Welcome to this week’s Reading Roundup post. I have now finished the final two books in David Gemmell’s brilliant Rigante series and really enjoyed them. Unfortunately, I am not feeling well today, so this will be a very basic post.

When I decided to read the Rigante series I assumed that I was re-reading all of the four books. I was sure that I must have read them many years ago as I knew that I had enjoyed Gemmell’s work in my younger days. As I read through the first two books I definitely remembered parts of the stories, but when I came to these two final books I realised that they were entirely new to me, which was great because they were such absorbing reads.

Anyway, this is the blurb for Ravenheart…

Eight hundred years have passed since King Connavar of the Rigante and his bastard son, Bane, the invading army of Stone. In that time, Connavar has become a legend, and the Rigante have lost the freedom so many gave their lives to preserve. A conquered people, they live and die under the iron rule of the Varlish, their culture all but destroyed.

One woman remains who follows the ancient paths once trod by the Rigante. She is the Wyrd of Wishing Tree Wood, and she alone knows the nature of the evil soon to be unleashed on a doomed and unsuspecting world.

“In a perilous land, facing an uncertain destiny, she pins her initial hopes on two men: Jaim Grymauch, the giant Rigante fighter, a man haunted by his failure to save the friend he loved from betrayal, and Kaelin Ring, a youth whose deadly talents will earn him the enmity of all Varlish. One will become the Ravenheart, an outlaw leader whose daring exploits will inspire the Rigante. The other will forge a legend and light the fires of rebellion.

The Wyrd knows that ultimately all hopes will rest on a third man. Of the bloodline of Connavar the King, he will need to overcome generations of fear and hatred if he is to achieve his destiny. For he is a Varlish nobleman, and – worse – the son of the Rigante’s greatest enemy . . .”

And this is the blurb for Stormrider…

“One glorious spark, one moment of Rigante rebellion has ignited a revolution and forged a legend. In the mountains of the north, the outlaw leader known as Ravenheart waits, knowing the forces of the blackhearted Moidart will come, led by the brutal ruler’s only son, Stormrider. Unaware that the fate of the world lies in their hands, sworn enemies Ravenheart and Stormrider will be forced to unite—and face the vengeance of an ancient evil.

For immense armies of darkness are advancing on the highlanders, and it seems as if nothing will stop them. They crush their victims 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. . . .”

As I am feeling so weak today, I have been unable to write reviews on Goodreads. Let me just say that I thoroughly enjoyed reading these two books and, in fact, the whole series. Everything was also rounded off nicely in the final chapters. If anyone wants to read some insightful comments, there are plenty on Goodreads.

Happy Reading!

Love and best wishes,

Anne

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