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The God Eater Saga #World of God Eater Saga
Hammerfall: A God Eater Saga Story
Not yet published
Expected 3 Feb 26How long can a cause remain just, when painted in the blood of innocence?
They named her the Starhammer once. Hero to some, monster to many more. First into the breach at the Shattering, anointed in the blood of a thousand demons. The last of the legendary Valkyr.
But the Starhammer is dead. Or so all the stories tell.
Amidst the soaring trees and haunted slopes of the Primals, Selitha relies on the forest to provide, and cares for her family. Nothing is more precious to her than her daughter.
It is a simple life. It is a peaceful life. It is a lie.
When bandits raid the Primals, burning towns and stealing children from their beds, Selitha has no choice but to lend her axe to the rescue.
Volcanic giants spew ash into the sky, demonic bears claw the forest to splinters, and there are even rumours the kin, half-men half-beasts, serve the raiders. All the Terrors of the old world stand against her.
With a severed head as guide, to rescue the children, Selitha may need to bring the Starhammer back from the dead.
But will it be the hero who rises from the grave, or the monster?
A new standalone fantasy adventure set in the world of the God Eater Saga. Inspired by Norse mythology and the God of War games, it's perfect for readers of John Gwynne's Bloodsworn Saga.
They named her the Starhammer once. Hero to some, monster to many more. First into the breach at the Shattering, anointed in the blood of a thousand demons. The last of the legendary Valkyr.
But the Starhammer is dead. Or so all the stories tell.
Amidst the soaring trees and haunted slopes of the Primals, Selitha relies on the forest to provide, and cares for her family. Nothing is more precious to her than her daughter.
It is a simple life. It is a peaceful life. It is a lie.
When bandits raid the Primals, burning towns and stealing children from their beds, Selitha has no choice but to lend her axe to the rescue.
Volcanic giants spew ash into the sky, demonic bears claw the forest to splinters, and there are even rumours the kin, half-men half-beasts, serve the raiders. All the Terrors of the old world stand against her.
With a severed head as guide, to rescue the children, Selitha may need to bring the Starhammer back from the dead.
But will it be the hero who rises from the grave, or the monster?
A new standalone fantasy adventure set in the world of the God Eater Saga. Inspired by Norse mythology and the God of War games, it's perfect for readers of John Gwynne's Bloodsworn Saga.
- GenresFantasy
322 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 3, 2026
3 people are currently reading
146 people want to read
About the author
Rob J. Hayes
45 books1,917 followersWinner of Mark Lawrence's 3rd Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO) with Where Loyalties Lie
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
Rob J. Hayes has been a student, a banker, a marine research assistant, a chef, and a keyboard monkey more times than he cares to count. But eventually his love of fantasy and reading drew him to the life of a writer. He’s the author of the Amazon Best Selling The Heresy Within, the SPFBO-winning piratical swashbuckler Where Loyalties Lie, and the critically acclaimed Never Die.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 19, 2025
Full review is now live on Willow Wraith Press!
https://willowwraithpress.com/2025/12...
https://willowwraithpress.com/2025/12...
December 2, 2025
Review Of Hammerfall
By Rob J. Hayes
If you’ve never read any of the Godeater books before, have no fear! This is a standalone set in the same world and realm, and one doesn’t need to have read the others in order to enjoy this book. And let me tell you, enjoy it you will!
Enter Nail, one of the main characters, who is extricating himself from his hiding place, after a brutal raid on the village where he lives. Utter devastation greets him, and most chilling of all is the children have all been taken.
Next we meet the main protagonist, Selitha, once one of the Valkyr, who is searching the woods with her youngest daughter for a tree to fell. She is also a rather intimidating being. At eight feet tall, built like a scarred tank, she is one of the “Fallen.” An Angel who has given up her armour, her wings, in order to hide from the one who seeks to kill all remaining angels and steal their power. She is also sharing her life with a human she loves deeply, with whom she has had a dozen children, or ‘Nephilim.’ I’ll leave this here though.
The story centers around Selitha being dragged into the concerns of a nearby village that has just been destroyed and seen its children stolen. Nail and several others have sought her out, believing her to be the Star Hammer, even though she’s not involved herself in the lives of mortals. She is guilted by her husband to help them. What ensues is a heart pounding race against time to find the children, hopefully alive, and before an evil is unleashed on the world.
Here is where Mr. Hayes really shines, where his mastery of tone, character depth, and storytelling grabs you by the face and shakes you around like a rag doll.
First, we have a reanimated head that had been separated from its body. One of the raiders who took part in burning the village and stealing the children. His commentary and interactions had me one moment wanting to crush him under a boulder, the next laughing at his macabre and rather uncomfortable logic.
Selitha’s arc is truly a masterwork in the study of survivor’s guilt and aggressively suppressing what is inherently part of one’s soul. She has turned away from everything that she embraced as a warrior of God. There are very potent reasons for it, but first and foremost is keeping her husband and her family safe, and invisible to her very real and dangerous enemies, the Godless King and the Forgemistress. She’s set aside her warhammer and her thrill of battle and bloodshed, but doing so has come at a cost. She’s lost the touch of the stars, which were ever her guardians, as well as the music of battle which used to so readily heed her call. It’s just a dull tapping compared to the call of war drums that had once thrummed through her veins.
And here is where I found out how deeply into a character Rob delved. I still can’t get over Selitha’s arc! How her repression of her true self kept her from what she needed to become once more, that her belief that this was forever lost to her was something she just accepted. Until she had to make a choice that required great sacrifice. But there’s some real heartbreak along the way, and usually just when you think your heart has gone through the worst of it. I recommend keeping some tissues handy. And if you’re reading late at night, have a pillow to scream into, otherwise you’ll wake everybody up from screaming about what Rob just did to your mental health, and the physical health of the characters you’ve grown rather fond of.
The funny thing is you’ll be thanking Rob for the pain inflicted! So hop to it!
This was read as an ARC, and this is my unbiased review.
By Rob J. Hayes
If you’ve never read any of the Godeater books before, have no fear! This is a standalone set in the same world and realm, and one doesn’t need to have read the others in order to enjoy this book. And let me tell you, enjoy it you will!
Enter Nail, one of the main characters, who is extricating himself from his hiding place, after a brutal raid on the village where he lives. Utter devastation greets him, and most chilling of all is the children have all been taken.
Next we meet the main protagonist, Selitha, once one of the Valkyr, who is searching the woods with her youngest daughter for a tree to fell. She is also a rather intimidating being. At eight feet tall, built like a scarred tank, she is one of the “Fallen.” An Angel who has given up her armour, her wings, in order to hide from the one who seeks to kill all remaining angels and steal their power. She is also sharing her life with a human she loves deeply, with whom she has had a dozen children, or ‘Nephilim.’ I’ll leave this here though.
The story centers around Selitha being dragged into the concerns of a nearby village that has just been destroyed and seen its children stolen. Nail and several others have sought her out, believing her to be the Star Hammer, even though she’s not involved herself in the lives of mortals. She is guilted by her husband to help them. What ensues is a heart pounding race against time to find the children, hopefully alive, and before an evil is unleashed on the world.
Here is where Mr. Hayes really shines, where his mastery of tone, character depth, and storytelling grabs you by the face and shakes you around like a rag doll.
First, we have a reanimated head that had been separated from its body. One of the raiders who took part in burning the village and stealing the children. His commentary and interactions had me one moment wanting to crush him under a boulder, the next laughing at his macabre and rather uncomfortable logic.
Selitha’s arc is truly a masterwork in the study of survivor’s guilt and aggressively suppressing what is inherently part of one’s soul. She has turned away from everything that she embraced as a warrior of God. There are very potent reasons for it, but first and foremost is keeping her husband and her family safe, and invisible to her very real and dangerous enemies, the Godless King and the Forgemistress. She’s set aside her warhammer and her thrill of battle and bloodshed, but doing so has come at a cost. She’s lost the touch of the stars, which were ever her guardians, as well as the music of battle which used to so readily heed her call. It’s just a dull tapping compared to the call of war drums that had once thrummed through her veins.
And here is where I found out how deeply into a character Rob delved. I still can’t get over Selitha’s arc! How her repression of her true self kept her from what she needed to become once more, that her belief that this was forever lost to her was something she just accepted. Until she had to make a choice that required great sacrifice. But there’s some real heartbreak along the way, and usually just when you think your heart has gone through the worst of it. I recommend keeping some tissues handy. And if you’re reading late at night, have a pillow to scream into, otherwise you’ll wake everybody up from screaming about what Rob just did to your mental health, and the physical health of the characters you’ve grown rather fond of.
The funny thing is you’ll be thanking Rob for the pain inflicted! So hop to it!
This was read as an ARC, and this is my unbiased review.
November 10, 2025
A mix of the classic hero’s journey with plenty of surprises and fantastic world-building. This is my first Rob Hayes book, and I was not disappointed. At every new revelation about the world and the characters I thought “wow, that’s really neat,” and the lore felt complex without being needlessly dense.
I really enjoyed the characters, and without spoiling anything, I loved how the journey changed them all, some for better and some for worse. Selitha forms the core of this story, but it is those she is surrounded with by happenstance that propel her and the story to greater heights.
My full review will be coming this week on FanFiAddict.com, and I gotta say, I’m hoping to dive more into this world in the near future. This was a very good book.
I really enjoyed the characters, and without spoiling anything, I loved how the journey changed them all, some for better and some for worse. Selitha forms the core of this story, but it is those she is surrounded with by happenstance that propel her and the story to greater heights.
My full review will be coming this week on FanFiAddict.com, and I gotta say, I’m hoping to dive more into this world in the near future. This was a very good book.
October 23, 2025
The God Eater Saga were one of the stand out set of books I read last year so I was super happy to get hold of an ARC of Hammerfall, and I was not disappointed!
This tale takes place after the events of Herald. Our protagonist Selitha (once known as StarHammer) is retired from her old life as a Valkyr and living peacefully in the forests with her husband and children. When bandits attack nearby villages and steal their children, Selitha is persuaded to help recover them and is dragged back into a life she thought she had left behind.
A great cast of characters who I loved spending time with and a fast paced plot meant I devoured this book over a couple of evenings ..and am left wanting more. Highly recommended!
This tale takes place after the events of Herald. Our protagonist Selitha (once known as StarHammer) is retired from her old life as a Valkyr and living peacefully in the forests with her husband and children. When bandits attack nearby villages and steal their children, Selitha is persuaded to help recover them and is dragged back into a life she thought she had left behind.
A great cast of characters who I loved spending time with and a fast paced plot meant I devoured this book over a couple of evenings ..and am left wanting more. Highly recommended!
November 29, 2025
**I was provided an E-ARC of this book by the author, in exchange for an honest read and review.**
Well, what a wonderful surprise at the end of a great reading year! Rob Hayes slides in and drops a hammer on us all..."Hammerfall" a stand alone story birthed from his wildly impressive God Eater Saga, has landed in the libraries of his ARC readers and wow, does this story explode off the pages like the amazingly epic cover this entry boasts! 🔥
Following the events of the main Saga, we pick up after the end of "Herald" and the wild, brutal and mind-blowing cliffhanger Hayes left us standing on. This addition to the series has us following the last remaining Valkyr, a now fallen Angel of the first age...Selitha, or 'Star Hammer' a name she boasted as a battle tested and feared Valkyr of legend! Having walked away from death and ruin, Selitha has adopted a calmer, peaceful life hidden in the mountains with her family, she enjoys her new purpose and lifestyle. Doing her best to leave her previous life and legend in the past, our MC carves out a beautiful and calm living for her and her large family. The Star Hammer is no more...and Selitha has come to embrace that. Unfortunately, the world has other plans... humanity and it's cruel, sinful ways finds its way to her doorstep. Bandits have raided nearby villages and bring slaughter and ruin... destroying homes as well as stealing their children. Being the main catalyst to this entry, this issue is brought to the Star Hammer and with a push from her beloved, kicks off a hunt that will stir the very war ballad that has gone quite in Selitha's heart for far too long...as well as bringing to light, lies, secrets, agony and sins long forgotten and thought dead! 👿
Rob takes this rather short story (compared to the massive main Saga) and brings every character, location, and battle to life with absolutely creative and vivid writing, that will have you flipping the pages of this brutal hunt and your blood pumping with the very ballad that sings in our MC's heart! Every chapter is packed with deep lore, brutal pain, unrelenting resilience and unmatched hope! There's even a fair amount of humor sprinkled into this dark tale…in the form of a wildly creative side character that manages to steal many chapters. Innocence and love is tested with greed and sin...can the Star Hammer find that voice in the stars once more, and bring the justice that she was created to uphold. 💪
I am unbelievably humbled and grateful to Rob for the opportunity to read this beauty in advance of release. With the way this story added to the Saga, I am terrified but anxious to continue my jaunt through this tortured and broken, but grand and glorious landscape! In the words of the Star Hammer...
"Be the shield that blocks the sword. The hammer that strikes off the chains. Be the light in the darkness, guiding the way "
4.5⭐ (rounded up) for this painful yet inspiring hunt! There are many lessons highlighted throughout this entry, grab on to each and follow that slim light of hope...Rob has done it again! 📚
Well, what a wonderful surprise at the end of a great reading year! Rob Hayes slides in and drops a hammer on us all..."Hammerfall" a stand alone story birthed from his wildly impressive God Eater Saga, has landed in the libraries of his ARC readers and wow, does this story explode off the pages like the amazingly epic cover this entry boasts! 🔥
Following the events of the main Saga, we pick up after the end of "Herald" and the wild, brutal and mind-blowing cliffhanger Hayes left us standing on. This addition to the series has us following the last remaining Valkyr, a now fallen Angel of the first age...Selitha, or 'Star Hammer' a name she boasted as a battle tested and feared Valkyr of legend! Having walked away from death and ruin, Selitha has adopted a calmer, peaceful life hidden in the mountains with her family, she enjoys her new purpose and lifestyle. Doing her best to leave her previous life and legend in the past, our MC carves out a beautiful and calm living for her and her large family. The Star Hammer is no more...and Selitha has come to embrace that. Unfortunately, the world has other plans... humanity and it's cruel, sinful ways finds its way to her doorstep. Bandits have raided nearby villages and bring slaughter and ruin... destroying homes as well as stealing their children. Being the main catalyst to this entry, this issue is brought to the Star Hammer and with a push from her beloved, kicks off a hunt that will stir the very war ballad that has gone quite in Selitha's heart for far too long...as well as bringing to light, lies, secrets, agony and sins long forgotten and thought dead! 👿
Rob takes this rather short story (compared to the massive main Saga) and brings every character, location, and battle to life with absolutely creative and vivid writing, that will have you flipping the pages of this brutal hunt and your blood pumping with the very ballad that sings in our MC's heart! Every chapter is packed with deep lore, brutal pain, unrelenting resilience and unmatched hope! There's even a fair amount of humor sprinkled into this dark tale…in the form of a wildly creative side character that manages to steal many chapters. Innocence and love is tested with greed and sin...can the Star Hammer find that voice in the stars once more, and bring the justice that she was created to uphold. 💪
I am unbelievably humbled and grateful to Rob for the opportunity to read this beauty in advance of release. With the way this story added to the Saga, I am terrified but anxious to continue my jaunt through this tortured and broken, but grand and glorious landscape! In the words of the Star Hammer...
"Be the shield that blocks the sword. The hammer that strikes off the chains. Be the light in the darkness, guiding the way "
4.5⭐ (rounded up) for this painful yet inspiring hunt! There are many lessons highlighted throughout this entry, grab on to each and follow that slim light of hope...Rob has done it again! 📚
October 30, 2025
Hammerfall by Rob J.Hayes continues the magic that makes the Godeater saga my favorite ongoing series right now. I read the first trio of books early this year and fell in love with the universe and characters. This is a stand alone novel within the universe and carries the same amount of action and great story telling elements of the first books. The character work is strong the main character of Selitha is brilliant written and you can see how the character struggles internal throughout about finding what version of herself she truly wants to be the fallen angel who rather build and create with her hands or the Valkyr of the first age who battle ballad demands to be feed. The next character I want to talk about is Daughter she is a beautiful written character who I wish I could talk about more but I feel you need to read the book because she is a massive portion of the plot and I don’t want to spoil. The side character of Nail, Hernold, and finally Arid each have their individual arcs and feel well thought out and written. The plot of the book is overall great a story with a clear starting point and end point that changes into something more that will affect the universe as a whole. The world building is limited in this book mainly learning about the valkyr and Selthia form life. I can without a doubt say all of the Godeater saga books I’ve read this year will be in my top 10 books of 2025. Rob J. Hayes thank you for the ARC of Hammerfall you have become one of my top authors currently and day one pick ups. I will be making a video on TikTok about it real soon. I now sit in the void watching for the next trio of books to arrive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2025
Book Review:
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book, and it turned out to be a fast-paced, action-packed read from start to finish. Despite the dark and intense storyline, the author masterfully wove in a sense of childlike wonder that brought balance and depth to the narrative.
Rob has an incredible talent for crafting twists that feel completely unexpected in the moment, yet perfectly earned once you look back and see all the subtle breadcrumbs he left along the way. It’s the kind of storytelling that keeps you turning pages and thinking about the book long after you’ve finished.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for a gripping, high-energy read filled with heart, suspense, and surprises.
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of this book, and it turned out to be a fast-paced, action-packed read from start to finish. Despite the dark and intense storyline, the author masterfully wove in a sense of childlike wonder that brought balance and depth to the narrative.
Rob has an incredible talent for crafting twists that feel completely unexpected in the moment, yet perfectly earned once you look back and see all the subtle breadcrumbs he left along the way. It’s the kind of storytelling that keeps you turning pages and thinking about the book long after you’ve finished.
I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for a gripping, high-energy read filled with heart, suspense, and surprises.
Review of advance copy received from Author
My first foray into the God Eater Saga and it was a doozy.... full review coming soon.
Want to read
November 8, 2025Very excited for this, I love standalones. Especially ones set in such a great and unique world. I'm loving the cover art too. Now if I could only get an ARC somehow I'd be happy;)
October 27, 2025
Thank you Rob for the honor of reading this book early to provide a review! This stand alone book is perfect for someone who wants an introduction to either this series or Rob J. Hayes as an author. As someone who read the first book in the series, this book will make you want more. More history, more characters, more lore, more everything. This books starts off cozy with our main character living in peace with her family and only the cares of life. That quickly changes though. This story quickly becomes fast paced, action packed, full of adventure and high stakes. The story is written really well and each character has so much depth for a stand alone. You feel each character’s struggles, their motivations, why drives them towards their goals. One thing that I really love that Rob does well is action. He writes action so well. It doesn’t matter which of his series it is, he writes action and battle really really well. Very engaging! Also, comedy. That sounds like something that may not always go with an epic fantasy story well, but there is one character where it is a part of him, it is done so well and adds so much to the story. The ending of this story wraps up nicely, with no threads left untied, except the one that’s supposed to be left that way. I really look forward to what implications this story has in the God Eater saga as a whole!
November 15, 2025
Id like to start by thanking Rob J Hayes for providing me with an ARC for Hammerfall.
This novel had everything i want from a fantasy story: a great world to get lost in, wonderfully written characters and some incredible action setpieces. I loved the previous books in the Godeater saga but this might just be my favourite of the bunch. The crux of the story is the relationship between a mother and daughter and their journey together really hit home for me and added some much needed respite from how dark the story felt at times.
I highly recommend this book to any fantasy reader, especially those that love things like God of War and the works of John Gwynne. The best part is that you can read this fully standalone but if you have read the other books in the world it makes the story even richer! If you havent checked out a Rob J Hayes book, what are you doing???
This novel had everything i want from a fantasy story: a great world to get lost in, wonderfully written characters and some incredible action setpieces. I loved the previous books in the Godeater saga but this might just be my favourite of the bunch. The crux of the story is the relationship between a mother and daughter and their journey together really hit home for me and added some much needed respite from how dark the story felt at times.
I highly recommend this book to any fantasy reader, especially those that love things like God of War and the works of John Gwynne. The best part is that you can read this fully standalone but if you have read the other books in the world it makes the story even richer! If you havent checked out a Rob J Hayes book, what are you doing???
November 11, 2025
NON-SPOILER REVIEW - Hammerfall by Rob J. Hayes
⭐⭐⭐💫 - 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 because this story has heart!)
Hammerfall is my first exposure to the Rob J. Hayes and the God Eater universe, but I'm confident it will not be my last. A rousing adventure with a double helping of heart, Hammerfall is a fun jaunt into a richly developed world whose vast lore is apparent in this prequel novel.
I suspect this might have received a bit higher rating from me had I already been familiar with the main story novels. The novel begins with a very heartwarming relationship between our main protagonist, Selitha, and her daughter. This mother-daughter bond is the beating heart of this tale, centered around the difficulty every parent has opening up their full and true self to their child. Selitha has an angelic but violent past that she has long sought to bury, but evil forces at work conspire to bring her past back to the forefront.
My main criticism of the novel is that far too much of it is spent with characters talking about events which have already happened or occurred off-page. The lore dumps, while rich, create too many scenes lacking in dynamism and acuity. While Hayes eventually provides all the action necessary, the middle 50% of the novel bogged down and loses momentum several times.
Hayes's prose and literary voice are modern, accessible, mature, and philosophical. While I cannot say that many passages struck me as particularly memorable for their beauty, make no mistake, there is no "weak indie author prose" to be found here.
The narration of the audiobook is excellent. I was not familiar with this narrator previously, but she had a very pleasing vocal cadence and did an admirable job bringing distinct voices to each character.
I closed the book with the distinct impression that Hayes is an author for me. I'll likely pick up his most well-known novel, Never Die, in the near future. For fans of the God Eater series, don't hesitate to pick up Hammerfall.
Many thanks to the author, Rob J. Hayes, for kindly providing me with an ARC and audiobook in exchange for an honest review. It is rare to receive both book and audiobook for review, and as an immersion reader, I greatly appreciated it.
⭐⭐⭐💫 - 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 because this story has heart!)
Hammerfall is my first exposure to the Rob J. Hayes and the God Eater universe, but I'm confident it will not be my last. A rousing adventure with a double helping of heart, Hammerfall is a fun jaunt into a richly developed world whose vast lore is apparent in this prequel novel.
I suspect this might have received a bit higher rating from me had I already been familiar with the main story novels. The novel begins with a very heartwarming relationship between our main protagonist, Selitha, and her daughter. This mother-daughter bond is the beating heart of this tale, centered around the difficulty every parent has opening up their full and true self to their child. Selitha has an angelic but violent past that she has long sought to bury, but evil forces at work conspire to bring her past back to the forefront.
My main criticism of the novel is that far too much of it is spent with characters talking about events which have already happened or occurred off-page. The lore dumps, while rich, create too many scenes lacking in dynamism and acuity. While Hayes eventually provides all the action necessary, the middle 50% of the novel bogged down and loses momentum several times.
Hayes's prose and literary voice are modern, accessible, mature, and philosophical. While I cannot say that many passages struck me as particularly memorable for their beauty, make no mistake, there is no "weak indie author prose" to be found here.
The narration of the audiobook is excellent. I was not familiar with this narrator previously, but she had a very pleasing vocal cadence and did an admirable job bringing distinct voices to each character.
I closed the book with the distinct impression that Hayes is an author for me. I'll likely pick up his most well-known novel, Never Die, in the near future. For fans of the God Eater series, don't hesitate to pick up Hammerfall.
Many thanks to the author, Rob J. Hayes, for kindly providing me with an ARC and audiobook in exchange for an honest review. It is rare to receive both book and audiobook for review, and as an immersion reader, I greatly appreciated it.
December 1, 2025
Damn that was exhilaratingly fantastic from start to finish. Rob Hayes has brought us another excellent story from his God Eater Saga. HammerFall is a standalone novel packed full of blood curdling, bone shattering epic goodness.
The God Eater Saga was one of my
favourite reads from last year and when I was offered an e-arc for Hammerfall I was absolutely over the moon and couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it and let me tell you it did not disappoint.
This series is just those that you can not get enough of. Its fast-paced, action-packed to the hilt. The characters are brilliant and unique and the worldbuilding and setting is grimalicious. I knew when I read the synopsis of Men dining on angels to become more powerful and immortal. I knew I had read it.
In this epic tale and after the events of The Herald. Our protagonist Selitha a fallen angel also known as the StarHammer, just wants to live in peace with husband and children. A master carver of wood just loves the simple life of being free, until bandits come to a local village in the Primals and kidnap all the children.
When locals approach and ask her for help to get their kids back. She is reluctant till her husband guilts her into going after them and become who she's always been. A killer, gods instrument of death. What she was made for. To seek out evil and destroy it.
That was thoroughly entertaining. An absolute page turner. If you love Angels, monsters, demons and Axe wielding Valkyries. Then you have come to the right place. Check it out, you won't regret it. If you haven't read any of Rob J Hayes books yet, he has a fantastic range of fantasy series available. I very highly recommend...😁🔥🪓⚒️
The God Eater Saga was one of my
favourite reads from last year and when I was offered an e-arc for Hammerfall I was absolutely over the moon and couldn't wait to sink my teeth into it and let me tell you it did not disappoint.
This series is just those that you can not get enough of. Its fast-paced, action-packed to the hilt. The characters are brilliant and unique and the worldbuilding and setting is grimalicious. I knew when I read the synopsis of Men dining on angels to become more powerful and immortal. I knew I had read it.
In this epic tale and after the events of The Herald. Our protagonist Selitha a fallen angel also known as the StarHammer, just wants to live in peace with husband and children. A master carver of wood just loves the simple life of being free, until bandits come to a local village in the Primals and kidnap all the children.
When locals approach and ask her for help to get their kids back. She is reluctant till her husband guilts her into going after them and become who she's always been. A killer, gods instrument of death. What she was made for. To seek out evil and destroy it.
That was thoroughly entertaining. An absolute page turner. If you love Angels, monsters, demons and Axe wielding Valkyries. Then you have come to the right place. Check it out, you won't regret it. If you haven't read any of Rob J Hayes books yet, he has a fantastic range of fantasy series available. I very highly recommend...😁🔥🪓⚒️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I haven't read any of the books of the God Eater Saga, as I wasn't sure if they would be for me, but this sounded interesting and I ended up loving it. I'm definitely going to take a look at the others now, probably starting with Herald.
It's a really interesting concept, with people gaining powers from eating the hearts of angels, and I really appreciated this short (by comparison) standalone to properly introduce me to that concept. Although we don't actually see this particular aspect of the worldbuilding here, we do get to hear about it several times in the stories our main character, Selitha, tells. I really enjoyed these little snippets of history, and that history definitely intrigues me, so I look forward to finding out more.
I thought the characters were really interesting and clearly individual, and I liked that there was some good humour within the main group as well. The writing was great, with good pacing to the storytelling and a quick overall reading speed. I think the only real downside I found is that there were so many interesting elements that I wanted to explore, and the size of the book and the scope of the story didn't really allow that.
It's a really interesting concept, with people gaining powers from eating the hearts of angels, and I really appreciated this short (by comparison) standalone to properly introduce me to that concept. Although we don't actually see this particular aspect of the worldbuilding here, we do get to hear about it several times in the stories our main character, Selitha, tells. I really enjoyed these little snippets of history, and that history definitely intrigues me, so I look forward to finding out more.
I thought the characters were really interesting and clearly individual, and I liked that there was some good humour within the main group as well. The writing was great, with good pacing to the storytelling and a quick overall reading speed. I think the only real downside I found is that there were so many interesting elements that I wanted to explore, and the size of the book and the scope of the story didn't really allow that.
November 25, 2025
Hammerfall is a great side quest from the main story. It allowed a deeper look into the world and another group of angels God created. While following along side a fallen angel as she sets out to save kidnapped children you get to see the path that helps finds herself again. It is a wonderful story filled with love, happiness, joy, greed and heartbreak. You are immersed is situations that have you debating what would you do. I hope this was an introduction to characters we will get to read more of.
October 17, 2025
Was fortunate enough to beta read this one! Epic and non stop action. Set your calendars as you won't want to miss this one. It takes place right after Herald but stands completely on its own without having to read any other stories in the series. The main character is a giant and once great warrior trying to raise her family but has to take up her axe once again and become what she swore to never be again, Starhammer. Very reminiscent of David Gemmell's Legend but darker. Enjoy my friends!
October 18, 2025
I loved all 3 initial books of the God Eater Saga so as soon as I got the ARC I left all else to read it and boy, was I happy to do have done it.
I have never been good at expressing my feelings or thoughts about a book so I won't even try to but one thing I can say. Totally loved it and can't wait for the next installments of the Saga.
I have never been good at expressing my feelings or thoughts about a book so I won't even try to but one thing I can say. Totally loved it and can't wait for the next installments of the Saga.
October 23, 2025
Reads like a love letter to the offspring of John Gwynne's Bloodsworn Saga & SMS's God of War Ragnarök.
It is a brilliant standalone in Hayes' God Eater Saga that is sure to satiate lovers of Norse mythology or those who simply want a great story.
It is a brilliant standalone in Hayes' God Eater Saga that is sure to satiate lovers of Norse mythology or those who simply want a great story.
December 15, 2025
What a fantastic installment in the ongoing saga. The story blended seamlessly with the previous books whilst providing a new perspective and further defining the universe and the unique challenges faced. Really enjoyed it with a story that had a tight focus, great pace and a clearly defined moral challenge. Can't wait for next books. I did receive an ARC (many thanks)
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December 27, 2025First step into the GodEater universe and found this very interesting and want to continue my journey. Full Review Coming Soon!
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