Homeland

(The Legend of Drizzt - Book I)
by
R.A. Salvatore

Wizards of the Coast, March 2004, 329 pp.
ISBN: 0-7869-3123-X

Genre: Fantasy

World: Forgotten Realms
Reviewed: 4/26/2004

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

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"We must move quickly," Matron SiNafay went on.

"Within ten cycles of Narbondel, the first strike must fall! The full battle will begin soon after, before House Do'Urden can link its loss to our wrongdoing."

"What is to be their sudden loss?" Masoj prompted, thinking, hoping, he had already guessed the answer.

His mother's words were like sweet music to his ears. "Drizzt Do'Urden," she purred, "the favored son. Kill him."

Masoj rested back and clasped his slender fingers behind his head, considering the command.

"You will not fail me," SiNafay warned.

"I will not," Masoj assured her. "Drizzt, though young, is already a powerful foe. His brother, a former master of Melee-Magthere, is never far from his side." He looked up at his matron mother, his eyes gleaming. "May I kill the brother, too?"

"Be cautious, my son," SiNafay replied. "Drizzt Do'Urden is your target. Concentrate your efforts toward his death."

"As you command," Masoj replied, bowing low.

SiNafay liked the way her young son heeded to her desires without question. She started out of the room, confident in Masoj's ability to perform the task.

"If Dinin Do'urden somehow gets in the way," she said, turning back to throw Masoj a gift for his obedience, "you may kill him, too."

Masoj's expression revealed too much eagerness for the second task.

Review

Deep in the underground drow (dark elf) city of Menzoberranzan, the matron mother's rule the darkness. During and overthrow of the House DeVir (the fourth house) by House Do'Urden (the tenth house), Drizzt is born. Right from the beginning, there was something different about Drizzt. He had a mind of his own and his father, Zaknafein, saw that fighting spirit in him. When Drizzt became older, he learned how to fight with two scimitars under the tutelage of the greatest weapon master in Menzoberranzan, Zaknafein. After many years of this, it was time for him to go off to the Academy and  Zaknafein feared that his son's mind would be warped by the priestesses. For they worshipped Lloth, the Spider Queen, the evil deity that watches over the underground city. But when Drizzt returns 10 years later, he had not really changed, and discovers that he hates the ways of his evil family and race. The only true friend he found while away was Guenhwyvar, the 500 pound black panther. Drizzt soon displeases Lloth, and House Do'Urden fall out of favor of the Spider Queen. In Menzoberranzan that can only mean one thing, another house will soon thy to kill all members of House Do'Urden and erase it from the memory of the city . . . and Drizzt has been picked to be the first to die.

Homeland is the first book of sixteen in The Legend of the Drizzt series. This new series is putting all of the books about Drizzt in chronological order. These sixteen books originally appeared in the the following series: The Icewind Dale Trilogy, The Dark Elf Trilogy, Legacy of the Drow, Paths of Darkness and The Hunter's Blade Trilogy.. This Forgotten Realms fantasy tale features R.A. Salvatore's signature character, Drizzt Do'Urden, the dark elf. Other main characters in this story are: Dinin - Drizzt's older brother, Zaknafein - Drizzt's father and weapon master for House Do'Urden, Alton DeVir - last surviving son of the House DeVir, Masoj Hun'ett - a wizard apprentice, Guenhwyvar - a 600 pound black panther from the Astral Plane, Briza, Maya and Vierna - Drizzt's sisters, and Matron Malice - the matron of House Do'Urden and Drizzt's mother.

I did not start reading about Drizzt from the first story. I originally read the latest book and have been working my way backwards, which can be a little confusing. After reading Homeland, I sure wish that I had started at the beginning. This book by R.A. Salvatore lays the foundation for one of the greatest fantasy characters ever created, the drow ranger, Drizzt Do'Urden. This story is about the origin of Drizzt and how he became one of the greatest fighters in the world. I have not been a fan of Menzoberranzan very much in the past, but now I find I cannot wait to return to that evil drow city and find out what happens to his House Do'Urden. Overall, Homeland is an exceeding well-crafted fantasy tale that will draw you into a world that you will never forget, and make you cheer for the only good drow ever born. You will not do wrong to pick up The Legend of Drizzt - Book I: Homeland by R.A. Salvatore. You will absolutely love this book! I cannot wait to read the next book, Exile.

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.