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Wulf's Saga #1
The Dragon Hammer
WULF'S SAGA BEGINS
Evil from the dawn of time is on the verge of domination—but Wulf von Dunstig figured none of that mattered to him. What could he do about it? After all, he was basically nobody—the sixteen-year-old third son of a duke destined for an uneventful life as a ranger. But when destiny comes calling, it turns out there is only Wulf to answer. After a devastating invasion of his native land, Wulf must rally the peaceful valley of Shenandoah. He must free his family and his land from the grip of intruders controlled by vampiric evil.
It’s time to grow up. It’s time to fight for what is right. It’s time to wield the Dragon Hammer.
Evil from the dawn of time is on the verge of domination—but Wulf von Dunstig figured none of that mattered to him. What could he do about it? After all, he was basically nobody—the sixteen-year-old third son of a duke destined for an uneventful life as a ranger. But when destiny comes calling, it turns out there is only Wulf to answer. After a devastating invasion of his native land, Wulf must rally the peaceful valley of Shenandoah. He must free his family and his land from the grip of intruders controlled by vampiric evil.
It’s time to grow up. It’s time to fight for what is right. It’s time to wield the Dragon Hammer.
- GenresFantasyYoung AdultEbooks
512 pages, Paperback
First published July 5, 2016
4 people are currently reading
443 people want to read
About the author
Tony Daniel
98 books75 followersTony Daniel is an author of science fiction novels, short stories, and radio dramas.
For the comic book author, see Tony S. Daniel.
For the comic book author, see Tony S. Daniel.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 2, 2016
I enjoyed this story! Good storyline and nice mix of characters! Lots of action!
November 18, 2017
I received this book, as well as the Amber Arrow book (both by Tony Daniels, and books 1 and 2 in a series) by Baen publishers who were kind enough to send me ARC review copies. I loved book one, and book two was just as good as book one, though seemed not quite there. I have never before read Tony Daniels, though I’ve heard a lot of good things from various fantasy fans that his works are fantabulous. The location was a bit weird for me in the books-it mentioned Romania, and Mississippi and a handful of other random places from time to time that seemed historically accurate but confused me a good deal.
Firstly, thanks to http://www.baen.com for giving me these beautiful ARCs. They are gorgeous, and I will treasure them. The maps were beautifully made, and the storyline was epic in every sense of the word. I particularly loved the characters, and the whole Game of Thrones feel to it.
The books are filled to the brim with action, and book two is the same. There’s action, adventure, romance, and grave peril for all the characters at some point or other within these two beautifully written books. I have thanked the provided in email, but I’ll thank them again because these are truly unique books that I am glad to have been given a chance to read. I really cannot wait to get my hands on book three, and see how the trilogy ends. Tony Daniels is one of my new favorite authors, and one most definitely not to be missed!
Wulf is an engaging character, and I loved all the boys learning to fight, and the dragons, and the girls in this book are particularly awesome. There is so much going on, that one needs to re-read it, which is why it took a bit for me to write up these reviews. There is quite a bit of world building, and I was really enchanted by the falconry scene in the first book, as well. Both books are now one of my favorite series, and I definitely look forward to getting the third one at some point in the future.
Both books are going to be read again when the third one comes out, and I hope that book three comes out sometime soon, because both of the first books left off as cliffhangers! Danger is lurking everywhere for our characters, and there is the threat of war, as well as the loss of several loved ones in the first book. Don’t get attached to the characters, there is every chance they might die in the end.
As it is, the books are awesome, and I’m very grateful for receiving them. To those who’ve yet to go and read the books, what are you waiting for? It’s got dragons and dukes and falling stars and a fantastic new world to live in!
Note* Also reviewed on my blog Pass Me That Book
Firstly, thanks to http://www.baen.com for giving me these beautiful ARCs. They are gorgeous, and I will treasure them. The maps were beautifully made, and the storyline was epic in every sense of the word. I particularly loved the characters, and the whole Game of Thrones feel to it.
The books are filled to the brim with action, and book two is the same. There’s action, adventure, romance, and grave peril for all the characters at some point or other within these two beautifully written books. I have thanked the provided in email, but I’ll thank them again because these are truly unique books that I am glad to have been given a chance to read. I really cannot wait to get my hands on book three, and see how the trilogy ends. Tony Daniels is one of my new favorite authors, and one most definitely not to be missed!
Wulf is an engaging character, and I loved all the boys learning to fight, and the dragons, and the girls in this book are particularly awesome. There is so much going on, that one needs to re-read it, which is why it took a bit for me to write up these reviews. There is quite a bit of world building, and I was really enchanted by the falconry scene in the first book, as well. Both books are now one of my favorite series, and I definitely look forward to getting the third one at some point in the future.
Both books are going to be read again when the third one comes out, and I hope that book three comes out sometime soon, because both of the first books left off as cliffhangers! Danger is lurking everywhere for our characters, and there is the threat of war, as well as the loss of several loved ones in the first book. Don’t get attached to the characters, there is every chance they might die in the end.
As it is, the books are awesome, and I’m very grateful for receiving them. To those who’ve yet to go and read the books, what are you waiting for? It’s got dragons and dukes and falling stars and a fantastic new world to live in!
Note* Also reviewed on my blog Pass Me That Book
January 23, 2019
I had higher hopes for this. The story was fairly predictable, which made it a lot less exciting. There was some really cool world-building elements (the whole elves/star/drauger/dragon stuff) but it fell a little flat to me? I would have rather'd the story from Ravenelle (or Ursel's or Grer's) pov, because they were much more dynamic and interesting characters. Wulf was not a particularly interesting protagonist for a genre that already has a lot of young hetero males being given power that they didn't think was theirs and so they're just like "why am I in charge? Okay army, follow me into battle!" Like, cool that he reads and likes mythology/sagas, but also, I kept forgetting that because it only came up when people were like "what do we do?!" and he would pull out a fun fact from a saga of something seemingly "impossible" but that they could take to make their decision. Hahaha, I don't think my disappointment is at all obvious in this review....
November 22, 2016
This is an intriguing middle age like romp of a young man coming of age in a peaceful-turned-violent land. Despite the young man’s insecurity, he soon learns others are looking to him for decisions, and he is forced to grow up quickly.
The characters in this novel are unique, suspenseful, charming and intense. You can’t help but love them.
Wulf’s family and friends depend on him when an unexpected attack renders them hostage. He is not only unsure of his ability to gather the necessary force, he’s also concerned if he has the courage to lead.
Not only must he wage battle with the invaders, he also learns they are being aided by a dark evil.
Tony Daniel takes the reader along on the journey the young man takes from being a teenager, without purpose, to being the leader of men, without equal.
The characters in this novel are unique, suspenseful, charming and intense. You can’t help but love them.
Wulf’s family and friends depend on him when an unexpected attack renders them hostage. He is not only unsure of his ability to gather the necessary force, he’s also concerned if he has the courage to lead.
Not only must he wage battle with the invaders, he also learns they are being aided by a dark evil.
Tony Daniel takes the reader along on the journey the young man takes from being a teenager, without purpose, to being the leader of men, without equal.
August 12, 2017
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The characters were ok, and some were even interesting, but something, and I can't pick what that is, just didn't gel for me. It's a story of an heir that is third in line, not expected to inherit, who suddenly finds himself ruling the kingdom of Shenandoah.
There is action, magic, beastmen (called Tier), blood sacrifice as a religion, and mind control. Even elves, but the book leaves you with little or no real information about any of this, concentrating it's story on Wulf and his attempt to save the kingdom from the invaders.
It ends on a semi-cliffhanger, setting up the next book, but while I will get that book, it's not going to be a priority read.
There is action, magic, beastmen (called Tier), blood sacrifice as a religion, and mind control. Even elves, but the book leaves you with little or no real information about any of this, concentrating it's story on Wulf and his attempt to save the kingdom from the invaders.
It ends on a semi-cliffhanger, setting up the next book, but while I will get that book, it's not going to be a priority read.
July 10, 2017
The story was 5 stars - great action, lots of cool magic and characters.
But the writing was pretty bad in places. It desperately needed one more editorial go-through, in my opinion.
But the writing was pretty bad in places. It desperately needed one more editorial go-through, in my opinion.
August 14, 2017
A very good start to a new series. The characters are complex and grounded. The conflict is significant and the start of a much larger affair. The world itself feels large and very diverse.
April 10, 2019
Remarkably engaging well-paced story with a great deal of intrigue and twists. It stands alone well, though I would enjoy reading the sequel.
November 12, 2021
DNF at page 169.
I did like the idea of the book but the writing simply wasn’t for me, sentences and words was repeated quite a lot and some pages could easily not be read as the plot went nowhere. At the same time some scenes was very detailed in a way that was unnecessary, for example what Rainer’s armor looked like and when Wulf, his father and Finn sent out theirs birds to search for pray.
The book had a good plot but the writing was too slow for my taste.
I did like the idea of the book but the writing simply wasn’t for me, sentences and words was repeated quite a lot and some pages could easily not be read as the plot went nowhere. At the same time some scenes was very detailed in a way that was unnecessary, for example what Rainer’s armor looked like and when Wulf, his father and Finn sent out theirs birds to search for pray.
The book had a good plot but the writing was too slow for my taste.
February 9, 2017
This is an intriguing middle age like romp of a young man coming of age in a peaceful-turned-violent land. Despite the young man’s insecurity, he soon learns others are looking to him for decisions, and he is forced to grow up quickly.
The characters in this novel are unique, suspenseful, charming and intense. You can’t help but love them.
Wulf’s family and friends depend on him when an unexpected attack renders them hostage. He is not only unsure of his ability to gather the necessary force, he’s also concerned if he has the courage to lead.
Not only must he wage battle with the invaders, he also learns they are being aided by a dark evil.
Tony Daniel takes the reader along on the journey the young man takes from being a teenager, without purpose, to being the leader of men, without equal.
The characters in this novel are unique, suspenseful, charming and intense. You can’t help but love them.
Wulf’s family and friends depend on him when an unexpected attack renders them hostage. He is not only unsure of his ability to gather the necessary force, he’s also concerned if he has the courage to lead.
Not only must he wage battle with the invaders, he also learns they are being aided by a dark evil.
Tony Daniel takes the reader along on the journey the young man takes from being a teenager, without purpose, to being the leader of men, without equal.
February 10, 2019
This book was hard to read. I was fooled by the cute dude on the cover once again.
Simply put, I had no idea what was going on.
It’s interesting to be put in media res, but only if it’s done right. Obviously, this book didn't make it for me. As I was reading, it was only “why, why, why, what, what, what, how,” going through my head. There was quite a sprinkling of info dumping going on to make up for it, but there’s still so many questions left unanswered. Why does Wulf like Saeunn? Why does Ravenelle like Rainer? What it up with their religions? Seriously, these guys are throwing like three different faiths around like it’s nothing, but I have no idea who believes in what. Is it Norse? Is it a fictional one?
I have to give credit for the ending, however, because there was a really good buildup of suspense and dramatic irony with the help of the rotation of perspectives. It was a good ending, but it wasn’t enough to get me to read the sequel.
Simply put, I had no idea what was going on.
It’s interesting to be put in media res, but only if it’s done right. Obviously, this book didn't make it for me. As I was reading, it was only “why, why, why, what, what, what, how,” going through my head. There was quite a sprinkling of info dumping going on to make up for it, but there’s still so many questions left unanswered. Why does Wulf like Saeunn? Why does Ravenelle like Rainer? What it up with their religions? Seriously, these guys are throwing like three different faiths around like it’s nothing, but I have no idea who believes in what. Is it Norse? Is it a fictional one?
I have to give credit for the ending, however, because there was a really good buildup of suspense and dramatic irony with the help of the rotation of perspectives. It was a good ending, but it wasn’t enough to get me to read the sequel.
November 14, 2016
Tony Daniel has opened up a alt-history fantasy saga set in a America that is populated by Vikings, Skraelings, Romans, Elves, and the Tier. The Tier are people who are men in animal forms. Wulf von Dunstig is the third son of the Duke of Shenandoah, but he is the one that can hear the dragon call. After a prince of Sandhaven is killed by Wulf, Shenandoah is invaded by Sandhaveners controlled by a draugar. Wulf manages to gather the Tier and other forces together to attack the enemy and defeat them but at great cost. A very good first book in a series. Will have to see if the second book lives up to the promise of The Dragon Hammer!
August 30, 2016
Hmm. Not too sure what to say for this book. It's interesting, that's for sure, with lots of action and excitement. However, I feel that there isn't much hardships experienced by the characters. The plot is also fairly straightforward.
October 7, 2016
Never mind, formulaic, won't ever finish,
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews