Rise of the King Book Review

Rise of the King: Companions Codex Part 2

R.A.Salvatore

Wizards of the Coast

September 30, 2014

4/5 Stars

 

        Rise of the King is the second in the Companion Codex.  This book was obviously meant to be the dark middle chapter of the series so I’m assuming that this is a trilogy.  The book continues the story began in book one which was begun in the much longer series that more or less ended with the first book of the Sundering.  All this taken into account, I can certainly understand why this book didn’t quite meet the standard that the author, himself set.  The book has some high points, but more or less the work which ends; very much too soon.  Makes the reader harshly aware that there is a lot of story left to be told.  And while Mr.Salvatore has his standard measure of exciting fight scenes and intrigue.  It is hard to say anything other than this middle book, was a good middle.  But taken only in the view of the entire work.  I would be hard pressed to say quite what will happen in the that long view.  Which is excellent, because any writer that has overly showed their hand and has atleast one book left of their series; is doing a sorry job.  That being said, I really didn’t appreciate how aware the author makes the reader that this IS indeed just PART of the story and if you want to read the rest you better get the next book.  The Epilogue isn’t even an after thought but a literal continuation of events that weren’t resolved in the story and aren’t in the Epilogue either.  This book would have gained quite a bit from another hundred pages or so. Might have even benefitted from having been a MUCH longer work altogether.  This might have helped the work seem less limited and less abrupt when it ends.

      I will say however, that this is NOT a book to skip by anyone who read the original book.  Progress is made and events occur.   But I would imagine that most people who follow the exploits of Drizzt Do'Urden and friends.  Are as familiar with this sort of thing as I am and while I was disappointed by the abruptness of the end, it certainly wasn’t a deal breaker for me.  So any fan of the series will be well served here, if not entirely satisfied at the end.