Sword in the Storm by David Gemmell

Sword in the Sword is the first of the late David Gemmell's Rigante series. I don't know why it's taken me so long to get round to reading these books as I read Legend many, many years ago and loved it. Anyway, I digress... 

This is the story of Connavar of The Rigante, a troubled young man who was born in the same storm that his father died in. I found this to be a very 'busy' book as there was a lot to set up for later volumes. The story covers Connavar's growth from young boy to warrior and the threat to his tribe and the other tribes around them from the Stone People. What did make a refreshing change was the character of Conn himself. No perfect hero this, not by a long chalk. He's not always likeable as a person but this makes him more believable. 

The setting of the book feels very much like England from the time of the Romans, Celts and the likes which always appealed to me as a young lad studying history at school so extra kudos to Gemmell for that. 

The story carries on in Midnight Falcon (below) and I will be reviewing that soon. 

Thanks as always to Anne Cater for inviting me onto this tour and reintroducing me again to the master of fantasy. And please, if you get the chance, have a look at the reviews by the other bloggers on this tour