Maestro (Homecoming #2; The Legend of Drizzt #29) in Readers of R.A. Salvatore

Sep 26, 2015 Adam Fisher rated it it was amazing

ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
Possible Spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Maestro, Book 2 of the Homecoming Trilogy and overall Book 29 of the Legend of Drizzt Saga, continues the current D&D arc "Rage of Demons" and throws some major dilemmas our hero's way. Much like the previous title "Archmage" and its causing us to ask whether the title referred to Gromph or Catti-Brie, "Maestro" also presents us with a few options for its namesake. Is the "Maestro" Jarlaxle, who graces the cover and ARC from Netgalley for an honest review.
Possible Spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Maestro, Book 2 of the Homecoming Trilogy and overall Book 29 of the Legend of Drizzt Saga, continues the current D&D arc "Rage of Demons" and throws some major dilemmas our hero's way. Much like the previous title "Archmage" and its causing us to ask whether the title referred to Gromph or Catti-Brie, "Maestro" also presents us with a few options for its namesake. Is the "Maestro" Jarlaxle, who graces the cover and whose machinations always come into play recently? Or is it Yvonnel, who seems to have orchestrated events since her rebirth to flow in her favor and in line with the will of Lolth? Perhaps the "Maestro" is Drizzt himself, whose descent into madness here shows him a path of chaos that he started when he decided to rebel against his drow heritage.

One of the major themes in this novel is "legacy". When we look back at our lives and think about the legacy we'd leave behind if we were to pass on now, we focus on the positive: the friendships we've had, the people we've helped, the children we've raised and good things that make people smile when they remember us. But do we ever stop to consider that the "bad" is part of our legacy too? The people we hurt, the lies we told, those we couldn't help, the things we destroyed, and any of the "evil" we did... these make up who we were too. Without revealing too much of the plot, there is an attack on Drizzt (who has finally come "home" to Menzoberranzan at that point) in the latter half of the novel where he is confronted by the "evil" in his legacy: the father he murdered, the sister he left behind, the fate of the elven girl Ellifain, etc... and his mind begins to unravel. Is he, in principle, the Chosen of Lolth instead of Mielikki, being able to look back and see all the "chaos" he caused?

Her husband's fate on his Underdark journey being unknown to her, Catti-Brie embarks on a mission of her own. The primordial near Gauntlgyrm cannot be held by the remaining water elementals and he will soon escape his prison, destroying the recently reclaimed dwarven homeland. Her solution is simple in idea but very complicated in execution: the Hosttower of the Arcane must be rebuilt in Luskan. Only its ancient magics can contain the power of the fire primordial forever. It will take every magic using friend and acquaintance she has ever known, and she takes Guenhwyvar with her on this mission to assist in collecting them.

While the flow of this book feels very much like the middle of a trilogy (in that all of the events aren't resolved), the action sequences are some of the best Salvatore has written. Underdark tunnel fighting, drow house wars, a myriad of psychic attacks, and whatever happens wherever Demogorgon shows up, all maintain a balance to the emotional turmoil of our "Companions of the Hall".

Legend of Drizzt Book 30, "Homecoming Vol. 3: Hero" is on the horizon for this October. Salvatore himself has made it known that he is heading back to his created world of Corona for a while after "Hero". Are we seeing the end of an age upon us? 30 books is a long journey for any set of literary characters. I guess we'll see...
I know I will follow my "friends" on any journey they pursue, whether into the haunted passages of Illusk, the wilds of the Underdark, or the perils of the surface world, I take up my weapon (which looks remarkably like a hardback book LOL) and I stand with them, ready to face whatever. Salvatore has shared another masterpiece with us. ...more

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Oct 19, 2016 Kat Joyce rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy

If you couldn't tell by the cover, Jarlaxle makes some pretty big plays in this book. We finally see the return of Artemis Entreri in a main character role, we learn what happens to the demon Prince that was 'accidentally' summoned, and Drizzt returns to his place of birth.

This book is seriously perfection from start to finish. ...more

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