llona_llegaconlalluvia's review against another edition
3.0
elfo buono in una società di elfi corrotti
(+ pantera)
(+ pantera)
argixian's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
zachswain's review against another edition
4.0
Pretty good book. Required reading for anyone that plays D&D and wants the backstory of the drow and/or Drizzt.
dorinlazar's review against another edition
2.0
It is not a bad book, but it's definitely not the best of Salvatore's. Here he rehashes the Drizzt Do'Urden character, giving him a genesis story; however, there is no real explanation to why he managed to become different. He is inconsistent and the author manages to create a nonsensical Menzoberranzan. The city doesn't stand on its own, and many questions remain unanswered (and they are answered in the following books)
But it's an OK book. If you can see beyond the impossibility of Drizzt growing up like he did, and becoming himself, there is a nice first third of a Bildungsroman. It's necessary reading for those that want to read Sojourn, which is probably Salvatore's best.
My greatest complaint regarding Homeland is that although Salvatore has the chance to get rid of the Dungeons and Dragons mechanics, he still enforces them. You see them in the battles (clerics memorize spells right before attacks?). In a totally illogical manner it takes ten days to do a raid at 5 miles distance, and while I understand that the Underworld is a different thing, it's still 5 miles.
There are also some other nonsensical things: how do dark elves feed? The necessity of food seems to appear only in Exile, the second part of the Dark Elf Trilogy. Drizzt suggests that Belwar should be spared so that the svirfneblin be warned about getting too close to the drow city; but two phrases later Salvatore talks about the remaining gnomes being hunted (and the hands-cut gnome being allowed to leave.
Inconsistencies like that thrive throughout the book, and the most annoying of them all is the relationship between Zaknafein and Drizzt. Unexpectedly complicated, and full of hypocrisy, if we would try to mask the writer's inconsistencies with some feelings of the characters.
It only makes sense to read Homeland if you plan to read the whole trilogy; in fact, the whole trilogy should be sold as a single book. Homeland doesn't stand on its own, being a modest try at a Bildungsroman.
But it's an OK book. If you can see beyond the impossibility of Drizzt growing up like he did, and becoming himself, there is a nice first third of a Bildungsroman. It's necessary reading for those that want to read Sojourn, which is probably Salvatore's best.
My greatest complaint regarding Homeland is that although Salvatore has the chance to get rid of the Dungeons and Dragons mechanics, he still enforces them. You see them in the battles (clerics memorize spells right before attacks?). In a totally illogical manner it takes ten days to do a raid at 5 miles distance, and while I understand that the Underworld is a different thing, it's still 5 miles.
There are also some other nonsensical things: how do dark elves feed? The necessity of food seems to appear only in Exile, the second part of the Dark Elf Trilogy. Drizzt suggests that Belwar should be spared so that the svirfneblin be warned about getting too close to the drow city; but two phrases later Salvatore talks about the remaining gnomes being hunted (and the hands-cut gnome being allowed to leave.
Inconsistencies like that thrive throughout the book, and the most annoying of them all is the relationship between Zaknafein and Drizzt. Unexpectedly complicated, and full of hypocrisy, if we would try to mask the writer's inconsistencies with some feelings of the characters.
It only makes sense to read Homeland if you plan to read the whole trilogy; in fact, the whole trilogy should be sold as a single book. Homeland doesn't stand on its own, being a modest try at a Bildungsroman.
nbarber97's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
b1ancotethras's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
magnetgrrl's review against another edition
4.0
After the 2nd time doing True Dungeon at GenCon, during these few years they've been set in the Underdark which I've found really cool, and after getting really into Lords of Waterdeep, I finally decided to read some Forgotten Realms novels. I'm just too enchanted with the settings and wanted to experience more.
I asked for some recommendations and almost everyone universally said "Read the Drizzt books" - I confess I didn't even know who Drizzt specifically was.
I can remember a long long time ago thinking "eh, I'll never read those" of the seeming 100+ mass-market trade paperback pulp genre R.A. Salvatore novels. They just seemed like they would be cheesy or low quality since there were So. Many. of them, or like they would be too complicated to get into if you hadn't already read every D&D book ever.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and I'm super happy to be reading this series! I sucked down this book, the next two, and then just bought the next 3 - the Icewind Dale trilogy - and have started those already. I am enjoying them a lot! Also noticing how much stuff in other fantasy works is inspired from the Salvatore books, or D&D story in general. I think Salvatore has really done a lot to invent things that have stuck with the genre and has added to it considerably. I'm sorry I ever doubted him!
Now I really REALLY want to play a Forgotten Realms D&D campaign setting!
I asked for some recommendations and almost everyone universally said "Read the Drizzt books" - I confess I didn't even know who Drizzt specifically was.
I can remember a long long time ago thinking "eh, I'll never read those" of the seeming 100+ mass-market trade paperback pulp genre R.A. Salvatore novels. They just seemed like they would be cheesy or low quality since there were So. Many. of them, or like they would be too complicated to get into if you hadn't already read every D&D book ever.
Nothing could be further from the truth, and I'm super happy to be reading this series! I sucked down this book, the next two, and then just bought the next 3 - the Icewind Dale trilogy - and have started those already. I am enjoying them a lot! Also noticing how much stuff in other fantasy works is inspired from the Salvatore books, or D&D story in general. I think Salvatore has really done a lot to invent things that have stuck with the genre and has added to it considerably. I'm sorry I ever doubted him!
Now I really REALLY want to play a Forgotten Realms D&D campaign setting!
b00kdragon's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
brims's review against another edition
3.5
I picked this up after finishing BG3 and wanting to better understand Forgotten Realms lore. I always struggle a bit with hero origin stories, especially ones that begin with childhood, but the alien setting and ruthlessness of Drow culture kept this interesting. A promising start, though a bit lacking in emotional impact.
royvdb's review against another edition
3.0
It feels a lot like the opening chapter of a bigger story. I know it is, but except for some character building and a 3 or 4 moments of tension not a lot happened. But now we know what a drow is doing above grond, and I'm curious what he will do there.