Bane. Born of Connavar and his first love, illegitimate and unacknowledged. Named by his mother for what she sees as the pinnacle of her life’s disappointments. Bane quickly comes to despise his father and, through his actions in the Rigante tribe, causes Connavar to force him into exile.

So, Bane heads to the Stone lands. There he falls in love, only to watch her destroyed by a Stone Knight. Vowing vengeance, he joins a circus as a gladiator, his sole aim to meet this Knight in combat and get revenge for his love.

But, as always, things are not so easy. And war looms large.

This book once again proves Gemmell’s mastery of heroic fantasy. Lots of action inside and outside the arena, and even a little sorcery in parts. Set 20-odd years after the events in Sword in the Storm, Gemmell fills in the backstory a little at a time – but in such a way that Midnight Falcon can easily be read as a standalone. (Though you’ll want to be reading the others soon after, I think!)

Interestingly, this story includes religion – the Crimson Priests seeming like the Spanish Inquisition, with all it’s violence and treachery. And, of course, an ‘underground’ religion which preaches love and peace.

The comparisons to Rome/The Celts are far more obvious in this book than the first. Gemmell’s alternate history stands up, though; the details and characters he creates are believable, relatable and totally enthralling.

Midnight Falcon is a pleasure to read again and again.

This book was interesting but not what I really was expecting.  I like tbr characters however I think to a point they were weaker than some of his other works.

I found that the story though made up for any deficiencies I think are with the characters.

The premise was great and the execution was very good.  The powerful nature of this authors work is so powerful and you do feel that you are living each of these stories.