Timeless: A Drizzt Novel

Lovers of fantasy fiction and the Forgotten Realms world of Dungeons and Dragons know R.A. Salvatore’s work quite well. His iconic protagonist, the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden, enters into an all new trilogy with Timeless. But even those unfamiliar with this hero or universe will find Salvatore’s new novel compelling, as it is filled nearly to the brim with vivid action sequences and intrigue. Timeless is predominately a story of Drizzt’s father, Zaknafein, giving a backstory deepening our understanding of the famed Drow.

The guiding mystery of the novel is how and who is responsible for bringing Zaknafein back from the dead? Soon, however, readers discover this question may be a distraction, as a dark alliance between greedy humans, chaotic demons, and power-obsessed dark elves plots to bring a new war to the surface. Timeless delivers on nearly all fronts. The interactions between father and son are tense and deeply emotional. We see the two greatest swordsmen in the world repeatedly spar as they work these emotions out through their blades. Readers are also given sweeping scenes of raucous action as the two fight side-by-side and literally back to back against a seemingly unending font of demonic foes. However, the most satisfying interactions are less about Drizzt or featuring him as they are between Zaknafein and Jarlaxle, giving us a fresh take on the Drow and the machinations in the politics of this world. By the end of the novel, readers will feel exhausted yet invigorated, eagerly awaiting the next installment.