The Recommended Reading Order for The Sellswords
The Sellswords trilogy is a standalone spin-off from R.A. Salvatore's massive Legend of Drizzt saga. Instead of following the heroic drow ranger, this series shifts the spotlight to his most popular rivals: the cynical human assassin Artemis Entreri and the flamboyant drow mercenary Jarlaxle Baenre. Because of their shared history and the books' placement in the larger Forgotten Realms timeline, the trilogy should be read in its strict chronological and publication order:
- Servant of the Shard (Originally published in 2000) – This first installment takes place primarily in the streets of Calimport and the Underdark city of Menzoberranzan, following Jarlaxle's dangerous obsession with the sentient crystal shard, Crenshinibon, and Entreri's struggle to find purpose after his rivalry with Drizzt stall.
- Promise of the Witch-King (2005) – The duo travels to the harsh, cold Bloodstone Lands. Under the employ of powerful dragon sisters, they seek out the dark relics left behind by the legendary lich Zhengyi, the Witch-King. Here, they encounter new threats and local factions, testing their fragile alliance.
- Road of the Patriarch (2006) – The final book of the trilogy brings Jarlaxle's ambitions and Entreri's dark past to a head in the Bloodstone Lands. As Jarlaxle attempts to establish a political foothold that challenges the established local rulers, Entreri is forced to confront the legacy of his childhood and the reality of his own humanity.
The Curious History of Servant of the Shard
For readers diving into R.A. Salvatore's catalog, the publication history of the first book, Servant of the Shard, can be a major source of confusion. When first released in 2000, Servant of the Shard was marketed as the third book in the four-part Paths of Darkness series, which focused primarily on Drizzt Do'Urden. The other books in that sequence are The Silent Blade (1998), The Spine of the World (1999), and Sea of Swords (2001).
However, because Servant of the Shard focused exclusively on the adventures of Jarlaxle and Entreri rather than Drizzt, Salvatore and his publisher later decided to restructure the series. They decoupled the novel from the Paths of Darkness line and rebranded it as the foundational volume of a new trilogy: The Sellswords. Modern reprints reflect this change, featuring it as Book 1 of the spin-off series. For completionists, the original Paths of Darkness sequence is now effectively a trilogy of its own, bypassing the events of Servant of the Shard, although the plot details from that book still directly influence the overall Forgotten Realms timeline.
How The Sellswords Fits into the Legend of Drizzt Saga
While you can read The Sellswords as a standalone trilogy if you are only interested in a darker fantasy story about morally gray mercenaries, the books are heavily integrated into the broader Legend of Drizzt chronological timeline. If you want to experience the complete narrative without missing key context, here is where you should place the trilogy:
- Start with Paths of Darkness: Read The Silent Blade and The Spine of the World first. These books establish Artemis Entreri's mental state, his return to Calimport, and Jarlaxle's growing influence on the surface world.
- Read Servant of the Shard: Dive into the first Sellswords book next. It acts as a direct bridge between the events in Calimport and Jarlaxle's ambitions in the north.
- Complete the Hunter's Blades Trilogy: Before reading the next two Sellswords books, it is highly recommended to read The Hunter's Blades trilogy (The Thousand Orcs, The Lone Drow, and The Two Swords). These books cover massive, world-altering conflicts in the North that occur chronologically while Jarlaxle and Entreri are beginning their journey toward the Bloodstone Lands.
- Read Promise of the Witch-King and Road of the Patriarch: Once you finish The Two Swords, you can read the final two books of The Sellswords back-to-back. The timeline aligns perfectly, ensuring you understand the state of the Forgotten Realms as Jarlaxle executes his schemes.
Core Characters: A Dynamic Built on Contrast
The magic of The Sellswords lies in the contrasting personalities and philosophies of its two protagonists. Unlike the cooperative relationships found in Drizzt's Companions of the Hall, Jarlaxle and Entreri are bound by convenience, mutual survival, and a strange, unacknowledged respect.
Artemis Entreri is a highly disciplined, lethal human assassin. Originally defined by his singular obsession with defeating Drizzt to prove his own superiority, Entreri starts the trilogy as a hollow shell of a man. Throughout the three books, his interaction with Jarlaxle and his journey through the Bloodstone Lands force him to evaluate his life choices, leading to a slow, realistic path of redemption and self-determination.
Jarlaxle Baenre is the charismatic, flamboyant, and incredibly intelligent drow leader of the mercenary band Bregan D'aerthe. Possessing an endless supply of magical items and a penchant for elaborate hats, Jarlaxle is motivated by challenge, political influence, and chaotic curiosity. Rather than ruling from the shadows of the Underdark, he seeks to expand his reach to the surface, viewing the rigid systems of human kingdoms as puzzles to be solved.
The duo is also joined by Athrogate, a boisterous dwarf battlerager with a fondness for morningstars, bad jokes, and strong drink. Athrogate provides comic relief while also serving as a fierce and loyal combatant who joins Jarlaxle's schemes, becoming a staple of the wider series in subsequent books.
Where to Go After The Sellswords
Once you turn the final page of Road of the Patriarch, Jarlaxle and Artemis Entreri's stories are far from over. Their individual and collective paths continue to intersect with Drizzt Do'Urden's adventures throughout the subsequent eras of the Forgotten Realms. To follow their stories, you should transition into the Transitions trilogy, which consists of The Orc King, The Pirate King, and The Ghost King. In these books, the consequences of Jarlaxle's actions and Entreri's newfound independence play major roles in the changing political landscape. Following that, the characters play central roles in the Neverwinter Saga (starting with Gauntlgrym), where Entreri's fate and his complex relationship with his past are explored even further.
What to Know Before You Start
Readers should expect a significantly different tone in The Sellswords compared to standard Legend of Drizzt novels. While Drizzt's books are filled with internal monologues about justice, destiny, and the value of friendship, Jarlaxle and Entreri's adventures are characterized by political maneuvering, survival instinct, and dry humor. The series is excellent for fans of sword-and-sorcery fiction who enjoy morally gray protagonists who aren't afraid to use deception and lethal force to achieve their goals, yet still possess enough depth to keep readers rooting for their survival.