Servant of the Shard (Forgotten Realms - The Sellswords

Once again, Salvatore has achieved greatness. As with many authors involved in multiple projects, Salvatore's Forgotten Realms works have been declining in quality as he must be spread too thin. This is very evident considering what we have come to expect after the Icewind Dale and Dark Elf Trilogies. Every book since those six has been worse than the previous. This newest effort continues his work at fleshing out the other characters of the series, reversing the downward trend, and being of high quality again. Here we see Jarlaxle and Entreri struggling against the machinations of the Drow and the Crystal Shard, with new incites provided into their pasts and motivations. This book was a vast improvement over the last few novels, and I recommend it highly. However, as you might read in all the other reviews, Drizzt is once again absent, but it's still an excellent read. No one can bring to life a combat scene as well as Salvatore, and he shows it many times here.

Anything "Forgotten Realms" that R.A. Salavore writes, I read. Were this not the case, I might well never have bought, let alone read, this particular book. It has in focus the "bad guys" of Salvatore's AD&D storyline, but lacks a certain charm. It is hard to wish the characters well and thus be drawn into their story, and when one of the secondary characters that had been relatively important is suddenly and swiftly dead, one can hardly mourn. It is treated in the text pretty much as a next-to-irrelevant fact.
If you are a die-hard Salvatore fan, you'll want to read this book to keep up with the overall storyline and know what happens with the Crystal Shard. If you're not a part of this "elite" band, then don't bother.

"Servant of the Shard" may be Drizztless, but it has more energy and enthusiasm then the last five "Drizzt" books combined. The plot is a genuine page-turner, the characters are INTERESTING, and by the time the dust settles at the end of the novel, the Forgotten Realms world has been forever changed.
The Butch Cassidy - Sundance Kid pairing of Jarlaxle and Entreri works wonderfully. Jarlaxle has always been one of my favourite characters, and when he takes centre stage here he does so with a gleeful roguishness that reminded me of early, post-depression Drizzt. The sequence where Jarlaxle tries to pass himself off as "the famous hero, Drizzt Do'Urden" to a crowd of skeptical villagers had me laughing out loud for the first time since the original series.
And then there's Entreri, a character I had previously pegged as a dull, one-dimensional villain. He really comes into his own in this book, both as a reluctant antihero and as dour foil to his audacious drow companion. The character of the angry asassin gives Jarlaxle something Drizzt never had: an interesting partner. If Salvatore wants to do a series called "The Further adventures of Entreri and Jarlaxle" I'd be first in line to buy it.
To sum up:
The good = Jarlaxle and Entreri. The plot. The characters. The fact that things actually change in this book as opposed to staying the same.
The bad: the annoying cameos from Cadderly and his fellow dogooders. I have come to the conclusion that Salvatore simply cannot write good "Good Guys". They're either too cute, too moralizing, or too stupid. Danica in particular does something at the end of the book that made me feel Entreri was entirely justified in his "Why I Kill Good Guys" speech.
If you like the original Drizzt books, you'll like this one. 'Nuff said.

Servant of the shard is a blast. Without even finishing it knew it was my favorite "Drizzt" book. I have always thought the weakest element of the Drizzt books, is Drizzt himself. He is quite boring. He is so reserved and righteous, that there is no fun in his character. I have been much more interested in Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle ever since their first mentions. I stopped following this series at Starless Nights. And recently decided to see if anything was new in the Drizzt world. Well aparently 6 books slipped under my radar. I went right out and grabbed them all. Unfortunately I decided read Servant of the Shard first, mainly becuase it brings the real two best characters together again. And i only say unfortunately becuase i must now read 5 books to be current and i know none of them will meet the humor and intriuge of the Servent of the Shard. Entreri and Jarlaxle have always been the villians you love to hate, or maybe love to love, Jarlaxle has so much wits and attitude they completely win you over. In this book they are the heroes though, and Rai-guy, Kimmuriel and the Crystal Shard make for good enimies. This books has alot of powerplay as none of the characters can be completely sure of their surivial in their quest for gain. The ending of the book has futher bonding of Entreri and Jarlaxle, they set out together for more adventure. I surely hope we will have books of it. Not to mention a origen of Jarlaxle himself. Forget Drizzt.

Though this book doesn't directly involve Drizzt Do'Urden, it does involve two key nemesis of his, Jarlaxel and Artemis Entreri as a unique duo. The characters are given great depth to the degree that you gain a sympathy/empathy and understanding for the "evil" characters, thus once again R.A. Salvatore does an excellent job of blurring the lines and making the reader understand character motivation and question, what indeed is evil?
And once again R.A. Salvatore demonstrates his mastery of continuity in his books, reintroducing characters from the Cleric Quintet. Though it's technically part of a series and I recommend reading the other books first, starting with the Cleric Quintet and then the Dark Elf books, this book is well written enough to stand on it's own and is sure to addict anyone reading it to the Forgotten Realms books by R.A. Salvatore.

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.

Yeah, you're supposed to hate the bad guy, right? Not quite like I did.
I had started my run with Salvatore's books with The Dark Elf Trilogy. After exploring the intrigue of Menzoberranzan, seeing the horror of the Underdark and the contrast of Blidgenstone, and followed our favorite Ranger to the surface, a lone warrior against seemingly insurmountable odds, I almost didn't want to move on. But alas, there was more story to be told, more adventure to be had, and so I moved forward.
I was not disappointed. By the end of The Crystal Shard, I found I not only had a fondness for Drizzt, but a certain connection to Regis, the poor halfling who couldn't seem to stay out of trouble; an admiration of the proud barbarian Wulfgar, the barbarian who united his tribes; and, of course, I could hear Buernor's every curse and half-hearted insult. By the end, I enjoyed these characters as much, if not more so, than the dark elves of his second Trilogy.
But Streams of Silver? A good enough book, to be sure, but their choice of villains, to me, was a large step down from the demon Errtu and bumbling wizard, Akar Kessel. An assassin, threatening, in his own right, but nothing compared to a demon and hordes of monsters, and a female mage I didn't particularly care about.
I read with the utmost boredom how Entreri captured Cattie-Brie. I plodded along, hoping to find some redeeming value, but once it became apparent that Entreri was meant to be Drizzt's chief rival, I couldn't help but feel my heart sink a little. How arbitrary, it seemed, that this cold-blooded assassin, this man who survived by his ability to remain disconnected from his work, became obsessed with Drizzt Do'Urden.
As it became increasingly apparent through later novels that Artemis Entreri would keep on appearing, I sighed and plodded through, thinking that it would be OK if I were simply able to keep the story going to get back to Drizzt.
The Silent Blade changed my opinion a bit toward Entreri, and I became slightly interested in his inner turmoil, though I was still more interested in skipping to the Companions of the Hall, particularly with Wulfgar's return.
So it was, with a bit of hesitance, I picked a copy of Servant of the Shard from the library. Interested enough in Jarlaxle to tolerate Entreri's presence, I began to read. And found, to my surprise, that I couldn't put it down.
Whereas Entreri was before a cardboard cutout, a soulless mirror meant as an adversary for Drizzt, with the dark elf's "demise", he became something much more. A character in his own right, with a life, thoughts, and quirks beyond the scope of his obsession with Drizzt. For the first time, he had friends, people he actually related to and interacted with. For the first time he experienced complex emotions; more than revenge or simple emptiness. Most importantly, he evolved, matured. The ending left me actually wanting more Entreri, and feeling disappointed with the knowledge that he would not be in Sea of Swords.
Even beyond the scope of the assassin, Jarlaxle holds his title as one of Salvatore's most interesting characters. The maverick drow, closer in alignment to Chaotic Neutral than Chaotic Evil, seems to live by a code all his own and always makes for an interesting read. Without giving too much of the plot away, his eventual life-altering decision is a good one, as it seemed time he strike a different course. It left me wanting more of Jarlazle, as well as Entreri.
Salvatore's new characters also (for the most part) score homeruns. Though not entirely new, those who first appeared in The Silent Blade are given bigger roles and added depths. Rai-guy, Kimmurel, Dhwavel, and Sharoletta Vespers all add to the intrigue, and the suspense, of this novel.
That being said, there are some complaints, but nothing too major. Entreri's rivalry with Danica, for instance. To have his rivalry with Drizzt ended only to once again define his character by another seemed a waste, indeed. The wererats seem to go through leaders like most people go through shoes, which is a shame, because the interaction between they and the dark elves is priceless. And Sharoletta... let us just say that a potentially entertaining character was removed from any further novels.
All in all, it doesn't detract too much from the over all quality of the story, and Salvatore found a perfect blend of revelation and mystery to let us inside the head of Artemis Entreri while making us want for more. And that is the mark of a good character, as well as a good author.

I considered this book one of the most enjoyable that has been written by Salvatore of late. One of Salvatore's many strong points, is the ability to really draw you into the innerworkings of the character's psyche, and you really feel like you are getting to know them on an intense personal level. The ability to further explore Artemis' and Jarlaxle's personalities and inner conflicts really makes this book worthwhile. Jarlaxe especially was mysterious and just downright hillarious at time to read. That little tidbit in the last line of the book(I won't give it away!) made me hope that maybe Salvatore will write a novel on Jarlaxle's past, or carry this novel forward. Jarlaxle is such a humorous and flamboyant character. Add in Salvatore's masterful technique at writing fighting scenes(they really come to life!), intrigue, danger, and the oh so lovable characters from the cleric Quintet(Pikel makes me laugh every time), and you have the makings of a masterpiece. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

Starring two of Salvatore's best villains, Artemis and Jarlaxle, this book is full of fun.

To the dismay of his followers, Jarlaxle's band of drow, Bregan D'Aerthe, have secretly began moving out of the Underdark and into the city of Calimport. Some believe he is being manipulated by the powerful Crystal Shard, Crenshenibon, but no one knows for sure. Even Jarlaxle's close friend, the assassin Artemis Entreri, can't tell.

However, Artemis has plans of his own. He has set his eyes on Charon's Claw, the powerful weapon held by Kohrin Soulez.

All hell breaks lose when Jarlaxle's band turns against him. Jarlaxle and Artemis must team up to fight the likes of Rai-guy, Kimmuriel, and Berg'inyon - and ultimately to destroy the crystal shard itself.

This is one of Salvatore's funnest Forgotten Realms novels to date and perhaps his best since Homeland.

I have loved the novels of Drizzt, the rogue dark elf since I was in high school. Every novel builds on the characters, the lore, and the world they live in. I am glad to see that Salvatore is still writing about him after all these years and I look forward to read the upcoming novels.

To some Drizzt fans, it may be a little dissapointing that our beloved drow hero doesnt appear in this novel, besides a few , written, words by hum, and at first I thought it might the novels less interesting as well, but R.A Salvatore fixes this problem by centering this novel around two very , very interesting characters: Jarlaxle and Atremis Entreri.

A great thing about this book is that it tells a darker,and extremely interesting, tale, which is a nice break from all of Drizzt's heroism.

Also, we start to get much deeper into the characters of Jarlaxle and Entreri, and as I've said before they are very very interesting characters. I absolutely love them, although I wouldnt say the say if I actually met them.

A fast paced novel that is sure to please. If your a fan of the series then buy this now! If your new however, you would still enjoy this book, but in order to understand better whats going on, some of the characters mentioned and parts of the plot, its best to start with The Crystal Shard, from the Icewind Dale Trilogy.

This is seriously one of my favorite books in all the Forgotten Realms books I have read. It's great. I really like how the Paths of Darkness series is divided among the characters, and it was a completely brilliant move on RAS's part to devote an entire book to the dynamic duo of Entreri and Jarlaxle. After reading this (and discovering his short story "Empty Joys" in The Best of the Realms Volume 1), I have definitely come to appreciate Entreri and Jarlaxle more. They work so well together. I'm happy since I found out RAS will probably continue writing about their escapades, and he has acknowledged the fact that the two could easily carry several more books. I can't wait! Especially after Jarlaxle's new "brilliant" plan (read "Empty Joys" to know what the heck I mean). :-D
The most interesting and attractive part of this book was the interaction between Entreri and his friends. Yes, he actually has friends. Strange considering his line of work, but it's great that Entreri's finally mellowing in his "old" age. His relationship with Dwahvel is so enlightening. We see the human side of the assassin that was lacking before because of his obsession with Drizzt. And, of course, Entreri and Jarlaxle together are just a couple of goofballs. Loveable, charming, but deadly goofballs. I love 'em. :-D
I can't wait for more books in the adventures of Entreri and Jarlaxle.

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

In the preface of the Dark Elf Trilogy, Salvatore says that the readers have wanted to learn about the origins of Drizzt, the famous dark elf ranger first introduced in the Crystal Shard, the first book of the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Likewise from the first time I have ever seen both Artemis Entreri, Drizzt's arch-enemy, and Jarlaxle the Mercenary, leader of the Drow Mercenary band Bregan D'aerthe, I have always wanted to find out more about the origins of these two important Salvatore characters. Yet this book does not reveal any thing I did not know about Artemis Entreri, or anything I did not anticipate about him, there are some interesting stuff as to who Jarlaxle really is or was, in other words which family he came from in Menzoberanzan (don't remember if this is the correct spelling).
I got a bit bored throughout the book, due to the fact that the only Forgotten Realms books I've read so far belong to Salvatore and I am starting to anticipate everything in the plot, however the revelation on Jarlaxle's origin and knowing him more seemed to worth every cent I paid for the book and the time I've spent for reading it. If you like Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri this book is a "must have".

This book brings to life more of the drow society than i have ever read in any other book. This book is amazing, and a wonderful read once it gets going. The life of the drow is a life that is filled with backstabbing, and intrigue. But in the end, this book was great. It pulls you into the storyline, making you feel for all the characters, even if most of them are drow. But i recommend this book, as i recommend most books, for it was a good adventure.

This is amongst Salvatore's best works, right there beside Homeland, Exile, Legacy & Starless Night.
This is not a Drizzt book, but it portrays great character development of Artemis Entreri and the enigmatic Jarlaxle. The amazing thing about Mr Salvatore's work on the arch-villains/anti-heroes was that he leaves me gasping for more on them. And the deviation from the Companions of the hall is a welcomed one, as Drizzt is running out of worthy enemies (forget goblins, orges and orcs, u need to send more nastier stuff, try beholders and liches, and other Drizzt calibre mortal villains)
Wow, I knew Jarlaxle was a good fighter, but didn't know he was Drizzt level, right up there with Artemis and Zaknafein (the only Drizzt calibre fighters I know of) How the heck did Jarlaxle live thru errr the third male child traditions of Lloth?
Whilst Artemis was cool from the time he was first introduced from the Series (Except for when he loses to Drizzt here and there), there is a lot more about Artemis than just the lone wolf bada$$ killer Artemis... coooo
Artemis is still amongst the best villains up there besides Liquid Snake (Metal Gear Solid), and an awesome antihero right there besides Solid Snake, without that guy's soft spots and horniness.. hoo haa

Salvatore's idea of teaming up Entreri and Jarlaxle is probably his best idea since deciding to make a Drow with a good weald. Through all the backstabbing, traps, and intrugue, the reader gets an almost Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid feeling when the protaganists interact,villians one knows one shouldn't cheer for but can't help at least cracking a smile. Kudos also for reintroducing Cadderly and the rest of the Clereic Quintet bunch and therefore giving an even more amusing foil for assassin and swashbuckler. This is quite possibly Salvatore's best writing since the Dark Elf Triology and it may even beat that. Truly an amazing book.

I was rather disapointed with The Spine of the World, and this book started off a bit slow. But after I got fifty pages into it, and I was wrapped up in all the intringue, lies, and deceit, I could not put the book down. It definately lives up to the series standards, and is just another reason why a producer should pick up this series to make movies out of. Read it!

This book, though dissapointing to have no Drizzt Do'Urden in its pages, is wonderful if you enjoy Salvatore's evil master minds. I always enjoyed the villans in Salvatore's books. He seems to find ways to bring them to life in ones eyes more than making the point for you to hate them.
The main theme of this book? Well, if you like Jarlaxle, you'll love it. It contains many unknown facts about his past, present, and even thoughts about his future and what he will become. Also, our amigo Entreri plays a key role here, and you find out a few interesting quips about him.
However, if you buy this book expecting to see some Drizzt, you will be sorely dissapointed. It has journal entries by our dearest Drow, but he does not make an appearance.
Overall, I really liked this book, but my opinion is my own. It seemed to dissapoint a lot of its readers.

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.

Personally, I felt this book was an outstanding piece. I beleive that it does Salvatore good to step away from "Drizzt and Co" and focus on some of his under-developed characters. In Spine of the World, we saw Wulfgar..an annoying drunk who dragged us through 200 pages of boring and unending drinking and personal turmoil. A character who really needed no development and who probably was better off staying dead. in Servant of the Shard, we see two familiar characters who are largly underdeveloped, both of which undergoing major psychological and personal changes, and we learn lots from them. Throw in a very well written and thought out story line and the result is one of the greatest works of RA Salvatore. I would reccommend this book to anyone who loves Drizzt, it is indeed a step above the spine of the world.

This book is a rather lukewarm spinoff of the ever popular drizzt novels. While it is an entertaining read, it is not quite as good as some of it's predecessors; such as the Dark Elf trilogy and the Icewind Dale trilogy. I'm not saying, "Don't read it." I'm saying just don't expect too much.
It does, however, offer some interesting insight into the world of Jarlaxle and Entreri.

The best thing about this book was to see Jarlaxle and Entreri together as a team, travelling together, bouncing off each other, and doing good deeds(?) all while still being evil characters. The problem is that this only happens in the last third (or so) of the book, and you have to wade through the first two-thirds to get to the REAL story. Salvatore should have just glossed over that Calimport nonsense in the beginning and gotten right to the good stuff.
That being said, once you get to the last third, the book is fantastic. The last few chapters contain some of the best action writing Salvatore has done.
If, in the future, Salvatore does a book just on the adventures Jarlaxle and Entreri, without copping out and making them good guys, it could end up being (dare I say it) *better* than any Drizzt novel. The relationship between these two bad boys is that good. I hope he does it.

The last battle in this book is PHENOMENAL. One of the best written fantasy climaxes I've ever read; I'm comparing it favorably to the climax of Dragonlance:Dragons of Spring Dawning in intensity and visceral impact. The characters are fascinating. I was leery about following the plots which leave Drizzt out of the picture (Spine of the World, this book) but this book, whew! Highly recommended. Much, much better than Spine of the World (but I'm a little biased- I never cared for Wulfgar's return).

In my opinion this is the true compliment to "The Silent Blade" This book picks up where we last encountered Artemis Entreri and Drizzt' deul. If you felt wronged with "Spine of the World's" story, this is what will bring you back into the fold. Salvatore proves to me that he still has the greatness to keep one enraptured in his tales. While Spine of the World followed some couple nobody cares about and Wulfgar in a drunken stupor, Servant of the Shard provides Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle as its two focal points. Once i picked this book up, I hadn't the willpower to put it down. Salvatore's intriguing story overwhelmed me. Being put into the dealings of Calimport and its seedy underbelly, I could almost feel the eyes of theives upon me.

There is no mention of drizzt in this book (despite his reflective essays). Howeveer the story which follows the trials of Jarlaxle and the actions of Bregan D'aerthe in Calimport, is really well put together, and i found myself wanting the infamous Artemis Entrerito win in his game of intrigue with the drow. We find him and Jarlaxle making an intresting and deadly team which seems to rival the antics of the Companions of the Hall.
This was an awesome book which i fully reccomend. Salvatore is a literary genius, and he ties in the tales of two of the most interesting and ambiguous villains (i'm not even sure Jarlaxle is a villain) together nicely with input from an old cleric friend. Get this book!

I hesitated about picking up this book especially because I'm so busy and I thought "Well this is just another Drizzt book." It turned out that this is the best book I've ever read in my life.
(Just for some background, I'm a college student who read every single Drizzt book.)
See, I didn't know that this would be all about Artemis Entreri. You thought he was cool, but he really shows off his power in this book. Forget Drizzt, bad guys are in. It turns out, the book will completely surpass your expectations. Dont miss this no matter what. Pick it up, it'll take only a week to finish but just like me, you'll be thanking yourself you did it. Cheap too hey?

This book is the basic battle between good and evil. Between the Shard's ability to control people to do things that will only increase its power. This is another book about the internal struggles of Salvatore's other main characters. Can they destroy the Shard or will it dominate them and destroy the world they hold so dear.

This was a great story. Artemis lives up to expectaions, and even sheds light on a side you never thought. Then just when you think you know Jarlaxle he throws in a grand new surprise that keeps you bitting your nails until the next release. I can only hope that the sea of swords takes off where this one leaves. Servant of the shard is a must for any fantasy colletor, not to mention any fan of Jarlaxle, and his Bregan D'aerthe.

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.....

R.A. Salvatore brings another hot book to the shelves with Servant of the Shard. This fantasy novel would intrigue any and all fantasy readers with its immense room for imagination of creatures and characters. Each time I sat down to read I became encased in a web that this book spins so effectively. Layers of intrigue, deceit, and backstabbing kept me flipping these pages like hotcakes. Artemis Entreri and Jaraxle are two very "evil" people, but they just don't seem to fall on my bad side. Artemis became this very complicated character just below the surface of his calm. Jaraxle and Artemis become a duo that rivals Batman and Robin, just they aren't so goody good. They keep more tricks up their sleeves than Batman holds in his utility belt, especially Jaraxle.

Salvatore's Servant of the Shard rocks. If you are interested in fantasy novels and are looking for a good series or a good author to pick up you should definitely try some of Salvatore's books. My favorite by far has been Sea of Swords. If you read that one first like I did you're going to be swimming in a lot new information and orienting yourself with people you "should" already know. The way Salvatore won't leave you hanging if you happen to go out of order of his books made me like his books even more.

When I first bought this book, and realized Drizzt wasn't in it, I was almost ready to return it, and then I saw **starry eyes** it starred Artemis Entreri! (And Jaraxle and those other crazy drows of course...) This is probably one of my favorites so far -- Artemis becomes more then a fighting peice of cardboard out to kill Drizzt -- now that he thinks Drizzt is dead, his stupid obsession with defeating him is gone too. Hallejuha for that, too!! We finally dig deeper into his personality (yes, he does have one) and he gets friend for once, one he trusts...
Fast, absorbing read, even if you are a devoted Drizzt fan, you will enjoy this, it's different, and different isn't always bad.

Best forgottem realms series ever. For me. The relationship between the two main characters was fun to read and all 3 books in this series were great. I doubt it will happen, but if the author can make a sequel to this story, I would preorder now.

Ihave read every Drizzt book and this is, byfar, my favorite. While others delve into the Drow Sociaty lightly, this one is all about the Drow. This is the first book to feature my three favorite charactors (Cadderly, Entreri, and Jarlaxle) in one book. While you are looking at the Drow there will be new things you discover every time you read it. Also if you read closly it greatly reveals what happend to Artemis Entreri to make him "The Most Vile of Assasins" (see pages 107, 145, and 315/316) all and all, if you do not have this book, buy it right now. I can promis you that you will not regret it.

Huzzah! R.A. Salvatore brings us a masterpiece with Servant of the Shard. Here we delve deeper into the maze that is the soul of deadly assassin, Artemis Entreri. The enigmatic mercenary leader Jarlaxle is also brought to light in both comical and character revealing ways. Those who always wanted more than just a taste of these "side" characters are given a veritible feast! Perhaps the best thing about the way the story leaves off is how it allows for endless possibilities. Long life to R.A Salvatore! May he bring us a hundred more...if they are all as good as Servant of the Shard, each will be a best seller!

I could read all these books twice really. The whole series is by far the best adventure series ever! I read his first book 15 years ago the crystal shard. I looked that book up Last year to read it again 3/05 since then I have been addicted I have read every book he has wrote since all this year. the cleric Quintet That was also a must read if just for the dwarfs. Bob if you read this Thank you for all the great work!

Thanks again for the Very best adventure's

Magnanimous

Fair maidens, heroic heroes, brave knights - er wait , this is a book about the BAD GUYS! I admit, I've never been that much of an Entreri fan, but Entreri and Jarlaxle together are a riot! This story is full of evil dark elves, high adventure, intrigue, unsurmountable odds, and cool magic toys to boot! Do yourself a favor and pick it up for some good reading.

75% of this book was depressing. The only happy parts are when readers join Cadderly's role in the plot (his family and the dwarves are awsome!) and the last page with Jarlaxle and Enrtreri. But other than the fact that it is immensely depressing it is a good book. If you are new to the Forgotten Realms series DO NOT start with this book! Try The Icewind Dale Trilogy. This would be a good book for any and all fantasy-fiction fans. Especially Tolkein fans!(Because in my opinion Salvator has more action less philosophy and waaay more descriptive in his battle scenes!)

Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle are just great characters and blend so well together. They are so different and yet similar.

The story itself is great and makes Entreri really shine in my opinion. This book could stand on it's own without any other books following.

If you are a fan of Artemis Entreri, Jarlaxle or both, than this book is an absolute must read!

I loved reading the "Servant of the Shard". But, just a suggestion... it would be good to read the "Cleric Quintet" and the "Dark Elf Trilogy" to know more of the background of the characters involved in the story. I made the mistake of reading the Cleric Quintet after and now find myself wanting to reread the "Servant of the Shard" so that I can understand the characters more. Anyone who like role-play games and computer RPG... will absolutely love reading R.A. Salvatore's books!

His books rock! I started reading them just last month and already I'm hooked. I've only read Legacy of the Drow and The Icewind Dale Trilogy (I know I read out of order), and they're great! I can't wait to read The Dark Elf Trilogy, The Cleric Quintet, and the Paths of Darkness books. Anyone who's looking for a good long set of novels to read, likes fantasy, adventure, thrilling sword fights, and stories you can really get into should read R. A. Salvatore's novels.

Fantasy lovers buy this now!!! Only R.A. Salvatore could create a book of such magnetism. Full of climatic battles, and evil politics, and he did this all without his most accoladed character Drizzt Do'Urden! This is my favorite book, period. Hands down, I think this is one of Salvatore's finest works. Of course I was more easily swayed, because my favorite characters are involved. This book also sheds more light on the Mysterious, cunning, and deadly Artemis Entreri (my fav!).

Servant of the Shard is an excellent fantasy title. The story brings in the mysterious and dangerous drow (this includes the mercenary Jarlaxle) and other puzzling characters such as the famed assassin Artemis Entreri.
This story is both captivating and thrilling. As the pages turn, the plot thickens with intrigue, deception, and danger. This could very well be the greatest of R.A. Salvatore's work.

easily one of, if not salvatores best book, and it doesnt have drizzt at all. yet i cannot help myself, i have read this book repeatedly, and it gets better every time. despite, the fact that the book is about the villians, it is still an amazing book, one that draws you in. must read

death by rotting having the life sucked right out of you being brutally beaten by comrades hving your best friends turn on you the plotting of an assasination of a great man, an evil man, a man with power, having your mind read having the power to block psionics infravision and magic absorb it and use it how you chosse to kill others given freedom, then having that freedom taken away all in this book.