Customer Reviews

Last Sword of Power

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, a bit of a practical review: in this book we learn of the future of King Uthur, named the Blood king as his reign has been a bloody battle with various enemies. We learn of the fate of his wife, of his friends, and of his friend Prasamaccus (who, coincidentally, was my favorite character in the first two books).

But now let me tell you how I really felt about it. Book 2 in the "Stones of Power" series impressed the heck out of me. Don't get me wrong - I loved book one; I thought it was tremendously well done fantasy. I couldn't wait to get my hands on this novel... and once I started reading it I couldn't help but get a little more emotionally involved than I normally do. I felt myself grieving over the debilitating marriage of the King - I was furious at him, then at her, then both of them. I grieved for characters that lost loved ones, and rejoiced when men and women realize the truth inside of them.

Gemmell continues to impress me with fantasy that strays from the expected. He's created a great set of characters, and I would love to see some books that talk in more detail about everything that happened between Ghost King and Last Sword of Power. Some of the new characters include Uthur's long lost son, and a blind girl who can see better than most of us. You get attached to them as easily as you do the Blood King and Revelation, and by the end cheering for their victory. Probably my favorite book out of the series.

This is the first Gemmell book I have ever read. I was stunned. Finally, a writer that can craft a story. The characters drew you in as if you were there. Gemmell can weave a story better than anyone I have ever read in any catagory - period. Everything in this book was geared towards the conclusion. Even the narrative moved the story forward with efficient skill. There was absolutely no wasted verbage. Amazing. I am going to read everything Gemmell has ever written. I have always struggled to finish novels because most have long, boring blah blah blah's sandwiched in, strictly to increase word count. Not Gemmell. Every word counts and moves the story along. Buy this book.

Book Two is great in it's own right as is Book One. Interpreting Arthurian legend, this story focuses on Cormac, son of the Blood King, Uther Pendragon. Cormac grows to manhood and becomes a warrior under the tutalage of the Lance Lord. He seeks life and love even to the extend of traveling Hell itself. A new "god" seeks to conquor Britain and it's up to Cormac and the heroes, much older now, from the first book to stop the horror and blood. As with other Gemmell stories, some of the characters you've grown to respect and love (or hate) will die in an attempt to stand on the side of good....and they might not succeed. Unlike the Drenai series, this story claims roots in Earth's history and legends of ancient Western culture.

One of Gemmell's gifts is telling a story of adventure and fantasy while exploring shades of good and evil within a person. Good people will do terrible things in fits of anger or perceived need for the greater good, and bad people will inexplicably or deliberately do an act of kindness that makes a difference.

Someday a movie director will turn one or all of David Gemmell's books into a movie series that will rivial LOTR and Harry Potter. This book will be a smashing hit! Read it and you'll find it satisfying, while hungering for more of D.G. books.

The Goth leader Wotan would open the Gates of Hell, with power that stemmed from sorcery and human sacrifice. No sword could cut him, and his armies cut a bloody swath. Only Uther Pendragon could save Britannia--and even he would have to wield Cunobelin's blade, the last sword of power.

The mighty Gemmell has written another winner. I highly recommend this book to you. Go get this book.

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!

Ok,
Well, if you've read Ghost King and Nights of Dark Renown as well as the John Shannow stories....you'll like this.
I found it to be......not as good as any of the above books but a good read nonetheless.
I like Gemmels style and I have enjoyed all of the Sipstrassi tales. I'm not sure why I didn't enjoy this one as much, can't really put my finger on it. Perhaps it was just because the main characters didn't all go on to live happily ever after..though I'm usually ok with that.
I think it's possibly that the story line seems a bit...chucked together? just not as slick as his other work.
Either way, if you're a fan of David Gemmel you will enjoy this book regardless......as did I in fact.

Last Sword of Power (Stones of Power) The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend (Drenai Tales, Book 6)

I read David Gemmell's "Legend" series a few weeks ago. They didn't last long. I've been reading fantasy and science fiction for about 40 years and can honestly say that these are top notch. They were so good that I ordered all of the Stones of Power series en masse. They aren't lasting long either (I'm on the last one). David was a genius. Characters are believable, scenery well described, and plots are like nothing I've ever read before. Five stars on both series!

Uther Pendragon needs to move, being stuck in hell and all. In the mortal world, more than one person has dabbled too much in the magic of the stones.

Culain must aid Revelation the warrior, and help him find Uther's son, so that something can be done about the situation. They will also need the Lost Sword of Power, and not let the whole Uther-Laitha-Culain love triangle get in the way.

David Gemmell was a master of the fantasy art. His books are a must read if you are into the genre.

This is a companion review to the review I wrote for "Ghost King".
Last Sword of Power is the sequel to Ghost King and is the second of the Stones of Power Cycle.
David Gemmell's novel Last Sword of Power takes us back to the Arthurian-type world of Uther Pendragon and Britannia. We are now many years past the events described in Ghost King. The heroic characters that loved and lost are now living legends, late in their years, and spoken of in respect and/or fear by the people we now meet in the land of Britannia.
We have new bad guys. This time it is the Goths, led by an ancient immortal returned from death and hell to wreak, well, death and hell on the Britons. You see, there are certain things in Briton that this demigod needs to further his dark purposes. Which is where our heroes come in. Someone has to make a stand against this evil afterall.
Our main hero is the orphan boy Cormac. Raised by the Saxons, yet an outcast due to the mysterious circumstances surrounding his birth, Cormac grows up despised by all except his protector, a kindly old warrior Gysstha. Grysstha instills in Cormac self respect and worth and also fighting abilities that will be crucial in the near future.
It seems that events seem to be pulling Cormac into a certain direction and towards certain key players. Eventually, all the characters the reader grew to empathise with in Ghost King will make their appearance and their respective stands against evil, whether in their own hearts or more conventially against the invading force of savage Goths.
Last Sword of Power is a tale of the Sipstrassi, it is a tale of revenge, and of redemption. There are some extended passages dealing with spiritual matters like the nature of hell and limbo. Last Sword of Power is a much deeper book on a number of levels than what the title or action-packed paperback covers would indicate.
I can tell you that the book has a satisfying conclusion that will also tie together some key questions for the reader about David Gemmell's sipstrassi mythology, like "what happened to the stones of power after Ghost King, and how did they reappear in Wolf in Shadow?"
A must read book if you have read Ghost King. You will love this novel if you enjoyed Lion of Macedon.