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Tribesman #2
Warrior
The search for the merchant's daughter continues as Culainn crosses the mountains into the frozen north... home, to face his past and the many demons he left behind.
Striking a bargain with the witch-queen, Neeve, he agrees to fight her enemies, the Shadow Druids and Blue-Woads, in return for her aid in freeing the girl he seeks. Will she keep her word, or has she treachery in mind?
All the while, the dark god, Morrigu, continues to haunt Culainn's dreams, seeking to control him and make him her own champion.
Striking a bargain with the witch-queen, Neeve, he agrees to fight her enemies, the Shadow Druids and Blue-Woads, in return for her aid in freeing the girl he seeks. Will she keep her word, or has she treachery in mind?
All the while, the dark god, Morrigu, continues to haunt Culainn's dreams, seeking to control him and make him her own champion.
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2014
5 people are currently reading
358 people want to read
About the author
Paul Freeman
49 books55 followersPaul Freeman is from Dublin, Ireland, where he now works, plays and writes. In the past he has lived in Germany and America but is now content to keep his roaming to the worlds he creates and writes about.
Tribesman is his first published novel, an epic fantasy with hints of Celtic myth. He has also published a short story in the steampunk anthology, Strange Tales From the Scriptorium Vaults. Season of the Dead is a novel about the zombie apocalypse, told from four different perspectives by four different authors. Season of the Dead is published by Spore Press
Book 2 in the Tribesman series, Warrior is now available.
Tribesman is his first published novel, an epic fantasy with hints of Celtic myth. He has also published a short story in the steampunk anthology, Strange Tales From the Scriptorium Vaults. Season of the Dead is a novel about the zombie apocalypse, told from four different perspectives by four different authors. Season of the Dead is published by Spore Press
Book 2 in the Tribesman series, Warrior is now available.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 22, 2014
WARRIOR is Book 2 in the series telling about the adventures of a great warrior named Culainn. He goes on his search of the merchant's daughter, which is fraught with grave danger. I loved this book as much as TRIBESMAN, Book 1. There’s everything an epic-fantasy fan will love: masterfully written descriptions, intense action-packed scenes, the characters.
The author does a great job creating the atmosphere throughout the book. The descriptiveness is there, but it’s never overdone. Just take a look at the first paragraph of the book:
“Fingers of black smoke rose into an iron grey sky. Yellow flames danced on thatched roofs of wattle-and-daub buildings, eating the reed with a voracious and insatiable appetite. The main doors of the settlement, the weakest point in its defence, swung from damaged hinges, broken and battered by the force of determined, hard men. ….”
As in TRIBESMAN, the flow and pace in WARRIOR is amazingly well done. The writing is well-balanced, combining descriptive parts with action scenes in a great way. Overall, it is a thrilling read that will make you crave for more. I hope there’s going to be a continuation to WARRIOR as there are a few questions left unanswered. Looking forward to reading more books about Culainn!
The author does a great job creating the atmosphere throughout the book. The descriptiveness is there, but it’s never overdone. Just take a look at the first paragraph of the book:
“Fingers of black smoke rose into an iron grey sky. Yellow flames danced on thatched roofs of wattle-and-daub buildings, eating the reed with a voracious and insatiable appetite. The main doors of the settlement, the weakest point in its defence, swung from damaged hinges, broken and battered by the force of determined, hard men. ….”
As in TRIBESMAN, the flow and pace in WARRIOR is amazingly well done. The writing is well-balanced, combining descriptive parts with action scenes in a great way. Overall, it is a thrilling read that will make you crave for more. I hope there’s going to be a continuation to WARRIOR as there are a few questions left unanswered. Looking forward to reading more books about Culainn!
February 14, 2014
In Tribesman, a wealthy merchant hires the exiled warrior Culainn to return north to save the merchant’s kidnapped daughter. However, on the way, Culainn gets sidetracked by desert warfare when he saves the life of an innocent young lady. This sets in motion a chain of events leading to a visit to the underworld and a battle with supernatural forces. Eventually Culainn emerges, free to continue on his original quest, with one important difference: he now has a magic sword which can kill demons.
Warrior explains in detail why Culainn became an exile. As a result of listening to the temptations of Morrigu, the goddess of war, Culainn betrayed his friend in a futile attempt to become the ruler of his tribe. Now, although Culainn is bitter and continually rejects Morrigu’s urgings, paradoxically Culainn’s very refusal to seek power plays into Morrigu’s elaborate schemes.
When Culainn approaches the northland, he comes into a region torn by war between the Witch Queen Neeve and a barbarian host called the Blue Woads. Both sides use dark magic to further their cause. Culainn becomes enmeshed in the conflict not only as a warrior but as a lover of the fisher girl, Blathna, who has a stint in a fairy-like dimension, and the Witch Queen herself. When Culainn finds the kidnapped woman he was sent to save, it turns out that she is a thrall of a powerful wraith with an entire army to back him.
Raw courage alone will not save Culainn as he confronts tribal warfare, black magic and his own inner guilt and demons. The result is a rousing adventure tale of epic proportions. Evocative writing, weird supernatural settings, exciting battle scenes, and vivid characters make this book one of my favorites.
Warrior explains in detail why Culainn became an exile. As a result of listening to the temptations of Morrigu, the goddess of war, Culainn betrayed his friend in a futile attempt to become the ruler of his tribe. Now, although Culainn is bitter and continually rejects Morrigu’s urgings, paradoxically Culainn’s very refusal to seek power plays into Morrigu’s elaborate schemes.
When Culainn approaches the northland, he comes into a region torn by war between the Witch Queen Neeve and a barbarian host called the Blue Woads. Both sides use dark magic to further their cause. Culainn becomes enmeshed in the conflict not only as a warrior but as a lover of the fisher girl, Blathna, who has a stint in a fairy-like dimension, and the Witch Queen herself. When Culainn finds the kidnapped woman he was sent to save, it turns out that she is a thrall of a powerful wraith with an entire army to back him.
Raw courage alone will not save Culainn as he confronts tribal warfare, black magic and his own inner guilt and demons. The result is a rousing adventure tale of epic proportions. Evocative writing, weird supernatural settings, exciting battle scenes, and vivid characters make this book one of my favorites.
January 27, 2016
The second book in this series sees the outlawed barbarian warrior return to the tribelands in his quest to find a missing girl. He soon finds himself making new enemies and meeting old ones - including those who remember him all too well. In many ways, these books remind me of the the classic 'Conan' stories - the same supreme warrior, battling enemies natural and supernatural and coming out victorious. But an extra element is added by the goddess who constantly seeks to use the warrior to her own ends. His attempts to escape from the fate planned for him underlay the whole story, and give it an extra drive that a straightforward 'sword & sorcery' wouldn't have. As a Christian, I find the contrast between a divinity who seeks to bend people to her will through threat and temptation, and the divinity who sacrifices himself to give people a free choice of following him, an intriguing one. Is the writer saying something really profound here - perhaps in spite of himself? Or am I reading too much into it? Either way, it's a great adventure story! I'm ready for the next one.
April 29, 2014
Warrior relates the continuing adventures and battles and nasty wounds and dreams and traumas and slain corpses (human and non-human) and swordsmanship of Culainn – warrior born – a terrific, fast-paced sequel to Tribesman. The location and atmosphere of this story provide a fascinating change from the first. Culainn remains unchanged: dependable, strong, cunning, brutal and undefeatable – or is he? Attaching himself to a war-band, his days are filled with fighting and slaying while his nights with temptation and treachery. A thoroughly gripping and page-turning read, full of twists and turns. Loved it.
December 13, 2015
Warrior is a visceral romp through a vibrant fantasy world. Paul Freeman has once again constructed an enthralling tale that is second to none in its ability to suck me in as a reader. With a few companions, Culainn once again wanders into a great adventure that kept me curious throughout. I dare say I enjoyed this book more than the first, though they are both worth reading. Warrior is an action-packed adventure that is sure to excite your imagination. I'll have no problem recommending this one regularly.
August 18, 2016
Conan cometh again
I enjoy a good sword and sorcery book. I thought this one even better than the first. I saw quite a few similarities betwixt this and the old Conan stories. I'm quite alright with that.
I enjoy a good sword and sorcery book. I thought this one even better than the first. I saw quite a few similarities betwixt this and the old Conan stories. I'm quite alright with that.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews