fantasy book reviews science fiction book reviewsYA fantasy book reviews The Forgotten Realms Salvatore The Stone of Tymora 1. The StowawayThe Stowaway by R.A. & Geno Salvatore

FORGOTTEN REALMS books are good for a quick, fun read, where I don’t normally expect a lot of character development and the world has been built so well that you can download maps of the different cities. The Stowaway is a perfect example: a quick, light YA adventure through well-known areas of a well-developed world.

The Stowaway begins with a young child being saved from certain death by a group of noble, powerful people. Maimun, a young orphan, grows up under the sheltering protection of a female druid and later a male magic user/adventurer named Perrault. Maimun is a classic example of the unloved, sarcastic, scared kid whose adventures are the center of the story.

The Stowaway spans a fair amount of the FORGOTTEN REALMS world. Maimun is under constant threat from an evil demon who is seeking to steal a special stone that was Maimun’s since birth. The constant pursuit and the threat of being caught keep the story hopping, and R.A. and Geno Salvatore don’t get into any great philosophical or epic events. It’s just a race to survive — with a legendary FORGOTTEN REALMS character, heroic dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden, making a cameo appearance.

On the whole, The Stowaway is average. It’s fun, sure, but it’s not something that I would set aside anything else to read. The Salvatores just give you a nice “take on a plane and distract yourself” story. Sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

The Stone of Tymora — (2008-2010) R.A. Salvatore and Geno Salvatore. Young Adult. Publisher: From the author of more than a dozen New York Times best sellers and his son, comes the first installment of a brand-new fantasy trilogy written just for young readers… Barely a teen and already guarding a secret that could jeopardize his young life, Maimun is marked for death. With the help of a mysterious stranger, the boy escapes his village and flees out to sea, stowing away on the pirate hunting ship, Sea Sprite, where he comes across a most unlikely ally: the dark elf Drizzt Do’Urden. With a half-demon determined to destroy him, and a crew of sailors resentful of the trouble he’s caused, Maimun must find the courage to prove his worth, both to his friends and to himself. Nearly two decades ago, R.A. Salvatore introduced the world to Drizzt D’Urden in a series that has since become a fantasy classic and a consistent presence on best seller lists. Now, for the first time, Salvatore partners with his son Geno to craft a brand-new story just for young readers, featuring a cameo of the most beloved fantasy character of all time. For young readers seeking the next great fantasy saga or for long-time fans who can’t miss any installment in the Drizzt saga, this book delivers all the action, intrigue, and magic you’ve come to expect from the Salvatore name.

R.A. Salvatore Geno Salvatore Stone of Tymora 1. The Stowaway 2. The ShadowmaskR.A. Salvatore Geno Salvatore Stone of Tymora 1. The Stowaway 2. The Shadowmask 3. The SentinelsR.A. Salvatore Geno Salvatore Stone of Tymora 1. The Stowaway 2. The Shadowmask 3. The Sentinelsfantasy book reviews science fiction book reviews

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  • John Hulet

    JOHN HULET is a member of the Utah Army National Guard. John’s experiences have often left a great void that has been filled by countless hours spent between the pages of a book lost in the words and images of the authors he admires. During a 12 month tour of Iraq, he spent well over $1000 on books and found sanity in the process. John lives in Utah and works slavishly to prepare soldiers to serve their country with the honor and distinction that Sturm Brightblade or Arithon s’Ffalenn would be proud of. John retired from FanLit in March 2015 after being with us for nearly 8 years. We still hear from him every once in a while.

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