Review of  The Crystal Shard

Some History on my connection to this book.

First let me say, this is a delight to write about because this was one of the first fantasy books I ever read. I was around 12 years of age. I know I had already read the Hobbit and The Fellowship of The Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Interestingly enough in an online interview, Salvator said that in middle school he had no interest in writing or reading books until he read Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings. Robert (AKA R.A Salvator) said in school he had felt like an outsider and a weirdo at times until he found “Fantasy Books” and started playing  Dungeons and Dragons.

Secondly, The Crystal Shard was published in 1988 and it was Salvator’s first published novel. And it was the first modern fantasy book I read besides Tolkien’s books. I had no idea it was the author’s first book and I was not even a teenager. I assumed I was reading a well-accomplished author and I would eventually be correct. In retrospect, this is book one of the Icewind Dale Trilogy. But originally, the author admitted online he had no idea that it would be a trilogy.

Why Fans of Fantasy are so loyal to Salvator’s Books.

R.A. Salvator is most well known for “The Dark Elf” series featuring Drizzt Do’Urden, the drow elf ranger. The dark elf, who has forsaken his subterranean heritage of chaotic evil magic, for a life of goodwill and adventure on the surface plains. Drizzt is a very enjoyable character. But originally, when he wrote the story, Drizzt was supposed to be the sidekick to Wulfgar, the Barbarian. 

Don’t get things out of order.

This is the first book that was published that features Drizzt Do’ Urden but it is not the first book in the chronological history of Drizzt. If you want to read them in chronological order, start with “Homeland”, Book 1 of the Legend of Drizzt. But you can easily start with The Crystal Shard and finish the entire Icewind Dale Trilogy and then go back to Homeland and start the Legend of Drizzt series.

Find Your tribe.

But it is not only The Dark Elf that has made this series and his other series enduring, it’s a sense of companionship. It’s the theme that his readers connect with. The theme speaks to you that you may be different and completely out of place in this world but you can still find your people, the place where you belong.

Plot Synopsis.

I do not want to ruin it for you so this is a non-spoiler review. If you want the plot synopsis, go to the Wikipedia link here. But this book has an Epic Fantasy struggle with a sometimes inept leader for a villain. It’s Sword and Sorcery and very Dungeons and Dragons, as this is the Forgotten Realms. Incidentally, published by TSR was written to be material to flesh out the World of Dungeons and Dragons’ Forgotten Realms Campaign.

I loved the story when I read it at age 12. And recently re-reading it this year, the story held up pretty well. The writing is not Salvator’s very best but it is good. It was his first published novel. I liked the interpersonal dynamics of the cast of characters.

The setting in the far northern tundra of The Forgotten Realms. Icewind Dale, and it makes for an interesting setting. There are Dragons, magical weapons and items in this story, a sense of good versus evil. This story also touches on people’s prejudices and how they can overcome them.

4 Star Rating and Why.

I give this book and the whole Icewindale Series 4 out of 5 stars. I loved it as a pre-teen and I would recommend it for that age group as well as Salvator has stayed away from Grim Dark or Dark Fantasy with graphic violence or sex. Instead, I would recommend these books for 12 and up even younger if you are a good reader. I couldn’t give it a 5-star review all though I still loved reading it at age 43.

I think “The Icewind Dale Trilogy” is required reading if you call yourself a fan of Fantasy Books. So grab yourself a cup of coffee, and your paperback or download an ebook version and join Bruenor the dwarf and Drizzt the dark elf ranger, and Wulfgar the Barbarian, Regis the Halfling, and Catti-brie the only attractive female in Icewind Dale on an epic series of adventures.