Fantasy Books

 

Title: Hero in the Shadows

Author: David Gemmell

Summary: The ruined city of Kuan Hador reeks of dark mystery. Shunned by brigands and commonfolk alike, it is home to fearsome wild creatures and tales that freeze the blood. Legends speak of slavering beasts, who are locked behind a powerful wall of spells and possess an insatiable appetite for death. Millenia have passed since they were bound, and the spell of imprisonment has begun to fade. Soon the foul minions will break free to wreak vengeance against all that live.

But an army waits to oppose them, only a ragtag group of unlikely heroes. Leading them is the mysterious Gray Man, an enigmatic figure with a blood-drenched past who has killed for principle and for payment--a man of destiny known throughout the lands of the Drenai as Waylander the Slayer.

Review: A compelling story filled with compelling characters. It's not a surprise to see that David Gemmell continues to produce great fantasy novels like this one. This one is as good as any of his past books on Waylander the Slayer. The story continues with Waylander in another part of the world where he is a rich merchant. Hoping to live the rest of his life in peace and wealth, he secluded himself in a far away land where no one knows of his past. Though he's rich, Waylander is not content with this new lifestyle. But an evil has been unleashed upon the land and only one man can stop it...The Gray Man. Aid by the skillful warrior Kysumu, Yu Yu and a ghost army from the past, Waylander struggles to end the evil that would consume the world if it is not stop.

Waylander faces another battle with evil. He had hoped to live out his life in peace without violence. He's rich beyond his dream but he's not content with his life. Always there's a side of him that wants to be Waylander, not the Gray Man, his new identity. Not knowing, a place miles from his mansion, evil has awakened from its slumber. A mysterious mist appears from nowhere and in it is many unholy creatures waiting for blood. From afar, a warrior is drawn to the evil by his sword. He is Kysumu, a dedicated swordsman who seeks to overthrow evil wherever it exists. As the evil creatures begin to emerge and murder people, a group of heroes unite to face the threat and Waylander has no choice but to string his crossbow once again. Hero in the Shadows has great characters, a good plot, and loads of action that fits in well with the story. The characters are especially interesting. David Gemmell creates some of the most vivid characters in his books, and this one is no exception. The heroes are infused with unique qualities which make them very likable. This is another great piece of work by my favorite author David Gemmell.

Rating: 10 out of 10