Waylander & Waylander Ii

David Gemmell's Drenai Saga burst onto the heroic fantasy scene in 1984 and bears no relation to the Draenei from World of Warcraft. His lasting impact on the fantasy world led to the post-humorous creation of the David Gemmell Awards for Fantasy, with awards going to some of the authors on this list. It's no surprise then, that Gemmell's' legacy includes some of the best assassin fantasy around. Eleven years after the Drenai Saga's first book, the author wrote Waylander, marking the third in the series but first chronologically. Like Gemmell's previous books, Waylander is an exploration of what makes a hero and if there can be true redemption. As you can imagine, there's plenty of evil to go around, and plenty of gray areas too. The title of the book is synonymous with its main character, a famous assassin who is betrayed after a particularly notorious contract. Waylander is in many ways an anti-hero, but that doesn't stop him from feeling real. Gemmell's characterization carries the story, both through the protagonist and the rich supporting cast. It's a grimdark novel once more, but one that pioneered the genre rather than emulating it. It's filled with fast pacing, concise writing, and vivid imagery. Though they hinge on existing series, the Waylander books are accessible and brilliant enough to enjoy standalone.

Booklists having this book

Top 25 Best Assassin Books

There are a lot of different choices when it comes to fantasy. Sprawling epics, fairy tale adaptations, urban, the list goes on. However, sometimes you're just in the mood for... Read more

Other books by Gemmell, David

Legend

Gemmell specializes in heroic fantasy. His best book is widely regarded as Legend. Legend doesn’t try to be anything but what it is: a heroic adventure with lots of blood,... Read more

The King Beyond The Gate

"The King Beyond the Gate" by David Gemmell is the second book in the Drenai Saga, which follows the story of Druss the Legend, a skilled warrior and leader who... Read more

Waylander

"Waylander" by David Gemmell is a gripping fantasy novel that tells the story of a legendary assassin named Waylander, who is hired to retrieve the stolen Armour of Bronze, a... Read more

Knights Of Dark Renown

"Knights of Dark Renown" by David Gemmell is a thrilling and intense fantasy novel that follows a group of infamous knights as they journey to a cursed castle to face... Read more

Quest For Lost Heroes

"Quest for Lost Heroes" by David Gemmell is an epic and exciting fantasy novel that follows a group of warriors as they embark on a perilous journey to rescue their... Read more

Waylander Ii: In The Realm Of The Wolf

"Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf" by David Gemmell is a thrilling and action-packed fantasy novel that follows the adventures of the infamous assassin Waylander as he journeys... Read more

The First Chronicles Of Druss The Legend

"The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend" by David Gemmell is a gripping and exciting fantasy novel that tells the origin story of one of Gemmell's most iconic characters, the... Read more

The Legend Of Deathwalker

"The Legend of Deathwalker" by David Gemmell is a thrilling and action-packed fantasy novel that follows the legendary warrior Druss on a journey to avenge the death of his friend,... Read more

Winter Warriors

"Winter Warriors" by David Gemmell is a gripping and action-packed fantasy novel that follows a group of warriors as they defend a fortress against a horde of powerful and relentless... Read more

Hero In The Shadows

"Hero in the Shadows" by David Gemmell is a thrilling and action-packed fantasy novel that follows the infamous assassin Waylander as he is forced out of retirement and drawn into... Read more

The Swords Of Night And Day

"The Swords of Night and Day" is the final book in the "Drenai" series by David Gemmell, and it follows the character of Skilgannon the Damned as he embarks on... Read more

Legend

If you like stories about grand heroes who stand up for the downtrodden, who fight for a righteous cause, then Legend is a shining beacon of this sort of fantasy.... Read more

Troy Trilogy

The best of Gemmell's work -- and the last of his work too. Troy is a retelling of the Greek tale of Troy, but done told in such a refreshing... Read more

Shield Of Thunder

"Shield of Thunder" by David Gemmell is a thrilling historical fantasy novel that continues the story of the ancient Greek hero Odysseus and his quest to unite the Greek city-states... Read more

Fall Of Kings

"Fall of Kings" by David Gemmell is the final book in the "Troy" series, which explores the epic story of the Trojan War. The book picks up where the previous... Read more

Legend

Drawing heavily on the culture of the ancient Norsemen, Gemmell takes familiar archetypes and crafts them into a well-told tale of sacrifice and dying well. Druss and his once-possessed axe... Read more

In The Realm Of The Wolf

"In the Realm of the Wolf" by David Gemmell is a thrilling fantasy novel that follows the adventures of Waylander the Slayer, a legendary assassin and hero, as he embarks... Read more

White Wolf

"White Wolf" by David Gemmell is a fast-paced and thrilling fantasy novel that follows the story of Skilgannon the Damned, a legendary warrior who is forced out of retirement to... Read more

Waylander & Waylander Ii

David Gemmell's Drenai Saga burst onto the heroic fantasy scene in 1984 and bears no relation to the Draenei from World of Warcraft. His lasting impact on the fantasy world... Read more