Book 2, Exile: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy

Okay so I'm very weird when it comes to series novels. I cannot get thru a whole series completely that has 3 books let alone one that has 28. In fact the only two series that I was able to read fully and love was The Lord Of The Rings (Hobbit included plus Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales) and of course Harry Potter because who doesn't love Harry Potter (I'll tell you NO ONE!!!!). To be honest I actually didn't think I'd like Salvatore all that much despite the fact that his books take up an entire aisle at Barnes And Noble. I decided finally to get his books and I was told to read The Legend Of Drizzt first. I was very skeptical because again I don't really read series because I get bored after the first book and move onto something else. So after some reluctance I picked up Homeland and sat down and read it all the way through. I actually was very surprised at how much I loved it. The book was great but it did have some cons being that the book was very political and at times slow. I still loved the book despite at how slow it was at times because of how well Salvatore creates characters. The story was so well woven and even though the action was few and far between being that Homeland is Drizzt's origin, it was a fantastic read. I knew after I finished Homeland that I had to read Exile so I went to my computer and ordered it instantly. (Slight Spoilers ahead for Homeland)
Okay so Exile takes place roughly about 10 years after the end of Homeland. Drizzt has forsaken his people, Masoj Hunnett is dead, and Malice Do'urden has been left out of favor with the evil deity known as the Spider Queen. Drizzt having forsaken his people and left Menzoborranzan behind is now living in exile alone (except for his trusty panther) in the Underdark. Drizzt has been surviving the Underdark for 10+ years alone and is now trying to gain control and suppress murderous urges and another side of himself he calls "The Hunter", while still trying to avoid his mother Matron Malice and the mistakes of his past. I'll leave the summary there and get onto the review. So I did say that while I did love Homeland it was a bit boring and slow at times because it dealt more in politics than actual combat. This book fixes all of that because Drizzt is no longer part of the Political web (see what I did there Spider Queen? Political "Web"???) that rules Menzoborranzan. In this book the main focus is on Drizzt trying his best to survive and make it to the surface. This book is filled with nothing but bloody combat from start to finish with Drizzt being on the run from Malice and her lackeys. This book while about combat and action is also about Drizzt coming into his own and figuring out who he really is and how different from the other Drow he truly is. This is the book that really shows you what the series is about. if Homeland is more like Game Of Thrones then this book is more like Lord Of The Rings. This book is more about questing and surviving and having sword fights and using magic. This book is (I hate to use this term) but the true first book in the series. Now what I mean by that is Homeland is more of how Drizzt grows up. The first book is about his training and how he comes to rebel and rebuke his people. The first book is more about Menzoborranzan and the Drow Elves than it is about Drizzt in particular. Exile on the other hand focuses entirely on Drizzt and leaves the drow elves all but entirely behind. In this book Drizzt is already a master swordsmith and very competent sorcerer when he needs to be. Drizzt needs help emotionally but when it comes to fighting he is entirely capable. This book shows you the character for who he really is and it shows you his heart and his fighting ability at the same time. This is the book when Drizzt truly comes into his own and when the reader finally realizes what he's gotten into. A fantastic and masterfully written fantasy epic. Yes you read that right not a series but an epic.
This book really has no cons that I can think of. The action is graphic and descriptive (though not so descriptive that you get bored, I'm looking at you George R.R. Martin) and the environment is so well described and put together that you feel drawn into the world and you feel as though you've taken up scimitars beside Drizzt himself. The only two cons that I can think of are of a character called Clacker who appears about 75% thru the book. I won't spoil the character or the story but Clacker really has no place being there and it seems as though he was put as a filler. Clacker also seems to have been put there to sort of tug at reader's heart strings but we don't find out enough about him to really care that much for him. The only other con is that these books go fast. I started reading Exile the 1st of the month and was finished by the 6th and already starting the 3rd book Sojourn. This isn't a huge issue due to the fact that there are literally like 30 books in this series (28 to be exact I think) and Salvatore still isn't done with the series. HE'S STILL WRITING IT!!!!! In fact he just released book 28 this year. I highly recommend this series and if you liked Homeland you will absolutely love Exile. There is more action and a lot more fight scenes and bigger set pieces in this book than there was in Homeland. My one regret is that it took me all these years to read these books because I thought honestly that they would be lame or that I wouldn't like them. R.A. Salvatore has made it onto my list of favorite authors and I can't wait to read all of the Legend Of Drizzt novels!!!!!

We're still following Drizzt along his journey to find himself. It's been a journey filled with little love, abundant hate, merciless battles, and bloody sacrifices! Still, I am thrilled to travel along with Drizzt as he tries to find others like himself that want to live an honorable and purpose filled life instead of the disgusting hatred filled life they have been born into. It's been ten years since we last heard from Drizzt. He is currently living in the wilds of the Underdark in a small cavern that he shares with a small group of rare Fungus-men. At this point, Drizzt has been living in the wilds for so long that he has become a lonely hunter without friends or companions. Although Guenhwyvar is with him, it is still a dark and lonely time. One night, Drizzt hears voices (something that hasn't happened for so long) and becomes curious. He follows the voices and comes upon some Deep Gnomes mining. Back in Menzoberranzan, Matron Malice makes a horrid discovery; she will never return to the Spider Queen's good graces until Drizzt is brought back and sacrificed to the Queen! Spurred into action, the Matron sends Drizzt's siblings Briza and Dinin to hunt him down. After thwarting their attempt on his life, Drizzt becomes sullen and weary of running. Meanwhile, Matron Malice hatches a new plan to hunt down Drizzt and be done with him once and for all. The Queen allows her to re-animate Drizzt's father Zak's body and he becomes the Matron's deadly puppet! In the previous book Zak was the most renowned weapons master among all the drow: a reputation that Malice feels certain will guarantee her victory. Deep beneath the Earth's surface, Drizzt finally overcomes his curiosity and enters the home cavern of the Deep Gnomes, knowing that they will either accept him or end his life. There, Drizzt meets Belwar, the survivor of a previous drow attack. Drizzt and Belwar become fast friends. Just as Drizzt becomes comfortable and begins to put down roots, he is kicked out. An Enraged Belwar packs up and leaves alongside Drizzt and Guenhwyvar. Under the Matron's control, Zak has been tirelessly hunting for Drizzt. He cuts a path of death and destruction across the land as he zeroes in on Drizzt. The trio of friends keep up a frenetic pace trying to stay alive and unharmed whilst frantically searching for a new place to call home. Finally, Zak manages to track down Drizzt and his two loyal companions. Emotions abound as Drizzt is forced to do battle with the ruthless shell of his deceased father. Will Drizzt emerge victorious or be crushed beneath the power of the fabled warrior who sired him? Rest assured, victory always comes at a price. Will our favorite drow be able afford the cost? This second novel introduced us to new friends and showed us so much more to admire about Drizzt. straightaway!

Okay, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Mr. Salvatore continues to deliver one of the most superb writing styles that I have ever encountered. There is a masterful balance of action, adventure, and character/plot development that is rare to see. Typically, heavy action detracts from everything else, but not here.The characters are so well described and developed that they practically come to life.

This book begins 10 years after Homeland. Drizzt has been living in the wilds of the Underdark after forsaking his kin and their underground city of Menzoberranzan. To adapt to the savage environment, the dark elf has begun to develop into a savage hunter. His only connection to his "human" self is Guenhwyvar, his otherworldly panther companion.

Once again, the balance between action (there are lots of dangers in the wilds of the Underdark) and character development are phenomenal. And of course, once again, I couldn't put this book down.

... Don't get me wrong, I enjoy fantasy and Salvatore's work has been agreeable. But, do keep this work in perspective. This is the seventh novel I've read by him, so I think I have some idea what his style is like by now.
The novel does have some interesting parts though the interesting setting of Drizzt's (the protagonist) home city is no longer featured. Drizzt struggles to maintain his identity and this theme is also seen in the character of Clacker. Clacker, I admit, is a fairly shallow character. Yet, he does serve a useful function in battle and helps the reader explore identity. The setting of this novel is predominantly in the "wilds" of the Underdark, outside of the cities. This isolation from one's family, even an evil family like Drizzt's, and one's society are different ways to look at the theme of identity in this novel. Indeed, Drizzy almost loses his identity. He regains it, but I wouldn't want to spoil the story for you by revealing how.
For those readers who may think that I am reading too much in this novel, you may have a point. Yet, much contemporary fantasy is at least loosely based on or inspired by ancient European mythology (most notably German, English and Scandinavian) which tell us interesting things about humanity. Tales of power, evil, temptations are but some of the themes that fantasy touches upon. The first "contemporary" fantasy novel, "The Lord of the Rings," is a great example of this. The book "Tolkien's Ring" looks at some of the inspiration behind the Tolkien's most famous work.
Finally, for those readers who must know, this novel still has all the trademark elements of a Salvatore novel. There are plenty of monsters, spells, battles and sword play. Unlike the Cleric Quintet by Salvatore, there is little in the way of epic battles. Mostly, battles involve small groups or even single duels. While I do find such battles of some interest, it is the internal struggles of the characters that makes these novels interesting to me.
...

I liked this book more than 'Homeland'.'Homeland' had some problems that made the reading in it not as enjoyable as it could've been. In 'Exile' Salvatore had solved some of the problems. He still stick a lot to what seems to be a framework of an already made fantasy world, he still have parts where the writing isn't floating and sometimes using old literary tricks to keep on going, and he might need another spark of imagination or inspiration. Yet, this book is a lot better, a lot more mature and a lot more floating and fun to read than the first one. It seems that after Drizzt's leaving of his city, the book became closer to him, as if he himself had left the coldness and distanceof the Dark Elves. The book is a lot warmer than the first one, and so, leaves you with a better feeling in the end. As I said in my review on 'Homeland' there is something in Salvatore's writing that makes it greater than the sum of all it's parts. In 'Exile' you see it even better than in the previous book, and since it seems that Salvatore is getting over his problems as the series goes on, and becomes better and better, I am truly eager to read the next book.

Okay, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Mr. Salvatore continues to deliver one of the most superb writing styles that I have ever encountered. There is a masterful balance of action, adventure, and character/plot development that is rare to see. Typically, heavy action detracts from everything else, but not here.The characters are so well described and developed that they practically come to life.

This book begins 10 years after Homeland. Drizzt has been living in the wilds of the Underdark after forsaking his kin and their underground city of Menzoberranzan. To adapt to the savage environment, the dark elf has begun to develop into a savage hunter. His only connection to his "human" self is Guenhwyvar, his otherworldly panther companion.

Once again, the balance between action (there are lots of dangers in the wilds of the Underdark) and character development are phenomenal. And of course, once again, I couldn't put this book down.

After having my breath taken away reading Homeland I was quite excited to get started on the second novel in this brilliant series.
Accepting the loss of his father Drizzt decides to leave his home. Stuck in the vast darkness of the wild Underdark Drizzt learns about himself, and learns to become the hunter.
Drizzt spends ten years alone in the Underdark. Which is a great foreshadowing for the books after this. Drizzt learns to hone his skills as a fighter, and as a hunter. He becomes very primal, but it educates you on his character and you grow a strong bond with him.
After many long years of being alone he discovers a group of Svirneblin (another race of the Underdark) and reunites with Belwar, whom you meet in the first book. Belwar tentitavely accepts Drizzt and they form quite a bond.
You also meet Clacker, who was originally a pech (a humanoid creature that could converse with stone) and was transformed into a Hook Horror (a very large beetle looking creature with large pinchers) by a human wizard, and is forced to fight the pull of the evil creatures predatory instincts.
The characters that Drizzt encounters in this book bring you to understand his psyche, and his development. It shows that Drizzt has outgrown much of his naitivity.
This book is a delight to read, with many in-depth characters and wonderful fight scenes. I highly recommend this book.

I think this book really started out dry. Drizzt seems like a completely differnet character. It is like a few years after the first book(nothing major has happened except a change in drizzt, the hunter).
Drizzt is still awesome though. The fighting isn't as one on one as it was in Homeland, but it does a good job of keeping you there. Belwar is great. He is an intresting character, in battle he is pretty good too. His friendship is better than guenhwyvar's in this book by a long shot. Pech was a great character also, we see his story unfold. You always know what is on his mind.
The problem? I find this book to be slow once it starts. Then once we see Drizzt contact other forms of life besides Guenwhyvar it picks up slightly. The middle got a little dry for my taste, more 'the hunter' stuff. However the last 50 pages got me going. Like once the mind flayers are introduced, the action starts jam packin. The book made me tear it almost. Sad and happy ending going. Gotta read the next one.

Mainly because almost anything is better than 'Homeland'. But in "Exile" Salvatore actually managed to get around the Forgotten Realms cliches, and managed to tell an disturbing and sad tale about loneliness and desperation. Drizzt struggle with his homeland gets more substance here. There is no more 'evil' community lurking in the background, or 'evil' individuals who are up to 'evil' deeds for their own gains. Sure, Matron Malice still plots in the background, there are mind flayers levitating around, and deep gnome who became Drizzt's companion utters so much cliches in a single page that it's a wonder to behold. But...Introspective bits about Drizzt is what really keep this book going.

I still can't imagine anyone but an avid fantasy reader to read this but if you accidentally stumble upon this trilogy, maybe you should do better to start with the second book. After he left Menzoberanzan for good, Drizzt is left alone to browse the tunnels of Underdark and take care of himelf. Solitude, depression, darkness and constant danger take a heavy toll on one's own psyche and Drizzt himself finds out that his personalities are being split. There exist one that faintly remembers ideas that constituted character and identity of Drizzt, and there is another one which is pure survivalist, fighter and a hunter who is driven on basic urges. Drizzt realizes that struggle between individual and the community is the inherent struggle of one's life and that without community there can't be no individual. It is an old proverb of Hegel that mentions dependency of master and the slave. Only after seeing the other model of community (in this case svirfnebli), Drizzt will finally understand that there exist no contest between solitude and community. There exist only contests between different types of communities.

All else that you may find in this book, all action bits and dungeon crawling through the Underdark is there for the genre fan boys, and honestly, you can't really write philosophy with a character as shallow as Drizzt. Or at least not if you want to make him a staple. There are cheesy bits here as well but overall much less of them then in the first book. And, since Salvatore promises and produces straightforward genre-writing, which always does good with certain crowds, one can't but say that "Exile" is far better then "Homeland". Of course, this is not literature in any sort of way. It's pure and this time not-so-mindless fun. So, if you're up to it - dig in.

This is a very good sequel to Homeland. This book is not better than the 1st, as what the Icewind Dale Trilogy was like. (Say what you will, I think Streams of Silver is R.A Salvatore's best work.)
This takes place in the Underdark, mostly, where Drizzt has exiled from his drow homeland. He has very strange adventures (most of them with his friend in the city, Belwar.) and decides to go to the surface. I felt some syumpathy with Drizzt of leaving his cruel homeland to go into the harsh surface. Guenhyvar's (sorry if I spelled it wrong)charecter devolpment gets better with each passing book, and my 2nd favorite charecter was Clacker (poor guy), although Belwar was up there (Is it me, or does her say "magga camara" WAY TOO MUCH?)
Anyway, this is a fast read, took me 5 days, I hope you'll like it too. Rating:Teen. Has bloodshed and language.

As you've come to expect, Salvatore gives us another thriller!!This one is really fun to read.
The story of Drizzt continues in this novel of the Underdark in which Drizzt battles within himself to maintain his identity and not loose himself to the instinctual hunter/killer that he feels himself becoming. Drizzt journeys through the subteranean world, encountering many challenges and even making a couple of friends. His time in Blingdenstone, the deep gnome city is really cool and Belwar is a cool character with mithral forged hands.. Most of the excitement comes from Drizzt's father, Zak, who has been reanimated by the Spider Queen to hunt down Drizzt. The book ends in a really awesome way, with the fall of Drizzt's evil family and Dinin joining an outlaw group of rouges, which has definite promise for the next book.

Homeland is the first book in the Dark Elf Trilogy. This book succeeds in doing what very few books manage to do; it makes you care about the character, gives you a complete overview of his early life, while offering action and a great overarching story at the same time. It's a short book (by fantasy standards at least. It's only about 315 pages) but a full story nonetheless. The whole city of Menzoberranzan is very interesting. The substory with Zaknafein is engaging and emotional. The plot with Alton and Masoj is suspenseful, and the action, like I said, is well written and not overly senseless. It's a great book in itself, and an amazing novel by D&D standards. The whole Dark Elf Trilogy is the best in the Legend of Drizzt, but the other books are fine as well. I would suggest this to anyone who's just getting into fantasy.

This book follows well the footsteps of Homeland. It continues the story of our favorite dark elf and goes further than Homeland in the sense that it breaks out into the vast underdark beyond Menzoberranzan. While I thouroughly enjoyed this book, I did somewhat miss the house politics and negative energy that filled the pages of Homeland. Trust me though, this book does not dissapoint. There is still plenty of Drow deceit to be wrought here, and its told in amazing fashion by one of fantasies best authors.

The characters are well developed and very interesting. One of the most interesting characters in the book may be Clacker, a Pech turned Hook Horror that becomes an intricate part of the story later on in the tale. Zin-Carla is also an amazing "character" if you will, as it takes on a form that we all know well from the previous book. Overall Exile was a fun read that showed me a side of Drizzt Homeland did not. A Drow succumbing to his dark side, the hunter, in an effort to survive the wraths of the underdark without his kin. Recommended! A must read in the bridge from Homeland to Sojourn.

As with the first installment, the characters of Exile are well drawn; even the side cast of friend and foe is more than a place holder serving purpose and giving reason. Salvatore even adds life to the undead! The setting gives more understanding of the Underdark and the world of creatures which call it home. I was actually travelling the depth of the many areas of the Underdark since nothing in this story happens in a black hole. Yet we are not over burden with details best left to the author's imagination. The world-building is instructive as best and just entertaining at worst.

Know that the plot is swift, polished, and clean cut. There is little time for just hanging out enjoying the scenery. Drizzt arrangement of movement is Divine in nature appearing like something greater than a piece of entertainment from the mind of a mere mortal. There is heart to this story and I can see how it could motivate someone to follow their heart and become who they were born to be. The plot moves the story forward as expected (or maybe not considering we are talking about fantasy) but is in the background. We more than see Drizzt making his journey, we feel him making his journey.

Definitely a great fantasy epic and one of my personal favorites, The Dark Elf Trilogy-Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn, brings to life the story of a good hearted dark elf ranger named Drizzt Do'Urden and his adventures in the Underdark Drow city of Menzoberranzan in the World of Faerun. The books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another universe and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. RA Salvatore has truly outdone himself and has presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work and in authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies. Duty, honor, bravery, magic, and swordfights are all about. A great trilogy indeed and a "must read" along with RA Salvatore's The Icewind Dale Trilogy!

The sequel to one of the greatest books ever written (Homeland).
At first I went in expecting that nothing could compare to Homeland, I was pleasantly suprised. Drizzit, on the run from his family, struggles to survive in the Underdark. Battling vicious monsters and loneliness alike, Drizzit takes a desperate gamble by approaching the gnomes of the underdark (the biggest enemies of the drow in the Underdark) in an attempt to be accepted into their society. In the meantime, Drizzit's mother, Malice, must please the Spider Queen Lloth (also known as Loloth to almost every other race) with Drizzit's blood. Since no one in the underdark can match Drizzit's fighting prowess, Malice asks Lloth to re-animate the corpse of Drizzit's father, Zaknafein, the only person with the fighting skills to match Drizzit's. Drizzit, now, must not only contend with being homeless, but must also face the soulless abomination that was once his father and only moral anchor in the turmoil of the the drow city of Menzoberranzan. This book far from dissapoints if you found Homeland a book you couldn't put down.

Drizzt finds himself becoming something other than himself. His salvation could be in an old foe, but Malice is not yet through with her son. She wants him dead to obtain her good standing from the Spider Queen. While Drizzt tries to find his sanity, he must out fight and outrun the drow. Thus bringing in new characters and old for this exciting action packed segment of Drizzt's life.

This was not a good as the first one, but this is still an excellent read - Salvatore makes characters that should be forgotten about, but he finds a way to makes you want to read about the Dark Elf Drizzt, and the companions who would normally be killed and forgotten, are also interesting and have personalities that make me want them to survive with Drizzt in his quest for his new life away from the Drow - wonderful job of storytelling, and wonderful moments of tension and action mixed with the internal quest of finding where he belongs in the world.

Homeland was a decent enough start to a promising trilogy and this continues on a similar pathway. The cast of characters from the first book returns in force and Exile introduces a few new less than stellar characters along with a few new cool races and creatures.

The book picks up a few years after Homeland left off with Drizzt leaving his homeland and living in the darkness of the caves for the past few years. The majority of the story deals with Drizzt dealing with a new 'hunter' side of himself while escaping from his mother who is now pursuing him with increased fervor. Along the way, Drizzt meets a few new allies. One, a Svirfnebli introduced in the first book and also a pech which has been transformed into a hook horror by an evil wizard. As with the first book, there isn't too much of an attachment to any of the characters so when one or two leave, you don't really mind. The book also introduces a few new interesting races and creatures which stand in the way of our heroes at various points in the book along with a bigger villian with whom Drizzt has a showdown at the book's zenith.

However, Exile has the same problems as Homeland. The world and creatures are all very interesting but there isn't much depth to the story. The returning characters don't really get a lot more development, and the new characters seem just like filler to add someone Drizzt can talk to besides his panther with an unpronounceable name. The setting this time is a bland, boring cave with some interesting creatures dispersed at various points in the story. The action sequences are still well written but seem to drag on a lot more than they did in the first book.

If you enjoyed the first book then you're sure to enjoy this one as well because it provides the reader with more of the same. If you didn't think much of the first then avoid this one because you'll probably dislike this one even more. It does the same things the first book did well but does more things worse. The new characters don't really add much to the story nor is there an emotional attachment to either of them. The story itself is very predictable. It moves from point A to point B in a very straightforward manner without a lot of surprises. It's still a pretty fun, quick read but there just isn't much to it. I'll still read the third book just to finish the trilogy but I don't know if I'll continue with the Drizzt Do'Urden story arc.

In the second of R.A. Salvatore's dark elf trilogy, our hero Drizzt Do'Urden now stalks the corridors of the Underdark, 10 years after leaving behind his merciless and evil kin. However, Drizzt begins to find that he is slowly transforming into a merciless creature of pure survival. He is confronted with the growing question of who he has become, and who he is to become. In this tale questioning the true meaning of identity, we are confronted with nightmarish creatures and deadly opponents, but we are also aided with noble friends that help Drizzt find who he really is as he is confronted with the ultimate question: "What does it truly mean to survive?"

"Exile" takes place a few years after "Homeland". Drizzt has escaped the terrible world of the Dark Elves to find a life of his own.
He is trapped in the endless tunnels of the Underdark, where you Hunt, or be hunted. This terrible world has made Drizzt into what Salvatore calls "The Hunter".
It is in "Exile" that we meet a much different Drizzt. One that is vicious and takes no mercy. That is until he meets some unlikely friends.
This is a great book, but more of just a small tie together book for the first and third great installments of the trillogy. Not as good as the others.

This book follows well the footsteps of Homeland. It continues the story of our favorite dark elf and goes further than Homeland in the sense that it breaks out into the vast underdark beyond Menzoberranzan. While I thouroughly enjoyed this book, I did somewhat miss the house politics and negative energy that filled the pages of Homeland. Trust me though, this book does not dissapoint. There is still plenty of Drow deceit to be wrought here, and its told in amazing fashion by one of fantasies best authors.

The characters are well developed and very interesting. One of the most interesting characters in the book may be Clacker, a Pech turned Hook Horror that becomes an intricate part of the story later on in the tale. Zin-Carla is also an amazing "character" if you will, as it takes on a form that we all know well from the previous book. Overall Exile was a fun read that showed me a side of Drizzt Homeland did not. A Drow succumbing to his dark side, the hunter, in an effort to survive the wraths of the underdark without his kin. Recommended! A must read in the bridge from Homeland to Sojourn.

As with the first installment, the characters of Exile are well drawn; even the side cast of friend and foe is more than a place holder serving purpose and giving reason. Salvatore even adds life to the undead! The setting gives more understanding of the Underdark and the world of creatures which call it home. I was actually travelling the depth of the many areas of the Underdark since nothing in this story happens in a black hole. Yet we are not over burden with details best left to the author's imagination. The world-building is instructive as best and just entertaining at worst.

Know that the plot is swift, polished, and clean cut. There is little time for just hanging out enjoying the scenery. Drizzt arrangement of movement is Divine in nature appearing like something greater than a piece of entertainment from the mind of a mere mortal. There is heart to this story and I can see how it could motivate someone to follow their heart and become who they were born to be. The plot moves the story forward as expected (or maybe not considering we are talking about fantasy) but is in the background. We more than see Drizzt making his journey, we feel him making his journey.

Definitely a great fantasy epic and one of my personal favorites, The Dark Elf Trilogy-Homeland, Exile, and Sojourn, brings to life the story of a good hearted dark elf ranger named Drizzt Do'Urden and his adventures in the Underdark Drow city of Menzoberranzan in the World of Faerun. The books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another universe and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. RA Salvatore has truly outdone himself and has presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work and in authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies. Duty, honor, bravery, magic, and swordfights are all about. A great trilogy indeed and a "must read" along with RA Salvatore's The Icewind Dale Trilogy!

The sequel to one of the greatest books ever written (Homeland).
At first I went in expecting that nothing could compare to Homeland, I was pleasantly suprised. Drizzit, on the run from his family, struggles to survive in the Underdark. Battling vicious monsters and loneliness alike, Drizzit takes a desperate gamble by approaching the gnomes of the underdark (the biggest enemies of the drow in the Underdark) in an attempt to be accepted into their society. In the meantime, Drizzit's mother, Malice, must please the Spider Queen Lloth (also known as Loloth to almost every other race) with Drizzit's blood. Since no one in the underdark can match Drizzit's fighting prowess, Malice asks Lloth to re-animate the corpse of Drizzit's father, Zaknafein, the only person with the fighting skills to match Drizzit's. Drizzit, now, must not only contend with being homeless, but must also face the soulless abomination that was once his father and only moral anchor in the turmoil of the the drow city of Menzoberranzan. This book far from dissapoints if you found Homeland a book you couldn't put down.

Drizzt finds himself becoming something other than himself. His salvation could be in an old foe, but Malice is not yet through with her son. She wants him dead to obtain her good standing from the Spider Queen. While Drizzt tries to find his sanity, he must out fight and outrun the drow. Thus bringing in new characters and old for this exciting action packed segment of Drizzt's life.

This was not a good as the first one, but this is still an excellent read - Salvatore makes characters that should be forgotten about, but he finds a way to makes you want to read about the Dark Elf Drizzt, and the companions who would normally be killed and forgotten, are also interesting and have personalities that make me want them to survive with Drizzt in his quest for his new life away from the Drow - wonderful job of storytelling, and wonderful moments of tension and action mixed with the internal quest of finding where he belongs in the world.

Homeland was a decent enough start to a promising trilogy and this continues on a similar pathway. The cast of characters from the first book returns in force and Exile introduces a few new less than stellar characters along with a few new cool races and creatures.

The book picks up a few years after Homeland left off with Drizzt leaving his homeland and living in the darkness of the caves for the past few years. The majority of the story deals with Drizzt dealing with a new 'hunter' side of himself while escaping from his mother who is now pursuing him with increased fervor. Along the way, Drizzt meets a few new allies. One, a Svirfnebli introduced in the first book and also a pech which has been transformed into a hook horror by an evil wizard. As with the first book, there isn't too much of an attachment to any of the characters so when one or two leave, you don't really mind. The book also introduces a few new interesting races and creatures which stand in the way of our heroes at various points in the book along with a bigger villian with whom Drizzt has a showdown at the book's zenith.

However, Exile has the same problems as Homeland. The world and creatures are all very interesting but there isn't much depth to the story. The returning characters don't really get a lot more development, and the new characters seem just like filler to add someone Drizzt can talk to besides his panther with an unpronounceable name. The setting this time is a bland, boring cave with some interesting creatures dispersed at various points in the story. The action sequences are still well written but seem to drag on a lot more than they did in the first book.

If you enjoyed the first book then you're sure to enjoy this one as well because it provides the reader with more of the same. If you didn't think much of the first then avoid this one because you'll probably dislike this one even more. It does the same things the first book did well but does more things worse. The new characters don't really add much to the story nor is there an emotional attachment to either of them. The story itself is very predictable. It moves from point A to point B in a very straightforward manner without a lot of surprises. It's still a pretty fun, quick read but there just isn't much to it. I'll still read the third book just to finish the trilogy but I don't know if I'll continue with the Drizzt Do'Urden story arc.

In the second of R.A. Salvatore's dark elf trilogy, our hero Drizzt Do'Urden now stalks the corridors of the Underdark, 10 years after leaving behind his merciless and evil kin. However, Drizzt begins to find that he is slowly transforming into a merciless creature of pure survival. He is confronted with the growing question of who he has become, and who he is to become. In this tale questioning the true meaning of identity, we are confronted with nightmarish creatures and deadly opponents, but we are also aided with noble friends that help Drizzt find who he really is as he is confronted with the ultimate question: "What does it truly mean to survive?"

"Exile" takes place a few years after "Homeland". Drizzt has escaped the terrible world of the Dark Elves to find a life of his own.
He is trapped in the endless tunnels of the Underdark, where you Hunt, or be hunted. This terrible world has made Drizzt into what Salvatore calls "The Hunter".
It is in "Exile" that we meet a much different Drizzt. One that is vicious and takes no mercy. That is until he meets some unlikely friends.
This is a great book, but more of just a small tie together book for the first and third great installments of the trillogy. Not as good as the others.

Due to seeing more of the Underdark besides Menzoberranzen I rate this just a shade better than the previous Homeland. We not only get to see the fun and interesting Drow culture of betrayal and backstabbing but we also get to see both deep gnomes and mindflayer cities in relatively decent exposition.

As in Homeland the strengths are again in the settings and the action. The characters are still not well developed though they are portrayed more realistically than in Homeland. Drizzt remains likeable though his near saintliness and melee prowess do make it a little annoying. Clacker the transformed hook-horror is possibly the most interesting, and heroic character, in the book followed by the undead Zaknafein. Drizzt is more like an angsty scimitar-wielding underdark tour guide.

As in Homeland the portrayal of the cities, Menzo, the deep gnomes city and the mind-flayer lair are very good and the best parts of the book. The actual plot and Drizzt's struggle against his hermit/hunter self are not as interesting as the setting.

Still though an entertaining read that moves quickly and pulls you along.

The Dark Elf Trilogy's second book. It was just as surprisingly engaging as the first, though I predicted a plot point way ahead of time (and NOT just because I already knew there was a book 3!). It was amazing to me how much crap went down in this book because of ONE person. And seeing Drizzt form friendships with those of other races because his own race doesn't suit him is heartwarming. ::smile::

The book Exile the 2nd in the Dark Elve trilogy is a great book and it picks up where the 1st book left off. Drizzt is in Exile from Menzoberranzan and trying to get away from his family and live a peacefull life and tries to find a new home and some place where he can fit in. Thhe confrentation with his older sister and brother was interesting and I thought he was going to kill them both just to ecape them plus in the first book we find out how he meet his friend and partner in battle the Panther Guenhwyvar. All in all the continuing adventures of Drizzt and his journey is interesting and I really enjoyed the book.

Exile is book 2 in The Dark Elf Trilogy.

Exile tells the story of Drizzt outside of the Drow Cities in the open wilderness of the Underdark. For the ten years following his abandoning his house, he is left with no one but his faithful Guenhwyvar, a magical Panther he had acquired in Homeland. He is also met with great dangers that he meets with the business ends of his scimitars. Struggling with conflicting emotions, which involve his failure in Menzoberranzan and a deep grief for his father and friend Zaknafein, he makes his way to the surface to face newer dangers.

As always, Salvatore writes an amazing adventure.

If you liked the �Homeland,� then get ready for more fun with Drizzt and the Underdark! Our intreprid hero and his feline sidekick travel the gloomy tunnels of the underground world in exile from the cruel society of the Dark Elves. His family desires to find him so they may regain the favor of Lolth the Spider Queen, and raise up a zombie of Drizzt�s father to bring him back. Drizzt meanwhile finds companionship with a dwarf and rock burrowing creature who has been transformed by a curse into a hook horror. The three companions stumble on a mind flayer cavern, a pack of dire cobies, an evil wizard...well, you get the idea. The finale sets us up for even greater vistas of adventure. This is an altogether enjoyable light fantasy novel, but it does occasionally drag under overlong battle sequences. Drizzt still keeps your interest, and his conflict with his undead father plays out perfectly.

Drizzt is sooo cool! The book is outstanding! R.A. Salvatorehad me hooked with his first book in the trilogy, Homeland, but afterjust reading this book he is now at the top of my favorite authors. I read both Homeland and Exile in one day because I couldn't put them down. The next day I went out and bought all of the books I could find. The plot is outstanding, and I loved how he put Belwar into the story. It was also so cool during the fight between Drizzt and.... well I won't ruin that. It's a must buy to any Fantasy addict and for any D&D fan i pity you if you don't read it, SO GO BUY IT!

Second in the origin trilogy, The Legend of Drizzt. After breaking free of the Drow society, as well as resolving some outstanding family issues, Drizzt begins his path of discovery to the world of possibilities beyond -- yet, still in the Underdark.

Not as much action as in the first installment, Homeland; rather, the solid precursor to the adventures that lie ahead.

I've already reviewed the first book, so I might as well review the second. It was almost as good as the first, but still deserving of four stars. I missed the interaction with the other drow, and really hope in future books there are some conclusions to what happened to all of them. I gave it four stars because 5 is genius level and I've only come across a couple of those. I really hope my daughter will one day read this book, and we can talk about it together.

Continues on well from the last book without the dreary, 'For those who came in late...' set up. Again, a fast paced adventure with a good, innovative setting, intriguing ideas and three-dimensional, solid chracters. Still feel for poor Drzzt and his few friends, and boo hiss for the evil guys - who at least are drawn convincingly enough that you understand their motives. That is important, even for the enemy. Helps to make this another good book in the series, certainly on par with the previous. Worth the effort. I'll see if he continues bringing home the goods in the next.

This was another of Salvatores great works.

You HAVE to read homeland first, considering the plotline is indecipherable without having read it. The only problem is the beginning is too slow. After that, the magic begins.

The re-incarnation of Zak was a memorable event for me, because i think Drizzt having to face his past was an EXCELLENT thing to do. The way the showdown is set up is pretty cool too. The end of this one sets an extremely new tone for the conclusion as well. All in all, i thought this was a great continuation for the trilogy. No Homeland , but still a masterpeice to me.

Drizzt has forsaken his house and wanders the Underdark for at least a decade before forming an alliance with two unlikely friends against a formidable foe.

There's tons of action, nonstop suspense and awesome fun in EXILE down to the very last page. Once again, Salvatore demonstrates his prowess as a master storyteller. Readers will not be disappointed!

This is part of a great series written by RA Salvatore. Drizzt a drow elf, exiles himself from his people because he doesnt agree with their evil ways. He must survive in the underdark, and fight enemies at every corner and fight the hunter in himself. The hunter would have consumed his life bent on survival if not for a couple of friends and their journey.

This book was great! After reading it i went out a bought two other Forgotten Realms books even though i have to study for exams. The characters blended together greatly, with Zaknafein, Drizzt's father's body inhabited by a spirit a pech in a hook horror's body, whoes real name is never known. Exile is the first book by Salvatore that i've read, and i'm serious when i say that this book should be owned by all fantasy readers

Again, another fast-paced, straightforward tale with a lot of action and excitement as Drizz't is exiled from Menzoberranzen and must survive on his own in the Underdark. Great characters in the book and a nice climactic Star Wars like ending to the story with the spirit wraith. Again, not too complex without a lot of surprises, but a fun read.

While this book was a little more cliche than the first. It still was a very good book.
Positives: Great ending, great fighting scenes Negatives: I wanted to see more of the D'orden family (which is why i like book one more) the characterization was a little poor. I was left not caring enough about some of the creatures in this book...good or bad.

I really enjoyed reading this second enstallment of the Dark Elf Trilogy. The journey of Drizzt throught the Underdark was very creatively written and I really enjoyed it. The only thing I really found a little annoying was Clacker. I really didn't see a purpose to that character. Belwar and the deep gnomes however helped the book greatly. I was satified with this book and couldn't wait to get to Sojourn.

It is hard to sum together all the feelings this book gave me in a small, simple review. To put it simply, this book is one of my highly recommended reads, with lifelike characters, amazing adventures and an endearing story. In Exile, readers follow Drizzt through the Underdark as he flees the wrath of his wicked family. During this, he meets friends and faces many dangers in the effort to survive outside the teachings of the Spider Queen.

After reading Exile, I'm more than ready for Salvatore's next book in the series.

Ok so i was a little disappointed in the overall book. But...look at the book that it was following. Given that. Exile is an excellent book. A few new characters, a decent story line, and again uncanny fight scenes.
Favorie character for this book...hehe, Drizzt the Hunter...That savage side of Drizzt hellbent on survival, almost a character in itself.
Another book i highly recommend. You keep writing like this Mr.Salvatore and they'll want a hundred books in this series.

Like Homeland before it, Exile continues with the adventures of the drow elf, Drizzt Do'Urden. Drizzt has left his 'home' of Menzoberranzan, and has decided to live out his days in the endless caverns and tunnels of the wild underdark.
Accompanied only by his magical panther companion, Drizzt takes on a fighting edge that is unsurpassed by any other. But with this edge comes a price - Loneliness. Drizzt finds it difficult to come to terms with his new existance, and seeeks out companionship.
Drizzt finds acceptance with the most unlikely of people, but as seems to be the case with the beleagured drow, all must change and he must move on.

The second book in the legend of Drizzt was extremely well done. I fell in love with all the characters once again and continued to be impressed with the writing style of R.A.Salvatore. The only thing i had difficulty with was a couple of death scenes that i didn't feel were given complete justice and a little problem with the flow on the ending. Other than that fantastic. A book I would own and recommend.

this is not the normal reading that i usually do. not saying that it is bad, because it is the most wonderful set of books I have ever read. the first book was okay i liked it. but this is the book that got me hooked. i read all in the set in two months. one of the best books i have ever read.

An excellent book. As good as the first, I should say.

If you purchase the hardcover, please realize there are mispelling errors in the text: Lloth, the evil spider-queen is, throughout the entire book, spelled Lolth. At least the edition I had did.

Mr. Salvatore continues to impress me with his vivid characterization and fast paced action. A small dose of philosophy rounds it out nicely. This book was a page turner...just two nights of reading to get through. All of the hours enjoyable. A must read for Salvatore fans.

Wonderful....Would read every chance I got. Character development was surprising at times but it only made me continue to read. Can't wait to read the next book. I wonder if Drizzt ever finds out the fate of his family.

Great book if you like fantasy, elves, dwarfs, monsters and aren't afraid of some blood and killing. The violence is not that graphic compared to other books of this type and quite frankly this series has a lot to say about life with its prejudices and practices.

The follow up to Homelands, this book is darker, grittier and BETTER in almost every sense.

The underdark, drow and illithid's get a great treatment. Characters, locations and battles are what really make this book stand out.

Excellent.

Though this book was not the best in the DE Trilogy, the end sure made up for the rest. The fight against Zaknafein and Drizzt was briliant. If you want to read 5 star books by Salvatore try Homeland or Sojourn also in the DE Trilogy.

After escaping his home,Menzoberranzan,Drizzt encounters many dangers. such as clackers,his undead trainer,Zaknafien, etc. This amazing sequel to THE LEGEND OF DRIZZT, HOMELAND,is a must have for your science fiction collection.

Without even realizing it, I finished this book in two days. I actually thought it was better than the first in the series. There's a great twist in the beginning of the story (I don't want to spoil it) that really grabs your attention and makes you want to keep reading. Would recommend reading Homeland first, to better understand Drizzt's situation but it's not necessary. Five stars!

I first read this book when I was twelve years old after finishing Homeland. Though I had been reading a little bit every year this book was what really sparked my desire to read. Twelve years later I still go back to read it again and again.

An excellent book, in my opinion the best of the Dark Elf Trilogy. It has excellent characters with Belwar, Clacker and the spirit wrath of Zak. The book leads up to an inevitable and emotional climax when Drizzt faces 'Zak' for the final time. Definatly read this book but read Homeland before it and Sojourn immediately after it.

An excellent book, in my opinion the best of the Dark Elf Trilogy. It has excellent characters with Belwar, Clacker and the spirit wrath of Zak. The book leads up to an inevitable and emotional climax when Drizzt faces 'Zak' for the final time. Definatly read this book but read Homeland before it and Sojourn immediately after it.

This was another great piece of work from one of my personal favorite authors. This is a little more of an adventure book than the first when Drizzt fights all of the evil denizens of the Underdark. The ending was absolutely brilliant with a Star Wars like ending. Please continue the brilliant work Mr. Salvatore!

I recently read this book and I loved it! Continuous excitement and it got even more interesting when Zin-Carla came around! If you want to know how dangerous the underdark is, THIS is the book to show you.