away.
Some Positives:
1. The fact that the secondary characters were given their time so that they didn't feel so much as secondary but a real part of the story. It was nice reading an author who cares as much about their secondary characters as the main ones.
2. The character development was well written and logical. Not only did events of the plot move the story along, but also the character's decisions impacted where things would go. So as things happened and the character learned from his decisions, he developed accordingly.
3. Even though Drizzt and company were used, it was nice that they didn't become the focal point in their scenes and they only added that bit of familiarity that fans of R.A. Salvatore can enjoy.
In the end, I am still glad I read this one. I feel it could have been better, but I was still entertained. Fans of the realms and Drizzt novles may enjoy this one. It give a more in depth look to come things that happened way in teh past. IThis is a great plact to get younger readers in the realms setting. Knowing how the second book turned out, I can tell you, if you enjoyed this one or even flet it was just average, you will like The Shadowmask.
Happy reading.
-Dimndbangr
The Stowaway is a Young Adult (YA) story about a boy, Maimun, who is an orphan that is captured by a pirate and in telling his tale to him, is using the pirate's curiosity to stay alive. It takes place from his earliest memories of living tin the woods to traveling the Sword Coast of the Forgotten Realms to his time at sea all the while being chased by a demon named Asbeel. Through his travels, he comes across Captain Deudermont of the ship Sea Sprite and Drizzt and companions Catti-brie, Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis. Drizzt and company form only a smidgen of the story. Other characters are Perrault, a father figure and mentor, Elbeth, and a brief encounter with a girl named Joen who leaves a lasting impression on Maimun.
This book is a fast read definitely geared towards a YA crowd but enjoyable enough for adults. The chapters are short and the printing big making it a fast read. The story, however, was not as engaging for me. I did enjoy it, don't get me wrong, but I didn't feel the need that I had to drop what I was doing to finish it. The characters were well written enough to hold my interest and the whole older person mentors child was not as cliched as in other fantasy works. Each character had thier own voice and were easily distinguishable. Also, the secondary characters had a nice impact on the storyline and the development of the main character. The book flows well enough and there is enough action to hold the reader. The pace is of an average first book and it is a typical, get the characters established and the story started type pacing.
Some Criticisms:
1. First off, this is written in a first person point of view (POV) and so there is only so much the author can do with only one vantage point to work from. Since this is the form of telling a tale to someone else anyway, it does make sense that this POV is used, however, I feel this book could have been more with a different POV.
2. Being a fan of the realms and knowing that Drizzt is in this book, and the fact I'm reading Mr. Salvatore's Transitions trilogy as I write, I would have like to have known when this story was taking place. I have already read The Shadowmask and thankfully that one was more direct and so I can tell you this one happens somewhere after The Crystal Shard and before The Halfling's Gem from the Icewind Dale trilogy.
3. The time shifts make the story a bit disjointed to me. It starts off getting the main plot moving, then goes back in the past to describe how he got there, then finished further along. It is probably just me, but it seemed to break this up too much.
4. I am not a fan of cliff hanger endings. This one has just such an ending to it. The reader gets ready for a climax and then, bang, to be continued. Thankfully, I had the second book ready to go so I could continue right away.
Some Positives:
1. The fact that the secondary characters were given their time so that they didn't feel so much as secondary but a real part of the story. It was nice reading an author who cares as much about their secondary characters as the main ones.
2. The character development was well written and logical. Not only did events of the plot move the story along, but also the character's decisions impacted where things would go. So as things happened and the character learned from his decisions, he developed accordingly.
3. Even though Drizzt and company were used, it was nice that they didn't become the focal point in their scenes and they only added that bit of familiarity that fans of R.A. Salvatore can enjoy.
In the end, I am still glad I read this one. I feel it could have been better, but I was still entertained. Fans of the realms and Drizzt novles may enjoy this one. It give a more in depth look to come things that happened way in teh past. IThis is a great plact to get younger readers in the realms setting. Knowing how the second book turned out, I can tell you, if you enjoyed this one or even flet it was just average, you will like The Shadowmask.
Happy reading.
-Dimndbangr
August 24, 2023
It's a decent young adult quick little read. The ebook cost of it for a 3 hour read is kind of absurd. Thankfully the library had it.
October 1, 2024
A short adventure with a sprinkle of action. Definitely can see the intention of this being a 3 part series. Maimun is a solid protagonist to connect with for a younger audience, and for D&D fans, guessing the spells and magic items Perrault uses was fun. The story lacked anything noteworthy or lasting, which is why it lands a 3 and not a 4 or 5, but it's fun to see how it connects to the Drizzt storyline
August 18, 2020
This is not a badly written story. It made for some light easy reading for me. It is however somewhat generic. I know that R. A. Salvatore made his name with the Forgotten Realms stories that he has written, and I remember enjoying some of his Drizzt stories when I was younger. I picked up this from a second hand shop through a burst of nostalgia. The Forgotten Realms IP is a vast one and it was nice to re-immerse myself in the universe. It suffers from being the archtype for so much modern fantasy unfortunately, leaving it somewhat derivative. This is a nice easy read. There is nothing challenging here. There is also nothing particularly original here.
November 13, 2015
R.A. Salvatore is one of my favorite fantasy writers. Drizzt Do'Urden is one of my favorite fantasy characters. Geno Salvatore is R.A.'s son and The Stowaway is his first published fantasy novel. Although he did most of the writing, his father helped with the pacing of the story and some of the writing.
At first I was disappointed by how little Drizzt was in the story, but them came to realize that most of this story takes place in the past, before Maimum meets Drizzt. After finishing the book, I have great hopes that Drizzt and his fellow adventurers will be in the story more in future books. On the other hand, to tell the truth, the cameo if Drizzt wasn't really needed if you ask me. The story stands on its own two feet and proclaims in a loud voice, "Forgotten Realms books don't have to include Driizt to work!" So, I would have been just as happy if Drizzt never showed up in this book.
I really liked the main character of Maimum and all the things he has gone through in his life. That darned demon Asbeel is always hunting him, trying to get the stone, which turns out to give the person who posses it and extraordinary amount of luck. As a young reader book, The Stowaway is a excellent tale of one boys struggle to find his place in the world. Yes, there is some violence, but not a lot of gore or anything like that. It is a really great fantasy novel that kept me reading it until I polished off the entire book in one day. I just couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next and, therefore, could not stop reading.
So, if you are looking for a wonderful fantasy book to read, pick up a copy of The Stowaway. I look forward to finding out what happens next in volume two of the Stone of Tymora series entitled The Shadowmask.
I rated this book a 9 out of 10.
At first I was disappointed by how little Drizzt was in the story, but them came to realize that most of this story takes place in the past, before Maimum meets Drizzt. After finishing the book, I have great hopes that Drizzt and his fellow adventurers will be in the story more in future books. On the other hand, to tell the truth, the cameo if Drizzt wasn't really needed if you ask me. The story stands on its own two feet and proclaims in a loud voice, "Forgotten Realms books don't have to include Driizt to work!" So, I would have been just as happy if Drizzt never showed up in this book.
I really liked the main character of Maimum and all the things he has gone through in his life. That darned demon Asbeel is always hunting him, trying to get the stone, which turns out to give the person who posses it and extraordinary amount of luck. As a young reader book, The Stowaway is a excellent tale of one boys struggle to find his place in the world. Yes, there is some violence, but not a lot of gore or anything like that. It is a really great fantasy novel that kept me reading it until I polished off the entire book in one day. I just couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next and, therefore, could not stop reading.
So, if you are looking for a wonderful fantasy book to read, pick up a copy of The Stowaway. I look forward to finding out what happens next in volume two of the Stone of Tymora series entitled The Shadowmask.
I rated this book a 9 out of 10.
January 12, 2010
A friend of mine and I were having a conversation about fantasy novels and which I/he should read. When he dropped a mention about Drizzt and Baldur's Gate I stopped him and asked where I'd heard that before. His expression was priceless.
I was then treated to a 20 minute lecture on how I needed to read R.A. Salvatore and how he couldn't believe I'd gone this long without it. When I came home and checked the books I was waiting on from the library I finally figured out where I'd heard the names mentioned before and this book (and it's sequel) were the reasons why.
This is not a story about Drizzt and Baldur's Gate, however. And I'm glad that my introduction to Salvatore came from this story rather than the other way around - because instead of being disappointed by the few appearances made by Drizzt, I find myself becoming more curious and interested and, as a result, will be checking out the stories of Drizzt.
A few things about this book didn't do it for me. It was written in the first person and came off a bit cheesy, as a result. There were moments when I was reading that I could definitely tell I was reading a novel designed to interest young boys and girls into reading fantasy. It's not a bad thing at all though, just made me roll my eyes a few times.
The battle scenes were well done and the progression of the story was great. The cliffhanger ending was a bit of a cheap trick but, again, understandable as this is a book designed to keep kids reading.
Overall, a fun and quick read and interesting enough to get me to read the second book in the series.
I was then treated to a 20 minute lecture on how I needed to read R.A. Salvatore and how he couldn't believe I'd gone this long without it. When I came home and checked the books I was waiting on from the library I finally figured out where I'd heard the names mentioned before and this book (and it's sequel) were the reasons why.
This is not a story about Drizzt and Baldur's Gate, however. And I'm glad that my introduction to Salvatore came from this story rather than the other way around - because instead of being disappointed by the few appearances made by Drizzt, I find myself becoming more curious and interested and, as a result, will be checking out the stories of Drizzt.
A few things about this book didn't do it for me. It was written in the first person and came off a bit cheesy, as a result. There were moments when I was reading that I could definitely tell I was reading a novel designed to interest young boys and girls into reading fantasy. It's not a bad thing at all though, just made me roll my eyes a few times.
The battle scenes were well done and the progression of the story was great. The cliffhanger ending was a bit of a cheap trick but, again, understandable as this is a book designed to keep kids reading.
Overall, a fun and quick read and interesting enough to get me to read the second book in the series.
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