Bloodstone

Bloodstone is another great book by the master of fantasy, David Gemmell. He remains my favorite author and I have yet to find a book by him that is not excellent. I started reading David Gemmell with his Drenai saga, and I recommend starting there. Legend was his first book, which is very good, but my two favorites are Winter Warriors and Hero in the Shawdows. These books create very human characters, all with their own flaws, who struggle to stay good and just in a world of evil.

One of my favorite things about the Stones of Power novels is that where you start from is completely different (but somehow logical) than where you end. How does Gemmell get from a sickly prince lost in the woods to a legendary pistol fighter somewhere in the future? How do we travel from ancient Atlantis to Arizona? But he does it. The conclusion to the Stones of Power series is one of the most powerful books in the series. It deals with time travel (in a non-traditional way) which usually gives me a headache... but Gemmell warps the idea of time travel to fit into the storyline... and fit into my pea brain! There is a lot of religious activity in the book. It's interesting (and sort of painful) for me as a Christian to read the book. You see a Preacher trying to do good, but as is too often the case the foundation of good intentions turns into a river of blood. There's a bit of the crusades in this book, but scripture is used from the bible as a prop and a tool. He's not preaching at us, he's writing a realistic story and the characters are well intentioned, but wrong. Bloodstone answers questions the previous books left unanswered all the while creating a new story. Technically, all of the Stones of Power books can stand on their own. But why mess with such perfection? If you've never read Gemmell, go read Ghost King and follow the series all the way through. It was an amazing sci-fi/fantasy journey, highly recommended for fans of both genres.

David Gemmel create in Jon Shannow a character many would wish to become yet fall short. Because he is not a man who tries to become a legend rather someone who searches, like the antithesis of a hero in John Campbell's "Hero With a Thousand Faces" Shannow never sought glory, yet he has found that spark in every human being that makes him a hero. He realized at an early age that something is more important than himself. In his deeds he became something more than human, yet he is more human than many. You can flower the book and the character with alliterations and adjectives but the main core of Shannow is that of a haunted man yet duty bound to fulfill all that he will ever be no matter what the circumstance. One cannot read the fifth book in the bloodstone novels and not have some form of reaction. For many will be wondered by the vivid characters Gemmel writes to the detailed battle sequences he describes. Yet there is more to this book than great writing, the struggles are real, we face them every day. We all see a bit of ourselves in the Jerusalem man from the desire for peace to his knowledge and ability to survive no matter the tribulation. He will inspire you and he will force you to question your soul. Gemmel is truly a great story teller who has the ability to tell vivid worlds in just a few worlds. I have read many of his works this was my favorite, the Jerusalem Man my favorite. This story both saddened me and enlightened me.

A typical Gemmell book. It will keep you gripped right up to the twist at the end. So far he hasn't written a dud.

This was not only the first Gemmell book I read, but also one of the only books in my lifetime that I have purchased by back-cover blurb alone, and I have to say this book blew my mind. Not only were the chractors extremely well written (as are all of Gemmell's charactors. I found myself actually caring for them) but this book contains one of the most amazing endings I have ever read in a novel. The way Gemmell seamlessly weaves a futuristic western setting with fantastic magic, dark Christianity and Atlantean myth is unearthly. In fact, this book made me buy every one of David's books without reading the backs - and I have not been disappointed. Do I have to say more? READ THIS BOOK!