Two centuries have passed since the great Owen Deathstalker sacrificed himself to save the Empire. The direct Deathstalker line has faltered and it is left to a distant cousin, Lewis, to carry on the family tradition.

Having worked as a Paragon, upholding the law in the capital city of Logres, Lewis becomes a close friend of the heir to the throne, Prince Douglas. So when Douglas's father abdicates in his son's favour it is natural that Douglas should appoint Lewis King's Champion. However, fellow Paragon, Finn Durandal, has other ideas. Having worked hard to make himself the most popular Paragon around, Finn believed he was the logical choice for Champion so when the announcement of Lewis's appointment is made Finn decides he will make Douglas and Lewis pay for the insult.

Using the various contacts he has made through his role as a Paragon. Finn sets out to destroy Lewis's reputation and to force Douglas from the throne. When Lewis becomes attracted to his new King's bride-to-be, Jesamine, he seems to have given Finn the ideal opportunity to realise his plan.

Soon Lewis finds himself declared a traitor, on the run, accompanied by Jesamine, a conman, a psychopathic killer and a rather large lizard. Together they travel the length and breadth of the Empire to discover the truth about the fate of the original Deathstalker in order to save Douglas from the treacherous Finn Durandal.

Although there are a number of other Deathstalker books, Legacy can be taken as a starting point as it follows the experiences of Lewis Deathstalker, the latest in the Deathstalker line, as he tries to live up to his famous family name.

The ability to treat this as a starting point is a good indicator of the writing skill of Simon Green. Rather than inflicting a "previously on" moment on the reader, he seamlessly blends the necessary historical information with the current storyline without making it feel as though you are taking a time-out.

One thing that shines though this book is the superb characterisations. As you might expect, the main characters (Lewis, Douglas and Finn) are beautifully written but, in a way, it is the detail given to the associated cast that gives this story a real feeling of quality. And the skill doesn't end with the humanoid participants. The various cities and worlds visited by Lewis and his companions are vivid, imaginative and yet completely believable.

The level of violence inflicted by the various groups within Logres is fairly graphic. Not only do the various "bad-guys" take great pleasure in inflicting new and interesting pain on their victims, the "good-guys" have their moments too! If anything the Paragons are more sadistic than the criminals they pursue.

A stunningly good story that left me wanting more. Luckily I had Deathstalker Return - the next in the series - waiting for me once I finished this.

Synopsis
It has been two hundred years since Owen Deathstalker fell, dying to save the Empire and all Humanity. Now it is a Golden Age for all: for men, for aliens and for the AIs of Shub. But one evil man has determined to bring it all crashing down, and now the Terror has finally arrived, threatening them all with extinction.

The old heroes have become legends, and the cry goes out for new heroes. It's time for the latest Deathstalker, Lewis, to do his bit. Unfortunately, he and his companions, a diva, a conman, a homicidal psychopath and a reptiloid, have been outlawed and declared traitors.

Deathstalker luck. Always bad.

Unless Lewis Deathstalker can defy the odds to get to the Madness Maze and tread the same dangerous path to glory that his ancestor did, the Golden Age is about to be wiped out for ever. Together with Humanity ...