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Cover of Stormrider

Stormrider

David A. Gemmell

608 pages

A breathless, mythic tale of rebellion where deeply human warriors summon extraordinary courage against the encroaching dark.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like standing on the edge of a blood-drenched battlefield, swept up in a breathless and propulsive saga of rebellion. The atmosphere is heavily brooding yet punctuated by moments of soaring, triumphant heroism as imperiled highland clans fight to reclaim their stolen culture and fading magic. The narrative tone is deeply earnest and mythic, focusing on the heartbreaking humanity of its warriors, highlighting their capacity for love, sacrifice, and extraordinary courage in the face of absolute destruction. It is a story of stark contrasts between good, evil, and the gray spaces in between. This will delight readers who crave classic, action-packed fantasy where legendary enemies clash and the fate of an entire world hangs in the balance.

Mood
  • blood-drenched
  • brooding
  • triumphant
  • imperiled
Tone
  • epic
  • earnest
  • heroic
  • mythic
  • dramatic
Pace
propulsive
Themes
courage against overwhelming odds · loss of culture and liberty · rebellion and revolution · the burden of heroism · sacrifice and love
The writing
Action-oriented and mythic, focusing on sweeping battles and the stark emotional realities of its warriors.
The arc
Moves from the despair of subjugation and lost magic to the soaring, desperate courage of a legendary rebellion.
Who it's for
Readers who crave classic, high-stakes fantasy where deeply human warriors face impossible odds in a fight for their homeland.
Content notes
  • war and civil conflict
  • blood and violence
  • oppression and subjugation

About the book

Spellbinding action and breathless adventure--these are the realms of David Gemmell. His mythic characters represent the ultimates in good and evil, and everything in between. Brilliant warriors, they are heartbreakingly human in their ability to love, sacrifice, and summon extraordinary courage when all seems lost. With Stormrider, Gemmell continues his spectacular Rigante saga as the imperiled highland clan faces its deadliest threat... and calls for it's greatest hero.STORMRIDERA Novel of the RiganteCenturies ago, Connavar's triumphant battles against the invading army of Stone gained the Rigante their freedom, yet 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.One glorious spark, one moment of Rigante rebellion, has ignited a revolution and forged a legend. The conquered clans set about to rediscover their greatness--yet theirs is not the only call to arms. In the south, civil war has drenched the land in blood, and the armies of destruction have begun creeping north. There the brooding Ravenheart waits, knowing the forces 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 the world lies in their hands. Faced with this inexorable advance, deadly foes will be forced to unite, and a secret lost in the uncharted past will return to haunt these two warriors as they face the vengeance of an ancient evil. Immense armies of darkness advance on the highlanders, and it seems as if nothing will stop them. They crush their enemies with ease, until only a few thousand men stand before them, with no help in sight.But these are not ordinary men they face. They are clansmen, and more than that, they are Rigante.From the Hardcover edition.

Description from Open Library.

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