Once again, very enjoyable read.

Really like the character Waylander. I picture him as Clint Eastwood.
In the end, nothing particular about this book to make it stand out amongst the other Drenai books.
I am enjoying reading them in publication order with references to both the future and the past in many of the books. ( )

Not quite as good as the first Waylander novel: somewhat less psychology and philosophy, more fighting and sorcery in this one. (But again there are several characters given as much, or almost as much, prominence as the eponymous one.) Yet overall it's still much more than a mere thriller like the third book in the series. ( )

Substance: Waylander has "retired" for some 10 years, but after the death of his second wife devotes himself to caring for her twin daughters. Unexpectedly, someone puts a price on his head and forces him back into action. Can he and his rag-tag band of compatriots, including his now-grown foster-daughter, Miriel,, defeat the evil wizard seeking to rule the world of the Drenai?
(Stupid question...)
Waylander's uncanny instinct for assassination and survival makes im a one-man Mission Impossible team.
Style: Gemmell writes fast-paced action that stops occasionally to contemplate serious moral questions. His characters are well-drawn, not too terribly stereotyped even in the fantasy genre, and include a wide range of ages and social conditions. A couple of pages of relatively sedate sexual encounters puts this in the x-file (not recommended for teens), unfortunately.
NOTES: An exchange between Dardalion and his disciple Ekodas highlights the dilemma of the pacifist-protector, and the side-story with the Nadir woman Shia moves the discussion from fighting to loving. Interesting clash of ideas, ultimately left to personal choices. ( )

As Gemmell has done several times, he once again returns to the life of a hero when he is older - this time Wayland the Slayer. Wayland never really was much of a hero, more of an assassin, but now that his daughter is older and threatened by evil forces, keeping himself and her alive makes him something of a hero.
Typical Gemmell, lots of fighting, some philosophy on the nature of good and evil, once in a while a bit of romance. Just a little. Mostly fighting and surviving. ( )

Oct09:

Just not quite up there with the other Gemmell Waylanders, but it's close.

Plot: Yea, it's not that great. For one thing, it's not that different than the first Waylander. There is a siege and there is Waylander running off on his own. Yadda yadda.

Characters: Of course there is Waylander, who is the bomb. And there is his daughter, who isn't toooo bimbo-y. Then there are like 3-4 "super swordsmen". But really they almost bleed together at times. He didn't do enough to set them apart. (C'mon, at least make one an Axe dude or something") The source priest comes back, but he's not nearly as compelling this time. And the enemy is perfectly "meh".

Style: Epic adventure abounds. You've got kings queens assassins and sieges. You know what there is and if you want it you got it. Waylander is about the only thing keeping it from being too ass boring though. ( )