Books for December

Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick

Review

In this exciting, thought-provoking and often horrible book about the Pilgrims who traveled to America on the famous ship, the Mayflower, you will learn about the history of the Pilgrims and their descendants. It began with peace. When the Pilgrims sailed into Plymouth Bay, they were fully expecting an attack by hostile Indians. But Massasoit, whose people had been both ravaged by English diseases and conquered by a larger tribe, to which they were forced to swear allegiance, was in no position to attack. Besides, he could use the Pilgrim's small but well-armed force to increase his political standing in the region. The Pilgrims were happy that Massasoit wanted peace, but the more politically astute among them probably knew the reasons why. With the help of his new allies, Massasoit carved an empire for himself among the other Native Americans. No one could have known then that it was to be his son that would spark a conflict that would change the settler's and the Native American's way of life forever. To understand why this conflict occurred and what happened as a result of it, you'll have to read this book!

Homeland by R A Salvatore

Review

In this exciting and dark fantasy book, you begin in the underdark, a dark place of twisting passages and light-less oceans under the world. Here, all manner of horrible creatures thrive, but none as horrible as the drow, the dark elves. These horrible creatures migrated down from the surface world hundreds of generations ago, and they are now part of the underdark, ruthless and cruel. They are separated into many houses, or families, each of which vies for power. When the family Do'urden launches a bloody raid against house Devir, their plot goes awry and Alton Devir, a noble son of the house, survives. Into this world of shifting alliances and bloody betrayals is born Drizzt Do'urden, who thanks to his father's teaching, develops a code of ethics that separates him from the other drow forever. Drizzt soon learns to hate his world for what it is, and he refuses to be controlled by the other drow. When Alton Devir begins to plot his death, Drizzt will have to escape both the insane wizard and the society that breeds such madness.

Exile by R A Salvatore

Review

In the second book of the Dark Elf trilogy, Drizzt had escaped from the city of his birth, and lives a life of primitive savagery in the lightless tunnels of the underdark. When he has a chance to escape from this primitive life, he takes the chance and surrenders himself to his racial enemies, the Deep Gnomes. They are planning to have him executed, but a deep gnome he saved from his bloodthirsty kin speaks up for him and he is soon allowed to go free. He cannot escape his own primitive instincts, however, and he is afraid to go out into the city for fear of being startled and hurting someone. But that is not his only problem. His mother, who has not forgiven him for deserting the drow city, has sent a foul menace out to hunt him and kill him for his actions. Soon, he is forced to leave to city, and he and his deep gnome friend set out into the underdark. Along they way, they will find adventure, monstrous enemies and friendships, however fleeting they may be. But how will Drizzt escape the mindless, tireless creature sent to kill him for his betrayal? You'll have to read the book to find out!

The Crystal Shard by R A Salvatore

Review

In the first book of the the Icewind Dale trilogy, the barbarians of the Icewind Dale are preparing an army so formidable that only the combined might of all of ten-towns, the only bastions of civilization in this frozen wasteland, could defeat it. The problem is, the different towns don't get on terribly well. Drizzt Do'urden, Bruenor the dwarf and a halfling named Regis must convince the elders to act together to oppose the barbarian army. Even after they defeat the barbarians, the tenuous alliances between the towns break down, and everyone goes back to hating each other. But a new threat is brewing in the mountains. An insane wizard named Akar Kessel is preparing a horde of magically enslaved goblins, orcs, barbarians and giants to crush ten-towns and begin his empire. Can the three friends hope to stop him? And can the young barbarian Wulfgar, who Bruenor has taken in as his own son (although he is still very gruff towards him), unite the barbarian tribes against Kessel?

Streams of Silver by R A Salvatore

Review

In the second book of the the Icewind Dale trilogy, Bruenor, Drizzt, Wulfgar and the halfling Regis set out to find Bruenor's ancestral home, from which his family was driven out by the duergar, the evil dwarves. "Streams of Silver run in liquid metal rivers" he promises the others, speaking of the many wonders of his home. But they are being pursued. An assassin named Artemis Entreri, with no morals and stunning skill with weaponry, chases Regis, trying to take his gem and deliver him back to the Pasha Pook, from whom the gem was stolen. And they are also under surveillance by a powerful wizard, who seeks an artifact he believes Drizzt has. The road ahead holds many dangers for the friends, but none as bad as those behind. And what will they find when they reach Bruenor's abandoned home?

The Halfling's Gem by R A Salvatore

Review

In the third book of the the Icewind Dale trilogy, Regis has been captured by Artemis, who is taking him to the Pasha Pook, where his horrible, prolonged death is sure. His friends chase after the Regis and his kidnapper, Drizzt both to get his friend back and to prove to the soulless assassin that he is not invulnerable, and that his lifestyle is pitiable because he lives without friendship and wants only material goods. When they finally catch up with the assassin, they find that Regis has already been brought to the Pasha Pook and he is going to be tortured to death. After devising a plan to get into the Pasha's guild house, they fight their way up through the levels and into the Pasha's chambers. But what will they find when they get there?

-- JackW - 15 Dec 2009