Rating: 
Summary: The fall and rise of Salvatore
Review: After the high point of his masterful Dark Elf trilogy, the quality of Salvatore's Drizzt series had been in decline. The plots became increasingly disjointed, the characters remained static, and Salvatore seemed to be running out of ideas. Worst of all was the way he couldn't let anyone stay dead, bringing back Entreri, Wulfgar, Errtu, and even the Crystal Shard. After bizzarely rehashing the same "Dark Elves must kill Drizzt" plot in the Legacy, Starless Night, and Siege, Salvatore hit a low point in Passage to Dawn with the idiotic plot device of the "Fog of Fate." By the Silent Blade I was ready to give up.But I'm overjoyed to say that Salvatore has made a startling comeback! I was bored recently so I picked up the Spine of the World and it was quite good, and with this book the comeback is complete. It is interesting that Salvatore's best books in years have no Drizzt or the rest of the main characters. I suppose they had become too powerful so there was no suspense in battles, and they were all classic fantasy stereotypes (stoic barbarian, happy-go-lucky halfling, surly dwarf, one good apple of an evil race) so it was hard to keep them interesting. These last two books are much more mature works, with Salvatore attempting to create more complex characters. He did okay with Wulfgar in Spine but he's done even better with Entreri in Servant of the Shard. Entreri is so much more interesting now that we know that he's not pure evil. The return of Jarlaxle is great - he was always my favorite character after Drizzt. As usual the action scenes are outstanding, and the plot is actually quite servicible. For the first time in Salvatore's work, some of the minor characters actually transcend stereotypes, especially the complex Kimmuriel and the enigmatic mind flayer. Overall this book is excellent. I highly recommend it to anyone who has been dissappointed with Salvatore lately. He's getting better now. If you felt all the books were perfect, then I don't have to tell you to buy this one because you obviously already own it.
Rating:
Summary: Just Amazing
Review: This book inspired me to read the whole series again.
Rating:
Summary: Intrigue, always the intrigue.
Review: This book is not what many are playing it out to be. It's way better than even the rantings and ravings that have quipped across this site. R.A.S. delivered in spades with this book. For those who truly love action and enhancement it's here. This book, featuring Entreri and Jarlaxle, adds a dimension to the two-sided coin that was Drizzt and Entreri, we now have the edge and I can't wait for the next installment. I read this story with the same sense of enjoyment and desire for more that I milked from the Dark Elf series. I was unsure where we were headed with the "Legacy" portion of this series but not disappointed and the "Paths" portion has very fittingly recaptured the flair and craft that is Salvatore at his best. The stratagem and dare I say it again...the intrigue of all the deals and dealings woven here are subtle and the action nimbly written to help the story build to a finale that had me darn near jumping out of my easy chair not wanting it to end. That last paragraph - WOW! Suspicions can come true. Every little nuance has reason and purpose just like a painting every color blends into the next and if you missed something the first time, I say read it again you missed a lot! There is maturity to this story that flows and augments what has been and what's yet to come. Has anyone perfected the time machine yet? It is 2001 and I can't wait until October!
Rating:
Summary: Nearly perfection!
Review: This book was a long in depth story of intrigue and action. Answers many questions about the sly mercenary Jarlaxle and give some insight to Artemis' reasoning in life. Drizzt wasn't "physically" in this book but R.A. Salvator captured the life he put into Drizzt into this story! Well worth my time and money for this great story!
Rating:
Summary: A perfect story for this point in the Drizzt story.
Review: Sorry if that made you guys think Drizzt is in this book. But it does contain the popular drizzt journals the other books do. This book was one of Salvatores best, although I can't say he had a worst. The problem with his books is once you read them all other authors seem dull and their stories seem worthless. So if you want to read several books from different authors I don't recommend reading any of Salvatores, all other books will seem bad. The only thing about this book was the last paragraph. Since this review is for people who haven't read the book I won't tell you what it is but it leaves you screaming for another one with Artemis and Jaraxle. I reccomend this book to all forgotten realm fans.
Rating: 
Summary: The last third should have been the entire book.
Review: The best thing about this book was to see Jarlaxle and Entreri together as a team, travelling together, bouncing off each other, and doing good deeds(?) all while still being evil characters. The problem is that this only happens in the last third (or so) of the book, and you have to wade through the first two-thirds to get to the REAL story. Salvatore should have just glossed over that Calimport nonsense in the beginning and gotten right to the good stuff. That being said, once you get to the last third, the book is fantastic. The last few chapters contain some of the best action writing Salvatore has done. If, in the future, Salvatore does a book just on the adventures Jarlaxle and Entreri, without copping out and making them good guys, it could end up being (dare I say it) *better* than any Drizzt novel. The relationship between these two bad boys is that good. I hope he does it.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: One of Salvatore's best books yet!! Mr. Salvatore out did himself with this novel. Two of the most notorious villians in the Forgotten Realms series together in one action packed book! Layer upon layer of deception lets you look deep into the minds of two of the most ruthless villians to ever make it into a book. I give it 5 stars without a second thought. Good job Mr. Salvatore! I salute you!
Rating:
Summary: One of Salvatore's best...
Review: The day I brough this book, I didn't take the time to read the back...too anxious to read it. At first I wasn't so sure that it would be on the same line of The Silent Blade because this last was very good and I didn't think that it would be better or equal...but I was completely wrong! Entreri has work hard to re-find his well known reputation but he is the minion of the drows who control the city without the knowing of the folks. Jarlaxle have come to be puppet himself of the shard Crenshinibon but think that he have complete control of the Crystal Shard...WRONG!! He's at the dark wills of the shard. Entreri find out the secret of battling with the shard to control it but it is not what he want...he want to destruct the shard. He must see to Cadderly ( Don't think i've to explain who he is huh?) to seek his wisdom because he knows that Cadderly know how to destroy it and then....don't think i will give you the punch of the story! However, I fall in love with this so-well-written book. The only thing that I didn't like was that some of the story has been seen before in other Salvatore's work. The rest is creative as always with Mr. Salvatore. To all Salvatore's fan, it's a must read.
Rating:
Summary: An exceptional addition to the Salvatore Forgotten Realms...
Review: R.A. Salvatore's Forgotten Realms books are now so numerous that he can really pick and choose what stories he wants to explore. For fans of the Cleric Quintet, Icewind dale, Dark-Elf, and Leagacy series... this is yet another, if not the most mature, amazing character study story. Helpful? Well, I believe the "Silent Blade" marked the beginning of a real change for Salvatore. His career is now quite solid without these Forgotten Realms books, so I think he is really experimenting with his love of the characters. No longer are the characters enwrapt in "adventure", but are going about their chaotic lives and developing, as people do. The sequel to "The Silent Blade", "Spine of the World" focussed on the Barbarian Wulfgar, and his strugles after being freed from hell. "The Servant of the Shard" details the ONGOING struggle of Artemis Enteri to determine his place in the world now that he has been shown the emptiness of his weal. Thus this book is solely about Enteri, Jarlaxe, and the Crystal Shard. After finishing the book I was very taken with how the world sorted itself out. There are cameos from the Cleric quintet, and it works quite smashingly. Although Jarlaxe is somewhat crippled in the first 2/3'rds, he makes an uprorious comback near the end of the book and really gives the book that last and perfect jolt for 5 stars. Who knows what R.A. Salvatore will focus on next. The cover of the "Silent Blade" had Wulgar's Hammer, Enteri's dagger, and Drizzt's scimitar. One could assume that this necessitated a "Drizzt book" next, but I'm not convinced. There is a lot of "Dramatic ground" that needs to be played out among these characters, but you will find 'Servant to be the deepest study yet done. And yes... this book contains the obligitory Salvatore ending where EVERYTHING happens at once. It's a nice touch. Enjoy
Rating:
Summary: One of the best 4 and a half stars
Review: I have to say that I miss drizzt. That does not take away from the fact that Artemis Entreri is a great centrial point to this book. Servant Of The Shard is a great book. I would expect nothing less from Salvatore. Jaraxel and Entreri could you really ask for more. I can't wait for the next one.
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