First Rider's Call

Listening this time around. The story is entertaining. Good characters, good world-building. Kerrigan is maddeningly herself, if that makes any sense, often bad tempered, blundering into situations, misinterpreting things -- but that is realistic, eh? Ellen Archer is a decent reader. There are more than a few derivative moments, but there is enough that is original and the occasional surprise to keep me listening and enjoying. On to book 3 ***3/4

Following on from 'Green Rider' , I re-read this book, too, so I can go on to the third book in the series, which I recently bought. I must admit, I peeked into the third book, to see how a tentative romance is going.

Karigan G'ladheon, the heroine of the first book, has returned home after having to act as a Green Rider - a king's messenger facing innumerable dangers. She wants to go back to her life as her merchant father's heir, but the Riders need her, and she is called back to action by the ghost of the first Rider, the founder of their corps.

As a result of her first adventure, tainted wild magic is being let loose in a land which has rejected magic for centuries, and the people of Sacoridia no longer know how to deal with it. The show more Green Riders are the only ones who have innate magic, albeit secretly, so they are at the forefront of this new war. Karigan relearns secrets lost to the centuries through her contact with the First Rider's ghost, faces heartache as her colleagues bear the brunt of the attacks, and realises that she seems to have begun a romance that must remain unfulfilled - or must it?

This book is as well written as, or better than, the first book, with the action coming thick and fast, and there are some nicely evocative descriptive passages. Karigan is a likeable heroine, with a strong sense of loyalty to her friends and country - but she does have a temper, which tends to get her into trouble. This story brings the history of the Green Riders - and the kingdom - into play, which fills in some of the background to the first story nicely. I do wish, though, that there was a map - my geography's gone a bit squiffy.

(September 2010)
4.5 stars show less

These books are crack. That's the only reason why I read them. I know they're bad - so full of fantasy cliches that you'd be hard pressed to point to an original idea in the entire story - but I can't stop.

I realized all this with the first book but there was something about the story that made me read the entire thing. But this book, I got bogged down a bit. Oh, don't get me wrong - it was still crack. But I was starting to realize how bad for me it was and that maybe I needed to join a 12-step program.

Hi, I'm Debbie, and I'm a fantasy junkie. And I cut my fantasy eyeteeth on Lackey (as did Kristen Britain, which is VERY EVIDENT if you read any of this series) so there's something about intelligent horses and their riders who are show more Called into service that just speaks to my inner teen. show less

A solid second entry into a complex and quite fulfilling fantasy series, First Rider's Call finds Karigan thrust once again into the treacherous and deadly world of magic, intrigue, love and loss that accompanies the life of a Green Rider. The author has created a vibrant and complex world that is at once foreign and realistic. Her characters aren't just good or evil, black or white. Most have facets to their personalities, giving them a greater depth and more believability. However, I think what I enjoyed best about this book is the romance, which, coming from a person who despises 95% of romance novels, is quite a statement. With the romantic life of Karigan, though, Kristen Britain isn't afraid of showing that life isn't always roses show more and sunshine. A king who falls in love with a commoner doesn't abandon his kingdom and duties to wed said commoner. A king puts his position above his heart, as sad and as unromantic as that may be. Where some authors may be tempted to write a 'happy ending' to this scenario, Britain defies tradition, bringing an additional level of bittersweet heartbreak to this layered story. show less

4.5/5 stars. In this sequel to the green rider, Karigan grows as a green rider and the threat of the blackveil is exposed. I continue to enjoy the flow of the writing and the depth to which the characters are explored in their thoughts and interactions. The slow progress of Karigan's skill over time through her experiences and her teachers as a nuanced leveling of the protagonist that is refreshing. The lore which is further explored in this book is interesting and enhanced the overall appeal and intrigue of the world while also opening up and hinting at future struggles. No complaints

This review is also featured on Behind the Pages: First Rider's Call

The riders may have defeated the Eletian who cracked the D’Yer wall, but darkness still seeks to escape. Alton D’Yer travels to learn the wall's secrets in hopes of repairing it. However, what lurks beyond will not give up easily. Dark magic long buried and forgotten will rise up against the riders and seek to destroy them one by one. And when the rider’s need their magic the most, it will begin to fail them.

First Rider’s Call brings readers deeper into the world of Sacoridia. As rider abilities begin to fail, Karigan’s will force her to witness past events. Through each ghostly tale readers will be steadily pulled into the history of the rider’s last show more encounter with Mornhaven the Black. The sacrifices once made to combat him and his legacy are brought to startling clarity. But with a history long buried and failing abilities, the riders will be hard pressed to push back the encroaching darkness. Kristen Britain brilliantly builds up the depth of evil with each book. And as the desperation of the riders grows, the intensity surrounding their fate will pull readers into the narrative and refuse to let go.

Karigan has come a long way from the first Green Rider book. While her streak of stubbornness still lands her in hot water, readers are able to see how independent she has become. Tainted by wild magic she is a target for Mornhaven the Black’s followers, but this time she is fully prepared to embrace her rider ability and defend her fellow riders. Karigan has formed bonds with them and refuses to go down without a fight. And while she may not win every battle, she will do all she can to rise up and fight again.

I cannot wait to see what else is in store for the riders. By the end of First Rider’s Call they have taken heavy losses and some may never be the same again. But despite it all they still have a kingdom to help protect. Fans of high fantasy, if you have not picked up Green Rider yet, I urge you to give this series a try. show less

I found this in a remainder bin some time ago and didn't realise until after I read it that it is the second in a series. It's a nice ride - lovely pace that keeps you hooked, amiable characters, etc. But it's just that: a nice ride. Don't expect highly individual concepts, or deeply developed characters, or edgy writing. If you're looking for something new in fantasy, this isn't it - in many respects, it is far too derivative of other earlier works (LoTR, Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series). But then I'm still giving it 3.5 stars for being a good, fast-paced and light read, and I will also track down the others in the series.

One thing, however, really bugs me. For my taste, it borrows too directly from Tolkien, particularly where the show more Eletians and bad guys are concerned. A remote, legendary, graceful immortal people with a gift for magic, who possess a "mirror" (water in a vessel) which under moonlight unpredictably shows the past, present or potential future to whoever looks in it? A faceless evil that was destroyed in body but not in spirit, and which in life twisted humans with magic to create a monstrous fighting race? Dark servants in the shape of wraiths? Uuuuuhhhm, thanks, but we've already been there. I love Tolkien, and even though most modern fantasy draws upon his work for inspiration, this goes a bit too far. I would have preferred some originality. Not necessarily a killer issue, but it annoys me nevertheless. show less