What do you think?
Rate this book
Dragonlance: Dwarven Nations #2
Hammer and Axe: The Dwarven Nations
When the humans of Ergoth threaten Thorbardin, the clans of Thorbardin are drawn into territorial wars between humans and elves.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 1993
28 people are currently reading
1057 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 12, 2015
This is part of the Dragonlance world and is a second book of a trilogy. The first book must be read to get the gist of this book. In this one, the dwarves have settled in their new home but they have two new threats to their stronghold.
This one was better than the first book. This book had a clear direction for the plot which was different from the first one as that book seemed more like an anthology. For the action enthusiast, this book will settle his/her appetite as the action is nonstop. I liked how this book shows how the dwarves are a formidable race and highlights how Thorbardin is a formidable home and cannot be conquered. My minor complaint is this book touches upon its characters and I wish these characters were explored more. This book was more action driven than character driven and although the pace was very quick I did miss that this book lacked a character story. There was a minor sub plot for a character story and maybe if this was explored more I would have enjoyed this book more.
This was a good read that does show how the dwarf race belongs in this world. This trilogy seems to be more about exploring the dwarf race than exploring members of their race. All in all, it was a nice insight to their race and does provide the reader a reason to respect them.
This one was better than the first book. This book had a clear direction for the plot which was different from the first one as that book seemed more like an anthology. For the action enthusiast, this book will settle his/her appetite as the action is nonstop. I liked how this book shows how the dwarves are a formidable race and highlights how Thorbardin is a formidable home and cannot be conquered. My minor complaint is this book touches upon its characters and I wish these characters were explored more. This book was more action driven than character driven and although the pace was very quick I did miss that this book lacked a character story. There was a minor sub plot for a character story and maybe if this was explored more I would have enjoyed this book more.
This was a good read that does show how the dwarf race belongs in this world. This trilogy seems to be more about exploring the dwarf race than exploring members of their race. All in all, it was a nice insight to their race and does provide the reader a reason to respect them.
October 10, 2018
An enjoyable story of life amongst the Holgar. The one thing that let the book down was the several pages of description that were unnecessary, i found myself just scanning rather than reading, these bits described things like the lay of the land (map in the front of the book so wasn't needed) that was the only downside. The rest was great. Looking forward to the third instalment
January 16, 2022
This book was a little better than the first. I especially liked the defense of Thorbardin. There still weren't any characters I particularly liked, but I didn't dislike them either. Overall a good way to pass a few hours, and I always love spending time in Krynn. 3.25/5 stars.
March 30, 2020
My name is Damon, and I've volunteered to investigate the rumor of humans, including wizards, trespassing on the dwarven lands of Kal-Thax. Something mysterious emerged from a strange fog and has destroyed three villages, and magic may be behind it. I ventured to the top of Steepcliff where I found three wizards preparing to build some kind of structure. They tried to cast spells at me, but my hammer crushed the head of the first. The third one was curious about how I was able to withstand his magic, and I must admit it stung a little. However, he seemed to think his spells were real. I decided to keep this wizard to study his magic, as it may be helpful against the growing army of humans. I'm sure the wizards in charge will resort to trickery, and I plan to be prepared.
This book could be read alone, since it took place about ninety years after the first one. I might actually recommend you skip the first book due to its meandering story. Dwarves lived for hundreds of years, and Damon was a newborn in the last book. The plot in the second book was more focused, so it was easier to follow. Once again, the land of the dwarves was being invaded, but the wizards and their magic presented a new threat. However, the dwarves' response to the spells presented a new challenge for the wizards. It also added a bit of humor to the story. The whole conflict centered on the humans' invasion into Kal-Thax, and the dwarves' efforts to defend themselves. There was another serious issue with a dragon, but it was forgotten for large periods of time. It wasn't really needed in this story and could have been the center of another book. Dwarves were the focus of the story with humans being the minor characters and antagonists. Be forewarned that there were many unusual dwarf names to remember. Overall, this series has been entertaining, the second book more than the first, and I recommend lovers of dwarves give it a shot.
This book could be read alone, since it took place about ninety years after the first one. I might actually recommend you skip the first book due to its meandering story. Dwarves lived for hundreds of years, and Damon was a newborn in the last book. The plot in the second book was more focused, so it was easier to follow. Once again, the land of the dwarves was being invaded, but the wizards and their magic presented a new threat. However, the dwarves' response to the spells presented a new challenge for the wizards. It also added a bit of humor to the story. The whole conflict centered on the humans' invasion into Kal-Thax, and the dwarves' efforts to defend themselves. There was another serious issue with a dragon, but it was forgotten for large periods of time. It wasn't really needed in this story and could have been the center of another book. Dwarves were the focus of the story with humans being the minor characters and antagonists. Be forewarned that there were many unusual dwarf names to remember. Overall, this series has been entertaining, the second book more than the first, and I recommend lovers of dwarves give it a shot.
December 8, 2013
Leaps and bounds, beyond the first book of this trilogy across the board.
Unlike the previous novel's disseminated short stories glued together approach, this book had a clear story arc and decent pacing.
Rife with your standard Dragonlance components: comic relief kenders, rambling battle scenes that can largely go unread with little to no loss on the part of the story, and a horrible anachronistic naming convention used for each dwarf which somehow pinpoints their fate or trade from the time of birth.
It does little to add to the growing expanse of lore aside from pulling together some loose ends that tie into previous tales. All-in-all nothing special as far as this goes.
Where the book does excel, is within the secondary story arc surrounding a mysterious beast which is rampaging the realm. These parts were exciting, enticing, and offered something fresh to the series. Unfortunately, this portion of the tale somehow falls to the wayside and becomes more of a subplot as the story unfolds. ~Bummer~
Parkinson's knack for building up clever plot devices, which scream out as foreshadowing, only to forget about them(or never notice them) leads to a persistence in anticlimactic letdowns leaving his books feeling like generic off-brand imitations.
Still, much improved from the first.
Unlike the previous novel's disseminated short stories glued together approach, this book had a clear story arc and decent pacing.
Rife with your standard Dragonlance components: comic relief kenders, rambling battle scenes that can largely go unread with little to no loss on the part of the story, and a horrible anachronistic naming convention used for each dwarf which somehow pinpoints their fate or trade from the time of birth.
It does little to add to the growing expanse of lore aside from pulling together some loose ends that tie into previous tales. All-in-all nothing special as far as this goes.
Where the book does excel, is within the secondary story arc surrounding a mysterious beast which is rampaging the realm. These parts were exciting, enticing, and offered something fresh to the series. Unfortunately, this portion of the tale somehow falls to the wayside and becomes more of a subplot as the story unfolds. ~Bummer~
Parkinson's knack for building up clever plot devices, which scream out as foreshadowing, only to forget about them(or never notice them) leads to a persistence in anticlimactic letdowns leaving his books feeling like generic off-brand imitations.
Still, much improved from the first.
October 22, 2021
So I finished reading Hammer and Axe, the second book in the Dwarven Nations trilogy. I had higher hopes for it than its predecessor, which I did not particularly enjoy, but my hopes were dashed with this one too. The new kingdom of Thorbardin is almost complete when wizards begin to encroach on the mountain territories, sparking conflict with the dwarves and awakening a powerful, mysterious creature bent on destruction. I felt like every chapter started with at least 3 pages of descriptions, either of history, background for a new character, or the inner workings of some dwarven system. I could deal with some of that, but not pages every chapter. I really liked the idea of this one but wish Douglas Niles had written it instead. This is just my personal opinion, of course, and I’m sure others managed more enjoyment from this series. I do plan on reading the final book too.
October 14, 2017
La historia contada en esta segunda obra de la trilogía tiene lugar noventa años después, en el 2596 AC. Toda la acción transcurre esta vez en el interior de Thorbardin o en sus inmediaciones, y de hecho su título original, «Hammer and axe», hace referencia a las herramientas preferidas por las gentes del interior y del exterior de la montaña.
El tomo es el que menos me ha gustado de los tres: está bien escrito pero mal estructurado, como si las dos tramas que lo componen hubieran sido escritas por separado y no con la intención de formar una única obra, y los detalles sobre la resistencia de los enanos a la magia no está bien explicada (se limita a ofrecer versiones de lo mismo, como si todos los conjuros mágicos fueran de tipo ilusorio).
El tomo es el que menos me ha gustado de los tres: está bien escrito pero mal estructurado, como si las dos tramas que lo componen hubieran sido escritas por separado y no con la intención de formar una única obra, y los detalles sobre la resistencia de los enanos a la magia no está bien explicada (se limita a ofrecer versiones de lo mismo, como si todos los conjuros mágicos fueran de tipo ilusorio).
August 29, 2016
Second in a trilogy but really is a stand-alone story. The dwarves of Thorbardin are trying to get the protective gates for their mountain fortress. Meanwhile a few threats develop in their area - a ancient monstrous creature rending villages wrapped in fog, a group of wizards who want to build a tower of sorcery in the area, and the overlord of a nearby human city who wants the riches of Thorbardin. Suspenseful story with enjoyable characters.
January 4, 2021
Awesome Book
I've been reading and re-reading this series for over twenty five years now. It doesn't get any better. The only reason I gave it five stars is because I couldn't give it six.
I've been reading and re-reading this series for over twenty five years now. It doesn't get any better. The only reason I gave it five stars is because I couldn't give it six.
January 4, 2020
Decent tale. Good story. =)
November 8, 2021
Still one of my favorites with good action and loads of humor (and puns).
4th reading (this time on kindle).
4th reading (this time on kindle).
December 21, 2023
Another rock solid Dragonlance novel (quite literally, thematically) that frustrates yet again because it holds back when it could push the material much much further. I'd mistakenly thought that the opportunity to write a trilogy would allow authors to eke out better material the way that Weis and Hickman do but there's still a tentativeness and a determinedness to keep the story small and even a full scale attack on the Dwarven fortress of Kal Thax or an attack from a Rage demon feel small and story threads don't either build or come together and build anticipation for a third book - each book in the trilogy really stands alone and is sadly only thematically connected.
Still, this one did build up some nice interplay between Dwarves and wizards and I damn loved the scenes where the wizards discover Dwarven magic-resistance, played for curiosity and laughs it's a rare moment that made Krynn feel a little bigger, and that's one of the main things I want to get from these books (but they stubbornly refuse to give)
Still, this one did build up some nice interplay between Dwarves and wizards and I damn loved the scenes where the wizards discover Dwarven magic-resistance, played for curiosity and laughs it's a rare moment that made Krynn feel a little bigger, and that's one of the main things I want to get from these books (but they stubbornly refuse to give)
March 13, 2022
Algo mejor, pero poco, que el primero de la trilogía.
Aquí la historia tiene más continuidad, pero sigue adoleciendo de no contar con personajes carismáticos. El malo malísimo puro estereotipo y nunca llega a ser una amenaza real (sólo se lo cree él). Un poco triste la imagen que se da de la magia (si Raistlin levantara la cabeza...). La banda de ilusionistas (el término de magos o hechiceros le queda muy grande) da pena. Quiero pensar que es porque la magia está en sus albores y no muy desarrollada aún.
Los enanos siguen en su línea: cada uno de ellos está encantado de haberse conocido y da la sensación de que a poco que se lo hubieran propuesto hubieran dominado el mundo.
Una serie destinada básicamente a los muy fans de los enanos. No es mi caso.
Aquí la historia tiene más continuidad, pero sigue adoleciendo de no contar con personajes carismáticos. El malo malísimo puro estereotipo y nunca llega a ser una amenaza real (sólo se lo cree él). Un poco triste la imagen que se da de la magia (si Raistlin levantara la cabeza...). La banda de ilusionistas (el término de magos o hechiceros le queda muy grande) da pena. Quiero pensar que es porque la magia está en sus albores y no muy desarrollada aún.
Los enanos siguen en su línea: cada uno de ellos está encantado de haberse conocido y da la sensación de que a poco que se lo hubieran propuesto hubieran dominado el mundo.
Una serie destinada básicamente a los muy fans de los enanos. No es mi caso.
November 12, 2022
Hammer and Axe reads a little too much like a Dungeons and Dragons lore book and not enough like a novel for too much of the book. There's too many characters and names to really care about what many of them are up to. Additionally, there's info about the Dwarven kingdom and stronghold that seems unnecessary.
That said, there are some fun parts and I did enjoy much of the book. The final third is the best and what I wish the entire book was more like. Still worth checking out for fans of Dragonlance and if you like fantasy stories involving dwarves.
That said, there are some fun parts and I did enjoy much of the book. The final third is the best and what I wish the entire book was more like. Still worth checking out for fans of Dragonlance and if you like fantasy stories involving dwarves.
April 22, 2024
Like the previous book, the horrible prologue almost made me quit with its aggressively pretentious style of writing, but it thankfully switches to normal language afterwards and provides a pretty good story
December 23, 2023
Way! Better than the first one. Mage army battle, misty vapor monster fight. Character development and growth. Good job Sir Parkinson’s.
February 7, 2017
Parkinson & his dwarves at their best AGAIN ?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 12, 2016
this book started off very interesting but somehow I was feeling that I had read this book before and the more I read the more convinced I became as I was remembering it word for word and then it sort of amalgamated itself into dragons of winter night which of course I had read ages ago!! have no idea why this happened but for sure it is no longer about the dwarves part of the saga, its all about the elves again!
June 14, 2013
This is a great, fun read
Volume 2 of the Dwarven Nations Trilogy.
Volume 2 of the Dwarven Nations Trilogy.
August 27, 2015
Outside forces encroach upon the borders of Thorbardin and a ravenous creature ravages the settlements on the mountain surface.
November 7, 2016
Awesome Dwarven story. very enjoyable
October 16, 2016
Another solid read within The Dwarven Nation Trilogy!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews