Customer Reviews

Passage to Dawn

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(31)
3 star:		(28)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

As a whole, the Drizzt saga is extremely good. Salvatore has an excellent way of tying the personal and fantastic elements in a fantasy story together in order to create the feeling of real people living in a real (though fantastic) world. Unfortunately, this book does not do the series justice. It is weak. While the stories of Drizzt and Catti-brie fighting pirates on the sword coast are excellent, the book takes a downhill turn from there. The single worst thing that ever happened to this book was Harkle Harpell and the "Fog of Fate", which is a silly spell meant to move adventures forward without all the tedious waiting for them involved. The spell sounds like a contrivance, which is exactly what it is, as demonstrated by where it ultimately takes the main characters (could Salvatore have found a way for them to arrive there on their own without the aid of this silly spell?). This book, unlike many of the previous Drizzt books, likes to be cozy and safe, with everyone friends at the end and no sacrifices made. None of the character development that had been seen throughout previous books is evident here- again, Salvatore flourishes in depicting personal relationships that, in this book, either do not exist or fall flat. Even the "unexpected surprise" at the end as to the "prisoner"'s identity is really no surprise at all. Unfortunately, this book has the same kinds of problems that infest "The Demon Awakens"- often Salvatore uses many words to describe that which requires few words. Subtlety is not a strength of this book. On the other hand, the book contains many good parts, as well. The customary fight scenes are quite impressive, as are the parts that include old friends revisited from this series and from other Forgotten Realms adventures. In short, I recommend this book because it is a book in the Dark Elf tradition. However, this is certainly not the best this series has to offer.

My comment is the same as everyone else's. Too predictable. Also I think that instead of resurrecting old characters, Salvatore should invent some new ones. That, as well as his excellent 'action writing' was always his strength.

That being said, I would like to see some old plot lines tied up, or at least followed up on: namely, that elf-girl Drizzt saved who turned up again in Starless Night, and Jarlaxle, who was a complex character with strange motives (why help a rebel drow who can't reward you when your highest priorities are causing chaos, turning a profit, and looking out for number 1?)

I agree with previous reviewers in that I'd like to see a solitary Drizzt again (or at least more Drizzt-focused novels). Over all, I felt that this book was nothing more than a long epilogue to The Legacy, and while it wasn't bad, it wasn't great either.

The first time I was introduced to the Forgotten Realms was with a young girl named Shandril and a cranky old wizard named Elminster. I immediately fell in love with the world of Toril and began searching for more about it. I found Drizzt. I have since read every novel about the dark elf up to The Silent Blade. Unlike many others, I found Passage to Dawn to be an excellent addition to the collection. Of the complaints that I have seen about the book... 1-The characters are too powerful. --Actually, when viewing the entire scope of the world of Toril, all of the characters from Regis to Lolth are small players. There are countless beings and situations that could destroy Drizzt. 2-Drizzt has become all-knowing, i.e. too smart. --First of all, he does still make mistakes and errors in judgement, showing that he is not perfect. Second of all, there are people who have found an inner peace and simply have answers for themselves. This does not mean that they are perfect. 3-The ending was a letdown. --This I can partially agree with. Salvatore did end the book rather abruptly, but I still enjoyed the reunion. Also, most people who said they could see the ending coming a mile away are saying that in hindsight, which is always biased. 4-Nothing bad ever happens; the endings are always too happy. --Good conquers evil. I believe it. Salvatore has created a series that contains characters I have genuinely grown to care about. Passage to Dawn, though not perfect, is a fine addition to the stories of Drizzt and his companions. Salvatore's books are inspiring, and they show the level to which the human, pardon me--drow, spirit can rise.

After ten books (three in the dark eld trilogy, three in the icewind dale trilogy and four in the legacy of the drow series), the characters are becoming familiar and the interaction and culture of the races are known quantities. Unfortunately, the plots are becoming pretty familiar as well.

Salvatore delivers as always with his battle sequences, where his writing is always well done (makes me wonder if he physically steps through the fighting himself so as to better write it). This book also contains time on the ship Sea Sprite, and battles with pirate ships, which are well done. I also enjoyed the new characters of the wizard Cadderly and his wife Danica, although their appearance was short.

But bringing back the Crystal Shard, Ertuu (who we knew from the previous few books was going to have to make a return appearance) and the bringing of a main character back from the dead makes for a fairly predictable plotline.

I know people who have read the entire series (which at this point is seven more books), but I have to question what additional events and devices can be brought into this series to make it interesting and enjoyable. If characters die, except on soap operas they should stay dead.

Oh, I'm sorry, I was still asleep after reading this snoozer. Definately not vintage Salvatore. But that's OK, Drizzt's getting a bit tired out anyway. I'm sure that by now Salvatore has to strap himself to the chair and force himself to write about him. Salvatore has what many fantasy writers of today lack - a real eye for simple story telling. I'll still take his worst offering (as this most surely is) over more prolific authors', such as Goodkind and Jordan, who in their contest for the most comparisons to Tolkein, create overloaded lands and well, lets face it, boring characters and plot. Salvatore is still one of the best, despite this relative setback. If you don't believe me, just pick up a copy of THE DEMON AWAKES.

I've read all the stories pertaining to Drizzt and I must admit that I find "Passage to Dawn" a little dissapointing. The story in general seems a little too predictable and the heros just never seem to get hurt enough. I know Drizzt and his friends are quite capable in a fight, but c'mon...towards the end, they were just killing everything too well. Not only did they make it past over 100 worthy fiends to get to Errtu, but Regis (by himself) overcame/captured Crenshinibon?!?!? That's just a little too wild for me to believe.

Harkle and Robillard were nice additions to the story. I hope to hear more about Robilliard in future novels. The meeting of Drizzt/Catti-Brie to Cadderly/Dannica was nice. I'd like to see some more new characters created with whom Drizzt gets to interact. Any chance we can bring back Jarlaxle? I'd like to see him get fed up with Menzoberranzan and maybe come to the surface too. I'm sure his and Drizzt's paths crossing could prove quite interesting. I'm glad that Entreri wasn't in this one...Entreri is cool, but enough already...Drizzt has beaten him numerous times and we should just leave it at that

I think this was one of Salvatore's best books. The dramatic story line really is very inspiring and captavating. I can not get over how some of you stupid people think this to be one of Salvator's worst books.

For one thing, he brings back one of the greatest characters to the Drizzt's series which is the powerful Wulfgar. Sure it would have been cool for him to bring back Drizzt's daddy from the dead but what would be the point to that. To bring back Wulfgar makes work easier on Salvator to bring us books we all love. Wulfgar rising from the dead automatically makes conflicts in future books like how he coupes with his toutre and how the love triangle turns out.

In an odd departure, this book picks up 6 years after the end of the last one - Siege of Darkness. Drizzt Do'Urden, the dark elven ranger, and Catti-brie, the human adopted daughter of the dwarven king Bruenor Battlehammer, have spent the years chasing pirates aboard the ship Sea Sprite with their friend Captain Deudermont. After Duedermont is attacked by a doppleganger, they embark on a quest to locate a mythical island. Once there, Drizzt and Catti-brie are given a poem by an old witch, which hints that someone dear to Drizzt is held captive by a creature of the Abyss. Despite the 16 or so years that have passed, and knowing that his father's spirit was released from the evil deity Lloth's grasp when he destroyed his reanimated body, Drizzt nevertheless assumes that it is his father who is held captive. This struck me as odd for one as wise as Drizzt.

Errtu, the balor demon, is an old nemisis of Drizzt, and has arranged this message to lure Drizzt in, in the hopes of being released from his banishment, killing the drow and regaining Crenshinibon, the crystal shard.

In many respects, the book is an odd reunion of many of Salvatore's characters, such as Cadderly, Danica and the Bouldershoulder brothers from the Cleric Quintet. Considering the convoluted journey, I'm surprised Salvatore didn't try throwing Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle in there for good measure.

If the reasoning behind the plot seems a little hazy, and the reader feels a little disappointment at Salvatore's desire to resurrect a dead character, Salvatore does redeem it with some excellent battles - namely the pirate chases and the final showdown in the last section of the book.

While not his best, it is always good to follow the adventures of Salvatore's characters, in particular Drizzt, so I recommend this book.

If you are a fan of Salvador and Drizzt you will probably read this book no matter what I say. I hope you aren't as dissapointed as I was. Overall the book is good but in comparison to Salvadore's other novels it is a dissapointment.
Drizzt and Cattibrie are already so well known as characters to us that Salvadore has run out of things to say about them. We learn nothing new about Drizzt or Cattibrie, instead we are lead through and endless stream of guest appearences. Ex: "Hi, I'm Harkell Harper you may remember me from 'The Halflings Gem.'
I was especially dissappointed with the Cadderly's appearence.
As I said before you'll probably read it anyway if you are a big fan. I hope you aren't as dissapointed as I was.

Sure we all saw that it was Wulfgar coming back, but I don't get the people out there who didn't want him back? Come on! For one thing he gives you an awesome conflict as an author (Catti-brie's choice). For the reader though, it has to be the Hammer. Aegis-Fang kicks some serious butt and in the hands of a man like Wulfgar, one can see some serious critter stomping. Sure Zak would have been cool, but who's to say he won't be back later? The main thing with Zak though is that he has been granted a peaceful rest. Drizzt has put him behind. The situation with Wulfgar and Catti-brie will make life so much more interesting. Where is the conflict if it is Zak? Then you just have two supreme drow warriors tearing it up on the surface. Where's the fun in that?