Servant of the Shard

Lore & Background

After regaining his confidence and will to live—lost in Paths of Darkness when Drizzt Do'Urden seemed to have died without being defeated fairly by Artemis, thus apparently taking from him the ability to prove to himself that he was a better fighter—Artemis Entreri finds himself allied with the mercenary Jarlaxle as the drow's tie to the surface world. Caught in the plans of Jarlaxle's band, Bregan D'aerthe, Artemis finds himself back in Calimport, the city in which he became known as one of the greatest assassins in Faerûn. Without many ties to the city after spending his time in captivity to the drow, Entreri must once again make his name known while trying to survive against the guilds of Calimport and Jarlaxle's lieutenants, Berg'inyon Baenre, Raiguy Bondalek, and Kimmuriel Oblodra. At the same time Jarlaxle succumbs to the mental intrusions of the crystal shard, Crenshinibon, as it pushes Jarlaxle to fulfill his unending ambitions.

Reader's Guide

Servant of the Shard marks a pivotal transition in the Forgotten Realms narrative, shifting focus from Drizzt Do'Urden to the assassin Artemis Entreri and the drow mercenary Jarlaxle. The novel's reclassification as the first book of The Sellswords trilogy underscores its role in launching a new story arc centered on these characters. Its appearance on The New York Times bestseller list indicates significant commercial success. The acquisition of Charon's Claw by Entreri becomes a notable element in his character development, while Jarlaxle's struggle with the crystal shard Crenshinibon adds a layer of psychological conflict. The book explores themes of identity, ambition, and survival in the criminal underworld of Calimport.

Did You Know?

• Servant of the Shard was originally the third book in R.A. Salvatore's Paths of Darkness series.
• It was later made the first book of the trilogy The Sellswords.
• In this novel, Artemis Entreri acquires Charon's Claw.
• The book reached number 14 on The New York Times bestseller list on November 19, 2000.