The Two Swords

(The Hunter's Blade Trilogy - Book III)
by
R.A. Salvatore

Wizards of the Coast, October 2004, 339 pp.
ISBN: 0-7869-3360-7

Genre: Fantasy

World: Forgotten Realms
Reviewed: 3/9/2005

Reviewed by: Conan Tigard

Book Cover

Read Part of the Book

Gerti's Doorbell

The two giants charged down the corridor, only occasionally glancing to either side until one suddenly lurched to the left and gave a victorious shout.

The other yeller, "Clever!" when it , too, noticed the cloak on the statue--a cloak not carved of stone, but flowing as only fabric could.

With a single stride to the side, the first giant brought a heavy club to bear, crushing down on the cloak. The ice statue beneath it exploded into a shower of shards and splinters.

"Oh, you broke Mardalade's work!" the other shouted.

"T-the drow?" the first stammered and dropped its club.

"Finds you quite amusing," came an answer from behind, and both giants spun around.

Drizzt, skipped the other way, paused long enough to offer a salute, then a smile as he pointed back behind the behemoths.

Neither turned--until they heard the low growl of a giant panther.

The giants spun and ducked as six hundred pounds of black-furred muscle leaped over them, cutting close enough so that both threw up their hands and ducked even lower, one falling to the stone.

 

Review

Drizzt Do'Urden and Innovindil follow the orcs looking for a way to rescue Tarathiel's Pegasus. Drizzt still does not know that any of his friends are still alive, thinking they were all killed when the orcs attacked. Finding no reason to return to Mithril Hall, he remains with Innovindil, a surface elf, looking for a way to kill King Obould Many-Arrows, the leader if the orc invading force, which has swelled up over 10,000. Wave after wave attack Mithril Hall, but the stout dwarves, along with Catti-brie and Wulfgar, are able to hold them off. Finally, along with the help of some humans and a band of elves, they are able to secure the river, but at the cost of many dwarves. Gerti, leader of the frost giants, decides it is time to count her losses and head back home. Obould gives Sunrise, the pegasus, to Gerti, as he hopes to still have her support in the future. Drizzt and Innovindil follow the frost giants into their home in the mountains. Now Drizzt must enter the frigid halls of the frost giants and try to whisk away a winged horse and then take on a monster of an orc who has magically enhanced armor that prevents Drizzt from striking a blow. Easy . . . right?

The Two Swords is the third book in The Hunter's Blade Trilogy by R.A. Salvatore. This Forgotten Realms fantasy tale features R.A. Salvatore's signature character, Drizzt Do'Urden, the drow. This book is about the continuing orc invasion into the Northern territory and their attempt to take Mithril Hall while Drizzt attempts to rescue a pagasus that is in the possession of the orcs and then the frost giants.

Finally! Having been rather disappointed with the first two books in this series (The Thousand Orcs and The Lone Drow), I was happy to find that I greatly enjoyed The Two Swords. Having read quite a few books staring Drizzt Do'Urden, I had been disappointed with the lack of focus on the main character. But in this book, Drizzt once again steps into the forefront. Also, the storyline that focuses on King Bruenor also steps up some and becomes very interesting, as the dwarves have to defend their home. I couldn't help but hope that Drizzt finally would return home to find his friends alive and couldn't wait to read about him seeing Catti-brie again. Once again, as I have said it before, R.A. Salvatore dazzled me with his vivid descriptions of battle scenes. He has created a fantasy icon in Drizzt Do'Urden and amazed me with the continued growth of his signature character. R.A. Salvatore has once again spun a wonderful sword-wielding tale in The Two Swords that is sure to make your hair stand up on end. Pick it up today and get ready to be rocked!

I rated this book a 9 out of 10.

This site was created and is maintained by Conan Tigard
2005