What do you think?
Rate this book
The Age of Bronze #3
Breaking Hel
The much-anticipated third installment of the Age of Bronze series, following Against All Gods and Storming Heaven !
Before iron helmets and steel swords, when dragons roamed the world, was an age of bronze and stone, when the Gods walked the earth, and people lived in terror. In this era a scribe, a warlord, a dancer, a mute insect and a child should have no chance against the might of the bickering gods and their cruel games. But the gods themselves are old, addicted to their own games of power, and now their fates may lie in the hands of mere mortals . . .
The third in this original, visceral epic series weaving together the mythologies of a dozen pantheons of gods and heroes to create something new and magical, this tale of the revolt against the tyranny which began in Against All Gods is a must-read from a master of the fantasy genre.
Praise for Miles Cameron:
'Utterly, utterly brilliant. A masterclass in how to write modern fantasy - world building, characters, plot and pacing, all perfectly blended. Miles Cameron is at the top of his game' John Gwynne, author of The Faithful and the Fallen series
'Cold Iron is fantastic. It shimmers like a well-honed sword blade' Anna Smith Spark, author of The Court of Broken Knives
'Promising historical fantasy debut featuring an expansive cast, an engaging plot, and a detailed eye for combat' The Ranting Dragon on The Red Knight
'Literate, intelligent, and well-throughout . . . a pleasingly complex and greatly satisfying novel' SFF World on The Red Knight
Before iron helmets and steel swords, when dragons roamed the world, was an age of bronze and stone, when the Gods walked the earth, and people lived in terror. In this era a scribe, a warlord, a dancer, a mute insect and a child should have no chance against the might of the bickering gods and their cruel games. But the gods themselves are old, addicted to their own games of power, and now their fates may lie in the hands of mere mortals . . .
The third in this original, visceral epic series weaving together the mythologies of a dozen pantheons of gods and heroes to create something new and magical, this tale of the revolt against the tyranny which began in Against All Gods is a must-read from a master of the fantasy genre.
Praise for Miles Cameron:
'Utterly, utterly brilliant. A masterclass in how to write modern fantasy - world building, characters, plot and pacing, all perfectly blended. Miles Cameron is at the top of his game' John Gwynne, author of The Faithful and the Fallen series
'Cold Iron is fantastic. It shimmers like a well-honed sword blade' Anna Smith Spark, author of The Court of Broken Knives
'Promising historical fantasy debut featuring an expansive cast, an engaging plot, and a detailed eye for combat' The Ranting Dragon on The Red Knight
'Literate, intelligent, and well-throughout . . . a pleasingly complex and greatly satisfying novel' SFF World on The Red Knight
400 pages, Hardcover
First published August 8, 2024
80 people are currently reading
582 people want to read
About the author
Miles Cameron
29 books2,740 followersMiles Cameron is an author, a re-enactor, an outdoors expert and a weapons specialist. He lives, works and writes in Toronto, where he lives with his family. This is his debut fantasy novel.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
March 17, 2025
This seems to conclude the Age of Bronze cycle and are to be read in order. I did not enjoy this as much as I anticipated or even as much as the first two.
The writing and world-building stays more or less the same with the first two books. We see the inclusion of several new and unnecessary plot threads and characters, while some of the answers long sought after remain elusive.
An okay read for fans that have already read the prior books but it fell short for me.
2025 Read
The writing and world-building stays more or less the same with the first two books. We see the inclusion of several new and unnecessary plot threads and characters, while some of the answers long sought after remain elusive.
An okay read for fans that have already read the prior books but it fell short for me.
2025 Read
October 9, 2024
Enkul-Anu had stopped saying ‘I’m surrounded by idiots’ out loud.
I liked this a fair bit. Probably more than the 3-stars implies. But I can't help but feel something is off a bit structurally with things. Era continues to be almost a non-entity, despite being the alleged co-star of the series. Zos is kidnapped and out of the storyline for like half the book or more. All of those secondary characters that started getting more attention in the second book more or less take over the narrative here.
He knew how to do it. And he knew that Gul, Sypa and Kursag all had their own agendas, which he’d uncover if he cut his losses and retreated. But it all sounded like a lot of work. And I’m sick of the whole business. ‘We had it so good,’ he said quietly.
Honestly, by the end of things Enkul-Anu -- the head god and primary antagonist of the series -- has emerged as the best and most interesting character in the series. He's charismatic, funny, competent. Most of my highlights from this book were things he said. I wouldn't mind seeing a spin-off focusing on Enkul-Anu and .
Enkul-Anu smiled. ‘Go home,’ he said. ‘Live.’
Illikumi glanced at his master. ‘You think you are going to lose?’
Enkul-Anu smiled. ‘Whoever wins,’ he said, ‘it won’t be me.’ He nodded his great bull’s head. ‘But I’m going to fuck them up.’
October 18, 2024
CAMERON YOU BASTARD HOW DARE YOU
ARGH
ARGH
ARGH!
This was so freaking good. SO GOOD. And and and, THE THING. The villains and that ending, hi, what, HOW DARE YOU
Will there be another series in this setting? Or will we see these characters again from another angle? WE'D BETTER.
My gods, I need answers about the worldbuilding. I HAVE A MIGHTY NEEEEEEEEEEED.
Once again I can forgive terrible copy-editing (and it is terrible) because the book itself is just so good. I would not put up with this amount of missing quote marks and minor continuity errors and all the rest of it from any other author, I swear, but I simply cannot resist this man's SFF.
(Though once again, Gollancz, I am BEGGING you to get some decent copy-editors, pretty please and thank you!)
So good. Magnificent. My mind is blown. I'm so freaking happy and also want to go gnaw a tree because ANSWERS, I NEED THEM.
ARGH
ARGH
ARGH!
This was so freaking good. SO GOOD. And and and, THE THING. The villains and that ending, hi, what, HOW DARE YOU
Will there be another series in this setting? Or will we see these characters again from another angle? WE'D BETTER.
My gods, I need answers about the worldbuilding. I HAVE A MIGHTY NEEEEEEEEEEED.
Once again I can forgive terrible copy-editing (and it is terrible) because the book itself is just so good. I would not put up with this amount of missing quote marks and minor continuity errors and all the rest of it from any other author, I swear, but I simply cannot resist this man's SFF.
(Though once again, Gollancz, I am BEGGING you to get some decent copy-editors, pretty please and thank you!)
So good. Magnificent. My mind is blown. I'm so freaking happy and also want to go gnaw a tree because ANSWERS, I NEED THEM.
October 28, 2024
Another epic trilogy. Looking forward to more. I do find most of Miles Cameron’s books very hard to follow because of the huge smattering of characters and how quickly they’re introduced. I also find a lot of protagonist are very similar too. Still a great read!
November 8, 2024
A bit anticlimactic
August 20, 2025
What a powerful ending of this fascinating series. I think Miles Cameron is the only writer who can imagine geopolitical fantasy, and he proved it again.
January 3, 2025
Well, this has been one bloody hell of an amazing journey. 5/5
December 9, 2024
As is usually the case with his fantasy series, the later books are less good than the early ones. Bloat usually sets in, with too many factions, too many characters and a regrettable tendency towards occasional preachiness. He does write some great action sequences, but these - like everything else - are more convincing in his historical fiction than in his fantasy. Call this a 3.51-star review rounded up rather than a real endorsement.
August 22, 2024
3.5. I did enjoy it a lot and plowed right through it but the style and "voice" of Miles is different in this series and I prefer his other sagas. Overall, I would say this series is a lot "simpler" than his previous ones.
October 26, 2024
This is how to do a multiverse. Subtle connections, not ramming it down the readers throats and making whole plot points dependent on previous books (you listening Sanderson?)
Loved it overall. Loses a star because of the sheer number of POVs, many of whom didn't matter.
Loved it overall. Loses a star because of the sheer number of POVs, many of whom didn't matter.
Want to read
May 24, 2024Love the cover art. Can't wait to start this series!
March 11, 2025
Miles Cameron is not an author who plays it safe. With Breaking Hel, the third and final installment of his Age of Bronze series, he delivers a novel that is as audacious as it is unruly—an intoxicating blend of mythology, warfare, and philosophical musings that refuses to be neatly categorized. It is a book that both enthralls and exasperates, reveling in its own complexity while occasionally stumbling over it.
Let’s begin with the obvious: Cameron knows how to write. His prose is sharp, his action sequences pulse with kinetic energy, and his dialogue sparkles with wit and intelligence. The world he constructs is sprawling, a magnificent tapestry woven with influences from various mythologies and cultures, and one that tantalizes with hints of a deeper, almost science-fictional undercurrent. Gods who aren’t gods, demons who aren’t demons, hive-mind insects with barely explained significance—all of it is compelling, if at times overwhelming.
But therein lies the crux of the issue: Cameron’s world is often too vast for its own good. The novel suffers from a structural looseness that makes one suspect the author got lost in the labyrinth of his own creation. Characters once central to the plot fade inexplicably into the background—Zos, for instance, spends a significant portion of the book kidnapped and removed from the action, while Era remains an oddly passive presence. Meanwhile, new factions emerge seemingly out of nowhere, altering the balance of power with little prior setup. The introduction of Aztec-like super-warriors, who suddenly play a decisive role, feels particularly jarring, as though Cameron conjured them from the ether simply to complicate an already intricate narrative.
Yet if there is one figure who makes this book worth the journey, it is Enkul-Anu. The series’ antagonist, ostensibly a malevolent god, proves to be its most engaging, complex, and darkly entertaining character. Charismatic, competent, and effortlessly ironic, he steals every scene he graces. His wry humor and begrudging acceptance of fate make him, paradoxically, the most human of all the novel’s characters. One cannot help but wonder if Cameron himself found him more interesting than the supposed protagonists, given how much narrative weight he carries. If any character in this series deserves a spin-off, it is him.
Thematically, Breaking Hel is as ambitious as its predecessors, wrestling with ideas of power, fate, and the cost of victory. It is a book about gods and mortals, about ideology and warfare, about the inexorable march of history and the individuals who seek to shape it. And yet, for all its intellectual aspirations, there is a nagging sense that Cameron never quite decides what story he truly wants to tell. Does he aim for an exploration of myth and meaning? A philosophical meditation on war? A grand, multi-layered adventure? He gestures toward all of these, but the execution remains uneven.
So where does that leave us? Breaking Hel is a book of contradictions: breathtakingly bold yet structurally flawed, thrilling yet occasionally tedious, masterfully written. It is a novel that grips and frustrates in equal measure, a testament to Cameron’s immense imagination but also his occasional lack of restraint. Those who have followed the series from the beginning will find much to admire, much to question, and much to argue about. And in the end, perhaps that is the greatest achievement of all: to leave the reader not merely entertained, but engaged, provoked, and desperately wanting more.
Let’s begin with the obvious: Cameron knows how to write. His prose is sharp, his action sequences pulse with kinetic energy, and his dialogue sparkles with wit and intelligence. The world he constructs is sprawling, a magnificent tapestry woven with influences from various mythologies and cultures, and one that tantalizes with hints of a deeper, almost science-fictional undercurrent. Gods who aren’t gods, demons who aren’t demons, hive-mind insects with barely explained significance—all of it is compelling, if at times overwhelming.
But therein lies the crux of the issue: Cameron’s world is often too vast for its own good. The novel suffers from a structural looseness that makes one suspect the author got lost in the labyrinth of his own creation. Characters once central to the plot fade inexplicably into the background—Zos, for instance, spends a significant portion of the book kidnapped and removed from the action, while Era remains an oddly passive presence. Meanwhile, new factions emerge seemingly out of nowhere, altering the balance of power with little prior setup. The introduction of Aztec-like super-warriors, who suddenly play a decisive role, feels particularly jarring, as though Cameron conjured them from the ether simply to complicate an already intricate narrative.
Yet if there is one figure who makes this book worth the journey, it is Enkul-Anu. The series’ antagonist, ostensibly a malevolent god, proves to be its most engaging, complex, and darkly entertaining character. Charismatic, competent, and effortlessly ironic, he steals every scene he graces. His wry humor and begrudging acceptance of fate make him, paradoxically, the most human of all the novel’s characters. One cannot help but wonder if Cameron himself found him more interesting than the supposed protagonists, given how much narrative weight he carries. If any character in this series deserves a spin-off, it is him.
Thematically, Breaking Hel is as ambitious as its predecessors, wrestling with ideas of power, fate, and the cost of victory. It is a book about gods and mortals, about ideology and warfare, about the inexorable march of history and the individuals who seek to shape it. And yet, for all its intellectual aspirations, there is a nagging sense that Cameron never quite decides what story he truly wants to tell. Does he aim for an exploration of myth and meaning? A philosophical meditation on war? A grand, multi-layered adventure? He gestures toward all of these, but the execution remains uneven.
So where does that leave us? Breaking Hel is a book of contradictions: breathtakingly bold yet structurally flawed, thrilling yet occasionally tedious, masterfully written. It is a novel that grips and frustrates in equal measure, a testament to Cameron’s immense imagination but also his occasional lack of restraint. Those who have followed the series from the beginning will find much to admire, much to question, and much to argue about. And in the end, perhaps that is the greatest achievement of all: to leave the reader not merely entertained, but engaged, provoked, and desperately wanting more.
September 2, 2025
The curious conglomeration that is The Age of Bronze series does not appear to end with this third volume -- which is good news, because it's another wonderful effort by Miles Cameron.
Why a "curious conglomeration"? As you begin reading the series (and of course you have to start at the start), it looks like Cameron has taken a bunch of Bronze Age-level civilizations and put them around the Mediterranean at the same time, and on another planet. The Mediterranean itself has been tilted 90 degrees so that Egypt (called Narmer here) is in the north and Dardania (Mycenean Greece) is in the west.
It doesn't take much knowledge of early cultures to figure out that we have Greeks, Egyptians, Hittites, Babylonians and Mayans, among others, all mixed together, and the clash of cultures is interesting in and of itself. But then Cameron layers on creatures with god-like powers who rule this world, and as the books roll on, it's revealed that they are not native to this planet but came through some kind of interstellar gate, overthrew a previous set of godlings, and took over the planet. (Which of course echoes ancient Greek myth.)
A group of plucky heroes decides to overthrow the Apep-Duat, as they are called, and the three books chronicle that challenge. There's plenty of magic, a little sex, the requisite violence, and lots of plotting and betrayal. And Cameron is an excellent writer, so the pages turn -- and while they do, the names of various characters start to resonate, and it becomes clear there's more going on than just the surface narrative. For example, is the original fantasy premise of putting all these cultures together just Cameron's whim, or is it part of a bigger back story? And why is there a race of large, sentient hive creatures on a world so suited for human habitiation?
And as the quest concludes -- and not all the loose ends are tied up -- it becomes evident that this story has a few more chapters/books before it can truly finish up. Now it may be that Cameron won't return to this universe, but I would certainly be disappointed if he didn't. This series has been too much fun to let go. And there are too many questions left unanswered.
Why a "curious conglomeration"? As you begin reading the series (and of course you have to start at the start), it looks like Cameron has taken a bunch of Bronze Age-level civilizations and put them around the Mediterranean at the same time, and on another planet. The Mediterranean itself has been tilted 90 degrees so that Egypt (called Narmer here) is in the north and Dardania (Mycenean Greece) is in the west.
It doesn't take much knowledge of early cultures to figure out that we have Greeks, Egyptians, Hittites, Babylonians and Mayans, among others, all mixed together, and the clash of cultures is interesting in and of itself. But then Cameron layers on creatures with god-like powers who rule this world, and as the books roll on, it's revealed that they are not native to this planet but came through some kind of interstellar gate, overthrew a previous set of godlings, and took over the planet. (Which of course echoes ancient Greek myth.)
A group of plucky heroes decides to overthrow the Apep-Duat, as they are called, and the three books chronicle that challenge. There's plenty of magic, a little sex, the requisite violence, and lots of plotting and betrayal. And Cameron is an excellent writer, so the pages turn -- and while they do, the names of various characters start to resonate, and it becomes clear there's more going on than just the surface narrative. For example, is the original fantasy premise of putting all these cultures together just Cameron's whim, or is it part of a bigger back story? And why is there a race of large, sentient hive creatures on a world so suited for human habitiation?
And as the quest concludes -- and not all the loose ends are tied up -- it becomes evident that this story has a few more chapters/books before it can truly finish up. Now it may be that Cameron won't return to this universe, but I would certainly be disappointed if he didn't. This series has been too much fun to let go. And there are too many questions left unanswered.
December 11, 2024
Great Trilogy!
I loved these books the characters were great with a rich spread of cultural references that seemed somewhat familiar, but were altogether different to most books in this genre. We had references to Jungle Tribes, Egyptian influenced cities, pacifist traders, primitive versions of a Worldbuilt Wide Web, Gods in Heaven who weren't Gods, Devils in hell that weren't Devils and hive mentality insect beings that were barely explained but central to the piece. Not sure how all that worked together but it REALLY DID WORK.
We had off planet monsters from different galaxies that had an altogether different story arc, we had sycophants, social climbers and religious dogma splattered liberally through the piece.
As always, with Mr. Cameron, his cast was broad, flawed, mad and a little bad. some where outright villains bur most just had different plans which certainly stretched this readers loyalties. We had little regard for gender norms (hooray) without this being a "forced" literary ploy to comply with current "equality" requirements. The cast were memorable for their deeds or their wit and not for their XY chromosome configuration (the way it should be IMHO)
some characters sought forgiveness, while others sought revenge and almost all looked at preserving or regaining power.
This would never be made into a film - the salary bill for all the actors would be eye wateringly huge. However if it is ever made for the silver screen can I audition for the role of Persay - a character who is just plain bonkers - very little back story, but huge impact and a character who is begging for a "spin off" book - C'mon Miles you know it makes sense!
I loved these books the characters were great with a rich spread of cultural references that seemed somewhat familiar, but were altogether different to most books in this genre. We had references to Jungle Tribes, Egyptian influenced cities, pacifist traders, primitive versions of a Worldbuilt Wide Web, Gods in Heaven who weren't Gods, Devils in hell that weren't Devils and hive mentality insect beings that were barely explained but central to the piece. Not sure how all that worked together but it REALLY DID WORK.
We had off planet monsters from different galaxies that had an altogether different story arc, we had sycophants, social climbers and religious dogma splattered liberally through the piece.
As always, with Mr. Cameron, his cast was broad, flawed, mad and a little bad. some where outright villains bur most just had different plans which certainly stretched this readers loyalties. We had little regard for gender norms (hooray) without this being a "forced" literary ploy to comply with current "equality" requirements. The cast were memorable for their deeds or their wit and not for their XY chromosome configuration (the way it should be IMHO)
some characters sought forgiveness, while others sought revenge and almost all looked at preserving or regaining power.
This would never be made into a film - the salary bill for all the actors would be eye wateringly huge. However if it is ever made for the silver screen can I audition for the role of Persay - a character who is just plain bonkers - very little back story, but huge impact and a character who is begging for a "spin off" book - C'mon Miles you know it makes sense!
September 12, 2024
Dragon Egg Challenge 2024: Yellow, Sea
The gang gets back together! (Mostly.) At least they manage to speak to each other and plan together. Zos and Maritaten now have a thing with each other, Hefa-Asus and Nicte have admitted their feelings for each other too. But these human dramas take a back seat to the world-shaking events that are going on. The characters have their priorities straight and do their duty, regardless of love.
Events take place at a bit of a higher level- the characters have a flying chariot and this gives them a massive advantage in communication and intelligence gathering over what they had before. We also see things from the wings of Enkul-Anu and his demon brigade.
The book winds up to an epic ending for the series. There is tragedy, there is heroism, there are surprises. I read faster and faster. I wouldn't have minded a bit more about the obviously science fiction underpinnings of this fantasy world! There's a Gate in the sky, the gods seem to be extra-dimensional beings with technology that looks like magic, but there's also magic being done and a dragon. Maybe reading some of the author's other series will enlighten me- no hardship.
The gang gets back together! (Mostly.) At least they manage to speak to each other and plan together. Zos and Maritaten now have a thing with each other, Hefa-Asus and Nicte have admitted their feelings for each other too. But these human dramas take a back seat to the world-shaking events that are going on. The characters have their priorities straight and do their duty, regardless of love.
Events take place at a bit of a higher level- the characters have a flying chariot and this gives them a massive advantage in communication and intelligence gathering over what they had before. We also see things from the wings of Enkul-Anu and his demon brigade.
The book winds up to an epic ending for the series. There is tragedy, there is heroism, there are surprises. I read faster and faster. I wouldn't have minded a bit more about the obviously science fiction underpinnings of this fantasy world! There's a Gate in the sky, the gods seem to be extra-dimensional beings with technology that looks like magic, but there's also magic being done and a dragon. Maybe reading some of the author's other series will enlighten me- no hardship.
Read
May 20, 2025I'm disappointed and weirdly angry about this. The first book was refreshing, with an interesting setting, a mix of culutures inspired by the bronze age Mediterranean and some cool but not too grimdark characters who slowly got to know each other. The bull leaping was intriguing. The second one was already worse with some new characters with paper-thin personality and some non-mediterranean influences mixed in that didn't really fit the vibe. Also disappointing that some interesting characters were relegated to props, but I did like Zos' and Pollon's growing friendship.
Along comes the final book that completely sidelines any relationships that might have formed over the last two books, makes Zos fall madly in love between books, then takes him out of the story for almost half the book, introduces a completely new big bad and also Axe and Anenome are a couple all of a sudden, and Anenome's hair color is sometimes blond and sometimes black. The whole story ends with a boring battle where some people die and nothing has any meaning. And finally, why are there Mesoamerica-inspired cultures in a trilogy called "The Age of Bronze"?
Along comes the final book that completely sidelines any relationships that might have formed over the last two books, makes Zos fall madly in love between books, then takes him out of the story for almost half the book, introduces a completely new big bad and also Axe and Anenome are a couple all of a sudden, and Anenome's hair color is sometimes blond and sometimes black. The whole story ends with a boring battle where some people die and nothing has any meaning. And finally, why are there Mesoamerica-inspired cultures in a trilogy called "The Age of Bronze"?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2025
This is a 3-star review which a reasonable estimate of my experience.
While I enjoyed the first two books in the series, this one didn't really work as well.
One reason is the large number of characters coupled with the large armies. It was hard to keep the protagonists separate from the antagonists. Couple that with the fact that characters switch sides a few times.
A second reason is that the ultimate "big bad" in the series is never really exposed until this last book. The character(s) are in the other books, and quite a bit is done to question their motives, but those questions are never really answered.
Thirdly, the "big bad" involves worms that inhabit/coopt human bodies. The author did the same thing in another series.
Lastly, the book goes full on identarian with no useful differences between the sexes when it comes to fighting. And the author is an early Greek (as in BC era Greek) army reenactor. The dude knows better.
If you enjoyed the first two books in the series, then you will enjoy the conclusion enough to warrant reading it.
While I enjoyed the first two books in the series, this one didn't really work as well.
One reason is the large number of characters coupled with the large armies. It was hard to keep the protagonists separate from the antagonists. Couple that with the fact that characters switch sides a few times.
A second reason is that the ultimate "big bad" in the series is never really exposed until this last book. The character(s) are in the other books, and quite a bit is done to question their motives, but those questions are never really answered.
Thirdly, the "big bad" involves worms that inhabit/coopt human bodies. The author did the same thing in another series.
Lastly, the book goes full on identarian with no useful differences between the sexes when it comes to fighting. And the author is an early Greek (as in BC era Greek) army reenactor. The dude knows better.
If you enjoyed the first two books in the series, then you will enjoy the conclusion enough to warrant reading it.
January 20, 2025
"Breaking Hel" is the third installment in Miles Cameron's "Age of Bronze" series, offering readers a blend of myth, action, and philosophical inquiry. Fans of myth-inspired fantasy and intricate world-building will enjoy this book but should start with the first two books. Like with the 2nd installment, I feel like this bounces all over the place just a little too much. There is also quite a bit of repetition which is difficult to ignore. Yet, for those who want action and a culmination of all the planning and plotting, this book delivers. Excellent writing and story - the author offers a blend of myth, action, and philosophical inquiry intertwining diverse mythological elements with human stories. Fans of myth-inspired epic fantasy and intricate world-building will find much to appreciate in this novel.
May 6, 2025
Was hooked by the original, new world built in the first book of the series which developed further in the second but I cannot help but feel it was rushed to conclusion in the third. New, underdeveloped villains suddenly appearing, unsatisfying endings for protagonists and antagonists, various loose threads not really being explained, protagonists being sidelined for less interesting secondary plot lines.
Overall I feel that the world that was built in the first book and the interesting premise of mortals beginning the insurmountable task of battling a pantheon of selfish and greedy gods was squandered, leaving a feeling of unsatisfied incompleteness.
Overall I feel that the world that was built in the first book and the interesting premise of mortals beginning the insurmountable task of battling a pantheon of selfish and greedy gods was squandered, leaving a feeling of unsatisfied incompleteness.
September 23, 2025
This is an excellent read. One of the great modern epic fantasy novels of the 21st century. I think its hard to describe the excitement that I have when I find a fantasy novel that is doing something new or telling a story that I haven't heard before. Breaking Hel feels fresh and that's weird considering its set in the bronze age. If you like mythology or ancient Mesopotamian lore this is the novel for you. The names are hard to keep track of so just know that before going in.
August 19, 2024
Absolutely fantastic. All of the set up of the last two books pays off beautifully in this amazing finale. I especially recommend this for anyone who has read Miles Cameron's Traitor Son Cycle. It expands on their shared universe in a way that made me giddy, and the style is very similar with multiple POVs which all collectively drive the plot and ultimately culminate in a grand battle.
November 17, 2024
Great end to a great series. With imagination you can see how it fits with our real history before recorded history starts. It was 4 stars but 2 weeks later I keep thinking about it and love the characters, so have upgraded it to 5 and well deserved. I really save 5 for the best and this set is in that league!
June 19, 2025
A fine ending to the series. Action, betrayal, redemption. And he left room for another series with the ending. What I liked was that this was not "find ancient magic/weapon" type, it was finding and developing new tech. Is everything tied up with a nice bow? No! The world is still in a bad way, and reconstruction will be long and hard!
So four stars!
So four stars!
September 6, 2025
While this was a good wrap-up, I didn't enjoy that 2 of the more interesting characters were sidelined for a good portion of the book. I also realized that while I really enjoy the books and I can't put the books down, I wish that the characters would have acknowledged and had some impact dealing with the deaths of their friends and allies.
August 13, 2024
Great fun
Excellent fantasy, awesome writing skills. Full of action, but also humor, love, smart and stupid people. This is the last of the series, but it leaves an open door; maybe there will be a development.
Excellent fantasy, awesome writing skills. Full of action, but also humor, love, smart and stupid people. This is the last of the series, but it leaves an open door; maybe there will be a development.
November 4, 2024
Fun adventure!
Overall great read, that wraps the story.
It stalls a bit at times, and doesn’t have quite the extravagance it could for what is happening, but still fun and great conclusion.
Overall great read, that wraps the story.
It stalls a bit at times, and doesn’t have quite the extravagance it could for what is happening, but still fun and great conclusion.
November 22, 2024
Ein schönes Ende der Trilogie, das die meisten Handlungsstränge zufriedenstellend mit einem furiosen Finale zu Ende bringt. Gleichzeitig werden auch noch ein paar Türen offen gelassen für eine Fortsetzung der Geschichte, sowie eine ganz neue Tür geöffnet für die Zukunft.
March 25, 2025
This ends with a rip roaring battle of gods, mortals, monsters and the undead. The gods can't stop themselves from backstabbing each other, even to win a war, while the god of death is off to open hell's gate.
May 5, 2025
A page-turner by sheer dint of strong writing, but ultimately let down by an anticlimactic ending. The main story was weighed down by unnecessary subplots. The ideological overtones were also a thorn in the flesh
May 6, 2025
The trilogy grew better with each book, book 3 was a page turner from the start and wraps up well, with just enough to tease another story. Fantastically fleshed out world and enjoyable characters all around, love the plots and scheming while still being simple fun.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews