This is Book 3 of the Companions Codex.
If you are wondering how RA Salvatore manages to keep things fresh and exciting after 30 books, I have the answer for you: he can't. I realize that this book was meant to be a counterpoint to The Thousand Orcs, and that it served as an opportunity to put to rights what went so wrong a century before. The problem is that there was very little about this book that made it unique.
Granted, there were a few new allies that provided some interest, and the return of some old allies was good to see. Outside of those few highlights, there was very little that made this story stand out. The standard RAS action and intrigue was there in full, but it was no different than the hundreds of other battles and backstabbings that the reader has experienced in the previous books.
No matter where the series is going next, I'm pretty sure it will feel like we have already been there. After making it this far with the series, I cannot see myself giving up on it completely. However, I will not be rushing out to buy the next book right away. I'll probably give it a year or two, let RAS churn out the next few books, then read them all at once. Unfortunately, it will be more from a sense of obligation to see what (if anything) happens next, rather than from any great impatience to dive back in to the story.
If you are wondering how RA Salvatore manages to keep things fresh and exciting after 30 books, I have the answer for you: he can't. I realize that this book was meant to be a counterpoint to The Thousand Orcs, and that it served as an opportunity to put to rights what went so wrong a century before. The problem is that there was very little about this book that made it unique.
Granted, there were a few new allies that provided some interest, and the return of some old allies was good to see. Outside of those few highlights, there was very little that made this story stand out. The standard RAS action and intrigue was there in full, but it was no different than the hundreds of other battles and backstabbings that the reader has experienced in the previous books.
No matter where the series is going next, I'm pretty sure it will feel like we have already been there. After making it this far with the series, I cannot see myself giving up on it completely. However, I will not be rushing out to buy the next book right away. I'll probably give it a year or two, let RAS churn out the next few books, then read them all at once. Unfortunately, it will be more from a sense of obligation to see what (if anything) happens next, rather than from any great impatience to dive back in to the story.
