Windwalker (Forgotten Realms: Starlight and Shadows, Book 3) [Hardcover]

Elaine Cunningham (Author)

Book Description

Series: Forgotten Realms: Starlight & Shadows | Publication Date: April 1, 2003

Crossing the wide realms of Faerûn in search of adventure, the dark elf princess Liriel Baenre and her companion Fyodor find themselves in the barbarian’s homeland of Rashemen. In a land ruled by witches, Liriel must disguise herself lest she spark the people’s hatred of dark elves.

Yet from the deep tunnels of the Underdark, glittering eyes and a mind twisted by malice are watching her every move, preparing for vengeance.

The release of Windwalker brings to a close a series first begun by New York Times bestselling author Elaine Cunningham more than eight years ago. Following the recovers of Daughter of the Drow and Tangled Webs, the first two titles in the series, this all-new novel features cover art by award-winning fantasy artist Todd Lockwood and is the first hardcover release from Cunningham in five years.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Elaine Cunningham is the author of the Songs & Swords series of novels, the Counselors & Kings trilogy, and Evermeet for Wizards of the Coast, Inc. Cunningham also hit the New York Times bestseller list with Dark Journey, her Star Wars® title (for Del Rey). She lives in New England with her husband and children.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Wizards of the Coast; First Edition first Printing edition (April 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786929685
• ISBN-13: 978-0786929689
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #183,440 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What happened?, November 26, 2003

By 

Trey Wait (Philly) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windwalker (Forgotten Realms: Starlight and Shadows, Book 3) (Hardcover)

Elaine, Elaine, Elaine... What happened? This series started off so strong (Daughter of the Drow), then got a bit wobbly (Tangled Webs), now it's tipped completly over (Windwalker).

I love this character of hers, Liriel. The unusual drow with a taste for exploration and adventure. I like the fact that she's less diabolicly evil, more vitriolicly sarcastic with a soft heart for the lesser creatures. But Liriel seems to digress in this book.

At times during Windwalker Liriel seems to have forgotten what she's learn in her previous adventures. She forgets that she loves Fyodor (even though it scares her), that her killing people upsets Fyodor, that she really DOSEN'T love Lloth, and that another goddess has showed serious interest in recruting her. Meanwhile the maidens of the Promanade Temple seem to have forgotten the risks she took, the fighting she did for them, and the sacrifices she's made.

This book felt really rushed, 'jumpy' as someone else said. Too much story packed into too small a book equals somewhat shallow characters and a story that feels paper thin. Don't get me wrong it's not a bad read, just... I was hoping for so much more.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars You mean thats all?!, January 17, 2005

By 

J. Budish "Forgotten Realms Fanatic" (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windwalker (Forgotten Realms: Starlight & Shadows 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

The 3 stars I give this book is due the great story and exciting battles contained within it. That being said, the ending was disgraceful. I wasn't actually opposed to the ending Ms. Cunningham chose; I enjoy a sad ending, but it seemed as though the author rushed to a hasty conclusion to an otherwise superb series. What I loved about the Starlight and Shadows series, was the great attention to detail and depth of the characters that Elaine Cunnigham gave. I felt that the conclusion of this book was written by an entirely different person! The final battle is waged in a span of about 10 pages and then the fates of the main characters are told in the final 5 pages with almost nothing said about the secondary characters. It seems like about 40 pages are missing. I do recommend reading this book if you have read the first two (which are wonderful books) as it does complete the series and 360 of its 375 pages are among the best I've ever read. I just wish the author would have spent a lot more time on the ending.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, to say the least, September 7, 2006

By 

KG "KG" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windwalker (Forgotten Realms: Starlight & Shadows 3) (Mass Market Paperback)

I wasn't overly disappointed in the plot or the characters, despite their inconsistency. It was the writing. This book reads like it was written in about a week. It was rushed, jumbled, and had no depth.

The main story really could have been told in about 150-200 pages. The rest seemed like it was just unnecessary, uninteresting filler. Too many pages were devoted to secondary characters doing nothing that advanced the story, or even helped develop the character or plot. It's as if it was all written on the fly with no forethought or, even worse, afterthought. It reads like it went right from rough draft to release. I really expected more from Elaine Cunningham.

This is a 3 of 3 book so people will naturally buy it, but don't expect to see the effort put forth you saw in book 1.

If you're a big Liriel fan go get it and get your fix. If you're looking for the layers and intrigue of a good drow book, move on. You're going to be sorely disappointed.