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4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
The final book in a trilogy about Waylander, a former soldier turned mercenary and, through the vagaries of fate, a true hero, this book is perhaps the one that shouldn’t have been. We find the hero in the twilight of his life, having moved away from his tumultuous life and adventures to amass his fortune and live out his old age in peace. Moreover, there is hardly any mention of his past and the characters that were important parts of the previous two volumes, to the point where it is difficult to become attached to the main protagonist again. The story itself is out of the ordinary and seems rather unreal, so much so that it is about another universe. It’s still interesting, but far from the quality of the other volumes in this series.
One of the best reading decisions that I've made is to slow down when it comes to the Drenai Saga. After I tore through the first four installments in about a month, I stopped treating this like a binge-me series.
Is each book somewhat formulaic? Good vs. evil? Aging hero? Impossible odds? Pretty much.
But I truly can't imagine heroic fantasy done any better than this. Hero in the Shadows is up there with Legend for the best in the series, and it joins that first Drenai novel on my "Favorites" shelf.
A five-star favorite.
Is each book somewhat formulaic? Good vs. evil? Aging hero? Impossible odds? Pretty much.
But I truly can't imagine heroic fantasy done any better than this. Hero in the Shadows is up there with Legend for the best in the series, and it joins that first Drenai novel on my "Favorites" shelf.
A five-star favorite.
I love the final Waylander book. The way this book concludes is just perfect.
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
I have read this once or twice before this... I have always enjoyed reading the Big mans books & always will. Waylander will always be my favourite character too!
If Glen Cook (The Black Company) is the best writer of low fantasy, then David Gemmell is his opposite number of high fantasy books. Gemmell captures the heroic spirit of his characters, with ease. They seem simple, but are actually larger than l ife. Hero in Shadows is the tale of an aging Drenai hero, who has retired and wishes nothing more than to be left in peace. But when an evil foe comes forth to shatter the Grayman's quiet, he rises to the challege.
Gemmell gives the reader heroic deeds, fiendish foes and the possibility of peace for Dakeyras in Heroes in Shadow. He keeps you on the edge and deivers a masterful tale of a reluctant hero!
Gemmell gives the reader heroic deeds, fiendish foes and the possibility of peace for Dakeyras in Heroes in Shadow. He keeps you on the edge and deivers a masterful tale of a reluctant hero!
Chronologically the third entry in [a:David Gemmell|11586|David Gemmell|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1202771023p2/11586.jpg]'s Drenia saga, published ninth in order, that completes the trilogy of Waylander the Slayer: a character first introduced in [b:Waylander|568099|Waylander (The Drenai Saga #3)|David Gemmell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1403179303l/568099._SY75_.jpg|2960837] before being further expanded upon in [b:Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf|411774|Waylander II In the Realm of the Wolf (Drenai Tales, #5)|David Gemmell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348409844l/411774._SY75_.jpg|856177] and which thus makes him of the very few characters that Gemmell returned to more than once in that series (indeed, the only other character I can think of is of Druss himself. Oh, and Skilgannon (who had two novels).
I've always found that there is an element of truth to the charge that the nations in his works reflect real-life counterparts (Nadir = Huns, Drenai = Greek), with those novel expanding to include the Kydor and the Chiatze, with the Men of Mud obviously reflecting the Terracotta army.
Oh, and the finale of the novel, in which Waylander finally finds peace?
*Chef's kiss*
I've always found that there is an element of truth to the charge that the nations in his works reflect real-life counterparts (Nadir = Huns, Drenai = Greek), with those novel expanding to include the Kydor and the Chiatze, with the Men of Mud obviously reflecting the Terracotta army.
Oh, and the finale of the novel, in which Waylander finally finds peace?
*Chef's kiss*
The Waylander arc is wrapped up in an excellent way. I perhaps like this book a little less than the first two -- mainly because I had gotten used to the relatively low magic of those. This one has demons and sorcerers and such, all interestingly developed. I had also gotten used to the themes of redemption and God working through sinners.
Gemmell still writes wonderful and uplifting fantasy even if I have some complaints that in the final verdict don't matter too much.
Gemmell still writes wonderful and uplifting fantasy even if I have some complaints that in the final verdict don't matter too much.
adventurous
dark
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
An entirely fitting end to the saga of Waylander, who is probably my favorite Drenai character. Yes, even better than Druss. To a certain extent, these Drenai books tend to run together. They involve similar heroic characters, similar types of villains/antagonists, and they all seem to deeply involve similar themes: heroism, love, loyalty, duty, futility and death. But the similarities don't bother me while reading them; rather, they just make it a bit more difficult to separate out one from the other afterwards.
But that's OK. Gemmell's writing is graceful and usually economical. His storytelling is good, and seems to get better with each book. And the books are a very good time, with just enough depth to the characters and situations to keep me from getting bored. They are never pure action, but the are also never what I would call character studies or philosophical. Just good, well written, if not particularly original stories that end up being quite satisfying.
But that's OK. Gemmell's writing is graceful and usually economical. His storytelling is good, and seems to get better with each book. And the books are a very good time, with just enough depth to the characters and situations to keep me from getting bored. They are never pure action, but the are also never what I would call character studies or philosophical. Just good, well written, if not particularly original stories that end up being quite satisfying.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes