Customer Reviews

The Last Guardian

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While most sequels are underwhelming retreads of mealticket stories, some do manage to outdo, or at least match, their predecessor. 'The Last Guardian', sequel to the amazing 'Wolf in Shadow' is the latter; it doesn't quite better the first, but is an awesome story nonetheless.

Gemmell manages to take the character of the Jerusalem Man in a new direction, keeping true to the original source material but adding new details and nuances to the story. 'Last Guardian' does what many fail to do; keep the flavour of the original while expanding and adding to the mythos it created.

And like 'Wolf in Shadow', 'Guardian' bookends the amazing story with a creative knock-your-mental-socks off finale that will have you turning back pages just to relive the action.

Gemmell is a master storyteller and not only knows how to create characters, but guide them through his fantastic stories. Another near-perfect creation.

Gemmell's commitment to his readers surely shows in his work. He delivers, and you get good action with mind-blowing ideas and concepts.

Jon Shannow is the legendary Jerusalem man, feared and hated by many, but those who become close to him get to know the real pain inside him? He hopes not to be a killer, but still, the threats to the peace of the post-apocalyptic world force him to sling gun and shoot away at any evil that lives.

He portrays a great world that mixes sci-fi, fantasy and myth. The frequent use of the Bible here is a great idea. And the ironic mix of Shannow as a Bible reader and heroic killer is fascinating.

The way Gemmell weaves Bible lore and history together with his own telling of how the 'actual' events happened is cohesive, beautiful and telling. You can't go wrong with his books if you want action-fantasy.

A deadly power burst forth from ancient Atlantis. For the gate of time had been torn open, freeing a cataclysmic evil. Only the last guardian, Jon Shannow, the legendary pistoleer, could shut the deadly portal. But to accomplish this he would have to find the shining Sword of God.

I highly recommend this book. Gemmell is perfect again. So go out and buy this book.

This book is great all the way through, following Jon Shannow trying to have a break from being himself. Jon finds himself trying to go to the other side of a large wall where men have been trying to climb and pass with no success, the land seems to be run by lion-men, men have been mysteriuosly turned into walking lions and soon the great beasts of the wild themselves. The sword of God is an interesting part in the story as the reader wonders how sword could be suspended in the air. Also the story has a link with Atlantis as a gateway has opened between the past and the present, a tidal wave aproaches Atlantis with the capabilities of destroying the past and the future.

This is far and away Gemmell's best ever. Firstly his portrayal of Jon Shannow. His unwavering faith in his ethical system is all the more astounding because it he doesn't actualy understand it totally. Keeping his cool is the secret of his success.

Then Daniel Cade, Shannow's brother who, reacting to the same event that made Shannow an evangelist (the slaughter of their parents) became a notorius bandit leader. As a large army begins to eat into his territory, he claims to be inspired by God to unite the bandits and farmers against the invaders.

All in all an excellent book about the power of faith and what people will do if they believe God is on their side (something that applies equally to both sides).

Jon Shannow is what every tough guy in the world wants to be. His sense of duty and faith unwavering, his skill unparalleled, nothing could stop the Jerusalem Man. He is a man who does what he thinks is right, when he thinks it. But the conflict within him eats him from inside. Jon Shannow is not a hero like with stars in his eyes holding up a flag, but more like an angel of death who gives out the appropriate penalties whenver they must be given. One of the reasons Jon Shannow always wins is because he always keeps his cool, no matter what he's up against. For this character alon this book is a must have.

Jon Shannow returns and finds himself thrust in a gritty epic fantasy adventure where the fates of two worlds hang in the balance.

Story:
The story begins in two places: The Post Apocalyptic future where bands of people struggle to survive with technology equal to the wild west, and thousands of years earlier during the final days of Atlantis. The two story arcs clash and the fate of both worlds are at stake. This definitely plays out like a sci-fi western, with some high fantasy elements. Before you read this book, you really should read Wolf in Shadow (Stones of Power Book 3). You don't need to read the first two books in this series to enjoy this book. All of the characters, themes, and settings are vastly different.

World Building:
The world takes place over 100 years from now and is similar to the frontiers of the old west. There are horses, muskets, revolvers, and some magic in the form of astral projection, premonition, and possession. There is also time travel, dimensional travel, demons, lizard men, lion men, bear men, hired killers, lawmen, preachers, and good folk trying to survive on an unforgiving frontier.

Characters:
This is the second of three books that feature Jon Shannow. He's not a perfect man and he's made many mistakes, but he is an honest man who just tries to do right by others. If you wrong him, chances are that he's better with a gun than you are. He definitely deserves to be mentioned with some of the many great characters created by David Gemmell: Druss, Skilgannon, Waylander, Connor, Decado, and The Lion of Macedon.

The supporting characters are also very strong. There are villains that you love to hate and some memorable allies that lend a hand.

Writing Style:
David Gemmell is one of the All Time Greats at creating heroic characters in harsh worlds. These are battle hardened characters tested by the world itself. They can survive and persevere where most of us would give up. They all live by some sort of code, whether it is just or unjust. The world is dangerous, the story is epic, the characters are memorable, and the action is hard hitting. Wolf in Shadow (the previous book) flows a bit better and there's more momentum, where The Last Guardian hiccups a just a bit, but it's still a very fun read.

Action:
This book is loaded with action. There are brawls, assassinations, maulings, gunfights, skirmishes, battles, shootouts, magic, demons, and memorable deaths. If you like the heroes of the old west, then you should enjoy this book.

Maturity: Teen
There is lots of violence in the form of gun and knife fights and a brief mention of non-graphic sex. It's kind of like a Hollywood action film.

Overall:
This is a very good book written by one of the greats. It has a bit of everything. A fast moving plot, memorable characters, humor, action, honor, romance, and some diabolical villains.

Buy it if you like heroic westerns.
Buy it if you are a fan of David Gemmell.
Avoid it if you just like pure medieval fantasy with swords.

If you enjoyed this book, I'd say keep on reading books by David Gemmell. These are some his best: Legend, Waylander, Winter Warriors, Sword in the Storm, the Lion of Macedon.

This is the second novel of David Gemmell's that I have read, and the second book in the Jon Shannow trilogy. I have to say, I am amazed that David Gemmell is not a more common name in the fantasy world. I also hope that some day his works get translated into different mediums. Comic books would be great, but so would films or TV shows.

The Last Guardian picks up immediately after Wolf in Shadow, where Jon Shannow, the Jerusalem Man is continuing his search for the holy city, and being tragically accosted by villains and surrounded by death. He is a noble madman, who goes through a very satisfying arc in this second installment. David Gemmell is good at introducing lost of disparate elements into his novels until you wonder what the heck he could be thinking. He weaves these together in a most satisfying manner. He melds mythology, religion, and good old post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure in a great story. I can't wait to read the final installment, but I am hesitant, because I have truly fallen in love with this story and don't want it to end.

The story has action, and lots of despicable characters, and noble ones, too. Even the despicable ones, however, manage to find redemption. There is also a lot of weird events and historical/biblical events that are explained in an amazing way in a novel just under 300 pages. The story can be read on many levels simultaneously. It is one part pulp action, one part mythical western, and one part philosophical fantasy. If you used to enjoy the brain candy of Thundarr the barbarian, you will love losing yourself in the world of Gemmell's creation while being pleasantly surprised as an adult reader at the same time.

Perhaps, this isn't for every one, but if you're anything like me, a thoughtful lover of fantasy who gets fed up with cliche and political dramas, you will love Jon Shannow and The Last Guardian.

Also, if you can't get your hands on The Wolf in Shadow, you can read this story as a stand alone novel.

Wonderful reading!!!!
Just don't use Amazon shipping....just buy the book from the local bookseller for the same price and begin reading immediately instead of 2 weeks later!

Jon Shannow has learned that he is not just a man. When an Atlantean king out of the ages appears to him in dreams and tells him of his mythic heroic destiny, and tells how he, Pendarric, loosed the bloodstones upon the world.

An upstart gunslinger is looking to make a rep for himself by coming after Shannow, reliant on his speed.

That is a minor problem, when a mystic time gate opens, letting loose all sorts of problems.

Easily fixed. Easy, that is, if you call finding the Sword of God easy.