Commanded by the vestige of Mystra to work together, Manshoon and Elminster engage instead in a ferocious battle that sends the Sage plummeting into the Underdark as a cloud of ashes. Elminster soon inhabits the body of a fallen dark elf, so that he can begin carrying out Mystra's orders to rally Cormyr's Wizards of War, seek blueflame items to mend immense rifts throughout the realms that are releasing deadly monsters, and prevent the ancient Primordials from rising and unleashing their rage. But his sworn archenemy, Manshoon, has plans as well: to conquer Cormyr and be the new Emperor, and hunt down the Sage's clones. The battles are fierce, the stakes have never been higher, and the fate of Cormyr is on the line. Meanwhile, War Wizards are being mysteriously assassinated . . .

The quest is over. The hero returns home. Cadderly journeys home to the Edificant Library, hoping to rebuild his shattered life -- but the chaos curse has one last surprise in store for him. Failure means the loss of his beloved Danica, success might usher in a new era for the followers of Denier. This classic series by The New York Times best-selling creator of The Legend of Drizzt introduces a whole new cast of characters, many of whom have also been featured in the Drizzt novels -- and who you'll meet again in The Ghost King. BY R.A. Salvatore

Six years. Not so long in the lifespan of a drow. And yet—in counting the months, the weeks, the days, the hours—it seemed to me as if I had been away from Mithral Hall a hundred times that number. The place was another lifetime, another way of life, a mere stepping stone to... To what? To where? I ride the waves along the Sword Coast now, the wind and spray in my face. My ceiling is the rush of clouds and the canopy of stars; my floor, the creaking boards of a swift, well-weathered ship. Beyond that lies the azure blanket, flat and still, heaving and rolling, hissing in the rain and exploding under the fall of a breaching whale. Is this, then, my home? Usually ships from our ware

From the dark tunnels of Skullport to the sacred places of Ruathym, Liriel and Fyodor pursue their long-sought goals. By Elaine Cunningham