The Demon Awakens

In THE DEMON AWAKENS, bestselling author R. A. Salvatore creates an astonishing new world for readers to explore--and an intrepid hero to lead the way: Elbryan Wynden, who must confront the dark tides of destiny in his epic search for justice and peace . . .

A great evil has awakened in the land of Corona, a terrible demon determined to spread death and misery. His goblin armies and fearsome giants ravage the settlements of the frontier, and in the small village of Dundallis their merciless attack leaves behind two shattered orphans: Pony and her lifelong friend, the youth Elbryan. Taken in by elves, Elbryan is raised to become a formidable ranger--a fateful role that will lead him into harrowing confrontation.

Meanwhile, on a far-off island, a shower of gemstones will fall onto the black sand shores. These heaven-sent stones carry within them an incredible power--the key to all that is good in the world and all that is evil, and it is up to one young monk to liberate them from the corrupt monastery that harvests them. Pray that they don't fall into the wrong, clawed hands . . .

The demon dactyl awakens in a mountainside cave on Corona populated by elves, goblins, humans, centaurs, and giants. When goblins destroy the village of Dundallis, orphaned Pony and her friend Elbryan survive. Aided by magically powerful gemstones, they fight to defeat the evil dactyl. Recommended for fantasy collections.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Salvatore's new saga opens in a volcano, with a "demon dactyl" awaking and sending out goblins to ravage the peaceful land of Corona. The scourge orphans young Elbryan Wyndon and the maiden Pony, and the two have to flee for their lives. Meanwhile, on a beach far, far away, multicolored gemstones rain down and prove to have enormous potential for both good and evil magic, depending on whose hands they fall into. After many peregrinations, Elbryan and Pony end up guardians of the gemstones, but that is only their first victory. Salvatore lacks the command of language and the humor of some other exploiters of the classic elements of fantasy, yet he lacks nothing in pacing and well-handled battle scenes. Morever, the extra elbow room he gives himself in this stout volume (and its probable successors) allows him to improve his characterization and world building. This is his most ambitious book to date; if it is not superlatively original, it is certainly very readable. Roland Green