There was a lot going on in this one. Drizzt spends like 7 years on the surface through a series of tragic events and misunderstandings. He finds acceptance (though from afar) from one of his surface elf kin and a very old blind human ranger. He defeats an Orc leader and tricks a dragon along the way, all while getting chased by bounty hunter Roddy McGristle, a crazed and less imposing version of John Wick.


"He killed my dog!" Roddy growled.
"Don't look dead to me," Bruenor quipped, drawing chuckles from every corner.
"My other dog," Roddy snarled.


Drizzt heads to Icewind Dale, a "place for rogues", thinking he can find some acceptance. Drizzt sets up camp near a Dwarven hall and finds contentment here. After a last confrontation with Roddy, he finally finds his "home" alongside dwarven king Bruenor and his adopted human daughter, Cattie-brie.


My favorite part of this book was Cattie-brie. Drizzt and Cattie-brie are sweet cinnamon rolls and I want to read more about them immediately.


Cattie-brie's energy and zest for life verily bubbled over. In her presence, the drow could not recall his haunting memories, could only feel good about his decision to save the elven child those many years before. Cattie-brie's singsong voice and the careless way she flipped her flowing hair about her shoulders lifted the burden of guilt from Drizzt's back as surely as a giant could have hoisted a rock.


So precious.