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i_read_whatIt's been a while since I bitched about everyone's "favorite" dark elf, Drizzt Do'Urden, and I was almost starting to miss him. Besides, there's no point in reviewing the first two books in a trilogy if you're not going to finish it up, right?
If you recall, Streams of Silver left us in a very tricky cliffhanger situation! Bruenor is (apparently) dead! Artemis Entreri has Regis and Guenhwyvar! What are our heroes to do?
Well, if you're Catti-brie, you're going to conveniently not be involved in the main plot at all! Though Streams of Silver gives me some hope that Salvatore will find a way to rope her in later, just so we get a goddamn woman in this sausage-fest.
Truth be told, I have almost no recollection of this book. I remember some scenes with Drizzt using a magic mask, that I feel like were supposed to maybe have something interesting to say about racism and not hiding oneself, but I've gone into my issues with using Drizzt and the drow as examples of in universe racism.
Now if we want to examine, in a meta sense, why the token evil elf race has black skin and is ruled by sexy dominatrixes, that's an analysis of at least subconscious racism that's worth pursuing. (They live underground! If they live underground, they should be paler not darker!) But you're never going to convince me that "Oh god, this subrace of elves that attempt genocide on every surface dwelling settlement they encounter is scary!" is a response built of irrational hatred. Sorry! It sucks for Drizzt, but it's not comparable to real world racism!
So, anyway, enough babbling. Let's start the prelude.
And fuck me, the Prelude starts us with Harkle Harpell. And Catti-brie. Poor thing. But actually, for the first time, Salvatore's actually made Harkle vaguely interesting to me?
The wizard looked down upon the young woman with uncertainty. Her back was to him; he could see the thick mane of her auburn locks flowing around her shoulders, rich and vibrant. But the wizard knew, too, the sadness that was in her eyes. So young she was, barely more than a child, and so beautifully innocent.
Yet this beautiful child had put a sword through the heart of his beloved Sydney.
Now, let's leave aside the fact that Sydney was manipulating Harkle. This is actually a vaguely interesting set up. Harkle knows that Catti-brie killed Sydney. She's a stranger to him, since she wasn't with the group when they went to, ugh, Longsaddle. He may have heard some stories, if Bruenor or Wulfgar were in talkative moods. But that's it.
So what does he think about all this:
Harkle shrugged. "Soon, if not yet." He studied Catti-brie and could find no anger against her for her actions. She had killed Sydney, it was true, but Harkle knew just by looking at her that necessity, not malice, had guided her sword arm. And now he could only pity her.
"How are you?" Harkle stammered, amazed at the courage she had shown in light of the terrible events that had befallen her and her friends.
...somehow Harkle is psychic. Well, to be fair, he IS a wizard. And it's probably an example of how jaded my expectations have become after a string of asshole protagonists that I'm actually surprised and pleased to see a character ask another character how they are.
Catti-brie's not great really. Surely there was sorrow edging her deep blue eyes, but mostly they burned with a stubborn resolve that chased away any hints of weakness. I did miss your flowery language, Salvatore. Anyway, she's kind of stuck on Bruenor's death and the fact that her other friends are chasing an assassin across the southland.
Well, I mean, you could have gone too?
So Harkle thinks about how, just a few weeks earlier, he'd met the group and it was a friendly occasion. We get a bit of a recap, in which Harkle acknowledges that Sydney played a part in Bruenor's death and tells Catti-brie that Bruenor will be avenged.
...I hate to say this, but right now, Harkle's really rising in my estimation of these characters. I'm sure this won't last, but I actually appreciate this. And I really like that Harkle's feelings do not seem to stem from any personal attraction to Catti-brie. Catti-brie also appreciates Harkle's pain and admires his decision to help her return to Mithril Hall and claim it for Bruenor's clan.
Harkle, for his part, feels there's no other choice. The Sydney he'd loved was a lie and he'd unwittingly helped her. We get another repetition of his lack of resentment toward Catti-brie, and if Salvatore were a more twisty writer, I'd expect that to be foreshadowing for a betrayal. He thinks about Drizzt and Wulfgar too. And "the lie that was his deepest love"
We switch scenes then to Guen, who is on the astral plain and pacing excitedly. She's sensitive to her statuette, and can tell when Drizzt handles it. But she hasn't felt him in some time. She's realized that someone else possesses her figurine, and she remembers that before Drizzt, an evil drow had been her master and had stolen away her dignity.
She remembers having to perform cruel and cowardly acts against helpless foes, and doesn't want to go back to that shit after a being of conscience and integrity like Drizzt. There's an honest bond of love between them. Aw.
The Prelude ends with "Deeper still would the cat's sigh have been if it knew that Artemis Entreri, the killer, now possessed the figurine."
...you know, I'm not actually sure Entreri would be that bad a master. I mean, he wouldn't be a Drizzt. He's too cold for that. But he's not a schemer or a coward. He has his own code of ethics and pride. I can't see him using Guen for ambushes. On the other hand, some thug-like bullying tactics would be up his alley. So maybe Guen and our narrator are right.
I hate to say it, but I might have missed these assholes.
If you recall, Streams of Silver left us in a very tricky cliffhanger situation! Bruenor is (apparently) dead! Artemis Entreri has Regis and Guenhwyvar! What are our heroes to do?
Well, if you're Catti-brie, you're going to conveniently not be involved in the main plot at all! Though Streams of Silver gives me some hope that Salvatore will find a way to rope her in later, just so we get a goddamn woman in this sausage-fest.
Truth be told, I have almost no recollection of this book. I remember some scenes with Drizzt using a magic mask, that I feel like were supposed to maybe have something interesting to say about racism and not hiding oneself, but I've gone into my issues with using Drizzt and the drow as examples of in universe racism.
Now if we want to examine, in a meta sense, why the token evil elf race has black skin and is ruled by sexy dominatrixes, that's an analysis of at least subconscious racism that's worth pursuing. (They live underground! If they live underground, they should be paler not darker!) But you're never going to convince me that "Oh god, this subrace of elves that attempt genocide on every surface dwelling settlement they encounter is scary!" is a response built of irrational hatred. Sorry! It sucks for Drizzt, but it's not comparable to real world racism!
So, anyway, enough babbling. Let's start the prelude.
And fuck me, the Prelude starts us with Harkle Harpell. And Catti-brie. Poor thing. But actually, for the first time, Salvatore's actually made Harkle vaguely interesting to me?
The wizard looked down upon the young woman with uncertainty. Her back was to him; he could see the thick mane of her auburn locks flowing around her shoulders, rich and vibrant. But the wizard knew, too, the sadness that was in her eyes. So young she was, barely more than a child, and so beautifully innocent.
Yet this beautiful child had put a sword through the heart of his beloved Sydney.
Now, let's leave aside the fact that Sydney was manipulating Harkle. This is actually a vaguely interesting set up. Harkle knows that Catti-brie killed Sydney. She's a stranger to him, since she wasn't with the group when they went to, ugh, Longsaddle. He may have heard some stories, if Bruenor or Wulfgar were in talkative moods. But that's it.
So what does he think about all this:
Harkle shrugged. "Soon, if not yet." He studied Catti-brie and could find no anger against her for her actions. She had killed Sydney, it was true, but Harkle knew just by looking at her that necessity, not malice, had guided her sword arm. And now he could only pity her.
"How are you?" Harkle stammered, amazed at the courage she had shown in light of the terrible events that had befallen her and her friends.
...somehow Harkle is psychic. Well, to be fair, he IS a wizard. And it's probably an example of how jaded my expectations have become after a string of asshole protagonists that I'm actually surprised and pleased to see a character ask another character how they are.
Catti-brie's not great really. Surely there was sorrow edging her deep blue eyes, but mostly they burned with a stubborn resolve that chased away any hints of weakness. I did miss your flowery language, Salvatore. Anyway, she's kind of stuck on Bruenor's death and the fact that her other friends are chasing an assassin across the southland.
Well, I mean, you could have gone too?
So Harkle thinks about how, just a few weeks earlier, he'd met the group and it was a friendly occasion. We get a bit of a recap, in which Harkle acknowledges that Sydney played a part in Bruenor's death and tells Catti-brie that Bruenor will be avenged.
...I hate to say this, but right now, Harkle's really rising in my estimation of these characters. I'm sure this won't last, but I actually appreciate this. And I really like that Harkle's feelings do not seem to stem from any personal attraction to Catti-brie. Catti-brie also appreciates Harkle's pain and admires his decision to help her return to Mithril Hall and claim it for Bruenor's clan.
Harkle, for his part, feels there's no other choice. The Sydney he'd loved was a lie and he'd unwittingly helped her. We get another repetition of his lack of resentment toward Catti-brie, and if Salvatore were a more twisty writer, I'd expect that to be foreshadowing for a betrayal. He thinks about Drizzt and Wulfgar too. And "the lie that was his deepest love"
We switch scenes then to Guen, who is on the astral plain and pacing excitedly. She's sensitive to her statuette, and can tell when Drizzt handles it. But she hasn't felt him in some time. She's realized that someone else possesses her figurine, and she remembers that before Drizzt, an evil drow had been her master and had stolen away her dignity.
She remembers having to perform cruel and cowardly acts against helpless foes, and doesn't want to go back to that shit after a being of conscience and integrity like Drizzt. There's an honest bond of love between them. Aw.
The Prelude ends with "Deeper still would the cat's sigh have been if it knew that Artemis Entreri, the killer, now possessed the figurine."
...you know, I'm not actually sure Entreri would be that bad a master. I mean, he wouldn't be a Drizzt. He's too cold for that. But he's not a schemer or a coward. He has his own code of ethics and pride. I can't see him using Guen for ambushes. On the other hand, some thug-like bullying tactics would be up his alley. So maybe Guen and our narrator are right.
I hate to say it, but I might have missed these assholes.
no subject
Date: 2020-11-19 01:22 am (UTC)