Customer Reviews

Hero in the Shadows

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While not as good as some of his previous work, Gemmell still manages to deliver a riveting novel. This story is set in a small nation far from the lands of Drenai and contains much more in the way of magic then the other books in the series. Personally I liked the realism of his earlier works like Legend and the supernatural in this can be strange at times. The history aspects also get a little wacky at times and seems more like they belong in a Feist novel. Now that I have made my gripes let me say all in all I loved this book. Gemmell is an absolute master of fantasy, and he stirs your emotions throughout his works. I recommend any of Gemmell's work, including this. If you haven't read Gemmell before I would say look into getting Legend and the first Waylander novels first however.

I was excited to find another Waylander novel, and Gemmell does not disappoint. Hero is a well-written, fast-paced yarn that brings back one of Gemmell's best characters. This book is a story of redemption for a man haunted by his past. Moral conflicts abound and are handled well. As usual his heroic characters have significant character flaws which them that much more realistic. I really can't think of much to complain about. Hero is simply a very enjoyable read. His first book, "Legend", was quite good, but I think he's an even better writer today.

Sidenote: the mention of the death of 3 kings required to open the portals indicates at least a loose tie in with the novel "Winter Warriors". I think some of these characters may return in a forthcoming book.

I've just finished listening to the audio version and it's just as good as when I read the book. Gemmell's world and characters feel real, as if you look hard enough there are history scrolls that will verify the existence of Drenai. Hero in the Shadows gives us the final chapter of Waylander, a hero who's past includes assassinating a good king for money to finance his personal revenge of the men who murdered his wife and children. How more complex of character can you get then that?

On one level the story is about Waylander, having taken on a new name, tries to live the life of a wealthy merchant. He builds a utopia in his huge palace for learning and culture. Beginning with the opening rescue, followed by the pending invasion of an evil race expelled from the world 3K years before, violence finds Waylander and drags him back into what he does very well: Dealing death. Magic, demons, religion, good citizens, and men with frozen hearts builds the story to its final climax. As with all Gemmell stories expect that evil men may commit acts of great horror and generous sacrifice, heroes come up short or suffer terrible losses, and common people step up to be heroic.

If this is your first Waylander book, STOP, first read "Waylander" followed by "In the Realm of the Wolf." Hero in the Shadows is the final in the Waylander trilogy. Although you could read this and get a full story, but much historical context and texture will be lost. Reading this Gemmell story, you won't be disappointed. Unless you're like me and have read all his work then you have only to reread these great works. Of course, Gemmell would want it that way!

The header says it all. As a reader of fantasy for 22 years I have been witness to some wonderful writers, and teams of writers with their own unique view of their worlds. Yet never before has a writer so changed my idea of what a book should be. In Gemmel's book the sun shines on a world that is not much different from a dark age earth. The magic is decidedly low tech compared to others(A usual complaint with me). However, Gemmel uses the world as a backdrop to tell a story of sorrow, betrayal, life, and in the end, final redemption of a man so wrought with bitterness and self-loathing that you love him just for his courage to go on. It is a story of courage in the face of reality. Waylander comes alive as a man, not just a character, his lessons learned in the series are lessons all people learn in real life. Gemmel's deft handling of Waylander's...harsh personal side is sometimes dark, allways unexpected, and occasionally laced with a personal angst as well as a bit of humor. The story flows well from start to finish and the finish...my oh my! When books end these days it is all too normal to see the easy ties to another sequel, the loose ends ready to be brought to the forfront for more sequels.. Gemmel closes the book on his characters with a resounding thud and in a way that makes you want to grasp the author's hands and force him to open the book again and write more. The closing is epic, personal, and as all the books in the series, filled with emotions that sometimes catch your breath but allways leave you spellbound in the shadow of Gemmel's sheer storytelling ability. There is nothing bad to be said about the entire series of Waylander books. The character breathes, bleeds, and feels the choices he makes as scars on his heart. Read at your own risk. You will never be the same.

This book has a bizarre mix of extremely interesting characters with funky quirks and very unique problems of their own. For instance, Matze Chai, a rich merchant, finds emotions to be foolish, and uncivilized, and following a horrific magical torture session suffering from intense boils on his skins meets up with rescuers and complains that his tea has not been served, as if nothing happened. Another character, a trained swordsman is an ascetic and hardly speaks. Thrown him in with another character that is something of a clown and then good ol' Waylander and you get one hell of a strange, but hair-adventure.

Let me start by simply saying this was a very enjoyable read. It was also the first book by David Gemmel that I have ever read. I like action in my fantasy books; killing, pillaging, and a few interesting "accidents", Gemmel delivers.

There are some well written scenes in this book that actually had me reareading sections, the opening scene comes to mind. There is plenty of action throughout the book in a pace that matches his writing style; a scene develops realtively quickly carries into the meat of an encounter and becomes calm. Its alot like river rafting, a great set of rapids to get your blood pumping and then a lull to let you calm back down before another set.

David Gemmel also manages to sneak some character development in on me, and truth to tell I didn't really mind. Perhaps my only major complaint is the cast of characters, one character in particular plays a pivotal role in the book, but he is developed almost inconsequentially as a minor character. I guess we could attribute this to his style, I have found similar examples of this in one of his other books. The book does a great job of presenting a group of diametric morals and someone trying to walk the middle ground.

Waylander is a great character, a compilation of hero and anti-hero mixed together in a confusing jumble, yet he remains identifiablely human. Some of the other characters are present, I think, so the series could be spun off. Although, none of the secondary characters have enough presence to have me rushing right out and buying their first novel.

All in all, I was most disappointed with the length of the book. It could have been longer. Of course, I would probably say the same thing if it had been twice the length, and I think that says it all, IMHO.

I have been a fan of David Gemmell ever since i read Waylander all those years ago. When i heard that there was going to be a third Waylander book released i almost jumped out of my skin. Waylander has been my favorite Gemmell character. There have been more likeable people but Waylander touched a special part of me with his deep complexity and sorrow. This book is no exception. Hero in the Shadows is Waylander as he has always been. A tortured soul. But in this one he finally finds redemption and is able to forgive himself.

i have to admit, i have purchased several of gemmels books before and never actually read one. but this time was different, i started reading, and couldnt put it down. the character of waylander is so real and interesting. unlike most characters you read about in books, this character is 'real'. hes not the super villian or the super hero, but somewhere in between. the story and the characters will keep you reading till the sun comes up, but it is worth it. if you are new to this 'world' as i was, dont fear, the characters histories are fleshed out enough that you can follow along. if you are looking for a new author out there, this is him!

David Gemmell is a genius. This book was absolutely brilliant. The words and emotions flowed from word to word, page to page, chapter to chapter. I could not put it down until it was finished. I don't know what gift this man has, but it's a rare gift to capture a reader's attention and don't lose it even after the last word has been read over 2 hours later. Hero in the Shadow was one of the best fantasy i've read in quite a while. Yes, it was about good vs. evil but it was more than that. It was about the struggle of man versus evil within and without himself. Waylander, "The Gray Man", is not your typical hero and because of that fact, that is what makes him the best of all heroes. From beginning to end this book was fantastic. I've never once read David Gemmell so i had to buy "Waylander" and "In the Realm of the Wolf" to learn more about this character. Boy, am i glad that i did. After reading those 2 books, i was more determined than ever to get my hands on Hero in the Shadows. I truly can't tell you how fantastic the book was. You just have to buy it and read it yourself to experience it for yourself. I wholeheartedly recommend reading any and all books by David Gemmell. I don't want to give anything away, but to me the book was more on the principles of a man who thought that he was if not evil then not worthy of the world. And yet for that very reason, Waylander is the greatest of all heroes. He's a man who knows who he is, has accepted all his faults and yet in spite of all this, he has compassion that will astound you. He's a loner,a man used to his solitude and has the tendency to be extremely nasty and yet it is these qualities within that makes him the one man to turn to in one's time of need. Way to go Waylander!

This is the ninth of Gemmell's Drenai tales, and the fourth in the Waylander series.
Waylander is a hugely sympathetic hero, being a man touched by tragedy and lately warped by the desire for revenge, but now with no motive other than to eliminate darkness from the world - or at least from his corner of it, simply because he wants to live free from the shadow of evil, not for some great moral crusade. This makes him seem very human, although some of the acts he performs are inhuman; the complexity and tensions in his character make him all the more accessible to the reader, as he is presented in an honest light, neither good nor evil - but exceptionally gifted at what he does. Killing people. And the occasional demon.
In this novel Waylander seems quite settled and, if not happy, then reasonably content with his life. He is rich and comfortable, he has a huge palace and many servants, a vast library and even a pioneering hospital. He assists the local nobles when they fall into debt and he keeps his local area free from bandits and raiders. His past is something of a mystery and to a certain extent he has managed to leave the tragedies and misdeeds of his early life behind him.
But evil returns to haunt him and make him face his ghosts when a portal is opened to a world of flesh-hungry half-human creatures devoted to possession of every possible dimension. This irritates Waylander considerably, and he sets out to put a stop to the nonsense. It will cost him dear.
Together with a skilled swordsman, a young girl he has rescued from raiders who proves to be adept with throwing knives and the crossbow Waylander himself favours, a young ditch-digger with ambitions of heroism and a priestess gifted with farsight, but with a painful and terrible secret, Waylander sets out to rid the vicinity of the evil that threatens.
This involves a quest to reawaken ancient warriors, the unmasking of a supreme and supremely evil mage, and a ferocious battle against overwhelming odds.
Once again, Gemmell delights and surprises in this disquieting yet satisfying novel of darkness and light and the shades of grey in between. Another triumph from the master - another breathtaking adventure for the reader.