پژواک آوای دوران

by David Gemmell, سهیلا فرزین‌نژاد (Translator)

آواتارها فناناپذیر بودند و مانند پادشاهان زندگی می‌کردند. اگر چه امپراطوری آنها در حال زوال بود. فناناپذیری آنان توسط بلورهایی جادویی تضمین می‌شد. کریستال‌هایی که نفوذ و قدرتشان اکنون در اثر قدرت سیل عظیم و دوران یخبندان غریبی رو به تحلیل می‌رفت. اما هنگامی که دو ماه در آسمان ظاهر شدند و سپاهیان سنگدل ملکه بلورین به سراسر سرزمین حمله کرده و انهدام و هراس را با خود به ارمغان آوردند. آواتارها با افراد تحت سلطه خود متحد شدند تا جهان خود را حفظ کنند.

در همان حین که شهرها با ویرانی قریب‌الوقوع روبرو می‌شدند، سه قهرمان ظاهر شدند. تالابان جنگجویی دل مشغول فاجعه، مرد قبیله اسرارآمیزی که در جستجوی عشق گمشده‌اش بود و آنو، تک مقدس، خالق زمان، و هنگامی که به نظر می‌رسید همه سردرگم شده‌اند، دو نفر دیگر وارد صحنه شدند، سوفاریتا دختر کشاورزی که الهام بخش اسطوره می‌شد.

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Heroic Fantasy, Ebooks, Science Fiction Fantasy

508 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1997

About the author

David Andrew Gemmell was a bestselling British author of heroic fantasy. A former journalist and newspaper editor, Gemmell had his first work of fiction published in 1984. He went on to write over thirty novels. Best known for his debut, Legend, Gemmell's works display violence, yet also explores themes in honour, loyalty and redemption. With over one million copies sold, his work continues to sell worldwide.

Reviews

[S. ≽^•⩊•^≼ I'm not here yet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stand-alone books
1- Echoes of the Great Song ⭐️6
2- Dark Moon ⭐️4.5

پدر کل هستی ناظر بود که شرارت به سوی فرزندانش به راه افتاد. در آغاز از او تمنا کرده بودند که آزادی به آنها عطا کند تا بتوانند مطابق سرنوشت خود زندگی کنند. پدر کل هستی به آنها قول داده بود که مداخله نخواهد کرد. و آنان اکنون با تقدیر خود روبه رو بودند. با نجوایی می‌توانست آنها را برهاند اما قول او آهن بود و وزنه‌ای بر روی روحش.

دیوید گمل
پژواک آوای دوران
سهیلا فرزین‌نژاد
انتشارات کتابسرای تندیس

The Drenai Saga (به ترتیب وقایع)
1· Knights of Dark Renown (1989) (شوالیه‌های بدنام) 6⭐️
2· Morningstar (1992) (ستاره صبح/ تولد یک قهرمان) 5⭐️
3. Waylander (1986)
4. Waylander II, In the Realm of the Wolf (1992)
5. Waylander III, Hero in the Shadows (2000)
6. The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend (1993) (نخستين ماجراجوهايي هاي دراس اسطوره) 4⭐️
7. The Legend of Deathwalker (1996) (افسانه مرگ پیما) 5⭐️
8· Skilgannon I. White Wolf (2003) (گرگ سفید) 5⭐️
9. Legend (1984)(اسطوره) 5⭐️
10. The King Beyond the Gate (1985) (پادشاه آن سوی دروازه) 5⭐️
11. Quest for Lost Heroes (1990) to-read
12. Winter Warriors (1997) to-read
13· Skilgannon II. The Swords of Night and Day (2004) (شمشیرهای روز و شب) 4.5⭐️


Troy series
1- Lord of the Silver Bow (2005) (ارباب کمان نقره‌ای) 6⭐️
2- Shield of Thunder (2006) (سپر آذرخش) to-read
3- Fall of Kings (2007) (سقوط شاهان) to-read


Sipstrassi Series:
1-Lion of Macedon (1990)(شیر مقدونیه) 5⭐️
2-Dark Prince (1991)(شاهزاده سیاه) 4⭐️
3-Ghost King (1988)(شیح شاه) 4.5⭐️
4-Last Sword of Power (1988)(آخرین شمشیر قدرت) 4⭐️
5-Wolf in Shadow (گرگ در سایه) 4⭐️
6-The Last Guardian (آخرین محافظ) to-read
7-Bloodstone (خون آشام) to-read

[Clemens Schoonderwoert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This marvellous heroic fantasy is another splendid example of the author's enormous capability to bring another fantasy story that is filled with magic and splendour.

Storytelling is once more of a superb quality, the story wonderfully structured and executed, and all characters come brilliantly to life within this tale about overbearing, humility and wonder.

Its another amazing book that will show people's actions and emotions, in which vanity and frailty, loyalty and betrayal, courage and cowardice, overbearing and humility will all play a very important part within this wonderful story.

The story is about the Avatars, who are, or so they think, immortal and living like gods, but who are still living in the old ways while their empire is dying, and not to forget their immortality is only guaranteed by crystals, but these are also waning, and to matters even worse the Crystal Queen is hunting for blood and crystals.

The main characters in this tale are our blood-brothers, the Avatar Talaban, and a haunted warrior, Touchstone, the Old Holy One and Builder of Time, Anu, the peasant girl who'll become a goddess, Sofarita, and Viruk, an Avatar madman and killer.

The Avatars in their self-interested behaviour believe themselves invincible, but when they find out that their sources for strength and power are waning, they need to seek help from, in their eyes, inferior races to oppose the aggressors who are looking for their blood and crystals to feed their Crystal Queen, Almeia.

What is to follow is an amazing tale where SF, supernatural elements and fantasy historical events are intertwined in a most fascinating fashion, to give this whole book an educational lesson in history, humanity and humility, and all this factors combined make this wonderful book such a joy to read.

Highly recommended, for this is another astonishing heroic fantasy tale with a brilliant humanly meaning, and that's why I like to call this excellent book: "A Wondrous Great Song"!

[Carmine R. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decadenza sull'imbrunire

Lui le disse che l'amava, che l'avrebbe amata per l'eternità. Una lacrima apparve sulla guancia di cristallo, poi i suoi occhi si irrigidirono, e lei se n'era andata.
Fu in quel momento che per lui il mondo finì, e la catastrofe dell'anno dopo fu nulla al paragone.
"Quello è il giorno in cui ho perso tutto", pensò.
"No, quello è il giorno in cui hai abbandonato tutto. Oggi è il giorno in cui te lo riprendi."

Di fronte a titani come Tolkien, Martin, Jordan, Erikson e Moorcock, un Gemmell può, al massimo, guadagnare l'onore delle armi per essersi inserito nel genere e averlo migliorato nel suo piccolo.
Ecco, non mento nell'affermare che Gemmell abbia migliorato in positivo il genere fantasy con il suo celeberrimo ciclo dei Drenai: l'eroismo non è appannaggio di una sbandierata perfezione fisica né dell'anacronistica invulnerabilità mentale che preclude bassezze morali o fallimenti reiterati.
Nella costruzione di personaggi umani e fallibili, qualche volta piuttosto esecrabili nelle scelte, l'autore ha trovato l'apice della sua poetica e restituito opere intrise di un'ingenuo ottimismo; opere che, in fondo, tutti vogliamo leggere per semplice consolazione dai rimpianti o ammissioni di colpe.
Fatta la doverosa premessa verso un autore che stimo, il romanzo qui presente sfoggia personaggi plastici piuttosto interscambiabili fra loro, impalpabili tanto nel tratteggio caratteriale quanto sotto il profilo introspettivo; e anche il worldbuilding, sulla carta molto interessante, forse persino responsabile di una minima ispirazione per Elantris di Sanderson, risulta a conti fatti inconcludente, portato avanti a suon di deus ex machina e facilonerie assortite - dall'onniscienza atemporale di Almeia (comodamente scriptata da metà romanzo) sino alla riscoperta randomica della magia da parte di Anu.
Rimane la scorrevolezza di un autore che sa cavarsela di mestiere.

[Mehrshad Zarei · Rating 3 out of 5]

این طرح بدیع آفرینش
همه از موسیقی نشأت گرفت،
از موسیقی افلاک
و این موسیقی آهنگ به آهنگ و لحن به لحن
برتار و پود هستی نواخته شد
و در نقطه‌ی اوج موزونی و هم‌آهنگی
انسان را پدید آورد
جان درایدن


در این دنیا تصویر گروهی از انسان‌هایی رو می‌بینید که
آواتار نامیده می‌شن که با به‌دست آوردن دانشی توانایی جاودان شدن رو پیدا کرده‌اند و با محصور کردن این دانش بین خودشون بر انسان‌های عادی حکم‌روایی می‌کنن. اما به دلیل جاه‌طلبی و قدرتی که بهشون رسیده در طی قرون هیچ اندوخته‌ی جدیدی نیاموختند و دستاوردشون رفته‌رفته رو به افول رفته. با این اوصاف که عامه‌ی مردم تماشاگر غروب خدایان هستند تشنه‌ی شورش و برقراری نظمی نو هستند. گرچه نویسنده تا نیمه‌های داستان از هیچ یک از دو طرف جانبداری نمی‌کنه و هیچ یک را بد و نیک درنظر نمی‌گیره تا اینکه جبهه‌ی شرور که هزاران نفر بیشتر از آواتارها هستند و نیرویی تقریبا مشابه اون‌ها دارند وارد داستان می‌شن و چالش‌ها و کشمکش‌های این کتاب رو شکل می‌دن.





ایده‌ی داستان و منطقی که پشت جادوی خلق شده پنهان کرده بود بسیار بدیع و عالی بود. کارکترها هم بسیار انسانی‌اند و خوب پرداخته شده بودند و به‌نظرم اگر ترجمه بهتر بود زنده‌تر به‌نظر می‌رسیدند. با تمام این تفاسیر باید گفت این کتاب داستان خوبی داشت اما مشکل اساسی اون در «چگونه گفتن» داستان هست که بازهم بد نیست اما تکراریه و در اکثر آثار گمل با اینکه ایده‌ها و شخصیت‌های متفاوتی وجود دارند اما چگونگی روایت یکسان هست و این به‌دیدگاهم ضعف بزرگی‌ست چراکه شما اگر این کتاب رو قبل از آثار دیگه نویسنده بخوانید بسیار لذت خواهید برد اما اگر چندین عنوان قبلش خوانده باشید در بسیاری از موارد سیر روایی داستان از شروع تا پایان برایتان تکراری‌ست و کمتر لذت خواهید برد.




یکی از معایب دیگه‌ی کتاب اینه که نتونسته از عنصر غافلگیری به خوبی استفاده کنه و تقریبا هر اتفاقی رو که در انتهای داستان قراره بیوفته رو از قبل توضیح می‌ده و تمام لذتش در چگونگی شرح اون اتفاق باقی می‌مونه.
شخصیت‌های زیادی در این کتاب ازشون استفاده شده که هر کدوم با مرتبط شدن با دیگری معنا و مفهوم پیدا می‌کنن و پرداخته می‌شن و دنیای داستان از نگاه اون‌ها شکل می‌گیره و تعریف می‌شه، چیزی که توی کتاب‌های دیگه‌ی گمل هم می‌بینیم(بازهم تکراری)

[Emelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second time reading this book.
It is as magnificent as the first time.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gemmell was equally adept at series and at standalone novels. His imagination was giant. Highly recommended

[Mike Moak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another really good book. I am slowly making my way through all of Gemmell's books. How is it I never heard of this author in his heyday? I loved the story. I loved the writing. I loved the weaving of legend. This is a stand alone book that is definitely worth a read.

[K H · Rating 5 out of 5]

2025 shelf audit: 5 stars
So so much to love with this one!
It's set after an ice age which is such an interesting setting. The Avatars, as I read them, are analogous to white colonizers and I thought this book was a very good examination of the fear common to a lot of far right conservatives about white people being 'overrun' or 'under populated'. This book explores both of those fears in I thought a very great way (especially in 1997!). Gemmell is very good at writing women, I have no complaints which is very rare for a male author. Extremely, extremely well done book I'm better for having read it.

One interesting note is that I've read two Gemmell books (Dark Moon) and if I had a nickle for each time an enemy did not exist at all on a planet and then randomly teleported there in the score of hundreds of thousands I'd have two nickles. Which isn't a lot, but is weird that plot point happened twice lol.

Original 2017 review: 5 stars
Amazing! Definitely one of the best fantasy novels I've ever read and I do feel sadness that it is not a series.

The relatively good gender roles and lack of gay hate in this were surprisingly refreshing - as compared to the Game of Thrones GARBAGE - AND IT WAS PRINTED IN 1997. Literally 20 years ago. At one point a character made a derogatory comment on another character's supposed femininity because they were gay, and the person they were talking to flat out STOPPED THEM IN THEIR TRACKS AND SAID HIS SEXUALITY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS PERSONALITY. Bless. Not to say I didn't take issue with a few things, but it does make me feel shame in the lack of current progress made in the fantasy genre today. Hopefully a book will come out soon to push the standards that this one did in its day (transgender wizards? genderfluid elves, come on fantasy authors there's a lot of ways to push the envelope! Literature shapes readers and make other peoples' experiences relatable to them!)

[Brian Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

The intense moral relativity in this novel is surprising - most every character begins as morally reprehensible and at odds with one another, but over the course of the story they recognize their flaws and try to work together, and become willing to sacrifice themselves for each other if required.

Yet it manages to remain a very enjoyable fantasy novel, filled with all the determined heroism and desperate struggles we'd expect from a Gemmell novel.

What I found interesting is that the first time I read this I presumed it was set in the future - but re-reading it now I'm more inclined to think of it as more akin to an Atlantean pre-history of Gemmell's world.

Overall, another great Gemmell book that is perhaps unfairly over-shadowed by being a standalone by comparison to his series.

[Jacq · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I read this book! I read it because of a (very) forceful recommendation. I love fantasy, this didn't really seem like 'my' fantasy book. I was pretty skeptical. Holy was I ever wrong! Gemmell had me hooked after the first page. It was so different and refreshing from most of the fantasy genre I have read lately (urban fantasy). I fell in love with the characters, even the characters I disliked. I loved the use of the tribal songs at the start of each chapter, even if they contained some spoilers, they mostly made me excited for the story to come. This was the kind of book I would stay home from work/school to read.

[Gibson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Specchi riflessi

Il declino degli Avatar, un popolo divino tirannico e arrogante, illuminato dalla conoscenza e che per questo si ritiene superiore a tutti, detentore di un potere magico oramai agli sgoccioli per mancanza di energia, passa attraverso la presa di coscienza e la volontà di rivalsa di altri popoli assoggettati e stanchi di essere considerati schiavi, come corpi al servizio di padroni. Ma soprattutto passa per gli Almec, una razza comparsa all'improvviso da un mondo parallelo, la cui mentalità rispecchia quella degli Avatar stessi e con la necessità di annientare tutto per poter sopravvivere.
Sarà la guerra o l'alleanza l'arma per arrestare la caduta?

L'impressione che ho ricavato, leggendo il romanzo, è stata quella di un disegno generale e di uno svolgimento adatti ad una saga e non ad un romanzo autoconclusivo. Gemmell ha pensato in grande ma realizzato in piccolo, limando di molto quel carisma narrativo che solitamente gli appartiene al punto da farmi dubitare di star leggendo una sua opera.
Diversamente dal solito, l'autore non conquista sin dalle prime pagine: manca un catalizzatore, un leader, uno di quei personaggi solidi e dotati di carattere che rapiscono il lettore e che Gemmell centra quasi sempre.
Qui a dir la verità di protagonisti ce ne sono diversi, ognuno con il suo compito e la sua storia, ma forse fatta eccezione per uno, sono ombre che veleggiano sulle ali della narrazione. Non lasciano il segno, non uno indelebile insomma.
Non per questo il romanzo è un brutto romanzo, non è una bocciatura la mia. Anzi, si lascia leggere bene e con una buona dose di scorrevolezza, ma la sensazione di 'abbozzo' e di mancanza di concretezza ha messo radici dentro di me.

[Matt Littrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Wow. I've been a fan of Gemmell since the 90s. And I love Druss, Waylander, Skilgannon, and other of the Drenai. But reading this book, along with Dark Moon a few months ago, have sent my thoughts concerning Gemmell and his stories to new places. This book surprised me. The lore, the history, this is a world I would like to have seen fleshed out. It's great, heroic fantasy. Read it.

[Mateusz · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the beginning it's hard to read. Later it's hard not to read.

[The Retrospective Emperor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yes, it's another David Gemmell book today. This is one of his standalone novels. It is unlike any of his other books I've read. According to the David Gemmell Wiki, this book is an alternate history book about Atlantis or the Atlanteans.

Echoes of the Great Song begins with a Main Character, Talaban, on a mission to re-energize crystals. Talaban is part of a race known as Avatars that are virtually immortal through the power of these crystals. He is an interesting character who loves his people but seems sick of ruling others. Talaban also brings along Questor Ro and a man named Touchstone. Touchstone is a subjugated "savage" that is a wise smart ass. Quester Ro is a short man that altogether believes in the superiority of the Avatar race. The crystals also power their cities, ships, and weapons. The Avatars were a mighty race that ruled all those around them, but an ice age caused their power to decline. They are now running out of energy to power their crystals, in turn losing their ability to subjugate other races. In addition, most of their population has been wiped out, and cities lost.

The Book The Echoes of the Great Song
Talaban goes to an ice-covered city to recharge the crystals along with Questor Ro. Neither of the two men like the other, so they struggle to work together. They are successful in their mission; however, the energy source used to charge the crystals has been destroyed. Meanwhile, in the city of Paragu the Avatars there are trying to prevent a rebellion of the tribes under their control. They send out a man named Viruk to stop any rebellion. Viruk is an insane killer that enjoys battle. He breaks rules and does what he pleases when he pleases. He goes to a village then kills the local chieftain for acquiescing to the demands of an invading tribe. Viruk then demands a whore, after designating a new chieftain, who promptly brings Viruk his daughter. Enter Sofrita, a village girl that is dying of cancer who Viruk heals with his crystal. Since she is healed she becomes crystal touched; a side effect that causes her to gain great powers. She becomes a problem for the Avatars.

Lastly, there is Anu a Wiseman of the Avatars that foresaw the great frost of the world. He has chosen to die which alienates him from his Avatar peers. He foresees a coming enemy, the Almecs, that is similar to the Avatars themselves. So, the rest of the story deals with preventing a rebellion and the incoming enemy.

Gemmells work can be a bit rushed at times with characters not being fully fleshed out. However, he wrote great action scenes and this book seems to be one of his more unique creations. I would have liked to see some sequels for this novel because the setting was really captivating.

[Ian Banks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels like a natural successor to the Sipstrassi novels from earlier in Gemmell’s career, but done slightly differently, rather like the stories of the Magical Celts (tm) that he kept returning to. Except these are crystals rather than stones. At any rate, their purpose is the same: the Avatars, similar to Pendarric and his crew from the Sipstrassi novels, have used the power of the crystals to rule and extend their lives. However, like in the earlier novels, the world tilted and crashed and they became just another tyrannical minority using their vast powers to keep the general populace in check.

Until someone more powerful comes along…

This novel is, fortunately, much more than a rehash of previous ideas from earlier in Gemmell’s bibliography. There’s a story here about people who have become too resistant to change and over-reliant on the past to sustain their present. There’s also a doubling down on the idea that the earth continually “falls” and rises again, which was first aired in The King Beyond The Gate, and is becoming a default explanation for the connections between most of Gemmell’s novels, meaning that a lot of his books are part of a series that spans tens or hundreds of thousands of years. He also uses the idea of The Great Song as a metaphor for the mysteries of the universe become known and unknown over the course of these apocalyptic events, which has been used in many other books as well.

And it’s a cracking read to boot.

[Stephen Roddick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Book.
The story of the final fall of a once great empire.


Synopsis:
The world has turned on it's ends, The poles have shifted, tipping the seas from thier bowls and changing the world forever.

With thier homeland under a glacier, and beset on all sides by barbarians, the remanents of the immortal Avatars have carved a new home. Protected only by the power of thier crystals the Avatars seek to create a new empire.

The crystals are failing and with them the Avatar's power and immortality. The Great Pyramid which was used to recharge the crystals lies under the glacier along with thier homeland.

Now a new threat has appeared across the sea and threatens the Avatars.

[Baldurian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quando ho finito questo romanzo mi sono chiesto: "Ma Gemmell non poteva allungarlo di qualche centinaio di pagine?". In effetti la fretta nello svolgersi degli eventi è l'unico appunto che mi sento di muovere a questo grande fantasy crepuscolare; per il resto l'ambientazione è meravigliosa, i personaggi sono interessanti (l'idea di un popolo di semidei sul viale del tramonto vale oro) e variegati (si va dal santone tutto spirito al guerriero con la passione per il giardinaggio e lo sbudellamento dei nemici). L'eco del grande canto forse finisce troppo presto, ma un difetto del genere lo perdono più che volentieri.

[Barry Mulvany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. It has a lovely melancholic feel as you would expect from a book set just after the end of the world. It is a fast paced book as Gemmell's usually are but as always he makes you feel for the characters in such a brief period of time. It is a standalone which is always handy in the usually epic series of the Fantasy genre and it provides a beautiful bittersweet end. Would thoroughly recommend.

[Chiara · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, an entertaining reading that I love making once in a while.

[Rebecca Victoria · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't take it anymore, so I DNF'd this book. Truly, I loved the storytelling, but hated what it was about. I feel nothing for characters; it fell flat.

[John Donaghy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good read by David Gemmell... just not one of his greatest. It bears similarities to his much better standalone title, Dark Moon, but unfortunately gets a little too crowded with characters that are never truly fleshed-out. The fundamental ideas for a great read are all here, but the odds never truly seem insurmountable in the true sense of heroic fantasy. Its greatest failing is perhaps its inability to create a character or characters that we truly wish to root for. Don't get me wrong, there are strong characters that display acts of heroism akin to this genre, but these moments are so few and far between and often without any real sense of sacrifice that they are soon forgotten. There were a few poignant moments worthy of leaving a lasting impression (e.g. discovering the means by which the Avatars sentence criminals) and certain characters displayed aspects that made me want to know more about their adventures/lives. Thankfully, as with many of Gemmell's works, the cliches are avoided. The "happily ever after" scenario is bittersweet, and rarely what we expect. Within a relatively short experience he manages to create a world where we feel its inhabitants will continue their stories long after the book ends. As a Gemmell fan it's a must-read. For heroic fantasy fans it's one for the list, just perhaps not at the top of their lists. 6/10.

[Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another outstanding fantasy epic from one of the world’s greatest writers of heroic yarns. Echoes of the Great Song contains elements familiar from other Gemmell stories, and yet this is different, thought out to the finest detail, and told with passion and drama.

Gemmell pretty much mixes genres again, throwing in war, romance and mystery, but overall this is a story of adventure, with real flesh and blood heroes to guide us through the carnage.

Gemmell is fine at weaving political detail into his stories, and here he paints powerful pictures of the arrogant Avatars, the subdued Vagars and the merciless Almecs, characteristics of each race being universal and immediately recognisable. Yet into the epic tableau there are also great individuals, like the heroic Talaban and the insane Viruk, the latter being perhaps one of the most unconventional – and yet successful – heroes yet.

Elements of magic and monsters are well brought in, and the battles are no less exciting or gory than we’ve come to expect from the author. An unexpectedly powerful, moving climax makes this a fine read that is hard to put down.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Due to almost supernatural events life for a once vast, powerful, and intellectual nation seems to be running it's course. Soon there will be a new threat and those who still reign as near gods to the normal inhabitants are'nt to happy about it, and wont give up what they've still got without a fight. And boy are there some fights.
I realy liked this book because in many sences it was a tragedy, and a real struggle for the elite few to try and hold onto their former and glorious lifes, while their oppressed lesser's have to deal with teaming up with them just to stay alive. It left me constantly wondering who i should support, but in a good way. And it also has some great militaristic and tactical/mental asspects to it,while still getting some comedic releife to keep it from beeing over bearing at some points. Enywho, I loved it, it's dark, well thought out, and has a sad but sattisfying and realistic (used loosley since this is fiction) ending when given the circumstances.
P.S- It switches points of view to multiple charecters, so if you get confused at first that's probably the reason. I don't remeber exactly but i think there's only like 4 main peoples point of view.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I love about Gemmell's books, is that they can be read as stand alone novels. Don't get me wrong, a love a good fantasy epic series, with 20 odd books and thousands of characters, but sometimes there just isn't the time to invest.

I loved the story set out here - a race of super humans, immortal through the use of crystals, using them to heal, communicate, power weapons or other devices. The arrival of a similar race from another world (our own maybe?), makes them re-evaluate exactly what it is they stand for and realise how far they have fallen from the past. One of my favourite characters was Viruk - blood-thirsty, insane, yet a gardener and lover of flowers - and a sense of humour! I was also intrigued by the sentences being given to criminals - 30 years doesn't mean 30 years in jail, but 30 years taken from your body, so a young man of 20 would suddenly have the body of a 50 year old. An excellent concept and one that intrigues.

Overall, a fantastic read and one I wouldn't mind returning to in the future.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a Gemmell, no doubt. The characteristic style is unmistakeable. He KNOWS how to write, and especially how to convey information and atmosphere in a few sentences. After a few pages you know the scope of empires, without info-dumping.

Unfortunately, it's far from his best book.
It felt a bit preachy to me, and more than a bit obvious. I didn't really connect with the characters, and the storyline was unsurprising, if not foreseeable.

If you don't know anything of Gemmell, you'll probably enjoy this. But then again, read some other book by him, Legend, Waylander or the Jerusalem Man are good books to start with, but not the only ones. I think this might be the worst of Gemmell, or maybe that's just me. Read nany other Gemmell book.

If you are, on the other hand, a fan of Gemmell (like myself), who just wants to read everything the master has written, go ahead (you will anyway). It's NOT a bad book - i just see it below his own standard.

[Aidan Strickland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was truly a stunningly executed book. Really satisfying end which left me smiling even though almost every character dies

David Gemmel has a way of making almost every character likable in some way. Even the general who led the mass slaughtering of innocent tribes isn't seem too evil after you heard his backstory and history.
Even Viruk, who was a ruthless killer who enjoyed killing turned out to be my favorite charater in the end, which seems like a very evil thing to say, but somehow doesn't feel evil to say once you've read the book.

However. Toward the end of the book, it seemed as if Gemmel couldn't find a perfect ending, or didn't have enough time before his deadline to finish it in the way he envisioned and it became rushed and forced, which was disappointing.

It was, though, a fairly satisfying read which I don't regret. :)

[VS Drakkan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The only thing I have to say is that people should read this book.

There is one quote I will always remember from one of the villains in this tale.

He says that an enemy is like a man's most prized flower. It brings him joy to see it buried in the ground.

[D.B. Rook · Rating 5 out of 5]

A stand alone masterpiece; this is one of the very few books I have ever read again. Bristling with concepts and characters that you will never forget; this one off story from the great mind of Mr Gemmel is often overlooked and I loved it!

[Ric Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the first books by Gemmell I ever read and we'll worth the re-visiting. A seemingly clichě fantasy novel that subtly touches on some interesting socio-political views. A great read and one of Gemmell's really solid outings.

[Alex Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Standard opinion I have of one of David Gemmell's books, once again I loved it. Really enjoyed the world, wish it wasn't a stand-alone! Loved the characters as always too!