Grayrider [Hardcover]

Bruce Skye (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 28, 2008

Fantasy meets medieval magic in Grayrider. This novel spans the gamut—think Tolkienesque with a suspense-filled punch of chivalry! This is story-telling at its best where kings, sorceresses, and memorable heroes create an impression that you’ll remember long after you’ve finished reading. Step into the land of Boadhagh, where an exiled king, Gabriel brings word to King Airell of an impending attack from the Ansgarian army—the same army that murdered his family. King Airell has no men to stave off the attack, so Gabriel takes matters into his own hands. The beautiful sorceress and daughter of King Airell, Deidre, learns that her mentor created the violent Ansgarians and leaves her kingdom to warn her father. They join forces to defeat their mutual foe—and as they fight together, Gabriel and Deidre fall in love. Tragedy, love, revenge, defeat, and grief are played out with insightful precision through Skye’s characters. The story builds to a crescendo and the ending’s dramatic climax will stay in your memory long after the final page is turned.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Eloquent Books (October 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1606935011
• ISBN-13: 978-1606935019
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great, engrossing story!, February 19, 2009

By 

A. Pohren (IA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grayrider (Hardcover)

To describe Grayrider in one sentence: An old world mythical fantasy, with a nice dose of romance thrown in.
Honestly, I am not an experienced reader of this type of genre - or at least I have never taken the time to really read a story of this sort. Not for any particular reason, mind you, I have just never really done so. With that being said, I greatly enjoyed Grayrider. I was thrilled to be able to take part in Bruce Skye's virtual tour and am completely hooked! I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out.
Mr. Skye does a phenomenal job bringing his characters and their surrounding to life. The dialog aides the reader in the ability to fall into the story and seems to be very true to life for that time period.
I truly loved the character of Gabriel (aka Grayrider). He is a blend of strength, compassion, moral integrity and a force to be reckoned with. He begins the story with a heart filled with revenge, however it does not take long for that revenge to be turned into a sense of duty. After losing his beloved parents to murder, his main focus is to avenge their death. That is until he nearly faces his own death and realizes that he must take care to keep himself alive in order to overcome the main threat to the kingdom - the evil sorceress Morrigan. It is through this victory that Gabriel will not only save the kingdom, but avenge the death of those he has lost.
The long thought dead daughter of King Airell, Deirdre, appears in the beginning, bringing with her, a dire warning of impending danger. She and Gabriel quickly form a bond and the strength of her magical powers lend an irreplaceable defense against the many battles and attacks that take place. It is the greatness of this pure power and the strong developing love between Gabriel and the sorceress, Deirdre, that lead them both, along with the King's army, to fight for all that is good and overcome the evil powers of Morrigan.
Grayrider is excellently written, smooth and engrossing. The reader is easily transported back into a different time and place and quickly connected to the characters. Never is there a dull or lagging spot within the story. Readers will also be surprised with the twist that the ending takes. This is a story that hooks one from the first page until the very last. I greatly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a great story - even if this is not your typical genre - I think you will be very happy that you took the time to delve into this old world mythical fantasy!

4.0 out of 5 stars Magic, Mystery and Mayhem, December 31, 2008

By 

R. Malove - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grayrider (Hardcover)

This first novel of the Deathsong Chronicles is a delightfully spun tale of fantasy and bloodshed without all the fluff that ruins a good fight.

If you're a fan of magic, murder and mayhem you'll love following the epic adventures of the Grayrider, an exiled king who must face the forces the enchantress Morrigan. For fans of Celtic history this won't be a new name, and she's just as nasty and sneaky as she is in the tales! Aided by Morrigan's own apprentice, Diedre, his mystical steed and a powerfully enchanted weapon known as Deathsong, Grayrider brings both victory and vengeance.

What I liked best about this book is Skye's ability to blend magic and romance with the inevitable bloodshed of battle without falling prey to the pithy spells and poetry that have ruined far too many a good fantasy novel. This series promises to be a bestseller.

4.0 out of 5 stars Adventure and sorcery in Celtic realms, December 10, 2008

By 

Aisling D'Art "artist and author" (Portsmouth, NH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grayrider (Hardcover)

Fans of sword-and-sorcery adventures and fantasy novels will enjoy this book. It is fast-paced with intricate story lines, and a depth familiar to students of Celtic lore and history.

Written in a style reminiscent of Tolkien's "The Two Towers," the reader is swept into the story from the first page. This is a tale with good and evil, but it also portrays the shades of gray between them.

What would you do if you had no army, but you had to face the ruthless black-armored warriors of Morrigan?

That's what our hero, Gabriel, faces in this powerful novel.

What would you do if you were the king's daughter, and realized that your own magic had innocently aided Morrigan in attacking your father's kingdom?

That's the challenge of Dierdre, who must overcome her own fears and inexperience, to undo the damage launched by her mentor, Morrigan.

If you like dark, complex tales with magic and sorcery aiding both good and evil, this book is a page-turner. Through most of the story, there are few glimmers of light. The hero and heroine are challenged at every turn. However, romance, chivalry and heroism shine clearly throughout this tale, and make it a satisfying read.

I look forward to additional novels in this series.