#046 The Legacy by RA Salvatore (Legacy of the Drow 1)
Read 19/1/20 to 23/1/20
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And we're back in Salvatore land, and all is... well.
It's not great, like some of the previous Drizzt books, but it does the job- and flies by given half the chance, I had three goes at reading this one- the first two attempts got interrupted (work- gah!), the last- well, suddenly, it was the end of the book.
Lloth, and in particular, Vierna (Drizzt's favourite sister) is gunning for Drizzt, the ultimo sacrifice to the eight-legged her-nastyness. Also in tow are Jarlaxle, who I like more and more every time I encounter him; and Entreri who... well, same again- I do love me some super-villains with (bad/cool) attitude. Point of fact Vierna (High Priest of Eight-Legged Grave-Machine) is the least bad ass of the bad guy squad.
Then on the other hand there's the roll call of good guys- Bruenor (of the Battlehammer), Catti, Wulf, a little bit of Regis (and his Mask wearing friend) and of course the Drow's faithful feline- Guenhwyvar. So, the gangs all here- there's even a comedy Dwarf, the Battlerager Pwent is back.
However it starts badly, I have to say, the Drizzt - Catti - Wulfy triangle is back in force. For three folk that swear that they love each other, and will give their lives to save the others- they don't ever get around to chatting with each other about, y'know- stuff, like feelings. The love tryst seems strange and strained- Catti sort out who and what you want, and if its Wulfy then have a word and tell him how it is (it's the whatever year it is in Dale Reckoning, and women have rights too). Drizzt you do all the inner turmoil shizz- get around to figuring out that you're 'maybe' thing with Catti is not making things any easier- for anyone- again, perhaps a little tete-a-tete to relieve the tension. Lastly, Wulfy- you're a bit of a dick, have a word with yourself.
So, the Drow are coming and Entreri has been hired to lead the charge, his price another showdown with the scimitar-prince (actually we get three showdowns between the pair). There's some nice underdark to enjoy, and lovely bit of hot-Dwarf action, and of course the Drow-squad to admire in full in all their hand crossbow-wielding fury.
Lots and lots of fighting.
Lots and lots.
And lots.
Which is why it was so easy (and quick) to read, on reflection.
All the way to the end which MASSIVE SPOILER culminates in some dark times ahead for a majority of the good guys and the bad.
Wulfy gets stoned (to death) although I'd have a hefty wedge on it, whatever the odds, that the big guy is coming back- no body = no fatality, it's the way here.
Obviously all the of other good guys think Wulfy's dead, and are all to a greater or lesser degree left broken by the loss.
For the Drow team- Vierna's gone to Lloth, Entreri is presumed dead- so, not dead at all then, while Jarlaxle has a broken leg, and is still telling jokes- and smirking in his stupid hat. I love that Drow.
If the other books in this series are as good as this one (which just to remind you, I said at the start isn't great- not quite) then this is still going to be the third or fourth best series that I have read so far. Salvatore's five-some are already very well established, and for a variety of reasons sympathetic (sometimes with shades of annoying) but all of them regardless interesting folk.
There's also the odd thing in that they just seem like an adventuring party that I have encountered before, and I get that they're all to some degree stereotypes, but they are perhaps 'the stereotype' from whence it all began (or if not began, then received a hefty leg-up).
Read.