The Book Report #106
Episode #105
The Book Club Edition #7
I joined a book club, and this was the book chosen in March 2026.
Legend By David Gemmell
The Book
This story was first published in 1984 by Century Publishing Co., Ltd. Century is a part of Cornerstone and an imprint of Penguin Books UK.
My copy is a first-edition, first-reprint paperback with 384 pages.
What Did I Think?
An army of the many tribes from Nidir is coming, and their path is through the Dro Delnoch, a part of the Drenai Empire. They want to take it over, and anyone in their way will be removed with force.
Everyone knows that the Drenai don’t have a chance, but the Drenai do not care, and they will defend their territory until the last man.
The Legend
Druss, the warrior of legend, is also known as ‘The Legend’ and ‘the Deathstalker’. Living alone on his mountain, he has an itch he cannot scratch. It has been a while since he and his axe have broken some bodies. Druss is an old man and has lived a long life, defending those who deserve his axe.
He has received news of what is going to happen and has grabbed his axe, Snaga the Sender, and is on his way, gathering warriors as he travels, hoping to build the army the Drenai deserve.
Death doesn’t want him to be involved and tries to bribe him to stay where he is. But Druss denies him and goes anyway. The legend has a destiny to fulfil, the dream of dying in battle.
Regnak Wanderer (Reg) is an ex-soldier who experiences the berserk, a berserker rage that takes over him when pushed too far. He isn’t seeking action or combat but is drawn in when he meets the Earl’s daughter on his travels.
The Thirty are also coming. They are a sort of religious group who have the amazing ability to read minds and, if need be, destroy or kill them. They can also travel along the many lines of many futures. Working out what may or may not happen. They have been given the sacred task of helping the Drenai and the new Earl when he appears to them. And also the final act of dying in the battle.
The journey of all the characters leads to an amazing story of courage and glory for the victors, and the gore is never too far away.
The story mostly follows Reg’s and Druss’s journey.
They Will Lose
The consensus, throughout this book, is that no matter what happens, the Drenai will fall. But the war will happen because the Nidir need to know that they cannot just take what isn’t theirs. And they will pay a heavy price to find that out.
We get to witness multiple people’s views from both sides of the line. And you get to feel a part of the war with every gory detail. As swords, arrows and any other weapon or equipment will be used to kill the enemy. The action is non-stop, and even when it feels they’re at the end, somehow the war finds a way to continue, and the defence of the six gates doesn’t die.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book; I was drawn into each character’s story arc. They all have their mountains to climb. I was even a little upset when certain characters died.
This fantasy created a new path of books that I would love to continue to read. Mr Gemmell explored different ways a war could be won or lost, and the twists and turns left me wanting more. I am sad that it had to come to an end. But the book did end, even though not everyone made it out alive. Everyone got what they deserved on both sides of the living.
I absolutely enjoyed the book and wouldn’t have put it down, but life got in the way. This book is the first in a series of five called the Drenai Series, but it is also part of a larger collection of books, and in chronological order, it comes up as book nine.
Would I Recommend?
I would recommend this book to those who love a bit of action in war and fantasy thrown in. This book is over forty years old and is worthy of the title of ‘classic’. I am looking for the next book in the saga.
Please give this book a go.
Would you like to purchase your very own copy?
You could try these online stores: Amazon UK/USA and Waterstones. AbeBooks UK/USA, Barnes & Noble, or eBay UK/USA.
Alternatively, you could try your local bookshop or even your local library.
