TSR Code:

'Servant of the Shard is the latest offering from New York Times bestselling author R. A. Salvatore, best known for his immensely popular Forgotten Realms novels. The Crystal Shard will be featured in an upcoming computer game, Icewind Dale , from Interplay.

The dark elf Jarlaxle is bent on becoming all-powerful. He gets his greedy hands on the Crystal Shard, but soon the evil artifact's demonic force overcomes him. His assassin compatriot, Artemis Entreri, tries to help him break free, but the dark power of the Shard is too mighty. With time running out, they seek the assistance of the virtuous Cadderly.

The Assassin
Surrounded by dark elves, Artemis Entreri tightens his grip on the streets of Calimport. While he urges caution, his black-skinned sponsor grows ever more ambitious. The assassin will soon find himself on a path his most hated enemy has walked before him - a path that leads to a place where someone like Entreri would never be welcome.

The Drow
Jarlaxle has ascended from dark Menzoberranzan with only evil intentions. The malevolent Crystal Shard's influence on him intensifies until even the drow agents he bought with him grow fearful. When Bregan D'aerthe itself begins to turn on him, Jarlaxle will be forces to find a savior in the man he's come to enslave.'

Also available in paperback.
Also, in 2004 - The Paths of Darkness Collectors Edition

Other Titles in the Paths of Darkness series:

• Book 1 - The Silent Blade
• Book 2 - The Spine of the World
• Book 4 - Sea of Swords

Salvatore has just burst onto the scene yet again with another fabulous novel, Servant of the Shard.

BIG PLOT SPOILERS IN THIS!!!!!!!!!
I'm glad that he doesn't have to rely on just Drizzt (although he is the coolest guy ever), to keep the story going. The beginning of Servant of the Shard is a little slow, but once the middle hits and the plot starts to unravel, the book picks up and you can't put it down. The one thing I was kind of dissapointed with is the fact that the saga of the Crystal Shard ends with Cadderly. In my opinion that if it was all to end, then drizzt and friends should have ended it. Now don't get me wrong, I loved the Cleric Quintet (finally, something about a cleric, one of my favorite classes in the AD&D game), but I'm a fan of the whole ending where you began thing. Cadderly and friends didn't really come into drizzt's story, except for a bit in Passage to Dawn (and I found that a little cheesy).

However, I have to say that I'm glad that at least Cadderly helped instead of soem random guy. The death of the Crystal Shard (although I'm so sad to see it go, and I almost couldn't believe that it was gone) was definetaly good. I also loved the fact that Hephaestus destroyed it.
Entreri was incredibly cool in this book, like always. He is definetely the best villain to come out of any novel (although sheer evilness would have to belong to some of the people in the Demon Wars saga).
Jarlaxle is incredible, and you learn some never before dreamed of stuff about him. The one thing I was incredibly sad to see is Jarlaxle relinquishing control of Bregan'Daerthe. The psionicist will screw up the band. That's Jarlaxle's place. Still, Entreri and Jarlaxle make an incredible pair, and I'm glad to see that their going to stick together, although I suspect Jarlaxle is going to have some big problems with surface life.

SPOILERS!!

I found this novel by R.A. Salvatore superb. It is about Artemis Entreri and Jarlaxle instead of the usual Drizzt & Co. which was a good touch. It left me wanting to know more about the life of Artemis Entreri and how he grew up. (I have to pick up that anthology...) I also appreciated the little twist on the last page with Jarlaxle. As I put down the book, I was grinning. I liked the characters of Kimmuriel Oblodra, Rai-guy, and Berginyon Baenre, as well. That the Crystal Shard gets destroyed finally (I was getting sick of the thing) was excellent, although I wish Drizzt and posse were there. It was overall a really well done book, which I heartily recommend.