The Companions

A good start to what looks like may be a complete revamp of the Forgotten realms and a reunite of some of my favorite characters.

I received a copy of this book for free from Wizards of the Coast publisher via Netgalley.

R.A. Salvatore is my Dad's favorite fantasy author. So I have to admit I was a little biased going into the book, and I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed. (But then again, I knew I could count on my Dad since he's basically world's most awesome guy and has read every bit of Tolkien, Salvatore, and Goodkind and he's seen every Star Trek and Doctor Who show ever made... he's dedicated, people!)

I love when the foreword written by the author hooks me... and in the case of The Companions, it really hooked me: This book is dedicated to anyone who believes that the hero isn't the one with the biggest sword but the one with the biggest heart, Who believes that doing the right thing is its own reward, simply because it's the right thing to do... This book is for Drizzt Do'Urden.

Right away I could tell...
1. This writer has a huge imagination.
2. This book has a huge story.
3. Drizzt Do'Urden is the man.
4. This writer has built a world around his character that is very real and intimate to him (very Tolkien-esque... Yes. I do compare all books about elves, dwarves, and orcs to Tolkien. Can't help it.)

The Companions is about “The Companions of the Hall”, a group of friends so loyal that they would all give their lives for each other/come back to life for each other. Catti-Brie, Bruenor, and Regis are reborn as a gift from the goddess Mielikki, in order to one day save Drizzt in a time of need. They are re-born in separate races in separate places across the world. All they know is that they have to meet at a special place called Bruenor's Climb when they are 21. The entire story is about their adventures throughout their second life, their inner battle with their purpose, and finding their way back to each other.

The plot is so rich, so full of adventure and never boring. Salvatore has made an entire world, and it is beautiful. There are intriguing names for each of the places that the characters encounter, each of the people they encounter, and even the months. R.A. Salvatore is serious. The battles are told in so much depth that you find yourself racing through with the pace that the characters are probably fighting at. I love it when a book makes you do that.

The only negative thing I have to say (if you can even call it negative) is that I would have liked more desciption in describing the setting and landscapes. I think most of the areas I had to picture in my head and I realized that I was doing that on my own and not out of guidance from the writing. However, there are 23 other books about Drizzt Do'Urden, so I may take that back after I read some of those. Also, the dates at the beginning of the sections are very important. The time jumps back and forth and can be confusing if you don't make it a point to remember them.

All in all, I love this book and will definitely read the rest in the series as they are released. My dad also gave me the first 3 books in the series about Drizzt. While I don't think it's necessary to have read anything by Salvatore previously to enjoy The Companions, I do think it would be beneficial to have the backstory. So I will try to read those before the next book to this series comes out.

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