Book Review - Legend by David Gemmell

 

Books Read in 2026 - No. 3

Welcome Book Nerds and Gemmell Fans!

This is a first for my blog. A review of a re-read.  I have re-read many books when younger, but this may be one of my first re-reads as an adult.

The copy I read was published by Legend Books in 1987.  I've had it since 1994  and bought this and the 4 books after it from Fantasy and Sci-fi Book club for about a quid.

Sadly, I went out meeting my friends and going out on wild weekends and playing on the Playstation to reading.  Even though I kept buying more books telling myself I'll read them soon.

Fast forward to 2003 when I first read Legend by David Gemmell.  I kicked myself, as I was mad I had the book gathering dust and going brown on my shelf for almost 10 years.  I loved it and read many more in the Drenai series.

So when fans of Gemmell arranged the event of GemmellFest, I thought I'd have a re-read and got my old battered copy out.  I was tempted to buy another newer copy that matches the newer Gemmell books I've collected over the years, but stuck to my brown copy.  I had hoped to finish it by GemmellFest but my old eyes are tired when reading for too long.

So I'll give a quick plot briefing.

The lands of the Drenai are under threat of invasion by the tribesmen of the Nadir led by Ulric a fierce and tactical leader who has united the fighting tribes.

To do this they must breach the fortress of Dros Delnoch. This is no easy task as it's got six walls and blocks passage to the Drenai lands.

Although Ulric has the numbers. Half a million men so the fortress should fall. 

But defending the walls are The Thirty. Warrior and spiritual monks led by the albino Serbitar.  Also there is Rek, a baresark married to the dying Earls daughter Virae. Lastly there is Druss. The Legend, Deathwalker. An aging feared warrior seeking death.

Overall -  I'm so glad I re-read the book at an older age.  One of the main themes of the book is mortality and ageing.  When I read it in 2003, I was wanting more battles and blood.  Now I've matured as a reader and read more, including David Gemmell I appreciate the slower parts.  

The parts Gemmell seamlessly puts together.  These include different POVs of minor characters like a Nadir warrior before his death. A woman married to a miller who leaves the Keep and the miller thinking he'll be missed when he dies.

There was also a lot I'd forgotten - mild spoilers - the traitors in the Keep and who they were.  How a major character died and came back.

Gemmells writing is so good. Especially for a first novel. I slightly remember, when I went to a talk he did in 2005 he thought he was ill and wouldn't make it. Depending on the outcome of his diagnosis, if good then the heroes would win.  If bad then the Keep of Dros Delnoch would fall. Obviously the heroes win.

I liked how in a few paragraphs you knew a character straight away.  Plus the fighting scenes were well written and gory and no character was safe.

There were some typos but I think it was more to do the the publisher Legend. 

The main heroes of Rek and Druss were well written too.  I think now the main character is Rek.  As we follow his journey from a wanderer to the Earl of Bronze.

If you haven't read Legend by David Gemmell then you need to.  It's a classic and doesn't get as much love as it deserves.  It's also an inspiration for new fantasy authors including Joe Abercrombie and John Gywnne.

Score -  10/10

Goodreads -  5/5