Introduction
First published in 1998, it seems it’s been a long time since Kristen Britain’s Green Rider made its mark on the world of fantasy fiction. It is a novel of many facets and although it is set in a fictional world akin to Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, Britain’s story contains the whole array of human emotions, from fear to love to intrigue and excitement, not to mention a wide variety of characters and intertwining storylines.
Green Rider tells the tale of Karigan G’ladheon, a young woman who decides to run away from her boarding school after getting expelled for fighting with the son of a Lord. Not long into her travels however, Karigan happens upon a horse who carries the dying body of a green rider, a messenger of the King. The rider entrusts Karigan with his mission to deliver an urgent message to the King just before he breathes his dying breath. From here on out Karigan sets forth on a journey both magical and terrifying in order to deliver the rider’s all important message.
Five Reasons to Read Green Rider
Mystery. This story holds mystery from the very start where readers witness a shadowy character make a crack in the D’yer Wall, the wall that separates the kingdom of Sacoridia from the darkness contained in Blackveil forest beyond. This is a theme that is sure to keep readers glued to the page as they want to discover who this person is, why the green rider F’ryan Coblebay was killed, and what of course lies in the message Karigan is bringing to the King at Sacor City.
Fear. If you like a good dose of fear with your fiction then this is the book for you. Karigan continually meets with danger along her travels. She must fight against the monsters that have found their way into Sacoridia from Blackveil forest due to the crack in the D’yer Wall. She is also being pursued by those who murderously killed the green rider whose task she has sworn to take on. If this isn’t enough, Karigan then finds herself fighting to survive as she is taken hostage by two brigands along the road.
Adventure. Karigan’s journey contains all the makings of a good old fashioned adventure, as she risks life and limb to deliver her message. She struggles to traverse a long distance as fast as possible, during which she meets with all sorts of characters from the magical and wondrous to the downright terrifying. In this book readers can enjoy an adventure that alternates between urgency, well needed comforts, excitement, intrigue, and life or death situations.
Romance. Once Karigan fulfils F’ryan Coblebay’s mission she finds herself in the unknown surroundings of the Royal castle in Sacor City and becomes unmistakably attracted to the man she had travelled so far to help, King Zachary. The two develop an intense relationship from the moment they meet, however being young and out of her comfort zone Karigan endeavours to shy away from her feelings for the King, and his for her.
Three more books to enjoy. For those readers who like to fall into a fictional world for longer than the length of just one book, there are three more books chronicling Karigan’s adventures to your teeth into. First Rider’s Call, The High King’s Tomb, and Blackveil allow fans of Britain’s fantasy to enjoy much more of her exquisite fantasy fiction. Here we can follow Karigan as she grows up with her duty as a Green Rider and all the trials and tribulations that come with it.
Britain, Kristen. Green Rider. Gollancz, 1998.
Lorraine McInerney - Lorraine McInerney is currently working as a freelance writer and editor. She studied Arts for four years and has a BA in English and ...
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