The Last Threshold is the newest novel in R. A. Salvatore’s Drizzt series. So much has happened in these novels since Salvatore first introduced Drizzt and his companions. In The Ghost King and Gauntlgrym Drizzt lost his companions of many years. Over the last two novels he has built up a new group of friends. At the end of Charon’s Claw Dahlia had her revenge against Herzgo Alegni. She was struck by an even more profound discovery. The misshapen tiefling wizard Effron is the son that she thought she killed by throwing him off a cliff as a baby. Artemis Entreri thought that the destruction of Charon’s Claw would end in his death. It did not. Now these two join Drizzt on a new journey. Neither have any real place to go. Joining them is Ambergris, the dwarven cleric who had embedded herself as a spy in the Shadovar mercenary team Cavus Dun. She has brought with her another refugee from the mercenary band, a young monk named Afafrenfere.

Drizzt decides to give the group a purpose, so he travels to the city of Port Llast which is under attack from evil sea creatures. Will Drizzt be able to reform this ragtag group? Most of these companions have only lived for themselves and have been killers and thieves. To secure the safety of Port Llast Drizzt will have to work with the Ship Lords of Luskan. There are many more wheels turning in this story. Tiago Baenre seeks to kill Drizzt to cement his own fame. Drayo Quick has taken Guenhwyvar prisoner and is now able to spy on Drizzt and his companions through her eyes. Effron wants to track down Dahlia and make her pay for what she did to him. Wound up in all of this is the drow mercenary band Bregan D’aerthe.

The Last Threshold nicely wraps up the Neverwinter Saga with a lot of surprises and some beautiful story telling. The end of the novel was very unexpected. There is a major new event coming to the Forgotten Realms starting this summer. The first novel is a Drizzt novel. I have no idea what Salvatore is planning, but I can’t wait to read it. It is amazing to me that after twenty-three novels Salvatore still manages to keep the Drizzt stories exciting, entertaining, and thoughtful.

Honestly I felt sad as I closed my book. Drizzit always reminded me of myself trying to do good in the world where the laws are a bit gray. Overall this last winter novel was pretty decent though the ending wasn't what I was expecting.

It has been over four years since I read the last book in this series. Truth be told, I only picked this series back up because my friends and I are about to embark on a 5e game and I wanted to read The Sundering series. That series sets off the events of Forgotten Realms 5e lore. It just so happens that the first book in the Sundering series is the 24th book in the Drizzt series. And being the completionist that I am, I couldn't pick up the 24th book without reading the 23rd.

All of that to say, surprisingly, I really enjoyed this book. I don't think Drizzt did his "double x down" block move once in this book. I did skim some of the combat sequences, but for the most part, it didn't really bother me. I don't know if I just needed time away from the series or if this book is truly different, but it has reinvigorated me to keep going with this series and continue to read Forgotten Realms books as a whole.

Toally not the end.

Excellent read - Salvatore seems to be focusing less on combat and fighting and more on character building - different than previous books but still good. Hopefully, not the end of Drizzt yet.

Meh.

Relecture

Probably the worst Drizzt novel to date. Rigid, uninspiring storyline. Salvatore is struggling to find a purpose for his character.

Actual rating: 80 bazillion stars.