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The Books of Blood and Iron #1
Iron Axe
In this brand new series from the author of the Clockwork Empire series, a hopeless outcast must answer Death’s call and embark on an epic adventure....
Although Danr’s mother was human, his father was one of the hated Stane, a troll from the mountains. Now Danr has nothing to look forward to but a life of disapproval and mistrust, answering to “Trollboy” and condemned to hard labor on a farm.
Until, without warning, strange creatures come down from the mountains to attack the village. Spirits walk the land, terrifying the living. Trolls creep out from under the mountain, provoking war with the elves. And Death herself calls upon Danr to set things right.
At Death’s insistence, Danr heads out to find the Iron Axe, the weapon that sundered the continent a thousand years ago. Together with unlikely companions, Danr will brave fantastic and dangerous creatures to find a weapon that could save the world—or destroy it.
Although Danr’s mother was human, his father was one of the hated Stane, a troll from the mountains. Now Danr has nothing to look forward to but a life of disapproval and mistrust, answering to “Trollboy” and condemned to hard labor on a farm.
Until, without warning, strange creatures come down from the mountains to attack the village. Spirits walk the land, terrifying the living. Trolls creep out from under the mountain, provoking war with the elves. And Death herself calls upon Danr to set things right.
At Death’s insistence, Danr heads out to find the Iron Axe, the weapon that sundered the continent a thousand years ago. Together with unlikely companions, Danr will brave fantastic and dangerous creatures to find a weapon that could save the world—or destroy it.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 6, 2015
19 people are currently reading
357 people want to read
About the author
Steven Harper
57 books120 followersA pseudonym of Steven Piziks
Steven Harper Piziks was born with a name that no one can reliably spell or pronounce, so he often writes under the pen name Steven Harper. He lives in Michigan with his family. When not at the keyboard, he plays the folk harp, fiddles with video games, and pretends he doesn’t talk to the household cats. In the past, he’s held jobs as a reporter, theater producer, secretary, and substitute teacher. He maintains that the most interesting thing about him is that he writes books.
Steven is the creator of The Silent Empire series, the Clockwork Empire steampunk series, and the Books of Blood and Iron series for Roc Books. All four Silent Empire novels were finalists for the Spectrum Award, a first!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 28, 2017
In Steven Harper’s The Books of Blood and Iron series we are introduced to a world where trolls, dwarves, and giants are known as the Stane; elves, sprites, and fairies are known as the Fae; and humans are known as the Kin.
The main character, Danr is 16 years old, his mother was Kin and his father was Stane. When Danr was brought into the world, his mother was frowned upon for the birth of her half-troll child, and she was forced to accept work as a thrall to an unkind farmer. Danr has suffered the cruelties that the world has to offer by being born as socially unacceptable and touted as a monster. Now his mother has passed away and he desperately misses her. He also knows that he must never forget to abide by the one piece of advice she always gave him, which was not to unleash the monster inside him.
One of Danr’s few friends in the village is Aisa, who is a couple of years older than Danr. Aisa has also suffered a hard life. She was sold into slavery by her father and after being a slave to the elves in Alfhame, she is now a slave to a man named Farek, who sexually abuses her. Aisa hides from the world by keeping herself covered from head to toe in a dark cloak and never allowing her face to show. But she dreams of one day travelling to the South Sea, healing the sick and earning enough money to buy a small boat so she can sail out among the merwomen and regain her face.
As these two try to escape the harsh realities of the life they’ve been given, a series of unusual events takes place which will change their paths. Rumors are heard that the Stane have come down from the mountains and killed some villagers. Now those villagers’ spirits are haunting the village and cannot be laid to rest. As the rumors spread that the hated Stane are responsible, Danr’s place in the village becomes precarious. Danr decides to flee the village and he sets out to find the truth behind the rumors and to learn more about his Stane heritage. Danr is joined in his travels by Aisa and a new friend, Talfi, who bears no memories of who he is or where he came from. Danr’s quest brings the group into contact with Death herself, who tells them that they must recover a powerful weapon known as the Iron Axe in order to tip the balance of the world back to its rightful place. As they pursue the Iron Axe, they also wind up on a deeper quest for the truth about themselves and the world around them.
Iron Axe features strong, loveable characters that each have their own personal struggles. It is written in a straight-forward, no frills manner. Harper has also effortlessly included gay characters within the story. While the story at times seems simplistic, the characters have been through a lot of darkness. Told in the style of traditional fantasy, the story moves along at a good clip and comes to a satisfactory end, with two more books to follow in this series. I can also easily see this as a graphic novel, appealing to young adults and adults alike. If you’re looking for a good book with a Beauty and the Beast crossed with a Norse-type Mythology vibe, you will enjoy this one.
The main character, Danr is 16 years old, his mother was Kin and his father was Stane. When Danr was brought into the world, his mother was frowned upon for the birth of her half-troll child, and she was forced to accept work as a thrall to an unkind farmer. Danr has suffered the cruelties that the world has to offer by being born as socially unacceptable and touted as a monster. Now his mother has passed away and he desperately misses her. He also knows that he must never forget to abide by the one piece of advice she always gave him, which was not to unleash the monster inside him.
One of Danr’s few friends in the village is Aisa, who is a couple of years older than Danr. Aisa has also suffered a hard life. She was sold into slavery by her father and after being a slave to the elves in Alfhame, she is now a slave to a man named Farek, who sexually abuses her. Aisa hides from the world by keeping herself covered from head to toe in a dark cloak and never allowing her face to show. But she dreams of one day travelling to the South Sea, healing the sick and earning enough money to buy a small boat so she can sail out among the merwomen and regain her face.
As these two try to escape the harsh realities of the life they’ve been given, a series of unusual events takes place which will change their paths. Rumors are heard that the Stane have come down from the mountains and killed some villagers. Now those villagers’ spirits are haunting the village and cannot be laid to rest. As the rumors spread that the hated Stane are responsible, Danr’s place in the village becomes precarious. Danr decides to flee the village and he sets out to find the truth behind the rumors and to learn more about his Stane heritage. Danr is joined in his travels by Aisa and a new friend, Talfi, who bears no memories of who he is or where he came from. Danr’s quest brings the group into contact with Death herself, who tells them that they must recover a powerful weapon known as the Iron Axe in order to tip the balance of the world back to its rightful place. As they pursue the Iron Axe, they also wind up on a deeper quest for the truth about themselves and the world around them.
Iron Axe features strong, loveable characters that each have their own personal struggles. It is written in a straight-forward, no frills manner. Harper has also effortlessly included gay characters within the story. While the story at times seems simplistic, the characters have been through a lot of darkness. Told in the style of traditional fantasy, the story moves along at a good clip and comes to a satisfactory end, with two more books to follow in this series. I can also easily see this as a graphic novel, appealing to young adults and adults alike. If you’re looking for a good book with a Beauty and the Beast crossed with a Norse-type Mythology vibe, you will enjoy this one.
January 31, 2015
Because of the lack of hype around this book, I had no expectation going into this book. So this was quite the surprise because I ended up really liking this book.
The book starts off a little rough but smooths out as you move forward. It took me a while to get into it because, although I expected this to be an Adult fantasy novel, I didn’t expect it to be as gritty as something similar to A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. The fantasy world seems more like a dystopian since there isn’t much order or governing going on and where slavery and rape isn’t as big of an issue for the population as I would think it would be. But thankfully, the focus shifts more to Danr’s story/quest forward and less on the cruelty of the world as you get further into the story.
But despite the fact that Danr is the main protagonist of the story, half troll half human, I actually liked Aisa—and to a greater extent, even Talfi—more than any other character. Considering she is a sex slave and constantly abused by her master and his wife, she is a very strong female protagonist. She is at times sassy, sharp, and loyal to the bone towards someone who looks after her. Despite the fact that her father sold her into slavery, at one point in the book, she even comes to let that past go. For someone who bares physical scars of rape and abuse, covers herself in heavy clothing so the world can’t see, I can imagine that forgiving the man who became the reason for it all wasn’t an easy feat. She is incredibly strong and I loved her for that. Talfi, on the other hand, is just as lovable a sidekick as one would want. Although there isn’t much humor in this book, Talfi’s trustworthy attitude contrasting against Aisa’s dark sorrows and Danr’s self-deprecating musings was a refreshing change at times.
Danr, as good a character as he was, was sometimes a bit too annoying. Not for any particular reason honestly, simply because of this constant good vs evil fight he has with himself. I sympathized with him, because of the way he has been treated all his life, but often I just wished he would get over the notion that everyone thinks he is a monster and move on with life. In retrospect, he did have the potential to be a bad person (as do we all) but he never lets out the “monster” within him so I really felt bad that he wasted so much time scolding himself over nothing.
There is a bit of confusion in terms of what is the targeted audience for this book. In reminded me slightly of The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson because of this. The world itself definitely deals with a lot of adult issues but because the main characters are quite young, sometimes their narratives can make feel as if you are reading a young adult novel. Then something awful would happen, or someone would swear (some of the swear words seemed out of place at times actually) and suddenly, I am snapped out of the misunderstanding that this is not a young adult novel.
Overall though, I was more than satisfied with numbers of twists and turns this story takes, as well as the fantastically neat ending. It was a little too neat perhaps, in terms of what happens with Talfi, but because I like him so much…I don’t really care. The mixture of orcs, humans, elves, etc. also never felt as overwhelming as I thought it might—everything felt as if it belonged in the story. If there is a second book in this series, I am certainly looking forward to it.
Disclaimer: An audiobook copy of this book was provided by Audible in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by any exterior motives.
The book starts off a little rough but smooths out as you move forward. It took me a while to get into it because, although I expected this to be an Adult fantasy novel, I didn’t expect it to be as gritty as something similar to A Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin. The fantasy world seems more like a dystopian since there isn’t much order or governing going on and where slavery and rape isn’t as big of an issue for the population as I would think it would be. But thankfully, the focus shifts more to Danr’s story/quest forward and less on the cruelty of the world as you get further into the story.
But despite the fact that Danr is the main protagonist of the story, half troll half human, I actually liked Aisa—and to a greater extent, even Talfi—more than any other character. Considering she is a sex slave and constantly abused by her master and his wife, she is a very strong female protagonist. She is at times sassy, sharp, and loyal to the bone towards someone who looks after her. Despite the fact that her father sold her into slavery, at one point in the book, she even comes to let that past go. For someone who bares physical scars of rape and abuse, covers herself in heavy clothing so the world can’t see, I can imagine that forgiving the man who became the reason for it all wasn’t an easy feat. She is incredibly strong and I loved her for that. Talfi, on the other hand, is just as lovable a sidekick as one would want. Although there isn’t much humor in this book, Talfi’s trustworthy attitude contrasting against Aisa’s dark sorrows and Danr’s self-deprecating musings was a refreshing change at times.
Danr, as good a character as he was, was sometimes a bit too annoying. Not for any particular reason honestly, simply because of this constant good vs evil fight he has with himself. I sympathized with him, because of the way he has been treated all his life, but often I just wished he would get over the notion that everyone thinks he is a monster and move on with life. In retrospect, he did have the potential to be a bad person (as do we all) but he never lets out the “monster” within him so I really felt bad that he wasted so much time scolding himself over nothing.
There is a bit of confusion in terms of what is the targeted audience for this book. In reminded me slightly of The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson because of this. The world itself definitely deals with a lot of adult issues but because the main characters are quite young, sometimes their narratives can make feel as if you are reading a young adult novel. Then something awful would happen, or someone would swear (some of the swear words seemed out of place at times actually) and suddenly, I am snapped out of the misunderstanding that this is not a young adult novel.
Overall though, I was more than satisfied with numbers of twists and turns this story takes, as well as the fantastically neat ending. It was a little too neat perhaps, in terms of what happens with Talfi, but because I like him so much…I don’t really care. The mixture of orcs, humans, elves, etc. also never felt as overwhelming as I thought it might—everything felt as if it belonged in the story. If there is a second book in this series, I am certainly looking forward to it.
Disclaimer: An audiobook copy of this book was provided by Audible in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and have not been influenced by any exterior motives.
October 25, 2019
Definitely enjoyed every minute of this book.
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October 27, 2017This book was on my to-read list of fantasy books with LGBT characters. Since I'm always on the lookout to support #OwnVoices, I was delighted to discover that Steven Harper (Piziks) has a blog where he talks about his boyfriend (husband?) and LGBT rights issues among other things.
Iron Axe was an interesting read for me. From its tags, I didn't think it was YA, but that's how it read to me: YA in a fantasy setting, tackling some very heavy issues such as recovery from sexual abuse, death of a parent, and homophobia, in greater depth than typically found in epic fantasy.
I really liked the setting and the three branches of beings. Most of them (trolls, orcs, elves) have been portrayed pretty widely in Western European folkore, fairytales, and the kind of modern fantasy that grew out of that mythology, e.g. LoTR. I loved that the main hero in Harper's story Danr is half-troll, half-human. That was definitely something different and made him instantly sympathetic to me, having a soft-spot for misunderstood heroes. Harper's take on elves, and their family branches fairies and sprites, was really innovative too. Their seductive power and quest for domination made for an intriguing spin.
There are a lot of magical elements that drew me in like 'twisting' (a kind of teleportation), eye splinters (which every child is born with, and those that can take them out can see truth), and Death being a goddess who can be held hostage with an unexpected impact.
As a reader who likes seeing LGBT characters front-and-center, I was a little disappointed by the actual 'screen time' the couple of gay characters get. And
Overall, I thought it was a good story that brought some fresh characters, fresh situations into a fantasy setting.
Iron Axe was an interesting read for me. From its tags, I didn't think it was YA, but that's how it read to me: YA in a fantasy setting, tackling some very heavy issues such as recovery from sexual abuse, death of a parent, and homophobia, in greater depth than typically found in epic fantasy.
I really liked the setting and the three branches of beings. Most of them (trolls, orcs, elves) have been portrayed pretty widely in Western European folkore, fairytales, and the kind of modern fantasy that grew out of that mythology, e.g. LoTR. I loved that the main hero in Harper's story Danr is half-troll, half-human. That was definitely something different and made him instantly sympathetic to me, having a soft-spot for misunderstood heroes. Harper's take on elves, and their family branches fairies and sprites, was really innovative too. Their seductive power and quest for domination made for an intriguing spin.
There are a lot of magical elements that drew me in like 'twisting' (a kind of teleportation), eye splinters (which every child is born with, and those that can take them out can see truth), and Death being a goddess who can be held hostage with an unexpected impact.
As a reader who likes seeing LGBT characters front-and-center, I was a little disappointed by the actual 'screen time' the couple of gay characters get. And
Overall, I thought it was a good story that brought some fresh characters, fresh situations into a fantasy setting.
May 27, 2015
I'm always hesitant to review books that I really didn't like. No matter your opinion, books are written by real people who really do read reviews, after all.
So in the interest of that, I'm going to start with the good. If you liked Skyrim, you'll probably dig this book. The worldbuilding is very Bethesda-esque, actually. From trolls to orcs to fairies/elves to dragons, there are quite a few parallels. Even the magical system of transportation--Twisting--works just like fast traveling. Some of these overlaps might be coincidental, though. According to the author note in the back of the book, Harper teaches high school English. There's no way he's not teaching Beowulf. Either way, there's heavy Norse influences here, which generally appeals to me as a reader.
But other than that...sigh. There's not a lot of positives I can add to this review. The writing is literally the most utilitarian I've ever come across in a published novel. It's all grammatically sound, but there's very little play in the language. Rather, Harper writes only as a means of telling a story, and unfortunately, the story suffers for it. The characters are two-dimensional, and a lack of expository writing doesn't help matters. Characters' decisions and motivations seem to come out of thin air, and the general lesson of the story--that we must know ourselves--falls flat. I could go on, but I think that's enough to help you understand why this book is a one star read for me.
I'm not familiar with Harper's other books, so there's a chance that the issues in Iron Axe are the result of a stylistic choice. (In fact, his other steampunk series looks interesting). Regardless, the purpose of style is complimenting plot and theme, which it doesn't do here. This novel misses the mark, I'm afraid.
So in the interest of that, I'm going to start with the good. If you liked Skyrim, you'll probably dig this book. The worldbuilding is very Bethesda-esque, actually. From trolls to orcs to fairies/elves to dragons, there are quite a few parallels. Even the magical system of transportation--Twisting--works just like fast traveling. Some of these overlaps might be coincidental, though. According to the author note in the back of the book, Harper teaches high school English. There's no way he's not teaching Beowulf. Either way, there's heavy Norse influences here, which generally appeals to me as a reader.
But other than that...sigh. There's not a lot of positives I can add to this review. The writing is literally the most utilitarian I've ever come across in a published novel. It's all grammatically sound, but there's very little play in the language. Rather, Harper writes only as a means of telling a story, and unfortunately, the story suffers for it. The characters are two-dimensional, and a lack of expository writing doesn't help matters. Characters' decisions and motivations seem to come out of thin air, and the general lesson of the story--that we must know ourselves--falls flat. I could go on, but I think that's enough to help you understand why this book is a one star read for me.
I'm not familiar with Harper's other books, so there's a chance that the issues in Iron Axe are the result of a stylistic choice. (In fact, his other steampunk series looks interesting). Regardless, the purpose of style is complimenting plot and theme, which it doesn't do here. This novel misses the mark, I'm afraid.
October 20, 2016
Has a sort of "grown-up fairy tale" vibe happening. Very clear influence in Norse mythology in terms of setting - all the classical races, a World-Tree with dimensional nexus properties, clear parallels to the Aesir pantheon (though no Thor expy - weird). Some changes, with the addition of orcs (not all Chaotic Evil, and the most distinctive racial reinterpretation), trolls (much brighter and more moral than usual), and light elves straight out of Pratchett's "Lords and Ladies". Actually, even worse.
Characters are generally likable, and not shallow caricatures, but no one's an ocean of depth, either. Danr the half-troll hero shows the most at the beginning, and gets more one-note-ish in the last third, though his heroic breakdown in "letting the monster loose" at the end is fun. All have somewhat unique consequences and problems.
Final villain shows up in person far too late to be properly imposing, and is dispatched a bit too easily and neatly, though he and his plan and the cosmic problem being solved take a backseat to the companions' own personal struggles, which may account for the slight lack of heft and seriousness in the overall feel of the narrative. That and Harper's clear love of goddesses as mostly cuddly old grannies that could easily kill you.
A quick read, not ponderous or slow in any way. That's not all bad, but there's little true darkness to be had, even in aid of lending the atmosphere some balance. Narrative ties up neatly, and leaves no clear idea where things will go next, much like the first Matrix or Pirates films. This is also part of a trilogy. Your Mileage May Vary.
But overall, not bad at all, and certainly not the kind of tale one thinks one would get given the title.
Characters are generally likable, and not shallow caricatures, but no one's an ocean of depth, either. Danr the half-troll hero shows the most at the beginning, and gets more one-note-ish in the last third, though his heroic breakdown in "letting the monster loose" at the end is fun. All have somewhat unique consequences and problems.
Final villain shows up in person far too late to be properly imposing, and is dispatched a bit too easily and neatly, though he and his plan and the cosmic problem being solved take a backseat to the companions' own personal struggles, which may account for the slight lack of heft and seriousness in the overall feel of the narrative. That and Harper's clear love of goddesses as mostly cuddly old grannies that could easily kill you.
A quick read, not ponderous or slow in any way. That's not all bad, but there's little true darkness to be had, even in aid of lending the atmosphere some balance. Narrative ties up neatly, and leaves no clear idea where things will go next, much like the first Matrix or Pirates films. This is also part of a trilogy. Your Mileage May Vary.
But overall, not bad at all, and certainly not the kind of tale one thinks one would get given the title.
February 17, 2015
I immediately had empathy for the main character. A different genre of book than I usually read, relaxing , but gripping enough to maintain that "just HAVE to keep reading" joy. I was very deep into the book when I found myself forgetting the fact that I know this author personally. I would read it again but I am waiting for the second book. Harping about it daily.
March 30, 2015
This was a fast read for me, till the end where it slowed down. Thought the main character Danr was good, being half troll/half human and being mocked for what he is. Really like how he made friends with the misfits in the book. Some areas in the book could of been better explained or had further development. When the second book comes out I will check it out.
February 18, 2015
Read 3/4, didn't care enough to finish. Not horrible, but some silly plotting and shallow characters.
March 3, 2025
In this brand new series from the author of the Clockwork Empire series, a hopeless outcast must answer Death’s call and embark on an epic adventure....
Although Danr’s mother was human, his father was one of the hated Stane, a troll from the mountains. Now Danr has nothing to look forward to but a life of disapproval and mistrust, answering to “Trollboy” and condemned to hard labor on a farm.
Until, without warning, strange creatures come down from the mountains to attack the village. Spirits walk the land, terrifying the living. Trolls creep out from under the mountain, provoking war with the elves. And Death herself calls upon Danr to set things right.
At Death’s insistence, Danr heads out to find the Iron Axe, the weapon that sundered the continent a thousand years ago. Together with unlikely companions, Danr will brave fantastic and dangerous creatures to find a weapon that could save the world—or destroy it.
Heather's Notes
This is not the kind of story I would usually read, but it was not bad. I liked the resolution, and do not know if I will read further or not. I feel we are good were we are.
Although Danr’s mother was human, his father was one of the hated Stane, a troll from the mountains. Now Danr has nothing to look forward to but a life of disapproval and mistrust, answering to “Trollboy” and condemned to hard labor on a farm.
Until, without warning, strange creatures come down from the mountains to attack the village. Spirits walk the land, terrifying the living. Trolls creep out from under the mountain, provoking war with the elves. And Death herself calls upon Danr to set things right.
At Death’s insistence, Danr heads out to find the Iron Axe, the weapon that sundered the continent a thousand years ago. Together with unlikely companions, Danr will brave fantastic and dangerous creatures to find a weapon that could save the world—or destroy it.
Heather's Notes
This is not the kind of story I would usually read, but it was not bad. I liked the resolution, and do not know if I will read further or not. I feel we are good were we are.
September 4, 2017
Started off very strong--I liked the main character and the internal and external struggles he dealt with as a half-human indentured servant, and for that I give it an extra half-star--but it fell into formulaic traps about halfway through (cue plucky entourage of friends of every species!). I finished it just to see what happened, but even though everything that needed to happen did happen, the wrap-up felt too tidy. The author does show promise, so I hope to see better from him in future.
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March 1, 2022I don’t think that reviews saying the author’s style is “utilitarian” are quite correct, but there is something slightly lacking about it. And I dunno, I’m not in the mood for a slavefic, and I’m not feeling keen on the…is it whump if everything goes wrong for a character? I just am tired of gritting my teeth and squirming while the next awful thing happens. Maybe eventually the awful things end, but with the lack of charm in the writing style…I’m over it.
July 10, 2017
A well written fantasy.
March 31, 2019
Not many audio books I give up on. Combination of a story that didn't grab me, and a narrator who had the wrong tone for me -- lacked emotion and vocal range.
August 6, 2024
Started out well great premise. Woke!
April 20, 2016
Iron Axe is the first book in a newish epic fantasy series. Readers follow Danr, an indentured servant to a farmer who also happens to be half troll and half human. His heritage makes him an outcast with no friends besides Aisa and Talfi. Aisa is a slave who has been sexually abused by her masters for a long time. Talfi is a guy about Danr's age living with a Good Samaritan that Talfi calls Uncle Orfandell.
Strange things start to happen in and around Danr's village. A nearby farm is attacked by trolls. However, trolls are supposed to be locked into underground caves by magic, unable to come to the surface. The spirits of the dead have also been unable to find peace. Instead of traveling to the afterlife, they remain close to their bodies and constantly demand release. Through a series of strange circumstances, it falls to Danr and his two friends to find out what is going on and save the world from impending doom.
I really enjoyed about the first 75% of Iron Axe. The world building is superb, detailed but not confusing. Danr, Aisa, and Talfi are likable characters. However, at about 75% the oversimplified characterization started to really get to me. Some of the things Danr and Aisa do and say are so oversimplified that they seem to be caricatures instead of actual characters. For example, without giving too much away, Danr's reaction to Talfi's big secret was infuriating. It was meant to be infuriating, I think, but the lack of complexity in Danr's thought process was what really got to me.
Since the characters are so very simplistic, the moral dilemmas they find themselves in are also depicted simplistically. The result is that at times I felt like I was reading an excerpt from a children's moral story. I read fantasy novels to escape the realities of daily life, not to get moral lessons fit for young children.
There are a lot of things I liked about Iron Axe, too. I've already mentioned the world building as one. The author subtly develops the theme of self-examination and truth seeking. Before you can see the truth about those around you, you must first remove the obstacles that prevent you from seeing the truth about yourself. Danr, Aisa, and Talfi all learn this separately. But, as Danr also learns, "people rarely wish to know the truth."
Iron Axe gets 3 stars from me. The good parts are really good, but the not-so-good parts are really annoying.
**I won two copies of Iron Axe from the publisher. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.**
Strange things start to happen in and around Danr's village. A nearby farm is attacked by trolls. However, trolls are supposed to be locked into underground caves by magic, unable to come to the surface. The spirits of the dead have also been unable to find peace. Instead of traveling to the afterlife, they remain close to their bodies and constantly demand release. Through a series of strange circumstances, it falls to Danr and his two friends to find out what is going on and save the world from impending doom.
I really enjoyed about the first 75% of Iron Axe. The world building is superb, detailed but not confusing. Danr, Aisa, and Talfi are likable characters. However, at about 75% the oversimplified characterization started to really get to me. Some of the things Danr and Aisa do and say are so oversimplified that they seem to be caricatures instead of actual characters. For example, without giving too much away, Danr's reaction to Talfi's big secret was infuriating. It was meant to be infuriating, I think, but the lack of complexity in Danr's thought process was what really got to me.
Since the characters are so very simplistic, the moral dilemmas they find themselves in are also depicted simplistically. The result is that at times I felt like I was reading an excerpt from a children's moral story. I read fantasy novels to escape the realities of daily life, not to get moral lessons fit for young children.
There are a lot of things I liked about Iron Axe, too. I've already mentioned the world building as one. The author subtly develops the theme of self-examination and truth seeking. Before you can see the truth about those around you, you must first remove the obstacles that prevent you from seeing the truth about yourself. Danr, Aisa, and Talfi all learn this separately. But, as Danr also learns, "people rarely wish to know the truth."
Iron Axe gets 3 stars from me. The good parts are really good, but the not-so-good parts are really annoying.
**I won two copies of Iron Axe from the publisher. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.**
November 15, 2017
Mit Danr habe ich jetzt mein erstes Fantasybuch mit einem Troll bzw. einem Halbtroll in der Hauptrolle gelesen. Ich muss sagen das ich anfangs nicht wusst ob mir das gefällt, man hat ja so seine eigenen Fantasyvorlieben. Aber Danr hat sich irgendwie sofort in mein Herz geschlichen und ich bin ihm gerne in sein Abenteuer gefolgt.
Als Halb Mensch und halb Troll hat Danr keinen leichten Stand. Die Menschen sind ihm gegenüber mißtrauisch und er glaubt das er bei seinem "wahrem" Volk besser aufgehoben wäre. Dazu kommt aber das er seinem Trollvater zunächst alles andere als wohlgesonnen gegenübersteht. Warum verrate ich aber jetzt nicht, das gehört zu sehr in die Geschichte.
Danr hat in der heilkundigen Sklavin Aisa eine tolle Verbündete. Was ich dabei sehr shcön fand war, das sie zwar unter ihrem Herren zu leiden hat, aber trotzdem kein gebrochenes Mädchen ist. Im Gegenteil, ich empfand sie als sehr stark. Als die beiden zusammen aufbrachen, hat Aisa einige mutige Aktionen gebracht. Also schwach ist sie nicht. Jedoch hat auch sie ihr Päckchen zu tragen und das steht zwischen ihr und Danr.
Mit Talfi kam dann noch ein weiterer Charakter ins Spiel den ich auf anhieb mochte. Er war Danr ein toller, wenn auch einziger, Freund und hat mich mit seiner herzlichen und aufgeweckten Art gleich für sich eingenommen. Das er so gut es ging zu Danr gehalten hat fand ich klasse.
Auch die Handlung bot einiges, erfrischend anders ist es das die Elfen nun mal die bösen sind. Aber auch der Rest kann sich echt sehen lassen. Ich mag die Reise die Danr und seine Freunde antreten mussten um Weltenspalter zu finden.
Was ich jedoch nicht gut fand und deshalb leider ein Herzchen abziehen muss ist diese meiner Meinung nach zu ausschweifende Darstellung Danrs Meinungüber die homosexualität eines der Figuren im Buch. Das hätte man nicht so in die Länge ziehen müssen, ist ja schließlich kein Coming Out-Roman wo man das nicht gerade einfache Thema in ein paar Sätzen vom Tisch hat. Das passt einfach nicht rein. Sorry. Ansonsten fand ich das Buch aber echt toll.
Ich kann das Buch Fantasyfans die mal einen erfrischend anderen Charakter in der Hauprolle haben möchten wirklich empfehlen. Danr ist zwar ein Halber Troll aber er hat meiner Meinung nach mehr menschliches an sich. Die Handlung ist interessant und auch die Charaktere finde ich gut gelungen. Bis auf meinen kleinen Kritikpunkt fand ich das Buch super und freue mich schon auf den zweiten Teil.
Als Halb Mensch und halb Troll hat Danr keinen leichten Stand. Die Menschen sind ihm gegenüber mißtrauisch und er glaubt das er bei seinem "wahrem" Volk besser aufgehoben wäre. Dazu kommt aber das er seinem Trollvater zunächst alles andere als wohlgesonnen gegenübersteht. Warum verrate ich aber jetzt nicht, das gehört zu sehr in die Geschichte.
Danr hat in der heilkundigen Sklavin Aisa eine tolle Verbündete. Was ich dabei sehr shcön fand war, das sie zwar unter ihrem Herren zu leiden hat, aber trotzdem kein gebrochenes Mädchen ist. Im Gegenteil, ich empfand sie als sehr stark. Als die beiden zusammen aufbrachen, hat Aisa einige mutige Aktionen gebracht. Also schwach ist sie nicht. Jedoch hat auch sie ihr Päckchen zu tragen und das steht zwischen ihr und Danr.
Mit Talfi kam dann noch ein weiterer Charakter ins Spiel den ich auf anhieb mochte. Er war Danr ein toller, wenn auch einziger, Freund und hat mich mit seiner herzlichen und aufgeweckten Art gleich für sich eingenommen. Das er so gut es ging zu Danr gehalten hat fand ich klasse.
Auch die Handlung bot einiges, erfrischend anders ist es das die Elfen nun mal die bösen sind. Aber auch der Rest kann sich echt sehen lassen. Ich mag die Reise die Danr und seine Freunde antreten mussten um Weltenspalter zu finden.
Was ich jedoch nicht gut fand und deshalb leider ein Herzchen abziehen muss ist diese meiner Meinung nach zu ausschweifende Darstellung Danrs Meinungüber die homosexualität eines der Figuren im Buch. Das hätte man nicht so in die Länge ziehen müssen, ist ja schließlich kein Coming Out-Roman wo man das nicht gerade einfache Thema in ein paar Sätzen vom Tisch hat. Das passt einfach nicht rein. Sorry. Ansonsten fand ich das Buch aber echt toll.
Ich kann das Buch Fantasyfans die mal einen erfrischend anderen Charakter in der Hauprolle haben möchten wirklich empfehlen. Danr ist zwar ein Halber Troll aber er hat meiner Meinung nach mehr menschliches an sich. Die Handlung ist interessant und auch die Charaktere finde ich gut gelungen. Bis auf meinen kleinen Kritikpunkt fand ich das Buch super und freue mich schon auf den zweiten Teil.
February 21, 2015
IRON AXE is a fantastic start to a new series. A Quest fantasy refreshingly set in a non-British fantasy world, it also features traditional fantasy races in not-so-traditional ways. Yes, the elves are beautiful, but there is far more to them than meets the eye, and the trolls aren't just big, ugly stupid creatures.
Although it's a YA, it's fairly dark and has the characters dealing with various sorts of abuse, but because of Harper's deft handling of the subject matter, the characters, major and minor, end up being fully fleshed out and sympathetic. He's also excellent at emotional punches; just when you think things can't get worse, they do, and you wonder if it's possible for Danr and his friends to have any sort of happy ending.
Other refreshing touches include women of all ages and races that don't have to be kick-butt to be strong (and the one that is a warrior has far more to her than her ability to use a sword,) the inclusivity of LGBT characters, and the various moral dilemmas and very real consequences to one's actions. As other reviews have said, Truth is a thread running through the entire book, and each character has their own way of dealing with it, no matter how much it hurts.
Overall, a wonderful read, and I can't wait for the next two.
Note: I listened to the Audible version of this book, which was enjoyable and quite well done.
Although it's a YA, it's fairly dark and has the characters dealing with various sorts of abuse, but because of Harper's deft handling of the subject matter, the characters, major and minor, end up being fully fleshed out and sympathetic. He's also excellent at emotional punches; just when you think things can't get worse, they do, and you wonder if it's possible for Danr and his friends to have any sort of happy ending.
Other refreshing touches include women of all ages and races that don't have to be kick-butt to be strong (and the one that is a warrior has far more to her than her ability to use a sword,) the inclusivity of LGBT characters, and the various moral dilemmas and very real consequences to one's actions. As other reviews have said, Truth is a thread running through the entire book, and each character has their own way of dealing with it, no matter how much it hurts.
Overall, a wonderful read, and I can't wait for the next two.
Note: I listened to the Audible version of this book, which was enjoyable and quite well done.
February 10, 2015
An enjoyable novel, less dense than most modern adult fantasy and with young adult leanings. The young adult characters are likeable and engaging, and their relationships are both believable and interesting. The Norse based culture is well done, and frees the novel of that generic fantasy whiff that is all too common, despite its use of traditional fantasy races.
The antagonists are not fleshed out, which is a shame - for me there is a obvious character who could have easily been shifted to the villainous fore and improved the book.
The main problem is it went big too soon, with the characters interacting with deities and seemingly world wide events relatively swiftly. The world feels rather small scale, currently it feels like the entire world is country sized, and I am left worrying about where there is for the series to go. The second novel could well assuage these worries, and I will certainly be giving it a read, albeit with apprehensions.
I'll add that this feels much more complete than most fantasy series novels, with a satisfying conclusion that would make it perfectly acceptable as a standalone read.
The antagonists are not fleshed out, which is a shame - for me there is a obvious character who could have easily been shifted to the villainous fore and improved the book.
The main problem is it went big too soon, with the characters interacting with deities and seemingly world wide events relatively swiftly. The world feels rather small scale, currently it feels like the entire world is country sized, and I am left worrying about where there is for the series to go. The second novel could well assuage these worries, and I will certainly be giving it a read, albeit with apprehensions.
I'll add that this feels much more complete than most fantasy series novels, with a satisfying conclusion that would make it perfectly acceptable as a standalone read.
October 23, 2016
Barely 3 Stars. I've read a lot of fantasy, but I will not be reading any more in this series. I found the characters one-dimensional, the plot predictable, and the denouement totally unrealistic, even for a fantasy novel. This could have been a wonderful story, but instead it was boring and rather ridiculous.
SPOILERS: In fact, this read as a man's "fantasy" of being the hero, getting the girl, overcoming all odds, but without having to pay any kind of serious price. All of the major characters got what they wanted tied up in a nice little bow. And the author's habit of emphasizing a character's determination by putting periods after each word was used Much. Too. Often. It became irritating, to say the least.
SPOILERS: In fact, this read as a man's "fantasy" of being the hero, getting the girl, overcoming all odds, but without having to pay any kind of serious price. All of the major characters got what they wanted tied up in a nice little bow. And the author's habit of emphasizing a character's determination by putting periods after each word was used Much. Too. Often. It became irritating, to say the least.
October 28, 2018
I made it to just over halfway through this book before giving up. This book really isn't bad enough for me to give it just one star - it has some decent world-building and an interesting plot premise - but it's written in a painfully basic way and the characters are (to me at least) uninteresting - I couldn't bring myself to care about them, and I'm afraid that always kills a book for me.
I know other people love this book and that's good, but it's not for me.
And one thing that irritated me unreasonably - WTF is up with that cover? I mean, is that axe head stuck on with blu-tac or something?! Draw a decent axe, FFS!!
I know other people love this book and that's good, but it's not for me.
And one thing that irritated me unreasonably - WTF is up with that cover? I mean, is that axe head stuck on with blu-tac or something?! Draw a decent axe, FFS!!
November 28, 2015
I liked how the author switched up the roles of Trolls and Elves. The elves were still beautiful and regal, but that did not make them inherently good. Same with the Trolls, being big and ugly, but not necessarily evil.
Some of the story line was predictable, the climax wasn't that climatic. I'm not sure if this was the author's first book, but it felt like it. It had potential, but a tenured author could have done a better job. This was a good first book in a series. I'll probably read the others.
Some of the story line was predictable, the climax wasn't that climatic. I'm not sure if this was the author's first book, but it felt like it. It had potential, but a tenured author could have done a better job. This was a good first book in a series. I'll probably read the others.
January 13, 2015
Wow.... just, wow!!!!
This was an amazing first novel and I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series. Although I have an interest in Viking Age history, I rarely find Viking-flavoured fantasy to be that interesting. This novel, on the other hand, had me hooked from page one right until the end.
A half-troll thrall discovers his destiny and becomes a hero. I particularly liked the author's version of Orcs, Trolls, and Elves. I look forward to see more of this world.
This was an amazing first novel and I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the series. Although I have an interest in Viking Age history, I rarely find Viking-flavoured fantasy to be that interesting. This novel, on the other hand, had me hooked from page one right until the end.
A half-troll thrall discovers his destiny and becomes a hero. I particularly liked the author's version of Orcs, Trolls, and Elves. I look forward to see more of this world.
February 1, 2018
3,5 Sterne. Die Geschichte hat wie ich finde weit mehr Potential. Die Charaktere, die ich auch liebenswert fand, weil alle ihre Schwächen mitbringen, hätten ruhig noch mit mehr Sorgfalt beschrieben werden können. Allgemein finde ich die Geschichte etwas gehetzt und mir fehlen Details.
Auch das Springen (Magisches Beamen) ist meiner Meinung nach irgendwie zu einfach.
Nett zu lesen, haut einen aber auch nicht vom Hocker und man fühlt sich durchs Geschehen gehetzt.
Auch das Springen (Magisches Beamen) ist meiner Meinung nach irgendwie zu einfach.
Nett zu lesen, haut einen aber auch nicht vom Hocker und man fühlt sich durchs Geschehen gehetzt.
October 26, 2015
I loved this book, I won a review copy on Goodreads and new nothing about the book or author when I started it. Now I cant wait for book 2 in Dec 2015. Great read, great characters and moves fast and cant say enough good things about finding a new author that I highly recommend if you like fantasy books!!!
October 1, 2019
I quite liked the book and the story. The main character irritated at times and didn't deserve a friend like Talfi. I was shocked what he and Aisa did to Talfi, don't like when characters choose world over their friends ( and Talfi was my favourite character). Yet the book is still interesting, with a world reminding of the Norse Mythology.
February 9, 2015
A fantasy told from the other side. About a half troll that saves the world. I thoroughly enjoyed it. This does what a similar type book, Grunts, does but without the poor attempts at humor. Worth a read for any fantasy enthusiast.
June 25, 2015
The main character is moronic, which is only made worse by the author repeatedly explaining that he isn't a moron.
The book never strays from the genre specific sandbox and doesn't do anything overly note worthy.
Overall, I will probably give the next book a go.
The book never strays from the genre specific sandbox and doesn't do anything overly note worthy.
Overall, I will probably give the next book a go.
October 7, 2015
I just hate that it takes me so long to finish a book. I believe had I read this in say two weeks I would have enjoyed it more. Instead, because it has been 5 weeks, I felt it was sluggish, repetitive and utilitarian. My opinion of course is subject to my own speed handicap. Pooey
January 27, 2016
Interesting story. The plethora of characters made me afraid the book would be confusing but the bok proved me wrong. The story and characters were pulled together nicely. I would recommend it to my friends and family.
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