Legend - David Gemmell > Reviews

Advantages: An incredibly well crafted tale of old style heroism
Disadvantages: A little blood thirsty for some people, I expect

...for Lost Heroes. I tried reading Legend when I first got them, but gave up after 20 pages or so. I was half determined not to like them. However, just recently I got bored. Tom Clancy and co hadn't released anything new and I had to look at other books to satisfy my urge for reading. At that time I noticed the four Drenai novels on my bookshelf and picked up Legend, the first of the four. This time, I didn't give up after 20 pages. I continued ... Read review

Advantages: Brilliantly descriptive battles, easy to read, un-putdownable
Disadvantages: None

The first novel by David Gemmell, and it is a classic piece of heroic fantasy fiction. The story revolves around a warrior, called Druss, who has achieved such status amongst his people, the Drenai, that he is simply known as The Legend. When the Nadir horde invade his homeland, he journeys to fight against them at the fabled fortress of Dros Delnoch, carrying with him his butterly shaped bladed axe. The fortress is has a central keep, encircled ... Read review

Advantages: wonderful book
Disadvantages: can't put it down

Legend is a truely brilliant book which ranks at the top of the fantasy with other writings such Lord of the Rings. The book is set around 2 main characters one an old warrior who is fighting the coming of old age and the other a coward who through fate becomes a hero. Set in a realm where a european type culture is being overwhelmed by a mongol horde similar to Ghengis Khans. The style of writing is fluid and vivid making it hard to put the book ... Read review

Advantages: lovable characters
Disadvantages: addictive

This is the archetypal roller-coaster of a novel. From page one Gemmell grabs you by the lapels and forces you to care about the characters and the plot. He has an amazing ability to create cameo roles throughout the novel so that the main protagonists' actions are embroidered and three-dimensional rather than taking place in splendid isolation. David Gemmell's style is crisp; his sentence structure short and journalistic. This is not a book to ... Read review

Advantages: An easy read and a good story
Disadvantages: A few plot points aren't followed through, the character Rek's development is too sudden and some may find it blood thirsty.

...what one might expect. Legend is the first of this series of books by David Gemmel which get better with each book and though not as great as it's sequals Legend is a great way to start your ascent into David Gemell. All this is a reason alone why Legend is worth adding to your collection. The story is the first in a series about the downfall of the Drenai, a once proud empire which has begun to fade. Like all empires of old Drenai has its ... Read review

Advantages: fast pace, simple writing, stand-alone book
Disadvantages: maybe too military and masculine for some

Legend is one of the genuinely good stories I've read in the recent years. Even though the characters or the setting aren't very original, they are very well done and together they form a very good mix. The plot is simply this: a fortress must hold against overwhelming odds. There aren't nearly enough defending soldiers so they recruit men from the nearby villages and start training them. Some men come from further away to be part of the last stand. ... Read review

Advantages: Pure unadulterated action packed fun
Disadvantages: None as yet

I'll start by saying that I need to improve my reviews, rather than include my opinion I need to include some of the plot as well. I bought this book whikst waiting for a train and didn't know what to expect, all I can say is, why has it taken me so long to find Druss?? The story is about a warrior (Druss) who is in the winter of his career but has still never been bested. Druss is the Captain of the Axe, Deathwalker, and when he receives a ... Read review

Advantages: Legend is a great read, fast paced and easy to read
Disadvantages: Legend is the end of Druss Chronicles so you have to read Gemmell's other Drenai stories to find more of Druss's life

Legend was David Gemmell's first work of the Drenai saga. David has now passed away so anyone getting into science fantasy in my opinion should read his work. Legend begins with the story of the soon to be Earl of Dros Delnoch, a massive fort in the north of the Drenai lands and was built there by an old Earl against a prophecised invasion of the barbaric tribesmen the Nadir. That time has now come and the Drenai people have not the man power to ... Read review

Advantages: love, death, sorrow and joy what more can you ask of a book?
Disadvantages: none!

Outstanding!!!! the only way to describe this book,, i first read it over 10 years ago and it still draws me in to the story each and every time i reread it,, often to the point i cant put it down for the whole day and night. if you haven't already read it, its a must! it has every thing you can wish for in a book, and from the first moment you are drawn in to it. i cant tell you how much i love this book, i have lent it to most of my friends and ... Read review