The Thousand Orcs: The Legend of Drizzt: 17

Great book as usual by R.A. Salavatore!

Very much enjoying the Drizzt series of novels, in fact have now purchased the whole series so I can follow the total legend. R A Salvatore is an excellent story teller. Would recommend to anyone. Honour does not have a price!!

As usual, Salvatore is a great story teller.Suspense, great flow of story. Now "lost time" and great characters with Drizzt and all his old and new friends!To be read if you like heroic fantasy.

R.A. Salvatore's 'Drizzt' saga began many years with the Ice Wind Dale trilogy. The original trilogy was an excellent adventure that introduced readers to what would become the Companions of Mithral Hall: Drizzt, Wulfgar, Breunor, Regis, and Cattie-Brie. Since that time, the characters had largely stagnated, not really growing or changing as they moved from adventure to adventure. That changed with 'Spine of the World' and 'Sea of Swords' as Wulfgar began his return from the abyss and his friens began to adjust to the changes that they found in their friend. Finally, in 'The Thousand Orcs' the rest of the cast begins to explore their own inner demons.The novel opens with Drizzt and Co. beginning their trek to Mithral Hall where Breunor is to resume the throne after the previous king died. Along the way, the stumble upon the aftermath of a growing army of orcs, postponing their return to Mithral Hall. This is much to Breunor's delight, as he is not anxious to resume his duties as king, which he views as a very dull lifestyle.Regis, the halfling thief, continues to evolve following the near loss of his arm in a previous novel. He is no longer content to hide behind his friends as they fight for him. The trouble is, he doesn't know how to be more of a help without getting in the way and putting his companions in further danger. As events unfold in the novel, he has some difficult decisions to make.Cattie-Brie, facing a near death experience, makes some difficult realizations that will lead to some difficult decisions in future novels. She and Drizzt, a human and a Drow Elf, have an evolving relationship. But what can become of such a relationship? What will happen as she grows old, but Drizzt maintains his youth, inherent in the elven race? These questions plague both Cattie-Brie and Drizzt and will shape their future for novels to come.This novel has a very Tolkenesque quality to it. Readers familiar with 'The Two Towers,' either the novel or the movie, will recognize several similarities. However, Salvatore resolves things in his own way and does so in fairly satisfying fashion.This book will make the most sense if you have read the previous novels of the series, however, it is not entirely necessary. There is a lot of new material in this novel, that a new reader to the series will be able to grasp and understand without having read any of the previous works in the series. For one, all the old enemies (Entreri, Jarlaxle, etc.) are absent, so no past history is needed to understand the foes. I highly recommend this novel to any fantasy fan.

Fills my collection great book.