Exile (Salvatore novel)
Second book in The Dark Elf Trilogy, published 1990.
*Exile*, the second installment of R. A. Salvatore’s The Dark Elf Trilogy, is a fantasy novel released in 1990. The story centers on the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden, who, after abandoning his house, spends a decade wandering the treacherous Underdark with only his magical panther, Guenhwyvar, for company. He faces numerous perils, confronting them with his scimitars, while wrestling with guilt over his failure in Menzoberranzan and grief for his father, Zaknafein, eventually heading to the surface.
During his years in the Underdark, Drizzt is captured by mind flayers and later forced to fight a reanimated Zaknafein, brought back as an undead by Malice through Lolth’s gift, Zin-Carla. Zaknafein ultimately regains enough will to sacrifice himself by leaping into a pool of acid. Because Malice failed to kill Drizzt, Lolth orders House Do’Urden destroyed; House Baenre carries out the attack, leaving only Vierna and Dinin alive.
The novel received reviews from Mark Caswell in *Fear* (June 1991) and Andy Sawyer in *Paperback Inferno* (#90), and is listed on the SF Site.
- author
- R. A. Salvatore
- nationality
- American
- genre
- Fantasy novel
- series
- The Dark Elf Trilogy, book 2
- publication_year
- 1990
Lore & Background
Exile follows Drizzt Do'Urden to the wilds of the Underdark. For the ten years following his abandoning his house, he is left with no one but his faithful Guenhwyvar, a magical panther he had acquired in Homeland. He is also met with great dangers that he meets with the business ends of his scimitars. Struggling with conflicting emotions, which involve his failure in Menzoberranzan and a deep grief for his father Zaknafein, he makes his way to the surface to face newer dangers.
Drizzt spent some years in the Underdark, during which he was enslaved by mind flayers and then had to fight Zaknafein again, who had been made undead by Malice, thanks to Lolth's 'greatest gift' Zin-Carla, to find Drizzt. In the end, Zaknafein regained enough control to sacrifice himself, flinging his body into a pool of acid. For Malice's failure to use Zaknafein to kill Drizzt, Lolth decreed that house Do'Urden should be destroyed, and House Baenre, the most favored First House of Menzoberranzan, did just that, with only Vierna and Dinin surviving.
Reader's Guide
Exile is a key installment in R. A. Salvatore's The Dark Elf Trilogy, continuing the story of Drizzt Do'Urden after his departure from his home. The novel explores themes of isolation, grief, and survival in the hostile Underdark. It introduces significant events such as Drizzt's enslavement by mind flayers and the tragic return of his father Zaknafein as an undead agent of Lolth. The book's resolution, with the destruction of House Do'Urden by House Baenre, sets the stage for Drizzt's eventual journey to the surface. The novel received reviews in genre publications such as Fear and Paperback Inferno, and is noted on the SF Site. Its legacy lies in deepening the character of Drizzt and expanding the lore of the Forgotten Realms setting, though the article provides no further details on broader impact.
Did You Know?
- Exile is the second book in The Dark Elf Trilogy, published in 1990.
- Drizzt Do'Urden is accompanied by Guenhwyvar, a magical panther he acquired in Homeland.
- Zaknafein is made undead by Malice through Lolth's gift Zin-Carla and later sacrifices himself in acid.
- House Do'Urden is destroyed by House Baenre on Lolth's decree, with only Vierna and Dinin surviving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Exile (Salvatore novel)?
Exile is the second novel in R. A. Salvatore's The Dark Elf Trilogy, a 1990 fantasy book that follows the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden through a decade of solitary survival in the Underdark after he leaves his house behind.
What are the main events in Exile (Salvatore novel)?
Drizzt wanders the Underdark for ten years with only his magical panther Guenhwyvar, surviving encounters with mind flayers and other horrors while carrying guilt over his failures in Menzoberranzan and grief for his slain father, Zaknafein. The story culminates in his journey toward the surface world.
Who is the protagonist of Exile (Salvatore novel) and what drives him?
The story centers on Drizzt Do'Urden, a dark elf haunted by guilt for his inability to save his family in Menzoberranzan and by sorrow over his father Zaknafein's death. These emotions fuel his decade-long exile through the treacherous Underdark.
When was Exile (Salvatore novel) published and where does it fit in the series?
R. A. Salvatore released Exile in 1990 as the second book of The Dark Elf Trilogy, positioned between The Dark Elf and The Crystal Shard.
Why is Exile (Salvatore novel) important to Drizzt's overall story?
The novel serves as the crucial bridge between Drizzt's life as a dark elf bound to his house and his later identity as a surface-dwelling adventurer. It establishes his moral code, his bond with Guenhwyvar, and his status as an outcast, all of which define his character in every subsequent book.
More in Novels by R. A. Salvatore 1-24
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