Audiobook Review; Homeland: Legend of Drizzt: Dark Elf Trilogy, Book 1Review by Paul Fiander
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Written by: R. A. Salvatore
Narrated by: Victor Bevine Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins Publisher: Audible Studios One of the biggest issues with books and fantasy books in particular for me at least is pronunciation. Though saying a name wrong is not usually an issue, it can be disconcerting the first time you hear it said in the correct way. It seems after listening to Victor Bevine for the first time, that I have spent my life (I say life as this is a series I have read for a number of years) butchering the creations of RA Salvatore. Although this may not be an issue in regards to my enjoyment it still is an eye opener.
As with any Audiobook the key to a good version is the narration, in this the aforementioned Bevine does a great job for the most part. The difficulty is this is a book where the females of the society are the dominant presence; this unfortunately does not come across as well especially in the case of Matron Malice. Her voice comes across more shrill than forceful and although I can appreciate it when the text says a character is screaming and your tone does not rise it can feel a little odd. The rest of the acting though feels genuine to each character; this is especially true with the changing demeanour of our lead character Drizzt Do'Urden. One of the most telling aspects of Drizzt is his ability with his dual Scimitars, the description of his whirling blades and fight sequence are compelling throughout the series but it his duels with the House Do'Urden weapons master Zaknafein that are one of the highlights of this series. This is where Bevine really steals the show as his breathless narration sweeps you up in the feints, strokes and counters of the encounters leaving you drooling for more. |
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This is the story of the young Drow (dark elf), from slightly before his entry into the world, through the turmoil and joys of his early life until a momentous choice (the ending of this first part of the trilogy). The story crafted by Salvatore follows Drizzit but has strands that cover many topics from race prejudice to accepted violence and discipline. It’s these larger themes that help to elevate his work to a must read (or listen). The whole series is huge and this first book gives you not only a grounding of the central players in the coming trilogy, but also gives dramatic battles and description of things beyond our human experience.
Although this is not the first book from Salvatore that featured Drizzt it is the first in the Dark Elf's time line. This allowed the writer to know the character before he created this prequel to his first book the Crystal Shard. This shines through in the description of his motivations and principles.The complexities of Drizzt thankfully never feel confused even though the young Drow does spend the majority of the book in this frame of mind. If you are new to the series then this is a wonderful place to begin, unlike some trilogies each book can stand on its own but consuming the series will give you the best experience. Coming in at just over 10 hours, the value is there to warrant either your hard earned money or Audible credit.
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Audiobook purchased by reviewer.
Images from publisher
Images from publisher
