The more dense 'Exile' places Drizzt in the solitude of the Underdark, before his greatest decision. This is no easy feat; alone, with Guenhwyvar that can only join him for a quarter of his time, he becomes his darkest self, The Hunter.

It is a story of solitude versus friendship, it's a story about facing fears, about fighting your own instincts and overcoming your own dark self.

It is a lot more dense than the previous books (including the Icewind Dale trilogy, which should be read before the Dark Elf trilogy), with a lot more cinematography than the rest of them as well. The fight scenes are described in great detail and they are quite long as well; the author takes pleasure in describing swings of swords and clashes of weapons.

This set of adventures, however, manages to take off from the Dungeons and Dragons canons, becoming, even more so, a better D&D book; it has travel, it has fighting, but it doesn't have all the "now use the D20" feeling to it. It's finally a book that stands on its own, a book that can appeal to non D&D fans.

A book that explores more than just swords, but also the depth of the solitude of Drizzt Do'Urden, as well as a meditation on the value of friendship.