Stormrider

Rigante, Book 4

By: David Gemmell

Narrated by: Adjoa Andoh

Centuries after Connavar's triumphant battles against the invading army of Stone gained the Rigante their freedom, the clan finds itself oppressed once again.

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. In the south, civil war has drenched the land in blood, and the armies of destruction are slowly creeping north where Ravenheart waits, believing the armies 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 their world lies in their hands. Both are destined to be heroes, but one of them is doomed. For a secret lost in the uncharted past has returned to haunt these two warriors as they face not only the malice of powerful men but the vengeance of an ancient evil, rising from the bloodshed to slake its thirst.

As immense armies of darkness advance, it seems as if nothing will stop them. They crush their enemies with ease, until only a few thousand highlanders stand before them, with no help in sight. But these are not ordinary men. They are clansmen, and more than that, they are Rigante.

©2002 David Gemmell (P)2017 Orion Publishing Group

It’s pretty good!

This book really needed Jaim Grymauch. It knows it, too; there are numerous occasions where characters stop and say some equivalent of ‘I wish Grymauch were here’, because he leaves such an echo of presence and casts such a large shadow.
THAT SAID, this one’s still pretty good, and a satisfying (of bittersweet) end to the Rigante saga. The narrator (as before) is simply extraordinary, and probably the reason I bought a book I already had, just to hear the story read by her. Her accents are breathtaking and immersive, her child voices are genuinely adorable; I really can’t imagine anyone doing a better job.


Love Gemmel, love the Rigante, love this book, even if Ravenheart is the better.

Unique character development

The narrator brought these beautiful, sad and triumphant words to life for me. This is my second series by this author. Character development, flaws and strengths, and dialogue is so real that I know who is speaking before the “said” tag. I am looking for others now.

another great book by David Gemmell

I have always enjoyed the characters is gemmell book no shinning white knights that have never known lose, no Gemmells characters are always struggling with good and evil

Epic

Gemmell is a true story teller of momentous proportions and I revel in the sensational fantasy realms.

Gemmell saved me when I was young

This book series is what religion should be and its lessons are missing in this world. I wish David could have been a voice now, we need men like him. I don’t agree with his faith because it produces so few of him and his beliefs and so much pain and alienation. I miss the story teller my mother hated because he and others like him taught me not to hate when I was young.