The Companions

Forgotten Realms: The Sundering, Book 1

By: R.A. Salvatore

Narrated by: Victor Bevine

Length: 14 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

This latest installment in New York Times best-selling author R.A. Salvatore's beloved fantasy saga, The Companions moves Salvatore's signature hero Drizzt into a new era of the Forgotten Realms. As Drizzt's fate hangs in the balance, he reflects on the lives of the trusted allies who stood by his side throughout his early life - the friends now known as the Companions of the Hall. Meanwhile, the first stirrings of the Sundering begin.

©2023 Wizards of the Coast LLC, TM 2023 (P)2013 Audible Inc.

Critic reviews

" The Companions is the best novel [R.A.] Salvatore has ever written. It's insanely courageous, profoundly powerful, masterfully constructed, and easily Salvatore's most ambitious work to date." (Paul Goat Allen, BarnesandNoble.com)

"After a quarter of a century, R.A. Salvatore just keeps getting better and better, and The Companions is another masterful leap forward for one of the greatest fantasy epics of all time." (Philip Athans, best-selling author of Annihilation and The Haunting of Dragon's Cliff)

Great return of the companions of the hall

This story has brought so much joy to me. To the return of thibbledorf despite his predicament then to a renewed more resourceful Regis to bruenor bearded gruff attitude! R.A Salvotore has made me a happy man.
Once again Victor bevine has taken my imagination wild for his reading of the battles to the soft loving reunion of pwet when he met bruenor uterring me king once again!
I once again was disappointed for I'm a bearded gnome

At first I didn't like this book...

The first ⅓ of this book really put me off. I didn't like the concept and how it was playing out. Because of this I really found it hard going, but I persevered, and I'm glad I did.

The story really picked up and started to get very interesting. By the end I was eager for the next book.

Narration was as good as ever. I was happy to have Victor Bevine back at the helm.

We LOVED IT!

Can't say anything without spoilers, but we loved it! If you love Drizzt you will love it too!

Enjoyable book from start to finish

I wish Audible would elevate their product. their audio books are well done but they could be truly integrated with the story. a high res image of the cover art and integrating the maps that exist in the books as the storyline bounces from place to place.

A different Drizzt novel

This is probably the most different book of all that has been written on Drizzt. The book revolves around Cattie, Bruenor, and Regis. There is not as much action as previous Drizzt books, but a lot more character development and internal conflict with the three companions. To some this may be a downfall, I really liked seeing the other supporting characters get more dimensions added to them. In essence they are just much a part of Drizzt as he is himself.

One other aspect this book deals with, and does so wonderfully, is the aspect of time and passage of time. Time is a big subplot of the book and Drizzt's character, considering elves live much longer than most races. Through this book we see that the world Drizzt lives in is very dynamic in both the physical world and celestial (celestial being the realm of the gods).

My one complaint is that Wulfgar was pretty much left out. There is no character development for him and he was pretty much lumped in. I will argue that the barbarian is already a solid character, and has been much more established in previous books than the others.

Over all this is one of the best books in the entire chronicals of Drizzt, even though he is featured very little in the series. It isn't nearly action packed as previous books in the Drizzt series, but it makes-up by expanding, and adding depth, to his companions. It also does a wonderful job of setting up the passage of time and foreshadowing on future events. It just lacks Wulfgar.

Captivating as always

The story of Drizzts friends coming to his side in his spiritual crisis. As always, R.A. Salvatore has written a riveting tale of courage, loyalty & heroism. Just what we need in these tumultuos times.

More than expected.

Bah!!! But ye be knowin’ how to make an old dwarf cry, Masters Salvatore and Bevine!!

Beautifully written and masterfully read!!

drizzt forever!

I could not break away wanted more the more I read and was su kef back in quite easily.

A bold step forward or back.

RA's rebirth of great characters renewed the franchise. Very enjoyable. Fun to know the old characters and see them get a new origin at the same time.

Amazing book

I can't decide weather this one or the 1st book is my favorite. Just listened to it for the 2nd time and it was as good as the 1st. You gotta get it