The Lone Drow
Second book in The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, set in Forgotten Realms.
The Lone Drow, published in 2003, is the second installment in R. A. Salvatore's The Hunter's Blades Trilogy, set in the Forgotten Realms. The story centers on Drizzt Do'Urden, who is grieving after witnessing what he takes to be the deaths of his closest companions. He finds a renewed purpose when two elves, Tarathiel and Innovindil, along with their pegasi, Sunrise and Sunset, offer him aid. Drizzt then sets out to kill orcs and prevent new clans from joining a growing army. Unbeknownst to him, his friends have survived the attack and are fighting a desperate battle against the same horde.
In the plot, Drizzt's mourning is interrupted by the elves' help. The dwarven druid Pikel Bouldershoulders loses his left arm at the elbow when a frost giant hurls a piece of slate. Tarathiel is killed by King Obould Many-Arrows. Later, the orc shaman Arganth Snarrl declares Obould a god. Meanwhile, the surviving Companions of the Hall struggle against Obould’s forces.
The novel debuted at number seven on the *New York Times* bestseller list in October 2003. Tom Gafkjen of d20zines.com gave it a "B" grade, praising the combat scenes—a quality also noted by Jackie Cassada regarding the first book—but criticizing the repetitive focus on Drizzt's brooding over a moon elf’s death. *Publishers Weekly* offered a mixed review, finding the novel mostly clichéd but acknowledging that it occasionally rose above that, with a few characters achieving some complexity; they singled out Innovindil, who reflects pensively on her long life compared to humans, and King Obould. Cassada, however, was more positive, commending the tense battles, vivid landscapes, and memorable characters.
- title
- The Lone Drow
- author
- R. A. Salvatore
- series
- The Hunter's Blades Trilogy
- published
- 2003
- genre
- Fantasy novel
- setting
- Forgotten Realms
- debut_rank
- New York Times bestseller list at number 7
Lore & Background
In The Lone Drow, Drizzt Do'Urden is mourning what he believes to be the death of his closest friends. He only regains his sense of purpose after two elves, Tarathiel and Innovindil, and their two pegasi, Sunrise and Sunset, decide to help. The dwarven druid Pikel Bouldershoulders loses his left arm at the elbow by a piece of slate thrown by a frost giant. Tarathiel meets his demise at the hands of King Obould Many-Arrows. Later the orc shaman Arganth Snarrl proclaims Obould a god. Meanwhile, the remaining Companions of the Hall, who survived the attack that Drizzt earlier witnessed, are fighting an increasingly desperate battle against Obould's forces.
Reader's Guide
The Lone Drow debuted on The New York Times bestseller list at number 7 in October 2003. Staff Reviewer Tom Gafkjen from d20zines.com awarded the book a 'B' grade, praising the well-written combat sequences but noting repetitious writing about Drizzt brooding over the death of a moon elf. A mixed review from Publishers Weekly acknowledged that the novel did occasionally rise above cliché and that a few characters achieve some complexity, singling out Innovindel and Obould for praise. Jackie Cassada praised the 'tense battles, vivid landscapes and memorable characters.' The novel is significant as a middle installment that deepens the conflict and character arcs within the trilogy.
Did You Know?
- The Lone Drow debuted at number 7 on the New York Times bestseller list in October 2003.
- Pikel Bouldershoulders loses his left arm at the elbow by a piece of slate thrown by a frost giant.
- Tarathiel meets his demise at the hands of King Obould Many-Arrows.
- The orc shaman Arganth Snarrl proclaims Obould a god.
More in Novels by R. A. Salvatore 1-24
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