A review by maxsebastian
The Dark Elf Trilogy Collector's Edition by R.A. Salvatore

adventurous dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Dark Elf Trilogy is a wonderful character study. Seeing the first 50 years of his life, these tales provide the basis for Drizzt's moral compass and are frequently really depressing. Drizzt is a broken person through much of these stories, and part of the joy of the trilogy is seeing him find himself and then his people. While I enjoyed Homeland and Sojourn, I found Drizzt struggles during Exile even more compelling. Zaknafein, Belwar, and Montolio are all excellent supporting characters, and Guenhwyvar feels like a second protagonist.

Salvatore's use of the Forgotten Realms setting is masterful. From the mushrooms of Menzoberranzan to the snows of the Icewind Dale, I feel I have been invited into a wide world with this story. As I begin to ponder exploring a long running fantasy or science fiction world next year, the Forgotten Realms is high on my list.