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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The master just keeps getting better, 1 Dec 2008
This is the way the Realms, indeed fantasy should be. Salavtore has matured with his readers: The lines are shades of grey, not the white of a paladin against the black of the skull adorned necromancer. Teenagers may be less than pleased, but those of us who have followed Drizzt's twenty year sojourn will find something that is lacking in so much of the Realms - A soul. Drizzt's choices are not clear cut and so he has the opportunity to truly be a hero, much as he would hate the epithet, as he is forced to make difficult decisions, rather than simply taking physical risks, that for one of his bravery do not count as risks at all.
He is the warrior philosopher that we would all be, if we were made of the same stuff. He is someone to emulate even if our battles are waged with words and actions rather than magical scimitars. That Salvatore created such a character is remarkable, that he maintains and develops one is nothing short of extraordinary.
I'll leave with a quote:
"I don't have to prove my worth and value to any but those I love, Drizzt said to him dropping an arm across the Halfling's shoulders. And that I do by being who I am, with confidence that those I love appreciate the good and accept the bad. Does anything else really matter? Do the looks of the guards I don't know and who don't know me truly affect the pleasures, the triumphs and the failings of my life?" p.93
That's writing.
Fare Well
pm
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very mature Trilogy from Salvatore, 8 Dec 2008
Well, its great. The previous trilogy I wasn't knocked out by, but this..
A very good book. In a very good series (Transitions)
Yes, it has the introductory bits by Drizzt directly addressing the reader
The only quibble is that there are no maps. Luskan features prominently in the book, and a map would really be useful just for understanding where the action is in the city
I believe this is book 20 of Drizzts tales, which began way back when (the early 90s!) with the Crystal Shard
You do have to wonder though, when will the series come to a stop. Characters here reflect on where they'll end up. Regis even addresses Drizzt on the issue of aging here (Elves are long lived compared with the other races - this was touched on in the earlier Hunters Blade Trilogy when Drizzt was talking with another Elf about being involved with humans)
The series is blowing on all cylinders. As other reviewers have noted, you don't get a sole focus on Drizzt here; indeed, much of the book concerns the Pirate King, and to reveal who that is would be a sin. A lot of the story is told through the perspective of Regis, and how he feels, and touching on his bond with Drizzt, and Ten Towns.
Deudermont also features strongly, and although events from the Stowaway book are touched on, you don't really need to read that I feel
The Orc King does need to be read before, as there is no synopsis and the reader may be puzzled by alliances between races that are supposed to hate one another!
But then Drizzt is a drow, and hes the hero of the book, for, despite the reputation of his kin, hes a very noble spirit
Salvatore is NEVER going to stop writing stories about Drizzt. He may take a break and write of other Companions of the Hall from time to time (all of whom feature in The Pirate King) but theres no question his heart is with Drizzt
I do feel that Regis is the hero of the story however, as hes the emotional core. Again, try to find a map of Luskan while you're reading this, cos you might get lost where certain islands are in relation to the Hosttower
Excellent book regardless. The Ghost King to complete the Transitions trilogy in October 2009. Thankfully there is no cliffhanger (a la Streams of Silver!)
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
A typical middle book in a trilogy...or is it? Still not that interesting, 13 April 2009
The Pirate King, book two in R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms series called "Transitions," suffers greatly from middle-book syndrome, as well as just not being as interesting as the first book, The Orc King. The pacing of the book just seems off, a large part of the book is filled with characters I didn't care much about (and a couple who I had trouble telling apart occasionally), and it just seemed too much like a transitional novel. You might not think that's a bad thing in a series called "Transitions," but this one goes a bit too far in that direction.
The major problem I had with The Pirate King is that too much of the action is removed from the characters who I actually like, Regis and Drizzt. Salvatore cuts back and forth between the two companions and the events in Luskan, and I found myself losing interest in the horrible events going on in that city, especially after the first assault on the Hosttower. The main pirate captain who dreams of becoming the Pirate King, Kensidan, just isn't that interesting a character, despite his Machiavellian machinations to wield political power once Deudermont is removed. The dialogue didn't grab me, the plots and counterplots going back and forth among the captains, Greeth, and Deudermont, all seemed so pedestrian. These events didn't have the oomph of the first book, and the characters weren't interesting enough to cover for that.
Also, Drizzt and Regis seemed too far removed from the action. When they're in Luskan, they get involved, and things become much more immediate. They actually succeeded in making me care about Luskan and what was going on there. My favorite scenes, though, were those when the pair was up north, looking for Wulfgar, trading tales of the past and showing just how much they have changed in the many years since they all became friends.
I did love the action and characterization of the regulars (Drizzt and Regis are the only ones in most of the book). It was nice to see somebody who is almost a match for Drizzt in a fight, as it often doesn't feel like he's in any danger when you're reading about him in a melee. Also, the action doesn't seem quite as forced as it did in The Orc King, though that could just be me getting used to Salvatore's writing style again. Overall, I did enjoy a large part of the book, whenever Drizzt and Regis were "on screen." I also liked how Salvatore has them deal with a couple of moral dilemmas that makes the book seem a bit more "adult" than many Dungeons & Dragons novels.
Overall, I was disappointed in The Pirate King, but I would still recommend it for those who are interested in this type of fantasy novel. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it as a novel alone, but the series itself seems to be on strong footing and this is just a minor crack to step over in your enjoyment of the whole. Take it for what it's worth.
David Roy
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