Passage to Dawn: Legend of Drizzt: Legacy of the Drow, Book 4Review by Paul Fiander
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Written by: R. A. Salvatore
Narrated by: Victor Bevine Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins Series: Legend of Drizzt: Legacy of the Drow, Book 4 Publisher: Audible Studios |
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In many novels the passage of time can be obscure, however this is never something the Legends of Drizzt series has never shirked away from. From the ten years the renegade Dark Elf spent in the underdark to the six year interlude between this book and the Siege of Darkness time never appears to be a huge issue for R.A.Salvatore. This may be due to the fact his central character has a long life ahead of him but whatever the reason it leaves us opportunities to see our characters in rather interesting scenarios that feel lived in to say the least.
This iteration of the tale begins with a trip to the abyss where Errutu the Balor is busy torturing a mortal being. This person ends up being the glue that holds this tale together as he is used as bait to try to entrap Drizzt and set the Balor free from his 100 year banishment from the prime material plane. The torture itself is not what you would expect and there is a continuing theme centred around the way the incident takes place both for now and the future. Our scene though jumps ship so to speak to the Sword Coast and the deck of the Sea Sprite, here we find Catti-Brie and Drizzt battling pirates with Captain Deudermont and his crew. The nautical section of the book sets up some heart stopping encounters between ships as well as their respective crews. With the pair being on the ship for a number of years there is no need to learn about them learning their places aboard and instead we are given a hell for leather account. The mixture of seamanship and magic helps to elevate the story beyond the usual maritime tale and with a twist of fate that lures the crew onto a desperate journey you get all you could want and more from this book. |
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However this is only the first past as once a discovery is made we are taken to various points with the land, some are new like the Spirit Soaring and others we have known before although it passed in one novel. This mixture of locales gives the book a nomadic feel that is centred around the idea of “home” and what that word actually means. This is again discussed by Drizzt in his letters and they make some welcoming points that at the end open up even of the Rangers soul.
In previous Audiobooks I have praised Victor Bevine for his ability to narrate frenetic battles but this time it’s the quieter moments that really shine through. The final section of the book is a mix of pacing and Bevine adapts his tone and cadence to make you feel every shift of emotion making this stand out as his best performance in my eyes. There is a great deal of foreboding in the book and there are hints to the ending throughout the story nevertheless the final stanza will hit you between the eyes and make everything a little dusty. Exactly what we want from a book about characters with a genuine sense of humanity. |
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