There is no Forgotten Realms series. Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons where A LOT of novels take place written by A LOT of different authors. What you are talking about is the Legend of Drizzt saga, which gets repetitive and a bit tedious but has some great moments.
Ah, I see. I knew that forgotten realms was a campaign setting for D&D, but since there are so many books with the forgotten realms banner on them, and the fact that a lot of them list the other series in the front pages, I was under the assumption that it was an overall interconnected series of novels with different authors and Trilogy/duologies/tetrologies/etc. kind of like the halo, Star Trek, and Star Wars Tie-In series.
@@jonathankoan well yes and no. It is a shared universe, but that's the extent of it. In the beginning it was just Ed Greenwood, Douglas Niles and Salvatore each doing their thing which just happened to take place in the same world, but there was no conscious effort to make them share a timeline or cross over. TSR wasn't the most professional outfit when the D&D game took off, which is why eventually they got bought by Wizards of the Coast.
I have read 15 forgotten realms drizzt novels. My opinion is the following; drizzt novels are good but as you go on, they become a bit repetitive. BUT they are still better than a lot of fantasy out there. by the way (the last two were written BEFORE - maybe that's why you felt that they were better?) there is a third book on that trilogy and then you get 4 books in a series where the dark elves attack mithrall hall. It's good, very focus on massive battles. Then the next trilogy is dedicated to specific characters (like Wulfgar). The next trilogy is not focus on Drizzt at all but on the "bad guys" entreri per example. Then we've got 3 more than deals with drizzt going rogue and there is more about drizzt and romance. I know the last series is about his father. After that I can't really tell. But yeah repetitive and way focus on drizzt. I am now reading one per year. because I am sick of drizzt the too-good guy. What do you have apart from this? Well in-between those novels, RA Salvatore had an idea of war within Menzoberrazan and 6 novels were publish (all from different authors - it's called War of the Spider Queen). Then two of those writers continue the tales of some of their characters. There are other worthy series and probably the most beloved is Erevis Cale. There are several books The Halls of Stormweather (is a collection of short stories/novelas) if you enjoy it then go for the solo book Shadow's Witness then there are two trilogies and a solo after the plague The Erevis Cale Trilogy (Twilight Falling • Dawn of Night • Midnight's Mask) The Twilight War (Shadowbred • Shadowstorm • Shadowrealm) and lastly soloThe Godborn There are other interesting series but I will not dwelt much on them. Unfortunately FR does not publish books nowadays - only Drizzt novels are coming out. If you want the same feeling of D&D I would advice Dragonlance. There aren't that many books on the main series Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight /Dragons of Winter Night1 (1985) / Dragons of Spring Dawning Legends: Time of the Twins1 (1986) / War of the Twins / Test of the Twins1 (1986) The Second Generation1 (1994) solo Dragons of Summer Flame1 (1996) last book on the overall series. Then there are two that delve into Raistlin - my favorite character of all time - Soulforge & Brothers in Arms And finally to end the series you got Dragons of Fallen Sun / Dragons of a Lost Star & Dragons of Vanished Moon - these are like 20 years into the future, new characters and old (some of the sons and daughters of the main ones) This concludes the series - although there are other novels and a rumor they are writing a new novel!!!!!
Thank you so much! This is excellent information. I’ll have to look into Dragonlance. And your description of the other Drizzt books sounds intriguing enough to keep me reading.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve read forgotten realms, but I’m fairly certain the icewind dale trilogy was written before the dark elf trilogy. I seem to remember enjoying Salvatore’s books more and more as time went on (as he began to grow as a writer). At first I really struggled with it. Maybe it’s because I had just come off of reading Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends, which was pretty much lightning in a bottle for me. I think I just wanted more of the same. I put Icewind Dale down and picked up again a few years later then it finally clicked. I will say I enjoyed the dark elf trilogy far more though. You can always take a break and come back later!
Okay, I am HEAVILY biased, because Drizzt is my favorite series. I genuinely believe that if you choose to continue you will have an absolute blast. However, I will admit that Salvatore is not the most CONSISTENT writer. I LOVED the Dark Elf trilogy and Icewind Dale, but for me he took a nosedive in the next quadralogy (Legacy of the Drow series). In fact the only one of the four books I enjoyed was the very last (Passage to Dawn). I wasn't particularly fond of the following trilogy either (Paths of Darkness). But I can CONFIDENTLY say that once you get to the Sellswords trilogy, the series is SUBLIME from there on out. Absolutely spectacular. And having read all 40 books of the series so far, I can tell you it certainly DOES focus on the other characters, in fact one book (Spine of the World) is JUST Wulfgar, and several other amazing characters shine throughout. The Sellswords trilogy follows only Entreri and Jarlaxle (sorry if this was a spoiler). Also, the themes do become VERY deep in many of the books (particularly the Sellswords trilogy, the Companions Codex trilogy and the Homecoming trilogy). Neverwinter is also an OUTSTANDING quadralogy. Overall I highly suggest you AT LEAST read up to the Sellswords Trilogy. If you still aren't sure at that point, then you're probably safe to DNF the series.
This series is on my TBR, but I have not read it yet. If you don’t mind the opinion of someone who’s not read it, if it were me I would finish the final book in the 2nd trilogy at least. I’ve heard Drizzt is by far the most interesting character in Forgotten Realms, and so maybe other series in that world don’t hold up as well. Not sure.
I have ONLY read Drizzt books (as far as Forgotten Realms goes), and I enjoyed the ones I read? Id say theyre still worth a read! It has been probably 10 years, though ... so memory is foggy lol.
Read on. These books actually cover hundres of years. Co- reading the Cleric Quintet and the Sell Swords. Google and read in order of release. Imagine these are your DnD characters that go from local heroes to nearly dieties.
While helping me flesh out the story arc for my new character (Gerhart) in my Origins of Undirras short stories, my developmental editor recommended the Drizzt books to me. I've only read 1 R.A. Salvatore book (Episode II). I did enjoy his writing so I added the first book to my book list. After watching this, I think I might give it a go.
My favourite was the hunter's blade trilogy
There is no Forgotten Realms series. Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for Advanced Dungeons and Dragons where A LOT of novels take place written by A LOT of different authors. What you are talking about is the Legend of Drizzt saga, which gets repetitive and a bit tedious but has some great moments.
Ah, I see. I knew that forgotten realms was a campaign setting for D&D, but since there are so many books with the forgotten realms banner on them, and the fact that a lot of them list the other series in the front pages, I was under the assumption that it was an overall interconnected series of novels with different authors and Trilogy/duologies/tetrologies/etc. kind of like the halo, Star Trek, and Star Wars Tie-In series.
@@jonathankoan well yes and no. It is a shared universe, but that's the extent of it. In the beginning it was just Ed Greenwood, Douglas Niles and Salvatore each doing their thing which just happened to take place in the same world, but there was no conscious effort to make them share a timeline or cross over. TSR wasn't the most professional outfit when the D&D game took off, which is why eventually they got bought by Wizards of the Coast.
I have read 15 forgotten realms drizzt novels. My opinion is the following; drizzt novels are good but as you go on, they become a bit repetitive. BUT they are still better than a lot of fantasy out there. by the way (the last two were written BEFORE - maybe that's why you felt that they were better?) there is a third book on that trilogy and then you get 4 books in a series where the dark elves attack mithrall hall. It's good, very focus on massive battles. Then the next trilogy is dedicated to specific characters (like Wulfgar). The next trilogy is not focus on Drizzt at all but on the "bad guys" entreri per example. Then we've got 3 more than deals with drizzt going rogue and there is more about drizzt and romance. I know the last series is about his father. After that I can't really tell. But yeah repetitive and way focus on drizzt. I am now reading one per year. because I am sick of drizzt the too-good guy.
What do you have apart from this? Well in-between those novels, RA Salvatore had an idea of war within Menzoberrazan and 6 novels were publish (all from different authors - it's called War of the Spider Queen). Then two of those writers continue the tales of some of their characters.
There are other worthy series and probably the most beloved is Erevis Cale. There are several books
The Halls of Stormweather (is a collection of short stories/novelas) if you enjoy it then go for the solo book Shadow's Witness then there are two trilogies and a solo after the plague
The Erevis Cale Trilogy (Twilight Falling • Dawn of Night • Midnight's Mask)
The Twilight War (Shadowbred • Shadowstorm • Shadowrealm) and lastly soloThe Godborn
There are other interesting series but I will not dwelt much on them. Unfortunately FR does not publish books nowadays - only Drizzt novels are coming out.
If you want the same feeling of D&D I would advice Dragonlance. There aren't that many books on the main series
Chronicles: Dragons of Autumn Twilight /Dragons of Winter Night1 (1985) / Dragons of Spring Dawning
Legends: Time of the Twins1 (1986) / War of the Twins / Test of the Twins1 (1986)
The Second Generation1 (1994) solo
Dragons of Summer Flame1 (1996) last book on the overall series.
Then there are two that delve into Raistlin - my favorite character of all time - Soulforge & Brothers in Arms
And finally to end the series you got Dragons of Fallen Sun / Dragons of a Lost Star & Dragons of Vanished Moon - these are like 20 years into the future, new characters and old (some of the sons and daughters of the main ones)
This concludes the series - although there are other novels and a rumor they are writing a new novel!!!!!
Thank you so much! This is excellent information. I’ll have to look into Dragonlance. And your description of the other Drizzt books sounds intriguing enough to keep me reading.
It’s been a very long time since I’ve read forgotten realms, but I’m fairly certain the icewind dale trilogy was written before the dark elf trilogy. I seem to remember enjoying Salvatore’s books more and more as time went on (as he began to grow as a writer). At first I really struggled with it. Maybe it’s because I had just come off of reading Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends, which was pretty much lightning in a bottle for me. I think I just wanted more of the same. I put Icewind Dale down and picked up again a few years later then it finally clicked. I will say I enjoyed the dark elf trilogy far more though. You can always take a break and come back later!
please review Pathfinder tales
Elaine Cunningham is one of the best of all the forgotten realm authors.
I saw one of her book covers a while back that caught my eye. I’m interested in expanding beyond the Salvatore books eventually.
@@jonathankoan I haven’t read any of Salvatore’s recent work. I also find him inconsistent.
Agreed but she didn't write many. She moved on from it. I asked if she would write more about the dark elf female character series and answer was no.
Okay, I am HEAVILY biased, because Drizzt is my favorite series. I genuinely believe that if you choose to continue you will have an absolute blast. However, I will admit that Salvatore is not the most CONSISTENT writer. I LOVED the Dark Elf trilogy and Icewind Dale, but for me he took a nosedive in the next quadralogy (Legacy of the Drow series). In fact the only one of the four books I enjoyed was the very last (Passage to Dawn). I wasn't particularly fond of the following trilogy either (Paths of Darkness). But I can CONFIDENTLY say that once you get to the Sellswords trilogy, the series is SUBLIME from there on out. Absolutely spectacular.
And having read all 40 books of the series so far, I can tell you it certainly DOES focus on the other characters, in fact one book (Spine of the World) is JUST Wulfgar, and several other amazing characters shine throughout. The Sellswords trilogy follows only Entreri and Jarlaxle (sorry if this was a spoiler). Also, the themes do become VERY deep in many of the books (particularly the Sellswords trilogy, the Companions Codex trilogy and the Homecoming trilogy). Neverwinter is also an OUTSTANDING quadralogy.
Overall I highly suggest you AT LEAST read up to the Sellswords Trilogy. If you still aren't sure at that point, then you're probably safe to DNF the series.
I’ll have to keep reading then, as the Sellswords sounds like a good trilogy.
Quadrology seems like a ridiculous word. Is that really the term for a 4-part series?
This series is on my TBR, but I have not read it yet. If you don’t mind the opinion of someone who’s not read it, if it were me I would finish the final book in the 2nd trilogy at least. I’ve heard Drizzt is by far the most interesting character in Forgotten Realms, and so maybe other series in that world don’t hold up as well. Not sure.
Thanks for the input. Just found the last book in that trilogy and thought I’d get it and see how it is. If it captures me, maybe I’ll keep going.
I have ONLY read Drizzt books (as far as Forgotten Realms goes), and I enjoyed the ones I read? Id say theyre still worth a read! It has been probably 10 years, though ... so memory is foggy lol.
Read on. These books actually cover hundres of years. Co- reading the Cleric Quintet and the Sell Swords. Google and read in order of release. Imagine these are your DnD characters that go from local heroes to nearly dieties.
Thank you for the suggestion. I just finished the Icewind Dale Trilogy. I’ll probably take a break for a while and then start the next one.
please review: the haunted lands, the brotherhood of the griphon
While helping me flesh out the story arc for my new character (Gerhart) in my Origins of Undirras short stories, my developmental editor recommended the Drizzt books to me. I've only read 1 R.A. Salvatore book (Episode II). I did enjoy his writing so I added the first book to my book list. After watching this, I think I might give it a go.