Rating: 
Summary: Fast and Deep at the Same Time...
Review: A thoroughly enjoyable beginning to a favorite fairy tale!This story reminded me of Tolkien in that the story is deep enough to keep you interested, yet simple enough to allow your own imagination to "flesh out" the story. If you like fast paced stories with lots of combat you'll like it! If you like stories that offer deep insights into people and how we tick you'll like it! If you like variations to familiar stories you'll like it! In the words of Mikey's brother: "Try it, you'll like it."
Rating:
Summary: Expertly Crafted 'Historical Fantasy'
Review: Although I am not a big fan of historical fantasy novels by nature, I have really enjoyed reading this series very much (along with his other historical fantasy tie-in to this series 'The Lion of Macedon' & 'Dark Prince'). Once again Mr. Gemmell works his literary genius & brings us believable, flawed characters that are likeable & distasteful at the same time. His ability to weave strong character driven storylines is what always end up putting him on the top of the 'must read' fantasy novel list. What I like especially about the Stones of Power series, is how it spans from our past to our future, explaining many of history's biggest mysteries along the way (Bermuda Triangle, Atlantis, Greek/Roman Mythology, etc). As Gemmell himself stated in the introduction to this novel...this is not necessarily the way history/legend was in reality, but it's the way it should have been! ^_^
Rating: 
Summary: Great Writer - Great Story
Review: Chaos and terror stalked the realm. The king had been slain by traitors, the sword of power had been lost, and savage armies--led by the Witch Queen's minions--swarmed the land. All hope lay with young Thuro--in whose veins flowed the blood of kings. I highly recommend this book to all. Gemmell is perfect again. Go get this book.
Rating:
Summary: Ghost King
Review: Chaos and terror stalked the realm. The king had been slain by traitors, the sword of power had been lost, and savage armies--led by the Witch Queen's minions--swarmed the land. All hope lay with young Thuro--in whose veins flowed the blood of kings. I highly recommend this book to all. Gemmell is perfect again. Go get this book.
Rating:
Summary: Caution..
Review: Danger!! Once you pick this book up, you may not be able to put it down. I was hooked the moment I read the first chapter. This is a great book, with a thought provoking ending. It is a must read, like all of David Gemmell's books.
Rating:
Summary: Caution..
Review: Danger!! Once you pick this book up, you may not be able to put it down. I was hooked the moment I read the first chapter. This is a great book, with a thought provoking ending. It is a must read, like all of David Gemmell's books.
Rating: 
Summary: This could have been perfect..
Review: David Gemmell gives a good outline of a complicated story in these two books (Last Sword of Power finishes this story). However, an outline is all you get. "This happens, this happens, this happens, the end." He skims over the surface but doesn't give much depth to any of the happenings or characters in the story. This story could have easily made a good trilogy if it had been fleshed out more. Sadly the author just rushes through it like he's in a huge hurry to get to the end and be done with it. The last three Stones of Power books are much better. Check them out.
Rating:
Summary: Travel back to a time when the sword ruled the land.
Review: From start to finish Mr.Gemmell makes the unbelievable believable, the fantastic feasible, and the mystifying marvelous.Mixing ancient mythology, folklore, and history, Mr. Gemmell creates a chaotic world - actually layers of worlds - where mortal men do battle with sorcerers, enchanters, and ghosts.This first book in the Stones of Power series tells the tale of Thuro,the young boyking. Through a series of deathly trials, the young man matures into Uther Pendragon. With his slain father's Word of Cunoblein, he battles the Witch Queen with an army of ghosts.The book has several subplots that prevent the reader from putting the book down once started
Rating:
Summary: Ghost King. . .
Review: I am an avid fan of Daid Gemmell. He is the anti-typical fantasy author. While authors like Robert Jordan pad their tales with filler to further extend the bloated series of novels that made them famous, Gemmell takes a short and sweet approach. If it isn't essential to the storytelling, you generally won't find it wasting space in a Gemmell novel. Even so, the man's characters rarely, if ever, suffer from any lack of depth. This flawed collection of men and women are the very backbone of any Gemmell read, and serve to push the usually uninspired sword and sorcery plotlines into the background. Believable characters are more important than detailed histories, complex magic systems, and made-up languages, and David Gemmell knows this well. If he has one flaw as a writer, it is simply that he too often copies HIMSELF. "Ghost King" strays only a little from his usual formula, and presents a weak story that details the events surrounding the death of a king, and his son the prince's rise to power and manhood amidst spectacular trials. What makes "Ghost King" stand out from other Gemmell novels, though, is the absence of lasting excitement. Sure, it starts out beautifully, but gradually grinds to a halt. Many of the themes that carry the author's best work are regrettably absent, and, worst of all, many of the novel's characters are less than likable. This is a first in my experiene with Gemmell. Apart from the brilliant Prasamaccus (who enters the story late but makes a lasting impression), few if any of the characters really shine. The lead, Thuro, begins in the right place, but a sudden and implausable shift in his personality (and a ridiculous change of name) leaves him flat, unrelatable, and mostly unsympathetic. Still other characters are underdeveloped and easy to confuse with one another for all their uselessness. Add to this an anti-climax and an epilogue that leaves more questions than answers, and you have a less-than-satisfying read. Even so, David Gemmell at his worst is worth more than several typical fantasy authors at their best. "Ghost King" provides a quick yet fairly meaty read for fans of the genre, and it has its fair share of action and thrills. It is certainly lacking in several departments, and is the least engaging novel the author has written so far (in my own opinion, based on the many Gemmell works that I've read), but it is certainly not without its virtues either. Even so, I do not recommend it heartily. If you are new to David Gemmell, do not employ "Ghost King" to judge his talents. He can do, and certainly has done, better work.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly Overrated
Review: I am so flabbergasted by the volume of glowing reviews this man receives, I am compelled to add my opinion. "Ghost King" was my first introduction to Gemmell. Friends insisted that he was the best thing since sliced-bread and begged me to stay with it until I read the first Jon Shannow novel (volume 3 of the "Stones of Power") when it "gets really good". Now that I've plodded through the 3 books, I'm afraid "Ghost King" is going to receive the brunt of my displeasure as it is, I feel, the worst of the 3. The pacing of the novel is seriously lacking. Dramatic events are breezed-through while less-dramatic plot points are excruciatingly detailed. The characters seem to change motivation at the drop of a hat for no reason, or silly reasons. It may be the speed with which these transitions are tackled that makes it seem so, which again, is a pacing problem. The only interesting thing about this book is the gradual revelations and the feeling of satisfaction as the pieces of Arthurian Legend fall into place. Not that that hasn't been done before. And in a much more entertaining way. In short, I would not recommend this book or the following two volumes ("The Last Sword of Power" and "Wolf in Shadow") to anyone. Many have done it before and done it better.
| 
