Title: Green Rider
Series: Green Rider, #1
Author: Kristen Britain
Publisher: DAW
Publication date: 1998
Length: 481 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Purchased
Rating:
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.
Where has Green Rider been all my (reading) life? I only became aware of this series in 2023, after stumbling across a promo for a soon-to-be released novella set in the world of the larger series. I don’t know why I wasn’t aware of Green Rider sooner… but I suppose this falls into the category of “better late than never” books!
Green Rider is a high fantasy series involving magic, legacies of ancient battles, rivalry for the throne, struggles between the nobility, merchant, and lower classes, and so much more. Our main character is Karigan G’ladheon, teenaged daughter of a successful shipping merchant. Karigan has just been suspended from school after humiliating a nobleman’s son at swordplay. On her trek home, Karigan encounters a Green Rider — a member of the King’s elite messenger corps — who’s been mortally wounded. Dying in front of Karigan, he begs her to complete his mission. Although she has no training in such matters, she swears to do so, and takes up his green cloak, his mysterious horse-shaped gold brooch, and his horse (whom Karigan proceeds to name The Horse).
Almost immediately, Karigan discovers that her own life is now in danger. She’s pursued by a variety of bad guys, who are clearly willing to hurt or kill her in order to get their hands on the message she carries. But Karigan is committed to keeping her promise, and has the dead Rider’s ghost to encourage her onward when she falters.
Much of Green Rider focuses on Karigan’s journey along dangerous roads, fighting off threats while also meeting intriguing others who seem to wield magical gifts and are willing to offer her help. Karigan learns that wearing the cloak and brooch of a Green Rider imbues her with certain powers — and while she keeps insisting that she’s not really a Rider herself, her actions seem to prove otherwise.
The stakes and tension escalate further when she finally reaches the kingdom’s capitol and finds her way to the court. Meanwhile, scattered throughout are chapters showing a devious plot to overthrow the king, with nefarious parties willing to allow the blackest magic back into the kingdom in order to promote their own power plays. A dramatic, deadly face-off between the forces of good and evil provides a thrilling climax to the story — and the ripple effects are sure to be felt throughout the next books in the series.
Green Rider is an absorbing, complicated book, with intricate world-building and a wide cast of characters. I think I hesitated to start because of the length and size of the book — my edition is an oversized paperback, and it really looks and feels like a doorstop! Fortunately, it’s fast-moving, and I never felt bogged down or overwhelmed.
Karigan is a terrific character, as are so many of the others we meet. I’m curious to learn more about the king and the other riders, and would love to know more about certain of the unusual people Karigan meets during her journey.
A map of the kingdom and surrounding lands would have been helpful! My edition does not include this, although a quick Google search leads to several fan-made versions, as well as a map drawn by the author when book #6 was released.
As for the series as a whole, it currently consists of eight novels plus two shorter works. The eighth novel was just published this week! The main novels are all pretty massive, well over 500 pages each. No wonder I was hesitant about starting!
Will I continue? Absolutely! I loved Green Rider, and can’t wait to see what’s next for Karigan. There’s clearly so much more to explore about this rich fantasy world. Given the length of the books, I’m not sure when I’ll actually dive into book #2 (596 pages!), but at the very latest, it will be a priority read for me in 2026.
Overall, I highly recommend Green Rider, and I’m delighted that I’ve finally taken the time to start this series. A must-read for fantasy fans!
The Green Rider series:
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Bookshelf Fantasies 
This is the best book! I didn’t love the sequel, and stopped reading the series after the third book, but I will always love this one. It’s one of my favorite fantasies. And maybe the series got better later one. Or maybe it was just me. I hope you enjoy all of them. 😀
Thank you! It’s a little disappointing to hear that you didn’t love the following books… but I”m going to remain hopeful and still give the next one a try. This one was just so good, and I really want to know what’s next for Karigan!
Glad to hear that you enjoyed this. I don’t often read high fantasy.
It had been quite a while for me since I last tried a new fantasy series — I”m so glad I finally made time for this one!
I loved this when I read this years ago but didn’t enjoy the second one as much so I never bothered to read the rest of the series. I think about picking it up again but there are so many other books to read. I’m glad that you enjoyed it so much and hope that you enjoy the next one too
Oh no, you’re the 2nd person to say that they didn’t enjoy the next book as much and didn’t continue the series! I’m so sad to hear that! But, I’m going to stay positive and hope that I’ll feel differently whenever I do end up starting #2!
Fingers crossed that you enjoy it as much as the first. I know that a lot of people love the series so I’m sure it will be fine. 😃
I’ve always wondered about this series! Now you have a lot to look forward to, it sounds wonderful.
So glad I finally read it! And I’m eager to continue 🙂
Lol! That was my thought too when I read it: “Where has Green Rider been all my (reading) life?” It was the type of fantasy book I was looking for after I’d completed Song of the Lioness for the umpteenth time.
Oooooh, Song of the Lioness! I binged all the Tortall books (the Alanna books as rereads) during the pandemic… might be due for another round! 🙂
Thanks for this review. It’s been on my TBR list for a *very* long time, but somehow I’ve never gotten around to it. Once upon a time I had the first 4 or so books, but I eventually culled them because I just wasn’t getting to them. I kept the first one thought “just in case”. 😂. When I first bought them the cashier at the used book store raved about the series. which is why I bought some of the later ones, but… as I said, it’s just never quite made it to the top of the list. … Maybe someday. 😂🤦♀️
Funny, I’d had the Kindle version for a couple of years, and kept thinking “maybe someday” — but then came across a used paperback in great condition a couple of months ago, and decided that buying it would motivate me to actually read the book! And I guess it worked. 🙂 I hope you give it a try!