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The Hammer and the Blade Paul S Kemp 9780857662453 Books

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The Hammer and the Blade Paul S Kemp 9780857662453 Books

Paul S. Kemp apparently has his roots in Dungeons & Dragons novelization, and while this book may not officially have any connection with that franchise, the similarities are plain to anyone familiar with the genre. High fantasy is something people either love or hate, and since anyone reading this would necessarily be squarely in the love camp, I'm happy to report that Kemp isn't shy about giving us the sword and sorcery that we crave.

Nevertheless, I found the book's style to be surprisingly off the beaten track. I haven't read all that many D&D style novels, so it may be more prevalent than I think, but I couldn't get over just how masculine the book was. Egil and Nix, the two protagonists, are both male and as crude as sailors on shore leave. The sheer volume of blood, sweat, and vomit in the story is more than a bit gratuitous.

Nix, a good-hearted trickster and rogue, gets most of the characterization, while Egil, a brawny adherent of a dead god, gets less attention. In my opinion, the characterization was good for this type of novel, but don't go into it thinking it is akin to a Dickens novel, because it isn't. Going through the adventure, we meet a reasonably large and varied cast of characters. They all have their various skills, but none of them seem particularly profound or bright. The ending and the plot wrap-up showed some strain, but it was humorous, if a bit of a gross-out. But that's not a strong critcism. Endings are tough, and to his credit, Kemp handled it as well as most.

Just by mistake, I bought the second in the series before the first, so with some annoyance I bought the first one too without ever having read any of it..(You're welcome Mr. Kemp.) I have to say however that the second installment is on hold since my tolerance for blood and guts needs a recharge. I gave it four stars, although I would have gone with 3 1/2 if I had the choice.


Tags : The Hammer and the Blade [Paul S. Kemp] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Egil and Nix, adventurers and swords for hire, are pulled into the dark schemes of a decadent family with a diabolical secret. A fast paced adventure redolent with the best of classic sword and sorcery tales. <b>File Under: Fantasy</b> [ Swords | Hammers | Deadly Secrets | Time To Die ],Paul S. Kemp,The Hammer and the Blade,Angry Robot,0857662457,Fantasy fiction.,American Science Fiction And Fantasy,Fantasy,Fantasy - General,Fantasy fiction,Fiction,Fiction - Fantasy,Fiction Fantasy General

The Hammer and the Blade Paul S Kemp 9780857662453 Books Reviews

I have been a long time fan of Paul's work since his first book from Wizards of the Coast and was very excited to read this one as Paul was able to bring his flair for dark, flawed characters to a world of his own creation. The Hammer and the Blade is swords and sorcery at its best.

The book opens with Nix the Quick, a thief with some talent for magic, and Egil, a priest of the Momentary god, robbing a tomb. The duo hope this will be their last adventure and plan to buy their favorite tavern and put their adventuring days behind them. The guardian of the tomb they kill is part of a pact between House Thyss and House Norristru and set in motion a chain of events that are the basis for the central plot of the book. Upon the arrival at their newly acquired tavern they are "convinced" to recover an artifact for Rakon, the head of House Norristru.

Egil and Nix are the perfect compliment to each other, Egil is slower to act, more introspective, but when he does speak it is usually profound. Nix, on the other hand has a tongue as sharp as his sword and quick to act, yet has secrets he keeps from his closest friend. Their witty and sarcastic banter give the reader a clue to how deep their friendship runs and makes you wonder about the adventures these two have experienced together.

The time period in which the book takes place marks a perfect place for the series. The stories that follow could be their previous adventures or a follow-up to this one. I personally would like to see the former, as I would love to know how Egil and Nix met. Paul drops a few hints about their past that wets the appetite for more.

Paul paints the characters, especially Egil and Nix, not in black in white but shades of gray. They are flawed and have done many things they regret and their reflections on these events, especially Nix, give greater depth to their characters. His villains are not the standard one-dimensional bad guys, but complex and compelling characters. Their motivations are understandable and even pitiable. I found myself drawn in by Rakon's plight at the beginning of the book and then shocked by the lengths he would take to realize his goal.

I was highly entertained by this book and look forward to reading more. The next book in the series, A Discourse in Steel, will be available in 2013. While you are waiting for the June 26 release date you can check out Paul's previous works.

I give this book 5 stars and highly recommend it.
Paul S. Kemp apparently has his roots in Dungeons & Dragons novelization, and while this book may not officially have any connection with that franchise, the similarities are plain to anyone familiar with the genre. High fantasy is something people either love or hate, and since anyone reading this would necessarily be squarely in the love camp, I'm happy to report that Kemp isn't shy about giving us the sword and sorcery that we crave.

Nevertheless, I found the book's style to be surprisingly off the beaten track. I haven't read all that many D&D style novels, so it may be more prevalent than I think, but I couldn't get over just how masculine the book was. Egil and Nix, the two protagonists, are both male and as crude as sailors on shore leave. The sheer volume of blood, sweat, and vomit in the story is more than a bit gratuitous.

Nix, a good-hearted trickster and rogue, gets most of the characterization, while Egil, a brawny adherent of a dead god, gets less attention. In my opinion, the characterization was good for this type of novel, but don't go into it thinking it is akin to a Dickens novel, because it isn't. Going through the adventure, we meet a reasonably large and varied cast of characters. They all have their various skills, but none of them seem particularly profound or bright. The ending and the plot wrap-up showed some strain, but it was humorous, if a bit of a gross-out. But that's not a strong critcism. Endings are tough, and to his credit, Kemp handled it as well as most.

Just by mistake, I bought the second in the series before the first, so with some annoyance I bought the first one too without ever having read any of it..(You're welcome Mr. Kemp.) I have to say however that the second installment is on hold since my tolerance for blood and guts needs a recharge. I gave it four stars, although I would have gone with 3 1/2 if I had the choice.