Customer Reviews
Great end,great characters - By: Stormrider, 17 Aug 2006 
This book is a great end to the rigante series & also shows Gemmells finest character. The Moidart is a truly legendary character, with excellent lines & even more cunning than Terry Pratchetts Patrician. Gemmell finallly managed to make a thoroughlly despicable character into a self profisised hero.
Good but not great end to the Rigante series - By: R. S. Brar, 04 Oct 2005 
This book follows "Ravenheart" detailing the trials of the Rigante & their surrounding lands.
The continent is in turmoil as the civil war pits the King against the covenanters. However a more sinister force is behind the proceeding whose aims are furthered by the continuation of the conflict.
The war gives a real gritty edge to the entire book. There is less of the magic & fairy tale about this story. War is a terrible event as both sides strain to gain advantage, people are killed & atrocities are committed. The battles scenes are well described & the dark side of war is explored here.
Gaise Macon the "Stormrider" is a general in the king's army. As he fights the enemy he also battles his inner demons which arise from his relationship with his father, the evil Moidart, to keep himself becoming like his evil parent.
Gaise's companion, Mulgrave, can barely stand to watch as the young boy he knew slowly turns into a ruthless general who will do whatever it takes to win the war. Can Gaise keep himself a good man, or will he lose himself to inner demons?
He is a very interesting character, much darker than other protagonists in the series have been. However, his father the Moidart has some of the best scenes in the book, one minute he seems to soften, then he ruthlessly cuts down his enemies. The attempted assassination scene is beautifully handled by the character.
The father son relationship is intriguing, as both outwardly renounce any further feelings for the other family member.
Kaelin ring, one of the main characters from the last book, does not play as big a part, which is slightly confusing as he was such a central character in Ravenheart.
In one of the sub-plots Chara has to escape from assassins with her children. This is a nice diversion it forces her to cope with the previous vile assault that has scarred her for much of her life.
The ending was solid, though lacked the magical emotional touch of the previous book. Indeed the entire book lacked the magical & emotional elements of the rest of the series, though this may have been what Gemmell was aiming for.
I would recommend the story to Gemmell fans & anyone who enjoyed Ravenheart, but is far from his best.
You know the drill, another brilliant Gemmel book. - By: , 04 Jun 2004 
Stormrider the final book in the Rigante series carries on from Ravenheart. At first I was not sure with the complete change in characters, but you soon warm to them & they make more than adequate substitutions. The plot (which spans over two books so I would advise to at least to have read Ravenheart)is well constructed & will keep you guessing to the end. The only fault is that this book seems to be very similar to most of Gemmels other books, & it sometimes feels like you are getting the same characters set on different sets & put in slightly different situations. All in alll it is a brilliant book & I strongly recomend it.
You know the drill, another brilliant Gemmel book. - By: , 03 Jun 2004 Stormrider the final book in the Rigante series carries on from Ravenheart. At first I was not sure with the complete change in characters, but you soon warm to them & they make more than adequate substituions. The plot (which spans over two books so I would advise to at least to have read Ravenheart)is well constructed & will keep you guessing to the end. The only falt is that this book seems to be very similar to most of Gemmels other books, & it sometimes feels like you are getting the same characters set on different sets & put in slightly different situations. All in alll it is a brillint book & I strongly reccomend it.
A disappointing end to the Rigante series. - By: MR D W GRIFFITHS, 24 Dec 2003 
As a veteran of alll of Gemmell's work to date I must admit to being disapointed by Stormrider. Certainly, Gemmell has woven an enjoyable story but has rejuvenated many of his previous plots, leaving you thinking that the novel could have ended some of the former series.
The characters in the book also lack the emotional qualities we have seen before from Gemmell. Kaelin Ring, the main character from forbear Ravenheart, simply disappears toward the end of the novel while Stormtrider himself is entirely unsympathetic. Winter Kay (the bad guy) is also one dimensional & we can see his downfalll & reasons for it almost on the first occasion we meet him.
Overalll, while not up to his usual standard, Gemmell's skill as a storyteller saves the day & maintains interest until the end. I am a huge fan of Gemmell & have read alll of his books, if you are new to him this is not one that I would recommend as a starting point because it could sway you from one of his many genuine classics such a Lion of Macedon, Legend or Waylander.
