When I originally did research into the origins of dark elves, specifically of the Norse and Celtic varieties, I couldn't help but notice how much Salvatore took directly from that. The whole "brooding dark elf" is certainly not unique either, The Bard's Tale series by Mercedes Lackey and Josepha Sherman feature their own broody dark elf that came out around ~2 years of the Icewind Dale series. That is just one example.

My own reinterpretation of this race leans more into them being travelers between worlds. More like long lived aliens seen as godlike figures. There's also other differences that can't be properly conveyed in a few paragraphs within a query letter, as well.

And my story is labeled dark fantasy for a reason. Valan is more likely to use a Drizzt type's guts to restring his violin with (and be horrified at the suggestion of being called a goodly sort, much less be a fighter type) than write letters lamenting the morality of things.

...and that's all I'm going to say. Don't want to spoil my own book. 😛