Product Description

An evil city, banished into limbo, starts to appear after a thousand years when the once powerful spells that held it there start to wane.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20804 in Books
• Published on: 2000-10-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 445 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Everything has its season, and in Hero in the Shadows Waylander, the assassin hero of some of Gemmell's earlier books, is now a middle-aged man looking for peace in a world that will, for the most part, let him alone. The crimes of his past come back to haunt him, however, as he finds himself responsible for a young prince whose grandfather he murdered, and as creatures of doomed legend come back to rule the world with blood and horror. An ageing paladin, and a loud-mouthed braggart whom a magic sword has chosen, and a kitchen girl who is unusually handy with her knives become his allies, along with a priestess who is not telling all she knows, or all she is... Gemmell is one of the best writers of fantasy adventure there is and this new book is attractively gloomy in its atmosphere and has a pervading sense of the ironic. The action sequences are powerful and well visualised--Gemmell always knows how a particular sort of fight would feel. And there are no simple morals here--most of the characters, heroic or villainous, exist in the grey hinterland between dark and light, where evil acts are often performed in sorrow and good actions often have mixed motives behind them. --Roz Kaveney

Amazon.co.uk Review
Everything has its season, and in Hero in the Shadows Waylander, the assassin hero of some of Gemmell's earlier books, is now a middle-aged man looking for peace in a world that will, for the most part, let him alone. The crimes of his past come back to haunt him, however, as he finds himself responsible for a young prince whose grandfather he murdered, and as creatures of doomed legend come back to rule the world with blood and horror. An ageing paladin, and a loud-mouthed braggart whom a magic sword has chosen, and a kitchen girl who is unusually handy with her knives become his allies, along with a priestess who is not telling all she knows, or all she is...Gemmell is one of the best writers of fantasy adventure and this new book is attractively gloomy in its atmosphere and has a pervading sense of the ironic. The action sequences are powerful and well-visualised--Gemmell always knows how a particular sort of fight would feel. And there are no simple morals here--most of the characters, heroic or villainous, exist in the grey hinterland between dark and light, where evil acts are often performed in sorrow and good actions often have mixed motives behind them. --Roz Kaveney

From the Back Cover
The ruined city of Kuan-Hador reeks of dark mystery. Shunned by brigands and merchants alike, it is home to fearsome things - slavering white beasts who possess an insatiable desire for death and destruction. The sorcerers and their foul minions will soon be free to wreak a horrible vengeance upon all that lives. Only a rag-tag group of unlikely heroes are prepared to stand against them: Kysumu, the Rajnee swordsman; Yu Yu Liang, a humble ditch-digger with dreams of glory; Keeva Taliana, a warrior woman as fierce as she is beautiful; and the mysterious Grey Man, a man with a blood-drenched past known throughout the lands of the Drenai as Waylander, the Slayer.

Now, to defeat a timeless evil, an ancient riddle must be solved, and Waylander, the prince of assassins, must kill a man who cannot die...

In Hero of the Shadows, David Gemmell returns to the savage lands of his acclaimed Drenai Saga in an action-packed tale of malevolent sorceries reborn - and the brave men and women who dare to stand against them.

Customer Reviews

Wonderful
Waylander is without any doubt one of the most fascinating anti-heroes ever created. Previous books follow the path from his creation as an assassin and his journey to achieve redemption with expert character development from Gemmell. In the final volume Waylander is set to journey across the sea in a final attempt to be alone and contemplate life; for he is old now, grey and ready to receive the Source. Gemmell has other plans for Waylander. Following on from the demon story created in a previous Drenai novel, Winter Warriors, Hero in the Shadows once more plunges heroes against magic, although Gemmell has crafted this tale with it's roots firmly in action and development of the new heroes, who fight alongside Waylander. The magic used here is insidious and the the body count just keeps rising! There are strong emotional currents throughout and Gemmell weaves action, tension, mystery, sorcery and the pull of emotions most expertly - Hero in the Shadows is a sublime read. The dialogue is Gemmell's sharpest too, with many wry smiles to be had with Waylander's dark retorts. Recommended to any fantasy reader, although previous Drenai novels (especially the Waylander ones and Winter Warriors) would create a perfect backdrop.

Fine book but not his best
This is a good read and does justice to the Waylander myth but it is not the best of the bunch. The story is a tad to mystical.

Waylander is back...
What can i say about Waylander the slayer, he really makes the reader feel alive. This has got to be one of Mr. Gemmels best series. I just wish there could have been more...
When i first heard about a third book i was exstatic, and after reading it i loved every page.
Waylander almost makes you believe that anything is possible and that no obstacle is ever too big.
In this book Waylander tries once again to live the quiet life, but once again is drawn back into what he does best.
There is so much that i want to say but unfortunately that would give away so much of the plot.
Matze Chai makes a welcome come back and is joined by new characters.
If you havent read any of his books this series would be a great start.