Stormrider

February 25, 2002
Mythic characters painted with broad strokes populate this fourth title in British bestseller Gemmell's Rigante series (after 2001's Ravenheart), set in a fantasy world resembling medieval Scotland. Stormrider is the Rigante soul name for Gaise Macon, a young nobleman. Unloved from birth but determined to show his father his worth, Gaise becomes a general in the struggle against the king's enemies. What Gaise doesn't know is that he's waging war against a god who wants to rid the world of humans. Once Gaise realizes the depths of the enemy's wickedness, he redoubles his efforts to win. Unfortunately, the death of a woman he loves results in a disturbing personality change in Gaise. From this point on, the battle is fought on two levels—the physical battle between armies and the internal battle of good vs. evil. The fate of the world and its people hangs on whether Gaise is true to his humanity or not. Gemmell fans will applaud his antiwar and pro-ecology subtext while not minding his tendency to stint on character development and motivation. As in myth, characters are largely defined by attributes that set them above others, such as strength, courage and hardiness. On the other hand, more than superficial attention to the hero's thoughts and feelings might have added more immediacy to Gaise's perils. Of course, for those mostly male readers who value action over sentiment the strong story line is enough to carry them along. This solid entry should do as well as previous books in the series.

February 1, 2003
Adult/High School-A sequel to Ravenheart that stands on its own. It tells the story of Gaise Macon, a young and chivalrous general; his father the Moidart, a cold and calculating feudal lord; and the Rigante, a group oppressed by the Moidart, who were featured in Gemmell's The Sword in the Storm and Midnight Falcon (all Del Rey, 2001). Although Gaise, his father, and the Rigante are all natural enemies, they band together to fight the trapped soul of an ancient and destructive god who acts primarily through an agent who is clairvoyant and in charge of a vast army. Gaise, the Stormrider, becomes nearly as evil as that which they are battling, even as his father starts to show more humanity. Gaise's struggles with his internal demons are the book's focus, and his ultimate redemption involves several interesting twists. Characterizations are strong, and even the minor individuals seem well motivated, with actions following logically from personality. Minor characters who admire but then become disappointed with the general tell his story from an omniscient third-person point of view. Gemmell presents moral choices with a rich complexity as conflicting circumstances and values lead even the "good" characters to follow different and often contrary paths. The battle scenes are intense, although the violence is always integral to the plot and character development. This old-fashioned tale of courage and action is told in a modern and engaging style that should appeal to teens.-Paul Brink, Fairfax County Public Library System, VA

Copyright 2003 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2002
The Rigante saga takes place in a fantasy universe strongly resembling seventeenth-century England, including a civil war in which both sides wield arsenals of swords, sorcery, and gunpowder weapons. The Varlish rulers are divided, however, into factions loyal, respectively, to the King and to the Knights of Sacrifice and Redeemers, whose leader, Winter Kay, aspires to godhood. Kay takes the first step toward his goal by killing the king and using his blood in a sacrifice to invoke the horned man. Opposing Kay are the Rigante, a people strongly reminiscent of the Scots, and Gaise Macon, son of the dark nobleman called the Moidart. Eventually the Moidart and his son must join forces against Kay's almost literally diabolical plans, and Gaise Macon indeed takes up the sword and the name of Stormrider to achieve final victory. Gemmell's fantasy blazes no new trails, but it is never less than well done, especially in its mingling of gunpowder and magic and employment of elements of Celtic mythology in a manner that preserves much of their original power and beauty. Virtually all fantasy fans will enjoy it, so make sure its predecessors--"The Sword in the Storm" (1998), "Midnight Falcon" (1999), and "Ravenheart" (2001)--are on hand for readers, particularly Celtomaniacs, who want to know What Went Before. The fourth Rigante volume seems to be getting more publicity than the others, as it richly deserves. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2002, American Library Association.)