R.A. Salvatore, Servant of the Shard Review

Servant of the Shard

R.A. Salvatore

Wizards of the Coast, Jun 2005, $7.99, 384 pp.

ISBN: 0786939508



In Calimport, Artemis Entreri heads the powerful House Basadoni, but is concerned that his secret sponsor Jarlaxle the drow is increasingly descending under the control of Crenshinibon, the Crystal Shard. If Jarlaxle falls, he will be replaced by one of his second in command either Kimmuriel or Rai-guy; both of whom hate Entreri and will remove him from leadership.



Though visibly worried that others notice that the ice cold killer seems almost frightened, Entreri refuses to sit idly by and watch his plans vanish and perhaps even his life. He concludes that he must insure that his surreptitious mentor remains in charge of the drow. To do that, he must evade the number two drows and Jarlaxle while finding a way to neutralize the Crenshinibon's control over his superior. However, to attempt this means risking the chance he too could become a SERVANT OF THE SHARD, a fate worse than death, but perhaps better then listening to Cadderly and Danica preach.



The key players in the power struggle make for a strong Forgotten Realms fantasy as each competes for power. Thus Enreri, a few of his closest associates and the three head Drows come across as fully developed characters that turn SERVANT OF THE SHARD into a winning tale. Interestingly the fast-paced novel slows down a bit when the morally correct Cadderly and his wife spout their pious ramblings that enable them to claim God's will while torturing their enemy. Readers will appreciate this fine reprint of Book 1 of the Sellswords series in which the "bad" dudes win out as complete characters over the shallow "good" guys similar to the first Star Wars movie with Darth or Solo vs. Luke.



Harriet Klausner