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The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle #2
The Witch's Daughter
With the bold adventure and brilliant magic that have made him one of fantasy's bestselling authors, R. A. Salvatore continues the epic series that began with Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Join him for a spellbinding tale of darkness, fantasia, and unbridled imagination.
Though many perished in the dark times past, a precious few survivors escaped, fleeing certain doom to find a dazzling, dangerous land of wonder. Here wizards and witches inhabited forests spun from enchantment and towers of celestial beauty. But in this place of promised safety, the Black Warlock was rising from the ashes of defeat--with an insatiable lust to dominate the world.
Square in the path of peril was Rhiannon, the gently reared daughter of the Emerald Witch. As hamlets from the Crystal Mountains to Avalon fell before the fury of the Black Warlock, the young witch sensed a sudden call; strange, terrifying powers tingled within her body. Now Rhiannon had to summon these new, untested abilities to stop the ancient warlock, an enemy who had long since mastered the forces of the universe and bent them to his diabolical will. . .
Though many perished in the dark times past, a precious few survivors escaped, fleeing certain doom to find a dazzling, dangerous land of wonder. Here wizards and witches inhabited forests spun from enchantment and towers of celestial beauty. But in this place of promised safety, the Black Warlock was rising from the ashes of defeat--with an insatiable lust to dominate the world.
Square in the path of peril was Rhiannon, the gently reared daughter of the Emerald Witch. As hamlets from the Crystal Mountains to Avalon fell before the fury of the Black Warlock, the young witch sensed a sudden call; strange, terrifying powers tingled within her body. Now Rhiannon had to summon these new, untested abilities to stop the ancient warlock, an enemy who had long since mastered the forces of the universe and bent them to his diabolical will. . .
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 7, 1991
21 people are currently reading
829 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 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 15, 2025
Very boring book, The witch's daughter character and has superpowers and ability to stop army of random bad monster things but feels bad to kill anyone. She wines the whole book and has Mary Su vibes of girl boss with no background or even building up of the character.
Book #1 was ok has a cool world build idea but they never do anything with it. Book #2 is here and they mention like 3 characters from the first ones that are not even in plotline.
The 3 super wizards are super stereotypically, one of nature one of law and one bumbling fool that is actual a super scary intelligent wizard.
The warlock bad guy has a little bit of a start to build the character in the beginning with the two souls thing but then never mentions it again and just bad guy that wants "power" and is supposed to be super wise and and hundreds of years of experience but then "hires" a back character that the first book listed out as a washed up mean nasty guy that had no experience but all the sudden will be a great general.
The goblin things are very one sided and have nothing about them.
Would not recommend. Salvatore used to be favorite author but this is trash.
Book #1 was ok has a cool world build idea but they never do anything with it. Book #2 is here and they mention like 3 characters from the first ones that are not even in plotline.
The 3 super wizards are super stereotypically, one of nature one of law and one bumbling fool that is actual a super scary intelligent wizard.
The warlock bad guy has a little bit of a start to build the character in the beginning with the two souls thing but then never mentions it again and just bad guy that wants "power" and is supposed to be super wise and and hundreds of years of experience but then "hires" a back character that the first book listed out as a washed up mean nasty guy that had no experience but all the sudden will be a great general.
The goblin things are very one sided and have nothing about them.
Would not recommend. Salvatore used to be favorite author but this is trash.
December 5, 2017
I did not even finish this book. when the dark wizzard goes "I need a brilliant general" and decides to bring a NAVY SUB CAPTAIN back from the dead to LEAD HIS ARMY it lost me. what does a navy captain know about military tactics, troop deployment, and a GROUND WAR!! further, in book one it makes it clear that both the scientist and the wizzard know about the american military, and they know he is not a leader of soldiers. he captains a underwater boat!! then he is brought back to life in some bs way, wtf is there no scale of power? nope im out!
March 1, 2024
Big fan of R.A. Salvatore, but this did not feel like the other books, which I've read dozens, from him.
I felt this book was very predictable and felt more like a disney princess movie than a well written fantasy story. The fairest of them all meets the strongest of them all and they fall in love. Handicapped wizards that can't leave their castle, but the castle inevitably falls anyway. Absent minded wizard.
If this is indeed R.A. Salvatore, he's done better. Even the fight and battle scenes lacked the sophistication and detail that you would expect from Salvatore.
I felt this book was very predictable and felt more like a disney princess movie than a well written fantasy story. The fairest of them all meets the strongest of them all and they fall in love. Handicapped wizards that can't leave their castle, but the castle inevitably falls anyway. Absent minded wizard.
If this is indeed R.A. Salvatore, he's done better. Even the fight and battle scenes lacked the sophistication and detail that you would expect from Salvatore.
August 2, 2020
3.5 stars
Some of the (lack of) editing irritated me a bit, and there is a strong echo of "Lord of the Rings", but it was still a fun read. The whole book is generally about one long war, so there is plenty of action and heroism. I haven't read any other books in the series (and this is book 2) and I can't say whether missing out on book 1 would have made a difference or not.
Some of the (lack of) editing irritated me a bit, and there is a strong echo of "Lord of the Rings", but it was still a fun read. The whole book is generally about one long war, so there is plenty of action and heroism. I haven't read any other books in the series (and this is book 2) and I can't say whether missing out on book 1 would have made a difference or not.
December 1, 2022
Haven’t read Salvatore since college so thought I would give it a whirl since I really enjoyed his books then but man this was rough. No character development just story and even that was not that great. I would not recommend this.
July 19, 2024
Suffers from the same amateurish writing and questionable creative decisions as the first installment, though it's a more cohesive story. You can see glimpses of the author's trademark action scenes. There are hints of improvement, but I'd not recommend this trilogy.
September 12, 2021
I didn’t connect with the characters in this story like I did with the previous one. It was nice to have a bit of continuation in this world but it was kinda slow going on the action and progression.
June 11, 2022
I enjoyed the book.
November 16, 2015
I started off a little disappointed that twenty years had passed since the first book in the series, Echoes of the Fourth Magic, ended. But as soon as I became familiar with Rhiannon, I really started to get into the story. But what really peaked my interest was when Bryan was introduced.
This book starts off with a bang, the invasion, and the pace never really lets down. I kept wondering how a battle like this was going to keep going over the remaining 250 pages . . . but it did.
R.A. Salvatore, in my opinion, is one of the best Fantasy writers out there now. His war scenes are always very descriptive and well thought out. The characters he creates are wonderful and are easy to love or hate, whichever kind of emotion Salvatore is trying to evoke in the reader. However he does it . . . it works.
I really loved this story and couldn't wait to pick up the book and read some more every chance I got.
So, if you want a great story that has the classic Fantasy plot of good versus evil, human and elf versus a perversion of humanity, a valiant Ranger, and a maniacal evil-doer, The Witch's Daughter is a book you should not miss.
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
This book starts off with a bang, the invasion, and the pace never really lets down. I kept wondering how a battle like this was going to keep going over the remaining 250 pages . . . but it did.
R.A. Salvatore, in my opinion, is one of the best Fantasy writers out there now. His war scenes are always very descriptive and well thought out. The characters he creates are wonderful and are easy to love or hate, whichever kind of emotion Salvatore is trying to evoke in the reader. However he does it . . . it works.
I really loved this story and couldn't wait to pick up the book and read some more every chance I got.
So, if you want a great story that has the classic Fantasy plot of good versus evil, human and elf versus a perversion of humanity, a valiant Ranger, and a maniacal evil-doer, The Witch's Daughter is a book you should not miss.
I rated this book an 8½ out of 10.
January 7, 2017
I cannot put this series down! Well paced, lots of action, and just a fun easy read sends this trilogy to the top of my list.
This installment is the story of Rhiannon, the daughter of the hero from the first book and the Emerald Witch. This is kind of her coming of age story in a time of war, as well as the end of an era.
After living exclusively in her mother's domain for the first twenty years of her life, the Black Warlock returns to Ynis Aielle and brings war with him. Rhiannon and the other wizards join the war, but the five of them pulling on the realm of magic has drastic consequences for all of them.
Fantastic fantastic series. Loving it so far!
This installment is the story of Rhiannon, the daughter of the hero from the first book and the Emerald Witch. This is kind of her coming of age story in a time of war, as well as the end of an era.
After living exclusively in her mother's domain for the first twenty years of her life, the Black Warlock returns to Ynis Aielle and brings war with him. Rhiannon and the other wizards join the war, but the five of them pulling on the realm of magic has drastic consequences for all of them.
Fantastic fantastic series. Loving it so far!
September 25, 2015
Another surprise! I finished it in 1 day. Evil still lurks as the Elves, Humans, Wizards and Witch's prepare and fight. I have been reading the Drizzt books and I just love the characters, but the plots have been dragging and it has taken me weeks to get to the good part and then I can't put it down and finish the book right away. So, another RA Salvatore series without the companions. How could it be good? But it was definitely not bad at all. My favorite R A Salvator book? No. But not bad at all!!
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August 14, 2007How do I rate what I don't remember? Must not have been that good.
September 30, 2008
I don't know how or why I remember this book. I absolutely LOVED it... as a fourth grader, haha.
I figure I'll give it a 3, since I remember it, at least.
I figure I'll give it a 3, since I remember it, at least.
December 29, 2008
The Chronicles of Ynis Aielle. A bizarre story in my mind but well put together. This series is stunning. I enjoyed it very much as it was a break from my favorite dark elf character.
September 10, 2011
Bought it cuz of book one!
Fantasy beautifully reflecting reality.
My kind of fantasy story!
Fantasy beautifully reflecting reality.
My kind of fantasy story!
October 7, 2011
Awesome book!! On to #3! =)
April 4, 2012
I enjoyed this one as I enjoyed the first in the series. I look forward to reading the third in the near future.
August 4, 2014
eeeeeeeeeeh, I'll give it 3.5 stars. This seems far removed from the writing of Drizzt and the like, more of a YA trilogy, but still somewhat entertaining.
November 27, 2012
corny at times but a good read if you like fantasy
August 2, 2014
This wasnt as good as drizzt or the clerical quintet but I still love Salvatore.
July 2, 2013
This book is more in line with what I have come to expect of Salvatore. Can't wait to read the third book.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews