Customer Reviews
More Drizzt, not enough 
2008-10-03
I loved this story line. Not enough pages. I have reread it too many times.
...better to start from the beginning. DOnt forget to include the cleric quintet
The Orc King 
2008-09-17
The New book from Salvatore the Orc King is based on Hunters blade trilogy and starts where Two swords are ending.I was expecting quite a lot from the first book of new series Transitions because the ending of two swords brought an emotional charge and hope of great new series on horizon.Let me explain: The hole story and plot were below Salvatore`s artistic creation.Great plot and story where the best things from Salvatore and nobody could illustrate the world of Forgotten Realms like he did!The book begins with prelude which has to be skipped in order to enjoy the rest of the series because it tells you in advance how the book is going to end,so skip it(wish I had someone to tell me that)!The whole band is here,they are searching for ancient dwarf city and special weapon that could beat the encamped Orcs!I still have much to say but I m not going to do that because it could reveal the plot!Thing that bothers me the most is the ending which is unreal and mellow, but R A Salvatore is and always will be in my opinion the best SF writer!Greetings from Croatia
A new balance achieved 
2008-08-16
I believe that this book is the result of many different years in writing and the authors growth and an inflection of his inner beliefs. Having been a long time fan of Mr Salvatore from the early drizzt series and to the demon wars. I'm delightfully content at how his new books are developing. There is a good mixture of both character developement and a new 'battle' that supercedes swordsplay. I see the inner turmoil and constant struggle between what is good and wrong to be pressingly important that reflects our daily lives. The excerpts from drizzt inner thoughts also is a nice touch to essentuiate that point.
What happened to Drizzt's swordplay? 
2008-06-05
At the moment I am re-reading the entire series and am now in the middle of Legacy. While reading Exile I realized what was missing from The Orc King, along with the entire Hunter's Blade Trilogy, and that is the magnificent swordplay of our favorite dark elf. In the first 8 or so books Drizzt was unequalled, save for Artemis Entreri, and could kill pretty much any adversary within seconds. In the last four books his fights go on forever. I mean, his fight with Obould? Are you kidding me? He's fought much tougher monsters than Obould and it didn't take him 9 pages to have a draw. Bob Salvatore is certainly my favorite writer, but he seriously needs to take a look into the past and see why we all love Drizzt in the first place, because we wish that we could fight like him. I hope the next book in the series features that graceful "dance of death" that we read about before.
Such a great series 2008-04-26
hightly recommend...as always great depth and thought provacation by Salvator in his story line. If you liked his previous this one adds to the rich story line and moves you in a very unexpected direction.
The end is coming 2008-03-26
Drizzt is back in this exciting new trilogy from R.A. Salvatore!
An uneasy peace between the dwarves of Mithral Hall and the orcs of the newly established Kingdom of Many-Arrows can't last long. The orc tribes united under Obould begin to fight each other, and Bruenor is determined to finish the war that nearly killed him and almost destroyed everything he's worked to build. But it will take more than swords and axes to bring a lasting peace to the Spine of the World. Powerful individuals on both sides may have to change the way they see each other. They may have to start to talk. But it won't be easy.
Pretty good 2008-03-14
A good read overall. Salvatore has at this point mastered a good balance between action and character development. What makes this one different than the numerous previous novels is that starts at some point in the future and alludes to many things that have not yet come to pass. On its own its ok but I'm anticipating the next two books to see where this all goes.
its good 2008-02-22
Hey its r.a. salvatores fight scences that make his books great and his story depth. good book and great read
Genocide or peace? Powerful fantasy with a message 2008-02-22
The orc king Obould, has been slowed, but now he seems to have adopted other tactics. Is he waiting, hoping to lull the dwarves, humans and elves to complacency, or does he really envision a world where orcs can live as other sentient beings, existing in their own kingdom, ruled by members of their own race, and trading with, rather than raiding their traditional enemies? Of course, even if Obould does want peace, that doesn't mean he'll get it. Many within the elf, and especially dwarf kingdoms steam for revenge. And more and more orcs, emerging from dark caves where they've long hidden, want war no matter what their king may claim.
Dark Elf Drizzt Do'Urden sees the potential for peace, but he sees its costs as well. With both orc and dwarf crying for war, and with virtually nobody trusting a drow, it doesn't seem likely he'll have any say over the future--especially when his own wife is one of the loudest in calling for revenge.
Author R. A. Salvatore (see more BooksForABuck.com reviews of novels by Salvatore) spins his continuing fantasy series in a direction that's been foreshadowed in the past few novels, but that nevertheless offers an exciting change in pace. Rather than seeing orcs as convenient fodder for more beautiful heroes, Salvatore conceives them as sapient entities, driven by the same motives that drive all other sapients. Obould represents a possible new direction, but Salvatore is careful to give us hints that there was a time before, in the forgotten past, where orcs and dwarves worked together. Was that time undone by treason, or could it come again? Those of us who have been calling for something a bit more thoughtful than the usual mindless killing will certainly welcome this direction.
Although THE ORC KING is about the potential for peace, Salvatore gives us plenty of violence and individual heroics to keep us turning the pages. Epic battles between Drizzt and fellow Drow Tos'un, between Drizzt and Jack the Gnome, between the dwarf-king and the orc chieftain, and many others are intricately choreographed and exciting.
Although Salvatore is writing epic fantasy, it's hard not to see how his story is influenced by the destructive forces of war in our own world. The hope for peace, not with those we love but those we itch to battle with, is the great challenge of the day. Salvatore suggests that easy answers may not exist, but that there is room to hope. I certainly hope he's right.
Exactly what he want as my christmas gift 2008-02-08
This was a christmas gift for my son that he asked for. I'm sure he is happy he got what he wanted.
