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The Great Iron War #6
Hometaker: A Sci-Fi Dystopian Adventure
The Resistance races against time to complete the missile-launcher known as the Hometaker, capable of opening a gateway to the land the Regime came from, and exposing the Iron Emperor for all the evils he's done.
Everything rests on the secrecy of the mission, but from day one, tongues are wagging. The atmosphere is like dynamite. An overheard word could light the fuse.
With no time left on the clock, General Rommond is forced to make an audacious finish the construction of the Hometaker on the move, driving straight towards the enemy, who've assembled in unimaginable force. The Great Iron War is coming to an end. It's all or nothing - their world or ours.
Everything rests on the secrecy of the mission, but from day one, tongues are wagging. The atmosphere is like dynamite. An overheard word could light the fuse.
With no time left on the clock, General Rommond is forced to make an audacious finish the construction of the Hometaker on the move, driving straight towards the enemy, who've assembled in unimaginable force. The Great Iron War is coming to an end. It's all or nothing - their world or ours.
Audible Audio
First published December 16, 2016
9 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
Dean F. Wilson
29 books2,097 followersUSA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author
Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11.
He is the author of the Children of Telm epic fantasy trilogy, the Great Iron War steampunk series, the Coilhunter Chronicles science-fiction western series, the Hibernian Hollows urban fantasy series, and the Infinite Stars space opera series.
Dean previously worked as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro, and The Inquirer.
Dean F. Wilson was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1987. He started writing at age 11.
He is the author of the Children of Telm epic fantasy trilogy, the Great Iron War steampunk series, the Coilhunter Chronicles science-fiction western series, the Hibernian Hollows urban fantasy series, and the Infinite Stars space opera series.
Dean previously worked as a journalist, primarily in the field of technology. He has written for TechEye, Thinq, V3, VR-Zone, ITProPortal, TechRadar Pro, and The Inquirer.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 22, 2017
I actually can’t quite believe this series, The Great Iron War has come to a conclusion. I have been following this series from the very first day, my very grateful thanks to author Dean F. Wilson for allowing me to embark on this journey with all of the characters, and I must say- I am a very satisfied reader indeed. The 6 books in The Great Iron War series have been a hell of a journey full of battles, small and big victories, a huge cast of different characters and many heartstopping moments.
Hometaker is a very strong finale! As there is no rest for the wicked, so there is no rest for the reader throughout the length of this book. I started reading this thinking there will be some kind of an epic battle towards the end of the book, that there will still be some kind of build-up before the characters I have learned to know over the past couple of years will face the Iron Emperor. How wrong was I! While the Emperor does make his appearance towards the end, the whole book is a battle… an epic read of war strategies, broken loyalties and fresh surprises.
Throughout the series Wilson has managed to keep me engaged with his execution- the environment, the machinery, the tactics and the characters are all solid. While I can be quite picky with action scenes in any book (because let’s face it, sometimes the action scenes are just a mess and a muddle), Wilson does not rush through a scene. He spoonfeeds the tension and ever single time delivers a new revelation to the best effect! While the series does focus a lot on character development, Hometaker is very much a testosterone filled book and I freaking enjoyed it one page at a time!
I am purposefully holding back on re-telling the book… I can’t tell anything of the plot because this is a review for the 6th in the series. If you haven’t read the first 5 books, I will not be held responsible for spoilers
Hometaker is a very strong finale! As there is no rest for the wicked, so there is no rest for the reader throughout the length of this book. I started reading this thinking there will be some kind of an epic battle towards the end of the book, that there will still be some kind of build-up before the characters I have learned to know over the past couple of years will face the Iron Emperor. How wrong was I! While the Emperor does make his appearance towards the end, the whole book is a battle… an epic read of war strategies, broken loyalties and fresh surprises.
Throughout the series Wilson has managed to keep me engaged with his execution- the environment, the machinery, the tactics and the characters are all solid. While I can be quite picky with action scenes in any book (because let’s face it, sometimes the action scenes are just a mess and a muddle), Wilson does not rush through a scene. He spoonfeeds the tension and ever single time delivers a new revelation to the best effect! While the series does focus a lot on character development, Hometaker is very much a testosterone filled book and I freaking enjoyed it one page at a time!
I am purposefully holding back on re-telling the book… I can’t tell anything of the plot because this is a review for the 6th in the series. If you haven’t read the first 5 books, I will not be held responsible for spoilers
December 20, 2016
What I loved about this story: The circle is closed!
After years of reading these great books, I was happy to finally reach the end and receive that satisfying conclusion to the story. It did the rest of the series justice and closed the story in a way that I felt good about. Not necessarily a "happy ending", but the fitting ending the series deserved.
I LOVED the various plot twists and turns in this book. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I'd have to say "I didn't see that coming!" They totally caught me by surprise, and I found they made for a much more realistic plot.
What I didn't love: I felt the book was a bit more "rushed" than the previous ones. There were parts that felt downright choppy and "first draft" than Dean's usual writing style.
But all in all, it was a satisfying ending to a book series I've enjoyed from the very beginning. Can't wait to see what comes next!
After years of reading these great books, I was happy to finally reach the end and receive that satisfying conclusion to the story. It did the rest of the series justice and closed the story in a way that I felt good about. Not necessarily a "happy ending", but the fitting ending the series deserved.
I LOVED the various plot twists and turns in this book. I'm not going to spoil anything, but I'd have to say "I didn't see that coming!" They totally caught me by surprise, and I found they made for a much more realistic plot.
What I didn't love: I felt the book was a bit more "rushed" than the previous ones. There were parts that felt downright choppy and "first draft" than Dean's usual writing style.
But all in all, it was a satisfying ending to a book series I've enjoyed from the very beginning. Can't wait to see what comes next!
December 16, 2016
I guess you could say that Dean Wilson saved the best for last. This book ties in all the loose ties from previous books. Perhaps it's just me, but I hate to see a story lose any characters, good oer bad. But it's almost like Game of Thrones - someone has to die but you don't know who it is right up until the moment it happens. I found it to be indicative of excellent creative talent to end so many of the chapters with a cliff hanger. It made it hard to put the book down at any given time. It makes you want to NEVER put the book down until the story has been told in its entirety. There were no dull moments in this book, no lull in the activity, no lack of drama at any given time. As usual, the details are very specific and makes it very easy to paint a mental picture of the story in your mind. The Iron Emperor makes a very long-awaited appearance and plays a very active role in the story. I was totally unprepared for how that whole scenario played out. There were elements of treason that were totally out of the blue. You never knew right up until it happens who was going to turn on another character. It breathed a life into the story (as a whole) that surpasses all the other five novels in the Great Iron War series. As was the case in the other five novels, Dean makes it so easy to become emotionally attached to some of the characters. Most of them actually, because there always has to be a bad guy - or in this case, bad guys, plural. You will never see the ending coming. You won't be able to figure it out. It's a pleasant surprise that can only be discovered by reading this fabulous book yourself. Enjoy!
August 26, 2018
And so the final instalment is ended. After being with the characters over the course of 6 books, it's almost with a sense of loss to bring things to a close. Although the last book, this still went out in style.
Tensions rise and reach breaking point when Rommond and Co head off to fight the Iron Emperor. This final chapter has lots of backstabbing, secret rendezvous and broken allegiances which will have you second guessing who is on whose side. Add to this some laugh out loud antics from Porridge - The series most colourful character, and the 'Dirty Harry' of the Iron Wars - Nox the Coilhunter, and you have a fantastically entertaining conclusion.
Regular readers to this series will be aware of the almost 'Game Of Thrones' style deaths that occur to characters that they have followed and this final book continues the trend, so be prepared to be surprised.
This entire set of books is a must read for fans of Military Sci-Fi, Steampunk or Dystopian style fiction - I cannot praise it enough.
Tensions rise and reach breaking point when Rommond and Co head off to fight the Iron Emperor. This final chapter has lots of backstabbing, secret rendezvous and broken allegiances which will have you second guessing who is on whose side. Add to this some laugh out loud antics from Porridge - The series most colourful character, and the 'Dirty Harry' of the Iron Wars - Nox the Coilhunter, and you have a fantastically entertaining conclusion.
Regular readers to this series will be aware of the almost 'Game Of Thrones' style deaths that occur to characters that they have followed and this final book continues the trend, so be prepared to be surprised.
This entire set of books is a must read for fans of Military Sci-Fi, Steampunk or Dystopian style fiction - I cannot praise it enough.
March 13, 2021
WOW!!!! What do I do now? Seriously, what is there left to do with a series ending like this one?
First off, I did not realize this was the final book as I thought there was one more book left. It wasn't until 2.5 hours left in the audiobook that this was the final book in TGIW series. To say that my mind was sent reeling would be an understatement. After that massive hit to my emotions, I proceeded through the story to what can only be described as the single best ending to a series that I have ever listened to. I mean...just, WOW!
I mentioned this in other reviews, but I love the relationship between Rommond and Brooklyn. Also, watching Jacob and Whistler's relationship blossom after the happenings in the last book brought a tear to my eye. The defeat of The Iron Emperor was edge-of-your-seat type stuff and I went through a wide array of emotions and feelings.
Again, did I say wow? If not, WOW!!! Very nicely done, Dean. This was a great conclusion to the series and I am very much looking forward to the off-shoot Coilhunter spinoff continuing. I am not ready to leave Altadas.
First off, I did not realize this was the final book as I thought there was one more book left. It wasn't until 2.5 hours left in the audiobook that this was the final book in TGIW series. To say that my mind was sent reeling would be an understatement. After that massive hit to my emotions, I proceeded through the story to what can only be described as the single best ending to a series that I have ever listened to. I mean...just, WOW!
I mentioned this in other reviews, but I love the relationship between Rommond and Brooklyn. Also, watching Jacob and Whistler's relationship blossom after the happenings in the last book brought a tear to my eye. The defeat of The Iron Emperor was edge-of-your-seat type stuff and I went through a wide array of emotions and feelings.
Again, did I say wow? If not, WOW!!! Very nicely done, Dean. This was a great conclusion to the series and I am very much looking forward to the off-shoot Coilhunter spinoff continuing. I am not ready to leave Altadas.
June 27, 2020
Hometaker - a review by Rosemary Kenny
The final epic battle for Altadas' very existence is wonderfully created in Dean F Wilson's 6th book in the Great Iron War series, a Sci-Fi Dystopian Adventure like no other you'll be amazed by this year.
General Rommond, Jacob, Whistler, Lorelei, the Iron Emperor and of course that 'Man With No Name-like flawed hero with a monowheel, Nox, the bounty-seeking Coilhunter, all have their various exciting roles to play, in saving the world and the countless others enslaved to and destroyed by the Empire and its hubristic ruler.
With a climax you won't have seen coming, Hometaker by the brilliant Dean F. Wilson deserves the pride of place on your Sci-Fi Dystopian Adventure book shelves, as it's a winner of a conclusion (for now?), for a truly magnificent series. Get your copy today!
The final epic battle for Altadas' very existence is wonderfully created in Dean F Wilson's 6th book in the Great Iron War series, a Sci-Fi Dystopian Adventure like no other you'll be amazed by this year.
General Rommond, Jacob, Whistler, Lorelei, the Iron Emperor and of course that 'Man With No Name-like flawed hero with a monowheel, Nox, the bounty-seeking Coilhunter, all have their various exciting roles to play, in saving the world and the countless others enslaved to and destroyed by the Empire and its hubristic ruler.
With a climax you won't have seen coming, Hometaker by the brilliant Dean F. Wilson deserves the pride of place on your Sci-Fi Dystopian Adventure book shelves, as it's a winner of a conclusion (for now?), for a truly magnificent series. Get your copy today!
March 30, 2024
The 6th and final instalment of the Great Iron War series. Overall this is an OK series. The books (this one included) have enough action in them to keep the reader interested . My problem is that they are all similar in their construction with the resistance coming up with a new 'war machine' the title 'character' of each instalment and then fight a battle against insurmountable odds and come out victorious. The ending of the book and thus the series was somewhat of a let down as it came all too quickly. I've been using 2 audible books 1-3 and 4-6 to complete the series but there is no sufficient variation in Wilson's writing for me to continue with any of his other series.
December 1, 2018
The book seemed to just fizzle out at the end. I think the story to be told was far greater than the amount of pages allotted for it. There weren't enough details and some story points were just ended too quickly and convenient. That's not what you want after reading 6 books. I want things fleshed out....not rushed. I enjoyed what was there but wanted more.....more for me, more for the characters....MORE for the story.
It's definitely well worth checking out the Coilhunter series because there we get to see Nox at his best.
I hope to see Jacob and Whistler again in their own series.
It's definitely well worth checking out the Coilhunter series because there we get to see Nox at his best.
I hope to see Jacob and Whistler again in their own series.
February 24, 2017
Well, as this series comes to a close, it ends with quite a bit of destruction, death, and betrayal. So, it is a good conclusion - not a rainbow and kittens ending. I'm not going to delve into the story. Why? Because if you are here - you had 5 books to tell you everything you need to know up to this point. Win, Lose, or Draw - this is the big finale. Enjoy.
4.5/5 Stars. Quick pace with plenty of action.
ARC provided by author.
4.5/5 Stars. Quick pace with plenty of action.
ARC provided by author.
August 9, 2017
YES! Another home run by the talented Dean Wilson. Yes, I may have gotten a free copy of this book in exchange for a review, but I am nothing if not honest, so if I was unhappy with this book, everyone would know. There isn't too much to disappoint me about the final book in the Great Iron War series, although there were a few moments where I wasn't sure how this review would end up sounding. Thankfully, my favorite characters survived, I can comfortably give Hometaker 4 out of 5 stars, and I can rest comfortably knowing that Dean Wilson now gets to move on to other novels and stories that are sure to please.
Wow. Dean Wilson has a way of keeping his audience on its toes, never really knowing what's going to happen next, or just who will survive the next tragedy. Hometaker does not disappoint in this regard. This is a fast paced, swiftly changing story in which one never really knows what might happen. It has been amazing to watch Rommond grow as a character (obviously, my favorite character), from the first book in the series Hopebreaker, in which in retrospect he seemed flat and uninteresting. Wilson truly knows how to write his characters, while still keeping the story moving and the plot thickening. And my, does it thicken! Twists, turns, betrayals, and the final confrontation between the Resistance and the Iron Emperor, kept me reading this book late into the nights until I remembered that I'm an adult and need to get my sleep for work. I haven't decided yet if I'm pleased to have finished this series and seen a satisfying conclusion, or if I'm going to write the author asking for more stories about Rommond, Jacob, Whistler, and the rest of the Resistance fighters. There's already a standalone novel about Nox titled Coilhunter (which I'll be reviewing as well), but the world of Altadas seems full of additional stories and lives to be shared with Wilson's readers. I'm pretty stoked about this series, if you haven't been able to figure that out yet, and look forward to reading and reviewing more of Dean Wilson's stories in the future. Go check out the first book in this series (and read my review of it here), and let me (and Wilson) know what you think!
Wow. Dean Wilson has a way of keeping his audience on its toes, never really knowing what's going to happen next, or just who will survive the next tragedy. Hometaker does not disappoint in this regard. This is a fast paced, swiftly changing story in which one never really knows what might happen. It has been amazing to watch Rommond grow as a character (obviously, my favorite character), from the first book in the series Hopebreaker, in which in retrospect he seemed flat and uninteresting. Wilson truly knows how to write his characters, while still keeping the story moving and the plot thickening. And my, does it thicken! Twists, turns, betrayals, and the final confrontation between the Resistance and the Iron Emperor, kept me reading this book late into the nights until I remembered that I'm an adult and need to get my sleep for work. I haven't decided yet if I'm pleased to have finished this series and seen a satisfying conclusion, or if I'm going to write the author asking for more stories about Rommond, Jacob, Whistler, and the rest of the Resistance fighters. There's already a standalone novel about Nox titled Coilhunter (which I'll be reviewing as well), but the world of Altadas seems full of additional stories and lives to be shared with Wilson's readers. I'm pretty stoked about this series, if you haven't been able to figure that out yet, and look forward to reading and reviewing more of Dean Wilson's stories in the future. Go check out the first book in this series (and read my review of it here), and let me (and Wilson) know what you think!
January 30, 2017
Holy smokes! What a rush! Wilson had me captivated from cover to cover. Vivid storytelling combined with an intensely exciting plot combine for a wildly imaginative tale that I couldn't get enough of. I love how the short chapters added intensity and urgency to the story as a whole. Wilson's in depth world building also continues throughout drawing readers deeper into the story.
I love how my favourite characters returned to shine once more while others showed the darker side of life. The clash of personalities was fantastic. There were some definite character twists here that I never saw coming. Everyone was so real that I felt like I was in the action alongside them. I also loved the possibility of future adventures with certain characters. I'd dive into a spin off series with them without a second thought.
As a whole, this was an absolutely marvellous conclusion to the Iron War, one that I'm definitely sorry to see end. This is a series that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others, but would also suggest reading the entire series in order for the full impact.
I love how my favourite characters returned to shine once more while others showed the darker side of life. The clash of personalities was fantastic. There were some definite character twists here that I never saw coming. Everyone was so real that I felt like I was in the action alongside them. I also loved the possibility of future adventures with certain characters. I'd dive into a spin off series with them without a second thought.
As a whole, this was an absolutely marvellous conclusion to the Iron War, one that I'm definitely sorry to see end. This is a series that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend to others, but would also suggest reading the entire series in order for the full impact.
January 18, 2017
Nachdem mir der letzte Band der Reihe weit weniger gefallen hat als die vorherigen Bände, ging ich an das Finale mit gemischten Gefühlen heran. Tatsächlich brauchte ich mir aber gar keine Sorgen machen, denn Hometaker ist das meiner Meinung nach beste Buch der Reihe und schafft einen würdigen Abschluss.
Die Geschichte fängt dort an, wo die letzte aufgehört hat. Emotionen sprühen und alle Figuren ziehen Bilanz und stellen sich ihrer letzten Entscheidung. Erneut steht eine militärische Mission im Vordergrund der Handlung, doch diesmal gelingt es dem Autor wie in den Anfängen der Reihe mehr emotionale Nähe zu den Handelnden aufzubauen. Dadurch erhalten die Charaktere mehr Farbe. Auch der Plot strotzt vor Energie und eine Wendung jagt die nächste. Definitiv ein würdiges Finale!
Die Geschichte fängt dort an, wo die letzte aufgehört hat. Emotionen sprühen und alle Figuren ziehen Bilanz und stellen sich ihrer letzten Entscheidung. Erneut steht eine militärische Mission im Vordergrund der Handlung, doch diesmal gelingt es dem Autor wie in den Anfängen der Reihe mehr emotionale Nähe zu den Handelnden aufzubauen. Dadurch erhalten die Charaktere mehr Farbe. Auch der Plot strotzt vor Energie und eine Wendung jagt die nächste. Definitiv ein würdiges Finale!
January 9, 2017
A great ending to one heck of a series! Lots of twists, turns, and page-turning moments that keep you enticed until the very end. The Iron Emperor's big moment and the shocking moments afterwards were certainly one of the most memorable moments in the series for me. All in all, a great series for fans of Steampunk and Fantasy alike!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews