Stormrider (Rigante Series, Book 4) [Hardcover]

David Gemmell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Rigante | Publication Date: April 9, 2002

Spellbinding action and breathless adventure–these are the realms of David Gemmell. His mythic characters represent the ultimates in good and evil, and everything in between. Brilliant warriors, they are heartbreakingly human in their ability to love, sacrifice, and summon extraordinary courage when all seems lost. With Stormrider, Gemmell continues his spectacular Rigante saga as the imperiled highland clan faces its deadliest threat . . . and calls for it's greatest hero.

STORMRIDER
A Novel of the Rigante

Centuries ago, Connavar’s triumphant battles against the invading army of Stone gained the Rigante their freedom, yet magic that once flourished has been all but snuffed out. The Varlish king and his barons have stolen Rigante lands and robbed the people of their culture and liberty. From the Rigante's former seat of power the black-hearted Moidart rules; only in the north are the clansmen free. There, in the Druagh mountains, the magic still reigns, strengthened by bold, brilliant victories of the outlaw leader known as Ravenheart.

One glorious spark, one moment of Rigante rebellion, has ignited a revolution and forged a legend. The conquered clans set about to rediscover their greatness–yet theirs is not the only call to arms. In the south, civil war has drenched the land in blood, and the armies of destruction have begun creeping north. There the brooding Ravenheart waits, knowing the forces of the hated Moidart will come, led by the brutal ruler’s only son, Stormrider.

Ravenheart and Stormrider: enemies of uncommon courage, are unaware that the fate of the world lies in their hands. Faced with this inexorable advance, deadly foes will be forced to unite, and a secret lost in the uncharted past will return to haunt these two warriors as they face the vengeance of an ancient evil. Immense armies of darkness advance on the highlanders, and it seems as if nothing will stop them. They crush their enemies with ease, until only a few thousand men stand before them, with no help in sight.

But these are not ordinary men they face. They are clansmen, and more than that, they are Rigante.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Mythic characters painted with broad strokes populate this fourth title in British bestseller Gemmell's Rigante series (after 2001's Ravenheart), set in a fantasy world resembling medieval Scotland. Stormrider is the Rigante soul name for Gaise Macon, a young nobleman. Unloved from birth but determined to show his father his worth, Gaise becomes a general in the struggle against the king's enemies. What Gaise doesn't know is that he's waging war against a god who wants to rid the world of humans. Once Gaise realizes the depths of the enemy's wickedness, he redoubles his efforts to win. Unfortunately, the death of a woman he loves results in a disturbing personality change in Gaise. From this point on, the battle is fought on two levels the physical battle between armies and the internal battle of good vs. evil. The fate of the world and its people hangs on whether Gaise is true to his humanity or not. Gemmell fans will applaud his antiwar and pro-ecology subtext while not minding his tendency to stint on character development and motivation. As in myth, characters are largely defined by attributes that set them above others, such as strength, courage and hardiness. On the other hand, more than superficial attention to the hero's thoughts and feelings might have added more immediacy to Gaise's perils. Of course, for those mostly male readers who value action over sentiment the strong story line is enough to carry them along. This solid entry should do as well as previous books in the series.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School-A sequel to Ravenheart that stands on its own. It tells the story of Gaise Macon, a young and chivalrous general; his father the Moidart, a cold and calculating feudal lord; and the Rigante, a group oppressed by the Moidart, who were featured in Gemmell's The Sword in the Storm and Midnight Falcon (all Del Rey, 2001). Although Gaise, his father, and the Rigante are all natural enemies, they band together to fight the trapped soul of an ancient and destructive god who acts primarily through an agent who is clairvoyant and in charge of a vast army. Gaise, the Stormrider, becomes nearly as evil as that which they are battling, even as his father starts to show more humanity. Gaise's struggles with his internal demons are the book's focus, and his ultimate redemption involves several interesting twists. Characterizations are strong, and even the minor individuals seem well motivated, with actions following logically from personality. Minor characters who admire but then become disappointed with the general tell his story from an omniscient third-person point of view. Gemmell presents moral choices with a rich complexity as conflicting circumstances and values lead even the "good" characters to follow different and often contrary paths. The battle scenes are intense, although the violence is always integral to the plot and character development. This old-fashioned tale of courage and action is told in a modern and engaging style that should appeal to teens.
Paul Brink, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: Del Rey; 1st US Ed edition (April 9, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345445775
• ISBN-13: 978-0345445773
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,244,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Gemmell was born in London, England, in the summer of 1948. Expelled from school at sixteen, he became a bouncer, working nightclubs in Soho. Born with a silver tongue, Gemmell rarely needed to bounce customers, relying instead on his gift of gab to talk his way out of trouble. This talent eventually led him to jobs as a freelancer for the London Daily Mail, the Daily Mirror, and the Daily Express. His first novel, Legend, was published in 1984 and has remained in print ever since. He became a full-time writer in 1986. His books consistently top the London Times bestseller list.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Character driven fantasy, May 1, 2002

By 

Gareth J (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stormrider (Rigante Series, Book 4) (Hardcover)

I have enjoyed all of the Rigante series by Gemmell, most especially the heart rending Ravenheart. Stormrider is a thought provoking finale. As always his characters leap from the pages - particularly the dark and deadly Moidart, and the grimly powerful Huntsekker.

Other reviewers have criticised the similarity of themes previously used in past novels like Lion of Macedon, and the Druss series. I think this misses the point. Gemmell has written more than thirty novels, and themes of love, courage and heroism are bound to re-occur in what are, at base, action driven novels. Gemmell's literary hero, after all, is Louis Lamour, who wrote more than 200 short novels of the Old West, many of them with identical story lines.

Gemmell's best work - Waylander, Lion of Macedon, Ravenheart, Echoes of the Great Song, Knights of Dark Renown, and Legend - are all Five star quality. Stormrider comes close.

For me it misses only because of the large cast, which slows the narrative, and the lack of a sustained central character with the power of Druss or Jaim Grymauch from Ravenheart.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great characterisation and gripping storyline, April 17, 2002

By 

"davcheong" (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stormrider (Rigante Series, Book 4) (Hardcover)

Stormrider focuses on Gaise Macon and Kaelin Ring who face an impending war against Winter Kay and the armies of a dead king. The enemy is fueled by an ancient evil, embodied in a skull known only as the Orb of Kranos, bent on the destruction of all mankind. The Black Rigante joins with the forces of the Moidart in a twist of fate against their common foe. Although a conquered people and against insurmountable odds, the Rigante fight with courage and integrity, serving as shining examples in a war that will bring bloodshed, death and destruction to the people.

Gemmell in Stormrider has done it again. He has an amazing talent for developing his characters and unfolding a storyline that is exciting, sad and gripping at the same time. He describes the events through the eyes of his main characters and offers contrasting viewpoints as events unfold. His characters are very real and their reactions are believable.

From the very first page to the last, Stormrider fails to disappoint. Gemmell has shown his mastery over the heroic fantasy genre. I can't wait for his next installment.

5.0 out of 5 stars Solid conclusion to a great series!, March 21, 2011

By 

Scott Angus (Tucson) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stormrider (Mass Market Paperback)

As always, David Gemmel creates colorful characters with an amazing story surrounding them. While the first two books in this series were my favorite, this last one was no slouch either.