The First Chronicles of Druss the Legend

He was known as Druss. The Deathwalker. Though the blood of merciless butchers coursed through his veins, he had found a fragile peace through his love for beautiful, mystical Rowena. Then came the day when Druss returned to their village and found everyone dead--massacred by slavers who had stolen the women to sell for gold. Rowena was among the missing.

Armed with only his powerful double-bladed ax, Snaga, Druss went after Rowena. His journey would carry him from the highest thrones of power to the deepest dungeons of depravity. Along the way, he would battle savage monsters and descend into terrifying lands of black magic and demons.

Yet one thing was certain. Druss would have victory . . . or death.
**

"David Gemmell tells a tale of very real adventure, the stuff of true epic fantasy."
--R. A. SALVATORE
   New York Times bestselling author

"Gemmell's great reading; the action never lets up; he's several rungs above the good--right into the fabulous!"
--ANNE MCCAFFREY

"I am truly amazed at David Gemmell's ability to focus his writer's eye. His images are crisp and complete, a history lesson woven within the detailed tapestry of the highest adventure. Gemmell's characters are no less complete, real men and women with qualities good and bad, placed in trying times and rising to heroism or falling victim to their own weaknesses."
--R. A. SALVATORE
   New York Times bestselling author
   of The Demon Apostle

From the Paperback edition.

RETURN OF THE DEATHWALKER

From the timeless, magical, and merciless Drenai realm--evoked so unforgettably in David Gemmell's international bestseller Legend--comes a new tale of power and passion, of a man born to kill, and destined for greatness . . .

He was called Druss. Captain of the ax. The Deathwalker. Though the blood of merciless butchers coursed through his veins and made him an outcast among men, Druss had finally found a fragile peace through his love for beautiful, mystical Rowena. In their small village on the edge of the Drenai land, the young married couple lived a simple life . . . until the day Druss returned from the forest to find everyone dead, massacred by slavers who had stolen the young women to sell for gold, Rowena among them.

Armed only with his family's deadly heirloom, a darkly powerful double-bladed ax called Snaga, Druss went after Rowena. His journey would carry him to strange kingdoms, from the highest thrones of power to the deepest dungeons of depravity. Along the way, he would win empires and nearly lose his mind, battle savage monsters and descend into terrifying lands of black magic and demons. Yet one thing was certain, Druss would have victory . . . or death.