A Book Review: Morningstar by David Gemmell

David Gemmell, best known for his epic fantasy novel, Legend, is a seminal author in the genre. A decade after his passing, Gemmell's stories, about noble heroes, are continuing to attract legions of readers and admirers. He wrote very good fantasy novels. Anyone who likes this genre should read Legend.

In Morningstar, David Gemmell gifted his readers with a pleasant surprise. In contrary to the usual story about an exemplifying hero, he gave us a Robinhood-like story, it is the journey of an anti-hero coming to be a hero. In the end, the readers are left with a question – Does the past of a hero really matter?

Synopsis:

What makes a hero?

Stay a while and listen, to the story of Jarek Mace, also known, as Morningstar. Most people believe, Morningstar was the very incarnation of honor itself, but very few souls know the true history of Jarek Mace; before he became Morningstar, Jarek was once a thief and a soldier of fortune.

So, how did Jarek become Morningstar? Or, perhaps the whole story about Morningstar is but romances and fictions, invented and sung by tavern bards in exchange for a few coins? If you want to know the truth, then listen to the accounts of Owen Odell. Just remember, sometimes the truth is stranger than fictions.

My thoughts on this book:

Morningstar was written in the first person narrative and told from the perspectives of Owen, who, was a comrade of Jarek Mace (who would become Morningstar). The story borrowed from the tale of Robin Hood, and it took on the structure of a forest bandit taking on a tyrannical king. The difference being, while Robinhood was (sort of) noble, Jarek Mace was very far from being a shining example of virtue. No, if you read this book, the chances are that initially you will dislike (or even despise) Jarek Mace.

Through the course of the story, as if by pure luck, whenever Jarek Mace did something to further his own interests, he somehow ended up looking like an honorable hero and so his reputations grew. It was almost as if the title of Morningstar was thrusted upon Jarek against his will. As the book went on, however, the events gradually changed Jarek and his companions. Was Jarek redeemed in the end? Read this book and find out for yourself. But I think this book explored a fascinating question – What matters more? What makes a hero more, or less, of a hero? I leave the would-be readers to explore this story and decide for themselves. As for me, I parted from Morningstar's bitter sweet end, with questions and thoughts that lingered on my mind for many days afterward.

In terms of the writings, I found Morningstar a very well written and a compact book. This novel, a stand alone story, counts to only 280 pages. Yet, in such short spaces, David Gemmell depicted such a lively world, and his characters were very colorful. This book was also very well paced. Among the gallons of sword and sorcery actions, this book also left plentiful of spaces for worldbuilding and character developments. I think fans of David Gemmell would find many things to like about this book.

It is rare to find a stand alone fantasy novel, and it is even rarer to find one that is also thought-provoking and somewhat unique. Morningstar is both, and it is among David Gemmell's finest works. I highly recommend this book to those who are fond of epic and heroic fantasy books.

Until the next time, happy reading!