Customer Reviews

Servant of the Shard (Forgotten Realms: Paths of Darkness, Book 3)

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Salvatore has performed a hat trick (bonus points for me for a hockey reference) in what is now known as the Paths of Darkness series of novels which are The Silent Blade, The Spine of the World, Servant of the Shard, and the forthcoming Sea of Swords.

Some fans grumbled about the novel Passage to Dawn, complaining that Salvatore appeared to have lost his magic and that the story itself was redundant and mediocre. Critics! Can't live with 'em, can't deport 'em!

Salvatore has come back to the Forgotten Realms with a vengeance with this latest series of novels and should have put to rest any doubters out there that he has lost his style. Silent Blade and Spine of the World were fantastic and Servant of the Shard might have even surpassed those two in my opinion.

People were skeptical about Spine of the World since it focused on Wulfgar, and Drizzt wasn't making an appearance, but it definately earned its place on my book shelf. I loved it. If we need a break from Drizzt every once in a while, why not take a closer look at the other characters for a change?

Now Salvatore has done it again with Servant of the Shard. Now we get a wonderful adventure that explores the current exploits of Jarlaxle, the flamboyant Drow mercenary band leader, and Artemis Entreri, master assassin. With sword fights, psionics, drow, illithids, powerful sentient weapons and artifacts, conspiracy & intrigue, demons, the Bouldershoulder brothers, and more, it's a very enjoyable novel even without Drizzt.

I definately recommend this volume for Drizzt and Forgotten Realms fans out there and look forward to the 4th volume next year.

I got this book weeks ago and was wondering when it would be available so I could share my enthusiasm for this work of art.

Even more so than in The Silent Blade, Artemis Entreri becomes more than a simple archvillain for Drizzt Do'Urden. His character development in The Servant of the Shard continues where it left off in The Silent Blade and a true metamorphosis occurs, one in which more is revealed than changed about Entreri...he becomes more nearly himself, as it were.

We see this most resourceful of humans take on nemeses that no other mortal can hope to challenge, much less persevere against. Entreri becomes much more than Drizzt's foil, a dark mirror...Entreri truly comes into his own in this novel and asserts his status not only as Drizzt's equal in battle, but also as a unique individual who has a life beyond his rivalry (now dead) with Drizzt.

At the same time, we, the readers, can start to fully appreciate the circumstances which created such a cold, ruthless man who can best the long-lived, intrigue-loving drow at their own game. We also see a validation, to a certain degree, of Entreri's way of life--a justification, at the very least, of why this man walks alone. To do this, Salvatore sets Jarlaxle, the wily mercenary leader, opposite Entreri in this novel. "Who is the stronger, then, Jarlaxle the partner or Entreri the loner?" to which Entreri's response is an emphatic, "I am."

Even as Salvatore shows what is wrong with Entreri's lifestyle, he also examines what brought the man, as supremely-talented, intelligent, and iron-willed a human as had ever lived, to such a state, and why the choices he made at the time seemed right. Entreri's tribulations and triumphs evidence both.

Besides Entreri, other favorites are also revealed more fully, such as Jarlaxle. This, in fact, is the work that truly deals with Jarlaxle--he is on the cover, after all, and in the title...but it is through Entreri that Jarlaxle is finally explored--through Entreri's eyes. At long last, that impenetrable facade of Jarlaxle's is lifted, just for a second, to give us a glimpse of the mortality behind the calm and collected opportunist.

Plot-wise, this is also one of Salvatore's best...deliberate and masterful, he wends his way through a story that, I think, he has long wanted to tell...to himself! No haphazard jabs into the dark for this work--Salvatore is the master bard, fully in control of the tale from beginning to end.

To the fan, this is classic Salvatore. To the fantasy enthusiast, this is one of the few good works coming out of TSR.

I was very excited about the release of this book. It's is not very often that one gets to read a book where the villains are the main characters of the book. Salvatore worked wonders with these characters. It was exciting to watch as each character tried to out manuever the other with layers upon layers of deception. We really saw the motivations of the assassin Artemis Entreri as well as the mercenary leader, Jarlaxle. I chuckled all throughout the book, which was surprising when reading about a character such as Artemis Entreri. The ending of the book was superb and has truly has made me anxious for the next book involving these two characters. Lets hope that I won't have to wait to long.....

At first when I heard that Drizzt wasn't going to be in this book I was rather skeptical, but I came to realize that those doubts were misplaced. Right from the beginning of the book I was drawn in to the layers upon layers of deception, that only Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle could perform. By the near end of the book I was so immersed into the webs woven that I couldn't put it down. I was equally impressed with how much of these characters are shown to the readers; a light is finally shown in the darkness that is Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle's souls. The plot of this book is more than I excepted from Salvatore, considering his last few books, it is well thought out and planned. Truly I would recommend this book to anybody; many other fans and I can't wait to read the next in line to this great series.

RA Salvatore's Forgotten Realms books have been evolving considerably for quite some time now. His main characters have always been strong and they've carried the novels well. However, the focus on characters became much stronger with his recent series of books (The Silent Blade, The Spine of the World). Yes, they had the vivid battle scenes that had made RA Salvatore the best battle choreographer (for lack of a better title) in fantasy literature, but they deviated from the combat heavy approach and began to examine the characters more deeply. In The Silent Blade, the inner turmoil of Wulfgar overshadowed the tired conflict between Entreri and Drizzt. In The Spine of the World, Wulfgar was fleshed out more, and it was his road to redemption that elicited tension, not the battles.

The Servant of the Shard, Salvatore continues to flesh out his characters, this time exposing new sides of Jarlaxle and Entreri. The focus here is certainly Entreri, and Salvatore expands this villain...something that was desperately needed. Entreri was always an interesting antagonist, mainly because he was such an excellent opponent for Drizzt. While Entreri is always portrayed in an interesting way, but his typical solitary manner and egotistical attitude causes the word "archetype" to come to many readers' minds.

And it's true, Entreri is an archetype. And sure, we loved when he fought Drizzt (those battles made for some of the most intense physical confrontations in any books I've ever read). But many readers, myself included, felt it hard to stretch ourselves to believe that the drawn-out contest with Drizzt was believable. Entreri's foundation in the story was basically based on his need to best Drizzt in combat. Since that was pretty much it, was such a character really fleshed-out enough to drive an entire story?

The answer is yes and no. In Servant of the Shard, Entreri does transcend his staple character status and become character that is more real and believable. However, I found many of Entreri's developments a little too abrupt. It felt that, for some cases, Salvatore didn't develop certain ideas fully. Most work well, but some don't. Since this book is largely focused on Entreri, this hurts the overall story.

The plot here focuses on Bregan D'aerthe (damn, how do you spell that?) expanding its control in Calimport. They are headed by Jarlaxle, now in possession of the Crystal Shard. The artifact's influence feeds the mercenary leader with reckless ambitions that cause Bregan D'aerthe to turn against him. Entreri saves Jarlaxle from his usurpers and they seek Cadderly's help in destroying the relic.

The ending is slightly anti-climactic (it's exciting, but nowhere near finales like his Legacy of the Drow novels). One of the problems is that the means to destroy the Crystal Shard is so simple! It's enough to create a good ending, but I was expecting something is little more grandiose (this is an artifact, afterall).

It may sound like I'm ragging on this book, but I don't want that to be the case. The story line is good, but the real star is Entreri. He's where my interest was fixed. As you near the end of the book, you begin to learn new things about him, but it's clear that Salvatore was holding back on all the details...which means there will probably be yet another addition to Entreri's story.

Finally, in 2001 guess what will be released? "Sea of Swords", Salvatore's next FR book. And who's looking for something on the Sea of Swords...huh, huh? Wulfgar! Any Drizzt/Salvatore fan should be tantalized by that little bit of info...I certainly was.

R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms books are now so numerous that he can really pick and choose what stories he wants to explore. For fans of the Cleric Quintet, Icewind dale, Dark-Elf, and Leagacy series... this is yet another, if not the most mature, amazing character study story. Helpful? Well, I believe the "Silent Blade" marked the beginning of a real change for Salvatore. His career is now quite solid without these Forgotten Realms books, so I think he is really experimenting with his love of the characters. No longer are the characters enwrapt in "adventure", but are going about their chaotic lives and developing, as people do. The sequel to "The Silent Blade", "Spine of the World" focussed on the Barbarian Wulfgar, and his strugles after being freed from hell. "The Servant of the Shard" details the ONGOING struggle of Artemis Enteri to determine his place in the world now that he has been shown the emptiness of his weal. Thus this book is solely about Enteri, Jarlaxe, and the Crystal Shard.

After finishing the book I was very taken with how the world sorted itself out. There are cameos from the Cleric quintet, and it works quite smashingly. Although Jarlaxe is somewhat crippled in the first 2/3'rds, he makes an uprorious comback near the end of the book and really gives the book that last and perfect jolt for 5 stars.

Who knows what R.A. Salvatore will focus on next. The cover of the "Silent Blade" had Wulgar's Hammer, Enteri's dagger, and Drizzt's scimitar. One could assume that this necessitated a "Drizzt book" next, but I'm not convinced. There is a lot of "Dramatic ground" that needs to be played out among these characters, but you will find 'Servant to be the deepest study yet done. And yes... this book contains the obligitory Salvatore ending where EVERYTHING happens at once. It's a nice touch. Enjoy

I'd have to say that out of all Salvatore's books I have read so far, this is his best. I too was a bit hesitent when I learned that Drizzt would not be starring in this novel, but I was interested in what would happen to the Crystal Shard, Artemis Entreri, and Jarlaxle. The complex web of lies and deception was spun so well into the plot line I could not put the book down. This has to be the best example of the drow way of life I have ever seen. It is displayed and described through Salvatore's exellent writing even better than in the Dark Elf Trilogy when you are in the midst of Menzoberranzan. Entreri's rival is gone but not truly beaten, and the inner turmoil Entreri endures at seeing his empty shell of a life for what it truly is, is most intruiging. Jarlaxle, the ever pragmatic drow, is faced with his own great rival, the Crystal Shard. The perfect leader of a male dark elf mercenary band can only survive if he is far superior in fighting skill and intelligence. He must keep his allies close and his enemies even closer, and he must think of every possibility, every deception, and every avenue of escape. He is boggled and decieved by the constant perfected mind games of the centries old shard. The character development is wonderful and brings the story to life. However, if you have not read any of Salvatore's previous Drizzt books this will not be as much of a thrill for you, but still wonderful. For those readers, you will probably rank it with four stars. The plot developments have tight ties with the past that make it even more intruiging. This truly is an intense read, and I recommend it to all Drizzt fans and those facinated by the life and culture of the drow.

I have read many Forgotten Realms books, but this was by far the most entertaining of them all. Artemis Entreri is the most complex yet interesting character ever created. When I purchased Servant of the Shard, I sat down and finished the book in about 4-5 hours. It was mesmerizing. The rest of the world was completely shut off from me while I immeresed myself in this work of art. I just hope Mr. Salvatore continues to produce more stories that include Jarlaxle and Entreri as well as the multitudes of Dark Elves. Drizzt and his gang are fun but pale in comparison to the deliciously entangled mess that the Assasin and Dark Elf find themselves repeatedly in.
I reccomend this book to anyone that prefers great entertainment to the crap displayed at the movies! Its a wonderful read and I only hope for more from Mr. Salvatore.

I truly loved this book, it added a lot more to the character of Artemis Entreri. In the previous books Artemis was nothing but a rival to Drizzt not really a character his own. However, you get a peek into the mind of Entreri with this book. In the first few books Entreri is nothing more than a heartless killer bent on proving that he was better than Drizzt.
After Entreri's encounter with Drizzt on the cliff face outside the tunnels of Mithral Hall where he is badly beaten by Drizzt he is humbled. In Servant of the Shard he is no more just a heartless killer. He has the closest thing he will ever get to actual friends. He no longer kills to just make a name for himself, but mostly out of necessity.
He has a large conflict with the chararacter of Jarlaxle who has taken over House Basadoni in Calimport. However, there are two main conflicts in the story. Between Jarlaxle and Crenshinibon, and Entreri an Charon's Claw. Entreri's is easily overcome, but Jarlaxle's last through nearly the entire story.
This is truly a great book and I reccomend it for Forgotten Realms fans.

Excellent novel on the drow world and the villain we love to hate, Artemis Entreri. Entreri's matchup with Bregan D'aerthe is appropriate and entertaining and can't wait for another installment!