It's one of those series that everyone I've ever met who has read it has loved it. It's fantasy, set in the Forgotten Realms of Dungeons & Dragons but it's not dependent on knowing anything about the role playing game. The first book of the series is called Homeland. It's about a dark elf who isn't evil like the rest of his species.

Homeland (1990) — Homeland follows the story of Drizzt from around the time and circumstances of his birth and his upbringing amongst the drow (dark elves). The book takes the reader into Menzoberranzan, the drow home city. From here, the reader follows Drizzt on his quest to follow his principles in a land where such feelings are threatened by all his family including his mother Matron Malice.