Review: `Rise then, brother. All of you rise! And rise Outriders!'
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 24, 2014
New York author Christopher Pepper comes to his long loved dream of writing fantasy novels with fine credentials. He prepared his working brain with a BA in English Literature, tested it with an MA in English Education, and now lets its bloom - thanks to the open window into his world of imagination...along with a bit of influence from Tolkien and other fine creators of special worlds. Mystery, fantasy, science fiction, role playing games, and a solid sense of character depiction and of place are evident in this, his debut novel THE OUTSIDER LEGION, encouragingly labeled Book One, indicating he will take his newly developed troop on further adventures.Being the first venture Pepper introduces his cast of characters in a brief description on the website: `The very first book in the Outrider Legion series. Get introduced to the members of the Legion, and join them as they undertake their very first mission as a team.  Unfortunately it won't be as simple as they expect.  Very quickly they find themselves caught in a race for an artifact sought after by assassins, renegades, and sorcerers, with a sinister conspiracy within the Legion itself underlying the entire ordeal. Typical of Pepper's edge of the seat, tongue in cheek technique of unraveling a story.  We discover the Outrider Legion as a group consisting or watchmen, rangers, and soldiers who patrol the roads and dark places within the Dominion, keeping safe the citizens from threats that elude the other Legions. Their first mission is a dangerous one: they must recover an artifact stolen from Dominion by evil dark forces. The mission is beset with dangers, black magic, sorcery, and more terrifying thrills than expected both near to their home and afar. How do they succeed? Telling that would be a spoiler, but be prepared for some well organized twists and turns in a story that reads fast - not because it is short, but because it is so involving.Christopher Pepper has designed a super team and following them in future books will be a pleasure. Grady Harp, June 14