Hi guys
It's with a sigh of relief that I post this review. It's not that this is a bad book. But it took me three! Yes Three months to read.
As David Gemmell is my favourite author at the moment it did sadden me for two reasons.
One - it's the last true Druss book out with one of my favourite characters in fiction bowing out. Although he did cameo in the Skilgannon books later on which I've still to read but through reviews know that in those books it's not properly him.
Two - it isn't one of my favourite Gemmell books. This maybe because I kept breaking off reading it too much although I wanted more Druss and the ending to the battle was wrapped up too quickly and conveniently.
Druss is retelling the story at Dros Delnoch in the setting of Legend where he is old and awaiting death.
The story starts when Druss and his poet friend Sieben are in Gulgothir where Druss is fighting in a huge tournament.
He becomes friends with his rival Klay and shares a mutual respect with him but the night before their fight Druss is attacked. Klay steps in to help Druss and in the ensuring fight gets an arrow in the back.
Druss is told of magical healing stones in harsh Nadir lands in the Shrine of Oshikai. He and Sieben set off for them as the city errupts into chaos.
Also after the stones is Talisman. A young Nadir warrior who is told by a Shaman that he is the one to find the stones, the Eyes of Alchazzar. He goes to the Shrine also and unites the Nadir guarding the Shrine to fight the Gothir army sent also to find the stones. To aid the small Nadir army is Druss. The Deathwalker.
The book has some great action pieces and more use of magic in this Drenai novel than the ones before it. This is the first time a witch has been mentioned. We also travel to the Void (afterlife) again and meet terrifying beasts.
The characters are strong in the book also with multiple POVs as you get to see what even secondary characters are thinking and feeling. Talisman and Sieben had some of the best characterisation. Also the women were quite good characters including the strong willed Niobe.
Overall - not my favourite Gemmell book although I think on a second read I would enjoy it more as I kept breaking off for days, sometimes weeks at a time before going back to it. The next books I read I mean to read faster and with less distractions.
Also I wanted more Druss and a bit more fighting at the Shrine. I'm guessing Mr Gemmell didn't want to do that as much as it would have been like Legend too much. Another bug bear as mentioned above was the ending. The siege was over far too quickly and conveniently.
Saying that when I was reading it the action and characters kept me going. It's just a shame no more Druss books will come out.
Score 7/10
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