Different but still great, 06 Nov 2008
It's almost possible to see the difference in the pages written by the great man himself - but still a great read and although his wife's contribution is not the same - I'd still rate the book as a classic and streets ahead of anything by other so called "greats" of the genre.

A Great Book - A Fantastic Trilogy, 18 Oct 2008
Fresh from reading Conn Iggulden's Lords of the Bow. I was handed the first in this trilogy of books.

Having never heard of David Gemmell nor heard of his tragic death before the end of the final novel. I had no idea WHAT a read I was in for!

These books were a roller coaster of emotion. Brilliantly written!

Without revealing to much of the characters stories, I was genuinely crushed and distraught when reading of the fates of some. This is a story about some the greatest Heroes and Heroines of history.

I read an awful lot of historical fiction and have a book case filled with the works of Cornwell, Iggulden, Scarrow, Severin.... These books rate way up there!!

I would recommend anyone who enjoys reading to buy this trilogy without delay!!

Hats off to Stella Gemmell, but I mourn the loss of the master as a void opens in the climax of his greatest work, 08 Oct 2008
First of all, I must emphasize my respect for what Stella Gemmell set about doing. The task must have been truly immense for a woman and a wife to attempt to complete a novel so delightfully masculine, arrogant and casanova in nature (he re-wrote the Iliad for God's sake, with no regards for one of the greatest epics of all time).
Now such a statement may seem sexist or even chauvinistic, but I need to stress that those who think that must read on (as I do not mean it like that).
Troy's greatest triumph is unarguably its uncanny ability to make the reader truly care deeply for many of its characters and paint their roles in the Trojan war so differently to that of the Iliad (and dare I say it), the recent (shallow to say the least) feature film.
What strikes me upon completing the novel is that, as with the likes of Tolkien in the 'Lord of the Rings', David Gemmell placed an emphasis upon sometimes wholly irrational masculine traits. Even the leading women are basically men, or at the very least, women of the late 20th and 21st centuries. They are fiercely independent, single minded and natural leaders, traits you do not readily associate with women of any era prior to the last century, let alone the Bronze Age Aegean. That is what makes them so attractive to us, because we compare them to the women we most desire today. They possess an ability to make their own decisions, invariably the right ones, placing themselves above the masses and thus increasing their unnatainability for the average chappy. Imagine Andromache (according to David) living today, she would shoot up that career ladder like a bull on speed.
Coming to the point, what truly made me ache was that Stella went about deconstructing these masculine traits so effectively. Firstly, she approaches intensely 'male' characteristics with an obvious incomprehension. Whereas David enlightened us with his wisdom over the sometimes unfathomable actions of us blokes, all I got from Stella was a cynical naivety (the cliched "all men are bastards" approach), battle scenes lacked that killer word or balanced sentence that gave them that 'WOW'-factor and Helikaon's hopeless love for Andromache seems suddenly watered down and, frankly, skull splittingly cheesy. Likewise, Andromache's character lacked any consistency to earlier moments in the story, she quickly seems completely subservient to Helikaon and their relationship goes from that glorious 21st century "let's go dutch" appeal to a dismal moment analogorous to the 1950's where a husband walks through the door to his home and demands his dinner from his wife, who had slaved all day in the kitchen to please him! HOW?? WHY??
Greatest examples: Helikaon actually barks orders at Andromache involving the term "woman", do this "woman" do that "woman" "I am the man, woman, so I am right", surely the Andromache we all knew and came to love would just kick him in the face?! But no, she says "Yes husband", "Yes my love", "don't worry about the bruise my love, I forgive you, you were just angry, I'll just say I fell down the stairs", "what time will you be home for dinner?" ...
I found myself baffled as to how wrong Stella Gemmell got these aspects. Nevertheless I go back to my first statement: to put yourself in the mind of an author so fiercely gifted and masculine (he was a bouncer for a decade for christ's sake, who are all ego-maniacs) and attempt to match him was close to impossible -not unlike Helen attempting to match Achilles' skills in battle- so I found myself taking a deep breath and rocketing through to the conclusion, which after the fascinating, cataclysmic climax petered into a typical hollywood, intolerably cheesy ending; a blasphemy considering the triumphant originality of the earlier novels... I don't believe that that was David's intention for one moment.
Overall, it was a horrid pitty considering I would have given David's part of the novel (the 70,000 or so words) 5 stars without a doubt.
As it is I give it 2 stars, knocked up to 3 for the efforts of Stella. The only party that should be satisfied with this work is the publisher who doubtless made a tidy profit from Stella's admirable, but fruitless efforts.


A fantastic book / trilogy, 14 Sep 2008
Not being a David Gemmell fan and not knowing he died before finishing the third book, My expectations were not that high. However I can't remember enjoying reading more then when reading these three books. Fall of the king is a fantastic take on the end of the troy myth. The characters have more depth then I was expecting and as a result I was genuinely saddened at any departures.

Having read a lot of historical fiction over the last few years I'd say this is right up there with the best, often surpassing it.

Enjoy the books.



A fitting conclusion?, 03 Jul 2008
I realise that the last part in this absorbing triolgy had to be finsihed off by Stella Gemmell following David's untimely death. Although other reviewers suggest that this is seemless, I beg to dissagree. The final part of the triolgy is well crafted and brings a touch of refreshing, imagined "realism" to the tale of Troy's downfall. However, the storyline falls flat towards the end. Clearly, David Gemmell had a longer work in mind. Perhaps, even another book or series of books, charting the mythical rise of Rome (the "Seven Hills" of his story) in the manner of the Aeneid, just as the Trojan War triolgy is broadly based on the Iliad. We shall never know and that is a shame because that story is one which would have benefited from a re-telling by someone with David Gemmell's obvious talent.
That notwithstanding, there are a number of other loose ends such as the fate of Moses - yet another series of books which we shall never see. Oh well! Enjoy what we have.

Different but still great, 06 Nov 2008
It's almost possible to see the difference in the pages written by the great man himself - but still a great read and although his wife's contribution is not the same - I'd still rate the book as a classic and streets ahead of anything by other so called "greats" of the genre.

A Great Book - A Fantastic Trilogy, 18 Oct 2008
Fresh from reading Conn Iggulden's Lords of the Bow. I was handed the first in this trilogy of books.

Having never heard of David Gemmell nor heard of his tragic death before the end of the final novel. I had no idea WHAT a read I was in for!

These books were a roller coaster of emotion. Brilliantly written!

Without revealing to much of the characters stories, I was genuinely crushed and distraught when reading of the fates of some. This is a story about some the greatest Heroes and Heroines of history.

I read an awful lot of historical fiction and have a book case filled with the works of Cornwell, Iggulden, Scarrow, Severin.... These books rate way up there!!

I would recommend anyone who enjoys reading to buy this trilogy without delay!!

Hats off to Stella Gemmell, but I mourn the loss of the master as a void opens in the climax of his greatest work, 08 Oct 2008
First of all, I must emphasize my respect for what Stella Gemmell set about doing. The task must have been truly immense for a woman and a wife to attempt to complete a novel so delightfully masculine, arrogant and casanova in nature (he re-wrote the Iliad for God's sake, with no regards for one of the greatest epics of all time).
Now such a statement may seem sexist or even chauvinistic, but I need to stress that those who think that must read on (as I do not mean it like that).
Troy's greatest triumph is unarguably its uncanny ability to make the reader truly care deeply for many of its characters and paint their roles in the Trojan war so differently to that of the Iliad (and dare I say it), the recent (shallow to say the least) feature film.
What strikes me upon completing the novel is that, as with the likes of Tolkien in the 'Lord of the Rings', David Gemmell placed an emphasis upon sometimes wholly irrational masculine traits. Even the leading women are basically men, or at the very least, women of the late 20th and 21st centuries. They are fiercely independent, single minded and natural leaders, traits you do not readily associate with women of any era prior to the last century, let alone the Bronze Age Aegean. That is what makes them so attractive to us, because we compare them to the women we most desire today. They possess an ability to make their own decisions, invariably the right ones, placing themselves above the masses and thus increasing their unnatainability for the average chappy. Imagine Andromache (according to David) living today, she would shoot up that career ladder like a bull on speed.
Coming to the point, what truly made me ache was that Stella went about deconstructing these masculine traits so effectively. Firstly, she approaches intensely 'male' characteristics with an obvious incomprehension. Whereas David enlightened us with his wisdom over the sometimes unfathomable actions of us blokes, all I got from Stella was a cynical naivety (the cliched "all men are bastards" approach), battle scenes lacked that killer word or balanced sentence that gave them that 'WOW'-factor and Helikaon's hopeless love for Andromache seems suddenly watered down and, frankly, skull splittingly cheesy. Likewise, Andromache's character lacked any consistency to earlier moments in the story, she quickly seems completely subservient to Helikaon and their relationship goes from that glorious 21st century "let's go dutch" appeal to a dismal moment analogorous to the 1950's where a husband walks through the door to his home and demands his dinner from his wife, who had slaved all day in the kitchen to please him! HOW?? WHY??
Greatest examples: Helikaon actually barks orders at Andromache involving the term "woman", do this "woman" do that "woman" "I am the man, woman, so I am right", surely the Andromache we all knew and came to love would just kick him in the face?! But no, she says "Yes husband", "Yes my love", "don't worry about the bruise my love, I forgive you, you were just angry, I'll just say I fell down the stairs", "what time will you be home for dinner?" ...
I found myself baffled as to how wrong Stella Gemmell got these aspects. Nevertheless I go back to my first statement: to put yourself in the mind of an author so fiercely gifted and masculine (he was a bouncer for a decade for christ's sake, who are all ego-maniacs) and attempt to match him was close to impossible -not unlike Helen attempting to match Achilles' skills in battle- so I found myself taking a deep breath and rocketing through to the conclusion, which after the fascinating, cataclysmic climax petered into a typical hollywood, intolerably cheesy ending; a blasphemy considering the triumphant originality of the earlier novels... I don't believe that that was David's intention for one moment.
Overall, it was a horrid pitty considering I would have given David's part of the novel (the 70,000 or so words) 5 stars without a doubt.
As it is I give it 2 stars, knocked up to 3 for the efforts of Stella. The only party that should be satisfied with this work is the publisher who doubtless made a tidy profit from Stella's admirable, but fruitless efforts.


A fantastic book / trilogy, 14 Sep 2008
Not being a David Gemmell fan and not knowing he died before finishing the third book, My expectations were not that high. However I can't remember enjoying reading more then when reading these three books. Fall of the king is a fantastic take on the end of the troy myth. The characters have more depth then I was expecting and as a result I was genuinely saddened at any departures.

Having read a lot of historical fiction over the last few years I'd say this is right up there with the best, often surpassing it.

Enjoy the books.



A fitting conclusion?, 03 Jul 2008
I realise that the last part in this absorbing triolgy had to be finsihed off by Stella Gemmell following David's untimely death. Although other reviewers suggest that this is seemless, I beg to dissagree. The final part of the triolgy is well crafted and brings a touch of refreshing, imagined "realism" to the tale of Troy's downfall. However, the storyline falls flat towards the end. Clearly, David Gemmell had a longer work in mind. Perhaps, even another book or series of books, charting the mythical rise of Rome (the "Seven Hills" of his story) in the manner of the Aeneid, just as the Trojan War triolgy is broadly based on the Iliad. We shall never know and that is a shame because that story is one which would have benefited from a re-telling by someone with David Gemmell's obvious talent.
That notwithstanding, there are a number of other loose ends such as the fate of Moses - yet another series of books which we shall never see. Oh well! Enjoy what we have.

Superb continuation of the trilogy., 29 Mar 2008
Shield of Thunder continues the epic Troy Trilogy begun in Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow. Shield of Thunder was the last book completed by David Gemmell before his premature death in 2006, and was published posthumously.

Rather than picking up the narrative immediately after Lord of the Silver Bow, Gemmell starts Shield of Thunder by focusing on Banokles and Kalliades, two of the Mykene soldiers sent to Troy by Agamemnon to murder King Priam. However, Priam spared their lives as an act of mercy in return for them slaying their treacherous commander. Agamemnon does not look well on failure and now the two Mykene soldiers are on the run. Their paths cross with Piria, a runaway priestess, and mighty Odysseus, whose path leads back to Troy. Back in the Golden City, we are soon reacquainted with the central characters from the first book, such as Andromache and Helikaon, and soon meet important new characters, most notably Achilles, the great hero of Thessaly, who burns to pit his skills of war against Hektor, Prince of Troy.

Shield of Thunder undercuts reader expectations nicely. We may be nearly two hundred pages in before the major characters from the first book reassert themselves, but Odysseus, Banokles and Kalliades are such great characters you barely notice. The writing is as tight as ever and there's much greater humour in the book, particularly the opening sections revolving around the mighty boar Ganny, whilst Banokles' refreshing lack of moral complexity makes him a particularly engaging character: someone who just works out what has to be done and does it whilst everyone else agonises with moral quandaries around him. However, this is the story of the tensions building to war. Gemmell undercuts reader expectations again and again. Paris and Helen are married quite legally and happily at the start of the book but Agamemnon exploits a legalistic loophole to allow him to challenge the might of Troy for her 'capture'. Menelaus, usually depicted as a fearsome warrior, is here a passive man much more at home on his farm than on the front lines. And Achilles and Hektor meeting in the arena prior to their infamous duel on the battlefield may strike some as sacrilege, but it builds up their distant rivalry and thirst to clash in battle all the more effectively.

Shield of Thunder is an excellent continuation of the story and sets things up nicely for the finale in Troy: Fall of Kings.

Epic, 02 Mar 2008
As I first began reading this book I wasn't all that sure about it, the narrative style seemed a little too ambitious and as it followed many different characters in the third person, and it became a little confusing at some points.

I carried on and gradually it really hooked me. The presentation of the characters is immense, for instance the fight between Hektor and Achilles is described with such emotion and awe you'd think that David Gemmell had actually been there.

Every character seems like a real person, and the tragedy and heartbreak that occurs so frequently throughout the novel is truly touching. In the latter chapters of the novel, when war has broken out, the battles and the slaughter that takes place is utterly epic. I was also amazed how many of the more separate stories came together to a magnificent climax at the end. Unbelievable.

A definite must read!

A fine tale, 21 Jan 2008
I finished this book this morning (2am), feeling very sad. Not because of the events in the book - which were, as usual, beautifully told in the effortless Gemmell style - but because I had just read that the author had passed away. For me there has never been another writer who could captivate me so completely, or hold my attention in the way that Gemmell could.

I will buy the final book in the trilogy of course. Because I've grown to love, despise or sympathise with numerous characters in the first two books. Then I will go back to the very beginning, and re-read everything he's ever written, because the man was, quite simply, a story-telling genius.


This was a wonderful book, 29 Nov 2007
As I knew it would be... It was sad to read knowing that this is the very last book Mr. Gemmell will every complete. As usual he delivered a book with wonderful characters, vivid battles and ordinary flawed people who become heroes. Even though a third book is in the works (I have heard that he finished most of it, and that his wife is completing it based off of his outlines) the book finishes well and does not leave you hanging. I will miss David Gemmell's writing. Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

Okay - but should be copyright law involved here, 26 Jul 2007
You know the story - hero , ugly one, swordmaster & lady/whore/princess

Stick to the earlier ones - legend, Lion of Macedon and Knights of Dark Renown

Different but still great, 06 Nov 2008
It's almost possible to see the difference in the pages written by the great man himself - but still a great read and although his wife's contribution is not the same - I'd still rate the book as a classic and streets ahead of anything by other so called "greats" of the genre.

A Great Book - A Fantastic Trilogy, 18 Oct 2008
Fresh from reading Conn Iggulden's Lords of the Bow. I was handed the first in this trilogy of books.

Having never heard of David Gemmell nor heard of his tragic death before the end of the final novel. I had no idea WHAT a read I was in for!

These books were a roller coaster of emotion. Brilliantly written!

Without revealing to much of the characters stories, I was genuinely crushed and distraught when reading of the fates of some. This is a story about some the greatest Heroes and Heroines of history.

I read an awful lot of historical fiction and have a book case filled with the works of Cornwell, Iggulden, Scarrow, Severin.... These books rate way up there!!

I would recommend anyone who enjoys reading to buy this trilogy without delay!!

Hats off to Stella Gemmell, but I mourn the loss of the master as a void opens in the climax of his greatest work, 08 Oct 2008
First of all, I must emphasize my respect for what Stella Gemmell set about doing. The task must have been truly immense for a woman and a wife to attempt to complete a novel so delightfully masculine, arrogant and casanova in nature (he re-wrote the Iliad for God's sake, with no regards for one of the greatest epics of all time).
Now such a statement may seem sexist or even chauvinistic, but I need to stress that those who think that must read on (as I do not mean it like that).
Troy's greatest triumph is unarguably its uncanny ability to make the reader truly care deeply for many of its characters and paint their roles in the Trojan war so differently to that of the Iliad (and dare I say it), the recent (shallow to say the least) feature film.
What strikes me upon completing the novel is that, as with the likes of Tolkien in the 'Lord of the Rings', David Gemmell placed an emphasis upon sometimes wholly irrational masculine traits. Even the leading women are basically men, or at the very least, women of the late 20th and 21st centuries. They are fiercely independent, single minded and natural leaders, traits you do not readily associate with women of any era prior to the last century, let alone the Bronze Age Aegean. That is what makes them so attractive to us, because we compare them to the women we most desire today. They possess an ability to make their own decisions, invariably the right ones, placing themselves above the masses and thus increasing their unnatainability for the average chappy. Imagine Andromache (according to David) living today, she would shoot up that career ladder like a bull on speed.
Coming to the point, what truly made me ache was that Stella went about deconstructing these masculine traits so effectively. Firstly, she approaches intensely 'male' characteristics with an obvious incomprehension. Whereas David enlightened us with his wisdom over the sometimes unfathomable actions of us blokes, all I got from Stella was a cynical naivety (the cliched "all men are bastards" approach), battle scenes lacked that killer word or balanced sentence that gave them that 'WOW'-factor and Helikaon's hopeless love for Andromache seems suddenly watered down and, frankly, skull splittingly cheesy. Likewise, Andromache's character lacked any consistency to earlier moments in the story, she quickly seems completely subservient to Helikaon and their relationship goes from that glorious 21st century "let's go dutch" appeal to a dismal moment analogorous to the 1950's where a husband walks through the door to his home and demands his dinner from his wife, who had slaved all day in the kitchen to please him! HOW?? WHY??
Greatest examples: Helikaon actually barks orders at Andromache involving the term "woman", do this "woman" do that "woman" "I am the man, woman, so I am right", surely the Andromache we all knew and came to love would just kick him in the face?! But no, she says "Yes husband", "Yes my love", "don't worry about the bruise my love, I forgive you, you were just angry, I'll just say I fell down the stairs", "what time will you be home for dinner?" ...
I found myself baffled as to how wrong Stella Gemmell got these aspects. Nevertheless I go back to my first statement: to put yourself in the mind of an author so fiercely gifted and masculine (he was a bouncer for a decade for christ's sake, who are all ego-maniacs) and attempt to match him was close to impossible -not unlike Helen attempting to match Achilles' skills in battle- so I found myself taking a deep breath and rocketing through to the conclusion, which after the fascinating, cataclysmic climax petered into a typical hollywood, intolerably cheesy ending; a blasphemy considering the triumphant originality of the earlier novels... I don't believe that that was David's intention for one moment.
Overall, it was a horrid pitty considering I would have given David's part of the novel (the 70,000 or so words) 5 stars without a doubt.
As it is I give it 2 stars, knocked up to 3 for the efforts of Stella. The only party that should be satisfied with this work is the publisher who doubtless made a tidy profit from Stella's admirable, but fruitless efforts.


A fantastic book / trilogy, 14 Sep 2008
Not being a David Gemmell fan and not knowing he died before finishing the third book, My expectations were not that high. However I can't remember enjoying reading more then when reading these three books. Fall of the king is a fantastic take on the end of the troy myth. The characters have more depth then I was expecting and as a result I was genuinely saddened at any departures.

Having read a lot of historical fiction over the last few years I'd say this is right up there with the best, often surpassing it.

Enjoy the books.



A fitting conclusion?, 03 Jul 2008
I realise that the last part in this absorbing triolgy had to be finsihed off by Stella Gemmell following David's untimely death. Although other reviewers suggest that this is seemless, I beg to dissagree. The final part of the triolgy is well crafted and brings a touch of refreshing, imagined "realism" to the tale of Troy's downfall. However, the storyline falls flat towards the end. Clearly, David Gemmell had a longer work in mind. Perhaps, even another book or series of books, charting the mythical rise of Rome (the "Seven Hills" of his story) in the manner of the Aeneid, just as the Trojan War triolgy is broadly based on the Iliad. We shall never know and that is a shame because that story is one which would have benefited from a re-telling by someone with David Gemmell's obvious talent.
That notwithstanding, there are a number of other loose ends such as the fate of Moses - yet another series of books which we shall never see. Oh well! Enjoy what we have.

Superb continuation of the trilogy., 29 Mar 2008
Shield of Thunder continues the epic Troy Trilogy begun in Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow. Shield of Thunder was the last book completed by David Gemmell before his premature death in 2006, and was published posthumously.

Rather than picking up the narrative immediately after Lord of the Silver Bow, Gemmell starts Shield of Thunder by focusing on Banokles and Kalliades, two of the Mykene soldiers sent to Troy by Agamemnon to murder King Priam. However, Priam spared their lives as an act of mercy in return for them slaying their treacherous commander. Agamemnon does not look well on failure and now the two Mykene soldiers are on the run. Their paths cross with Piria, a runaway priestess, and mighty Odysseus, whose path leads back to Troy. Back in the Golden City, we are soon reacquainted with the central characters from the first book, such as Andromache and Helikaon, and soon meet important new characters, most notably Achilles, the great hero of Thessaly, who burns to pit his skills of war against Hektor, Prince of Troy.

Shield of Thunder undercuts reader expectations nicely. We may be nearly two hundred pages in before the major characters from the first book reassert themselves, but Odysseus, Banokles and Kalliades are such great characters you barely notice. The writing is as tight as ever and there's much greater humour in the book, particularly the opening sections revolving around the mighty boar Ganny, whilst Banokles' refreshing lack of moral complexity makes him a particularly engaging character: someone who just works out what has to be done and does it whilst everyone else agonises with moral quandaries around him. However, this is the story of the tensions building to war. Gemmell undercuts reader expectations again and again. Paris and Helen are married quite legally and happily at the start of the book but Agamemnon exploits a legalistic loophole to allow him to challenge the might of Troy for her 'capture'. Menelaus, usually depicted as a fearsome warrior, is here a passive man much more at home on his farm than on the front lines. And Achilles and Hektor meeting in the arena prior to their infamous duel on the battlefield may strike some as sacrilege, but it builds up their distant rivalry and thirst to clash in battle all the more effectively.

Shield of Thunder is an excellent continuation of the story and sets things up nicely for the finale in Troy: Fall of Kings.

Epic, 02 Mar 2008
As I first began reading this book I wasn't all that sure about it, the narrative style seemed a little too ambitious and as it followed many different characters in the third person, and it became a little confusing at some points.

I carried on and gradually it really hooked me. The presentation of the characters is immense, for instance the fight between Hektor and Achilles is described with such emotion and awe you'd think that David Gemmell had actually been there.

Every character seems like a real person, and the tragedy and heartbreak that occurs so frequently throughout the novel is truly touching. In the latter chapters of the novel, when war has broken out, the battles and the slaughter that takes place is utterly epic. I was also amazed how many of the more separate stories came together to a magnificent climax at the end. Unbelievable.

A definite must read!

A fine tale, 21 Jan 2008
I finished this book this morning (2am), feeling very sad. Not because of the events in the book - which were, as usual, beautifully told in the effortless Gemmell style - but because I had just read that the author had passed away. For me there has never been another writer who could captivate me so completely, or hold my attention in the way that Gemmell could.

I will buy the final book in the trilogy of course. Because I've grown to love, despise or sympathise with numerous characters in the first two books. Then I will go back to the very beginning, and re-read everything he's ever written, because the man was, quite simply, a story-telling genius.


This was a wonderful book, 29 Nov 2007
As I knew it would be... It was sad to read knowing that this is the very last book Mr. Gemmell will every complete. As usual he delivered a book with wonderful characters, vivid battles and ordinary flawed people who become heroes. Even though a third book is in the works (I have heard that he finished most of it, and that his wife is completing it based off of his outlines) the book finishes well and does not leave you hanging. I will miss David Gemmell's writing. Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

Okay - but should be copyright law involved here, 26 Jul 2007
You know the story - hero , ugly one, swordmaster & lady/whore/princess

Stick to the earlier ones - legend, Lion of Macedon and Knights of Dark Renown

An Epic from Start to Finish, 29 Nov 2008
I was first introduced to the work of David Gemmell at age 14, when I loaned a copy of Lion of Macedon from my Uncle. I couldn't put it down, and borrowed Dark Prince straight after. They were classics, and I knew it.

I saw this on the shelf of my local waterstones, and after nine months of reading mostly Star Trek and Doctor Who books, I was looking for something a bit different. This was it. It is a gripping read, which never fails to disappoint.

The story itself centres around 'The Golden One' Helikaon, prince of Dardania, and his voyages and escapades sailing his ship, the Xanthos, across the murky waters of 'The Great Green' (Mediteranean Sea). It follows the exploits of him and his friend Zidantas and the crew of his ship.

On her maiden voyage the Xanthos picks up two Mykene Warriors, one who is called Argurios, and is one of the main characters in the book.There is some animosity between Helikaon and Argurios to start with, although this is metered with an amount of Respect and Mutual Appreciation, which leads to often surprising situations and scenarios.

As well as his friendship with Argurios, the story centres around the love of Helikaon for Andromache, a priestess of Thera, who is openly bi-sexual, and apparently very attractive in a non-descript sort of way. Either way there is some Poltical conspiracy in their relationship as Princess Andromache has been given to King Priam of Troy to marry his Son, Hektor, the greek mythos.

What a great read it is! I simply couldn't put it down, although it is true that characters like Hektor and Odysseus only play a supporting role in this re-telling of the Greek Legend, their pressence is felt throughout the story, as are the consequences of Battle, Piracy and Betrayal.

I recommend this to anybody, especially Lord of the Rings Fans!

"Fantastic" what more can one say, 27 Jun 2008
I have just finished reading `Troy fall of kings` the third book in this trilogy & what an uptake on the Troy legend,all three books are absolutely brilliant. I would like to think that some day maybe Peter Jackson or another with his vision & imagination would make some David Gemmell heroic fantasy novels into films & give them the true accolade they deserve. The best heroic fantasy novel books I have ever read.

Superb swashbuckling adventure with a Greek setting, 11 Apr 2008
Although this is set in ancient Greece it could really be set in Drenai or any other of Gemmell's worlds as it reads very similar to those, which is no bad thing as no one does heroic fantasy better than Gemmell.

This book is full of action, violence and war-mongering, along with some very well written characters. Gemmell's heros are never whiter than white, they always have their own flaws, which makes them very believable. Another awesome book from Gemmell.

Fantastic Read!, 28 Mar 2008
As with a number of other reviewers this was the first time I have read David Gemmell and it won't be the last. I enjoy historical fiction and this book is up there with the best. It is a great mix of awesome battles, romance, legend and humanity that leaves you unable to put it down. I read the last 250 pages on a transatlantic flight and couldn't wait to get volume two out of my suitcase when I got to my hotel room! If you enjoy Cornwell, Scarrow and Iggulden you will love this one.

Almost flawlessly enjoyable, 23 Mar 2008
David Gemmell was a prolific and popular author of heroic fantasy, penning more than thirty novels (most of them well-receved) between the 1984 release of Legend and his death in the summer of 2006. His final project was The Troy Trilogy, an epic retelling of the Trojan War, its causes and consequences, marrying the likely historical reality of the conflict (now seen less as a story of doomed love and more the explosion of tensions building up over decades between the Greek cities and the Hittite Empire) with some fantastical elements, although these are mostly restricted to prophetic dreams. Arguably the trilogy, or at least Lord of the Silver Bow, barely qualifies as fantasy, instead more neatly falling into the subgenre of the 'speculative historical' novel shared by the likes of Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles.

The time is three thousand years and more in the past. The world is dominated by the Great Green, the vast sea that divides the Greek city-states (now coming under the dominion of Mykene and its ruthless king, Agamemnon) from the Hittites and their colonies in the near east, Assyria further to the east and Egypte to the south. Lord of the Silver Bow is the story of several individuals. Helikaon, Prince of Dardania, is a warrior and sailor beyond compare, dubbed 'The Golden One' for his legendary luck and pride. He has built the Xanthos, the biggest ship on the Great Green, which sailors fear as it challenges the might of Poseidon. Helikaon is being hunted by assassins and has made an enemy of the Mykene for slaughtering their hero Alektruon, a pirate and reaver, but is unaware that Agamemnon has been told of a prophecy that he will be responsible for Agamemnon's downfall.

Meanwhile, the beautiful Andromache, exiled to the island of Thera by her father, is recalled after the death of her sister and is pledged to marry Prince Hektor of Troy, a warrior of legend. Her journey to Troy brings her into contact with Helikaon and his crew, a meeting that will spark many unfortunate events to come. The last of the three central characters is Argurios, a mighty Mykene warrior who loaths Helikaon, but destiny and honour compel him to fight alongside the Golden One and forge a story that will become a legend across the Great Green and challenge Agamemnon's wisdom and reputation.

Around these three central characters other lives become entangled: Xander, the ship's boy who becomes interested in healing; the strange Trojan girl and prophetess, Kassandra; the Egyptean exiled prince Gershom; the mighty warrior and legendary tale-spinner Odysseus, King of Ithaka; and King Priam himself, a contradictary figure, cruel and hateful one moment, with occasional flashes of honour and mercy.

Lord of the Silver Bow is nearly a flawlessly enjoyable book, with a depth of writing that is hugely engrossing and characters that leap clear of the page in their vividness. Such is the strength of the story that you forget you are reading a story that you know the end of, and the moments in the story that do intersect with the legend are all the most impressive for that, such as when the reader realises that Helikaon is actually Aeneas and when Prince Paris crops up for one of his extremely infrequent appearances. The combat sequences are brutal and convincing; the characters' philosophical musings are short, to the point and do not slow down the action; the drawing of the characters is so well-achieved that some of the deaths at the end of the book are almost physically painful to read about.

Lord of the Silver Bow (****½) is laying the groundwork for the war to come, but is in itself a hugely accomplished and significant epic fantasy novel with enough closure to make it a great self-contained work. The other two books in the sequence are Shield of Thunder and Fall of Kings.

Different but still great, 06 Nov 2008
It's almost possible to see the difference in the pages written by the great man himself - but still a great read and although his wife's contribution is not the same - I'd still rate the book as a classic and streets ahead of anything by other so called "greats" of the genre.

A Great Book - A Fantastic Trilogy, 18 Oct 2008
Fresh from reading Conn Iggulden's Lords of the Bow. I was handed the first in this trilogy of books.

Having never heard of David Gemmell nor heard of his tragic death before the end of the final novel. I had no idea WHAT a read I was in for!

These books were a roller coaster of emotion. Brilliantly written!

Without revealing to much of the characters stories, I was genuinely crushed and distraught when reading of the fates of some. This is a story about some the greatest Heroes and Heroines of history.

I read an awful lot of historical fiction and have a book case filled with the works of Cornwell, Iggulden, Scarrow, Severin.... These books rate way up there!!

I would recommend anyone who enjoys reading to buy this trilogy without delay!!

Hats off to Stella Gemmell, but I mourn the loss of the master as a void opens in the climax of his greatest work, 08 Oct 2008
First of all, I must emphasize my respect for what Stella Gemmell set about doing. The task must have been truly immense for a woman and a wife to attempt to complete a novel so delightfully masculine, arrogant and casanova in nature (he re-wrote the Iliad for God's sake, with no regards for one of the greatest epics of all time).
Now such a statement may seem sexist or even chauvinistic, but I need to stress that those who think that must read on (as I do not mean it like that).
Troy's greatest triumph is unarguably its uncanny ability to make the reader truly care deeply for many of its characters and paint their roles in the Trojan war so differently to that of the Iliad (and dare I say it), the recent (shallow to say the least) feature film.
What strikes me upon completing the novel is that, as with the likes of Tolkien in the 'Lord of the Rings', David Gemmell placed an emphasis upon sometimes wholly irrational masculine traits. Even the leading women are basically men, or at the very least, women of the late 20th and 21st centuries. They are fiercely independent, single minded and natural leaders, traits you do not readily associate with women of any era prior to the last century, let alone the Bronze Age Aegean. That is what makes them so attractive to us, because we compare them to the women we most desire today. They possess an ability to make their own decisions, invariably the right ones, placing themselves above the masses and thus increasing their unnatainability for the average chappy. Imagine Andromache (according to David) living today, she would shoot up that career ladder like a bull on speed.
Coming to the point, what truly made me ache was that Stella went about deconstructing these masculine traits so effectively. Firstly, she approaches intensely 'male' characteristics with an obvious incomprehension. Whereas David enlightened us with his wisdom over the sometimes unfathomable actions of us blokes, all I got from Stella was a cynical naivety (the cliched "all men are bastards" approach), battle scenes lacked that killer word or balanced sentence that gave them that 'WOW'-factor and Helikaon's hopeless love for Andromache seems suddenly watered down and, frankly, skull splittingly cheesy. Likewise, Andromache's character lacked any consistency to earlier moments in the story, she quickly seems completely subservient to Helikaon and their relationship goes from that glorious 21st century "let's go dutch" appeal to a dismal moment analogorous to the 1950's where a husband walks through the door to his home and demands his dinner from his wife, who had slaved all day in the kitchen to please him! HOW?? WHY??
Greatest examples: Helikaon actually barks orders at Andromache involving the term "woman", do this "woman" do that "woman" "I am the man, woman, so I am right", surely the Andromache we all knew and came to love would just kick him in the face?! But no, she says "Yes husband", "Yes my love", "don't worry about the bruise my love, I forgive you, you were just angry, I'll just say I fell down the stairs", "what time will you be home for dinner?" ...
I found myself baffled as to how wrong Stella Gemmell got these aspects. Nevertheless I go back to my first statement: to put yourself in the mind of an author so fiercely gifted and masculine (he was a bouncer for a decade for christ's sake, who are all ego-maniacs) and attempt to match him was close to impossible -not unlike Helen attempting to match Achilles' skills in battle- so I found myself taking a deep breath and rocketing through to the conclusion, which after the fascinating, cataclysmic climax petered into a typical hollywood, intolerably cheesy ending; a blasphemy considering the triumphant originality of the earlier novels... I don't believe that that was David's intention for one moment.
Overall, it was a horrid pitty considering I would have given David's part of the novel (the 70,000 or so words) 5 stars without a doubt.
As it is I give it 2 stars, knocked up to 3 for the efforts of Stella. The only party that should be satisfied with this work is the publisher who doubtless made a tidy profit from Stella's admirable, but fruitless efforts.


A fantastic book / trilogy, 14 Sep 2008
Not being a David Gemmell fan and not knowing he died before finishing the third book, My expectations were not that high. However I can't remember enjoying reading more then when reading these three books. Fall of the king is a fantastic take on the end of the troy myth. The characters have more depth then I was expecting and as a result I was genuinely saddened at any departures.

Having read a lot of historical fiction over the last few years I'd say this is right up there with the best, often surpassing it.

Enjoy the books.



A fitting conclusion?, 03 Jul 2008
I realise that the last part in this absorbing triolgy had to be finsihed off by Stella Gemmell following David's untimely death. Although other reviewers suggest that this is seemless, I beg to dissagree. The final part of the triolgy is well crafted and brings a touch of refreshing, imagined "realism" to the tale of Troy's downfall. However, the storyline falls flat towards the end. Clearly, David Gemmell had a longer work in mind. Perhaps, even another book or series of books, charting the mythical rise of Rome (the "Seven Hills" of his story) in the manner of the Aeneid, just as the Trojan War triolgy is broadly based on the Iliad. We shall never know and that is a shame because that story is one which would have benefited from a re-telling by someone with David Gemmell's obvious talent.
That notwithstanding, there are a number of other loose ends such as the fate of Moses - yet another series of books which we shall never see. Oh well! Enjoy what we have.

Superb continuation of the trilogy., 29 Mar 2008
Shield of Thunder continues the epic Troy Trilogy begun in Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow. Shield of Thunder was the last book completed by David Gemmell before his premature death in 2006, and was published posthumously.

Rather than picking up the narrative immediately after Lord of the Silver Bow, Gemmell starts Shield of Thunder by focusing on Banokles and Kalliades, two of the Mykene soldiers sent to Troy by Agamemnon to murder King Priam. However, Priam spared their lives as an act of mercy in return for them slaying their treacherous commander. Agamemnon does not look well on failure and now the two Mykene soldiers are on the run. Their paths cross with Piria, a runaway priestess, and mighty Odysseus, whose path leads back to Troy. Back in the Golden City, we are soon reacquainted with the central characters from the first book, such as Andromache and Helikaon, and soon meet important new characters, most notably Achilles, the great hero of Thessaly, who burns to pit his skills of war against Hektor, Prince of Troy.

Shield of Thunder undercuts reader expectations nicely. We may be nearly two hundred pages in before the major characters from the first book reassert themselves, but Odysseus, Banokles and Kalliades are such great characters you barely notice. The writing is as tight as ever and there's much greater humour in the book, particularly the opening sections revolving around the mighty boar Ganny, whilst Banokles' refreshing lack of moral complexity makes him a particularly engaging character: someone who just works out what has to be done and does it whilst everyone else agonises with moral quandaries around him. However, this is the story of the tensions building to war. Gemmell undercuts reader expectations again and again. Paris and Helen are married quite legally and happily at the start of the book but Agamemnon exploits a legalistic loophole to allow him to challenge the might of Troy for her 'capture'. Menelaus, usually depicted as a fearsome warrior, is here a passive man much more at home on his farm than on the front lines. And Achilles and Hektor meeting in the arena prior to their infamous duel on the battlefield may strike some as sacrilege, but it builds up their distant rivalry and thirst to clash in battle all the more effectively.

Shield of Thunder is an excellent continuation of the story and sets things up nicely for the finale in Troy: Fall of Kings.

Epic, 02 Mar 2008
As I first began reading this book I wasn't all that sure about it, the narrative style seemed a little too ambitious and as it followed many different characters in the third person, and it became a little confusing at some points.

I carried on and gradually it really hooked me. The presentation of the characters is immense, for instance the fight between Hektor and Achilles is described with such emotion and awe you'd think that David Gemmell had actually been there.

Every character seems like a real person, and the tragedy and heartbreak that occurs so frequently throughout the novel is truly touching. In the latter chapters of the novel, when war has broken out, the battles and the slaughter that takes place is utterly epic. I was also amazed how many of the more separate stories came together to a magnificent climax at the end. Unbelievable.

A definite must read!

A fine tale, 21 Jan 2008
I finished this book this morning (2am), feeling very sad. Not because of the events in the book - which were, as usual, beautifully told in the effortless Gemmell style - but because I had just read that the author had passed away. For me there has never been another writer who could captivate me so completely, or hold my attention in the way that Gemmell could.

I will buy the final book in the trilogy of course. Because I've grown to love, despise or sympathise with numerous characters in the first two books. Then I will go back to the very beginning, and re-read everything he's ever written, because the man was, quite simply, a story-telling genius.


This was a wonderful book, 29 Nov 2007
As I knew it would be... It was sad to read knowing that this is the very last book Mr. Gemmell will every complete. As usual he delivered a book with wonderful characters, vivid battles and ordinary flawed people who become heroes. Even though a third book is in the works (I have heard that he finished most of it, and that his wife is completing it based off of his outlines) the book finishes well and does not leave you hanging. I will miss David Gemmell's writing. Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

Okay - but should be copyright law involved here, 26 Jul 2007
You know the story - hero , ugly one, swordmaster & lady/whore/princess

Stick to the earlier ones - legend, Lion of Macedon and Knights of Dark Renown

An Epic from Start to Finish, 29 Nov 2008
I was first introduced to the work of David Gemmell at age 14, when I loaned a copy of Lion of Macedon from my Uncle. I couldn't put it down, and borrowed Dark Prince straight after. They were classics, and I knew it.

I saw this on the shelf of my local waterstones, and after nine months of reading mostly Star Trek and Doctor Who books, I was looking for something a bit different. This was it. It is a gripping read, which never fails to disappoint.

The story itself centres around 'The Golden One' Helikaon, prince of Dardania, and his voyages and escapades sailing his ship, the Xanthos, across the murky waters of 'The Great Green' (Mediteranean Sea). It follows the exploits of him and his friend Zidantas and the crew of his ship.

On her maiden voyage the Xanthos picks up two Mykene Warriors, one who is called Argurios, and is one of the main characters in the book.There is some animosity between Helikaon and Argurios to start with, although this is metered with an amount of Respect and Mutual Appreciation, which leads to often surprising situations and scenarios.

As well as his friendship with Argurios, the story centres around the love of Helikaon for Andromache, a priestess of Thera, who is openly bi-sexual, and apparently very attractive in a non-descript sort of way. Either way there is some Poltical conspiracy in their relationship as Princess Andromache has been given to King Priam of Troy to marry his Son, Hektor, the greek mythos.

What a great read it is! I simply couldn't put it down, although it is true that characters like Hektor and Odysseus only play a supporting role in this re-telling of the Greek Legend, their pressence is felt throughout the story, as are the consequences of Battle, Piracy and Betrayal.

I recommend this to anybody, especially Lord of the Rings Fans!

"Fantastic" what more can one say, 27 Jun 2008
I have just finished reading `Troy fall of kings` the third book in this trilogy & what an uptake on the Troy legend,all three books are absolutely brilliant. I would like to think that some day maybe Peter Jackson or another with his vision & imagination would make some David Gemmell heroic fantasy novels into films & give them the true accolade they deserve. The best heroic fantasy novel books I have ever read.

Superb swashbuckling adventure with a Greek setting, 11 Apr 2008
Although this is set in ancient Greece it could really be set in Drenai or any other of Gemmell's worlds as it reads very similar to those, which is no bad thing as no one does heroic fantasy better than Gemmell.

This book is full of action, violence and war-mongering, along with some very well written characters. Gemmell's heros are never whiter than white, they always have their own flaws, which makes them very believable. Another awesome book from Gemmell.

Fantastic Read!, 28 Mar 2008
As with a number of other reviewers this was the first time I have read David Gemmell and it won't be the last. I enjoy historical fiction and this book is up there with the best. It is a great mix of awesome battles, romance, legend and humanity that leaves you unable to put it down. I read the last 250 pages on a transatlantic flight and couldn't wait to get volume two out of my suitcase when I got to my hotel room! If you enjoy Cornwell, Scarrow and Iggulden you will love this one.

Almost flawlessly enjoyable, 23 Mar 2008
David Gemmell was a prolific and popular author of heroic fantasy, penning more than thirty novels (most of them well-receved) between the 1984 release of Legend and his death in the summer of 2006. His final project was The Troy Trilogy, an epic retelling of the Trojan War, its causes and consequences, marrying the likely historical reality of the conflict (now seen less as a story of doomed love and more the explosion of tensions building up over decades between the Greek cities and the Hittite Empire) with some fantastical elements, although these are mostly restricted to prophetic dreams. Arguably the trilogy, or at least Lord of the Silver Bow, barely qualifies as fantasy, instead more neatly falling into the subgenre of the 'speculative historical' novel shared by the likes of Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles.

The time is three thousand years and more in the past. The world is dominated by the Great Green, the vast sea that divides the Greek city-states (now coming under the dominion of Mykene and its ruthless king, Agamemnon) from the Hittites and their colonies in the near east, Assyria further to the east and Egypte to the south. Lord of the Silver Bow is the story of several individuals. Helikaon, Prince of Dardania, is a warrior and sailor beyond compare, dubbed 'The Golden One' for his legendary luck and pride. He has built the Xanthos, the biggest ship on the Great Green, which sailors fear as it challenges the might of Poseidon. Helikaon is being hunted by assassins and has made an enemy of the Mykene for slaughtering their hero Alektruon, a pirate and reaver, but is unaware that Agamemnon has been told of a prophecy that he will be responsible for Agamemnon's downfall.

Meanwhile, the beautiful Andromache, exiled to the island of Thera by her father, is recalled after the death of her sister and is pledged to marry Prince Hektor of Troy, a warrior of legend. Her journey to Troy brings her into contact with Helikaon and his crew, a meeting that will spark many unfortunate events to come. The last of the three central characters is Argurios, a mighty Mykene warrior who loaths Helikaon, but destiny and honour compel him to fight alongside the Golden One and forge a story that will become a legend across the Great Green and challenge Agamemnon's wisdom and reputation.

Around these three central characters other lives become entangled: Xander, the ship's boy who becomes interested in healing; the strange Trojan girl and prophetess, Kassandra; the Egyptean exiled prince Gershom; the mighty warrior and legendary tale-spinner Odysseus, King of Ithaka; and King Priam himself, a contradictary figure, cruel and hateful one moment, with occasional flashes of honour and mercy.

Lord of the Silver Bow is nearly a flawlessly enjoyable book, with a depth of writing that is hugely engrossing and characters that leap clear of the page in their vividness. Such is the strength of the story that you forget you are reading a story that you know the end of, and the moments in the story that do intersect with the legend are all the most impressive for that, such as when the reader realises that Helikaon is actually Aeneas and when Prince Paris crops up for one of his extremely infrequent appearances. The combat sequences are brutal and convincing; the characters' philosophical musings are short, to the point and do not slow down the action; the drawing of the characters is so well-achieved that some of the deaths at the end of the book are almost physically painful to read about.

Lord of the Silver Bow (****½) is laying the groundwork for the war to come, but is in itself a hugely accomplished and significant epic fantasy novel with enough closure to make it a great self-contained work. The other two books in the sequence are Shield of Thunder and Fall of Kings.

Where it all started!, 27 Jun 2008
This is where David Gemmell started - and it's a great place to start reading him. It is a brilliant read, which will keep you turning the pages. It is the essence of all the Gemmell novels that follow.

This novel is quite a statement of intent from a new writer - it is epic in proportions - focussing on a siege in an enormous fortress. It has all the ingredients that later became hallmarks of Gemmell's writing - characters in all shades of grey and yet vivid as life itself, brutal and engrossing combat, people who you care about, twists and turns in the plot. Perhaps most impressively of all, the novel gives the impression that the Drenai world was formed fully - you are instantly in a world where all the elements of the story, the characters and settings, make sense. You feel like you've always known about the Thirty, Dros Delnoch, the Nadir and Druss the Legend. And it's exciting to be caught up in it!

Looking back now, the story here isn't as sophisticated as some of Gemmell's later works, but the staple characters that return under different guises in his later books were here for the first time. One of the criticisms of Gemmell's writing is that it is formulaic. I've never minded that, as the formula is a brilliant one, and the writing is as engaging and emotion-fuelled as anything I've ever read. And it is here, in Legend, that the formula was first laid out.


Brillant Read...Teenage review, 24 May 2008

This is the first David Gemmell book I have read. I became addicted to the story line and couldnt waiting to turn over the page to see what was to unfold. I was advised to read this book by a friend after reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Legend stands up well with these books and that is a high complement.

I cant wait to read more of Gemmells work. The way he draws a picture is simply brillant. 5 Stars


The one that started it all, 07 Feb 2008
The amazing book from David Gemmell.

I first read this as a teenager, my friend got it with the computer game. I was unsure at first, how good can it be? I was not the most prolific reader at the time.
But I started, and could not stop, this one book is responsible for all the books I have read since, it captured my imagination so well that day, I cannot be without a book today.

Anyone that likes any kind of fantasy, be it Terry Pratchett or the mighty Tolkien, should not miss a chance to read what I consider a master piece.

Open up the book and your heart to Druss, Captain of the Axe, the Legend!


Excellent - Must Buy!, 23 Nov 2007
I bought this novel two years ago after a colleague from work recommended the author (David Gemmel) to me. I wasn't disappointed. I found the story filled with drama, mystery, intrigue and heroics - all the usual expectations of the fantasy genre, whilst still allowing for some originality.

Legend has a number of protagonists, an axmen of legendary renown, the daughter of an Earl, a warrior priest and an ordinary man who finds leadership thrust upon him. All these heroes find themselves defending a doomed fortress against a savage enemy united by a great tactician and cunning leader, Gemmel does a great job bringing this war to life with gritty humour, gruesome battles and characters plagued with very human fears.

If this sounds like your brand of heroic fantasy then I'd recommend starting your Gemmel here with the first of his Drenai series. Five stars well earned!


Best book in the genre, 24 Aug 2007
This book really inspired my love affair with fantasy novels. Its brilliantly written with charcters with real flaws that you can really relate to. If you havent read this already i recommend you buy it now.

Different but still great, 06 Nov 2008
It's almost possible to see the difference in the pages written by the great man himself - but still a great read and although his wife's contribution is not the same - I'd still rate the book as a classic and streets ahead of anything by other so called "greats" of the genre.

A Great Book - A Fantastic Trilogy, 18 Oct 2008
Fresh from reading Conn Iggulden's Lords of the Bow. I was handed the first in this trilogy of books.

Having never heard of David Gemmell nor heard of his tragic death before the end of the final novel. I had no idea WHAT a read I was in for!

These books were a roller coaster of emotion. Brilliantly written!

Without revealing to much of the characters stories, I was genuinely crushed and distraught when reading of the fates of some. This is a story about some the greatest Heroes and Heroines of history.

I read an awful lot of historical fiction and have a book case filled with the works of Cornwell, Iggulden, Scarrow, Severin.... These books rate way up there!!

I would recommend anyone who enjoys reading to buy this trilogy without delay!!

Hats off to Stella Gemmell, but I mourn the loss of the master as a void opens in the climax of his greatest work, 08 Oct 2008
First of all, I must emphasize my respect for what Stella Gemmell set about doing. The task must have been truly immense for a woman and a wife to attempt to complete a novel so delightfully masculine, arrogant and casanova in nature (he re-wrote the Iliad for God's sake, with no regards for one of the greatest epics of all time).
Now such a statement may seem sexist or even chauvinistic, but I need to stress that those who think that must read on (as I do not mean it like that).
Troy's greatest triumph is unarguably its uncanny ability to make the reader truly care deeply for many of its characters and paint their roles in the Trojan war so differently to that of the Iliad (and dare I say it), the recent (shallow to say the least) feature film.
What strikes me upon completing the novel is that, as with the likes of Tolkien in the 'Lord of the Rings', David Gemmell placed an emphasis upon sometimes wholly irrational masculine traits. Even the leading women are basically men, or at the very least, women of the late 20th and 21st centuries. They are fiercely independent, single minded and natural leaders, traits you do not readily associate with women of any era prior to the last century, let alone the Bronze Age Aegean. That is what makes them so attractive to us, because we compare them to the women we most desire today. They possess an ability to make their own decisions, invariably the right ones, placing themselves above the masses and thus increasing their unnatainability for the average chappy. Imagine Andromache (according to David) living today, she would shoot up that career ladder like a bull on speed.
Coming to the point, what truly made me ache was that Stella went about deconstructing these masculine traits so effectively. Firstly, she approaches intensely 'male' characteristics with an obvious incomprehension. Whereas David enlightened us with his wisdom over the sometimes unfathomable actions of us blokes, all I got from Stella was a cynical naivety (the cliched "all men are bastards" approach), battle scenes lacked that killer word or balanced sentence that gave them that 'WOW'-factor and Helikaon's hopeless love for Andromache seems suddenly watered down and, frankly, skull splittingly cheesy. Likewise, Andromache's character lacked any consistency to earlier moments in the story, she quickly seems completely subservient to Helikaon and their relationship goes from that glorious 21st century "let's go dutch" appeal to a dismal moment analogorous to the 1950's where a husband walks through the door to his home and demands his dinner from his wife, who had slaved all day in the kitchen to please him! HOW?? WHY??
Greatest examples: Helikaon actually barks orders at Andromache involving the term "woman", do this "woman" do that "woman" "I am the man, woman, so I am right", surely the Andromache we all knew and came to love would just kick him in the face?! But no, she says "Yes husband", "Yes my love", "don't worry about the bruise my love, I forgive you, you were just angry, I'll just say I fell down the stairs", "what time will you be home for dinner?" ...
I found myself baffled as to how wrong Stella Gemmell got these aspects. Nevertheless I go back to my first statement: to put yourself in the mind of an author so fiercely gifted and masculine (he was a bouncer for a decade for christ's sake, who are all ego-maniacs) and attempt to match him was close to impossible -not unlike Helen attempting to match Achilles' skills in battle- so I found myself taking a deep breath and rocketing through to the conclusion, which after the fascinating, cataclysmic climax petered into a typical hollywood, intolerably cheesy ending; a blasphemy considering the triumphant originality of the earlier novels... I don't believe that that was David's intention for one moment.
Overall, it was a horrid pitty considering I would have given David's part of the novel (the 70,000 or so words) 5 stars without a doubt.
As it is I give it 2 stars, knocked up to 3 for the efforts of Stella. The only party that should be satisfied with this work is the publisher who doubtless made a tidy profit from Stella's admirable, but fruitless efforts.


A fantastic book / trilogy, 14 Sep 2008
Not being a David Gemmell fan and not knowing he died before finishing the third book, My expectations were not that high. However I can't remember enjoying reading more then when reading these three books. Fall of the king is a fantastic take on the end of the troy myth. The characters have more depth then I was expecting and as a result I was genuinely saddened at any departures.

Having read a lot of historical fiction over the last few years I'd say this is right up there with the best, often surpassing it.

Enjoy the books.



A fitting conclusion?, 03 Jul 2008
I realise that the last part in this absorbing triolgy had to be finsihed off by Stella Gemmell following David's untimely death. Although other reviewers suggest that this is seemless, I beg to dissagree. The final part of the triolgy is well crafted and brings a touch of refreshing, imagined "realism" to the tale of Troy's downfall. However, the storyline falls flat towards the end. Clearly, David Gemmell had a longer work in mind. Perhaps, even another book or series of books, charting the mythical rise of Rome (the "Seven Hills" of his story) in the manner of the Aeneid, just as the Trojan War triolgy is broadly based on the Iliad. We shall never know and that is a shame because that story is one which would have benefited from a re-telling by someone with David Gemmell's obvious talent.
That notwithstanding, there are a number of other loose ends such as the fate of Moses - yet another series of books which we shall never see. Oh well! Enjoy what we have.

Superb continuation of the trilogy., 29 Mar 2008
Shield of Thunder continues the epic Troy Trilogy begun in Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow. Shield of Thunder was the last book completed by David Gemmell before his premature death in 2006, and was published posthumously.

Rather than picking up the narrative immediately after Lord of the Silver Bow, Gemmell starts Shield of Thunder by focusing on Banokles and Kalliades, two of the Mykene soldiers sent to Troy by Agamemnon to murder King Priam. However, Priam spared their lives as an act of mercy in return for them slaying their treacherous commander. Agamemnon does not look well on failure and now the two Mykene soldiers are on the run. Their paths cross with Piria, a runaway priestess, and mighty Odysseus, whose path leads back to Troy. Back in the Golden City, we are soon reacquainted with the central characters from the first book, such as Andromache and Helikaon, and soon meet important new characters, most notably Achilles, the great hero of Thessaly, who burns to pit his skills of war against Hektor, Prince of Troy.

Shield of Thunder undercuts reader expectations nicely. We may be nearly two hundred pages in before the major characters from the first book reassert themselves, but Odysseus, Banokles and Kalliades are such great characters you barely notice. The writing is as tight as ever and there's much greater humour in the book, particularly the opening sections revolving around the mighty boar Ganny, whilst Banokles' refreshing lack of moral complexity makes him a particularly engaging character: someone who just works out what has to be done and does it whilst everyone else agonises with moral quandaries around him. However, this is the story of the tensions building to war. Gemmell undercuts reader expectations again and again. Paris and Helen are married quite legally and happily at the start of the book but Agamemnon exploits a legalistic loophole to allow him to challenge the might of Troy for her 'capture'. Menelaus, usually depicted as a fearsome warrior, is here a passive man much more at home on his farm than on the front lines. And Achilles and Hektor meeting in the arena prior to their infamous duel on the battlefield may strike some as sacrilege, but it builds up their distant rivalry and thirst to clash in battle all the more effectively.

Shield of Thunder is an excellent continuation of the story and sets things up nicely for the finale in Troy: Fall of Kings.

Epic, 02 Mar 2008
As I first began reading this book I wasn't all that sure about it, the narrative style seemed a little too ambitious and as it followed many different characters in the third person, and it became a little confusing at some points.

I carried on and gradually it really hooked me. The presentation of the characters is immense, for instance the fight between Hektor and Achilles is described with such emotion and awe you'd think that David Gemmell had actually been there.

Every character seems like a real person, and the tragedy and heartbreak that occurs so frequently throughout the novel is truly touching. In the latter chapters of the novel, when war has broken out, the battles and the slaughter that takes place is utterly epic. I was also amazed how many of the more separate stories came together to a magnificent climax at the end. Unbelievable.

A definite must read!

A fine tale, 21 Jan 2008
I finished this book this morning (2am), feeling very sad. Not because of the events in the book - which were, as usual, beautifully told in the effortless Gemmell style - but because I had just read that the author had passed away. For me there has never been another writer who could captivate me so completely, or hold my attention in the way that Gemmell could.

I will buy the final book in the trilogy of course. Because I've grown to love, despise or sympathise with numerous characters in the first two books. Then I will go back to the very beginning, and re-read everything he's ever written, because the man was, quite simply, a story-telling genius.


This was a wonderful book, 29 Nov 2007
As I knew it would be... It was sad to read knowing that this is the very last book Mr. Gemmell will every complete. As usual he delivered a book with wonderful characters, vivid battles and ordinary flawed people who become heroes. Even though a third book is in the works (I have heard that he finished most of it, and that his wife is completing it based off of his outlines) the book finishes well and does not leave you hanging. I will miss David Gemmell's writing. Also, if you missed reading Tino Georgiou's masterpiece--The Fates, go and read it.

Okay - but should be copyright law involved here, 26 Jul 2007
You know the story - hero , ugly one, swordmaster & lady/whore/princess

Stick to the earlier ones - legend, Lion of Macedon and Knights of Dark Renown

An Epic from Start to Finish, 29 Nov 2008
I was first introduced to the work of David Gemmell at age 14, when I loaned a copy of Lion of Macedon from my Uncle. I couldn't put it down, and borrowed Dark Prince straight after. They were classics, and I knew it.

I saw this on the shelf of my local waterstones, and after nine months of reading mostly Star Trek and Doctor Who books, I was looking for something a bit different. This was it. It is a gripping read, which never fails to disappoint.

The story itself centres around 'The Golden One' Helikaon, prince of Dardania, and his voyages and escapades sailing his ship, the Xanthos, across the murky waters of 'The Great Green' (Mediteranean Sea). It follows the exploits of him and his friend Zidantas and the crew of his ship.

On her maiden voyage the Xanthos picks up two Mykene Warriors, one who is called Argurios, and is one of the main characters in the book.There is some animosity between Helikaon and Argurios to start with, although this is metered with an amount of Respect and Mutual Appreciation, which leads to often surprising situations and scenarios.

As well as his friendship with Argurios, the story centres around the love of Helikaon for Andromache, a priestess of Thera, who is openly bi-sexual, and apparently very attractive in a non-descript sort of way. Either way there is some Poltical conspiracy in their relationship as Princess Andromache has been given to King Priam of Troy to marry his Son, Hektor, the greek mythos.

What a great read it is! I simply couldn't put it down, although it is true that characters like Hektor and Odysseus only play a supporting role in this re-telling of the Greek Legend, their pressence is felt throughout the story, as are the consequences of Battle, Piracy and Betrayal.

I recommend this to anybody, especially Lord of the Rings Fans!

"Fantastic" what more can one say, 27 Jun 2008
I have just finished reading `Troy fall of kings` the third book in this trilogy & what an uptake on the Troy legend,all three books are absolutely brilliant. I would like to think that some day maybe Peter Jackson or another with his vision & imagination would make some David Gemmell heroic fantasy novels into films & give them the true accolade they deserve. The best heroic fantasy novel books I have ever read.

Superb swashbuckling adventure with a Greek setting, 11 Apr 2008
Although this is set in ancient Greece it could really be set in Drenai or any other of Gemmell's worlds as it reads very similar to those, which is no bad thing as no one does heroic fantasy better than Gemmell.

This book is full of action, violence and war-mongering, along with some very well written characters. Gemmell's heros are never whiter than white, they always have their own flaws, which makes them very believable. Another awesome book from Gemmell.

Fantastic Read!, 28 Mar 2008
As with a number of other reviewers this was the first time I have read David Gemmell and it won't be the last. I enjoy historical fiction and this book is up there with the best. It is a great mix of awesome battles, romance, legend and humanity that leaves you unable to put it down. I read the last 250 pages on a transatlantic flight and couldn't wait to get volume two out of my suitcase when I got to my hotel room! If you enjoy Cornwell, Scarrow and Iggulden you will love this one.

Almost flawlessly enjoyable, 23 Mar 2008
David Gemmell was a prolific and popular author of heroic fantasy, penning more than thirty novels (most of them well-receved) between the 1984 release of Legend and his death in the summer of 2006. His final project was The Troy Trilogy, an epic retelling of the Trojan War, its causes and consequences, marrying the likely historical reality of the conflict (now seen less as a story of doomed love and more the explosion of tensions building up over decades between the Greek cities and the Hittite Empire) with some fantastical elements, although these are mostly restricted to prophetic dreams. Arguably the trilogy, or at least Lord of the Silver Bow, barely qualifies as fantasy, instead more neatly falling into the subgenre of the 'speculative historical' novel shared by the likes of Cornwell's Warlord Chronicles.

The time is three thousand years and more in the past. The world is dominated by the Great Green, the vast sea that divides the Greek city-states (now coming under the dominion of Mykene and its ruthless king, Agamemnon) from the Hittites and their colonies in the near east, Assyria further to the east and Egypte to the south. Lord of the Silver Bow is the story of several individuals. Helikaon, Prince of Dardania, is a warrior and sailor beyond compare, dubbed 'The Golden One' for his legendary luck and pride. He has built the Xanthos, the biggest ship on the Great Green, which sailors fear as it challenges the might of Poseidon. Helikaon is being hunted by assassins and has made an enemy of the Mykene for slaughtering their hero Alektruon, a pirate and reaver, but is unaware that Agamemnon has been told of a prophecy that he will be responsible for Agamemnon's downfall.

Meanwhile, the beautiful Andromache, exiled to the island of Thera by her father, is recalled after the death of her sister and is pledged to marry Prince Hektor of Troy, a warrior of legend. Her journey to Troy brings her into contact with Helikaon and his crew, a meeting that will spark many unfortunate events to come. The last of the three central characters is Argurios, a mighty Mykene warrior who loaths Helikaon, but destiny and honour compel him to fight alongside the Golden One and forge a story that will become a legend across the Great Green and challenge Agamemnon's wisdom and reputation.

Around these three central characters other lives become entangled: Xander, the ship's boy who becomes interested in healing; the strange Trojan girl and prophetess, Kassandra; the Egyptean exiled prince Gershom; the mighty warrior and legendary tale-spinner Odysseus, King of Ithaka; and King Priam himself, a contradictary figure, cruel and hateful one moment, with occasional flashes of honour and mercy.

Lord of the Silver Bow is nearly a flawlessly enjoyable book, with a depth of writing that is hugely engrossing and characters that leap clear of the page in their vividness. Such is the strength of the story that you forget you are reading a story that you know the end of, and the moments in the story that do intersect with the legend are all the most impressive for that, such as when the reader realises that Helikaon is actually Aeneas and when Prince Paris crops up for one of his extremely infrequent appearances. The combat sequences are brutal and convincing; the characters' philosophical musings are short, to the point and do not slow down the action; the drawing of the characters is so well-achieved that some of the deaths at the end of the book are almost physically painful to read about.

Lord of the Silver Bow (****½) is laying the groundwork for the war to come, but is in itself a hugely accomplished and significant epic fantasy novel with enough closure to make it a great self-contained work. The other two books in the sequence are Shield of Thunder and Fall of Kings.

Where it all started!, 27 Jun 2008
This is where David Gemmell started - and it's a great place to start reading him. It is a brilliant read, which will keep you turning the pages. It is the essence of all the Gemmell novels that follow.

This novel is quite a statement of intent from a new writer - it is epic in proportions - focussing on a siege in an enormous fortress. It has all the ingredients that later became hallmarks of Gemmell's writing - characters in all shades of grey and yet vivid as life itself, brutal and engrossing combat, people who you care about, twists and turns in the plot. Perhaps most impressively of all, the novel gives the impression that the Drenai world was formed fully - you are instantly in a world where all the elements of the story, the characters and settings, make sense. You feel like you've always known about the Thirty, Dros Delnoch, the Nadir and Druss the Legend. And it's exciting to be caught up in it!

Looking back now, the story here isn't as sophisticated as some of Gemmell's later works, but the staple characters that return under different guises in his later books were here for the first time. One of the criticisms of Gemmell's writing is that it is formulaic. I've never minded that, as the formula is a brilliant one, and the writing is as engaging and emotion-fuelled as anything I've ever read. And it is here, in Legend, that the formula was first laid out.


Brillant Read...Teenage review, 24 May 2008

This is the first David Gemmell book I have read. I became addicted to the story line and couldnt waiting to turn over the page to see what was to unfold. I was advised to read this book by a friend after reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Legend stands up well with these books and that is a high complement.

I cant wait to read more of Gemmells work. The way he draws a picture is simply brillant. 5 Stars


The one that started it all, 07 Feb 2008
The amazing book from David Gemmell.

I first read this as a teenager, my friend got it with the computer game. I was unsure at first, how good can it be? I was not the most prolific reader at the time.
But I started, and could not stop, this one book is responsible for all the books I have read since, it captured my imagination so well that day, I cannot be without a book today.

Anyone that likes any kind of fantasy, be it Terry Pratchett or the mighty Tolkien, should not miss a chance to read what I consider a master piece.

Open up the book and your heart to Druss, Captain of the Axe, the Legend!


Excellent - Must Buy!, 23 Nov 2007
I bought this novel two years ago after a colleague from work recommended the author (David Gemmel) to me. I wasn't disappointed. I found the story filled with drama, mystery, intrigue and heroics - all the usual expectations of the fantasy genre, whilst still allowing for some originality.

Legend has a number of protagonists, an axmen of legendary renown, the daughter of an Earl, a warrior priest and an ordinary man who finds leadership thrust upon him. All these heroes find themselves defending a doomed fortress against a savage enemy united by a great tactician and cunning leader, Gemmel does a great job bringing this war to life with gritty humour, gruesome battles and characters plagued with very human fears.

If this sounds like your brand of heroic fantasy then I'd recommend starting your Gemmel here with the first of his Drenai series. Five stars well earned!


Best book in the genre, 24 Aug 2007
This book really inspired my love affair with fantasy novels. Its brilliantly written with charcters with real flaws that you can really relate to. If you havent read this already i recommend you buy it now.

Gemmell at his best, in what is possibly his finest novel., 27 Jun 2008
Waylander is probably - after Legend - the second essential Drenai novel from David Gemmell. It sees the birth of his second essential character, Waylander. It is set in the past (from the point of view of Legend) and so shows the birth of some of the legends that are discussed in later (chronologically) Drenai novels.

That is one of the things that Gemmell does best - he weaves stories together beautifully, so that suddenly - from nowhere - you realise that you are reading a sub-plot leading to something that ties in beautifully with a novel you have already read.

The other things Gemmell does best are here too - characters with vast depth, vivid combat, emotions surging to the surface and, of course, battles against all odds. Waylander still stands up (both as a character and as this novel) as one of Gemmell's finest hours. The action ties together beautifully to create a fabulous novel from beginning to end, and it is possible that this novel (and its sequels) are his finest work.

This should be read before Waylander II and Wolf In Shadows, but can be read before or after the other Drenai novels.

Waylander - the one that started me off, 21 Jan 2008
Waylander is my favourite David Gemmell character ever, head and shoulders above the rest. A good man turned bad, or a bad man turned good? Read all three and then decide.

A classic, not to be missed.

Very entertaining light fantasy story, if only I had not read others that are so similar from Gemmell, 22 Mar 2007
Let me first of all point out that this book/story is a very entertaining light historic fantasy and this is something that I have come to expect from Gemmell.

And, this is where the problem lies:

I loved Morningstar, and Legend, and First Chronicles of Druss the Legend. I also loved Quest for Lost Heroes (I read Waylander books last first)and Echoes of the Great Song and even though these last two books were diffrent in the types of stories they were, they are still all so similar.

Gemmell seems to have a formulae for his books and doesnt seem to stray far from it:

- Old heroes coming to end of their time, having done lots of 'bad' stuff before but becoming moral now

- Hopeless odds either in their quest or in that they are stuck behind a fortress.

- Some tragedy - either the hero will die or one/some of the characters that you have come to like/love during the reading of the book.

All the books above convinced me that Gemmel was by far my favourite author of "LIGHT" fantasy, where I could very quickly become emersed in the book after a hard day of dealing with responsibilities and realities of moderen day living. I say Light because Gemmell's books are welcome change sometimes from the heavy, endless and involved great epics out there from the top authors like R Jordon (Wheel of Time Series), G R R Martin (Song of Ice & Fire series, S Erikson (Books of the Malazan series).

Let me state again Gemmell writes extremely entertaining light fantasy and this book is no exception, but you are likely to come to the realisation (whichever way around you read his books) that you have been here before once you have read anough of his books. Perhaps I should have a greater gap between the next time I read one of his books


The Ultimate Antihero, 25 Jan 2007
David Gemmell's work needs no introduction. He has made an everlasting mark on the fantasy genre with tightly woven tales and outstanding chracterisation. In Waylander Gemmell creates the ultimate antihero. An assassin, a killer of women and children, who uncharacteristically saves the life of a priest. From there onwards his life is thrown in to disarray, and he cannot understand why. Waylander is a story of forgiveness, love and redemption, set in the midst of a chaotic war. The dialogue is outstanding, with Waylander's repartee never deviating from the dry, dark humour he uses from the first chapter. A clever tale of good vs. evil in which the reader will enjoy the journey of several men and women as they traverse the line that divides them from the forgiveness of the Source, or everlasting torment in Hell. Thoroughly recommended.

Third in the Drenai Series, 23 Nov 2006
Sadly David Gemmell died a short while ago and I find it difficult to review a book that I first read 20 years ago when David was very much alive and only just beginning his craft as a writer of fantasy novels. Admittedly his first offering were acceptable but not great, but he honed his skills and grew to be one of the greatest fantasy writers ever. If you have not read any of his books then now is the time to start, I am sure you will not be disappointed. The only sad thing is that David will not be around to write new books that would bring even more pleasure to his multitude of fans.

The Drenai King is dead, murdered by an assassin. Enemy troops are converging on the lands of the Drenai. Their orders are simple, kill anyone who stands in their way, be it man, woman or child. There is one source of hope for the Drenai, Waylander must travel to the lands of the Nadir, to find the legendary Armour of Bronze. If he is successful there is hope for the Drenai. But can he be trusted? After all he is the man who killed the King. The journey is fraught with danger and Waylander is stalked by shape shifters. Men who act like beats and beast that walk like a man . . .

David Gemmell's latest heroic fantasy The Swords of Night and Day, latest in the Drenai series, stars the tormented swordsman Skilgannon the Damned and opens a thousand years after his debut in White Wolf (2003). Reincarnation is the secret, of course. Having died in his final battle and spent a fraught millennium in the Void, Skilgannon is deliberately brought back to take up his swords and fulfil a prophecy.

Other revenants include the body though not the soul of his old comrade-in-arms Druss the Legend, and more than one form of this era's tyrannical queen the Eternal, a woman once very important to our hero. This queen not only controls overwhelming armies but is literally eternal because technomagical wizardry makes death, for her, no more than a minor interruption. Her current lover is an obsessed psychopath carrying the only swords more deadly and cursed than Skilgannon's, the Swords of Blood and Fire.

The land is infested with sorcerously created man-beast "Joinings"; in an unusual subplot, one hapless and unheroic merchant tries to teach a pack of these monsters to hunt animal rather than human prey. Naturally there is copious swordplay, not to mention axe-wielding and archery, all described with Gemmell's usual kinetic skill at handling fluidly violent duels, skirmishes and battles. Even with help from a tiny remnant of Druss's folk, the Drenai Legend Riders, Skilgannon's quest seems utterly hopeless. But correctly interpreting the fantastic, colourful imagery of that millennium-old prophecy suggests a desperate course of action.

The storyline is as compelling as ever, punctuated by artful flashbacks, with a generous helping of unexpected twists, betrayals, tragedies and triumphs. Gemmell's countless fans will not be disappointed. --David Langford

Different but still great, 06 Nov 2008
It's almost possible to see the difference in the pages written by the great man himself - but still a great read and although his wife's contribution is not the same - I'd still rate the book as a classic and streets ahead of anything by other so called "greats" of the genre.

A Great Book - A Fantastic Trilogy, 18 Oct 2008
Fresh from reading Conn Iggulden's Lords of the Bow. I was handed the first in this trilogy of books.

Having never heard of David Gemmell nor heard of his tragic death before the end of the final novel. I had no idea WHAT a read I was in for!

These books were a roller coaster of emotion. Brilliantly written!

Without revealing to much of the characters stories, I was genuinely crushed and distraught when reading of the fates of some. This is a story about some the greatest Heroes and Heroines of history.

I read an awful lot of historical fiction and have a book case filled with the works of Cornwell, Iggulden, Scarrow, Severin.... These books rate way up there!!

I would recommend anyone who enjoys reading to buy this trilogy without delay!!

Hats off to Stella Gemmell, but I mourn the loss of the master as a void opens in the climax of his greatest work, 08 Oct 2008
First of all, I must emphasize my respect for what Stella Gemmell set about doing. The task must have been truly immense for a woman and a wife to attempt to complete a novel so delightfully masculine, arrogant and casanova in nature (he re-wrote the Iliad for God's sake, with no regards for one of the greatest epics of all time).
Now such a statement may seem sexist or even chauvinistic, but I need to stress that those who think that must read on (as I do not mean it like that).
Troy's greatest triumph is unarguably its uncanny ability to make the reader truly care deeply for many of its characters and paint their roles in the Trojan war so differently to that of the Iliad (and dare I say it), the recent (shallow to say the least) feature film.
What strikes me upon completing the novel is that, as with the likes of Tolkien in the 'Lord of the Rings', David Gemmell placed an emphasis upon sometimes wholly irrational masculine traits. Even the leading women are basically men, or at the very least, women of the late 20th and 21st centuries. They are fiercely independent, single minded and natural leaders, traits you do not readily associate with women of any era prior to the last century, let alone the Bronze Age Aegean. That is what makes them so attractive to us, because we compare them to the women we most desire today. They possess an ability to make their own decisions, invariably the right ones, placing themselves above the masses and thus increasing their unnatainability for the average chappy. Imagine Andromache (according to David) living today, she would shoot up that career ladder like a bull on speed.
Coming to the point, what truly made me ache was that Stella went about deconstructing these masculine traits so effectively. Firstly, she approaches intensely 'male' characteristics with an obvious incomprehension. Whereas David enlightened us with his wisdom over the sometimes unfathomable actions of us blokes, all I got from Stella was a cynical naivety (the cliched "all men are bastards" approach), battle scenes lacked that killer word or balanced sentence that gave them that 'WOW'-factor and Helikaon's hopeless love for Andromache seems suddenly watered down and, frankly, skull splittingly cheesy. Likewise, Andromache's character lacked any consistency to earlier moments in the story, she quickly seems completely subservient to Helikaon and their relationship goes from that glorious 21st century "let's go dutch" appeal to a dismal moment analogorous to the 1950's where a husband walks through the door to his home and demands his dinner from his wife, who had slaved all day in the kitchen to please him! HOW?? WHY??
Greatest examples: Helikaon actually barks orders at Andromache involving the term "woman", do this "woman" do that "woman" "I am the man, woman, so I am right", surely the Andromache we all knew and came to love would just kick him in the face?! But no, she says "Yes husband", "Yes my love", "don't worry about the bruise my love, I forgive you, you were just angry, I'll just say I fell down the stairs", "what time will you be home for dinner?" ...
I found myself baffled as to how wrong Stella Gemmell got these aspects. Nevertheless I go back to my first statement: to put yourself in the mind of an author so fiercely gifted and masculine (he was a bouncer for a decade for christ's sake, who are all ego-maniacs) and attempt to match him was close to impossible -not unlike Helen attempting to match Achilles' skills in battle- so I found myself taking a deep breath and rocketing through to the conclusion, which after the fascinating, cataclysmic climax petered into a typical hollywood, intolerably cheesy ending; a blasphemy considering the triumphant originality of the earlier novels... I don't believe that that was David's intention for one moment.
Overall, it was a horrid pitty considering I would have given David's part of the novel (the 70,000 or so words) 5 stars without a doubt.
As it is I give it 2 stars, knocked up to 3 for the efforts of Stella. The only party that should be satisfied with this work is the publisher who doubtless made a tidy profit from Stella's admirable, but fruitless efforts.


A fantastic book / trilogy, 14 Sep 2008
Not being a David Gemmell fan and not knowing he died before finishing the third book, My expectations were not that high. However I can't remember enjoying reading more then when reading these three books. Fall of the king is a fantastic take on the end of the troy myth. The characters have more depth then I was expecting and as a result I was genuinely saddened at any departures.

Having read a lot of historical fiction over the last few years I'd say this is right up there with the best, often surpassing it.

Enjoy the books.



A fitting conclusion?, 03 Jul 2008
I realise that the last part in this absorbing triolgy had to be finsihed off by Stella Gemmell following David's untimely death. Although other reviewers suggest that this is seemless, I beg to dissagree. The final part of the triolgy is well crafted and brings a touch of refreshing, imagined "realism" to the tale of Troy's downfall. However, the storyline falls flat towards the end. Clearly, David Gemmell had a longer work in mind. Perhaps, even another book or series of books, charting the mythical rise of Rome (the "Seven Hills" of his story) in the manner of the Aeneid, just as the Trojan War triolgy is broadly based on the Iliad. We shall never know and that is a shame because that story is one which would have benefited from a re-telling by someone with David Gemmell's obvious talent.
That notwithstanding, there are a number of other loose ends such as the fate of Moses - yet another series of books which we shall never see. Oh well! Enjoy what we have.

Superb continuation of