| Elfshadow (Forgotten Realms: Songs and Swords, Book 1) | 
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Avg. Customer Rating:   (based on 31 reviews)
Sales Rank: 89404
Category: Book
Author: Elaine Cunningham
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Studio: Wizards of the Coast
Manufacturer: Wizards of the Coast
Label: Wizards of the Coast
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Published)
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Reading Level: Young Adult
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 4.2 x 1
ISBN: 0786916605
EAN: 9780786916603
ASIN: 0786916605
Publication Date: April 1, 2000
Release Date: April 1, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Silent death stalks the Harpers of Faerun. One by one, members of the semi-secret society for good in the Realms are falling to a murderer's blade. Now a Harper agent and a beautiful half-elf assassin must solve the mystery. If they fail, they will be the next victims.
But things in the Realms are rarely that simple.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 26 more reviews...
 Not that good, but not that bad April 30, 2007
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After reading so many of the positive reviews and having read some of Elaine's other books, I was anticipating a good read. I was more than a little disappointed.
The book starts out great with a stunning assassination and then Arilyn as a child who is placed under the guiding wing of Kymil, master swordsman. After Chapter 1, the story begins to fail. Arilyn becomes a detached character with whom I could feel no attachment. I didn't understand her reasonings behind some of her actions (for instance, the jaunt into the marsh). Then, I felt she too easily relied on Elaith (I don't care if they are the same race of Elves, I would have been suspicious especially if I were a loner elf!). However, as the story grew and the identity of the Harper assassin was unveiled, I did begin to grow attached to Arilyn, though not as much as I thought I would have in the beginning.
While Arilyn was a little disappointing as a character, Danilo was superb (though, towards the beginning, a little too cliched for my liking). He was convincing as an undercover agent, and I could really feel for him. His motivations made sense on the most part (although one conclusion he makes about Elaith I feel is contrived).
Other than Arilyn's character, there were a few other problems. Females in the book seemed either to be too much like Arilyn or buxom, brainless barmaids. Males (at least most of them) came in two flavors as well: greedy, fat, disgusting, sex-obsessed thieves (pretty much any villain in the book) or tough, men (i.e. Kymil and Elaith). The magic was unimpressive. And I got so sick and tired of hearing about unguents I thought I would scream.
In the end, I was not upset at the book (towards the middle, I was regretting having ever started it). It ended well, and the characters had grown in ways I had though appropriate. I guess I should not have been expecting something as deep as Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. This is a fun, easy read, nothing more. Keep this in mind if you plan on picking this one up.
 Very Pleasent Fantasy / Mystery April 11, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a really good fantasy / mystery story, written by one of the best fantasy writers today. This book like all of Elaine Cunningham's books are pleasant to read, with interesting plots, very likable characters, and an emotional payoff in the end.
Main Characters;
Arilyn Moonblade, half-elf agent, extremely engaging.
Danilo Thann, fun and charming, a very `real' character.
Elaith Craulnober is great, a well written bad guy, but likable just the same.
OVERALL SCORE: (A)
READABILITY: (A), PLOT: (B+), CHARATERS: (A), DIALOGUE: (B), SETTING: (A), ACTION/COMBAT: (B-), MONSTERS/ANTAGONISTS: (A), ROMANCE: (B), SEX: (Light), AGE LEVEL: (PG- 8 and up)
Brilliant debut! December 22, 2006
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I remember reading this story when it was first published in the early 1990s. It reads like a fantasy-mystery. A "magical who-done-it?" with some vivid details painting the fantasy city of Waterdeep, beautifully to life. The streets and spires come to life like never before. I believe she and Ed Greenwood have a secret portal that lets them see what the Realms is really like. I doubt if I ever forget these Realms!
My most favorite character introduced here is Elaith Craulnober, an elven bad-guy who I would love to see more of in future tales. He is the opposite of Drizzt in many ways. Cold, calculating and conspiring against the likeable heroes through out the story. Elven magic runs thick within these pages. Ms. Cunningham is one of the most promising authors this company has to offer!
Arilyn Moonblade has won a place in my heart! June 22, 2004
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Definitely two of my all time favorites, Elfshadow and Elfsong, bring to life the story of Arilyn Moonblade, a half-elf Harper, and her adventures in the World of Faerun, as she tries to cope with her dual heritage and seeks to unlock the mysteries of her magical moonblade sword.
The books are so incredibly well written that the reader feels that they have been transported to the Forgotten Realms universe and are actually present among the characters, seeing what they see, feeling what they feel, sensing what they sense. Elaine Cunnigham has truly outdone herself and has presented us with a masterpiece of literature the likes of which we have seen only in JRR Tolkien's work, RA Salvatore's The Dark Elf and Icewind Dale trilogies and in authors Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman's Dragonlance Chronicles and Legends trilogies.
She has done a FANTASTIC job of both acquiring vast knowledge relevant to Faerun as well as presenting this material relating to the customs, the religion and the history of Toril, efficiently and successfully! Her solid grasp of factual detail makes her very capable of providing the necessary background needed to carry out the difficult task of writing Forgotten Realms novels, which is something often missing from the work of many Fantasy authors. Consequently, from the moment you pick up the books you have trouble putting them down and if that is not a clear sign of a fantastic writer/author who can come up with a great plot, I don't know what is!
Elves, spies, assassins, honor, bravery, magic, and swordfights are all about. Elfshadow and Elfsong make up for a great trilogy along with Silver Shadows and are a "must read" together with Evermeet, especially for all those who have a soft spot for everything Elven! In short, it's what Fantasy reading SHOULD be! One should seriously start thinking about turning these books into movies...
Elfshadow was amazing April 5, 2004
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Elaine Cunningham has to be one of my favorite writters of all time. Ever sence I picked up this series I can not put the books down. They are good reads and incorprates many respects, in my mind, a better name for Forgotten Relms.Very pleased,
Bon
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