The Halfling's Gem

Definitely a great fantasy epic and one of my personal favorites, The Icewind Dale Trilogy- The Crystal Shard, Streams of Silver, and The Halfling's Gem, brings to life the story of a good hearted dark elf ranger named Drizzt Do'Urden and his adventures in the northwestern reaches of the World of Faerun. The books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to another universe and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. RA Salvatore has truly outdone himself and has presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work and in authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies. Duty, honor, bravery, magic, dragons and heroes are all about. A great trilogy indeed and a "must read" along with RA Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy!

Regis the halfing is kidnapped by a an assassin Artemis Entreri. This novel is an exciting adventure of cat and mouse with Drizzt and the gang. Drizzt lost his statue of his mystical companion Guenhwyvar. It was interesting to see how would Guenhwyvar reacted within the hands of another master beside a drow. Artemis's employer Pasha Nook is his third owner. R A Salvatore threw Pirates, Demons, Dragons and everything into this adventure including the kitchen sink. It was amazing to see someone who was an equal to Drizzt when it came to a thrown down. I can read this part of the trilogy alone over and over again.

First off, this is the conclusion of the Icewind Dale Trilogy. I would strongly recommend reading the first two novels in the series, The Crystal Shard and Streams of Silver, to truly enjoy this book. This story picks up with Artemis Entreri, running off with Regis from Mithral Hall, the halfling, to return him to Pasha Pook the leader of the largest thieves' guild in Calimport. Drizzt and friends chase after Entreri to save Regis from the almost certain death that awaits him in Calimport. The plot is pretty straight forward, but there are definitely enough complications to keep it interesting.I really enjoyed this book and thought it was the best book in the trilogy. The Halfling's Gem regains the continuous fast paced adventure that was lost in part of Streams of Silver. I found the supporting characters in this book much better conceived and interesting. The battle scenes in the boat and at Pasha Pook's palace were at least as good as any of the battle scenes in the other two books. Also Drizzt's attempt to find himself and what he stands for really progresses in this book. This continues in the Dark Elf Trilogy, which occurred before he reached Icewind Dale, but was written after the Icewind Dale Trilogy. All in all the writing in this novel has really improved from the first two books. This same quality continues through the rest of the Drizzt series. I whole-heartedly recommend this novel for the entertaining fast paced read that it is.

First let me say that each book in this trilogy is great but that this is the one that makes the whole trilogy very special. Drizzt struggles with what he might have become and continually searches for what he is. I love the Drizzt monologues at the beginning of each book and that's just one detail that all adds up to make this book one to read over and over. Sure, some of the stuff is predictable but the characters and ideals they struggle for are what bring magic to this one. As you get older you get very cynical. This book may not change that but it reminds you of the things you used to very strongly believe in. Not in a campy way either but through the trials the characters go through and the theme of the book. In this sense, The Halfling's Gem reminds us of what is important like friends and respecting people. It also constantly entertains like few others. Don't miss!

This book is really special, because it is full of battle and sorcery like all fantasy novels, but it also has theme, just in case there is anyone in the world who isn't immediately obsessed with Drizzt Do'Urden. His bad experiences in the Underdark have weighed on his character, and the story of him getting over them while rescuing his friend, fighting his near-equal in sword skill, chasing pirates...the characters are the best. If you don't like the characters and look for Grisham or Clancy-like plots in every book you read, then read Grisham or Clancy and evaluate R.A. Salvatore's work in the context of what he intended it to be. The plot is very simple, and kind of predictable, but the fact is that I supremely enjoyed the book despite this; it should have been a bestseller, and that Salvatore managed to create such a masterpiece with such a simple plot. But you have to like the characters. You have to relate to them. If you can't or don't, you're sunk. Not all of Salvatore's books are this good; this one is special. This is on a par with Tolkien. His other books are just regular, pulpish fantasy. But this is an absolutely wonderful book.