Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
Over the span of two and a half years, I have delved into R.A. Salvatore’s War of the Spider Queen, set in the Dungeons and Dragons setting of The Forgotten Realms.
The story follows the journey of several drow, or dark elves, as they travel through the Underdark, the subterranean world under the continent of Faerûn, to discover the cause of the missing presence of their goddess, Lolth, also known as the Spider Queen. The books focus on several characters including the imposing priestesses Quenthel, Halisstra, and Danifae, the werewolf-like creature, Jeggred, the sarcastic and vexing wizard Pharaun, the warrior Ryld, and a ranger named Valas.
Over the course of six books, I was led on an adventure through caverns, cities, and the very planes of hell. By journey’s end, however, I found myself less than fulfilled.
The books are chockfull of things that fantasy readers would love. Magic, sword fights, monsters, political intrigue, and shadowy assassinations. These bits I loved, but they were not enough to carry the series as one conducive saga. The biggest lack of appeal for the book series, which in essence ruins it as a whole, is that there isn’t a character worth rooting for. The drow live in a society that is corrupt and derelict, per the will of Lolth, and it’s a society where a dagger to the back from a sibling is as common as a “hello” in the marketplace. Of course, such a society is not poor fodder for a fantasy book series, but the heavy reliance by Salvatore on characters that are products of this kind of culture does not make for good heroes. Largely, none of the characters are admirable, and they have no qualities that are laudable.
The only hope for a commendable character is Halisstra, who halfway through the series turns from the darkness of Lolth to the light of the moon goddess, Eilistraee. Unfortunately, this conversion is short lived, and by the ending of the book the pinprick of light that the reader experiences through Halisstra is extinguished. The goddess Lolth is resurrected, while many of the characters that made up the arc of the story are eradicated. It is not a book series with a satisfying conclusion.
I kept going through the books, held up by the hope that some good would come out of the shadows of a corrupt society and that there would be some kind of answer to the mystery of the Spider Queen. Unfortunately, Salvatore and his arsenal of supporting authors failed to deliver, and I am reluctant to recommend the series. If you want to see some entertaining fight scenes, sure, give it a go. Want to see people (or dark elves) stab each other in the back? Alright. Want a good story?
Probably find another series to read.
If you’d like to learn more about David, visit his website at cordersbookcorner.blogspot.com. There you can read short stories and other articles as well as sign up for his monthly newsletter in which you will receive writing updates, exclusive snippets of current projects, and more! You can also email him at dbcorderwriter@gmail.com.
