Once the legendary knights of the Gabala defended the nine duchies. Their hearts were beautiful; their armor was beyond compare. They were greater ...
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reviews
Dec 01, 2010
Troy
rated it: 
I've returned to this book more than once. This book is about flawed people that are viewed in legend as flawless heroes. This story strongly opines that it is sometimes our weaknesses that make us strong. One man's claustrophobia saves him from losing his way, and allows him to guide others on the right path. If he were more perfect he would have fallen to the hubris that defiled his friends.
David Gemmell plays with destiny in a way that is hard not to admire. His characters More...
David Gemmell plays with destiny in a way that is hard not to admire. His characters More...
Oct 16, 2010
BookMarc
rated it: 
FIRST IMPRESSIONS: I guess the publisher sees the author's name as the selling point of the book as it takes up almost a quarter of the front cover. The character on the cover, which turned out to be a sorcerer by the name of Ruad, reminded me of Tiny Tim and I couldn't help but wonder if he was tiptoeing through the tulips. The perspective of the artwork seemed a tad bit off to me as those knights on the horses appear too big and would be absolutely huge next to the sorcerer if the perspective
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May 07, 2011
Steve
rated it:
I'm glad that I re-read this one. It was worthy of another read and actually more enlightening as to what I really made of it...
It's well written enough to be a page-turner (Hell, it's a Gemmell), but this time I got to wondering if Gemmell actually had a layout and book ideas before he began writing this one. He often did with his other books, maybe Legend aside.
The reason? Because with Gemmell's best works I really gained something from the story and the character depth More...
It's well written enough to be a page-turner (Hell, it's a Gemmell), but this time I got to wondering if Gemmell actually had a layout and book ideas before he began writing this one. He often did with his other books, maybe Legend aside.
The reason? Because with Gemmell's best works I really gained something from the story and the character depth More...
Mar 22, 2010
Kat
rated it: 
It's been six years since the legendary Knights of the Gabala rode through a gate to hell in order to fight the evil that threatened the realm. They haven't been heard from since. But they are desperately needed now because the King, once a noble man, has begun rounding up the nomad population in Holocaust style. People who oppose his actions are named traitors and the King's new henchmen are very strong and very .... undead. The king's new policies have alienated a lot of people — mostly peasan
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Feb 17, 2010
Nicolas
rated it: 
Dans ce bouquin, on suit les aventures d différents personnages en lutte contre un roi devenu fou et désirant exterminer tous les impurs. Bien sûr, il y a de la magie, un ordre de chevalerie très élégant dans ses armures d’argent, des méchants très méchants et cruels, des bons sentiments (ah, non tiens, il n’y en a pas tant que ça), des bandits au grand coeur, de l’amour, de la folie, et des grands d’épée qui vous déchirent de l’épaule à l’estomac.
C’est court comme résumé, non ? Et pourta More...
C’est court comme résumé, non ? Et pourta More...
Jul 15, 2010
Melissa
rated it:
My first David Gemmell book and it won't be my last! The story is about a kingdom that once was great, fair and just with the aid of the knights of the Gabala. But the king became corrupt and through the power of his red knights the land and it's people suffer. Yet there are a select few that can unite the people and save the kingdom. This band of heroes consists of a cripple, a thief and murderer, a traitor, a young boy and other misfits. How can they defeat the power of the red knights? You'll
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Jan 19, 2012
Nathan
rated it:
I've enjoyed the Gemmell I've read through the years, but I tend to overlook them a bit as being for younger audiences. But there are some adult themes if you look for them, and I could see some precursors to the modern gritty-fantasy genre here. Of course, the final "epilogue" is almost identical to that in Gemmell's Legend, so he loses points for self-plagiarism. 3.5/5
Aug 02, 2011
J'ai bien aimé ce court roman. Les personnages sont loin d'être classiques mais intéressants. (ils ne sont pas très approfondi mais ça ne gène pas l'histoire qui à le mérite de tenir en un seul volume.) Le tout est très prenant et bien mené. Un livre efficace et facile à lire.
Jul 29, 2011
Mathieu
rated it:
Un récit en un seul volet dans la fantasy, ça existe ! La preuve ! Ce roman est dense, mais le drame relaté (il n' y a pas autre mot) est de bonne tenue. On a les thèmes classiques du genre : rédemption, vengeance, expiation, menace sur le monde...
Feb 23, 2010
Elvis
rated it:
Great book. Classic Gemmell.
Stand-alone short fantasy novel but somehow gives you the feel of the world in which it is set. Very well told - and I expected no less from this author. Though I really enjoyed the book, I knock off one star because it seems to speed up towards the end. The "flow" or "sense of time" in the storyline accelerated quite obviously in the last couple of chapters.
Being a short book, Gemmell still took a big magic system and made More...
Stand-alone short fantasy novel but somehow gives you the feel of the world in which it is set. Very well told - and I expected no less from this author. Though I really enjoyed the book, I knock off one star because it seems to speed up towards the end. The "flow" or "sense of time" in the storyline accelerated quite obviously in the last couple of chapters.
Being a short book, Gemmell still took a big magic system and made More...
Sep 24, 2010
Mohsen
rated it:
life's a matter of opportunities, they can change a man into someone completely different! it's hard to control ourselves, it's even harder to predict our future. so enjoy the moment, enjoy the chance of life! :)
Mar 28, 2008
Tom
rated it:
Woah. So, I added this to my list and gave it four stars, and then a couple people I know and care about added it to their to read" lists. So I feel obligated to go back and write a brief review, so they can feel duly warned. This is not to say that the book was not great -- I really liked it, and images from it have stayed with me. A GREAT fantasy story.
But really, realy raw. Emotionally raw. I actually had to put the book down at several points, because I couldn't handle the i More...
But really, realy raw. Emotionally raw. I actually had to put the book down at several points, because I couldn't handle the i More...
Nov 18, 2009
Justin
rated it:
I am a massive Gemmell fan, it broke my heart when he died. His books live on, I read them regularly. For me David Gemmell was the best writer of fantasy fiction.
Oct 09, 2009
Mike (the Paladin)
rated it:
The heroic knights sucked into a place where they end up on the other side of the good/evil devide and one lone hero is all that's left to "save the world".
Dec 27, 2010
Charles
rated it:
Most of the way through the book I was thinking 3 stars. It was good but a bit more slow and less colorful than most of Gemmell's other works. However, the end really came on strong so that raised it another star. Defintely worth reading.
Jul 17, 2011
Kenny
rated it:
I love that the heroes/villains in this book are not stereotypical. This book shows a realistic, human-side of fantasy, and to me it is inspiring - it shows that anyone can be a hero (or a monster).
Jul 28, 2011
Nice fantasy. The ending is a little bit too quick to my taste. Should have lasted longuer.
Dec 09, 2010
Debby
rated it:
Why 3 stars and not 4 - I think because I'm such a sucker for the Shannow/Waylander type hero - which is here in parts. Gemmell is getting better at describing intricate battles, which will serve him well in future books. This one is a stand alone, though I think (again) parts resurface in his other series.
Aug 20, 2011
Caroline
rated it:
A good stand alone. Gemmell is one of those big names in fantasy that I've just never really read much of, and I did get a kick out of this.
Mar 30, 2011
Abdulaziz
rated it:
it's interesting it have the same feeling of the Dernai series and it has an interesting bunch of characters
Dec 16, 2009
Nethound
rated it:
More classic Gemmell. Not directly related to his Drenai works, but in the same world I think.
Feb 12, 2012
Feb 11, 2012
