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Iron Age #2
Clash of Iron
Leaders are forged in the fires of war
Iron Age warriors Dug and Lowa captured Maidun castle and freed its slaves. But now they must defend it.
A Roman invasion is coming from Gaul, but rather than uniting to defend their home, the British tribes go to battle with each other -- and see Maidun as an easy target.
Meanwhile, Lowa's spies infiltrate Gaul, discovering the Romans have recruited British druids. And Maidunite Ragnall finds his loyalties torn when he meets Rome's charismatic general, Julius Caesar.
War is coming. Who will pay its price?
Iron Age warriors Dug and Lowa captured Maidun castle and freed its slaves. But now they must defend it.
A Roman invasion is coming from Gaul, but rather than uniting to defend their home, the British tribes go to battle with each other -- and see Maidun as an easy target.
Meanwhile, Lowa's spies infiltrate Gaul, discovering the Romans have recruited British druids. And Maidunite Ragnall finds his loyalties torn when he meets Rome's charismatic general, Julius Caesar.
War is coming. Who will pay its price?
560 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2015
85 people are currently reading
995 people want to read
About the author
Angus Watson
23 books425 followersIn his twenties, Angus Watson’s jobs ranged from forklift truck driver to investment banker. He spent his thirties on various assignments as a freelance writer, including looking for Bigfoot in the USA for the Telegraph, diving on the scuppered German fleet at Scapa Flow for the Financial Times and swimming with sea lions off the Galapagos Islands for the Times. Now entering his forties, Angus lives in London with his wife Nicola and baby son Charlie. As a fan of both historical fiction and epic fantasy, he came up with the idea of writing a fantasy set in the Iron Age when exploring British hillforts for the Telegraph, and developed the story while walking Britain’s ancient paths for further articles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 11, 2022
The Romans are coming, the Romans are coming
After defeating Zadar and becoming the Queen of Maidun, Lowa must now figure out how to defeat the Romans. The Romans are heading to Gaul before they make their way to Britain, so Lowa sends three of her best soldiers to help Gaul defeat the Romans. At Maidun Lowa attempts to train her people to face off with the Romans while also attempting to unite all of Britain's tribes to face against the coming invasion.
Clash of Iron is almost exactly what I expected from Age of Iron. It's nearly all brutality, torture, misery, and ancient warfare. Unfortunately what it lacks that Age of Iron had was simply Dug. Dug just made Age of Iron worth reading with his sunny attitude despite the world falling down around him. Dug is largely in the background of the large scale conflict. Most of his early moments are spent with him having girl drama. Dug loves Lowa and Lowa loves Dug. Through a series of unfortunate events and misinformed statements, the two simply drift apart. They each believe the other doesn't care about them. It went on for a long long time.
Clash of Iron increases its point of view characters adding Spring, Chamanca, and Bruxton to Lowa, Dug, and Ragnall. Spring was a good addition. Chamanca and Bruxton were necessary for the story to be told even though they kept the attention off Dug. Lowa and Dug were strong as expected even overall. The surprise came from Ragnall, who simply put is one of the most obnoxious characters I've ever encountered. His point of view chapters were necessary, but I wish he fell down a well and stayed there.
Even though Clash of Iron was what I expected Age of Iron to be like, I longed for the simplicity and heart of Age of Iron. The scope of the story increases leading the reader to Rome, Gaul, Murkan, and Eroo. I understand the need to expand the story, but I simply preferred Age of Iron to its sequel.
August 24, 2016
Just like the first book in the series this sequel was a good blend of fantasy and historical fiction. I've warmed to the Iron Age setting and Watson has done a good job of making Druid magic seem plausible in a time that featured the Romans. The Grimdark tone of the story remained but is balanced out by the fact that this series never takes itself too seriously and has plenty of humour.
Lowa and Dug might have defeated Zadar and taken Maidun, but now they have to defend it from a host of enemies. The Romans are rampaging through Gaul and could invade any day. Rather than uniting to form a unified defence the other British tribes see Zadar's fall as a good time to invade!
We got a few more POV's in this instalment as the action was split between Briton and Gaul. Lowa, Dug, and Spring remained in Briton to deal with defending Maidun from other invading tribes and to prepare it for the impending Roman invasion force. Ragnal and his Druid teacher were in Rome to learn as much as they could about the Romans while Chimanka and Atlas were in Gaul trying to help the locals defend their lands in order to slow the Romans progress.
The story ended up being of a similar quality to the first book. It was entertaining and good without ever reaching the level of awesomeness that would see it become a favourite. I liked the new POV characters even if I did miss not having so much Dug POV's.
The ending was a total shocker and definitely sets up an exciting final book in the trilogy.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: Sean Barrett did a fantastic job with the audio.
Lowa and Dug might have defeated Zadar and taken Maidun, but now they have to defend it from a host of enemies. The Romans are rampaging through Gaul and could invade any day. Rather than uniting to form a unified defence the other British tribes see Zadar's fall as a good time to invade!
We got a few more POV's in this instalment as the action was split between Briton and Gaul. Lowa, Dug, and Spring remained in Briton to deal with defending Maidun from other invading tribes and to prepare it for the impending Roman invasion force. Ragnal and his Druid teacher were in Rome to learn as much as they could about the Romans while Chimanka and Atlas were in Gaul trying to help the locals defend their lands in order to slow the Romans progress.
The story ended up being of a similar quality to the first book. It was entertaining and good without ever reaching the level of awesomeness that would see it become a favourite. I liked the new POV characters even if I did miss not having so much Dug POV's.
The ending was a total shocker and definitely sets up an exciting final book in the trilogy.
Rating: 4 stars.
Audio Note: Sean Barrett did a fantastic job with the audio.
May 16, 2018
Not as fun as the first book but good, nonetheless. Didn't liked the ending because my favorite character kicked the bucket. *insert swear word*
June 8, 2015
4 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum http://bibliosanctum.com/2015/06/08/b...
*Splutters with disbelief*
Yeah, if I could leave my impressively eloquent analysis of this book at just that, I would. But no. This review is going to have details (or at least as much as I can give), dammit, and I’m going to do my best to articulate my thoughts while trying to hold myself together lest I fall to pieces.
Honestly though, I’m at a complete loss as to how to review Clash of Iron. Has this every happened to you? You’re just reading a book as normal, all the while taking down mental notes on what you’re going to say about it, when all of a sudden the ending comes at you so hard that the shock and awe of it just drives every single thought out of your head?
This is me right now. I am dumbfounded. Stupefied. I still can’t believe that ending really happened.
But let’s back up a bit to talk about what the book is about. In a word, Clash of Iron is about war. Lots and lots of war. It is the second novel in Angus Watson’s Iron Age trilogy and sequel to his brilliant, epic debut Age of Iron which was one of my top reads of last year. At the end of that book, our heroes Dug and Lowa managed to capture Maidun castle and free it from the brutal grip of its tyrant king Zadar. Lowa has usurped him and taken over his reign as Queen of Maidun, but unfortunately it seems, just in time to meet a massive invading Roman army coming from Gaul! The British Isles are thrown into disarray as its disparate tribes go to battle against each other instead of forming a united front against Julius Caesar, the Roman’s military genius who has his sights set on their homeland.
First I feel the need to warn that like its predecessor, Clash of Iron is as brutal and bloody as ever. As expected, there are many violent battles, lots of split skulls and tons of dismembered limbs flying about. There are also more intimate, disturbing scenes of torture and in general characters doing very unpleasant and painful things to other characters. Watson paints a dark, cruel world in The Iron Age where it doesn’t matter who or what you are; men, women, children, animals can all expect to meet a terrible and gruesome end in this series, so be aware if you’re squeamish about such things to approach these books with discretion.
This sequel, however, does head in a new direction when it comes to other aspects. The story here feels altogether different, with more focus on war. When all the sides aren’t engaging in it, they’re preparing for it, in this new martial climate of Britain. With the threat of the Roman Empire and Caesar bearing down on the Britons, there are whole new challenges to face. In many ways, Clash of Iron is Lowa’s story while I saw Age of Iron as being more Dug’s. As queen of Maidun, she’s now the head of an army of thousands and makes all the important decisions that will decide the fate of her people. As a new ruler, she also faces many new obstacles, such as adversity from all sides – even her own. Meanwhile, Dug takes more of a backseat in this book, retiring to a small farm. Still, all the while, his feelings for Lowa are alive and well and so are hers for him, so their awkwardness around each other provides no small amount of hilarity.
Other old favorites return, though describing Ragnal as a “favorite” is a bit of a stretch, that little double crossing fair-weather weasel. Spring’s presence also diminishes somewhat, though her actual role gets a huge boost. Big things are going to happen, and I have a feeling Spring is going to be at the center of them. Chamanca, the literally bloodthirsty warrior woman who scared the living bejeezus out of me in the first book is also back, though this time I had a lot of fun following her character and actually found myself rooting for her. Then there’s new player on the field, Julius Caesar himself, a man who needs no introduction. Angus Watson’s portrayal of the general had me alternating between feeling horror at his atrocities to laughing my ass off at his quirks.
And of course, we come to the ending. Oh, that ending. There’s nothing I can say about it that won’t be a massive spoiler, so I’ll just state that as shocking and unexpected as it was, I really shouldn’t have been surprised. But I was. You just never think an author would go there. But he does.
Any way you look at it, Clash of Iron will have you feeling exultant. You’ve just read an awesome book. Regardless of anything else, this wildly entertaining read will make you pine for the next one. Bring on Reign of Iron!
*Splutters with disbelief*
Yeah, if I could leave my impressively eloquent analysis of this book at just that, I would. But no. This review is going to have details (or at least as much as I can give), dammit, and I’m going to do my best to articulate my thoughts while trying to hold myself together lest I fall to pieces.
Honestly though, I’m at a complete loss as to how to review Clash of Iron. Has this every happened to you? You’re just reading a book as normal, all the while taking down mental notes on what you’re going to say about it, when all of a sudden the ending comes at you so hard that the shock and awe of it just drives every single thought out of your head?
This is me right now. I am dumbfounded. Stupefied. I still can’t believe that ending really happened.
But let’s back up a bit to talk about what the book is about. In a word, Clash of Iron is about war. Lots and lots of war. It is the second novel in Angus Watson’s Iron Age trilogy and sequel to his brilliant, epic debut Age of Iron which was one of my top reads of last year. At the end of that book, our heroes Dug and Lowa managed to capture Maidun castle and free it from the brutal grip of its tyrant king Zadar. Lowa has usurped him and taken over his reign as Queen of Maidun, but unfortunately it seems, just in time to meet a massive invading Roman army coming from Gaul! The British Isles are thrown into disarray as its disparate tribes go to battle against each other instead of forming a united front against Julius Caesar, the Roman’s military genius who has his sights set on their homeland.
First I feel the need to warn that like its predecessor, Clash of Iron is as brutal and bloody as ever. As expected, there are many violent battles, lots of split skulls and tons of dismembered limbs flying about. There are also more intimate, disturbing scenes of torture and in general characters doing very unpleasant and painful things to other characters. Watson paints a dark, cruel world in The Iron Age where it doesn’t matter who or what you are; men, women, children, animals can all expect to meet a terrible and gruesome end in this series, so be aware if you’re squeamish about such things to approach these books with discretion.
This sequel, however, does head in a new direction when it comes to other aspects. The story here feels altogether different, with more focus on war. When all the sides aren’t engaging in it, they’re preparing for it, in this new martial climate of Britain. With the threat of the Roman Empire and Caesar bearing down on the Britons, there are whole new challenges to face. In many ways, Clash of Iron is Lowa’s story while I saw Age of Iron as being more Dug’s. As queen of Maidun, she’s now the head of an army of thousands and makes all the important decisions that will decide the fate of her people. As a new ruler, she also faces many new obstacles, such as adversity from all sides – even her own. Meanwhile, Dug takes more of a backseat in this book, retiring to a small farm. Still, all the while, his feelings for Lowa are alive and well and so are hers for him, so their awkwardness around each other provides no small amount of hilarity.
Other old favorites return, though describing Ragnal as a “favorite” is a bit of a stretch, that little double crossing fair-weather weasel. Spring’s presence also diminishes somewhat, though her actual role gets a huge boost. Big things are going to happen, and I have a feeling Spring is going to be at the center of them. Chamanca, the literally bloodthirsty warrior woman who scared the living bejeezus out of me in the first book is also back, though this time I had a lot of fun following her character and actually found myself rooting for her. Then there’s new player on the field, Julius Caesar himself, a man who needs no introduction. Angus Watson’s portrayal of the general had me alternating between feeling horror at his atrocities to laughing my ass off at his quirks.
And of course, we come to the ending. Oh, that ending. There’s nothing I can say about it that won’t be a massive spoiler, so I’ll just state that as shocking and unexpected as it was, I really shouldn’t have been surprised. But I was. You just never think an author would go there. But he does.
Any way you look at it, Clash of Iron will have you feeling exultant. You’ve just read an awesome book. Regardless of anything else, this wildly entertaining read will make you pine for the next one. Bring on Reign of Iron!
April 21, 2015
Clash of Iron, the breathlessly awaited sequel to Angus Watson’s Age of Iron is finally here. I’ve been wanting to get my hands on this book ever since I finished Watson’s debut. When done right, historical fantasy is my favorite genre, and this author definitely knows what he’s doing. In Clash of Iron, he takes us one step further in exploring the British Iron Age, a period that gives him free reign and ample opportunities. Not much is known about that time, which gives Watson a lot of space to take the direction he chooses. We know, however, that Iron Age in Britain ended with Roman invasion, and that threat is at the forefront of our heroes’ minds in this book.
The first half of Clash of Iron is a bit slower than we’re used to. With so many points of view and without a definite threat on the horizon, the story lacks focus for a while. Romans’ arrival has been predicted and prophesized, but not many believe that they’re an actual threat. As a new queen, Lowa is determined to unite the tribes and give them a chance for survival, but others are not exactly cooperative.
I thought Lowa was particularly interesting this time. She struggled so much with her newfound power, unsure how to treat people or how to properly earn (or demand) respect. Most of the time, I felt that she was in over her head and the ineptitude was often quite evident from the results.
Like its predecessor, Clash of Iron is unapologetically bloody. It was a dark time and the low price of human life was reflected brilliantly in Watson’s story. There were times when it was a bit hard to read, but overall it gave the story and extra layer of authenticity, for which I was grateful.
The ending is very intense, not a cliffhanger per se, but emotionally harrowing nevertheless. With so many things going on and so many enemies coming from all sides, sacrifices have to be made and lives must be lost. Watson showed us many times that he is merciless when his story requires it, and this ending was no different.
Things are a tangled mess right now, especially when we know that the Romans actually invaded in the end, which ended the Iron Age. With that in mind, the ending seems to be pretty clear. I only wonder how Watson might handle it. We’ll find out later this year in Reign of Iron.
May 19, 2015
What the .... ??? This ending has left me at a loss for words. Review to come when I can process.
UPDATE with Review From Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2015/0...
I’m going to be honest, this is a very hard review to write. I make an effort to keep everything spoiler free, and so generally don’t talk much about the ending other than liked it, didn’t like it, etc. Well, I’m going to stick with my spoiler free approach, but my problem is that this book did something completely unexpected and it’s all I can think of! It is not a crazy out of left field thing, it actually makes sense now that it’s happened and I read it, but at the same time I did not see it coming. At all. And it leaves me with less of an idea for where the third book may go. It has literally eclipsed almost every other thought I have had about this book. Luckily almost is not completely, so I will do my best :)
First, I don’t know how or why, but I completely forgot just how incredibly funny Age of Iron could be at times. This book quickly reminded me as it had me laughing out loud (literally) within the first 30 minutes of reading. I really enjoy how the humor (dark, snarky, sarcastic all the delicious flavors of funny) in this balances everything else because the book can be just down right brutal. There’s a war, and with that comes battles, blood, gore and Watson does not trivialize war or protect the reader from its realities. Without the the comic relief, this would be one hell of a dark series.
Lowa is now Queen of Maidun and I have to take a minute to talk about the amazing female characters in this series. They really are equals, Lowa is ruling Maidun, and other females characters are also included as solid characters that stand on their own. They are not just there to support the men as they get things done. The women are valuable contributors in everything. Spring continues to be a fascinating character. I think I would read a series just about her. And Dug, the lovable old lug of a soldier. These are the three main characters from Age of Iron and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with them again. Ragnall is also give a POV in this. His story line was interesting and provided us with some great information (as he is amongst the Romans). But I never enjoyed him as much as the first three.
My only negative observation is that the pace seemed to slow in places. I think typically I felt this way when we were getting lots of information on military tactics or current political climate. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it at the time of reading I don’t remember feeling this way in the first book. There seemed to be a bit more focus on the over all conflict with the Romans and a little less on the characters themselves. The first book was very character driven with the three main characters all coming together. In this one we get more POVs and they are spread out. It gives a grander picture, but it also creates a little distance between the reader and the characters in some ways. But ultimately, it did not deter me and I am quite glad I read through to the end.
This was a quite a bloody second installment in the series, one that had points of laughter and points of incredible tension and heartbreak and one that leaves me absolutely on edge for the final book. You really can’t ask for more.
UPDATE with Review From Tenacious Reader: http://www.tenaciousreader.com/2015/0...
I’m going to be honest, this is a very hard review to write. I make an effort to keep everything spoiler free, and so generally don’t talk much about the ending other than liked it, didn’t like it, etc. Well, I’m going to stick with my spoiler free approach, but my problem is that this book did something completely unexpected and it’s all I can think of! It is not a crazy out of left field thing, it actually makes sense now that it’s happened and I read it, but at the same time I did not see it coming. At all. And it leaves me with less of an idea for where the third book may go. It has literally eclipsed almost every other thought I have had about this book. Luckily almost is not completely, so I will do my best :)
First, I don’t know how or why, but I completely forgot just how incredibly funny Age of Iron could be at times. This book quickly reminded me as it had me laughing out loud (literally) within the first 30 minutes of reading. I really enjoy how the humor (dark, snarky, sarcastic all the delicious flavors of funny) in this balances everything else because the book can be just down right brutal. There’s a war, and with that comes battles, blood, gore and Watson does not trivialize war or protect the reader from its realities. Without the the comic relief, this would be one hell of a dark series.
Lowa is now Queen of Maidun and I have to take a minute to talk about the amazing female characters in this series. They really are equals, Lowa is ruling Maidun, and other females characters are also included as solid characters that stand on their own. They are not just there to support the men as they get things done. The women are valuable contributors in everything. Spring continues to be a fascinating character. I think I would read a series just about her. And Dug, the lovable old lug of a soldier. These are the three main characters from Age of Iron and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting up with them again. Ragnall is also give a POV in this. His story line was interesting and provided us with some great information (as he is amongst the Romans). But I never enjoyed him as much as the first three.
My only negative observation is that the pace seemed to slow in places. I think typically I felt this way when we were getting lots of information on military tactics or current political climate. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it at the time of reading I don’t remember feeling this way in the first book. There seemed to be a bit more focus on the over all conflict with the Romans and a little less on the characters themselves. The first book was very character driven with the three main characters all coming together. In this one we get more POVs and they are spread out. It gives a grander picture, but it also creates a little distance between the reader and the characters in some ways. But ultimately, it did not deter me and I am quite glad I read through to the end.
This was a quite a bloody second installment in the series, one that had points of laughter and points of incredible tension and heartbreak and one that leaves me absolutely on edge for the final book. You really can’t ask for more.
April 12, 2015
Sequel to the fast Age of Iron, Clash of Iron struggles to keep up the pace.
Lowa is now responsible for Maidun, and she starts to prepare for the prophesied coming of the Romans. However, Britain isn't easy to unite, and together with her trusted friends she will have to defend her people from dangers close to her.
For the first two hundred pages, Clash of Iron flounders. After the story arc in the first book, there is not logical continuation, and the tension has to rebuilt from scratch. The Romans are coming - we know that - but this premise in itself isn't enough to keep the reader reading. We see all kinds of flashes of the lives of our protagonists, but there is no conflict. To make a more reasonable time frame, there are big leaps in time, making the first part feel choppy and fragmented.
Luckily, Mr Watson regains the reigns to his story after the beginning, and from then on, it's smooth sailing. The Age of Iron books are written in a wry, humorous and accessible style that will appeal to readers who find historical or fantasy books too dry. It should also be noted that Clash of Iron can be quite dark and gruesome - for many characters, lives aren't taken seriously. They murder and torture like it's all a game to them. This kind of gore isn't uncommon in fantasy lately, but one does need to have the stomach for it.
Clash of Iron follows more characters than Age of Iron did, but since we already know all of these faces, it's not hard to get into their stories. Sadly some of them remain one-dimensional, especially Ragnall, a druid's apprentice who is sent to Rome to spy. His thoughts lack the complexity to make them seem realistic. On the other hand, I very much enjoyed the chapters written from the perspective of Spring and Chamanca. While fantasy is almost notoriously white-washed and misogynistic, Mr Watson succeeds in creating a believably diverse cast. I especially enjoyed that women fight in the armies as well, and that they weren't seen as inferior warriors.
This sequel has some issues, but the ending of Clash of Iron is very strong and makes me excited to read the conclusion of the trilogy. If the last two hundred pages of this book are an indication, Reign of Iron is going to be pretty epic.
Lowa is now responsible for Maidun, and she starts to prepare for the prophesied coming of the Romans. However, Britain isn't easy to unite, and together with her trusted friends she will have to defend her people from dangers close to her.
For the first two hundred pages, Clash of Iron flounders. After the story arc in the first book, there is not logical continuation, and the tension has to rebuilt from scratch. The Romans are coming - we know that - but this premise in itself isn't enough to keep the reader reading. We see all kinds of flashes of the lives of our protagonists, but there is no conflict. To make a more reasonable time frame, there are big leaps in time, making the first part feel choppy and fragmented.
Luckily, Mr Watson regains the reigns to his story after the beginning, and from then on, it's smooth sailing. The Age of Iron books are written in a wry, humorous and accessible style that will appeal to readers who find historical or fantasy books too dry. It should also be noted that Clash of Iron can be quite dark and gruesome - for many characters, lives aren't taken seriously. They murder and torture like it's all a game to them. This kind of gore isn't uncommon in fantasy lately, but one does need to have the stomach for it.
Clash of Iron follows more characters than Age of Iron did, but since we already know all of these faces, it's not hard to get into their stories. Sadly some of them remain one-dimensional, especially Ragnall, a druid's apprentice who is sent to Rome to spy. His thoughts lack the complexity to make them seem realistic. On the other hand, I very much enjoyed the chapters written from the perspective of Spring and Chamanca. While fantasy is almost notoriously white-washed and misogynistic, Mr Watson succeeds in creating a believably diverse cast. I especially enjoyed that women fight in the armies as well, and that they weren't seen as inferior warriors.
This sequel has some issues, but the ending of Clash of Iron is very strong and makes me excited to read the conclusion of the trilogy. If the last two hundred pages of this book are an indication, Reign of Iron is going to be pretty epic.
January 3, 2018
Hugely entertaining, violent and exuberant take on Iron Age Britain's tribal clashes and Caesar's conquest of Gaul.
April 17, 2015
Stating that Britain in the Iron Ages was not quite the best place to be would be a gross understatement. The threat of the fast growing Roman empire and the brutally legendary Caesar was imminent and worried even the greatest of warriors.
As queen of Maidun, Lowa is now responsible for getting her people through these tumultuous times. Lowa not only faces having to handle the foreign threats across the ocean but she has also enough to be wary about in her homeland. Warring tribes and power-hungry leaders are ever present and the lines between allies and foes are growing increasingly blurry.
Angus Watson wowed me last year with his brilliant historical fantasy debut, Age of Iron. History, fantasy, action, humor and magic, woven together made for an unforgettable novel. However, Clash of Iron surpassed all expectations to become one hell of a sequel.
If you thought Age of Iron was bloody gruesome, think again. If you thought Age of Iron had just the right amount of wry, dark humor, think again. If you thought Age of Iron was a sneaky, little bastard who wheedled his way into your heart, think again.
Because everything Age of Iron did to your poor heart? Clash of Iron does it better.
Renewing my acquaintance with Dug, Lowa, Spring in Clash of Iron was truly delightful. My favorite perfectly flawed heroes/heroines were back and they were better than ever. The additional POVs of Chamanca and Rangall were insightful and I couldn't help but be awed at how Watson connects these individual fragments to build an effortlessly seamless story. Both Ragnall and Chamanca played a significant role in this installment and it intriguing to see their respective characters unravel throughout the story. Watson's gift for creating unforgettable characters is truly commendable: You will adore them, root for them and despise them but you would never forget them.
Just as in Age of Iron, I was pleased by the way women were portrayed as equals rather than damsels in distress. More focus on empowered women in historical fiction and fantasy is a much needed initiative in these genres.
If you wish for pretty prose look the other way because Watson's blunt writing style was just perfect for this alternative historical fantasy read. The vivid descriptions meant that I could clearly envision every swing of Dug's war hammer and every smile on Spring's face. Betrayal, intrigue, magic, friendship, love and greed is brought to life within the pages of Clash of Iron.
I haven't quite forgiven Angus Watson for that brutal ending. I did not see that coming. But that sucker-punch of an ending has only increased my anticipation for the third book, Reign of Iron.
Clash of Iron is a dark and gritty and historical epic fantasy novel that packs a punch. A punch that you'll remember for years to come.
As queen of Maidun, Lowa is now responsible for getting her people through these tumultuous times. Lowa not only faces having to handle the foreign threats across the ocean but she has also enough to be wary about in her homeland. Warring tribes and power-hungry leaders are ever present and the lines between allies and foes are growing increasingly blurry.
Angus Watson wowed me last year with his brilliant historical fantasy debut, Age of Iron. History, fantasy, action, humor and magic, woven together made for an unforgettable novel. However, Clash of Iron surpassed all expectations to become one hell of a sequel.
If you thought Age of Iron was bloody gruesome, think again. If you thought Age of Iron had just the right amount of wry, dark humor, think again. If you thought Age of Iron was a sneaky, little bastard who wheedled his way into your heart, think again.
Because everything Age of Iron did to your poor heart? Clash of Iron does it better.
Renewing my acquaintance with Dug, Lowa, Spring in Clash of Iron was truly delightful. My favorite perfectly flawed heroes/heroines were back and they were better than ever. The additional POVs of Chamanca and Rangall were insightful and I couldn't help but be awed at how Watson connects these individual fragments to build an effortlessly seamless story. Both Ragnall and Chamanca played a significant role in this installment and it intriguing to see their respective characters unravel throughout the story. Watson's gift for creating unforgettable characters is truly commendable: You will adore them, root for them and despise them but you would never forget them.
Just as in Age of Iron, I was pleased by the way women were portrayed as equals rather than damsels in distress. More focus on empowered women in historical fiction and fantasy is a much needed initiative in these genres.
If you wish for pretty prose look the other way because Watson's blunt writing style was just perfect for this alternative historical fantasy read. The vivid descriptions meant that I could clearly envision every swing of Dug's war hammer and every smile on Spring's face. Betrayal, intrigue, magic, friendship, love and greed is brought to life within the pages of Clash of Iron.
I haven't quite forgiven Angus Watson for that brutal ending. I did not see that coming. But that sucker-punch of an ending has only increased my anticipation for the third book, Reign of Iron.
Clash of Iron is a dark and gritty and historical epic fantasy novel that packs a punch. A punch that you'll remember for years to come.
August 31, 2015
I'm not sure what it is, but the second book on the Iron Age trilogy just didn't work for me a well as the first one. Lowa and Dug sort of took second stage to this huge conflict happening between Maiduns, Dumnonians, Eroo, Murkans, AND Romans. Oh yeah, there were also countless other little tribes mingling here and there. There were so many politics involved, the two central character had very little space left to develop past their first book counterparts. The evil kings that Lowa is left to fight after becoming the queen of Maidun are each colorful and sick in their own glorious ways, but what about the good guys?! Outside the gory adventures of Lowa among Murkans, she seriously has very little stuff to do (besides mulling about her inexperience as a ruler). Dug and her both go back and forth acting like teens confused about their feelings, and convincing themselves that the other hates them. Even Randall get more chapters than these guys.
Also, what is up with a random ending?! So... are we going to be one character short in book three? Are you trying to pull the "Red Wedding" (random reference) here, Mr. Watson? What in the world is going on? *bumps around the darkness confused*
On the other hand, the humour is still solid, the adventure is ambitious, and characters - distinctive. While still very enjoyable, this is 100% action driven plot, which is very different from its predecessor. It's not going to scare me off the next and final book, but I'm getting a bit worried. Solid three stars.
Also, what is up with a random ending?! So... are we going to be one character short in book three? Are you trying to pull the "Red Wedding" (random reference) here, Mr. Watson? What in the world is going on? *bumps around the darkness confused*
On the other hand, the humour is still solid, the adventure is ambitious, and characters - distinctive. While still very enjoyable, this is 100% action driven plot, which is very different from its predecessor. It's not going to scare me off the next and final book, but I'm getting a bit worried. Solid three stars.
December 14, 2016
FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG, TOTAL INABILITY TO CONNECT
When going into 2014’s Age of Iron, I was not really sure what to expect, and despite several positive reviews, didn’t necessarily know how I’d feel about it. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement – I laughed out loud at times, couldn’t put it down, and adored the characters and presentation Watson had generated. I took off quite a bit of time before reading the second novel, though found myself having no troubles jumping right back in with little to no refresher needed.
I was thrilled to find that the characters I’d loved in the first were back, and exactly as I remembered them – namely Dug, Spring, Lowa, Ragnall, and…Julius Caesar?
Yeah. That Caesar.
Clash of Iron takes us back to 1st century era Europe, a fantasy-based take on a real time period, real places, and in a lot of cases, real events. Some items are changed for the story, or made up altogether, but the bits and pieces involving historical figures are largely fact-based, and with my meager knowledge of the time period. I felt fairly immersed in the book. A general competence was shown by Watson to transport the reader to the time period, which I think is a “must” for any historical-based fantasy. As with Bernard Cornwell’s books of similar ilk, if you’re using real settings, it’s important to get some details right, while you can fudge some others, and I thought Watson walked a very fine line to get it just right.
As with Age of Iron, the real stars of the story are the characters. The simple-yet-deep Dug, a relatable bear of a man, struggles to balance his duty to his new friends, his new lands, while finding a place to fit into the entire picture, unaware of just how important of a piece he is in the puzzle. Lowa is now queen of Maidun after the events of Age of Iron, and her life is that much more complicated because of it, not to mention her relationship with Dug, and some of the revelations to come between them. However, her scouts soon discover some very concerning items regarding the impending Roman invasion.
Oh, right, the Roman invasion – I mentioned that, right? We find another favorite from the first book, Ragnall, now in league with Julius Caesar, and also torn – between his homeland, which he feels increasingly bitter towards, and his new Roman compatriots, particularly the impressive Julius Caesar. He soon finds himself a close confidant and insider for Caesar, admiring the man in his own way, and enjoying the favor he was able to achieve by assisting him, even if he did not get the same courtesy from the other self-aggrandizing Romans around him. Ragnall finds himself ever more impressed with the Roman culture and diplomacy, and ever more jaded towards his former homeland, to the point of beginning to wish the Romans upon them as a way to civilize and modernize them.
The novel is a lot of fun – not nearly as funny as the first, in my opinion, but still very clever, and getting several legit out-loud laughs from me. It takes a much darker direction overall than Age of Iron, both in tone and events, but it was never oppressive or overly gloomy, as some grimdark novels can become. The characters are brilliantly written – each with unique characteristics and voices, each well rounded and deep, never bland or flat – there are many shades of gray in this book. The female characters, in particular, are very well-written, and given a place in the forefront of the novel, positions of power, and very competent attributes and skillsets to boot. There might be more page time for the male characters, but Lowa, Spring and co always felt well represented and integral pieces of the story.
It’s hard to talk about without giving any spoilers, but I will say that the ending of the book had me saying “WHAT THE EFF” out loud, and absolutely shocked by the direction taken. There were a few “WTF” moments through the novel, but the ending takes the cake. Where a lot of authors struggle to finish their novels, Watson hits an absolute home run in this piece, giving a gut-wrenching, moving and important tour through the final few chapters, leaving the reader pining for more, but also needing some time to recover and recuperate after what happened.
Clash of Iron has some very high points, a few flat periods, and in general a lot of positive attributes. I did not love it the way I loved the first, but it’s still a very good book, one I thoroughly enjoyed reading and a series that I will recommend to others – especially readers of Bernard Cornwell – and will continue reading myself.
Rating: 4.25 / 5
When going into 2014’s Age of Iron, I was not really sure what to expect, and despite several positive reviews, didn’t necessarily know how I’d feel about it. To say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement – I laughed out loud at times, couldn’t put it down, and adored the characters and presentation Watson had generated. I took off quite a bit of time before reading the second novel, though found myself having no troubles jumping right back in with little to no refresher needed.
I was thrilled to find that the characters I’d loved in the first were back, and exactly as I remembered them – namely Dug, Spring, Lowa, Ragnall, and…Julius Caesar?
Yeah. That Caesar.
Clash of Iron takes us back to 1st century era Europe, a fantasy-based take on a real time period, real places, and in a lot of cases, real events. Some items are changed for the story, or made up altogether, but the bits and pieces involving historical figures are largely fact-based, and with my meager knowledge of the time period. I felt fairly immersed in the book. A general competence was shown by Watson to transport the reader to the time period, which I think is a “must” for any historical-based fantasy. As with Bernard Cornwell’s books of similar ilk, if you’re using real settings, it’s important to get some details right, while you can fudge some others, and I thought Watson walked a very fine line to get it just right.
As with Age of Iron, the real stars of the story are the characters. The simple-yet-deep Dug, a relatable bear of a man, struggles to balance his duty to his new friends, his new lands, while finding a place to fit into the entire picture, unaware of just how important of a piece he is in the puzzle. Lowa is now queen of Maidun after the events of Age of Iron, and her life is that much more complicated because of it, not to mention her relationship with Dug, and some of the revelations to come between them. However, her scouts soon discover some very concerning items regarding the impending Roman invasion.
Oh, right, the Roman invasion – I mentioned that, right? We find another favorite from the first book, Ragnall, now in league with Julius Caesar, and also torn – between his homeland, which he feels increasingly bitter towards, and his new Roman compatriots, particularly the impressive Julius Caesar. He soon finds himself a close confidant and insider for Caesar, admiring the man in his own way, and enjoying the favor he was able to achieve by assisting him, even if he did not get the same courtesy from the other self-aggrandizing Romans around him. Ragnall finds himself ever more impressed with the Roman culture and diplomacy, and ever more jaded towards his former homeland, to the point of beginning to wish the Romans upon them as a way to civilize and modernize them.
The novel is a lot of fun – not nearly as funny as the first, in my opinion, but still very clever, and getting several legit out-loud laughs from me. It takes a much darker direction overall than Age of Iron, both in tone and events, but it was never oppressive or overly gloomy, as some grimdark novels can become. The characters are brilliantly written – each with unique characteristics and voices, each well rounded and deep, never bland or flat – there are many shades of gray in this book. The female characters, in particular, are very well-written, and given a place in the forefront of the novel, positions of power, and very competent attributes and skillsets to boot. There might be more page time for the male characters, but Lowa, Spring and co always felt well represented and integral pieces of the story.
It’s hard to talk about without giving any spoilers, but I will say that the ending of the book had me saying “WHAT THE EFF” out loud, and absolutely shocked by the direction taken. There were a few “WTF” moments through the novel, but the ending takes the cake. Where a lot of authors struggle to finish their novels, Watson hits an absolute home run in this piece, giving a gut-wrenching, moving and important tour through the final few chapters, leaving the reader pining for more, but also needing some time to recover and recuperate after what happened.
Clash of Iron has some very high points, a few flat periods, and in general a lot of positive attributes. I did not love it the way I loved the first, but it’s still a very good book, one I thoroughly enjoyed reading and a series that I will recommend to others – especially readers of Bernard Cornwell – and will continue reading myself.
Rating: 4.25 / 5
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September 28, 2017can you hate an ending, but at the same time think, yes that was bloody brilliant?
‘cause that’s what I’m feeling.
all the twist and turns. betrayals and the such come together so nicely at the end, but also has me pulling me hair out because why? 😐
‘cause that’s what I’m feeling.
all the twist and turns. betrayals and the such come together so nicely at the end, but also has me pulling me hair out because why? 😐
September 26, 2016
I don't want to spoil this for anyone reading.
A good second book in the trilogy. Watson advances the story nicely. here we have the characters dispersing into other parts of Europe, we see Gaul and Rome during Caesar's time. The time is split with these locations as well as, Britain., and Watson gives us a real feel of life at these places,.
Once again there is war, blood and grit. Dug plays a smaller part in this book, who I truly missed. But we get much of Lowa, Ragnall and other supporting characters. We get hints of magic in the form of Druids and others, that leaves you wondering what will happen.
The ending just blew me away, I was speechless.
Off to book three.
A good second book in the trilogy. Watson advances the story nicely. here we have the characters dispersing into other parts of Europe, we see Gaul and Rome during Caesar's time. The time is split with these locations as well as, Britain., and Watson gives us a real feel of life at these places,.
Once again there is war, blood and grit. Dug plays a smaller part in this book, who I truly missed. But we get much of Lowa, Ragnall and other supporting characters. We get hints of magic in the form of Druids and others, that leaves you wondering what will happen.
The ending just blew me away, I was speechless.
Off to book three.
August 22, 2015
Got 20% through this and was so disappointed I've written it off.
After the excellent 1st book this was a poor attempt at a second book, it struggled from page 1 to set any tone or pace to the story and got especially desperate when the author uses his own version of These are Not the Droids you are looking for as a cheap laugh.
I will not be reading thee third book!
After the excellent 1st book this was a poor attempt at a second book, it struggled from page 1 to set any tone or pace to the story and got especially desperate when the author uses his own version of These are Not the Droids you are looking for as a cheap laugh.
I will not be reading thee third book!
May 7, 2015
Bloody and Awesome...eagerly waiting for the last book in this series..
May 28, 2016
10 out of 10 > 5 stars – it's a fantastic book.
Two words: read this!
Two words: read this!
June 19, 2020
Watson continues to explore/create iron age Britain just before the Roman invasion by Julius Caesar circa 63 BC or there abouts. Unfortunately, Watson fell a little into the classic sophomore trap in the trilogy with this volume serving something like a place holder before the showdown heavily foreshadowed between Lowa and the Roman invasion. The first volume concentrated on Britain and the various cultures/tribes of the hill fort era; Lowa was the focus as she went from mercenary to fugitive to finally victor and queen. The bulk of this volume turns to Europe and the Roman empire and while shedding light on Gaul culture and Rome, it loses the intensity of the first volume with its focus on politics, etc. This is not altogether a bad thing, and sets up the third volume, but not as page turning as the first.
The love story between Dug and Lowa once again plays a role (although Watson seems a little ham handed here as well), but the focus is on Lowa's attempt to stir up resistance to the Roman invasion in Gaul and beyond via a delegation she sends led by Atlas and Chamanca. The European barbarians are no match for the orderly Roman army and are rolled up one by one. Julius' unnatural legion of magic warriors continue to raise havoc. Chamanca is a wonderful character and gets developed further in this volume.
Watson still keeps his snarky dialogue going, and there is a lot of humor here. All in all, a very good read that I am hoping will turn into a spectacular finale. 3.5 stars.
The love story between Dug and Lowa once again plays a role (although Watson seems a little ham handed here as well), but the focus is on Lowa's attempt to stir up resistance to the Roman invasion in Gaul and beyond via a delegation she sends led by Atlas and Chamanca. The European barbarians are no match for the orderly Roman army and are rolled up one by one. Julius' unnatural legion of magic warriors continue to raise havoc. Chamanca is a wonderful character and gets developed further in this volume.
Watson still keeps his snarky dialogue going, and there is a lot of humor here. All in all, a very good read that I am hoping will turn into a spectacular finale. 3.5 stars.
December 26, 2019
Nicht ganz so gut wie Band 1, aber dennoch ein sehr kurzweiliges Buch.
Das Ende hat mich ganz ernüchtert zurückgelassen.
Was mir besonders gut gefallen hat:
- Weitere Sichtweisen wurden eingeführt (hier stach für mich vorallem Chamancas Erzählstrang hervor)
- Der Handlungsstrang rund um Chamanca, Carden und Atlas.
- Wie in Band 1 auch, haben die Nebenfiguren eigene kleine (Hintergrund)geschichten erhalten.
Was mir weniger gut gefallen hat:
- Der Rom bzw. Ragnall Handlungsstrang hat mir zu viel Raum eingenommen.
- Dug verkommt zur Nebenfigur und somit auch die wunderbare Beziehung zwischen ihm und Spring.
- Das Schicksal von
Auch wenn ich skeptisch bin, freue ich mich auf Band 3!
Das Ende hat mich ganz ernüchtert zurückgelassen.
Was mir besonders gut gefallen hat:
- Weitere Sichtweisen wurden eingeführt (hier stach für mich vorallem Chamancas Erzählstrang hervor)
- Der Handlungsstrang rund um Chamanca, Carden und Atlas.
- Wie in Band 1 auch, haben die Nebenfiguren eigene kleine (Hintergrund)geschichten erhalten.
Was mir weniger gut gefallen hat:
- Der Rom bzw. Ragnall Handlungsstrang hat mir zu viel Raum eingenommen.
- Dug verkommt zur Nebenfigur und somit auch die wunderbare Beziehung zwischen ihm und Spring.
- Das Schicksal von
Auch wenn ich skeptisch bin, freue ich mich auf Band 3!
April 24, 2015
Dunque dunque, la prima parte di questa trilogia mi era piaciuta tanto, più di Games of Thrones per fare un paragone che potrebbe essere riconosciuto. Il mio timore quindi, era che questo secondo libro, come spesso capita per il secondo volume di una qualsiasi trilogia, fosse stato scritto più cercando di accumulare pagine che per sviluppare la storia. La mia paura si è rivelata completamente infondata. Prima di tutto perché forse questo romanzo è quasi migliore del primo, secondo perché adesso il terzo volume mi serve come l'aria che respiro. Ma questo libro non è privo di difetti, anzi a mio modo di vedere - ed il mio è un particolarissimo modo di vedere - il finale andava completamente cambiato, per essere precisi le ultime due pagine non dovevano nemmeno esistere... ma questa è un'altra storia.
Ritroviamo Spring, Lowa e Dug, ma siccome li conosciamo, invece di perderci in presentazioni varie saltiamo direttamente nella storia. Per fortuna l'autore ci risparmia quello che in termini tecnici è "Lo spiegone": se non avete letto il primo libro andate a farlo oppure cercate di cavare un ragno dal buco, non è compito dell'autore spiegarvi chi è chi e perché fa cosa, quello lo dovreste già sapere. ;-) Dicevamo quindi che ci ritroviamo nel castello di Maidun e Lowa si trova ad organizzare le sue azioni come regina, mentre il suo migliore guerriero sta meditando di ritirarsi a vita privata nei campi.
I soliti druidi fanno più danni che altro, ma Drustan viene inviato a Roma per cercare di capire quali sono le intenzioni dell'esercito romano, e questa parte del romanzo - sarà perché vengo da Roma a mia volta - è veramente divertente e la figura di Giulio Cesare è rappresentata con un certo rispetto per la realtà, come anche i vari intrighi e impicci del Senato e del triumvirato.
Ma le azioni si svolgono contemporaneamente anche nella perfida terra di Albione, dove le altre tribù britanniche, non sono così pronte ad accettare una regina, anche se è stata colei che ha distrutto il regno del perfido Re Zadar, che continua, anche da morto, ad avere un certo seguito di estimatori, più o meno evidenti.
Tra eserciti di ghoul e giganti, il nostro improbabile trio si ritroverà ancora una volta sul campo di battaglia, mentre un altro numero di personaggi secondari assurgerà ad uno status più elevato; nel frattempo la storia si avvicina ad un inimmaginabile scontro finale, nel quale le sorti sono ancora tutte da decidere, tranne una.
Ritroviamo Spring, Lowa e Dug, ma siccome li conosciamo, invece di perderci in presentazioni varie saltiamo direttamente nella storia. Per fortuna l'autore ci risparmia quello che in termini tecnici è "Lo spiegone": se non avete letto il primo libro andate a farlo oppure cercate di cavare un ragno dal buco, non è compito dell'autore spiegarvi chi è chi e perché fa cosa, quello lo dovreste già sapere. ;-) Dicevamo quindi che ci ritroviamo nel castello di Maidun e Lowa si trova ad organizzare le sue azioni come regina, mentre il suo migliore guerriero sta meditando di ritirarsi a vita privata nei campi.
I soliti druidi fanno più danni che altro, ma Drustan viene inviato a Roma per cercare di capire quali sono le intenzioni dell'esercito romano, e questa parte del romanzo - sarà perché vengo da Roma a mia volta - è veramente divertente e la figura di Giulio Cesare è rappresentata con un certo rispetto per la realtà, come anche i vari intrighi e impicci del Senato e del triumvirato.
Ma le azioni si svolgono contemporaneamente anche nella perfida terra di Albione, dove le altre tribù britanniche, non sono così pronte ad accettare una regina, anche se è stata colei che ha distrutto il regno del perfido Re Zadar, che continua, anche da morto, ad avere un certo seguito di estimatori, più o meno evidenti.
Tra eserciti di ghoul e giganti, il nostro improbabile trio si ritroverà ancora una volta sul campo di battaglia, mentre un altro numero di personaggi secondari assurgerà ad uno status più elevato; nel frattempo la storia si avvicina ad un inimmaginabile scontro finale, nel quale le sorti sono ancora tutte da decidere, tranne una.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2020
Not as good as his first book. Other reviewers have commented on the slow pace relative to the first. They are correct. It was a slog to get through though it does pick up towards the end.
The part I really hated was Watson's copious use of the deus ex machina principle. Every time Caesar is in trouble, up pops Felix with another bit of black magic in order to save Caesar. Really? Romans in serious trouble when Gauls attack them on the sea? No worries, because Felix causes the wind to die down. Romans in serious trouble when Gauls decide to ambush them? No worries, because Felix figures out the ambush through magic and sends huge warriors created by black magic to wipe them out. Killed all the tension in the plot. Every time I would read a chapter where the Romans were in trouble, I could foresee (possibly like Felix) that Watson would wave his hands and the trouble would disappear.
Speaking of deus ex machina, one other major problem that I'm hoping gets cleared up in the third book: The assignment of magic to characters is almost random. Pomax has it, Spring has it on occasion. Chamanca has it and of course, Felix the unstoppable has it. But there are no rules. Pomax has it sometimes and it disappears other times. Who knows why or when? I'm hoping the author does because this book was unsatisfying relative to the first.
The part I really hated was Watson's copious use of the deus ex machina principle. Every time Caesar is in trouble, up pops Felix with another bit of black magic in order to save Caesar. Really? Romans in serious trouble when Gauls attack them on the sea? No worries, because Felix causes the wind to die down. Romans in serious trouble when Gauls decide to ambush them? No worries, because Felix figures out the ambush through magic and sends huge warriors created by black magic to wipe them out. Killed all the tension in the plot. Every time I would read a chapter where the Romans were in trouble, I could foresee (possibly like Felix) that Watson would wave his hands and the trouble would disappear.
Speaking of deus ex machina, one other major problem that I'm hoping gets cleared up in the third book: The assignment of magic to characters is almost random. Pomax has it, Spring has it on occasion. Chamanca has it and of course, Felix the unstoppable has it. But there are no rules. Pomax has it sometimes and it disappears other times. Who knows why or when? I'm hoping the author does because this book was unsatisfying relative to the first.
May 10, 2017
3.5*'s which is what I gave book one.
I think my favorite part of this book was the historical elements of Rome and it's legendary characters. I had forgotten so much of this time period and the author notes that his depictions of Rome, it's politics, leaders and battle legions didn't need embellishment. Their brutality was uncompromising in the face of their lust for power. It also made me realize how heavily authors such as Erikson, Martin and other genre greats are drawing from that era. Caesar makes Mallick Rel and Cersei look benign.
Our favorites are back again mostly in Britain but some on the continent. Their role is somewhat overshadowed but Rome until the finale which was an unforeseen twist which was well done. There is also a lot more magic in this book compared to book one. The druids and their magic is very dark and archaic which is a good change from most fantasy books where there's a need to have a very specific and developed magic. Not that those magic systems are bad but life, variety and all that.
I think my favorite part of this book was the historical elements of Rome and it's legendary characters. I had forgotten so much of this time period and the author notes that his depictions of Rome, it's politics, leaders and battle legions didn't need embellishment. Their brutality was uncompromising in the face of their lust for power. It also made me realize how heavily authors such as Erikson, Martin and other genre greats are drawing from that era. Caesar makes Mallick Rel and Cersei look benign.
Our favorites are back again mostly in Britain but some on the continent. Their role is somewhat overshadowed but Rome until the finale which was an unforeseen twist which was well done. There is also a lot more magic in this book compared to book one. The druids and their magic is very dark and archaic which is a good change from most fantasy books where there's a need to have a very specific and developed magic. Not that those magic systems are bad but life, variety and all that.
July 6, 2016
While not as good as Age of Iron the first book, this was still a powerful read.... plenty of action, in fact pretty much non stop as the now queen of Maidun, Lowa seeks to keep hold of what she has won and try to unite the British tribes against the on coming Romans. who as we read are slaughtering their way through Gaul.....meeting hardly any resistance!
It was good to catch up with all the main characters, Dug, Spring and Lowa and whilst there was some humour (please see two very well known Gaulish characters straight out of a comic strip) this book felt grimmer than the first with our hero's being beset from the very beginning until the gut punching end!!
If you like your fantasy not particularly high and with no frills attached then this is the read for you!
It was good to catch up with all the main characters, Dug, Spring and Lowa and whilst there was some humour (please see two very well known Gaulish characters straight out of a comic strip) this book felt grimmer than the first with our hero's being beset from the very beginning until the gut punching end!!
If you like your fantasy not particularly high and with no frills attached then this is the read for you!
April 21, 2015
Clash of Iron is the explosive second novel is the Age of Iron series. Angus Watson again combines fact with fiction in a brilliantly inventive way that had me gripped from the very first page to the last. Violence, war, romance, magic...this series has it all along with amazing, witty, lovable characters that drive the fast paced plot along well. The ending of this book is mind blowing and I'm on edge already waiting for the next installment! I hope this series goes on for a very long time because it's unique, interesting and stands out from anything else I've read.
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February 27, 20213.5⭐️
Rounded up to 4⭐️ for an outstanding ending with a whopper of a surprise. This volume suffered a little from “middle book of trilogy syndrome” with a somewhat meandering storyline. However, the characters are still great and I can’t help but care about what happens to them. The battle scenes are epic and Watsons humor makes ancient Britain and Roman people and history seem very real and vital.
Rounded up to 4⭐️ for an outstanding ending with a whopper of a surprise. This volume suffered a little from “middle book of trilogy syndrome” with a somewhat meandering storyline. However, the characters are still great and I can’t help but care about what happens to them. The battle scenes are epic and Watsons humor makes ancient Britain and Roman people and history seem very real and vital.
January 4, 2025
I loved the first one (Age of Iron), but CoI is significantly worse. I can even call it a disappointment.
What's wrong?
1. Some of AoI advantages actually turned into cons now. For example - I enjoyed the sense of humor, even the snarkiness of AoI characters, but ... now every character is sarcastic and in the very same way - all sound the same way & simply ... irritate.
2. AoI characters were likable (or dislikeable) in a very simple & straightforward way - now many of the main heroes are half-absent or irritate, while we're following secondary characters who used to be key antagonists. The idea is quite OK, but it needs more polish - you need to make the reader care for them (e.g., for Chamanca) - the author didn't do enough to succeed in that.
3. The motivations in AoI were purely survival-related, and that worked surprisingly well. Now, we're far more into politics, and yes - there's a grand "goal" ahead (poorly defined), but the author didn't succeed in creating a credible and interesting list of milestones to get there (well, with one exception).
4. There are many new characters, but they are not fun, rather grotesque ;/
5. The grande finale is disappointing. I really like complex schemes, interwoven threads, intrigues that work out or spectacularly fail - I didn't get anything like that here :(
3 stars only - and it's 2.6 rounded up, not the other way around ;/
P.S. Fun fact - one of the characters referred to "Jesus" once, while sighing. LOL (but maybe it was a fail of the translator)
What's wrong?
1. Some of AoI advantages actually turned into cons now. For example - I enjoyed the sense of humor, even the snarkiness of AoI characters, but ... now every character is sarcastic and in the very same way - all sound the same way & simply ... irritate.
2. AoI characters were likable (or dislikeable) in a very simple & straightforward way - now many of the main heroes are half-absent or irritate, while we're following secondary characters who used to be key antagonists. The idea is quite OK, but it needs more polish - you need to make the reader care for them (e.g., for Chamanca) - the author didn't do enough to succeed in that.
3. The motivations in AoI were purely survival-related, and that worked surprisingly well. Now, we're far more into politics, and yes - there's a grand "goal" ahead (poorly defined), but the author didn't succeed in creating a credible and interesting list of milestones to get there (well, with one exception).
4. There are many new characters, but they are not fun, rather grotesque ;/
5. The grande finale is disappointing. I really like complex schemes, interwoven threads, intrigues that work out or spectacularly fail - I didn't get anything like that here :(
3 stars only - and it's 2.6 rounded up, not the other way around ;/
P.S. Fun fact - one of the characters referred to "Jesus" once, while sighing. LOL (but maybe it was a fail of the translator)
April 11, 2022
Quite a bit of gore and some horrific violence and rather funny. It also offered me in a lifetime of reading books an ending I did not see coming whatsoever.
April 20, 2015
Originally posted on: http://www.albainbookland.com/2015/04...
Clash of Iron is the second installment in the Iron Age Trilogy by Angus Watson. The first book, Age of Iron, centered in the British tribes, especially Maidun. And we met the archer Lowa, now Queen of Maidun, Dug, a rather old warrior but still in great shape, and Spring, a girl with the ability to create magic never seen before. In Clash of Iron, the setting of the story expands to the whole of Europe as we read about the Romans and their ways of life in Rome and follow their General Julius Caesar in his battles to conquer the Germans and the Gauls.
As a consequence, the story seems to forget a bit about our beloved main characters in the first third of the novel. During the first 200 pages the story had a slow pace for me. But then, as the Romans are getting closer to Britain, the story picks up and it seems like everything starts happening at the same time. Lowa and her tribe find themselves in the middle of what will probably be the most epic battle of the era. And after finishing this book I really can't wait to find out what happens in the last book of the Trilogy.
One thing for sure though with the introduction of the Romans, the story gets a lot more horrifying and the gore details grow exponentially, with crucifixions, tortures and burying people alive. Enter here the crazy King of Eroo, who after conquering the whole Island, plans now on conquering the island of Britain too, or the even crazier Pomax, the Queen of the Murkans, another British tribe. Their ways are definitely not recommended for the lighthearted. I think I had never thought of how many ways there are of torturing and killing someone. Life was not really valuable back then. Also, the growing magic in the Druids, especially the dark magic, gives the story the perfect fantasy touch, making the battles unexpected and giving everyone something to fear the most, the unknown.
There are two things that I am highly enjoying in this series. First, all the magnificent female characters, Lowa, Spring and Chamanca being my favourites. They are not seen as inferiors for being woman, quite the opposite. Having a woman rule a kingdom or directing an army was not an exception (quite different for the Romans, though). The second thing is the historical character of these novels, we know so much of the Romans and how they lived but have no idea who their opponents were and how they lived. I find reading about the British tribes, the Gauls and the Germans really interesting.
Clash of Iron is the second installment in the Iron Age Trilogy by Angus Watson. The first book, Age of Iron, centered in the British tribes, especially Maidun. And we met the archer Lowa, now Queen of Maidun, Dug, a rather old warrior but still in great shape, and Spring, a girl with the ability to create magic never seen before. In Clash of Iron, the setting of the story expands to the whole of Europe as we read about the Romans and their ways of life in Rome and follow their General Julius Caesar in his battles to conquer the Germans and the Gauls.
As a consequence, the story seems to forget a bit about our beloved main characters in the first third of the novel. During the first 200 pages the story had a slow pace for me. But then, as the Romans are getting closer to Britain, the story picks up and it seems like everything starts happening at the same time. Lowa and her tribe find themselves in the middle of what will probably be the most epic battle of the era. And after finishing this book I really can't wait to find out what happens in the last book of the Trilogy.
One thing for sure though with the introduction of the Romans, the story gets a lot more horrifying and the gore details grow exponentially, with crucifixions, tortures and burying people alive. Enter here the crazy King of Eroo, who after conquering the whole Island, plans now on conquering the island of Britain too, or the even crazier Pomax, the Queen of the Murkans, another British tribe. Their ways are definitely not recommended for the lighthearted. I think I had never thought of how many ways there are of torturing and killing someone. Life was not really valuable back then. Also, the growing magic in the Druids, especially the dark magic, gives the story the perfect fantasy touch, making the battles unexpected and giving everyone something to fear the most, the unknown.
There are two things that I am highly enjoying in this series. First, all the magnificent female characters, Lowa, Spring and Chamanca being my favourites. They are not seen as inferiors for being woman, quite the opposite. Having a woman rule a kingdom or directing an army was not an exception (quite different for the Romans, though). The second thing is the historical character of these novels, we know so much of the Romans and how they lived but have no idea who their opponents were and how they lived. I find reading about the British tribes, the Gauls and the Germans really interesting.
April 20, 2015
Following on from last year's Age of Iron today I have the review for Clash of Iron the second installment in Angus Watson's enjoyable series.
Dug and his partners in crime are back, thank badgers b******s for that! The Iron Age's biggest baddest bad-ass has a ton of problems coming his way, all of them Roman but first he has a local problem to sort.
Lowa has become a Queen of Maidun Castle but now that she is in charge, she has to keep her people safe and stop any would be invaders getting through her gates, she is ably helped by her closest "friends", Spring the young girl with incredible powers and of course Dug the "gentleman" warrior who has been around the block several dozen times.
There is no way in hell I am going to be able to do this book justice as it has lots going on and it is so incredibly rich in its characters and lands but to be brief the Romans are coming, yes Julius Caesar is planning his attack of the British Isles and he is thinking about heading in our direction.
After a successful battle where Lowa and Dug and their troops manage to keep Maidun Castle safe, Dug discovers he has inherited some money and decides to buy a farm and retire from his life of bloodshed, Spring stays under Lowa's watchful eye but Lowa has other worries with the threat of the Roman invasion, she sends some trusted spies in to the Romans lair but unfortunately that is met with mixed results.
Clash of Iron is an epic read, the characters are awesome, especially the women, Spring and Lowa along with the character Chamanca are such incredibly strong, no nonsense females and fair dues to Angus doing such a credible job with his female characters plus the male ones are not bad either!
The ending was, well I'm not sure about the ending there is of course blood and war but it made me sad, I felt loss and I hope that loss is not permanent. Read it you'll know what I mean.
Clash of Iron is a well written book, it does not take is self too seriously but it does a fantastic job of transporting you back in time to a time when men where men and women happily kicked their asses!
A fantastic read!
Thank you to Clara at Little Brown for kindly providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Dug and his partners in crime are back, thank badgers b******s for that! The Iron Age's biggest baddest bad-ass has a ton of problems coming his way, all of them Roman but first he has a local problem to sort.
Lowa has become a Queen of Maidun Castle but now that she is in charge, she has to keep her people safe and stop any would be invaders getting through her gates, she is ably helped by her closest "friends", Spring the young girl with incredible powers and of course Dug the "gentleman" warrior who has been around the block several dozen times.
There is no way in hell I am going to be able to do this book justice as it has lots going on and it is so incredibly rich in its characters and lands but to be brief the Romans are coming, yes Julius Caesar is planning his attack of the British Isles and he is thinking about heading in our direction.
After a successful battle where Lowa and Dug and their troops manage to keep Maidun Castle safe, Dug discovers he has inherited some money and decides to buy a farm and retire from his life of bloodshed, Spring stays under Lowa's watchful eye but Lowa has other worries with the threat of the Roman invasion, she sends some trusted spies in to the Romans lair but unfortunately that is met with mixed results.
Clash of Iron is an epic read, the characters are awesome, especially the women, Spring and Lowa along with the character Chamanca are such incredibly strong, no nonsense females and fair dues to Angus doing such a credible job with his female characters plus the male ones are not bad either!
The ending was, well I'm not sure about the ending there is of course blood and war but it made me sad, I felt loss and I hope that loss is not permanent. Read it you'll know what I mean.
Clash of Iron is a well written book, it does not take is self too seriously but it does a fantastic job of transporting you back in time to a time when men where men and women happily kicked their asses!
A fantastic read!
Thank you to Clara at Little Brown for kindly providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2019
An even better continuation of a story than a first book.
The story is expanding, and now the British at least meat their almighty foe, the Romans.
Angus Watson writes a good action, whether it's battles or magic, and combines it with history, which is even better (makes me think that I learn something from it).
This time the author decided to shock his readers, and that's the reason why I loved this book even better than the first one.
The end was superb.
I devoured first 2 books in less than a week, which for me this times is a little difficult.
So... if the books are so good, why I gave it only 4 stars, you ask.
There are a few reasons.
The books aren't without flaws.
As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I didn't like the multiple small chapters, which jumps from one POV to another, which makes it harder to follow. I didn't like the lack of world building and backstories of the main characters. Well in the second book there is none either. The third flaw that I forgot to mention in my first review is the language. The author uses modern words such as Network and a few more that just couldn't be used in this era. That's irritates me because he could avoid it easily with other.
I think (like to think) that the unsuitable language is an experience issue and will improve in a future.
All in all I think that the trilogy is great (I'm in 20% in the third book now), the author is very promising, and I eagerly waiting to his next books, whether it will be in this era or a something different.
Very recommended, especially to Joe's Abercorbrie's "First law" trilogy.
The story is expanding, and now the British at least meat their almighty foe, the Romans.
Angus Watson writes a good action, whether it's battles or magic, and combines it with history, which is even better (makes me think that I learn something from it).
This time the author decided to shock his readers, and that's the reason why I loved this book even better than the first one.
The end was superb.
I devoured first 2 books in less than a week, which for me this times is a little difficult.
So... if the books are so good, why I gave it only 4 stars, you ask.
There are a few reasons.
The books aren't without flaws.
As I mentioned in my review of the first book, I didn't like the multiple small chapters, which jumps from one POV to another, which makes it harder to follow. I didn't like the lack of world building and backstories of the main characters. Well in the second book there is none either. The third flaw that I forgot to mention in my first review is the language. The author uses modern words such as Network and a few more that just couldn't be used in this era. That's irritates me because he could avoid it easily with other.
I think (like to think) that the unsuitable language is an experience issue and will improve in a future.
All in all I think that the trilogy is great (I'm in 20% in the third book now), the author is very promising, and I eagerly waiting to his next books, whether it will be in this era or a something different.
Very recommended, especially to Joe's Abercorbrie's "First law" trilogy.
April 18, 2015
would like to thank Clara Diaz for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
This is the following story from Age of Iron and in some ways doesn't live up to Age of Iron especially at the beginning of the story, things however do improve and have been set up for the third book.
I would say the book isn't for the faint hearted but I really can't wait to see where the author goes from here. This is a violent take on life back then and I'm sure life was really was like that if not worse for some people.
This is the following story from Age of Iron and in some ways doesn't live up to Age of Iron especially at the beginning of the story, things however do improve and have been set up for the third book.
I would say the book isn't for the faint hearted but I really can't wait to see where the author goes from here. This is a violent take on life back then and I'm sure life was really was like that if not worse for some people.
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