I read the novel a few years ago; this helped me remember it. Drizzt is pretty badass. And I wish I had a Guenhwyvar (the panther on the cover).
Although I wasn't overly impressed with the art, it didn't suck. 1932796584 I grew up on this stuff and didn't realize there was a graphic novel version until recently. Good stuff. Love the art. Looking forward to the other volumes. 1932796584 A Graphic Rendition of an Awesome Novel
29 December 2015
Okay, here I am reading another graphic novel despite the fact that I constantly proclaim that I don't like graphic novels. So, the question is, am I a hypocrite? Well, not entirely namely because I have broadened my areas of writing to include businesses, which means that I write on Yelp, True Local, and Trip Advisor (though Trip Advisor doesn't have a list of comic/gaming shops in its database, despite the fact that I used to travel just to check out the gaming shops), and since most of the people on these sites don't review comic books shops I decided to step up to the plate and do just that. However, if I'm going to review a comic book shop it means that I actually have to buy something from it – a comic book – which is why I land up with all these graphic novels.
Anyway, this one actually turned out to be pretty good, but that is probably because it is based on a pretty good book. When I was perusing the offerings at one particular comic bookshop in Adelaide (owned by some guy named Wally, who by the way has absolutely no customer service skills, but has been in the business for thirty years and seeing off most of his competition) my eyes fell upon this particular book, and having quite enjoyed the original book (and not wanting to grab another Marvel comic – let's wait until Captain America: Civil War hits the cinemas before I go for a Captain America book), I decided to grab it.
I guess the idea of not having any expectations on its content worked in this case because I was instantly hooked – in fact I couldn't put it down, to the point that I had to resist the temptation to put my feet up on the table at work and just finish reading it (I'm sure the boss wouldn't have been all that impressed if I had done that). As I said, it is based on the original novel, and does add a new dimension to it – you get to see that Matron Malice isn't actually this old hag but a pretty attractive woman (but then again she is an elf, and they don't age all that fast).
Anyway, if you haven't read the books, but are looking for a story full off intrigue, backstabbing, and nasty monsters, as well as some good old fashioned Dungeons and Dragons adventure, then this is definitely something to check out. In fact I enjoyed it so much that I am half tempted to see if the other volumes are available, and if they aren't, then to keep an eye out for when they are released and snap them up immediately. 1932796584 3/21/18 - ON SALE for $3.99:
http://amzn.to/2u6WOuT
Reviewed by: Rabid Reads
3.5 stars
***NON-TRADITIONAL REVIEW ALERT***
I posted this on RR as a review/bookfessional, so if you like to-the-point, no frills reviews, do us both a favor a move along. ;)
I didn’t grow up playing D&D. I’d love to be able to say I did, but I’m not that geekfabulous.
BUT.
I did grow up watching my only-ten-years-older-than-me uncle play D&D. And he was cool before geek was cool. For real. I’d even credit him with helping pave the way for the rest of us. All my friends always had huge crushes on him. They were super jealous that he came to pick me up from elementary school in his Jeep Wrangler, blasting not-country on his way home from high school, while they were getting picked up by their mom in a minivan.
Not gonna lie. It was awesome.
As was everything he did, as far as I was concerned. My grandmother—the one who raised me on fairy tales, so Uncle came by it honestly—would flip through the monster manual (NOT Manuela, autocorrect, geez) with me, and we’d read the descriptions together (also awesome).
I loved it.
So yesterday, when I saw that the first four volumes of THE LEGEND OF DRIZZT, THE GRAPHIC NOVEL were on sale for $3.99, I was all over it.
And when I read it, I was #confusedaf.
ALL DROW LOOK THE SAME. AND HAVE WEIRD-ASS NAMES. And some of their identities are DELIBERATELY obscured for later Big Reveals.
I mean, ultimately I enjoyed it, but only after flipping back and forth MULTIPLE times, trying to figure out who was who and their relationship to Drizzt.
I’m like, k, that guy has short hair, that one has a braid, and that one is in red embossed armor, and, and . . . O.o
But when I finally got everyone straight, it was a compelling idea: inexplicably moral dark elf surrounded by uniformly Bad dark elves. What to do? ALSO, there's a really cool cat demon thing.
I was entertained enough that I looked up the actual books. There are twenty-three in the main series.
TWENTY-THREE. *edvard munch face*
And wouldn’t you know that all but one of them is available for instant gratification download b/c ebook.*
Wanna guess which one doesn’t have a kindle version?
If you said, “the first one,” you are not wrong. *bangs head against wall*
*That’s my second favorite thing about ebooks, btw. When I want to read something, I want to read it NOW. Not in 2 - 5 days.
BUT.
I discovered last year, during my must-know-ALL-the-STAR WARS-things phase, that I can (under the right circumstances) absorb an audio book (I have auditory ADD, and yes, that is a real thing), so I found an alternate way to one-click. Bwahaha.
Unfortunately, the narration sucks (NOT the right circumstances). Dude speaks at that weird speed that is too slow, but just fast enough that even increasing the narration to 1.25 speed sounds ridiculous.
Also, I’m boycotting paperbacks, b/c if I don’t want it enough to pay for the hardcover, I can’t spare the shelf space. #firstworldproblems
SO. All you D&D people: is this series good enough to further investigate, or am I better off sticking with the graphic novels and calling it a day. Not asking Uncle, b/c I’m pretty sure I already know what he’d say, so help a noob out, plz.
1932796584 The Salvatore series featuring the dark elf Drizzt Do'Urden barring Lord of the Rings was the first fantasy series I read and continued with 20+ books and as a result is by far my favourite genre. The natural step as I have delved into graphic novels was to go back to the series that started it all and with Homeland I was far from disappointed.The story and the artwork really capture the essence of the Drow or Dark Elf culture, mainly deceit, deception and ruthlessness.
The story takes place in the great Drow city of Menzoberranzan, in a place known as the Underdark and deep under ground. Drow society consists of a hierarchy of powerful families each looking to get a step higher up the ladder whilst winning and maintaining the favour of their spider God Lolth. Each family is ruled by the more powerful females and head of the family is the Matron, we meet Matron Malice, head of House Do'Urden as she plots the destruction of House Devir which will allow Do'Urden to move up to the ninth most powerful house. The evil morals of the dark elfs are revealed early as the Devir house is culled, the children slaughtered and at the same time the second eldest Do'Urden son slays his brother to become the elderboy of the house. This is turn saves the life of the third son, newly born on the night of the slaughter from being sacrificed to Lolth as custom dictates and the baby's name Drizzt Do'Urden.
Here we see Drizzt grow from his early trials, his schooling in the arts of both combat and magic to his eventual disappointment and resentment of his Kin's life and actions.
Read the RA Salvatore books some years ago so I can't verify how closely the graphic novel follows the book but it does read very well and seeing Drizzt develop into the twin scimitar wielding warrior of the heroic fantasy I remember was as good as it could have been. The artwork of both Menzoberranzan and all the characters was flawless and I shall certainly continue with the series
1932796584
HOLY COW! I'm crazy late to the table on this book, but let me say it again HOLY COW! was this a terrific graphic novel. For anyone out there who misses just good old D&D writing R.A. Salvatore (an alumnus of my uni!) This is the prequel to the adventures of Drizzt, a dark elf, with the ability to walk in daylight. Being born for the soul purpose of being sacrificed to the spider goddess, Drizzt is saved from death when his older brother kills the first boy of their house, house Do'Urden (okay, no one's going to huffy about my misspelling of EVERYTHING). Guided by the master of arms, Drizzt's friend, chief ally and unknown father, Drizzt grows into a fine honorable man... which is a problem in Drow society. Think Klingons on crazy pills. This is a society that has embraced treachery, war and malice (BTW - that's his mum's name). They fight, plot and destroy, all for their own glory and at the cost of the society surrounding them. Drizzt is born into a rising house, and as such is sent to a training center to become a warrior for his house. His sisters, all high priestesses will inherit a house whose goal is to stand alone at the top; to that purpose they will gladly use their brother, abuse their brother and kill their brother... as would any self-respecting decent Drow priestess.
Drizzt soon sees that he cannot bend his heart from empathy of the creatures that his kind destroy for no reason and attempts to run from the house. His father Zak (short for Zakcrazybunchofletters) sacrifices his life to save his son and Drizzt with his panther escapes into the wilds of the Underdark, leaving his house behind as it is attacked and threatened with doom.
Fortunately I already have the next book (since it was published back in 2008), Exile!
Please check out my youtube channel and blogger site for more information on this fantastic series!
http://englishclassroomdonahue.blogsp...
https://www.youtube.com/user/englishc... 1932796584 Adapting the first novel in R.A. Salvatore's Dark Elf Trilogy. Set in the Forgotten Realms (D&D campaign setting) underdark city of Menzoberranzan, the story is essentially the origin of Drizzt Do'Urden. In the original prose novels, the drow elf Drizzt was introduced in the Icewind Dale Trilogy, and was then given his own story, starting with Homeland. In this graphic novel series, the stories will appear in chronological order, with the Icewind Dale adaptations to follow the Dark Elf trilogy.
This volume gives the story of Drizzt's birth and childhood through his days at the infamous Melee-Magthere combat academy where he trained to become one of Menzoberranzan's greatest warriors, even as he began to have his doubts about the brutal nature of drow society.
The original Homeland is a richly-detailed novel, and a lot had to be cut in order for this to flow smoothly in the graphic novel medium. Script writer Andrew Dabb did a remarkable job, especially with the complex web (see what I did there?) of political intrigue that binds the drow noble houses. While not all of the descriptive worldbuilding could be included, the art team led by Tim Seeley manage to capture much of the mood of Menzoberranzan in the visuals.
The drow society as presented in these stories has always felt like it could have used more nuance, but the conflicting motivations of the characters are handled well. The story felt complex, but not to the point where it was hard to follow. Drizzt himself comes off as a bit less broody than the prose version due to the limitations of space, and the emphasis on actions over words helps move the story along.
The Dark Elf Trilogy were not really favorites of mine as I look back on them, but this edition got me sufficiently nostalgic and never overstayed its welcome. 1932796584 I like this better than the novel it's based on... By reading this one needn't slog through Drizzt waxing on and on with his emo-prattle. I find that I like the villains of Salvatore's Drizzt novels more than his titular hero. This is rather unusual for me. The only other work that I can think of in which I root for the BBEG instead of the hero(s) would be Bram Stoker's 'Dracula' (the prudishness and seemingly innate hypocrisy of the Victorian characters just begs for a beating and I am delighted every time the old vampire dishes it out to them). Yet, for everything else I've read, I tend to like and/or love the designated Good Guy/Gal.
And I don't think my dislike for Drizzt comes from a dislike for the Forgotten Realms (I rather like Elminster and Priam Agrivar, as well as several other heros). But... Drizzt... his monologues remind me of far too many hypocrites I've met in real life. They'll talk in much the same way as he monologues and then turn around and: steal from their own family members; be physically abusive of their family members; cheat on their wife with teen girls in the youth ministry... Bleh.
So - maybe it's not Drizzt, but the mannerism of his speech that reminds me far too much of creeps I've met in real life & who I would far rather NOT be reminded of as I'm reading a novel.
At least with the comic books I can enjoy the story and the character without having to be reminded of the jerks from the real world. 1932796584 It was beautiful. Perfectly played out, gorgeous photos, and the emotions were tied up and stuck in one place until the book ended. 1932796584 I liked the story and the characters were great, but the translation into a graphic novel kinda ruined it.
Story; Drizzt is an anomaly among the dark elves that live in the 'UnderDark'. They worship the spider goddess and admire treachery. Drizzt grows up to become an awesome warrior, but believes in honour.
It's an epic; following Drizzt's life from the circumstances surrounding his birth to his final realization that he does not fit into this world and he doesn't want to.
Cliffhanger but kind of an HFN.
The story flows nicely. But the script was often too small, too near the margins and generally difficult to read. I also found the characters looked a lot alike, especially the women. It often made it difficult to know who was who.
My final complaint was that all the women looked like a casting call for 'Heavy Metal'.
So while I would recommend the story, I would suggest the original book and not the graphic novel! 1932796584
SUMMARY Å TEXASBEERGUIDE.COM ↠ R.A. Salvatore
Provides information on strange and exotic Menzoberranzan, the vast city of the Drow and homeland to Icewind Dale hero, Drizzt Do'Urden. Homeland: The Graphic Novel (Legend of Drizzt: The Graphic Novel, #1)
