White Wolf : A Novel of Druss the Legend

Rating:
Summary: A Wolf Among Sheep
Review: White Wolf is the tenth novel in the Drenai Tales series. It features Druss the Legend at a later point in his life, five years after the death of his wife Rowena and ten years before Dos Delnoch, in a quest tale involving his old friend Orastes and his daughter as well as another warrior seeking relief from his guilt and sorrow.

In the chaos following the death of the Emperor Gorben at Skeln Pass, civil war racked Ventria and spread to Tantria. The Tantrian king has attacked Datia and Shakusan Ironmask, leader of the king's guardsmen, has sent Arbeiters out among the people to stir up anger against agents of the enemy, foreigners and the churchmen.

In this novel, Skilgannon the Damned has left the Witch Queen of Naashan, his lover, and is living as Brother Lantern in a community of monks. The Arbeiters have led the townsfolk in torturing and hanging foreigners and burning down their houses. Now they are arousing the people against the churchmen. A crowd has badly beat old Brother Layban and Brothers Lantern and Braygan have come to obtain healing herbs and potions from the Apothecary. There an Arbeiter strikes Brother Braygan and attacks Brother Lantern and thereby seriously hurts himself.

Brother Lantern can see that the monks are very much at risk of attack by the townsfolk, but the Elder Brother will not flee, for the monks' duty is to the flock even if it costs their lives. Brother Lantern stands against the mob and cannot refrain from resisting after the Elder Brother is attacked and wounded. After a few assailants are killed or maimed, the townsfolk cease their assault of the monastery. Brother Lantern now knows that he cannot remain a monk, for he is not willing to die for "scum". The Elder Brother returns the Swords of Night and Day to him and asks only that Skilgannon escort Brother Braygan to Mellicane to take his vows from the Elders of the church.

On the way to Millicane, Skilgannon and Braygan find the boy Rabalyn, wounded and delirious, fleeing from murder accusations by a town councillor, and take him with them. Later, they encounter refugees running from the armies attacking Tantria and witness a calvary patrol attacking women and children among these refugees. Before Skilgannon can intervene, Druss kills all but one of the patrol and sends the survivor away with a warning. After an attack on the refugees by Joinings, great beasts created by magically combining man with animal, Druss and his friend, Garianne, join Skilgannon's company to escort the refugees to Mellicane.

Druss has been searching for Orastes and his daughter, Elanin. In Mellicane, he learns from his friend, Diagoras, a Drenai warrior, that Orastes' servant was found in the dungeons, but none know where Orastes has gone. He discovers, however, that Elanin has been taken by her mother with Shakusan Ironmask to a ruined fortress.

This novel is about love and loyalty, evil and remorse, and, above all, revenge. The plot is simple, but the characters are complex. It contains violence, yet even more compassion, and it involves lovers, but is not romantic. The author has produced another gripping tale that reflects the contradictions and mysteries of human nature.

Highly recommended for Gemmell fans and anyone else who enjoys tales of high tragedy and great loves.

Rating:
Summary: A Wolf Among Sheep
Review: White Wolf is the tenth novel in the Drenai Tales series. It features Druss the Legend at a later point in his life, five years after the death of his wife Rowena and ten years before Dos Delnoch, in a quest tale involving his old friend Orastes and his daughter as well as another warrior seeking relief from his guilt and sorrow.

In the chaos following the death of the Emperor Gorben at Skeln Pass, civil war racked Ventria and spread to Tantria. The Tantrian king has attacked Datia and Shakusan Ironmask, leader of the king's guardsmen, has sent Arbeiters out among the people to stir up anger against agents of the enemy, foreigners and the churchmen.

In this novel, Skilgannon the Damned has left the Witch Queen of Naashan, his lover, and is living as Brother Lantern in a community of monks. The Arbeiters have led the townsfolk in torturing and hanging foreigners and burning down their houses. Now they are arousing the people against the churchmen. A crowd has badly beat old Brother Layban and Brothers Lantern and Braygan have come to obtain healing herbs and potions from the Apothecary. There an Arbeiter strikes Brother Braygan and attacks Brother Lantern and thereby seriously hurts himself.

Brother Lantern can see that the monks are very much at risk of attack by the townsfolk, but the Elder Brother will not flee, for the monks' duty is to the flock even if it costs their lives. Brother Lantern stands against the mob and cannot refrain from resisting after the Elder Brother is attacked and wounded. After a few assailants are killed or maimed, the townsfolk cease their assault of the monastery. Brother Lantern now knows that he cannot remain a monk, for he is not willing to die for "scum". The Elder Brother returns the Swords of Night and Day to him and asks only that Skilgannon escort Brother Braygan to Mellicane to take his vows from the Elders of the church.

On the way to Millicane, Skilgannon and Braygan find the boy Rabalyn, wounded and delirious, fleeing from murder accusations by a town councillor, and take him with them. Later, they encounter refugees running from the armies attacking Tantria and witness a calvary patrol attacking women and children among these refugees. Before Skilgannon can intervene, Druss kills all but one of the patrol and sends the survivor away with a warning. After an attack on the refugees by Joinings, great beasts created by magically combining man with animal, Druss and his friend, Garianne, join Skilgannon's company to escort the refugees to Mellicane.

Druss has been searching for Orastes and his daughter, Elanin. In Mellicane, he learns from his friend, Diagoras, a Drenai warrior, that Orastes' servant was found in the dungeons, but none know where Orastes has gone. He discovers, however, that Elanin has been taken by her mother with Shakusan Ironmask to a ruined fortress.

This novel is about love and loyalty, evil and remorse, and, above all, revenge. The plot is simple, but the characters are complex. It contains violence, yet even more compassion, and it involves lovers, but is not romantic. The author has produced another gripping tale that reflects the contradictions and mysteries of human nature.

Highly recommended for Gemmell fans and anyone else who enjoys tales of high tragedy and great loves.