I only read when my OCD kicks in

Written by: R. A. Salvatore
Series: The Sundering
Sequence in Series: 1
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Publication Date: August 6, 2013
Pages: 384
ISBN-10: 0786963719
ISBN-13: 978-0786963713
Rating: 4
Genre: Fantasy

I received this copy ARC copy of The Companions from Netgalley.

The Companions is the first book in what will probably be a three part series entitled The Sundering.

The Companions starts off with Drizzt remembering the glory years with his companions Catti-brie, Regis, Bruenor, and Wulfgar. Unknown to Drizzt is his goddess Mielikki (of which Drizzt his her favorite mortal) has intervened, giving his friends the option to be reborn to this new world some 100 years later to help Drizzt in the journey to come.

3 of the 4 heroes of old accept the request to be reincarnated. The majority of book 1 entails the reincarnation process, the years to age up until 21 before reuniting with Drizzt.

Typical Salvator although at times I felt as if there was no real plot here. Obviously the story is being stretched out to be a multiple book series. That fashion of attempting to stretch out a story grows old with me and I long for the day of simply getting a giant book all at once.

Salvatore's strengths are present here: fantastic fight scenes, epic world building, sensitivity in the least of characters, but mostly you just fall in love with Drizzt because he could quite possibly be the greatest fantasy character ever created that doesn't have a first name of Elric or a last name of Baggins.

I do not consider this YA, however, I can see how some will give it that label. Part of the Forgotten Realms books. I would also suggest reading earlier Drizzt based books before delving into this one since you will want to understand the depth of the relationships for these characters.