The Crimson Shadow series is a three novel series created by R. A. Salvatore. Its genre is fantasy, and consists of three books:
In 2006, the series was re-published as an omnibus in under the title The Crimson Shadow.
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The Sword of Bedwyr is the first book in the series of fantasy novels. Terry Brooks said about this book that it's "[a] fine adventure filled with memorable characters and compelling action." It was a New York Best Seller in 1994.
Luthien Bedwyr lives on Isle Bedwydrin, and island where they are bred as soldiers and fight in an arena for pleasure. When Viscount Aubrey, cousin of Duke Morkney of Montfort visits the island to watch the arena, Luthien's world is turned upside down. After defeating Garth Rogar, a rival to Luthien in the arena, but a friend in life, Luthien is forced to kill him by Viscount Aubrey. When he doesn't, one of the Viscount's cyclopian guards kills Garth for him. Luthien swears on his dead mother that he will avenge Garth, in front of Katerin O'Hale, his lover. He runs away alone after killing the cyclopian who killed his friend and on the road meets Oliver deBurrows, a highwayhalfling who steals from rich merchants that cross his path, and his mutated donkey, Threadbare. Together, Luthien and Oliver cross the Dorsal Sea and go to the mainland, where when running from numerous cyclopians, they are saved. Their saviour is an old wizard named Brind'Amour. He tasks them with find his staff in a cave because he saved them. Inside the cave, they find treasure: a crimson cape that makes the wearer invisible and a folding bow. But a dragon named Balthazar tries to stop them, and they escape the dragon by shooting a firework at his flame-breath. Ultimately, Brind'Amour gets the staff inside the cave and saves the two bandits from the dragon. Brind'Amour gives Oliver a "housbreaker" and a magical grapnel. Luthien and Oliver go to Montfort, where they commit a dozen thefts. But the magical cape casts a crimson shadow that cannot be removed, and seeing the shadow, merchants declare the second coming of the Crimson Shadow, a legendary, ancient thief. But it is actually Luthien. Along the way, Luthien spots a half-elf slave in the market, and falls in love. He tries to free her from her master, but finds that she is also a thief. Later, she is captured by Duke Morkney because she is Luthien's love interest. He goes to free her, and a revolt begins after he fires upon Morkney. He chases the duke to the top of a giant chapel called the Ministry, where Duke Morkney becomes the demon Praehotec. Luthien manages to kill him. In the epilogue, Katerin O'Hale returns from Isle Bedwydrin with news and a gift. She says that Luthien's father Gahris has revolted and not a single cyclopian lives on Isle Bedwyrdin. He gives Luthien the Sword of Bedwyr: Blind Striker. So the Crimson Shadow AKA Luthien is the leader of a ragtag insurgency in Montfort that has taken control of half the city.
Luthien's Gamble (1996) is the second book in the series by R.A. Salvatore.
This is another tale of Luthien Bedwyr who has become the warrior-thief known as the "Crimson Shadow". This time he must rouse the peasants and fierce tribes of Eriador to fight the demonic Wizard-King Greensparrow's bloodthirsty warriors.[1]
The Dragon King (1996) is the third and last book in the series.
Luthien Bedwyr, leader of the peasant armies, refuses to admit certain defeat even though the situation appears hopeless. He faces the Wizard-King Greensparrow. The Crimson Shadow will aid the young warrior, but even this unquenchable force of magic may falter against Greensparrow's ultimate weapon.[2]