How To Read David Gemmell's Drenai Series
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What is the Drenai Series about?
The Drenai series is a heroic fantasy series by British author David Gemmell. The series focuses on a selection of heroes, mainly from the Drenai lands, and their fight against evil, whether that's a personal enemy, an existential demonic threat, or barbarian hordes.
There are 11 books in the Drenai series with two additional ones set before the rise of the Drenai. These books focus on singular characters and the epic quests they undertake, quests in which they will have to risk everything to succeed and that will make them legends across the lands.
The Best Reading Order of the Drenai Series
In this article, I outline three ways you could potentially group and read the Drenai series by David Gemmell. The first is the publication order, the second is the chronological order of the series, and the third is to group them by the main protagonists of the series.
I always generally suggest reading a series in publication order, simply because this is how the author generally would have imagined them to be read. Because of this, you may get more from the plot reveals if they are established at the right time in your reading.
However, several of the books in this series can be read as standalone books, and for those of you not willing to commit to reading all 13, I've also picked my favourite (must-reads) towards the bottom of this article.
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The Iron Code of Druss The Legend
“Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil. Never back away from an enemy. Either fight or surrender. It is not enough to say I will not be evil. Evil must be fought wherever it is found.”
Underpinning a lot of Gemmell’s stories is a code of morality that is exemplified in the code of Druss. This black and white code reflects what Gemmell thought it must take to be a true hero. It is an unbending aspiration to do the right thing, to defeat evil even if it means sacrificing yourself. This is reflected in almost all of Gemmell’s heroes, and though the majority of Gemmell’s characters have darker sides to them - sides they often fail to overcome, it is this drive to do right even in the face of overwhelming odds, even at the sacrifice of their own lives that makes his characters truly speak.
Drenai Series in Publishing Order
1. Legend
Druss, captain of the axe, Deathwalker, he is the stuff of legends. Tales are told of him all throughout the lands. However, he’s also a man and in this story, set after Druss’ heyday, he grows old, and his phenomenal strength wanes. When he receives a message begging him to come down from his mountaintop to help defend the nation from the Nadir hordes, Druss decides that he will no longer wait for the cold hand of death to take him, but will do what he has always done, stare it down with axe in hand.
Rated 4.5 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
2. The King Beyond the Gate
Set years after Legend, in this story, the mighty fortress of Dros Delnoch has now fallen and a tyrannical mad Emperor has seized control of it. His twisted creations, Joinings, half man half beast roam the land, carrying out his evil will. However, there are always heroes to battle evil, and Tenaka Khan, a halfbreed himself, has a plan.
Rated 4.5 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
3. Waylander
The Drenai King has been assassinated, murdered ruthlessly in the night. With his death, the Kingdom falls to chaos and enemy troops swarm into Drenai lands. But there is hope, the warrior Waylander must journey on a quest into the lands of the Nadir to find the legendary armour of bronze. With this maybe, just maybe he can turn the tide. But can he be trusted? Because he is Waylander the Slayer, Waylander the assassin, and the man who killed the king.
4. Quest for Lost Heroes
After the fortress of Dros Delnoch fell. blood-hungry Nadir hordes swept across the land, bringing desolation and despair. But even as they triumph they sow the seeds of their own undoing. When Nadir slavers seize a young girl in the tiny realm of Gothir it sets off an unlikely chain of events and a peasant boy sets off on a quest that will shake the world. But it won’t be easy, he must cross the savage steppes and journey through the halls of hell. He is aided in his quest only by the three legendary heroes.
Rated 4.6 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
5. Waylander II: In the Realm of the Wolf
Waylander has retreated into the mountains where he lives a solitary life as the woodsman Dakeyras with his daughter Miriel. Unbeknown to them though, a group of bloodthirsty warriors stalk the mountains, searching for the mythical Waylander hoping to claim the bounty of 10,000 gold.
Rated 4.6 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
6. The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend
Before Druss was the great hero he was a simple farmer married to the beautiful Rowena. However, one day, when Druss returns to their village he finds that everyone has been massacred, and slavers have stolen the woman of the village to sell for gold, Rowena amongst them. Armed only with his double-bladed axe Snaga, Druss must voyage after Rowena into the very jaws of death.
Rated 4.7 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
7. The Legend of Deathwalker
Druss, now known as Deathwalker by the Nadir must join the warrior Talisman on a mission of blood and glory. With his friend dying, he is offered hope by a Nadir Shaman. He must find the stolen Eyes of Alchazazar - mystic jewels of power. But it’s never as simple as that, and Druss might unite the small Nadir tribes from extermination by the Gothir armies.
8. Winter Warriors
The prophecy says that upon the death of three kings the world will be plunged into chaos. Two of the kings are now dead. And the third, about to be born, is hunted by demons. All of the terrifying forces of evil are ranged against the pregnant queen, but she is protected by the last of the Drenai heroes, three warriors to hold back the shadow of evil.
Rated 4.6 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
9. Hero in the Shadows
A ragtag group of unlikely heroes led by the mysterious Grey Man are the only thing that stands against the dark mysteries of of the city Kuan Hador and the evils that are about to be released. But the Grey Man is no simple hero. He is better known in the land of the Drenai as Waylander the Slayer.
Rated 4.7 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
10. White Wolf
Armed with the mythic swords of Night and Day, Skilgannon must reconcile with the evils of his past. After a chance encounter with Druss the Legend, the two lone warriors form an unlikely alliance that will see them pitted against dangerous foes.
Rated 4.7 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
11. The Swords of Night and Day
A thousand years have gone passed since Druss and Skilgannon walked the earth, they are revered, more myth than man. But dark sorcery is returning and the lands are once more in need of a hero. An ancient prophecy foretold that Skilgannon would return in his people’s darkest hour. To most, this is just foolish hope, but one sorcerer seeks the answer to the question, what if the soul of one such hero could be called back from the void, his bones housed again in flesh?
David Gemmell also wrote two more novels that take place in the same world but are set centuries before the rise of the Drenai.
12. Knights of Dark Renown
The Knights of Gabbalah were the legendary protectors of the nine duchies. That is until all but one of them disappeared. Manannan is that last knight, and now he lives in a torment of guilt. Yet, war is coming again and with it Manannan’s last chance for redemption. But to regain his honour and save his land, he will have to confront his deepest fear.
Rated 4.4 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
13. Morningstar
Angostin invaders have surged through the highlands, laying waste to everything in their path. These invaders are aided by a mad necromancer who resurrects the long-dead Vampyre Kings. Only the bandit Jarek Mace and the magic bard Owen Odelle have the courage to fight against the Angostins and the undead.
Rated 4.6 Stars. Buy on Amazon.
Fans of David Gemmell may also like our article on Grimdark Fantasy books.
Drenai Series in Chronological Order
If you want to read the books by following the chronology of events that take place in the series then you can read them in the following order:
Drenai Series Grouped by Protagonist
As mentioned already many of the stories in the Drenai series can be grouped logically by the main characters in them. These three main characters are Druss, Skilgannon, and Waylander. Each of them have their own darkness to overcome and battles to fight and no doubt you’ll find yourself wanting to follow their stories so I’ve also grouped the Drenai series by the protagonist in chronological order below.
The Druss The Legend Books
The Waylander Books
The Skilgannon Books
Standalone Books in the Drenai Series
My Top Three Choices in the Drenai Series
Legend
Being Gemmell’s first published book, this maybe isn’t his most polished. However, it glows with raw emotion that will have you in tears by the end. Druss is an incredibly memorable character that leaves you wanting more and sets the tone for many of the following stories.
White Wolf
Skilgannon is a flawed and well-developed character with almost mystical fighting skills. He’s a hero who struggles to come to terms with his role as a warrior and a killer. Skilgannon has a pivotal meeting with Druss in this book, sending him on the path of becoming a hero and overcoming his past.
Waylander
Waylander is an enigmatic assassin. By all accounts, he should be a villain. But as with many of Gemmell’s main characters, he judges himself harshly and we get to see that he is more than what people perceive him to be.
Get the Drenai Saga on Amazon.
Final Words
For the best reading experience, I’d suggest sticking with the publishing order of the Drenai series. With that being said, that’s quite a lot of books, which is why I’ve also offered the character groupings and my personal recommendations. I’ve no doubt though, that once you get started you’ll want to read them all. David Gemmell fans may also want to check out the authors, Brandon Sanderson, John Gwynne, and Robin Hobb.
