Passage to Dawn
Fourth and final book of the Legacy of the Drow series.
Passage to Dawn is a 1996 fantasy novel by American writer R. A. Salvatore, and it serves as the fourth and final installment in his Legacy of the Drow series.
Six years after the events of *Siege of Darkness*, Drizzt Do'Urden and Catti-brie are aboard the *Sea Sprite* alongside its captain, Deudermont; its wizard, Robillard; and its formidable crew. The ship has become a feared presence on the Sword Coast, with few pirates willing to challenge its wizard, drow ranger, panther, archer, or ballista. For six years following the Battle of Mithral Hall, they have hunted pirates. The balor Errtu, who needs Drizzt to break his banishment, takes on Deudermont’s form but is exposed when it hints at a mysterious island. Deudermont seeks the island to learn who sent the creature. The crew travels to Mintarn for information about the enigmatic Caerwich, surviving a pirate attack with the magical arrival of Harkle Harpell, who joins them. After a long and perilous voyage, they reach Caerwich, where they encounter dangers and an old hag who delivers a riddle to Drizzt and Catti-brie. Drizzt interprets the message to mean his father is alive and held by the balor Errtu. The companions seek more information from a fiend of the Abyss through a priest. On the return journey, a storm nearly destroys the *Sea Sprite*, but Harkle’s spell magically transports the damaged schooner to a lake in the Snowflake Mountains, near the residence of the priest Cadderly Bonaduce.
The companions then go to Icewind Dale, where the crystal shard Crenshinibon lies—the place Errtu is most likely to appear. The shard is found and taken by Stumpet Rakingclaw. A wizard summons Errtu, but the balor breaks free and flies to Icewind Dale, seizing Crenshinibon from Stumpet, capturing her soul, and using her body as bait to lure Drizzt. Stumpet’s body leads the companions to the Sea of Moving Ice, where they are attacked by Taers sent by Crenshinibon. They defeat the creatures with the arrival of Revjak and his warriors. Berkthgar and his men, also following the companions, arrive, and the heroes make the barbarian realize his mistakes. The companions proceed to Cryshal-Tirith, where they battle Errtu’s minions. Regis infiltrates the tower and, with cunning and willpower, locks Crenshinibon in a box that contains its power. The others are saved by the arrival of Kierstaad, Revjak’s son, who wields Aeg
- Author
- R. A. Salvatore
- Published
- 1996
- Nationality
- American
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Series
- Legacy of the Drow (book 4)
- NYT Best Seller
- Debuted at number 13
Lore & Background
Passage to Dawn finds Drizzt and Catti-brie aboard the Sea Sprite six years after the events of the previous novel (Siege of Darkness, 1994), with the company of its captain, Deudermont, its wizard Robillard, and its powerful crew. The Sea Sprite is a feared force on the Sword Coast, hunting pirates after the Battle of Mithral Hall. The balor Errtu, who needs Drizzt to break his banishment, takes Deudermont's shape and is unmasked when it hints to a mysterious island. The crew goes to Mintarn for information about Caerwich, is attacked by pirates, and is joined by Harkle Harpell. After reaching Caerwich, they receive a riddle message suggesting Drizzt's father is alive and held by the balor Errtu. The Sea Sprite is nearly destroyed by a storm but is saved by Harkle's spell, which transports it to a lake in the Snowflake Mountains near the residence of Cadderly Bonaduce.
Reader's Guide
The companions go to Icewind Dale where Crenshinibon lies, the place where Errtu will likely appear. The crystal shard is found by Stumpet Rakingclaw. Errtu is summoned by a wizard but breaks free, takes Crenshinibon, captures Stumpet's soul, and uses her body as bait. The companions follow to the Sea of Moving Ice, fight Taers, and are aided by Revjak and his warriors, then Berkthgar and his men. They reach Cryshal-Tirith, where Regis locks Crenshinibon in a box. Kierstaad arrives with Aegis-fang, and Wulfgar breaks free to join battle. The companions defeat Errtu. The novel received a 4 out of 10 from Trenton Webb in Arcane magazine, who criticized the weak plot and arbitrary character introductions but noted some neat set-pieces. Passage to Dawn debuted on The New York Times Best Seller list at number 13.
Did You Know?
- Passage to Dawn is the fourth and final book of the Legacy of the Drow series.
- The novel debuted on The New York Times Best Seller list at number 13.
- Trenton Webb reviewed the novel for Arcane magazine, rating it a 4 out of 10.
- The balor Errtu takes the shape of Captain Deudermont to trick the crew.
More in Novels by R. A. Salvatore 1-24
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