Lolth's Warrior is a novel by R.A. Salvatore and the third and final book of The Way of the Drow series featuring Drizzt Do'Urden. It was published in 2023.[1]
The epic conclusion to New York Times bestselling author R. A. Salvatore's electrifying trilogy, The Way of the Drow, finds Drizzt Do'Urden coming to understand his role as a friend, a father, and a man caught between the darkness and the light.
The drow city of Menzoberranzan has fallen into discontent, sowed by the growing legend of the one who escaped: Drizzt Do'Urden. Now many of the drow—including the city's most powerful house, led by the Matron Mother—are questioning the influence of the Spider Queen and the very history of the city's founding.
What secrets lie ahead? The drow are determined to find out, and they’ll stop at nothing to dismantle the very structure they've called home.
As social tensions rise and the demands for answers boom, a fight erupts between the adherents of Lolth's chaotic evil and those drow who demand more, demand better. In the Underdark there are only absolutes and no compromise will be found. With winner taking all, Drizzt Do'Urden cannot and will not remain on the sidelines anymore. This will be an uprising Menzoberranzan will never forget, and the rest of the Forgotten Realms won’t be able to look away.Summary[]
Prologue (1490 DR)[]
Two yochlols, Yiccardaria and Eskavidne, savor the chaos engulfing Menzoberranzan, betting on whether House Baenre or House Melarn will emerge victorious. They revel in the city’s descent into war, pleased by the unpredictability that honors Lolth’s design. Lolth herself appears, delighted by the destruction and dismissive of individuals like Yvonnel Baenre or Drizzt Do’Urden, who have outlived their usefulness. To Lolth, chaos is the ultimate truth, and the bloodshed consuming her city is the perfect testament to her divine will. She urges her servants to stand aside and simply watch as devastation unfolds.
Part 1 (1490 DR)[]
Menzoberranzan is a city on the edge of destruction as war erupts in full force. Matron Quenthel Baenre struggles to maintain the power of her house amid betrayal, as former allies like Matron Byrtyn Fey reveal themselves as monsters in disguise, victims of Zhindia Melarn’s ruthless schemes. The Baenres find themselves increasingly isolated as Zhindia’s influence spreads like a plague. Meanwhile, Dinin Do’Urden, Drizzt’s disgraced brother, is tormented in the dungeons of House Melarn, given a horrifying mission: to murder Drizzt’s child as atonement. On the streets, Braelin Janquay of Bregan D’aerthe becomes a target of House Melarn’s assassins, but proves too clever, turning ambush into victory and reaffirming Bregan D’aerthe’s independence. Yet the noose tightens. Matron Zhindia seizes every opportunity to crush House Baenre and its allies, unleashing demons and dark sorcery. Malagdorl Armgo, driven by ambition and bloodlust, claims a brutal victory over the Blaspheme leader Voselly, showcasing the savagery consuming the city. Braelin’s defiance ends in betrayal as he’s captured by succubi in the Oozing Myconid, his fate sealed by Lolth’s servants. As demons roam and dark magic reigns, the city teeters on the brink, a battlefield of ambition, fear, and treachery.
Part 2 (1490 DR)[]
Far from the carnage, the call of duty echoes. Zaknafein agonizes over the choice between staying in peaceful Callidae with Azzudonna or returning to face the horror threatening his son. The choice becomes clear: blood ties and duty prevail. Drizzt, Jarlaxle, and Catti-brie prepare for war, each burdened by dread and hope. Gromph Baenre schemes from the shadows, seeking knowledge as his path to salvation, while Kimmuriel contemplates the hive mind as his escape from Lolth’s grip. Galathae gains permission to join the fight, sworn to protect Callidae’s secrets, though Azzudonna is held back by oath and heartbreak. In the Underdark, Drizzt’s party thwarts ambushes through clever tactics, sparing enemies where they can, clinging to honor even as war demands ruthlessness. Zaknafein and Galathae battle through undead horrors, their bond deepened by shared peril. Meanwhile, Braelin’s hopes of freedom shatter as Zhindia’s web ensnares him deeper. Political games tighten around his fate, while Entreri and Catti-brie grapple with past sins and looming sacrifices. As forces gather on both sides, the heroes steel themselves for the darkness ahead, knowing the cost will be steep and the outcome uncertain.
Part 3 (1490 DR)[]
As Menzoberranzan burns, personal battles rage alongside the greater war. Catti-brie struggles with the pull between family and duty, her heart divided between her daughter Breezy and the fight for Drizzt’s survival. Gromph sets dangerous traps in Luskan, advancing schemes no one fully understands. Entreri, seeking Dahlia’s spirit, finds himself drawn into the fray. Zaknafein, battered but unbroken, is rescued by the Callidaeans after a near-fatal battle, his determination reignited. Braelin’s brief escape crumbles, and he’s recaptured, becoming a pawn in Lolth’s cruel politics. The Callidaeans score a victory against demon summoners, but Zak grapples with the cost of mercy in such a brutal war. Gromph and Catti-brie debate the ethics of dangerous magic, while Entreri agrees to join the mission in exchange for aid on his personal quest. Political plots swirl as Braelin’s life becomes a bargaining chip between Houses, and Lolth’s influence grows ever stronger. With choices narrowing and enemies closing in, every step forward feels like a gamble, every victory laced with loss. The heroes press on, united by fragile hope and sheer will, as Menzoberranzan edges closer to annihilation.
Part 4 (1490 DR)[]
The final act of the war begins in blood and fire. Dinin escapes to House Do’Urden, bringing warnings and turmoil. Braelin faces public execution, offered as a prize to Malagdorl, now titled Lolth’s Warrior. Gromph, Catti-brie, and Entreri launch a daring infiltration, while Yvonnel’s desperate bid for peace ends in treachery—Lolth banishes her in a cruel game of chance. Jarlaxle’s rescue of Braelin sparks disaster as Kimmuriel sacrifices himself to destroy Mez’Barris’s deadly trap. Zak’s forces endure terrible losses, including Galathae’s noble sacrifice. Gromph unleashes a cataclysmic spell that destroys House Melarn and forces Lolth’s withdrawal. In the aftermath, Drizzt, Jarlaxle, and the survivors lead a mass exodus of udadrow, rejecting Lolth’s rule. King Bruenor’s forces greet them with open arms. Amid grief and relief, Drizzt is reunited with Catti-brie, hope blooming from the ashes. The battle is over, but the wounds—both seen and unseen—will linger. Menzoberranzan is left broken, its future uncertain, but a new dawn rises for those who chose freedom over fear.
Epilogue[]
Gromph Baenre survives by awakening in a younger clone, his plan to cheat death a success. In Luskan, Jarlaxle, Zaknafein, and the others reflect on the hard-won victory and heavy toll. Refugees choose new paths—toward Callidae, distant lands, or the sea—while Menzoberranzan, under Sos’Umptu Baenre, begins to rebuild. Drizzt finds solace in simple joys: family, friends, and moments of peace. When invited to Callidae’s festival, he embraces the promise of future adventures, content that true home lies in the bonds of love and loyalty, far beyond the reach of Lolth’s dark shadow.
Appendix[]
External Links[]
Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon. Please consider using affiliate links before purchases to support the wiki.
- Lolth's Warrior on the Forgotten Realms Wiki store on Bookshop.org (US/UK & ebooks only; affiliate link)
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lolth's Warrior. HarperCollins. Archived from the original on 2023-02-01. Retrieved on 2023-02-01.