Luthiens Gamble

The second adventure in the New York Times–bestselling fantasy trilogy from the legendary million-selling author and creator of Drizzt Do’Urden. Luthien Bedwyr vowed to free his beleaguered land of Eriador from its demonic ruler, Wizard-King Greensparrow. Cloaked in a scarlet cape that renders him invisible and wielding a magical sword, Luthien is known to Eriador’s oppressed as the Crimson Shadow. With the rallying support of enslaved humans, defiant peasants, and Fairborn elves, he has forged a path for liberation—raid by insurgent raid. Even with a mighty battle-ready band of stalwart comrades—including halfling thief Oliver deBurrows; fierce elf warrior Katerin O’Hale; and the ancient and mysterious mage, Brind’Amour—the rebels are fighting an uphill battle against the vile despot’s escalating and bloodthirsty army of cyclopean soldiers. Then, Greensparrow makes an unexpected bid for peace. But why would a wizard so cunning and so evil suddenly concede? Though Eriador’s slaves see the compromise as cause for celebration, Luthien and Brind’Amour recognize it as a calculated trap. The Crimson Shadow knows in his heart that the war for freedom has only just begun. Return to a rousing, magical quest in book two of a trilogy hailed by Terry Brooks as a “fine adventure filled with memorable characters and compelling action.”

The first adventure in the New York Times–bestselling fantasy trilogy from the legendary million-selling author and creator of Drizzt Do’Urden. In the once-stable land of Eriador, young fighter Luthien Bedwyr is too naive to grasp the consequences of the evil new reign of Wizard-King Greensparrow—until Luthien’s best friend is slain by one of the despot’s cyclopean soldiers. Publicly vowing revenge, Luthien becomes not only the wizard’s most-wanted adversary, but also a fugitive embarking on a grand scheme to restore peace to the kingdom. His mettle tested, Luthien crosses paths with highwayhalfling Oliver deBurrows. The irrepressible thief is game to join him. But at the behest of an ancient mage, Luthien must first secure two ancient weapons from a dragon’s lair: a legendary sword and a mystical blood-red cape that renders its wearer invisible. Rumors soon begin to swirl of a freedom fighter preparing to strike against Greensparrow and his monstrous minions, affording a tenuous hope for liberation among Eriador’s oppressed—especially a beautiful Fairborn elf slave risking everything to support the coming insurgency of the hero they call the Crimson Shadow. This first tale of the Crimson Shadow trilogy is “a fine adventure filled with memorable characters and compelling action” (Terry Brooks). New York Times–bestselling author R. A. Salvatore once again proves he “choreographs battle scenes better than any other contemporary fantasist” (Publishers Weekly).

“Fine adventure” in the complete New York Times–bestselling fantasy trilogy from the legendary million-selling author and creator of Drizzt Do’Urden (Terry Brooks). This “worthy, entertaining addition to fantasy literature” tells the epic saga of a righteous warrior/avenger who battles an evil wizard, dragons, and cyclopean armies to liberate an imperiled kingdom (Starlog). The Sword of Bedwyr: Luthien Bedwyr vows to rescue the beleaguered land of Eriador from the evil reign of Wizard-King Greensparrow. But first Luthien must secure two weapons from a dragon’s lair: a legendary sword and a blood-red cape that renders its wearer invisible. Aided by a halfling thief, an ancient mage, and a beautiful elf slave, Luthien prepares for insurgence as the Crimson Shadow. Luthien’s Gamble: With the rallying support of enslaved humans, defiant peasants, and Fairborn elves, Luthien has forged a path for the freedom of his kingdom as the avenging Crimson Shadow. But when his tyrannical adversary makes a bid for peace by calling back his army of cyclops, Luthien suspects the evil wizard is setting a trap. The Dragon King: Luthien Bedwyr’s alter ego wields a magical sword and wears a scarlet cape that renders him invisible. But his greatest enemy, the evil Wizard-King, has a counterpart of his own: an unstoppable, bloodthirsty colossus of a dragon. Now the ultimate battle for a kingdom will reach its spellbinding endgame in the rousing finale to a trilogy “filled with memorable characters and compelling action” (Terry Brooks).

Presents articles on the horror and fantasy genres of fiction, including authors, themes, significant works, and awards.

Drizzt Do’Urden fights for survival in the labyrinthine Underdark in the second book of The Dark Elf Trilogy. Ten years have passed since we last saw Drizzt Do’Urden and his magical feline companion, Guenhwyvar—and much has changed. Exiled from Menzoberranzan, the city of his childhood and the hub of drow society, Drizzt now wanders the subterranean maze of the Underdark in search of a new home. But loneliness is not the only thing that preys on Drizzt: His drow enemies, including his own siblings, would like nothing more than to see him dead. With murder on their minds, they begin their own search of the Underdark tunnels, forcing Drizzt to watch his back at every turn.

There is a great disturbance in the Force. . . . From the sleek ships of the glimmering Coruscant skyscape to the lush gardens of pastoral Naboo, dissent is roiling. The Republic is failing, even under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, elected ten years earlier to save the crumbling government. Separatists threaten war, and the Senate is hopelessly divided, unable to determine whether to raise an army for battle or keep the fragile peace. It is a stalemate that once broken, could lead to galactic chaos. Mischievous and resolved, courageous to the point of recklessness, Anakin Skywalker has come of age in a time of great upheaval. The nineteen-year-old apprentice to Obi-Wan Kenobi is an enigma to the Jedi Council, and a challenge to his Jedi Master. Time has not dulled Anakin’s ambition, nor has his Jedi training tamed his independent streak. When an attempt on Senator Padmé Amidala’s life brings them together for the first time in ten years, it is clear that time also has not dulled Anakin’s intense feelings for the beautiful diplomat. The attack on Senator Amidala just before a crucial vote thrusts the Republic even closer to the edge of disaster. Masters Yoda and Mace Windu sense enormous unease. The dark side is growing, clouding the Jedi’s perception of the events. Unbeknownst to the Jedi, a slow rumble is building into the roar of thousands of soldiers readying for battle. But even as the Republic falters around them, Anakin and Padmé find a connection so intense that all else begins to fall away. Anakin will lose himself—and his way—in emotions a Jedi, sworn to hold allegiance only to the Order, is forbidden to have. Based on the story by George Lucas and the screenplay by George Lucas and Jonathan Hales, this intense and revealing novel by bestselling author R. A. Salvatore sheds new light on the legend of Star Wars—and skillfully illuminates one of our most beloved sagas. Features a bonus section following the novel that includes a primer on the Star Wars expanded universe, and over half a dozen excerpts from some of the most popular Star Wars books of the last thirty years!

Drizzt Do’Urden and Wulfgar embark on a perilous mission to rescue their halfling friend in this action-packed finale of the Icewind Dale Trilogy. Artemis Entreri has taken Regis back to his former master, Pasha Pook—but Drizzt Do’Urden and Wulfgar are fast on the assassin’s heels. Armed with the scimitar Twinkle, Drizzt defeats a banshee and acquires an enchanted artifact that masks its wearer’s true identity. With Drizzt now disguised as a normal elf, the duo continues their journey, traveling from Waterdeep to Baldur’s Gate and beyond in search of their friend. Meanwhile, Entreri is always one step ahead, aided by the magical gem Regis once stole from Pasha Pook. Together, Regis’s captors thwart Drizzt and Wulfgar’s mission at every turn, cornering them into battles with pirates, treks through the Calimshan deserts, and encounters with otherworldly monsters. But will it be enough to stop them from rescuing Regis? The Halfling’s Gem is the third book in the Icewind Dale Trilogy and the sixth book in the Legend of Drizzt series.

Twice the combined might of Ynis Aielle's greatest heroes and wizards has hurled back the demon armies of Morgan Thalasi. Always the Black Warlock has rebounded, stronger and more evil. But never has he wielded such power as now. With the Staff of Death, Thalasi can raise a new army from out of the very ground -- soldiers who cannot be killed because they are already dead. As the Black Warlock and his fearsome general -- the foul wraith that was once Hollis Mitchell -- prepares a devastating attack, the humans and elves of Ynis Aielle are staggered by a fresh calamity. The beautiful Rhiannon, daughter of the Emerald Witch, has been captured by Mitchell and given over to his dark master. Now the last hope of defeating Thalasi -- and Rhiannon's last hope as well -- lies at the heart of a mountain, guarded by a dragon as old as the world itself. . .

With the bold adventure and brilliant magic that have made him one of fantasy's bestselling authors, R. A. Salvatore continues the epic series that began with Echoes of the Fourth Magic. Join him for a spellbinding tale of darkness, fantasia, and unbridled imagination. Though many perished in the dark times past, a precious few survivors escaped, fleeing certain doom to find a dazzling, dangerous land of wonder. Here wizards and witches inhabited forests spun from enchantment and towers of celestial beauty. But in this place of promised safety, the Black Warlock was rising from the ashes of defeat--with an insatiable lust to dominate the world. Square in the path of peril was Rhiannon, the gently reared daughter of the Emerald Witch. As hamlets from the Crystal Mountains to Avalon fell before the fury of the Black Warlock, the young witch sensed a sudden call; strange, terrifying powers tingled within her body. Now Rhiannon had to summon these new, untested abilities to stop the ancient warlock, an enemy who had long since mastered the forces of the universe and bent them to his diabolical will. . .

Drizzt Do’Urden and his companions set out to reclaim a lost dwarven stronghold in the second book of The Icewind Dale Trilogy and the fifth book in the greater Legend of Drizzt. Drizzt Do’Urden still struggles with his own inner voices, which call him back to the pitiless depths of the Underdark. But louder still are the voices of his newfound friends Bruenor, Wulfgar, and Regis—and the call of Bruenor’s dream that, at long last, the dwarf has decided to fulfill. Long ago, Bruenor and his people were driven from their home in Mithral Hall by a shadow dragon of the Underdark. Now Bruenor is determined to reclaim his homeland and his rightful seat as its king. Aided by the combined might of his friends, Bruenor sets out on a treacherous quest for Mithral Hall, finding obstacles at every turn. But despite the terrors of the Trollmoors, the group continues to fight—together.