The Halfling's Gem
Third book in The Icewind Dale Trilogy, published 1990.
The Halfling's Gem, a 1990 fantasy novel by American author R. A. Salvatore, is the third installment in The Icewind Dale Trilogy. The story follows the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden and the barbarian Wulfgar as they hurry to Calimport to rescue their friend Regis. Regis is being held captive, along with Drizzt's magical panther Guenhwyvar, by the assassin Artemis Entreri. The rescue mission also involves recovering a stolen gem from Pasha Pook, Regis's former boss whom he betrayed by stealing the hypnotizing jewel.
During the chase, it is revealed that the dwarf Bruenor is not dead. After leaping onto the dragon Shimmergloom, he survived the fall and fire by clinging to the dragon's neck and using his own axe to shield himself from the flames. He defeated the dragon and crawled back to the surface. Bruenor then failed to sneak past duergar, fought through many of them, and faced a giant spider. Lady Alustriel found the poisoned, near-dead dwarf, healed him, reunited him with Catti-brie, and sent them both after Drizzt and Wulfgar on magical horses pulling a sled. Meanwhile, Drizzt and Wulfgar pursued Entreri by sea with the help of Captain Deudermont. During a fight with pirates, Bruenor and Catti-brie arrived, reuniting "The Companions of the Hall."
In Calimport, the heroes stormed Pasha Pook's palace, encountering wererats led by Rassiter. Bruenor, Catti-brie, and Wulfgar fought the wererats while Drizzt dueled Artemis Entreri in the sewers and streets. The duel ended when the wounded Entreri, to escape, revealed that Drizzt—who had been hiding his appearance with a magical mask—was a drow. The frightened crowd turned hostile, but Bruenor, Catti-brie, and Wulfgar protected Drizzt.
In the throne room, Pook used a demonic artifact called the Taros Hoop to imprison the group in Tarterus. When hope seemed lost, Regis seized the wand controlling the portal and helped his friends. They attempted to escape the demodands, but Catti-brie became unconscious and floated in the circular plane. Drizzt sent the others to safety and rescued Catti-brie by fighting savagely. In the end, the freed Guenhwyvar killed Pasha Pook. The six companions reunited, and soldiers from dwarven kingdoms, barbarian tribes, and human cities reclaimed Mithral Hall. Entreri survived and planned his vengeance against Drizzt.
The novel introduces key characters like Captain Deudermont and mark
- Author
- R. A. Salvatore
- Published
- 1990
- Series
- The Icewind Dale Trilogy
- Genre
- Fantasy
- Nationality
- American
- Notable Achievement
- None; The Halfling's Gem did not appear on The New York Times Best Seller list. That achievement belongs to later Salvatore novels such as The Legacy.
Lore & Background
The novel follows Drizzt Do'Urden and Wulfgar as they race to Calimport to rescue their friend Regis, who is held captive by Artemis Entreri along with Drizzt's magical panther Guenhwyvar. Regis had stolen a hypnotizing gem from his former boss Pasha Pook, who seeks vengeance. Meanwhile, Bruenor, thought dead after battling the dragon Shimmergloom, is revealed to have survived by clinging to the dragon's neck and using his own axe to shield himself from the flames. After fighting duergar and a giant spider, he is healed by Lady Alustriel and reunited with Catti-brie, who are sent after Drizzt and Wulfgar on magical horses pulling a sled.
Reader's Guide
The Halfling's Gem is significant as the concluding volume of The Icewind Dale Trilogy, bringing together the core group known as 'The Companions of the Hall'—Drizzt, Wulfgar, Bruenor, Catti-brie, and Regis. The novel introduces key characters such as Captain Deudermont of the Sea Sprite and marks the beginning of Drizzt's romantic feelings for Catti-brie, including a kiss while she is unconscious. The book reached #12 on The New York Times Best Seller list in March 1990, indicating its commercial success. Critically, Rob Bricken of Io9 noted that the novel showed marked improvement in Salvatore's writing compared to his earlier work. The story resolves the threat of Pasha Pook, who dies by Guenhwyvar's claws, while leaving Artemis Entreri alive to plan future vengeance.
Did You Know?
- The Halfling's Gem was not a New York Times bestseller; that achievement belongs to later Salvatore novels such as The Legacy.
- Bruenor survived the dragon Shimmergloom by clinging to its neck and using his own axe to shield himself from the flames—not by clutching Drizzt's scimitar Icingdeath.
- Lady Alustriel did not send Bruenor and Catti-brie in a burning chariot; she provided them with magical horses and a sled.
- Drizzt does not kiss Catti-brie while she is unconscious in Tarterus in this novel. That event occurs in a later novel, The Legacy.
More in Novels by R. A. Salvatore 1-24
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