Legend

Drenai Series

By: David Gemmell

Narrated by: Sean Barrett

Length: 13 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

The Legend

Druss, Captain of the Axe: the stories of his life were told everywhere. Instead of the wealth and fame he could have claimed, he had chosen a mountain lair, high in the lonely country bordering on the clouds. There the grizzled old warrior kept company with snow leopards and awaited his old enemy, death.

The Fortress

Mighty Dros Delnoch, protected by six outer walls, the only route by which an army could pass through the mountains. It was the stronghold of the Drenai Empire. And now it was the last battleground, for all else had fallen before the Nadir hordes.

And hope rested on the skills of that one old man....

©2011 David Gemmell (P)2017 Hachette Audio

Good story

I felt like someone must be trying to keep this a secret for as good as it is and as little as I've heard of it.

One of the Most Stirring Stories Ever

This book might just seem like your typical fantasy series, however I believe Gemmel adds some realism to his characters unlike any other author I have read or listened to.
Where some fantasy uses magic or some such to excess, I believe he uses it to accentuate driving forward plot points. It becomes almost negligible, only glossing over those things which would make the story overly cumbersome.
His real success is in how he pulls emotion out of you. I have read this story multiple times, and hearing it really adds new depth. I felt tears welling at some points and overwhelming joy and chills at others.
The voice actor was fairly good as well. His female characters could use some work and a bit of variety to the male characters would be welcome. However his diction is undeniably near perfect and he has a comfortable tempo.
Overall I would say this is an excellent book for fantasy fans. I hope he releases more of his books in audio format soon.

Basically the best thing on Audible

I’ve listened to this nearly a dozen times and every time it gives me chills. Heroic fantasy that speaks to the soul of man.

Fantastic book

Very well written and wonderfully performed. I was enthralled from the first chapter. The ending was a little too convenient but I was entertained regardless.

Recommend

The narrator adds so much to a wonderfully entertaining story. I will read more of this series.

Finally an author I can enjoy after Joe Abercrombie!

I have had a really difficult time finding books that I can immerse into after reading Joe Abercrombie's First Law trilogy. I really enjoyed Riyria and the First Empire books, and there are a several others that did the trick. Overall however I have been spending a lot of time searching for book to give me that fix... thank you David Gemmell your books are very enjoyable. I really enjoy the characters you create, someone to root for that sometimes pulls at your heartstrings. I just finished reading the second book of yours I have purchased and it is a great feeling to know I am just going to buy the next in the series and enjoy it rather than spend hours and hours looking for my next read. A+++

Legend

I read this book 4 times. To hear to the story being told by such a gifted talent was an absolute joy....

liked it

liked it as a kid, and it stood the test of time. excellent narration

fifteen

Easy memorable read.

Main characters are clearly cast heroic and I didn't care as the plot sweeps you a long believing of the Legend of Dross. The ending was surprising and the epilogue appropriate.

Epic Fantasy - A good read...

This is a good read if you love epic fantasy genre books. It is more sophisticated with character development than most books of this genre.
Legend is the first book published by the author in 1984. I will be reading more of his books.

If you like this book or this genre and are looking for other books I recommend the following books:

01) Eye of the World - Robert Jordan
02) The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss
03) The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson
04) A Game of Thrones - George R.R. Martin
05) The Warded Man - Peter V. Brett
06) --- Harbinger - Shae Ford
07) Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind
08) The Sword of Shannara - Terry Brooks
09) Assassin's Apprentice - Robin Hobb
10) Imager - L.E. Modesitt Jr.
11) The Rithmatist - Brandon Sanderson
11) Blood Song - Anthony Ryan
13) The Final Empire - Brandon Sanderson
14) Furies of Calderon: Codex Alera
15) Thief's Magic
16) The Dragons of Dorcastle The Pillars of Reality
17) Age of Myth
18) Free the Darkness
19) The Way of Shadows

Note: the order of the books 1,2,3 is not an order for what I think is "best" although "The Eye of the World" and "The Name of the Wind" are my favorites.