Green Rider (Green Rider Series #1)

by Kristen Britain

Overview

Magic, danger, and adventure abound for messenger Karigan G'ladheon in the first book of the New York Times-bestselling Green Rider fantasy series 

On her long journey home from school after a fight that will surely lead to her expulsion, Karigan G'ladheon ponders her uncertain future. As she trudges through the immense Green Cloak forest, her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves, as a galloping horse bursts from the woods.

The rider is slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young man lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king of Sacoridia.

Before he dies, he begs Karigan to deliver the “life and death” message he bears to King Zachary. When she reluctantly he agrees, he makes her swear on his sword to complete his mission, whispering with his dying breath, “Beware the shadow man...”

Taking on the golden-winged horse brooch that is the symbol of the Green Riders, Karigan is swept into a world of deadly danger and complex magic, her life forever changed. Compelled by forces she cannot understand, Karigan is accompanied by the silent specter of the fallen messenger and hounded by dark beings bent on seeing that the message, and its reluctant carrier, never reach their destination.

With memorable characters, unique magic, and a story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, this action-packed, feminist fantasy is a must-read for lovers of the genre.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780886778583
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	04/01/2000
Series:	Green Rider Series , #1
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	480
Sales rank:	372,657
Product dimensions:	4.20(w) x 6.60(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Kristen Britain is the author of the New York Times bestselling Green Rider series. Deep within the spruce-fir forest of coastal Maine, down a rambling mossy vale, and far beneath the inkwell of the sky, you will find her woodland home, where she crafts her tales and consorts with a pair of furry, tuft-eared sprites.

Read an Excerpt

DEAD RIDER
(Continues…)

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Excerpted from "Green Rider"
by .
Copyright © 2000 Kristen Britain.
Excerpted by permission of DAW.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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What People are Saying About This

Marion Zimmer Bradley

Terrific.

Terry Goodkind

A wonderfully captivating heroic fantasy adventure.

From the Publisher

"A wonderfully captivating heroic fantasy adventure. This is the rarest of finds: a truly enjoyable read." —Terry Goodkind

"A fresh, well-organized fantasy debut, with a spirited heroine and a reliable supporting cast." —Kirkus

"The author's skill at world building and her feel for dramatic storytelling make this first-rate fantasy a good choice." —Library Journal

"Britain keeps the excitement high from beginning to end, balancing epic magical battles with the humor and camaraderie of Karigan and her fellow riders." —Publishers Weekly
 

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the Green Rider series

“Green Rider is a wonderfully captivating heroic fantasy adventure.... Kristen Britain’s likable heroine and fast-paced plot kept me eagerly turning pages. This is the rarest of finds: a truly enjoyable read.” —Terry Goodkind, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of The Sword of Truth series
 
“Kristen Britain is one of the most astonishing fantasy writers working today. She has created a richly imagined world where magic is as real as courage, and where a young woman's heroism can change the course of history.” ―Tess Gerritsen, author of The Apprentice
 
“Britain packs her exciting sixth Green Rider epic fantasy with new perils for her heroine, Karigan G’ladheon.... The pages fly by in this dramatic tale.” —Publishers Weekly
 
“Britain’s latest combines familiar characters with new allies and enemies as it builds to a crucial point in the history of the land. Readers of epic fantasy and series followers will want this finely honed, skillfully crafted tale.” —Library Journal
 
“Britain provides plenty of action…and a good command of character.” —Booklist
 
“In masterly fashion, Britain ultimately manages to bring the major plotlines together in a big battle.... A rousing, satisfying adventure.” —Locus
 
“There is something about returning to read a new book the Green Rider series that just makes me happy.... Addictive comfort reads that make me want to curl up with it until I finish.” —Speculative Herald
 
“The gifted Ms. Britain writes with ease and grace as she creates a mesmerizing fantasy ambiance and an appealing heroine quite free of normal clichés.” —RT Book Reviews
 
“This captivating fantasy is filled with adventure, action, and heroes. Karigan grows tremendously as a person and in the end finds her own place in this world. The characters, including minor ones, are well-developed and the plot is complex enough to get the reader thinking. This is a real page-turner.” —VOYA
 
“Kristen Britain writes so beautifully that I never want to have to put her books down.” ―Fantasy Book Review

From the Publisher

Britain's first novel is a classic quest tale set in a standardized medieval fantasy world. It begins when protagonist Karigan G'ladheon is expelled from an exclusive school. In a forest on the way home, she encounters one of the magically bound Green Riders, who carries a vital message for King Zachary. The messenger is dying with assassins' arrows in his back, so with more loyalty than caution, Karigan takes over his magic brooch. This also means taking over his mission and becoming a Green Rider herself, an act that flings Karigan into a cesspool of intrigues both magical and mundane, some of them well-handled by the author, some not. Karigan is an engaging protagonist, although the feisty female is now a penny a cartload in high fantasy, and some of the scenes of magic and/or combat rise to a high standard. Britain also makes notable use of class distinctions as motivators, a tact not often seen in fantasy. But, overall, her plot lacks originality; most of her characters (other than Karigan) are, at best, archetypes; and her pacing may be sufficiently uneven to deter readers from coping with the book's standard plot and considerable length. This is a respectable, not outstanding, debut, although Britain shows enough talent to warrant a follow-up. (Nov.) FYI: In its 25 years, DAW has published only one previous first novel in hardcover: Tad Williams's Tailchaser's Song.

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Karigan G'ladheon, unjustly suspended from school for drubbing a bully, runs away instead. On the road she encounters a dying Green Rider, or king's messenger, F'ryan Coblebay. Hunted by evildoers, and pierced by two black arrows, the Rider makes Karigan swear to deliver his vitally important message, then gives her a magic brooch that renders her all but invisible. Karigan also acquires Coblebay's mount, The Horse, who seems to know better than she does how to find Sacor City and King Zachary. While enjoying various adventures, she's chased by agents of Lord-governor Mirwell—-she'll eventually learn that he's supporting the rebel Prince Amilton's bid to seize the throne. Worse, another conspirator, a magic-powered, elf-like Eletian renegade called Shawdell, has broken the D'Yer Wall, whose spells protect Sacoridia from the evil creatures of Blackveil Forest. Finding within herself unexpected talents and survival skills, Karigan eventually reaches King Zachary—-but the message she brings is worthless. Then she remembers that Coblebay also entrusted her with a love letter. It's this that contains the real message, a warning of the plot against Zachary. A fresh, well-organized fantasy debut, with a spirited heroine and a reliable supporting cast.

Kirkus Reviews