Ravenheart (Rigante)

The Rigante are now a conquered people living under the rule of the Varlish people. Their great traditions are slowly being erased as they are treated as second class citizens with few rights and basically as barbarians. This brings the some interesting scenes in the book as characters from both sides deal with their feelings towards each other.

Kalein Ring is a young Rigante growing up in this society. The story follows him from being lashed by a Varlish school teacher to leading a Rigante assault near the end of the book.

The real star of the book is Jaim Grymuach, a giant of a man and a 'true' Rigante, always in trouble, a drunkard, but the most likeable character of this tale. He refuses to bow to the Varlish laws and live his life as he pleases. His role in the Spring feast was uplifting and he becomes a legend by the end of the tale.

The trial at the end of the book is well written, exciting and emotionally moving. It was an excellent way to finish the novel. School teacher Alderith turns from dislikeable teacher to heroic defender of Maev Ring.

This book is characteristic of David Gemmell, fans will find nothing new here from the first books of the series. He writes likeable characters and is extremely easy to read, but some may feel that they have read these stories and met these characters before.

The book is not as 'stand alone' as the first two Rigante novels, I am eagerly awaiting delivery of the Storm Rider to find out how the story ends.
Also, as one of the main protagonists, Kaelin Ring is not quite as interesting as his predecessors Connavar and Bane, but I am hoping this will change by the next book.

Overall; a good entertaining read which will not disappoint fans of the series.


Be warned, you might end up wanting to be a hero...   March 6, 2004
 3 out of 3 found this review helpful

As Gemmell goes on, his books become less formulaic, and this is a perfect example. The writing style and sense for the heroic which would make even the most formulaic book seem brilliant is still here; with it is a superb new set of characters and a perfectly woven plot. This is my favourite David Gemmell novel (which is saying something), and continues the stories of the Rigante with some delightful twists and turns.

If you haven't read any David Gemmell before, then you should prepare yourself for a bit of an emotional roller-coaster, and to become more involved with characters than usual. You would have to try very hard to dislike this novel.


Gemmell as Normal   November 6, 2003
The fact that this book takes place so long after the close of Midnight Falcon leaves a little bit of a sour taste as the book makes constant references to Banes rule and the beginnings of the Varlish. This makes the book feel out of synch with the previous two books but it soon makes up for it. Jaim Grymauch is a hero I would definitely like to hear more about. He is the true hero of the book but sometimes he is left out for long stretches while we follow his nephew Kaelin. The book definitely does itself justice it is however not of the same quality as its predecessors. The best thing to come from this book could be a spin off series detailing the life of the great Jaim Grymauch and the missing 15 years between prologue and chapter 1. A book well worth buying because it does despite its faults carry the undeniable mark of David Gemmell.