There was this part in Gauntlgrym, which made me feel like Salvatore himself is aware how his books haven't always felt like part of the rest of the Realms and its really major characters:
"Szass what?" Bruenor asked, glancing at Drizzt, who shrugged, equally at a loss.
Surely in their adventures all over the Sword Coast, they would have at least heard of Szass Tam, who was, and now is even more, a very notable character in the Realms. I think he's one of the few big names that actually survived into the 4E FR.
The book is divided into two parts. The first, Poking a Mad God, is clearly laying the setting for the PC game, and for the first time I really felt like Salvatore is with the big picture; the major rivaling factions are presented and it is made clear what is going on in the FR these days. I like how even the Sage of Shadowdale is mentioned -- "not even Elminster in his prime". (I need to read that Elminster book.)
The first part also introduces few new characters, some of them probably having a bigger part later in the trilogy. One of those is Herzgo Alegni, a Netherese tiefling, whose sword seems very similar to the one Entreri was using before.
What is also interesting, is that Herzgo has an assassin under his service (if bit reluctantly), Barrabus the Gray, who reminds me very much of Entreri. Surely he would have already died at this point. Alright, I really need to refresh my memory now.... (or possibly spoil myself)
"In Salvatore's short story "That Curious Sword" in the Realms of Shadow: Return of the Archwizards • Anthology, it is revealed that Charon's Claw is a Netherese artifact. After killing a Shadovar messenger sent to retrieve the blade with his vampiric dagger, Entreri absorbed some of the shade's life-force, thus becoming more attuned to the blade and gaining some shade (a creature infused with the stuff of shadow) characteristics." [Wikipedia]
So, Barrabus is indeed Entreri. No wonder he doesn't like the tiefling -- the guy has his sword!
Dahlia Sin'felle, an elf warrior, is also introduced, and found in a big role in both parts of the book. She uses the weirdest of weapons, a staff that can be broken into four pieces -- all connected with chains -- at will and thus used five (?) different ways. It also has a lightning enchantment and Dahlia of course uses the weapon extremely well. How typical of Salvatore.
While the first part of the book isn't that stale -- in fact Salvatore writes more fluently than I remembered -- it doesn't compared to the second part, The King's Minions, at all, which is action-packed adventure with all the awesome characters together.
Who actually get shaken up a bit. I'm not sure if into the right direction, tough. Especially Jarlaxle seems have gone far from his first appearances back in the days. And Drizzt has switched back to his angst mode. Everyone dies and he is still a young elf and all that bad stuff. Brrh.
The city of Gauntlrym, especially in the last part, reminded me very much of Dorn's Deep in the first Icewind Dale game. It even has all the elemental fire stuff. And salamanders.
All in all, I'd say Gauntlgrym, especially the second part, is very entertaining Salvatore. He could get rid of his way of "killing" the characters all the time, though. It got old right after Bruenor first "fell to his death" in Streams of Silver. A character is never dead in Salvatore's book until some serious proof is given.
Also, I heard some complaints about the brightness of the cover (again by Todd Lockwood). It doesn't bother me, nor do I understand why it would bother anyone. But, what is wrong on the cover is how it depicts Dahlia and Drizzt fighting each other. This never happens in the book! In fact, it seems Dahlia will be Drizzt's new companion. For the saga at least, if not longer.
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