#31 Green Rider by Kristen Britain
In a series, when there’s a gap of four years between books, I tend to forget what happened in the previous books by the time the next 
edition finally hits the shelves. This is what happened with the most recent Green Rider Book, The High Kings Tomb. By the time I got my hand on the paperback version of the novel, I realized that I had very scant memories of what had actually happened in both Green Rider, and First Rider’s Call. As a result, I’ve set some time aside this month to re-read the first two books, and it’s been a welcome trip back to the series I first experienced in high school.
Green Rider tells the story of Karigan, a merchant’s daughter, recently expelled from school for humiliating a rich lord’s son in a duel. Eagar to tell her side of the story to her father before the bad news hits him, Karigan decides to run back home. On the way she runs into a dying young man in a green clock with two black arrows in his back. He is a Green Rider, a messenger of King Zachary, who carries an important letter. He presses the message into Karigan’s hand, making her promise to continue the journey. She agrees, of course, but quickly discovers that her task will not be easy. The forest has become infested with monsters, and she is chased by multiple parties, the most terrifying being a mysterious man dressed in gray. Will Karigan survive her journey? And what is the message that she carries?
Green Rider is a well written fantasy about a young woman thrown into extraordinary circumstances. She will have to depend on her allies, as well as own wits, abilities, and new found magical talent, to survive the 450+ page book. The book moves at a comfortable pace, and is filled with action, intrigue, and interesting characters. In other words, it’s just the kind of book I enjoy the most. The novel is divided into two sections, the first which focuses on Karigan’s journey from Selium, the second focuses on her stay at the castle. I find the first section to be more exciting, but the second section succeeds with its introduction of interesting characters, such as King Zachary, and the noble Alton D’Yer. The book is light on the romance end of things, never really going beyond confused feelings, and mixed emotions. Although I love a good romance as much as anyone else, I found this to be is a nice change form most female fronted fantasy.
Green Rider is a well written novel that sits comfortably within the confines of traditional fantasy without feeling derivative or dull. Thanks to its interesting plot, memorable characters, and likable heroine, it’s sure to be satisfying to fans of thick fantasy novels.
Rating: four and a half out of five stars
Length: 471 pages
Source: shelf
TBR Pile: 148 books
Similar Books: For fantasy books where the protagonist spends a good portion on a journey, try Sabriel by Garth Nix, Little Sister by Kara Dalkey ( my review), American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and of course The Lord of the Rings.
Other books I've read by this author: First Rider’s Call
xposted to bookish and temporaryworlds
edition finally hits the shelves. This is what happened with the most recent Green Rider Book, The High Kings Tomb. By the time I got my hand on the paperback version of the novel, I realized that I had very scant memories of what had actually happened in both Green Rider, and First Rider’s Call. As a result, I’ve set some time aside this month to re-read the first two books, and it’s been a welcome trip back to the series I first experienced in high school.
Green Rider tells the story of Karigan, a merchant’s daughter, recently expelled from school for humiliating a rich lord’s son in a duel. Eagar to tell her side of the story to her father before the bad news hits him, Karigan decides to run back home. On the way she runs into a dying young man in a green clock with two black arrows in his back. He is a Green Rider, a messenger of King Zachary, who carries an important letter. He presses the message into Karigan’s hand, making her promise to continue the journey. She agrees, of course, but quickly discovers that her task will not be easy. The forest has become infested with monsters, and she is chased by multiple parties, the most terrifying being a mysterious man dressed in gray. Will Karigan survive her journey? And what is the message that she carries?
Green Rider is a well written fantasy about a young woman thrown into extraordinary circumstances. She will have to depend on her allies, as well as own wits, abilities, and new found magical talent, to survive the 450+ page book. The book moves at a comfortable pace, and is filled with action, intrigue, and interesting characters. In other words, it’s just the kind of book I enjoy the most. The novel is divided into two sections, the first which focuses on Karigan’s journey from Selium, the second focuses on her stay at the castle. I find the first section to be more exciting, but the second section succeeds with its introduction of interesting characters, such as King Zachary, and the noble Alton D’Yer. The book is light on the romance end of things, never really going beyond confused feelings, and mixed emotions. Although I love a good romance as much as anyone else, I found this to be is a nice change form most female fronted fantasy.
Green Rider is a well written novel that sits comfortably within the confines of traditional fantasy without feeling derivative or dull. Thanks to its interesting plot, memorable characters, and likable heroine, it’s sure to be satisfying to fans of thick fantasy novels.
Rating: four and a half out of five stars
Length: 471 pages
Source: shelf
TBR Pile: 148 books
Similar Books: For fantasy books where the protagonist spends a good portion on a journey, try Sabriel by Garth Nix, Little Sister by Kara Dalkey ( my review), American Gods by Neil Gaiman, and of course The Lord of the Rings.
Other books I've read by this author: First Rider’s Call
xposted to bookish and temporaryworlds