Sword in the Storm

A story about honour, of misunderstanding, of retribution, of consequences

Sword in the Storm tells a story of a young hero, Connavar of the Rigante. He has grown up with the burden of his father's supposed cowardice. This even though his stepfather has told him otherwise he still feels eager to prove himself. His thoughts are often shadowed, but his heart beats true. He grows into a strong and brave warrior. The Seidh, malevolent forces of nature, sense his inner turmoil. They decide to use him as a plaything, granting him one wish. A bear attacks him and his friends, he refuses to give ground and attacks the animal, earning him mortal wounds and eternal glory. He survives and people label him a hero. This is the start of his perilous journey. What follows is an epic tale of undying love. Of heroic courage and sacrifice that is beautiful and imaginative.

Being a Gemmell book, a master of Heroic Fantasy, it is well written, exciting and an action-packed page-turner. Sword in the Storm is not about a single event or moment in time. It is explores big themes, such as honour, misunderstanding, retribution and consequences. It acknowledges that people are not perfect. Gemmells morally ambiguous characters are always struggling with their flaws. They struggle to do what they believe to be right in a cruel and dangerous world:

“Hatred is like a plague. It is all-consuming, and it springs from man to man.”

And:

It is hard to be angry when one has seen the sun rise,' she said. It seems to be true,' he admitted. ‘I wonder why.' Because it makes one feel so small and insignificant. It has been rising forever and will rise forever no matter what we do or do not do. All our problems are as nothing to the sun.”

Dramatically intense plot twists in a beautifully written piece makes this an exceptional book. I cannot recommended the Sword in the Storm enough.