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The Years of Longdirk #2
Demon Rider
Tobias Strangerson, known as Toby Longdirk has repeatedly escaped capture by King Nevil and his henchman, Baron Oreste of Utrecht. Traveling from Scotland to England, to Bordeaux and Spain, only Toby knows that the king is possessed by a demon and therefore is both immortal and devoted to evil. As Toby struggles against his own inner demons, he must start a crusade against the enemy, depose a tyrant, and restore legitimate rule to the land.
- GenresFantasyHistorical
415 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1997
About the author
Ken Hood
5 books5 followersPen name originally used by Dave Duncan for his Years of Longdirk series.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 23, 2021
This second in the series seems to be tighter, and begins to hit it's stride. Longdirk and Hamish are still on the run from Baron Oreste and King Nevil ruled by a Demon, is throwing mass destruction at any area he thinks they can be found. Longdirk, continuing to struggle with his resident spirit, begins to have vivid dreams from which he awakes with physical results. They meet and travel with a group of misfits who help, hinder, and drive the two crazy. Definitely a fantasy epic, although I continue to struggle with not feeling my usual full immersion into the magic. At first I thought it might be due to this being an early novel by a new writer building his skills. Nope, established writer, whose books I've loved, writing under a pseudonym. I can only surmise that either my reading tastes have changed, (sure hope not,) or the stresses of the year's pandemic pandemonium has dulled my love for the fantastical . At a time when we need magic the most, I'd hate to think that it's lost it's luster.
June 8, 2012
"thunder struck him like a flying anvil. There
were real things flying, too, nasty hot wet things."
This installment was, no bones about it, brutal. From the opening scenes of incarceration, to the beheadings, torture and fights, every swordstroke or thunderbolt was depicted in stark, harsh detail. It's a harder, grimmer coming of age than some of Duncan's others; with similarities of course but with also an element of more open, real violence.
It continued Toby's story well though, and right now I am going to go and start the third with a cup of tea (and a whisky chaser for the Scots angle).
were real things flying, too, nasty hot wet things."
This installment was, no bones about it, brutal. From the opening scenes of incarceration, to the beheadings, torture and fights, every swordstroke or thunderbolt was depicted in stark, harsh detail. It's a harder, grimmer coming of age than some of Duncan's others; with similarities of course but with also an element of more open, real violence.
It continued Toby's story well though, and right now I am going to go and start the third with a cup of tea (and a whisky chaser for the Scots angle).
April 9, 2020
Quite the scene shift from the first book this carries the adventures of Longdirk a lot further but along the epic scale that the end of Demon Sword set you up for.
The book seemed a little scattered, not helped by some shenanigans which is always one of my pet peeves. The main character was a little inconsistent and after hitting the middle of the book I found it always easy to put down or pass reading, which isn't a good sign.
I did enjoy finishing it, but don't have a major compunction to head into the third book (I also believe the fourth, the finale, does not exist, so incentive is low).
The book seemed a little scattered, not helped by some shenanigans which is always one of my pet peeves. The main character was a little inconsistent and after hitting the middle of the book I found it always easy to put down or pass reading, which isn't a good sign.
I did enjoy finishing it, but don't have a major compunction to head into the third book (I also believe the fourth, the finale, does not exist, so incentive is low).
August 10, 2021
Ken Hood is Dave Duncan, in case you don't already know. He is one of my favorite authors, however this was not one of his better books. Most of it I found was filler, boring and ploddingly slow. It wasn't until the last few chapters that things improved and kept my interest. It was because of the ending that this got 3 stars instead of 2.
Longdirk and Hamish are typically fun characters and I hope there will be more of that in the third book, which I will be reading shortly. I trust that Duncan won't let me down.
Longdirk and Hamish are typically fun characters and I hope there will be more of that in the third book, which I will be reading shortly. I trust that Duncan won't let me down.
June 21, 2022
Characters, world-building, plotting, pacing, writing style … all bang on.
Toby has made it through a variety of countries, picking up a smattering of languages, a love interest and a horse. Still on the run from the authorities, this time it’s the Spanish Inquisition that provides the terror in the night. His sprite/hob/interior companion has learned to some new tricks in order to save Toby from the manacles and tongs of the Inquisition’s most zealous advocates. It doesn’t alleviate the results of the questing, but it does let him think his way around the trouble spots.
Duncan does not shy away from a torture scene; he’s not one to be worried about our delicate nature as he describes what’s happening. He’s also got our hero naked on a number of these occasions without an obvious reason as there wasn’t any demeaning torture you’d suspect was coming. It’s a plot hole that’s bugs me. There doesn’t seem to be a physical or psychological reason. It’s weird.
Also strange, but in a delightful way, we run into the Man of La Mancha who hires Toby and Hamish as guards for his merchant caravan. He’s an unusual character and I’m not sure this tale would be half as good without him.
That aside, there’s a part of the book told as backstory to what’s happening now, and that includes a romance that I would like to have read about first-hand.
Speaking of hands, Hamish has both of his full with a lusty serving girl who has plans that don’t include being a serving girl. The addition of Don Pedro, playing the part of Quixote, helps make up for the absence of Hamish whose nightly escapades make him a bit scarce.
At the end of this book, we see Toby about to take matters into his own hands as he and his compadres start hunting the demon behind the man on the throne. Won’t lie .. hoping for more magic and less torture.
Off we go ..
Toby has made it through a variety of countries, picking up a smattering of languages, a love interest and a horse. Still on the run from the authorities, this time it’s the Spanish Inquisition that provides the terror in the night. His sprite/hob/interior companion has learned to some new tricks in order to save Toby from the manacles and tongs of the Inquisition’s most zealous advocates. It doesn’t alleviate the results of the questing, but it does let him think his way around the trouble spots.
Duncan does not shy away from a torture scene; he’s not one to be worried about our delicate nature as he describes what’s happening. He’s also got our hero naked on a number of these occasions without an obvious reason as there wasn’t any demeaning torture you’d suspect was coming. It’s a plot hole that’s bugs me. There doesn’t seem to be a physical or psychological reason. It’s weird.
Also strange, but in a delightful way, we run into the Man of La Mancha who hires Toby and Hamish as guards for his merchant caravan. He’s an unusual character and I’m not sure this tale would be half as good without him.
That aside, there’s a part of the book told as backstory to what’s happening now, and that includes a romance that I would like to have read about first-hand.
Speaking of hands, Hamish has both of his full with a lusty serving girl who has plans that don’t include being a serving girl. The addition of Don Pedro, playing the part of Quixote, helps make up for the absence of Hamish whose nightly escapades make him a bit scarce.
At the end of this book, we see Toby about to take matters into his own hands as he and his compadres start hunting the demon behind the man on the throne. Won’t lie .. hoping for more magic and less torture.
Off we go ..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2023
3.5 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Tobias Longdirk, sharing his body with his home village's hob, has been chased across Europe by demons, and now must make his way through a Spain devastated by war, in the company of a seemingly mad knight and his retainer.
Review
I enjoyed this second volume in the Longdirk series, but at times the road story seemed a bit of a trudge. Duncan brings in a version of Don Quijote, and while he does it well, it initially felt a bit random, and I questioned its inclusion. In the end, Quijote (or Don Ramon, as he’s known here) becomes quite central, and I assume the chance to play with him was part of Duncan’s impetus for writing the book.
That aside, Duncan does find ways to develop the demonic possession theme with a few interesting twists. Tobias himself doesn’t change much, and at times verges on stagnant, but overall interesting things happen to him (and Hamish), and the story moves smoothly. Not the strongest of Duncan’s books, but not the worst, and a decent middle book in the trilogy.
Summary
Tobias Longdirk, sharing his body with his home village's hob, has been chased across Europe by demons, and now must make his way through a Spain devastated by war, in the company of a seemingly mad knight and his retainer.
Review
I enjoyed this second volume in the Longdirk series, but at times the road story seemed a bit of a trudge. Duncan brings in a version of Don Quijote, and while he does it well, it initially felt a bit random, and I questioned its inclusion. In the end, Quijote (or Don Ramon, as he’s known here) becomes quite central, and I assume the chance to play with him was part of Duncan’s impetus for writing the book.
That aside, Duncan does find ways to develop the demonic possession theme with a few interesting twists. Tobias himself doesn’t change much, and at times verges on stagnant, but overall interesting things happen to him (and Hamish), and the story moves smoothly. Not the strongest of Duncan’s books, but not the worst, and a decent middle book in the trilogy.
May 10, 2019
see review of Demon Sword (The Years of Longdirk #1)
April 21, 2020
Boring in the beginning and middle but more interesting towards the end. There's a really cool thing I can't talk about because I don't want to spoil it for you.
August 28, 2013
Dave Duncan's pen name for this trilogy continues to impress. Strong characters, moral dilemmas, and lots of interesting challenges face Toby as he's bound to a capricious Hob spirit against his will, as he and his faithful friends travel through the Inquisition held Spain. Along the way he joins with an alternate Man of La Mancha who's bizzare view of reality is a fun twist on the classic character. Strongly recommended.
February 1, 2012
Improves and expands upon the first book in the series, and opens the door for what could be a very interesting conclusion. I'm looking forward to book 3!
July 5, 2012
Oddly reminiscent (*cough* *cough*) of Dave Duncan's work, Ken has three fantasy novels in the "Years of Longdirk" series: Demon Sword [Harper Prism, 1995], Demon Rider and Demon Knight.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews