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3.99 AVERAGE
3.99 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is an interesting book because it's sort of everything people tell you is awful about fantasy, but it does all those things with such gusto and meaning that it actually makes them pretty solid.
It's also a bottle book, in that almost the entire thing takes place during a siege, which is a hell of a thing to pull of successfully.
The characters are larger than life and ridiculous but also wholly believable, which is just odd and awesome. Druss the Legend is a shockingly well done character. It's difficult to make a charismatic hero believable, but Gemmell does it here. He's the kind of hero that makes it okay to lose because you tried your best.
The ending is a cheat, I'll say that. I probably would have rated this higher if not for that. As is, it's a great take on familiar stories. It rounds out the perspectives too, which is interesting. The invaders are often called savages and so on, and are clearly reminiscent of Genghis Khan, but we're given perspectives within the invading camp that show the savages are not so different from the great and honorable knights. Even Druss the Legend respects and admires their leader.
Women are largely absent from the book, which, I guess, is understandable, given that it's a siege novel. They're also not treated kindly, but that's fitting for the setting, I suppose. It's not kind to women, but it doesn't go out of its way to mistreat them either.
Some relationships are so thin as to be unbelievable, like the entire romance subplot, but I sort of give it a pass, since the novel isn't about romance.
This is a man's novel. It's about men, great and bold, and it's for men, who wish to be great and bold.
It's also about failure, which is interesting, since the men know from the outset that they will die in this siege and that their entire civilisation will be washed away by the invading army.
But, yeah, I liked it. It's great at what it does but it's a long way from great and the ending is seriously dumb. Apparently Gemmell wrote this while he was fighting cancer and expected to die, which puts a lot of it into an interesting context.
This is probably the only book by Gemmell I'll ever read and I really only read it because it was at the library, but I'm glad I did. There's a lot to love in this book, despite its many serious problems.
It's also a bottle book, in that almost the entire thing takes place during a siege, which is a hell of a thing to pull of successfully.
The characters are larger than life and ridiculous but also wholly believable, which is just odd and awesome. Druss the Legend is a shockingly well done character. It's difficult to make a charismatic hero believable, but Gemmell does it here. He's the kind of hero that makes it okay to lose because you tried your best.
The ending is a cheat, I'll say that. I probably would have rated this higher if not for that. As is, it's a great take on familiar stories. It rounds out the perspectives too, which is interesting. The invaders are often called savages and so on, and are clearly reminiscent of Genghis Khan, but we're given perspectives within the invading camp that show the savages are not so different from the great and honorable knights. Even Druss the Legend respects and admires their leader.
Women are largely absent from the book, which, I guess, is understandable, given that it's a siege novel. They're also not treated kindly, but that's fitting for the setting, I suppose. It's not kind to women, but it doesn't go out of its way to mistreat them either.
Some relationships are so thin as to be unbelievable, like the entire romance subplot, but I sort of give it a pass, since the novel isn't about romance.
This is a man's novel. It's about men, great and bold, and it's for men, who wish to be great and bold.
It's also about failure, which is interesting, since the men know from the outset that they will die in this siege and that their entire civilisation will be washed away by the invading army.
But, yeah, I liked it. It's great at what it does but it's a long way from great and the ending is seriously dumb. Apparently Gemmell wrote this while he was fighting cancer and expected to die, which puts a lot of it into an interesting context.
This is probably the only book by Gemmell I'll ever read and I really only read it because it was at the library, but I'm glad I did. There's a lot to love in this book, despite its many serious problems.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
"And what is a man? He is someone who rises when life has knocked him down. He is someone who raises his fist to heaven when a storm has ruined his crop--and then plants again. And again. A man remains unbroken by the savage twists of fate.
That man may never win. But when he sees himself reflected, he can be proud of what he sees. For low he may be in the present scheme of things: peasant, serf, or dispossessed. But he is unconquerable."
Just pure fantasy It's not over complex with with a ton of characters, it's a simply story with a lot of heart. This was my first Drenai novel, and it was super good. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but it has a solid story with great characters, everyone was so nice to each other, even if they were mortal enemies. Man, everyone died in this book though. It definitely felt like an 80s book, but it didn't take me out of it. I'll probably read more of his stuff soon.
That man may never win. But when he sees himself reflected, he can be proud of what he sees. For low he may be in the present scheme of things: peasant, serf, or dispossessed. But he is unconquerable."
Just pure fantasy It's not over complex with with a ton of characters, it's a simply story with a lot of heart. This was my first Drenai novel, and it was super good. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but it has a solid story with great characters, everyone was so nice to each other, even if they were mortal enemies. Man, everyone died in this book though. It definitely felt like an 80s book, but it didn't take me out of it. I'll probably read more of his stuff soon.
I started reading this book with high expectations, seeing Rothfuss' and others' glowing reviews. It started off pretty strong with nice pacing. I didn't mind his more 'simplistic' prose. But about 40% in my enthusiasm waned.
I get the feeling Gemmell has a very simplistic 'hard times create hard men, hard men create good times,' etc. Druss is presented as this great humble warrior who after his friend the Earl dies, orders the corpse buried without fanfare and then one of the officers objects he bellows 'don't you ever go against me boy'. He also doesn't care at all about the peoples' homes he has to raze. And when asked about the safety of the women and children during the siege he answers 'they can always leave'. Where they're going to stay, how they're going to eat is of no concern of his. What are you fighting for then laddie?
Rek is presented as this loving romantic guy, who offers his proposal of marriage to Virae as an ultimatum. Marry me or your uncle will force you to marry someone else. I mean ok fair enough, that's true in the book's universe. But then he goes on to open a letter from the king addressed to Virae's father the Earl. Her father has just died so what does Rek do (as new Earl)? Open the letter without asking her first, getting angry at her after she yelled at him and finally backhanding her after she struck him. No, just no. Why make Virae a swordwoman when all she does is play the damsel in distress? I'm not looking for a girl-boss Virae, but she's pathetic. Oh and of course she forgave him first.
I reached the start of the battle at Dros and that's when it completely unraveled for me. Urlic has a ton of ballistae and catapults and he has to charge the walls? Just pepper them with rocks and rotten heads filled with plague. That's what the Mongols did, which the Nadir are clearly modeled after.
The ending may be satisfying but the book frustrated me too much to reach it.
2/5
I get the feeling Gemmell has a very simplistic 'hard times create hard men, hard men create good times,' etc. Druss is presented as this great humble warrior who after his friend the Earl dies, orders the corpse buried without fanfare and then one of the officers objects he bellows 'don't you ever go against me boy'. He also doesn't care at all about the peoples' homes he has to raze. And when asked about the safety of the women and children during the siege he answers 'they can always leave'. Where they're going to stay, how they're going to eat is of no concern of his. What are you fighting for then laddie?
Rek is presented as this loving romantic guy, who offers his proposal of marriage to Virae as an ultimatum. Marry me or your uncle will force you to marry someone else. I mean ok fair enough, that's true in the book's universe. But then he goes on to open a letter from the king addressed to Virae's father the Earl. Her father has just died so what does Rek do (as new Earl)? Open the letter without asking her first, getting angry at her after she yelled at him and finally backhanding her after she struck him. No, just no. Why make Virae a swordwoman when all she does is play the damsel in distress? I'm not looking for a girl-boss Virae, but she's pathetic. Oh and of course she forgave him first.
I reached the start of the battle at Dros and that's when it completely unraveled for me. Urlic has a ton of ballistae and catapults and he has to charge the walls? Just pepper them with rocks and rotten heads filled with plague. That's what the Mongols did, which the Nadir are clearly modeled after.
The ending may be satisfying but the book frustrated me too much to reach it.
2/5
So good an epic that your "stones" will ache while reading, regardless of sex.
A classic since the day it was published... OR SHOULD BE!
A classic since the day it was published... OR SHOULD BE!
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is the best book I have read in a while. I found myself sobbing and laughing near the end of the battle. Was not sure how it was going to end. For me, the end of the battle was great. The end of the book was ok.