• Archmage

  • Legend of Drizzt: Homecoming, Book 1
  • By: R. A. Salvatore
  • Narrated by: Victor Bevine
  • Length: 14 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (3,076 ratings)

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Archmage  By  cover art

Archmage

By: R. A. Salvatore
Narrated by: Victor Bevine
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Publisher's summary

The pall that had descended over the North is gone, and a new day has dawned on a victorious Mithral Hall, but no matter how bright things seem on the surface, Drizzt and his companions know that what lurks just under their feet remains steeped in evil and charged with unimaginable power. The dark elves of Menzoberranzan, including the powerful Archmage Gromph, aren't done with Drizzt yet. And consumed by their own power struggles, feeling backed into a corner, the drow may just be desperate enough to call on demonic forces from the deepest reaches of the Abyss and unleash a disaster even the Underdark could never have prepared for. Archmage has everything Drizzt's fans crave: action, adventure, characters that resonate with equal measures of warrior spirit and deep compassion, and no shortage of wicked dark elves!

©2023 Wizards of the Coast LLC, TM 2023 (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Featured Article: Roll for Initiative! 10+ Listens Worthy of Any Dungeons & Dragons Adventurer


With the release of the movie Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, the classic tabletop role-playing game (RPG) is being thrust into the forefront of culture yet again. D&D has been in our lives for more than 40 years, and millions of folks globally continue to explore new realms. But the franchise is not limited to dice, guidebooks, and miniatures—in addition to film, television, music, and beyond, D&D is a natural fit for the world of audio.

What listeners say about Archmage

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    2,408
  • 4 Stars
    471
  • 3 Stars
    121
  • 2 Stars
    41
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Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    2,188
  • 4 Stars
    393
  • 3 Stars
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  • 2 Stars
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  • 1 Stars
    37

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Its about time

I almost gave up on Salavatore. I really hated the whole Neverwinter plot line with Dahlia and Drizzt. Drizzt was so filled with bitter angst that I felt like I was reading the Twilight saga. It was pointless and small minded and absolutely not up to the brilliance Salvatore has shown in the past. In the last series where the companions of the hall are reborn, there was some semblance of normalcy brought back to his writing. It's almost like Wizards of the Coast sat him down and said..."look man, we aren't sure what you've been smoking but we really need you to get back to basics because that is what the people want"

So he wrote what we wanted and he wrote it well.

Archmage hails absolutely back to the brilliance Salvatore is known for and is quite literally his finest novel since Homeland which is his best work. This is not to be missed and I'm so glad Salvatore is back.

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40 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Hard to believe Salvatore can keep pulling it off!

Great storytelling and excellent action scenes! I liked the complex development of relationships between all of my favorite characters from previous books in the series. If you are a follower of this series you will be very pleased with how good this one is. If you are new to this series, hold on, you are in for a ride.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Same Old, Same Old

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Unless you're a huge Drizzt fan I can't recommend this book. I like Drizzt and I don't mind that The Companions really never die, etc. But, some of the characters are just grating at this point. Cattie-Bre changed a long time ago and her character just keeps getting worse and worse. Also, the self reflection (drizzt journal) parts are getting old. This deep reflection by Drizzt is the same old same old every time. Things don't have to be so serious with Drizzt... what happened to all the fun?

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Oddly, I enjoyed the drow portion more than The Companions. There are healthy chunks without Drizzt and crew and it's really good. I thought I'd be burnt out with Spider Queen (again) and Drizzt running from the same enemy but it's well thought out and engaging.

What about Victor Bevine’s performance did you like?

Victor Bevine is an excellent narrator. I've liked Victor doing all the Forgotten Realms books to Hyperion.

Do you think Archmage needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

There will be follow-ups as it is book 1 of a series. But, I'm not sure what would make things more fresh with Drizzt and his companions. Maybe a different landscape (different area in Faerun) or a different adversary then the drow (again for the 10th time).

Any additional comments?

Drizzt fans will enjoy the ride but people who are mediocre on Drizzt and more general FR fans might find this lacking anything new.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

The Soap Opera of Drizzt and Company Continues

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

From a performance standpoint, the narrator neglected to pause during scene breaks, which came across as head hopping and jarring POV shifts. One moment you are in the head of a Dwarf, and nearly in the same breath you are plunged into a Drow's head without any preparation or context.

What was most disappointing about R. A. Salvatore’s story?

Don't jump into this story if you haven't read the glut of cannon and lore that has already been released. If you do, don't expect to have much description of characters...or much description of anything other than combat.

Telling -- there's a lot of that going on, though.

During the listen, I found my mind wandering, which rarely happens with other titles.

The ending is rushed.

Any additional comments?

I read many of the first sets of Drizzt books and remembered being captivated as a teen, so I purchased Archmage to go along with the D&D RPG Rage of Demons release. My tastes over the years have changed, and this reminded me of a soap opera. The characters hadn't grown or changed. Even though the Champions of the Hall had died, either due to old age or battle, they've been resurrected and it's more of the same all over again. The only real interaction the reader gets with Drizzt is through some droll navel gazing as section introductions.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

awesome!

another great addition to the drizzt series. exciting, heart breaking at times and oh so thrilling! love love love the book! and as always, bevine is outstanding!

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

So disappointed.

About as fun as reading congressional archives. Dritz is barely a minor character at best. The political intrigue is between unlikeable faction. There are few key characters to even vaguely relate to. Go back to the earliest stories and leave this alone.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Another Cliffhanger

I won't spoil anything. All I can say is the next book can't get here soon enough!

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

I cant even finish it...

What disappointed you about Archmage?

It said book one. I feel like it book 12 in a series I didn't realize it was part of a larger world. So, many characters and hard to keep it all straight with no prior knowledge.

Has Archmage turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, but I don't like this writer style..

Would you listen to another book narrated by Victor Bevine?

Yes

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

his best work yet

loved it, very well structured,Bevine at his best yet again,can't wait for the next book,hope it is as well written.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

What a disappointment

What would have made Archmage better?

After an extremely confusing and painfully boring 3 hours of listening I gave up. This book has virtually no plot line, even less character development and a constant introduction of new characters and historical events that have no connection, rhyme or reason. I say, save time and money and just move on to having your teeth drilled if you want to be punished.

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3 people found this helpful