Another excellent novel and story from David. Set 100 years or so after Legend (his first book) King Beyond the Gate tells how the Drenai are crushed beneath their own evil emperor. The story is gripping, and looks hard at friendship, love and war. It is far deadlier than Legend – if you thought that was bloody and caused the death of many loved characters, the end of King Beyond the Gate will make you think again. However, while death is rampant, it doesn’t feel out of place. The story is what I now recognise as ‘typical’ Gemmell heroism, and ensures you read from start to finish.
It’s not quite as good as Legend, I didn’t become as attached to the characters as I did to Druss and Rek, but you still feel for them when the knife falls.
(This review was written sometime in the late 90′s for the original Gemmell Mania website)
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