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Titan Wars #1
The Headlock of Destiny
Some say titans are descended from giants. Others say they are risen from men. But there’s never any debate about where to find them. They will be in the center of a roaring crowd, beating the hell out of each other. From contenders like the Savage and Scott Flawless to pretenders like Richard the Living Portrait and Troll-Blooded Thom, a titan’s lot in life is the same: To wrestle for dominion and glory in the squared circle.
Van, a quiet titan from the brewery town of Headwaters, wants no part in this. He’d prefer to be left alone with a beer. But destiny has him in a headlock, and it is prepared to drag him into battles that will shake the land and change his world forever.
Step into the ring with this one-of-a-kind novel, brewed special for fans of epic fantasy, fans of professional wrestling from the Golden Era and beyond, or simply fans of a good tale.
Van, a quiet titan from the brewery town of Headwaters, wants no part in this. He’d prefer to be left alone with a beer. But destiny has him in a headlock, and it is prepared to drag him into battles that will shake the land and change his world forever.
Step into the ring with this one-of-a-kind novel, brewed special for fans of epic fantasy, fans of professional wrestling from the Golden Era and beyond, or simply fans of a good tale.
- GenresFantasy
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 5, 2020
23 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Samuel Gately
12 books38 followersSamuel Gately writes fantasy novels. His stories blend epic fantasy with his other passions, as can be seen in the popular Titan Wars series (fantasy meets pro wrestling), the Fire Eye series (crime noir in a magical city), and the Spies of Dragon and Chalk series (James Bond-style espionage among dragon riders). He lives in Chicago and can often be found slinging books at local wrestling shows.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 10, 2025
I went it thinking it could be a funny fantasy romp based on wrestling, because why not, and that's what I got and more.
The events do revolve around a wrestling tournament between Titans, and it is funny, but it also has surprising depth.
The world building is interesting, the character work is really good, and there is a deeper plot at work behind the scenes.
It ends on a cliffhanger and now I really want to read the next book.
The events do revolve around a wrestling tournament between Titans, and it is funny, but it also has surprising depth.
The world building is interesting, the character work is really good, and there is a deeper plot at work behind the scenes.
It ends on a cliffhanger and now I really want to read the next book.
June 14, 2021
CW: Alcohol, Bullying, Physical Abuse, Poisoning, Police Brutality, Racism, Violence.
So, let me tell you what happened. I got notification that this book was going to go on tour. I instantly liked the cover. I started reading the blurb- got HALF WAY through the blurb and said- oh hell yes, please, sign me the hell up for this! – I did. Sign myself up for the tour. To read the book. To review. And I was pumped, man. PUMPED!
…..
And then, I finished reading the blurb and I saw professional wrestling mentioned. And I just went, oh no. NO. No. No. Oh shit, oh crap, oh god, please NOOOOOOO!
You see- as much as I dislike darts which I find a ridiculous ‘sport’, I think even worse is WWE. Now, hang on! Before you shun me to the multiple circles of hell, untwist your knickers. Sure, I know sweet nothing about WWE, but let me just put it this way – every time I have accidentally stumbled across it on TV, the channel gets changed pretty darn quick… I just can’t with those oiled up, over the top shenanigans. It’s like one of those bar brawls where 2 dudes are so serious about killing each other but to the bystander they look freaking ridiculous with their flailing arms, misplaced foot kicks, shirts out of pants, crazed eyes full of hate and beer-induced spit bursting out from in between lips. Ugh. I am not discrediting the work and passion that goes in by the people who do these theatrics, not at all. Every thing has their own fans and followers… and I am not stupid – people do things because they love what they do and all the power to them; who gives a fiddler’s fuck if I don’t like some dude in a leotard and wearing a waxed mustache rubbing himself off another meat mountain… Rocks your boat? Brilliant… Doesn’t mean, everyone and their grandmother has to be a fan, and it just so happens that it’s super far from my cup of tea.
So… you can see, keeping my confession in mind, that I was no longer pumped but stumped! I was scared! I was literally heart broken and anxious that I was so not going to like this book… I was being proper dramatic about it too… inwardly, at least… I keep my melt downs inside me… sigh… anyway…
Dear reader, want to know how it all ended up?
Well, despite me muttering ‘wtf is a clothesline’ in a few places (and I was bloody well damned if I was going to check it up on Youtube because WWE, eww), I. FREAKING. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. In fact, dear reader, please meet my new favourite book- The Headlock of Destiny.
A big sigh of relief, let me tell you, when I did start reading and it was just good, and so good, and it got better and better and better… and it was proper FUN! Most of you fantasy freaks have read Kings of the Wyld and you all know how much fun that was… well, The Headlock of Destiny delivers, naturally a bit differently, but totally equal amount of fun! I was back to PUMPED!
But fun isn’t where it stops. There’s a ton of heart, and oh what tremendous storyline. The plot and character development can only be described in one way… Picture this… somewhere, in silence and gloomy, sombre tavern, someone strokes one single piano key… this sound is the start of the book… slowly, another key stroke is added, and another and another and as you read, flip the pages for more, suddenly you see, with a huge smile on your face that this beer-sprayed atmosphere has been composed into a soul-consuming symphony of sweetest melodies! Bravo! *standing ovation*
Van, our main character is a titan that doesn’t fit in. At all. He loves beer so of course he works at the brewery doing the heavy lifting; and occasionally the heavy drinking. But amongst humans he is not quite accepted, and among titans he is not quite your regular either – because Van is a titan that doesn’t wrestle and a titan that doesn’t wrestle is a rare occurrence indeed. Van is the embodiment of a gentle giant! I instantly liked him, I instantly felt for him – yes, he is prone to (figuratively) pulling on a skirt and having a self-pity-party but if life keeps dealing you crap cards, self pity is allowed. Titans simply don’t have it easy in this world- and you’ll find out why in the book!
Well, Van is enjoying a relatively quiet life – all misfortunes aside – he has a job, he gets to drink beer, the life boat is sailing smoothly. Until it isn’t…
Through a series of unfortunate events, Van ends up being dragged into the squared circle. Smack in the middle of it, without knowing sweet nothings about wrestling, rules (are there any even?) and even though he appears to be the one tasked with having to save the day, kind of, he is still carrying a barrel of beer under his arm where ever he goes and he is STILL not accepted! That’s the crux of it all – how much can a man.. er, titan, be and do to get some bloody acceptance? He has only ever been nothing but nice so why does fate still insist he paddle up shit creek at all times? Sigh. I felt for Van, I did. But the best part? He has the main role in this symphony and he does bloody well. He doesn’t lose himself, he doesn’t lose his integrity and he doesn’t lose that which makes him so lovable.
You may still be wondering why I am referring to this brawly book as a symphony. See, it’s not just 2 titans facing off at any one moment, and bam, we had a bit of fun, Van’s a REAL TITAN now. Oh no… this story truly does go from tiny, humble beginnings to huge, titan sized plot with balls! You’ll meet some amazing characters, some asshole characters, some mysterious characters… it’s all simply beautiful, and at times a bit sweaty.
Along the way, as you discover those bought refs, corruption in the fighting nations and an even darker threat to come, you will have a hell of a time. Hell, I’d have been drinking beer for the duration of the book if I could. It’s hilarious because some of those titans, whilst scary, are hilarious too.. Like Richard the Living Portrait (oh, don’t even ask how he got his name, read about it), or Scott Flawless… or Landshaker… ahem
If you know me, you know I like profanity. Yes, I’m one of those ‘unintelligents’, whatever. Whilst the few fucks add accurate amount of spice in the story, the profanity isn’t overdone and is definitely not a constant. It’s just enough rough and rebel to please the epic fantasy reader. The author also really knows how to write dialogue to keep it fresh and make the attitude jump off the page.
Last but not least, in fact, probably MOST IMPORTANTLY – as there are quite a few wrestling/fight scenes in this book, I need to mention that all of the scenes in the squared circle or any other rumble-tumble taking place is written with such engaging manner it made me feel I was right there witnessing how one or other titan was fed through the figurative mincing machine. There is precision and creativity – (and you’ll probably want to tell me to watch WWE now because it’s fun like that too, fair enough, but I won’t unless there are titans involved and Samuel Gately directing) – and it’s just good old ‘holy shit’ punching!
So, in the end it turns out this book feels like it was written for me. It has it all, some big overall problems to solve, a lovable yet flawed character who goes through and amazing development with his internal problem or obstacle to overcome, the setting which goes from small to big to exploding like a supernova, the imagination of it all, the mix and match of some fantasy elements and I am so super happy that I didn’t let my ignorance of WWE turn me away from reading this book. The minute I finished reading The Headlock of Destiny, I went and got the sequel because I want some more of what Samuel Gately has to offer! Bring it on!!!
So, let me tell you what happened. I got notification that this book was going to go on tour. I instantly liked the cover. I started reading the blurb- got HALF WAY through the blurb and said- oh hell yes, please, sign me the hell up for this! – I did. Sign myself up for the tour. To read the book. To review. And I was pumped, man. PUMPED!
…..
And then, I finished reading the blurb and I saw professional wrestling mentioned. And I just went, oh no. NO. No. No. Oh shit, oh crap, oh god, please NOOOOOOO!
You see- as much as I dislike darts which I find a ridiculous ‘sport’, I think even worse is WWE. Now, hang on! Before you shun me to the multiple circles of hell, untwist your knickers. Sure, I know sweet nothing about WWE, but let me just put it this way – every time I have accidentally stumbled across it on TV, the channel gets changed pretty darn quick… I just can’t with those oiled up, over the top shenanigans. It’s like one of those bar brawls where 2 dudes are so serious about killing each other but to the bystander they look freaking ridiculous with their flailing arms, misplaced foot kicks, shirts out of pants, crazed eyes full of hate and beer-induced spit bursting out from in between lips. Ugh. I am not discrediting the work and passion that goes in by the people who do these theatrics, not at all. Every thing has their own fans and followers… and I am not stupid – people do things because they love what they do and all the power to them; who gives a fiddler’s fuck if I don’t like some dude in a leotard and wearing a waxed mustache rubbing himself off another meat mountain… Rocks your boat? Brilliant… Doesn’t mean, everyone and their grandmother has to be a fan, and it just so happens that it’s super far from my cup of tea.
So… you can see, keeping my confession in mind, that I was no longer pumped but stumped! I was scared! I was literally heart broken and anxious that I was so not going to like this book… I was being proper dramatic about it too… inwardly, at least… I keep my melt downs inside me… sigh… anyway…
Dear reader, want to know how it all ended up?
Well, despite me muttering ‘wtf is a clothesline’ in a few places (and I was bloody well damned if I was going to check it up on Youtube because WWE, eww), I. FREAKING. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. In fact, dear reader, please meet my new favourite book- The Headlock of Destiny.
A big sigh of relief, let me tell you, when I did start reading and it was just good, and so good, and it got better and better and better… and it was proper FUN! Most of you fantasy freaks have read Kings of the Wyld and you all know how much fun that was… well, The Headlock of Destiny delivers, naturally a bit differently, but totally equal amount of fun! I was back to PUMPED!
But fun isn’t where it stops. There’s a ton of heart, and oh what tremendous storyline. The plot and character development can only be described in one way… Picture this… somewhere, in silence and gloomy, sombre tavern, someone strokes one single piano key… this sound is the start of the book… slowly, another key stroke is added, and another and another and as you read, flip the pages for more, suddenly you see, with a huge smile on your face that this beer-sprayed atmosphere has been composed into a soul-consuming symphony of sweetest melodies! Bravo! *standing ovation*
He hated wrestling. He hated fighting.
Van, our main character is a titan that doesn’t fit in. At all. He loves beer so of course he works at the brewery doing the heavy lifting; and occasionally the heavy drinking. But amongst humans he is not quite accepted, and among titans he is not quite your regular either – because Van is a titan that doesn’t wrestle and a titan that doesn’t wrestle is a rare occurrence indeed. Van is the embodiment of a gentle giant! I instantly liked him, I instantly felt for him – yes, he is prone to (figuratively) pulling on a skirt and having a self-pity-party but if life keeps dealing you crap cards, self pity is allowed. Titans simply don’t have it easy in this world- and you’ll find out why in the book!
Well, Van is enjoying a relatively quiet life – all misfortunes aside – he has a job, he gets to drink beer, the life boat is sailing smoothly. Until it isn’t…
Wrestling? How was it that the thing he hated more than anything else was the thing everyone else seemed to think he had to do? Tiny shorts and flexed muscles. Outsized personas. Elaborate moves and styles when a simple fist to the face settled most fights. Flexible rules and bought refs.
Through a series of unfortunate events, Van ends up being dragged into the squared circle. Smack in the middle of it, without knowing sweet nothings about wrestling, rules (are there any even?) and even though he appears to be the one tasked with having to save the day, kind of, he is still carrying a barrel of beer under his arm where ever he goes and he is STILL not accepted! That’s the crux of it all – how much can a man.. er, titan, be and do to get some bloody acceptance? He has only ever been nothing but nice so why does fate still insist he paddle up shit creek at all times? Sigh. I felt for Van, I did. But the best part? He has the main role in this symphony and he does bloody well. He doesn’t lose himself, he doesn’t lose his integrity and he doesn’t lose that which makes him so lovable.
You may still be wondering why I am referring to this brawly book as a symphony. See, it’s not just 2 titans facing off at any one moment, and bam, we had a bit of fun, Van’s a REAL TITAN now. Oh no… this story truly does go from tiny, humble beginnings to huge, titan sized plot with balls! You’ll meet some amazing characters, some asshole characters, some mysterious characters… it’s all simply beautiful, and at times a bit sweaty.
Along the way, as you discover those bought refs, corruption in the fighting nations and an even darker threat to come, you will have a hell of a time. Hell, I’d have been drinking beer for the duration of the book if I could. It’s hilarious because some of those titans, whilst scary, are hilarious too.. Like Richard the Living Portrait (oh, don’t even ask how he got his name, read about it), or Scott Flawless… or Landshaker… ahem
Cause titans like to fuck a lot, and some of them like to fuck strange things. I’ve seen them. They’ll fuck anything that moves, and some things that don’t. So we get freaks like Golem Jones, the Minotaur, Lizardman, the Ram. Rumor is the Landshaker was born when Laslo the Giant fucked a cave.
If you know me, you know I like profanity. Yes, I’m one of those ‘unintelligents’, whatever. Whilst the few fucks add accurate amount of spice in the story, the profanity isn’t overdone and is definitely not a constant. It’s just enough rough and rebel to please the epic fantasy reader. The author also really knows how to write dialogue to keep it fresh and make the attitude jump off the page.
Last but not least, in fact, probably MOST IMPORTANTLY – as there are quite a few wrestling/fight scenes in this book, I need to mention that all of the scenes in the squared circle or any other rumble-tumble taking place is written with such engaging manner it made me feel I was right there witnessing how one or other titan was fed through the figurative mincing machine. There is precision and creativity – (and you’ll probably want to tell me to watch WWE now because it’s fun like that too, fair enough, but I won’t unless there are titans involved and Samuel Gately directing) – and it’s just good old ‘holy shit’ punching!
Sometimes Van hated being a fucking titan.
So, in the end it turns out this book feels like it was written for me. It has it all, some big overall problems to solve, a lovable yet flawed character who goes through and amazing development with his internal problem or obstacle to overcome, the setting which goes from small to big to exploding like a supernova, the imagination of it all, the mix and match of some fantasy elements and I am so super happy that I didn’t let my ignorance of WWE turn me away from reading this book. The minute I finished reading The Headlock of Destiny, I went and got the sequel because I want some more of what Samuel Gately has to offer! Bring it on!!!
September 24, 2021
Such a fun read! You can find my video review for The Headlock of Destiny here:
https://youtu.be/rOVBBZQ8Rl4
An expanded written review will appear first on the Fantasy Hive here, and then--on here, too!
https://youtu.be/rOVBBZQ8Rl4
An expanded written review will appear first on the Fantasy Hive here, and then--on here, too!
January 24, 2020
This. Is. Amazing. I got an advanced review copy after reading Sam’s other offerings. To be frank I am not now, nor have I ever been, a fan of professional wrestling - thus I began reading with some skepticism.
The story that unfolded was completely original and thrilling, carrying a standard of ethical integrity and raw violence. The backstory with lost love was a jump start to our hero who protects the innocent, embraces diversity, and serves as moral compass with his every decision. All that from a Titan of a man with enormous strength and affinity for beer that leaves him with a beer gut as his primary defining physical feature. Who among us wouldn’t look at that as a balance of life’s ideals and reality?
Again - I’m not one with any pro wrestling fandom so descriptions of the bouts flew over my head, but they were so often entranced in relatable stakes that I bought in completely. I was thrilled to read at every opportunity, and lamented the conclusion since the sequel is not immediately available for me to dive in. I look forward to whatever comes next, and highly recommend this book to fans of either wrestling or fantasy - existing dual fandom not required.
The story that unfolded was completely original and thrilling, carrying a standard of ethical integrity and raw violence. The backstory with lost love was a jump start to our hero who protects the innocent, embraces diversity, and serves as moral compass with his every decision. All that from a Titan of a man with enormous strength and affinity for beer that leaves him with a beer gut as his primary defining physical feature. Who among us wouldn’t look at that as a balance of life’s ideals and reality?
Again - I’m not one with any pro wrestling fandom so descriptions of the bouts flew over my head, but they were so often entranced in relatable stakes that I bought in completely. I was thrilled to read at every opportunity, and lamented the conclusion since the sequel is not immediately available for me to dive in. I look forward to whatever comes next, and highly recommend this book to fans of either wrestling or fantasy - existing dual fandom not required.
September 21, 2021
Just a fun read with plenty of humor, giants, and beer! What not to love? Full review coming soon
Read
April 5, 2023Check out the full review on my website. CLICK HERE
FR REVIEW -
Fun & Original, brilliantly unconventional and one of it's kind, stand - out fantasy.👌🔥🔥🔥
An excellent and enjoyable start to the series. If you want something short, exciting, high-octane, and action-packed, this is the book for you. With genuine characters and a fascinating narrative, this book stands out from the crowd and demonstrates how well taking a chance pays off when you try something new. Highly, highly recommend!
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL : YOUTUBE
FOLLOW ME ON : TWITTER INSTAGRAM
FR REVIEW -
Fun & Original, brilliantly unconventional and one of it's kind, stand - out fantasy.👌🔥🔥🔥
An excellent and enjoyable start to the series. If you want something short, exciting, high-octane, and action-packed, this is the book for you. With genuine characters and a fascinating narrative, this book stands out from the crowd and demonstrates how well taking a chance pays off when you try something new. Highly, highly recommend!
SUBSCRIBE TO MY CHANNEL : YOUTUBE
FOLLOW ME ON : TWITTER INSTAGRAM
February 29, 2020
An excellent well written wrestling fantasy with great world building and well developed characters. A fast paced story that was unique and very enjoyable. A quick read that I highly recommend and will definitely be looking for the next book in this series. What more trouble can Van get into?
February 13, 2020
This is a fabulous book. It is fast paced, clever, and just enjoyable.
I enjoyed the characterizations of each of the wrestlers. I feel like it would be easy to have a bunch of professional wrestlers be pretty much the same, but they had distinct personalities and goals, which really made things come alive.
I thought the main character was relatable and well developed. The book isn't very long, but he still has very clear character development that is well motivated and believable, which is something I really value.
The one "weakness" of this book is the plot. Don't get me wrong, it's interesting and fun, it's just not original, although I feel like it set up for a very original sequel. This is a sports story at heart, where the underdog gets thrown into a situation he isn't prepared for, succeeds against all odds, and goes on to do more. Of course, it's set in a fantasy world and the sport is wrestling, so it isn't a carbon copy of Remember the Titans or whatever. But it hits all the right beats and tropes. I love this story, but it's not new, so if you're looking for something that is a fresh take or a brand new adventure, this probably isn't for you.
Otherwise, you should read it! This was probably the most fun I've had reading a book all year.
I enjoyed the characterizations of each of the wrestlers. I feel like it would be easy to have a bunch of professional wrestlers be pretty much the same, but they had distinct personalities and goals, which really made things come alive.
I thought the main character was relatable and well developed. The book isn't very long, but he still has very clear character development that is well motivated and believable, which is something I really value.
The one "weakness" of this book is the plot. Don't get me wrong, it's interesting and fun, it's just not original, although I feel like it set up for a very original sequel. This is a sports story at heart, where the underdog gets thrown into a situation he isn't prepared for, succeeds against all odds, and goes on to do more. Of course, it's set in a fantasy world and the sport is wrestling, so it isn't a carbon copy of Remember the Titans or whatever. But it hits all the right beats and tropes. I love this story, but it's not new, so if you're looking for something that is a fresh take or a brand new adventure, this probably isn't for you.
Otherwise, you should read it! This was probably the most fun I've had reading a book all year.
February 9, 2020
If you like wrestling and always wanted to see it over the top in a world where that seems normal. This is the book for you. If you like fantasy and world building you will have fun with this. This is absolutely a chocolate & peanut-butter mashup.
This book was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be. It was fun goofy reading. It had characters that were exactly what I would expect from the late 80 mid 90s WWF (WWE) TV spots. The heels were extraordinarily over the top and exactly what any child of wrestling expects. The face was charming and you wanted him to win. The only thing I did get out the classic wrestling tropes was a heel turned face to save the good guys. But I guess there need to be some tropes saved for the next book.
I kind of wanted to dock the book one star because it failed to include a Jake the Snake fantasy parallel that was an actual sentient wrestling snake.
I received an advanced copy of this book to read and review after meeting the author at an event where we were talking about fantasy tropes that devolved into wrestling tropes. So I may have been the target audience. But I feel that for the sake of transparency I should include that in my review.
This book was pretty much exactly what I expected it to be. It was fun goofy reading. It had characters that were exactly what I would expect from the late 80 mid 90s WWF (WWE) TV spots. The heels were extraordinarily over the top and exactly what any child of wrestling expects. The face was charming and you wanted him to win. The only thing I did get out the classic wrestling tropes was a heel turned face to save the good guys. But I guess there need to be some tropes saved for the next book.
I kind of wanted to dock the book one star because it failed to include a Jake the Snake fantasy parallel that was an actual sentient wrestling snake.
I received an advanced copy of this book to read and review after meeting the author at an event where we were talking about fantasy tropes that devolved into wrestling tropes. So I may have been the target audience. But I feel that for the sake of transparency I should include that in my review.
February 12, 2020
This book is a tremendous page turner. It grabs you by your shirt collar and lifts you off the floor. I couldn't put it down.
It's been a long time since I've watched wrestling, but it was fun to follow the loose references incorporated into this fully immersed fantasy experience. You don't have to know, like, or understand wresting to love this book -- the wrestling element does provide a unique and interesting layer, though.
I really enjoyed this one. Such a cool story, an interesting concept. With interesting, varied, and well-developed characters. Served up by such a talented, unique voice. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
It's been a long time since I've watched wrestling, but it was fun to follow the loose references incorporated into this fully immersed fantasy experience. You don't have to know, like, or understand wresting to love this book -- the wrestling element does provide a unique and interesting layer, though.
I really enjoyed this one. Such a cool story, an interesting concept. With interesting, varied, and well-developed characters. Served up by such a talented, unique voice. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
April 14, 2023
Growing up in Headwaters is not easy. The two main things life revolves around is the famous brewery that supplies the land with its beer. The other thing is the wrestling matches that are fought by Titans.
Titans are superstars. The legendary giants who fight on the world stage, each one a shining example of strength and brutality that hold the weight of their respective districts on their shoulders, hoping to win the coveted title in the Headlock of Destiny competition.
That is if you are not Van. Van is a Titan growing up in Headwaters. He doesn't want anything to do with the wrestling and wants to stay home, drink his beer and go to his job as a security guard.
However, after one of the local wrestlers headed for the Headlock of Destiny tour is injured, unsuspecting Van is thrust into the competition of Titans.
Now, I did not expect to like this book at all. I am not a fan of wrestling and I had no idea how this combination of wrestling and fantasy was going to work. In fairness I had more than a little trepidation about The Headlock of Destiny.
So with all these things going on in my head I must tell you that I enjoyed this book. With the combination of Samuel Gately's enthusiastic storytelling and a story full of heart you can't help liking Headlock of Destiny.
Van is the quintessential underdog, unwillingly thrust into a situation where he does not want to be, and through his character we get to learn more about the world and how everything works.
The characters in the story are good, and you can't help but like them. At times, I have to admit I did get a little frustrated with the main character, not in a bad way because I liked him as well, so for me that indicates that the story got its hooks into me and it shows that I I was engaged and invested in the story as a whole. There are plenty of action scenes and although at times there was a little repetition, I highly enjoyed the fight scenes between the wrestlers.
As a testament to how much I enjoyed the book, I will definitely be picking up the second story as it leaves us on a bit of a cliffhanger.
Titans are superstars. The legendary giants who fight on the world stage, each one a shining example of strength and brutality that hold the weight of their respective districts on their shoulders, hoping to win the coveted title in the Headlock of Destiny competition.
That is if you are not Van. Van is a Titan growing up in Headwaters. He doesn't want anything to do with the wrestling and wants to stay home, drink his beer and go to his job as a security guard.
However, after one of the local wrestlers headed for the Headlock of Destiny tour is injured, unsuspecting Van is thrust into the competition of Titans.
Now, I did not expect to like this book at all. I am not a fan of wrestling and I had no idea how this combination of wrestling and fantasy was going to work. In fairness I had more than a little trepidation about The Headlock of Destiny.
So with all these things going on in my head I must tell you that I enjoyed this book. With the combination of Samuel Gately's enthusiastic storytelling and a story full of heart you can't help liking Headlock of Destiny.
Van is the quintessential underdog, unwillingly thrust into a situation where he does not want to be, and through his character we get to learn more about the world and how everything works.
The characters in the story are good, and you can't help but like them. At times, I have to admit I did get a little frustrated with the main character, not in a bad way because I liked him as well, so for me that indicates that the story got its hooks into me and it shows that I I was engaged and invested in the story as a whole. There are plenty of action scenes and although at times there was a little repetition, I highly enjoyed the fight scenes between the wrestlers.
As a testament to how much I enjoyed the book, I will definitely be picking up the second story as it leaves us on a bit of a cliffhanger.
March 6, 2020
First off, this book is just awesome. Fast paced, great story. Entertaining as hell… it doesn’t matter what kind of reading you usually do.
If you’re a wrestling fan, or more specifically, ever had even a passing interest in the golden era of wrestling (80s to early 90s in my book)—this books is for you. I caught several Easter Eggs, with characters inspired by Mr. Perfect, Razor Ramon and a bunch of others.
Don’t get me wrong, the book in no way relies on that nostalgia. The fights and scenarios are all 100% unique, and the fact that it’s mashing it up with the small nuances of the era to make you smile… woo!
Check the other reviews if you want to know more about plot, I'm writing to tell you that this isn’t your ordinary book. It creates a unique story and wraps the best of wrestling (imagine it’s all 100% real) and fantasy (sort of a Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings World) around it.
Absolutely perfect, if you know what I’m saying.
If you’re a wrestling fan, or more specifically, ever had even a passing interest in the golden era of wrestling (80s to early 90s in my book)—this books is for you. I caught several Easter Eggs, with characters inspired by Mr. Perfect, Razor Ramon and a bunch of others.
Don’t get me wrong, the book in no way relies on that nostalgia. The fights and scenarios are all 100% unique, and the fact that it’s mashing it up with the small nuances of the era to make you smile… woo!
Check the other reviews if you want to know more about plot, I'm writing to tell you that this isn’t your ordinary book. It creates a unique story and wraps the best of wrestling (imagine it’s all 100% real) and fantasy (sort of a Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings World) around it.
Absolutely perfect, if you know what I’m saying.
July 6, 2021
Peruse this checklist:
✅Lord of the Rings style fantasy characters
✅Craft style beer
✅No holds barred wrestling/MMA often to the last man standing or death
✅Ancient Greek city-state rivalry
✅Dirty politics in the world of sport
If any of these sound remotely interesting, then this is the novel you seek. The Open Nations Wrestling Coalition hosts the Headlock of Destiny Tournament every year. Every “nation” sends a titan to represent their territory. Unfortunately, the Uplands usual rep, Owen Grit, is out of commission. Instead, Van is sent. He is an unassuming titan, employed by the local brewery and no fan of confrontation much less wrestling matches. Raised as a ward of the nation, he bounced around from foster home to foster home, and he has no idea why he is selected to represent his homelands. As the tournament progresses, Van finds a spark that ignited his killer instinct in the ring, but will it be enough to win the Headlock of Destiny? Supernatural forces, brute strength in his opposition and conspiring elements intervene in his quest to victory. Van, the antithesis of all things full of bluster and braggadocio, is easy to root for, a commoner on the brink of stardom who wants nothing to do with the spoils of it. Much like wrestling and fantasy itself, excellent entertainment and highly recommended.
✅Lord of the Rings style fantasy characters
✅Craft style beer
✅No holds barred wrestling/MMA often to the last man standing or death
✅Ancient Greek city-state rivalry
✅Dirty politics in the world of sport
If any of these sound remotely interesting, then this is the novel you seek. The Open Nations Wrestling Coalition hosts the Headlock of Destiny Tournament every year. Every “nation” sends a titan to represent their territory. Unfortunately, the Uplands usual rep, Owen Grit, is out of commission. Instead, Van is sent. He is an unassuming titan, employed by the local brewery and no fan of confrontation much less wrestling matches. Raised as a ward of the nation, he bounced around from foster home to foster home, and he has no idea why he is selected to represent his homelands. As the tournament progresses, Van finds a spark that ignited his killer instinct in the ring, but will it be enough to win the Headlock of Destiny? Supernatural forces, brute strength in his opposition and conspiring elements intervene in his quest to victory. Van, the antithesis of all things full of bluster and braggadocio, is easy to root for, a commoner on the brink of stardom who wants nothing to do with the spoils of it. Much like wrestling and fantasy itself, excellent entertainment and highly recommended.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 2, 2023
Pro wrestling epic fantasy? I almost think I didn't need to actually read this one - the concept sold me strongly enough that I sort of wasn't fussed what the execution was like. That said, I'm glad I did read it; I enjoyed it enough that I've picked up the sequel and started on that straight away. It's an entertaining read, well paced and easy to power through.
As a massive fan of pro wrestling, I loved the many, many nods and homages Gately squeezes in. I'm pretty sure I didn't catch half of them, but I especially liked that there's a venue named Scott Hall (the real name of the legendary Razor Ramon). Some of the wrestlers are quite clearly meant to be tributes to real wrestlers, but in some cases I had no idea whether there was any particular inspiration. There are a good two or three I thought might be Hulk Hogan; I get the sense Gately's favourite era of wrestling would probably be the sort of late 80s through early 00s WWF, just because those are where most of the references I caught came from.
I do have a couple of issues with it, which may or may not be issues for you - that's up to you to decide!
The first is that, while the fights are described really nicely, I genuinely don't have a clue how our protagonist manages to win any of the matches he does. He's supposed to be an underdog, and he is - he's got no training whatsoever, doesn't even know the rules to begin with, and is outsized and outstrengthed by most of his opponents. That's a fine setup, but I don't think Van ever really develops or learns or uses any skills, exactly. He just sort of either lucks out or suddenly taps into some beast mode that nobody can handle, despite the fact that all of them are experienced fighters with their own rage to draw on. I love an underdog who uses their unique skills and wiles to overcome the odds, but I never quite understood why Van is able to win other than by virtue of being the protagonist and therefore, I guess, having the best motivations or something.
The second issue I have, and I've been pondering this one, is the book's treatment of women. I've sure as heck read things that were a lot more actively sexist, but this just kept popping into my head while I was reading and didn't go away. See, in this world, some people are titans - descendants of giants, or so the stories say. Only men are titans, and only titans compete in the wrestling tournament that sort of defines the state of the relationship between neighbouring nations. So it's an all-male roster as far as direct involvement in the wrestling goes. I almost wondered whether this was a sly commentary on the wrestling industry's treatment of women, which is historically not good and continues not to be particularly good, but I can't make that work, especially as the reference pool seems to be mostly the mixed-gender promotion WWF/WWE rather than drawing from, say, Japanese wrestling where there are only single-gender promotions.
Of course, women do exist in this world, just not as wrestling titans, but... well, there's one female character with her own agenda and skills, but as far as the story structure goes she's mostly relegated to serve as 'mysterious beautiful woman for the protagonist to enjoy with his eyes'. (This looks potentially set to change in the sequel; we'll see.) The other main female character, Annie, is Van's former love interest, and I really like her. She gets a couple of lovely moments. Unfortunately, her function in the story is often simply to be an object of envy; Van's childhood bully is now married to Annie, so they've got more of a reason to dislike each other. Like I say, I like Annie, so it's a shame that her role so often comes down to being an object between two men.
Rounding out the female cast is one older lady who is, to be fair, very entertaining in her brief appearances. Wouldn't be mad at all to see more of her!
Here be spoilers, including a note on the sequel, which I'm about 60% of the way through:
It's entirely up to you whether any of this matters much to you, of course. For what it's worth, I think most readers will find it very easy to breeze through the story without noticing more than perhaps a little background 'hmm?', if that. These things don't get in the way of the main thrust of the tale, which is of course the Headlock of Destiny tournament of giant men beating the ever-loving man-meat out of each other. There is some background political stuff, too, which I think is well done in that it makes sense for motivations and things without ever feeling info-dumpy or getting in the way of the action. To be honest, you could probably just pay attention to the fights and ignore the background bits and be perfectly happy, although you'd be losing out on a chunk of good stuff.
I reckon wrestling fans will get a good kick out of this, and even non-wrestling fans will probably be able to enjoy its sweaty, meaty brand of up-close action. I'll be really curious to see how the sequel plays out; without spoiling too much, the eponymous tournament seems to be over and done with by the end of this book, so future entries will have to either find new and interesting ways to include action-packed wrestling matches or come up with alternative reasons for giant people to beat each other up in gloriously entertaining fashion.
As a massive fan of pro wrestling, I loved the many, many nods and homages Gately squeezes in. I'm pretty sure I didn't catch half of them, but I especially liked that there's a venue named Scott Hall (the real name of the legendary Razor Ramon). Some of the wrestlers are quite clearly meant to be tributes to real wrestlers, but in some cases I had no idea whether there was any particular inspiration. There are a good two or three I thought might be Hulk Hogan; I get the sense Gately's favourite era of wrestling would probably be the sort of late 80s through early 00s WWF, just because those are where most of the references I caught came from.
I do have a couple of issues with it, which may or may not be issues for you - that's up to you to decide!
The first is that, while the fights are described really nicely, I genuinely don't have a clue how our protagonist manages to win any of the matches he does. He's supposed to be an underdog, and he is - he's got no training whatsoever, doesn't even know the rules to begin with, and is outsized and outstrengthed by most of his opponents. That's a fine setup, but I don't think Van ever really develops or learns or uses any skills, exactly. He just sort of either lucks out or suddenly taps into some beast mode that nobody can handle, despite the fact that all of them are experienced fighters with their own rage to draw on. I love an underdog who uses their unique skills and wiles to overcome the odds, but I never quite understood why Van is able to win other than by virtue of being the protagonist and therefore, I guess, having the best motivations or something.
The second issue I have, and I've been pondering this one, is the book's treatment of women. I've sure as heck read things that were a lot more actively sexist, but this just kept popping into my head while I was reading and didn't go away. See, in this world, some people are titans - descendants of giants, or so the stories say. Only men are titans, and only titans compete in the wrestling tournament that sort of defines the state of the relationship between neighbouring nations. So it's an all-male roster as far as direct involvement in the wrestling goes. I almost wondered whether this was a sly commentary on the wrestling industry's treatment of women, which is historically not good and continues not to be particularly good, but I can't make that work, especially as the reference pool seems to be mostly the mixed-gender promotion WWF/WWE rather than drawing from, say, Japanese wrestling where there are only single-gender promotions.
Of course, women do exist in this world, just not as wrestling titans, but... well, there's one female character with her own agenda and skills, but as far as the story structure goes she's mostly relegated to serve as 'mysterious beautiful woman for the protagonist to enjoy with his eyes'. (This looks potentially set to change in the sequel; we'll see.) The other main female character, Annie, is Van's former love interest, and I really like her. She gets a couple of lovely moments. Unfortunately, her function in the story is often simply to be an object of envy; Van's childhood bully is now married to Annie, so they've got more of a reason to dislike each other. Like I say, I like Annie, so it's a shame that her role so often comes down to being an object between two men.
Rounding out the female cast is one older lady who is, to be fair, very entertaining in her brief appearances. Wouldn't be mad at all to see more of her!
Here be spoilers, including a note on the sequel, which I'm about 60% of the way through:
It's entirely up to you whether any of this matters much to you, of course. For what it's worth, I think most readers will find it very easy to breeze through the story without noticing more than perhaps a little background 'hmm?', if that. These things don't get in the way of the main thrust of the tale, which is of course the Headlock of Destiny tournament of giant men beating the ever-loving man-meat out of each other. There is some background political stuff, too, which I think is well done in that it makes sense for motivations and things without ever feeling info-dumpy or getting in the way of the action. To be honest, you could probably just pay attention to the fights and ignore the background bits and be perfectly happy, although you'd be losing out on a chunk of good stuff.
I reckon wrestling fans will get a good kick out of this, and even non-wrestling fans will probably be able to enjoy its sweaty, meaty brand of up-close action. I'll be really curious to see how the sequel plays out; without spoiling too much, the eponymous tournament seems to be over and done with by the end of this book, so future entries will have to either find new and interesting ways to include action-packed wrestling matches or come up with alternative reasons for giant people to beat each other up in gloriously entertaining fashion.
February 29, 2020
The Headlock of Destiny is unique, and clever, and fun, and enjoyable, with a lovable cast of characters that draw you in to a zany concept that ends up being more epic than you expect. That admittedly long and winding sentence is the best way I could come up with to express my enjoyment of Samuel Gately latest. Created as a sort of mashup of pro wrestling and epic fantasy, the story begins personally, grounded in the main character, Van. But it expands rapidly without every losing that personal grounding. In the end, it’s a lot of fun.
The Headlock of Destiny has its greatest strength in its main character. Van is a titan, the descendants of giants, titans are twice as tall as normal humans and ten times as strong. Most titans fight in matches throughout the regions, and the best of the best travel to the titular Headlock of Destiny tournament to be crowned the champion. Each nation brings a single titan to the tournament, and as such the politics of the various nations run through the tournament, wins in the ring give diplomats social capital to use in their negotiations. Through a series of mishaps, Van—who begins the book as a worker at a brewery—end up competing in the Headlock. Van is a misfit, a loveable misfit, and an underdog to boot. If you enjoy those tropes, you’re going to love this book. There is a heroic quality to Van that we get to see develop throughout the story and I appreciated his arc very much. There are elements of a coming-of-age tale here, but it’s more than that as well. The book never takes itself too seriously, with mishaps and comedy aplenty. The world building is another element that I enjoyed. Gately fleshes out a society obsessed with the Headlock and the titans who fight in it, and many of those fights offer moments where you want to pump your own fist into the air. The side characters also shine, playing important roles in Van’s development but also feeling like they have stories of their own, even if we aren’t seeing those stories fully in this book. There are also moments where you catch glimpses of the overarching, epic story and those moments are wonderful. There’s more going on here than meets the eye, and working to figure that out is a ton of fun. This is a story for people who like heroes. That’s what we’re watching Van grow into, and there are moments in this novel where Van truly steps into those shoes and acts as a hero. Those moments were so incredibly satisfying I can recommend this book on their strength alone.
For me, the largest weakness is that eventually the ring matches begins to take on a somewhat repetitive and predictable tone. Gately goes to great lengths to keep them fresh, but even so there are moments when they did begin to feel repetitive. I also felt that the relationship of the tournament to the politics of the world was a little vague, at least in terms of specific mechanisms. But then, I’m not sure how one goes into those specific mechanisms without boring those who would be less interested. Of these two, I found the first two be the larger issue for my enjoyment. It’s still a wonderful story, and I really enjoyed it, but it would have been nice to feel like the fights played out with less of an established pattern.
The Headlock of Destiny is such a unique tale. It’s too much to say that it’s lighthearted—there are certainly emotional beats and moments of pain and struggle. But it is an uplifting story that has it’s genesis in a zany concept. I enjoyed it and can’t wait for the sequel. It’s a fun read, add it to your TBR.
8.3/10
4.1/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
The Headlock of Destiny has its greatest strength in its main character. Van is a titan, the descendants of giants, titans are twice as tall as normal humans and ten times as strong. Most titans fight in matches throughout the regions, and the best of the best travel to the titular Headlock of Destiny tournament to be crowned the champion. Each nation brings a single titan to the tournament, and as such the politics of the various nations run through the tournament, wins in the ring give diplomats social capital to use in their negotiations. Through a series of mishaps, Van—who begins the book as a worker at a brewery—end up competing in the Headlock. Van is a misfit, a loveable misfit, and an underdog to boot. If you enjoy those tropes, you’re going to love this book. There is a heroic quality to Van that we get to see develop throughout the story and I appreciated his arc very much. There are elements of a coming-of-age tale here, but it’s more than that as well. The book never takes itself too seriously, with mishaps and comedy aplenty. The world building is another element that I enjoyed. Gately fleshes out a society obsessed with the Headlock and the titans who fight in it, and many of those fights offer moments where you want to pump your own fist into the air. The side characters also shine, playing important roles in Van’s development but also feeling like they have stories of their own, even if we aren’t seeing those stories fully in this book. There are also moments where you catch glimpses of the overarching, epic story and those moments are wonderful. There’s more going on here than meets the eye, and working to figure that out is a ton of fun. This is a story for people who like heroes. That’s what we’re watching Van grow into, and there are moments in this novel where Van truly steps into those shoes and acts as a hero. Those moments were so incredibly satisfying I can recommend this book on their strength alone.
For me, the largest weakness is that eventually the ring matches begins to take on a somewhat repetitive and predictable tone. Gately goes to great lengths to keep them fresh, but even so there are moments when they did begin to feel repetitive. I also felt that the relationship of the tournament to the politics of the world was a little vague, at least in terms of specific mechanisms. But then, I’m not sure how one goes into those specific mechanisms without boring those who would be less interested. Of these two, I found the first two be the larger issue for my enjoyment. It’s still a wonderful story, and I really enjoyed it, but it would have been nice to feel like the fights played out with less of an established pattern.
The Headlock of Destiny is such a unique tale. It’s too much to say that it’s lighthearted—there are certainly emotional beats and moments of pain and struggle. But it is an uplifting story that has it’s genesis in a zany concept. I enjoyed it and can’t wait for the sequel. It’s a fun read, add it to your TBR.
8.3/10
4.1/5 stars.
5 – I loved this, couldn’t put it down, move it to the top of your TBR pile
4 – I really enjoyed this, add it to the TBR pile
3 – It was ok, depending on your preferences it may be worth your time
2 – I didn’t like this book, it has significant flaws and I can’t recommend it
1 – I loathe this book with a most loathsome loathing
June 18, 2021
Full disclosure: I really like professional wrestling. It’s like a soap opera with some fighting sprinkled in and I am all for it. Some of my fondest memories are of watching wrestling with my dad when I was a kid way back in the 90s and I carry around those silly storylines and the antics of the wrestlers to this day. I’ll admit that I haven’t watch WWE in a few years, though not for a lack of interest; I really just don’t have the time to watch 4 or 5 hours worth of programming every week, with some weeks having an additional 3 hours or so added on top of that if there is a pay-per-view going on. So with all of that being said, I’m sure it isn’t a great leap to imagine that I might have been excited to check this one out, and boy am I glad that I did!
“The core is me and Judge Cage stepping into the ring. Who is strongest at that exact moment in time in that exact space in the world? Only one winner in the squared circle. And then repeat again and again until there’s only one standing. It’s beautiful music, almost like the waves crashing against the sand. I love it.”
The thing that initially drew me to this book (besides its amazing cover!) was the completely absurd concept. First of all, who’d have thought of combining a fantasy world with professional wrestling? And, further, who’d have guessed it could be pulled off this well? Well, that’s just what Gately has done. He has married the two so well that it’s almost baffling that no one else had figured it out sooner. In this world, the titans are descended from giants that once roamed the earth. As such, they are twice the height of normal humans, with increased strength and a whole host of other supernatural abilities that vary between titans. The titans are pitted against each other in unarmed combat to win glory for themselves and their homelands and this is barely scratching the surface of what Gately has managed to conjure up. There are a scant few places where certain things like the politics of the Open Nations were left a little vague and could have been explored more, however I don’t think that was the focus of the story and so is a niggling complaint at most.
Even without all of the fantastic worldbuilding, The Headlock of Destiny could easily face off against even the toughest challengers. I found it to often be surprisingly full of heart. Van is the classic underdog character that everyone loves to root for. Well, except for the people in this world. Here, they are enraptured by glistening muscles and brutal technical skill in the ring, neither of which Van possesses. In fact, Van is so unlike the other titans that he is instantly likeable. He is quiet and peaceful and often filled with self-doubt and insecurity. Forced from foster home to foster home for his entire childhood and relentlessly made the object of scorn and butt of all jokes, all Van wants is someone who loves him. In a book about titans with giant personalities that fight each other in a wrestling ring, Gately injects plenty of quiet and tender moments. I went from laughing to crying to whooping far too many times in a single book.
“He needs to know he’s not alone. We all suffer sometimes. Even f*cking titans.”
When I finished The Headlock of Destiny I turned to my wife and told her that I couldn’t think of anything that I disliked about this book and that stands true. Sure, there are a few tiny holes in the otherwise amazingly colorful worldbuilding, but this was one of the most fun books I have ever read. As a wrestling fan, I loved picking up on all of the little wrestling easter eggs sprinkled throughout the book and the callbacks to 90s-era wrestling, that shining moment in my childhood, were wonderful. It brought me back to 1997, parked on the floor in front of the tv while my dad and I cheered for our favorite wrestler. My dad is gone now and maybe that’s why I loved this book so much. It brought a little piece of him back to me, even if only for a short moment in time.
“The core is me and Judge Cage stepping into the ring. Who is strongest at that exact moment in time in that exact space in the world? Only one winner in the squared circle. And then repeat again and again until there’s only one standing. It’s beautiful music, almost like the waves crashing against the sand. I love it.”
The thing that initially drew me to this book (besides its amazing cover!) was the completely absurd concept. First of all, who’d have thought of combining a fantasy world with professional wrestling? And, further, who’d have guessed it could be pulled off this well? Well, that’s just what Gately has done. He has married the two so well that it’s almost baffling that no one else had figured it out sooner. In this world, the titans are descended from giants that once roamed the earth. As such, they are twice the height of normal humans, with increased strength and a whole host of other supernatural abilities that vary between titans. The titans are pitted against each other in unarmed combat to win glory for themselves and their homelands and this is barely scratching the surface of what Gately has managed to conjure up. There are a scant few places where certain things like the politics of the Open Nations were left a little vague and could have been explored more, however I don’t think that was the focus of the story and so is a niggling complaint at most.
Even without all of the fantastic worldbuilding, The Headlock of Destiny could easily face off against even the toughest challengers. I found it to often be surprisingly full of heart. Van is the classic underdog character that everyone loves to root for. Well, except for the people in this world. Here, they are enraptured by glistening muscles and brutal technical skill in the ring, neither of which Van possesses. In fact, Van is so unlike the other titans that he is instantly likeable. He is quiet and peaceful and often filled with self-doubt and insecurity. Forced from foster home to foster home for his entire childhood and relentlessly made the object of scorn and butt of all jokes, all Van wants is someone who loves him. In a book about titans with giant personalities that fight each other in a wrestling ring, Gately injects plenty of quiet and tender moments. I went from laughing to crying to whooping far too many times in a single book.
“He needs to know he’s not alone. We all suffer sometimes. Even f*cking titans.”
When I finished The Headlock of Destiny I turned to my wife and told her that I couldn’t think of anything that I disliked about this book and that stands true. Sure, there are a few tiny holes in the otherwise amazingly colorful worldbuilding, but this was one of the most fun books I have ever read. As a wrestling fan, I loved picking up on all of the little wrestling easter eggs sprinkled throughout the book and the callbacks to 90s-era wrestling, that shining moment in my childhood, were wonderful. It brought me back to 1997, parked on the floor in front of the tv while my dad and I cheered for our favorite wrestler. My dad is gone now and maybe that’s why I loved this book so much. It brought a little piece of him back to me, even if only for a short moment in time.
June 10, 2021
I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to be getting into with The Headlock of Destiny. I loved the cover – there is something about that striking image, and the combination of colours that hooked me, and I was intrigued by the idea of combing wrestling and fantasy even if I couldn’t quite get my head around how that would work, and I’m glad that I picked it up.
This book is pure entertainment.
Whatever, I might have conjured up for how this would work was nothing like what I found in this book and I’m glad because this book took me by surprise in all the best ways. It’s a unique concept (and one that speaks to the part of my heart that loves sports anime) and not only do it a way that makes that concept sparkle, but does it with surprising depth and with a cast of fantastically written, and well-developed characters.
This is not necessarily the book for you if you’re looking for a deep plot, but there was a lot more happening beneath the surface than you might expect based on the concept. I would have liked to have seen a little more detail about how the wrestling world was tied in with the politics, but it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book. It’s fast-paced, plays cleverly with the use of wrestling in a world where it is an integral part of the world – and the action was fantastic, and although there were perhaps a couple of repeated ideas, the author does an excellent job of keeping the wrestling scenes different and gripping and it gave the book a very punchy feeling.
Another area where The Headlock of Destiny shines is with its characters. With concepts like the one for this book, it would be easy for them to be overwhelmed, but Gately has created a colourful, memorable cast of characters. Each one was an individual, with their own goals and personalities, which was another reason why the different wrestling matches really came alive – because the characters add so much vibrancy to everything they touch. Van is our main character, I loved him from the moment that we met him and the whole story had a mixed feeling of being a coming of age story, as well as the tale of a loveable misfit and I think it is impossible not to root for him. He’s the star of the show – even when he’s the underdog, but the side characters shine just as brightly and are clearly more than just a sideshow. This is a fun story, that plays on chaos and comedy, and yet there were also deeper moments of connection and emotion and a feeling that there is more than meets the eye and it’s that paired with the worldbuilding and characters that lifts this to the ‘epic’.
The Headlock of Destiny is proof that it’s great to venture off the beaten path. A fabulous read for anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced read with lots of action and great characters. It doesn’t matter if you know nothing about wrestling – I certainly don’t – Gately pulls you into his story and world, and dazzles you and l'm looking forward to the next book.
This book is pure entertainment.
Whatever, I might have conjured up for how this would work was nothing like what I found in this book and I’m glad because this book took me by surprise in all the best ways. It’s a unique concept (and one that speaks to the part of my heart that loves sports anime) and not only do it a way that makes that concept sparkle, but does it with surprising depth and with a cast of fantastically written, and well-developed characters.
This is not necessarily the book for you if you’re looking for a deep plot, but there was a lot more happening beneath the surface than you might expect based on the concept. I would have liked to have seen a little more detail about how the wrestling world was tied in with the politics, but it certainly didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book. It’s fast-paced, plays cleverly with the use of wrestling in a world where it is an integral part of the world – and the action was fantastic, and although there were perhaps a couple of repeated ideas, the author does an excellent job of keeping the wrestling scenes different and gripping and it gave the book a very punchy feeling.
Another area where The Headlock of Destiny shines is with its characters. With concepts like the one for this book, it would be easy for them to be overwhelmed, but Gately has created a colourful, memorable cast of characters. Each one was an individual, with their own goals and personalities, which was another reason why the different wrestling matches really came alive – because the characters add so much vibrancy to everything they touch. Van is our main character, I loved him from the moment that we met him and the whole story had a mixed feeling of being a coming of age story, as well as the tale of a loveable misfit and I think it is impossible not to root for him. He’s the star of the show – even when he’s the underdog, but the side characters shine just as brightly and are clearly more than just a sideshow. This is a fun story, that plays on chaos and comedy, and yet there were also deeper moments of connection and emotion and a feeling that there is more than meets the eye and it’s that paired with the worldbuilding and characters that lifts this to the ‘epic’.
The Headlock of Destiny is proof that it’s great to venture off the beaten path. A fabulous read for anyone looking for a fun, fast-paced read with lots of action and great characters. It doesn’t matter if you know nothing about wrestling – I certainly don’t – Gately pulls you into his story and world, and dazzles you and l'm looking forward to the next book.
April 9, 2023
First of all, I would like to apologize. I received this book as a part of the Book Tour and I wrongly marked the wrong date in my schedule and missed the date. But as they say, better late than never. And so here I am a couple days late.
I recently started decided to push myself out of my comfort zone. While, reading big-ass books about politics and fights and dragons and torture are my jam, reading about wrestling wasn't. I am not a wrestling fan. I never was. I never watched the sport in my whole life. And so, I was skeptical about reading this. I had no reference point. So, yes, reading a short book was reading out of comfort zone for me.
Was it a good decision? Hell, yes.!! Am I freaking glad that I read this? Definitely. Now, let's actually talk about book rather the excitement, shall we? Titans, the descendants from giants who once ruled around. And thus, they are the blend of humans and giants, with strength and heights double the humans and emotions like humans, they definitely are the perfect blend. Before reading this, I never...Never would have imagined reading something like this. This was a Fantasy book and I know there is something like cozy Fantasy, The Destiny of Headlock is something of a mixture of Fun Fantasy. A book that once you start, you can read in a sitting. Of course, if you are a fast reader or if you sit and actually read and not scroll through social media. This book is a perfect recipe of humor, emotions, beer and Fun.
But that's not all. It starts with one small thing and than one more. With each page, the story progresses and I honestly felt growing. It's a different feeling than the embarrassment we feel when characters do something that we're embarrassed for them. And I loved this feeling. There is a point in life when everyone feels that they don't fit in. When there are things that they don't want to do or circumstances force you to do things that you never expected to do. This. this is the plot. The underlying feeling that we feel and Gately has managed to capture that feeling and Van made me feel all the emotions easily. I love how despite it being a wrestling match, it wasn't about wrestling. The core message is something as simple and as small as the feeling of belonginess.
While, I stressed on these feelings, this isn't the only store around. I think any Fantasy story is incomplete without at least some intrigue and betrayals and guess what? You have that here too. Didn't I say, this was a perfect package? I would like to thank the author, Samuel Gately for writing this book- for not only making me fall in love with things I never imagined but also making the whole journey so memorable. So fun.
I recently started decided to push myself out of my comfort zone. While, reading big-ass books about politics and fights and dragons and torture are my jam, reading about wrestling wasn't. I am not a wrestling fan. I never was. I never watched the sport in my whole life. And so, I was skeptical about reading this. I had no reference point. So, yes, reading a short book was reading out of comfort zone for me.
Was it a good decision? Hell, yes.!! Am I freaking glad that I read this? Definitely. Now, let's actually talk about book rather the excitement, shall we? Titans, the descendants from giants who once ruled around. And thus, they are the blend of humans and giants, with strength and heights double the humans and emotions like humans, they definitely are the perfect blend. Before reading this, I never...Never would have imagined reading something like this. This was a Fantasy book and I know there is something like cozy Fantasy, The Destiny of Headlock is something of a mixture of Fun Fantasy. A book that once you start, you can read in a sitting. Of course, if you are a fast reader or if you sit and actually read and not scroll through social media. This book is a perfect recipe of humor, emotions, beer and Fun.
But that's not all. It starts with one small thing and than one more. With each page, the story progresses and I honestly felt growing. It's a different feeling than the embarrassment we feel when characters do something that we're embarrassed for them. And I loved this feeling. There is a point in life when everyone feels that they don't fit in. When there are things that they don't want to do or circumstances force you to do things that you never expected to do. This. this is the plot. The underlying feeling that we feel and Gately has managed to capture that feeling and Van made me feel all the emotions easily. I love how despite it being a wrestling match, it wasn't about wrestling. The core message is something as simple and as small as the feeling of belonginess.
While, I stressed on these feelings, this isn't the only store around. I think any Fantasy story is incomplete without at least some intrigue and betrayals and guess what? You have that here too. Didn't I say, this was a perfect package? I would like to thank the author, Samuel Gately for writing this book- for not only making me fall in love with things I never imagined but also making the whole journey so memorable. So fun.
March 4, 2020
You don't need to be a fan of pro-wrestling to get this book, but if you are you'll appreciate some of the inside jokes and references.
Van is a titan, a giant ten-times as a strong as a mortal man, destined to fight and entertain the masses in a wrestling ring. Despite his humble beginnings working at a brewery in a backwater village, he is of course swept up into the politics and show-biz of the fighting circuit, thrust into the biggest tournament in the world, the Headlock of Destiny. Van becomes Van the Beer Man, a wrestling... brewer? (To be fair, the real world has seen wrestling garbage men, dentists and golf caddies, so why not?)
I loved this book. Samuel Gately has an easy, fun voice that makes the text fly by at a breezy clip. The description of the wrestling matches are fast-paced and exciting, with each one a spectacle of over-the-top action. But wrestling action aside, some of my favourite moments were outside the ring, like Van's quest to steal a barrel of beer, his antics at the tavern and casino between matches, or his awkward encounters with his former girlfriend. Much of the characters and interactions are refreshingly grounded and real, despite the story being set in a magical world with wrestling minotaurs and dragons used as passenger airliners. I think that's what really makes this work - in a world with cartoonish wrestling action and fantasy trappings, it's really Gately's down-to-earth portrayal of Van that makes him seem real and relatable. It would have been so easy, and a mistake, to make Van as garish and hyperbolic as the world around him, but instead he's just a normal, regular guy with simple wants and a sad (but not overly dramatic) backstory. Really great stuff.
Long story short, I would recommend this to anyone who like pro-wrestling or fantasy. If you like both, then you REALLY have to check this out, because you're in for a treat.
Disclosure & such: I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Van is a titan, a giant ten-times as a strong as a mortal man, destined to fight and entertain the masses in a wrestling ring. Despite his humble beginnings working at a brewery in a backwater village, he is of course swept up into the politics and show-biz of the fighting circuit, thrust into the biggest tournament in the world, the Headlock of Destiny. Van becomes Van the Beer Man, a wrestling... brewer? (To be fair, the real world has seen wrestling garbage men, dentists and golf caddies, so why not?)
I loved this book. Samuel Gately has an easy, fun voice that makes the text fly by at a breezy clip. The description of the wrestling matches are fast-paced and exciting, with each one a spectacle of over-the-top action. But wrestling action aside, some of my favourite moments were outside the ring, like Van's quest to steal a barrel of beer, his antics at the tavern and casino between matches, or his awkward encounters with his former girlfriend. Much of the characters and interactions are refreshingly grounded and real, despite the story being set in a magical world with wrestling minotaurs and dragons used as passenger airliners. I think that's what really makes this work - in a world with cartoonish wrestling action and fantasy trappings, it's really Gately's down-to-earth portrayal of Van that makes him seem real and relatable. It would have been so easy, and a mistake, to make Van as garish and hyperbolic as the world around him, but instead he's just a normal, regular guy with simple wants and a sad (but not overly dramatic) backstory. Really great stuff.
Long story short, I would recommend this to anyone who like pro-wrestling or fantasy. If you like both, then you REALLY have to check this out, because you're in for a treat.
Disclosure & such: I received an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 21, 2020
I was skeptical going in but this book was awesome! I had read some of Gately's other books (Spies of Dragon and Chalk series) which were great, fast paced fantasy/spy novels. I was looking for some entertaining quarantine reading and saw that this had just come out but I wasn't so sure how well fantasy and pro-wrestling would work together. I shouldn't have been concerned. Gately is so skilled at mixing genres. Just like he blended 007 spy tropes into his previous novels, Gately takes everything that's fun about pro wrestling and makes it bigger and badder in this world of Titans.
The core story is basic enough, a beer guzzling everyman gets a Rocky-style opportunity for a high profile fight. But watching him rise up with luck, grit and surprising talent is far more enjoyable than you'd think because the characters are just so great. Also, like any good fantasy (or wrestling) plot it digs into bigger cultural issues, like racism and corruption.
The thing I love most about HoD is it respects the story and the characters, while being really fun and funny. It also pokes fun at wrestling tropes while clearly showing a ton of love for pro wrestling, particularly the late 80s-90s era. If you even casually watched wrestling during that time it's a good time just picking out which characters were inspired by which wrestling personas.
Really can't recommend this enough to break you out of the lockdown doldrums. If you like pro-wrestling you've got to read this. If you don't, it's still about as much fun as you can have while being forced to stay inside all day.
The core story is basic enough, a beer guzzling everyman gets a Rocky-style opportunity for a high profile fight. But watching him rise up with luck, grit and surprising talent is far more enjoyable than you'd think because the characters are just so great. Also, like any good fantasy (or wrestling) plot it digs into bigger cultural issues, like racism and corruption.
The thing I love most about HoD is it respects the story and the characters, while being really fun and funny. It also pokes fun at wrestling tropes while clearly showing a ton of love for pro wrestling, particularly the late 80s-90s era. If you even casually watched wrestling during that time it's a good time just picking out which characters were inspired by which wrestling personas.
Really can't recommend this enough to break you out of the lockdown doldrums. If you like pro-wrestling you've got to read this. If you don't, it's still about as much fun as you can have while being forced to stay inside all day.
June 6, 2020
I started and finished this wonderful book in one sitting. It was a tremendously entertaining read!
Headlock follows a titan from his start as a stoop-shouldered warehouse worker at the Headwaters Brewery through his rise to the Headlock of Destiny Tournament in Empire City. The characters remind me of the wonderful WWE wrestlers I grew up loving (or loving to hate) like the Macho Man, the Ultimate Warrior, the Hart Brothers, the Iron Sheikh, and the Undertaker etc. from the 1980 - 1990s. But... they're not all completely human. There are minotaurs, half-golems, and an assortment of other various fantastical creatures who make their appearance inside of the ring and out. Wrestlers include characters like Scott Flawless, the Ram, Golem Jones, the Landshaker, Grim Tidings, and Evan the Crusher.
Although it is a Wrestling tournament, the events surrounding it remind me of the World Cup (as each nation has their champion), but with actual political stakes. As many of the characters come from a brewery town, there is also fascinating detail provided by the author about the beers that the characters haul, sell, and (mostly) drink.
Great world-building and an impressive novel! I'd recommend it to anyone who is a fan of fantasy, wrestling or craft beer. Hopefully I can enjoy a Dotted Steer, a Kingsland Ale, or an Ocean Stout as I read the next book in the series soon!
Headlock follows a titan from his start as a stoop-shouldered warehouse worker at the Headwaters Brewery through his rise to the Headlock of Destiny Tournament in Empire City. The characters remind me of the wonderful WWE wrestlers I grew up loving (or loving to hate) like the Macho Man, the Ultimate Warrior, the Hart Brothers, the Iron Sheikh, and the Undertaker etc. from the 1980 - 1990s. But... they're not all completely human. There are minotaurs, half-golems, and an assortment of other various fantastical creatures who make their appearance inside of the ring and out. Wrestlers include characters like Scott Flawless, the Ram, Golem Jones, the Landshaker, Grim Tidings, and Evan the Crusher.
Although it is a Wrestling tournament, the events surrounding it remind me of the World Cup (as each nation has their champion), but with actual political stakes. As many of the characters come from a brewery town, there is also fascinating detail provided by the author about the beers that the characters haul, sell, and (mostly) drink.
Great world-building and an impressive novel! I'd recommend it to anyone who is a fan of fantasy, wrestling or craft beer. Hopefully I can enjoy a Dotted Steer, a Kingsland Ale, or an Ocean Stout as I read the next book in the series soon!
June 6, 2020
I was very much looking forward to picking this up. I was going into it thinking it would be dripping in cheese and was ready for it. What I got pleasantly surprised me. The typical epic fantasy tropes (world building/coming of age main character/politics) were all done very well. In particular, the main protagonist was an excellently portrayed sympathetic baby-face, which wrestling fan readers will very much applaud and appreciate. For that, I do recommend it.
However, and this might be my own fault or expectations, but the actual wrestling part was in the background. The narration of the matches themselves were not much more than punches, kicks, and slams. Maybe this was done so non-wrestlimg fans weren't lost in the usual lexicon of holds, suplexes, and the like. If that's the case, and I wasn't a wrestling fan, then I would have went for 4 stars.
Having said that, I do intend on supporting the series when new books come out. The overarching story, it's cast of characters, and the world in which it is all written pretty much ticks all of the boxes fantasy fans are looking for, without getting too bogged down in complex magic systems.
Good stuff.
However, and this might be my own fault or expectations, but the actual wrestling part was in the background. The narration of the matches themselves were not much more than punches, kicks, and slams. Maybe this was done so non-wrestlimg fans weren't lost in the usual lexicon of holds, suplexes, and the like. If that's the case, and I wasn't a wrestling fan, then I would have went for 4 stars.
Having said that, I do intend on supporting the series when new books come out. The overarching story, it's cast of characters, and the world in which it is all written pretty much ticks all of the boxes fantasy fans are looking for, without getting too bogged down in complex magic systems.
Good stuff.
March 8, 2021
The Headlock of Destiny is an incredibly entertaining and exciting read all the way through.
I was sold as soon as I read that it mixed fantasy with wrestling, just because of how refreshing that sounded, and I don't think this book could have delivered more than it did here. It mixes fantasy-strawberry with wrestling-cheese to create a great new flavour.
The different wrestlers are all very different from each other, and a surprising amount of them are fleshed out, with full backstories that explain how they came to be. These stories often read like something out of ancient myths, and the decision to have some of them be animalistic, made of clay, or even , is a perfect example of how inspired this story is when it comes to combining its influences.
The book's pacing is great too. It never gets close to boring because there's always something new and interesting going on, be it a fight against a fresh opponent, a new mystery, or some juicy details about the world's history. The dialogue is snappy and the characters are as charismatic as one would expect from a story with this premise.
I don't know how to end reviews.
I was sold as soon as I read that it mixed fantasy with wrestling, just because of how refreshing that sounded, and I don't think this book could have delivered more than it did here. It mixes fantasy-strawberry with wrestling-cheese to create a great new flavour.
The different wrestlers are all very different from each other, and a surprising amount of them are fleshed out, with full backstories that explain how they came to be. These stories often read like something out of ancient myths, and the decision to have some of them be animalistic, made of clay, or even , is a perfect example of how inspired this story is when it comes to combining its influences.
The book's pacing is great too. It never gets close to boring because there's always something new and interesting going on, be it a fight against a fresh opponent, a new mystery, or some juicy details about the world's history. The dialogue is snappy and the characters are as charismatic as one would expect from a story with this premise.
I don't know how to end reviews.
September 3, 2020
I was originally intrigued by the idea of sci-fi/fantasy and professional wrestling mashed together. I was not disappointed! Mr. Gately paints a wondrous picture of larger than life titans/wrestlers and the world around them. As a fan of both genres, this book was right up my alley. I enjoyed trying to figure out what titans were based on what wrestlers. I enjoyed the little easter eggs dropped in the story (Scott Hall LOL). By the time I finished the book, I was disappointed that the sequel wasn't out yet. If you like pro wrestling and you like fantasy stories this is a great book to read. My biggest problem with the book is that it appears by all indications that the sequel Piledriver Of Fate will be the last book in the series. I want more! Highly recommended! Great stuff, Maynard.
April 2, 2021
What a surprise!
I picked this book up after hearing it advertised on Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard. I figured, what the hell? I like fantasy, and I like wrestling, so why not give it a shot? I went in with VERY low expectations. Wow. I was hooked before I finished the prologue. The characters are believable, and, to a wrestling fan, it’s easy to spot the inspiration for most of them. The story is actually pretty gripping, and the world building is pretty good. I’m heading over to Amazon to download the sequel as soon as I finish writing this review! For something that I wasn’t sure I’d like, it made me into a fan. I HAVE to know what happens next! And now I’m gonna have to look into some of the author’s other work, as well. I really enjoy his writing style. Great book!
I picked this book up after hearing it advertised on Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard. I figured, what the hell? I like fantasy, and I like wrestling, so why not give it a shot? I went in with VERY low expectations. Wow. I was hooked before I finished the prologue. The characters are believable, and, to a wrestling fan, it’s easy to spot the inspiration for most of them. The story is actually pretty gripping, and the world building is pretty good. I’m heading over to Amazon to download the sequel as soon as I finish writing this review! For something that I wasn’t sure I’d like, it made me into a fan. I HAVE to know what happens next! And now I’m gonna have to look into some of the author’s other work, as well. I really enjoy his writing style. Great book!
March 18, 2022
I quite enjoyed this book! It is about wrestling, but honestly, you don't really need to be a fan of wrestling to enjoy it (but... it will help). It has a fantasy setting, which makes the wrestling have more of a competitive feel, but of course, plenty of common wrestling terminology is used, so I guess you'll know whether or not it is for you.
There are some great twists and turns and some effective storytelling techniques that will keep you turning those pages, and the last third of the book was hard to put down. It also sets up the second book, although it doesn't quite set up another wrestling tournament... I'll be interested to see where the story goes.
Overall, I do recommend you give this book a try. It's a fun read.
There are some great twists and turns and some effective storytelling techniques that will keep you turning those pages, and the last third of the book was hard to put down. It also sets up the second book, although it doesn't quite set up another wrestling tournament... I'll be interested to see where the story goes.
Overall, I do recommend you give this book a try. It's a fun read.
March 8, 2020
This book was a pleasant surprise. A mashup of two genres that work so perfectly together it's amazing it hasn't been done before.
I really enjoyed this adventure story. The main character, Van The Beer Man, is vulnerable, endearing and impossible not to root for. If you're a wrestling fan, the references will jump right out at you. Some of the liberties taken with familiar archetypes are very creative. If you're a fantasy fan, you'll enjoy a rich world that slowly unfolds as giant Titans fight, drink, and cheat their way to the ultimate prize.
This was an awesome book! I highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed this adventure story. The main character, Van The Beer Man, is vulnerable, endearing and impossible not to root for. If you're a wrestling fan, the references will jump right out at you. Some of the liberties taken with familiar archetypes are very creative. If you're a fantasy fan, you'll enjoy a rich world that slowly unfolds as giant Titans fight, drink, and cheat their way to the ultimate prize.
This was an awesome book! I highly recommend it.
June 9, 2021
As a huge wrestling fan, this book did not disappoint me. It's fast-paced, throughly entertaining, brilliantly written with amazing world building wrestling fantasy.
The characters are all very enjoyable and liked the main character, Van The Beer Man. At the beginning of the book he comes as a brewery worker and ends up competing in the Headlock. You can see his character developments clearly ad the story unfolds.
I can not wait to read the second book. If you are a fantasy fanatic like me, this book is definitely for you.
The characters are all very enjoyable and liked the main character, Van The Beer Man. At the beginning of the book he comes as a brewery worker and ends up competing in the Headlock. You can see his character developments clearly ad the story unfolds.
I can not wait to read the second book. If you are a fantasy fanatic like me, this book is definitely for you.
August 15, 2022
Even after seeing many good reviews, I thought there was no chance whatsoever that this book could “go over.” However, it was such a captivating read. As a big fan of professional wrestling, you could easily, and sometimes not so easily, so the parallels being made to the wrestlers and terminology we wrestling fans have loved throughout our childhoods and even now. I also think that non wrestling fans would find this book enjoyable, because the story itself is just pretty dang good. I just ordered the second book and I’m very excited to see how it all turns out for Van.
March 23, 2020
This tale is terrific. Titans. Beer. Wrestling. What's not to love?! I enjoyed following Van, the lovable misanthropic main character on his journey through this fantastic society that I can't wait to read more about.
This is a creative story that is fun and carries more depth the deeper you go in.
Now, I hear the crowds in the wrestling pit calling for more from Gately!
This is a creative story that is fun and carries more depth the deeper you go in.
Now, I hear the crowds in the wrestling pit calling for more from Gately!
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