Hero in the Shadows (Drenai Tales, Book 9)

Rating:
Summary: Waylander's final adventure
Review: A brief summary of the plot is Waylander now called Gray Man must stop the demon world from being opened by an evil magic user. This book is good for people who like action a little more than plot because there are a few surprises but besides that its not really a mind blower. As for me I like the book because the action and charcter design keeped me reading it without getting bored. In my opinion it is one of David Gemmel's better one, but it is not the best book he has written. Over all I would suggest you read it if you crave action in books like me.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent addition
Review: A great continuation of the supposedly ended waylander series. The waylander series fails in comparison to the stones of power novels(3,4,5)but the series is in no way a bad one. I love waylander and I hope David gemmel keeps creating excellent characters like Jon shannow and Waylander.

Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: A truly grand end to one of the most riveting characters in Fantasy. Where David controls his characters with deftness and easy reading, he mends a deep seated NEED for justice in his books and Waylander is his tool. The end is a twist, the middle riveting, the begining heavy with atmosphere. I read it in one day and have lived in the world of Waylander for that time. A gift that I can't thank David enough for.

Rating:
Summary: Gemmell and Waylander does it again!
Review: David Gemmell is a genius. This book was absolutely brilliant. The words and emotions flowed from word to word, page to page, chapter to chapter. I could not put it down until it was finished. I don't know what gift this man has, but it's a rare gift to capture a reader's attention and don't lose it even after the last word has been read over 2 hours later. Hero in the Shadow was one of the best fantasy i've read in quite a while. Yes, it was about good vs. evil but it was more than that. It was about the struggle of man versus evil within and without himself. Waylander, "The Gray Man", is not your typical hero and because of that fact, that is what makes him the best of all heroes. From beginning to end this book was fantastic. I've never once read David Gemmell so i had to buy "Waylander" and "In the Realm of the Wolf" to learn more about this character. Boy, am i glad that i did. After reading those 2 books, i was more determined than ever to get my hands on Hero in the Shadows. I truly can't tell you how fantastic the book was. You just have to buy it and read it yourself to experience it for yourself. I wholeheartedly recommend reading any and all books by David Gemmell. I don't want to give anything away, but to me the book was more on the principles of a man who thought that he was if not evil then not worthy of the world. And yet for that very reason, Waylander is the greatest of all heroes. He's a man who knows who he is, has accepted all his faults and yet in spite of all this, he has compassion that will astound you. He's a loner,a man used to his solitude and has the tendency to be extremely nasty and yet it is these qualities within that makes him the one man to turn to in one's time of need. Way to go Waylander!

Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: David Gemmell is one of the best fantasy authors today. I only regret that we don't get his latest work here in the U.S. He really shines at writing about the last days of older characters...books like Legend and Quest for Lost Heroes exemplify this. He's now on my Hardback-Must-Buy list.

Rating:
Summary: Wayland or Druss?
Review: Don't make me choose!!

With the exception of book #1 "Legand" this is probably the best book in the entire Drenai serise. Just a straight out old fashioned swashbuckler adventure with all of the magical elements you might expect from a Gemmell book.

The plot is probably the best of the serise in recent memory this is probably due to both Waylander and his own interaction with the men of clay.

The book is just wonderful even though it can ramble on a bit. if you have not gotten this book yet and you are a Gemmell fan please get it now.

Rating:
Summary: Good but not Great
Review: Gemmel is my favorite fantasy writer. His stories are mature and well written. This new book is no exception however, it is not as good as many of his work. I always thought that Waylander deserved something atleast as good as Jon Shannow, but this book is no bloodstone.

Rating:
Summary: Gemmel is simply unchallenged!
Review: Gemmel, after I'm sure many letters from readers, has treated us to the return of the mighty Waylander. And what a treat this book is. A plot so thick, that even if you are familiar with Gemmel's writings your still not sure how its going to end, and the characters are rich and emotive. Again Gemmel leaves us boggling with his magnificant foresight and planning in writing this book. It is simply superb. For any who have not tried Gemmel before - it is a must - but please start with the first Waylander book, its just as good.

Rating:
Summary: Great pacing. Great character depth.
Review: Gemmell does a great job of developing characters without sacrificing pacing. He kind of cheats to do it, but since he keeps things interesting I won't complain. He piles on the exposition, but (and here's the cheat) he makes it read like an alternate narrative, tossing in a dose of action and another of dialogue. As with all exposition, the real story still stops dead, but things are usually kept so lively and engrossing that it doesn't matter. The main story doesn't even get moving until about halfway through the book, but it isn't a problem. All the little backstory developments (and this is where a lot of that exposition comes in) catch the reader and carry him along. This is partly a result of the snappy pacing, but equally due to excellent character development. In each scene, and even in the exposition, we get glimpses into what motivates the characters, what they think, what they feel. While the Gray Man could probably carry the story, he doesn't. Gemmel has created a host of compelling characters. While you may find yourself having a favorite (for me it was Yu Yu Liang) it's unlikely that you'll find yourself thinking, "I wish this part was over and he'd get back to the part about so-and-so."

Rating:
Summary: A Waylander Book
Review: Gemmell has written a worthy addition to the Waylander series, one of his most popular characters. He has achieved a tale worthy of Waylander. Courage found in the most curious places, evil and good mixed together being a blur like in real life, failures and victories. What makes this book one to have is that it is the latest and most likely the end of the Waylander series.