Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf

This is the type of novel that has made R.A. Salvatore one of the best writers of action fantasy for so long. Complex with a cast of characters that includes old favorites and new players that grab the readers attention straight away. The Companions are at their battling best while the cunning Jarlaxle works behind the scenes with a goal that no one is sure of. Add in Dwarven kings and grudging drow archmages and the situation seems ready to explode. Oh did I mention dragons?

Drizzt and his friends are fighting a war that began a century before. The orcs have broken the treaty and flooded the silver marches with the drow backing there moves from the shadows and white dragons from the sky. The subtle manipulations have set the boulder rolling and it's taken on momentum that even the people who began it no longer have much control. Tiago seeks Drizzt with a fanatic passion, wulfgar and Regis are lost in the underdark and many can see no way to defeat the horde of orcs darkening the land or the magical darkness in the sky. Bruenor battle hammer is not so quick to give in.

With typical stoicism the King begins to bring together the dwarves with an eye to help all who call the marches home. Drizzt puts his scimitar to work with typical brilliance and Salvatore describes the fights better than anyone. Cattie brie continues to develop her magical talent and salvatore shows he can make a mage every bit as well as he can make a warrior. Aegis Fang works in Wulfgar hands and Regis continues to grow into an incredible talent. Problem with White Dragons? Jarlaxle might have a couple of lady friends who can help.

This is a large scale story, battles rage in every corner of the silver marches and the companions are involved in them all. Where does Jarlaxle stand? Does Bruenor will suffice to defeat a hundred thousand orcs? A story with huge implications and a wild ride that seems to lead to so many possibilities. Any fan of the forgotten realms, and fan of fiction should read this novel. This is perhaps the most exciting novel in the saga of Drizzt and that is truly saying something as these novels have been must reads since homeland came out over 20 years ago. When the reader is done their only thought can be what will happen next as they set up their tents in front of bookstores to await Salvatores next novel following the exploits of a pleasantly misguided drow, maybe two of them, and his companions who grow with every novel released. Bravo mr. Salvatore. Bravo.

ARC From Netgalley.

Mr. Salvatore has done it again! The finishing book to the Companion's Codex Trilogy ends with a series of battles conducted on an epic scale rarely seen in his novels. Salvatore has always shown prowess in his smaller group and one-on-one combat sequences, but to show massive army movements and be able to recreate a vibrant visual picture of a large scale battle just allows his faithful fans to see the continuing development of his craft.

(Spoilers ahead)

In this novel, the Companions of the Hall seek to end their conflict with the orcs that have had a presence in their regions for more than a century. Though Drizzt has some great fight scenes of his own (fighting from dragonback as well as an excellent scene where he almost gets frozen to death by the breath of a frost dragon) this book really showcases the prowess of the others. The magical abilities of Catti-Brie have continued to increase, Regis is a very agile and cunning fighter now, Wulfgar has shown more than once that he embodies the true soul of a raging barbarian, but Bruenor lives up to the title of the book (Vengeance of the Iron Dwarf) well. It is so exciting to see these 5, as well as their new allies, working together again.

It seems as if Salvatore is preparing yet another shocking event to the realms, this time perhaps affecting the Weave itself. Makes my anticipation for "Archmage" all the stronger.

Thank you again for providing us readers and loyal fans with another chapter in the grand history of those some of us would call friends, and not just another group of characters in the history of fiction. I salute you R.A. Salvatore.

Recommend. Vital read, as always