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The Winter of the World #3
The Hammer of the Sun
Mastersmith Elof Valantor pursues his love, Kara, to an unknown land where he is faced with the greatest challenge of his life
502 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
19 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Michael Scott Rohan
38 books81 followersMichael Scott Rohan (born 1951 in Edinburgh) was a Scottish fantasy and science fiction author and writer on opera.
He had a number of short stories published before his first books, the science fiction novel Run to the Stars and the non-fiction First Byte. He then collaborated with Allan J. Scott on the nonfiction The Hammer and The Cross (an account of Christianity arriving in Viking lands, not to be confused with Harry Harrison's similarly themed novel trilogy of the same name) and the fantasy novels The Ice King and A Spell of Empire.
Rohan is best known for the Ice Age-set trilogy The Winter of the World. He also wrote the Spiral novels, in which our world is the Hub, or Core, of a spiral of mythic and legendary versions of familiar cities, countries and continents.
In the "Author's Note" to The Lord of Middle Air, Rohan asserts that he and Walter Scott have a common ancestor in Michael Scot, who is a character in the novel.
[copied and adapted from en.wikipedia.org]
He had a number of short stories published before his first books, the science fiction novel Run to the Stars and the non-fiction First Byte. He then collaborated with Allan J. Scott on the nonfiction The Hammer and The Cross (an account of Christianity arriving in Viking lands, not to be confused with Harry Harrison's similarly themed novel trilogy of the same name) and the fantasy novels The Ice King and A Spell of Empire.
Rohan is best known for the Ice Age-set trilogy The Winter of the World. He also wrote the Spiral novels, in which our world is the Hub, or Core, of a spiral of mythic and legendary versions of familiar cities, countries and continents.
In the "Author's Note" to The Lord of Middle Air, Rohan asserts that he and Walter Scott have a common ancestor in Michael Scot, who is a character in the novel.
[copied and adapted from en.wikipedia.org]
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
December 11, 2024
Much as I have enjoyed reading and rereading the first two volumes of this series, I constantly stall at the third.
Although this is the final instalment of a trilogy, the overall arc being the battle against the Ice, it is a separate book from the first two. It commences after a gap of years, whereas the second followed on immediately from the first. The first two books comprised complete story arcs, all personal and political quests being fulfilled - except for defeating the Ice - at the end of the second volume. The lengthy time gap to the third brings in a new story to give motivation for a renewed struggle against the Ice.
And that’s the problem that stops me reading. The third book seems a clumsy reprise of the first: Elof once again makes a monumental error and has to cope with the consequences. This time the error is not down to youthful arrogance and ignorance, from which Elof has grown and been forgiven. The error is a gratuitous act of abuse, selfish and jealous as well as utterly stupid, which is completely out of character. And Elof stays obnoxious, even half way in, which is as far as any attempt at reading has got.
This transformation of Elof is like a slap across the face of the reader. Time and again, it literally stops me in my tracks and I put the book down. This plot point undermines the arcs of the first two books and completely eradicates the sympathy for Elof that I have built up. Simply put, I don’t want to read the rest of his story. It’s a betrayal of my investment as a reader.
Nevertheless, I want to know how the Ice is defeated, so I try again and again.
So. I have pushed through to the end. And what a disappointment it is. After a long section where Elof wallows in self-pity as a tyrant’s slave, we have a hurried conclusion with a miraculous escape from slavery, a miraculous return home and summoning of an army for the obligatory last battle, which is only there because it is expected. The battle is won using a deus ex machina secret weapon - the *only* weapon whose crafting was not lovingly detailed in the way that made all the preceding volumes so deeply engrained with smithcraft, and this victory, in one small location, somehow defeats the Ice spread over a continent. Far too convenient. Far too staged. And also, the battle turns on an event that only doubles down on Elof’s terrible mistake of the beginning. That really sticks in the craw as this additional abuse is merely brushed aside, forgiven, and then conveniently reversed to give him an undeserved happy ending. No, that’s very disappointing.
Ironically, Elof in victory causes far more immediate and devastating harm to humanity than the Ice was doing, but this too is celebrated as a victory for life and change as opposed to the stifling death of the Ice. This felt very rushed and browbeating.
Overall, despite the quality of the writing, this is a horrible end to the trilogy and I’m glad to have finished it.
Although this is the final instalment of a trilogy, the overall arc being the battle against the Ice, it is a separate book from the first two. It commences after a gap of years, whereas the second followed on immediately from the first. The first two books comprised complete story arcs, all personal and political quests being fulfilled - except for defeating the Ice - at the end of the second volume. The lengthy time gap to the third brings in a new story to give motivation for a renewed struggle against the Ice.
And that’s the problem that stops me reading. The third book seems a clumsy reprise of the first: Elof once again makes a monumental error and has to cope with the consequences. This time the error is not down to youthful arrogance and ignorance, from which Elof has grown and been forgiven. The error is a gratuitous act of abuse, selfish and jealous as well as utterly stupid, which is completely out of character. And Elof stays obnoxious, even half way in, which is as far as any attempt at reading has got.
This transformation of Elof is like a slap across the face of the reader. Time and again, it literally stops me in my tracks and I put the book down. This plot point undermines the arcs of the first two books and completely eradicates the sympathy for Elof that I have built up. Simply put, I don’t want to read the rest of his story. It’s a betrayal of my investment as a reader.
Nevertheless, I want to know how the Ice is defeated, so I try again and again.
So. I have pushed through to the end. And what a disappointment it is. After a long section where Elof wallows in self-pity as a tyrant’s slave, we have a hurried conclusion with a miraculous escape from slavery, a miraculous return home and summoning of an army for the obligatory last battle, which is only there because it is expected. The battle is won using a deus ex machina secret weapon - the *only* weapon whose crafting was not lovingly detailed in the way that made all the preceding volumes so deeply engrained with smithcraft, and this victory, in one small location, somehow defeats the Ice spread over a continent. Far too convenient. Far too staged. And also, the battle turns on an event that only doubles down on Elof’s terrible mistake of the beginning. That really sticks in the craw as this additional abuse is merely brushed aside, forgiven, and then conveniently reversed to give him an undeserved happy ending. No, that’s very disappointing.
Ironically, Elof in victory causes far more immediate and devastating harm to humanity than the Ice was doing, but this too is celebrated as a victory for life and change as opposed to the stifling death of the Ice. This felt very rushed and browbeating.
Overall, despite the quality of the writing, this is a horrible end to the trilogy and I’m glad to have finished it.
February 19, 2013
Rohan's conclusion to the main sequence of the Winter of the World books is at once the right ending and, ultimately, unfulfilling. Rereading the trilogy recently, I was struck again by how different this book felt from the previous two. It seemed much more so to have a clear message to send; a real axe to grind, if you will. While the previous books wove together a long arc of coming of age of the series protagonist with the greater (read: good vs. evil) struggle against the Ice, this book seemed much more to be focused on the depths of folly to which pride or hubris can lead a man, along with the cost associated with that.
It's been more or less hinted at throughout the series that there is a very ruthless streak in Elof that he doesn't truly let out that often. This is a book in which Elof does a very stupid and selfish thing, and has to pay the consequences. Unfortunately, the price is much higher than he would have imagined. The book explores some cruelty and selfishness of man in a way that sometimes seems extravagant, and wholely different than what is offered in the previous books. One of the frustrating things is that the impetus for the tale in this book feels completely rooted in deus ex machina. Elof's actions early on just don't truly seem in line with his character as we've known him. The middle section of the book transforms him even more, from a man motivated (in some way at least) by love, to one bent on a type of long-form vengeance that seems pulled straight out of a darker Shakespeare tale rather than something from Rohan's earlier works.
The ending, or at least the end section if not the very end, of the book does provide closure to the tale of Elof, the overall struggle with the Ice, and other things as well. It does manage to tie things together in a way to give you the satisfaction of the "ah ha!" moment or at least the "I knew it!" one. It's a bit unclear to me if the whole thing is just a bit too contrived. It's all a little too convenient, and it seems like Rohan ultimately takes the easy way out in order to find some sort of ending, even if it feels like an unsatisfying one.
In some ways it's hard to recommend The Hammer of the Sun, though in other ways it's really an important conclusion to Elof's tale. Rohan's diction remains top notch in this book, it just seems that some elements of the overall picture just materialized because it was expedient rather than logically motivated by other things in the book or series as a whole.
It does leave me wishing there was a different way for it all to wrap up, but also wishing there were more Winter of the World books to be had. The latter of those, at least, is possible, as there are other books in the same setting, even if they tell a different set of stories.
Overall: At least 3 unnecessary uses of deus ex machina out of 4. Oh well.
It's been more or less hinted at throughout the series that there is a very ruthless streak in Elof that he doesn't truly let out that often. This is a book in which Elof does a very stupid and selfish thing, and has to pay the consequences. Unfortunately, the price is much higher than he would have imagined. The book explores some cruelty and selfishness of man in a way that sometimes seems extravagant, and wholely different than what is offered in the previous books. One of the frustrating things is that the impetus for the tale in this book feels completely rooted in deus ex machina. Elof's actions early on just don't truly seem in line with his character as we've known him. The middle section of the book transforms him even more, from a man motivated (in some way at least) by love, to one bent on a type of long-form vengeance that seems pulled straight out of a darker Shakespeare tale rather than something from Rohan's earlier works.
The ending, or at least the end section if not the very end, of the book does provide closure to the tale of Elof, the overall struggle with the Ice, and other things as well. It does manage to tie things together in a way to give you the satisfaction of the "ah ha!" moment or at least the "I knew it!" one. It's a bit unclear to me if the whole thing is just a bit too contrived. It's all a little too convenient, and it seems like Rohan ultimately takes the easy way out in order to find some sort of ending, even if it feels like an unsatisfying one.
In some ways it's hard to recommend The Hammer of the Sun, though in other ways it's really an important conclusion to Elof's tale. Rohan's diction remains top notch in this book, it just seems that some elements of the overall picture just materialized because it was expedient rather than logically motivated by other things in the book or series as a whole.
It does leave me wishing there was a different way for it all to wrap up, but also wishing there were more Winter of the World books to be had. The latter of those, at least, is possible, as there are other books in the same setting, even if they tell a different set of stories.
Overall: At least 3 unnecessary uses of deus ex machina out of 4. Oh well.
November 20, 2012
There are many different ways to judge the quality of a book, I think. Some stand out on a technical level, others shine in their mastery of wordcraft, or worldbuilding, or believable characters. There’s also “emotional impact”, or something like that. And, regardless of the other aspects of quality – if a book impacts me emotionally (in a positive way… you know not like making me want to burn it) I’m going to have to call that quality.
This book hit me in two places, the first of which was a surprise. The second was the ending, so that was somewhat expected – especially as the closing book in a trilogy. Based on those two hits alone, this book is four stars, but it has plenty of merit beyond that. The pre-historic (but not prehistoric) world and it’s literal battle with the ice(age) is vividly done, the lead and three supporting characters each get a good amount of time and growth over the course of the trilogy, and the magic system is the only one of it’s kind I’ve seen so far (no actual “spells”, everything is crafted/enchanted by “smiths”) and really works quite well within the bounds of the setting.
Another kind of interesting thing about my experience with these books was that with each one I went into it expecting to be bored – even with the second and third, after I’d had the exact same expectations about the previous ones, I STILL had that feeling. Something about the world – on paper it doesn’t sound quite as interesting as it actually is in words. So, another achievement for the author there. Also, he does a great job of making the reader empathic to the leads pain – and he undergoes something in this book that still makes me physically cringe just to think about (no it’s not necessarily torture… just something incredibly painful that I haven’t encountered in a book yet, nor wish to again O.O).
SO. In closing. I highly recommend this series to fans of “classic” style epic fantasy. Very much in the vein of Lord of the Rings… but I found it more approachable than that.
FOUR STARS
A NOTE ABOUT MY RATING SYSTEM: Yes, my rating system actually goes to FIVE, but I’m really fucking stingy with anything over four. Even four is an achievement. You need some seriously nuts stuff to get over FOUR, like the Game of Thrones, Wheel of Time or Reality Dysfunction series. So, while this series is very well crafted, and was a wonderful read, it did lack a little in the mind blowing department. But that’s ok. If everything was awesome, awesome wouldn’t be so awesome.
This book hit me in two places, the first of which was a surprise. The second was the ending, so that was somewhat expected – especially as the closing book in a trilogy. Based on those two hits alone, this book is four stars, but it has plenty of merit beyond that. The pre-historic (but not prehistoric) world and it’s literal battle with the ice(age) is vividly done, the lead and three supporting characters each get a good amount of time and growth over the course of the trilogy, and the magic system is the only one of it’s kind I’ve seen so far (no actual “spells”, everything is crafted/enchanted by “smiths”) and really works quite well within the bounds of the setting.
Another kind of interesting thing about my experience with these books was that with each one I went into it expecting to be bored – even with the second and third, after I’d had the exact same expectations about the previous ones, I STILL had that feeling. Something about the world – on paper it doesn’t sound quite as interesting as it actually is in words. So, another achievement for the author there. Also, he does a great job of making the reader empathic to the leads pain – and he undergoes something in this book that still makes me physically cringe just to think about (no it’s not necessarily torture… just something incredibly painful that I haven’t encountered in a book yet, nor wish to again O.O).
SO. In closing. I highly recommend this series to fans of “classic” style epic fantasy. Very much in the vein of Lord of the Rings… but I found it more approachable than that.
FOUR STARS
A NOTE ABOUT MY RATING SYSTEM: Yes, my rating system actually goes to FIVE, but I’m really fucking stingy with anything over four. Even four is an achievement. You need some seriously nuts stuff to get over FOUR, like the Game of Thrones, Wheel of Time or Reality Dysfunction series. So, while this series is very well crafted, and was a wonderful read, it did lack a little in the mind blowing department. But that’s ok. If everything was awesome, awesome wouldn’t be so awesome.
September 19, 2014
The last of the Winter of the world series continues the story of Elof Valantor the Mastersmith in his struggle against the final blow of the advancing ice.
Fans of the series will not be disappointed in the style and narrative, which is exactly the same as the previous novels, retaining the traditional classic style. Elof's travails, both physical and emotional are traced against an epic world-spanning odyssey as he strives both to recover what he has lost and prevent Louhi from destroying the world of Man. In this, he discovers what it truly means to be a man, and discovers the final secrets of his power.
The overall epic storyline is great, and mostly satisfying in its conclusion, marred only by ongoing bone-headedness and arrogance from Elof that's really distasteful. Yes, I get that he's just a man, and prey to ordinary weaknesses, but is just unbelievable. Once again Elof sows the seeds of sorrow and his own destruction himself, and reaps accordingly. It puts me in mind of Saatchi's recent abusing of his wife Nigella Lawson, and I think I can speak for the majority of the male heterosexual population in saying "Dude, uncool! How could you?" I find this attitude confounding and perplexing. Shouldn't wives be cherished and respected by their partners?
/soapbox
The denouement to this story is also it's fatal flaw, although as Joshu Fisher said in his review
Given it's origin in ancient tragedy and it's themes of human frailty and betrayal, I guess it really is appropriate, but it does seem quite abrupt and strangely disjointed compared to the seamless nature of all of the previous narrative. It's almost as though M.Rohan was too hasty to put the sword he was forging into the water bath, distempered it, then gave it up as bad jo not worth completing.
Overall, a good and appropriate conclusion to the series, but prepare to be disappointed with Elof.
Edit: Typos, added spoiler tag
Fans of the series will not be disappointed in the style and narrative, which is exactly the same as the previous novels, retaining the traditional classic style. Elof's travails, both physical and emotional are traced against an epic world-spanning odyssey as he strives both to recover what he has lost and prevent Louhi from destroying the world of Man. In this, he discovers what it truly means to be a man, and discovers the final secrets of his power.
The overall epic storyline is great, and mostly satisfying in its conclusion, marred only by ongoing bone-headedness and arrogance from Elof that's really distasteful. Yes, I get that he's just a man, and prey to ordinary weaknesses, but is just unbelievable. Once again Elof sows the seeds of sorrow and his own destruction himself, and reaps accordingly. It puts me in mind of Saatchi's recent abusing of his wife Nigella Lawson, and I think I can speak for the majority of the male heterosexual population in saying "Dude, uncool! How could you?" I find this attitude confounding and perplexing. Shouldn't wives be cherished and respected by their partners?
/soapbox
The denouement to this story is also it's fatal flaw, although as Joshu Fisher said in his review
Rohan's conclusion to the main sequence of the Winter of the World books is at once the right ending and, ultimately, unfulfilling.
Given it's origin in ancient tragedy and it's themes of human frailty and betrayal, I guess it really is appropriate, but it does seem quite abrupt and strangely disjointed compared to the seamless nature of all of the previous narrative. It's almost as though M.Rohan was too hasty to put the sword he was forging into the water bath, distempered it, then gave it up as bad jo not worth completing.
Overall, a good and appropriate conclusion to the series, but prepare to be disappointed with Elof.
Edit: Typos, added spoiler tag
June 13, 2014
A good finale to Elof's story. Again the mythological aspects of the tale were wonderful and really helped to ground the novel in what felt like a real world setting rather than being "bog standard" sword and sorcery setting.
But oh, Elof, how could you have been so stupid about Kara?
Anyway.... Things I loved - the voyage over the Atlantic to Kerys, Kerys Gate at the Gibraltar Straits, the detail of Elof's smithcrafting and the delving into even more arcane (but modern) methods of creation and Ils and Kermorvan. Kermorvan's realisation at the end that the current civilisation will end with the rising of the oceans as water is unlocked from the grip of the Ice. Reference to the City of Ys.
Things I didn't like: The lack of geomorphological accuracy - I mean how could the sea spilling into the great River then flow out elsewhere into a different sea. Wouldn't work.... Elof's idiocy and jealousy at the beginning of the story, although it was a way of getting him to cross the sea, and sort out the Ice once and for all.
I really enjoyed the description of Kerys as a fading land where much of the natural resources had been depleted. I also liked the feeling of corruption of the society. This is not really explained fully until you get to the Appendix, where it explains how the sundering of the peoples took the best of them over the sea to Brasayhal. The growth of ice caps on the continental mountains were adding to the malign influence.
Most of all, I loved the environmental story of how Louhi and the forces of the Ice were using almost geoengineering techniques to grow the Ice. Pressure on the land from the weight of the Ice forcing volcanic eruptions which reduces solar insolation; and blocking the Great River to stop its flow and allow it to ice up. At some point an albedo tipping point would have been reached, and a "Snowball Earth" scenario set up.
I found the ending slightly odd and unsatisfying so really this is 4.5 stars from me rather than five because it just didn't feel right.
As usual the appendices were full of really interesting information and also stories to fill in the historical gaps. Very much worth reading.
But oh, Elof, how could you have been so stupid about Kara?
Anyway.... Things I loved - the voyage over the Atlantic to Kerys, Kerys Gate at the Gibraltar Straits, the detail of Elof's smithcrafting and the delving into even more arcane (but modern) methods of creation and Ils and Kermorvan. Kermorvan's realisation at the end that the current civilisation will end with the rising of the oceans as water is unlocked from the grip of the Ice. Reference to the City of Ys.
Things I didn't like: The lack of geomorphological accuracy - I mean how could the sea spilling into the great River then flow out elsewhere into a different sea. Wouldn't work.... Elof's idiocy and jealousy at the beginning of the story, although it was a way of getting him to cross the sea, and sort out the Ice once and for all.
I really enjoyed the description of Kerys as a fading land where much of the natural resources had been depleted. I also liked the feeling of corruption of the society. This is not really explained fully until you get to the Appendix, where it explains how the sundering of the peoples took the best of them over the sea to Brasayhal. The growth of ice caps on the continental mountains were adding to the malign influence.
Most of all, I loved the environmental story of how Louhi and the forces of the Ice were using almost geoengineering techniques to grow the Ice. Pressure on the land from the weight of the Ice forcing volcanic eruptions which reduces solar insolation; and blocking the Great River to stop its flow and allow it to ice up. At some point an albedo tipping point would have been reached, and a "Snowball Earth" scenario set up.
I found the ending slightly odd and unsatisfying so really this is 4.5 stars from me rather than five because it just didn't feel right.
As usual the appendices were full of really interesting information and also stories to fill in the historical gaps. Very much worth reading.
June 28, 2011
A friend recommended this trilogy to me as very original. I bought it at a science fiction convention for about 5 bucks and read all three books in about a week and my recollection is that it did not bowl me over.
June 4, 2024
"The real Elof was the friends he made along the way" aah book.
Not a bad story, and well written enough to hold your attention but I personally found that it didn't live up to the first two books ans didn't conclude the story in a satisfying way. The best part of the series is the friendship between Elof, Kermorvan, Roc and Ils and this book includes very little of it. Everything goes in the worst possible direction and just makes for a depressing read. Where the last book left off it felt like there was so many more adventures for this group of friends to go on, so much more of the world to see and so many more challenges for them to overcome as a team. But instead it just takes things in the most miserable direction with Elof just losing the last of years of his youth in captivity as a cripple, pursuing Kara brings him nothing but misery yet he continues to chase and ruins his own life. The worst part about this book is that the worst parts just drag on, and absolutely nothing exciting happens to counter balance it. The ending is supposed to be huge but the plot twist reveal just makes it feel like nothing that happened really mattered at all because Elof isn't really Elof and it just makes him feel less human and relatable. There was a lot of loose ends that weren't tied up in a satisfying way and the main problem is that it felt like it brought Elof's story to a close way too soon. It's not a bad way to end the story, but it just felt like there was so much more of Elof's story left to explore before it could be wrapped up like that, maybe as a fourth or fifth book this would be better, but being only the third book it felt like Elof's youth was robbed from him and as the reaser your left wishing that they took the story more places beforr concluding it in the way they did. The previous books explored such fascinating environments and this book there was none, the world building was drab and depressing, and while that wsd intentional for Kerys, I just wish they explored some more interesting places first. The first two books gave me butterflies and goosebumps, this one gave me depression.
Not a bad story, and well written enough to hold your attention but I personally found that it didn't live up to the first two books ans didn't conclude the story in a satisfying way. The best part of the series is the friendship between Elof, Kermorvan, Roc and Ils and this book includes very little of it. Everything goes in the worst possible direction and just makes for a depressing read. Where the last book left off it felt like there was so many more adventures for this group of friends to go on, so much more of the world to see and so many more challenges for them to overcome as a team. But instead it just takes things in the most miserable direction with Elof just losing the last of years of his youth in captivity as a cripple, pursuing Kara brings him nothing but misery yet he continues to chase and ruins his own life. The worst part about this book is that the worst parts just drag on, and absolutely nothing exciting happens to counter balance it. The ending is supposed to be huge but the plot twist reveal just makes it feel like nothing that happened really mattered at all because Elof isn't really Elof and it just makes him feel less human and relatable. There was a lot of loose ends that weren't tied up in a satisfying way and the main problem is that it felt like it brought Elof's story to a close way too soon. It's not a bad way to end the story, but it just felt like there was so much more of Elof's story left to explore before it could be wrapped up like that, maybe as a fourth or fifth book this would be better, but being only the third book it felt like Elof's youth was robbed from him and as the reaser your left wishing that they took the story more places beforr concluding it in the way they did. The previous books explored such fascinating environments and this book there was none, the world building was drab and depressing, and while that wsd intentional for Kerys, I just wish they explored some more interesting places first. The first two books gave me butterflies and goosebumps, this one gave me depression.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 10, 2025
Enjoyable read, action, thrills, brains
While this book has great warrior kings the focus is on the smith who makes the, at times magical, equipment that gets things done.
Readers used to decades of global warming may find a world threatened by eternal Ice strange but M. S. R. crafts a deep rich world without tripping us up on details.
It's clear early on that Elof is going to be stupid, but you understand even while condemning and the story moves ahead at a fine pace. As I read the first book when it came out I hoped the author would write much more but what he did is well done.
Good for, malignant powers, human perseverance, adventure, an intriguing "magic" system.
Highly recommend.
While this book has great warrior kings the focus is on the smith who makes the, at times magical, equipment that gets things done.
Readers used to decades of global warming may find a world threatened by eternal Ice strange but M. S. R. crafts a deep rich world without tripping us up on details.
It's clear early on that Elof is going to be stupid, but you understand even while condemning and the story moves ahead at a fine pace. As I read the first book when it came out I hoped the author would write much more but what he did is well done.
Good for, malignant powers, human perseverance, adventure, an intriguing "magic" system.
Highly recommend.
August 28, 2018
This book feels like it stands separate from the story of the first two, despite being an obvious continuation. The feel of the journey has a stark break, and it becomes more of a personal quest that happens to save the world, than a joint venture.
This one was darker and more sad. Enjoyed it less than the previous two. Still lots of interesting smithing though, and enjoyed the stronger way they glossed over potentially dull parts by basically saying 'Chroniclers just say they walked a lot, and it was hard. We can guess they ran into monsters. Three years passed.'
This book can be read as the 'last' in the series, and has a satisfying ending as such.
This one was darker and more sad. Enjoyed it less than the previous two. Still lots of interesting smithing though, and enjoyed the stronger way they glossed over potentially dull parts by basically saying 'Chroniclers just say they walked a lot, and it was hard. We can guess they ran into monsters. Three years passed.'
This book can be read as the 'last' in the series, and has a satisfying ending as such.
November 10, 2018
A fitting end to a truely great series of Fantasy lit; one that deserves to be republished for the fact that its fallen out of print is a crime. One of the richest examples of world building I've ever read.
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November 20, 2023I recall enjoying the other books in this trilogy but I read them a long time ago and just could not get into this book at this time. And I decided I didn’t actually have to force myself to read it. I could simply move on. So I am. I’m moving on.
June 11, 2018
It wasn't great, just ok. The best of the three books was the second, although it wasn't great either.
August 28, 2019
Not quite 4 stars, perhaps, but I'm rounding it up as I've rounded the others down. I didn't like quite as much as the previous 2 books. I'll write a review of the trilogy in the future.
January 9, 2020
I see more books were added to this series well after I read the first three. I may have to re-read the first then continue on.
July 29, 2024
A brilliant conclusion to a terrific series. I would highly recommend this series and the development of the characters and plot has been excellent!
August 18, 2024
Loved the trilogy, the world, the character all of it. Really great ending to this trilogy!
October 4, 2024
Over-long, unconvincing and really quite pretentious - I was glad when I got to the end.
March 18, 2014
If ever there's need of a book to film as a worthy successor to the Lord of the Rings-trilogy, this series fits the bill. It has clear parallels to Tolkiens work, with its 'high' tone, as if adapted from earlier accounts, and commenting on the texts even, and serving as an exploration of 'nordic' mythology even. It has the same heroic characters, a rich array of less important characters, and the movies don't even need to be 4 hour in length! Add to that an original setting (our world, but thousands of years ago during an ice age - lots of the action takes place at the bottom of what will be the meditarranean in our age), great creatures (there's a sea monster here that I would love to see on the big screen) and great set pieces (the end of the forge is one, but also the climax of this tale with its great use of mirrors). There' a bit more sensuality compared with Tolkien, but also musing about freedom, conformity and humanity. The main character is alsso interestingly flawed, not perfect. I did like that. The end of his quest to find the love of his life was hurried, in my opinion, and I didn't really like the reveal - I think as a lowlier character he would have worked better.
Some reviews state this as the least favorite part of the trilogy, but (maybe because it's almost eight years ago I read the first two) I liked this one better.
As with the previous books maybe the best part to me was the appendix, with its thorough exploration of the world, well thought out. I liked the passages about the mediterranean, and the nature of sea monster Amicac, having read a bit about cryptozoology, long necked seals and Bernard Heuvelman. I like this sort of speculative zoology and geography a lot! So recommended for people who like mythology and speculation mixed with their fantasy!
Some reviews state this as the least favorite part of the trilogy, but (maybe because it's almost eight years ago I read the first two) I liked this one better.
As with the previous books maybe the best part to me was the appendix, with its thorough exploration of the world, well thought out. I liked the passages about the mediterranean, and the nature of sea monster Amicac, having read a bit about cryptozoology, long necked seals and Bernard Heuvelman. I like this sort of speculative zoology and geography a lot! So recommended for people who like mythology and speculation mixed with their fantasy!
July 10, 2013
In 'The Hammer of the Sun' Michael Scott Rohan brings his Ice Age fantasy trilogy to a close in a satisfyingly mythic fashion. Set several years after the end of 'The Forge in the Forest', Elof Valantor grows paranoid that his lover Kara will leave him. In trying to bind her more closely to him Elof commits a grave error and must set out across the eastern ocean to lands unknown to redeem himself.
The novel starts out strongly, with Elof and Roc braving the perils of the unknown ocean, but its loses much of its momentum in the middle section when they finally reach their ancestral homelands in the east, as Rohan must slow down the story for exposition and world building. Although lacking the sense of urgency of the earlier chapters the portrayal of Elof's growing bitterness and resentment is compelling, as the parallels between him and Weyland the Smith of Norse legend become explicit. The story gathers pace again in the final act, with Rohan crafting scenes fit for a saga. The resolution is satisfying, answering the most enduring mystery of the trilogy and bringing definite closure to the characters and their story.
Despite a sluggish mid-section which sacrifices story-telling to world building, 'The Hammer of the Sun' is an entertaining tale of heroic fantasy vividly told. Rohan once again creates a modern work that captures the tone of ancient legend, rather than a work of modern sensibilities in medieval costume.
The novel starts out strongly, with Elof and Roc braving the perils of the unknown ocean, but its loses much of its momentum in the middle section when they finally reach their ancestral homelands in the east, as Rohan must slow down the story for exposition and world building. Although lacking the sense of urgency of the earlier chapters the portrayal of Elof's growing bitterness and resentment is compelling, as the parallels between him and Weyland the Smith of Norse legend become explicit. The story gathers pace again in the final act, with Rohan crafting scenes fit for a saga. The resolution is satisfying, answering the most enduring mystery of the trilogy and bringing definite closure to the characters and their story.
Despite a sluggish mid-section which sacrifices story-telling to world building, 'The Hammer of the Sun' is an entertaining tale of heroic fantasy vividly told. Rohan once again creates a modern work that captures the tone of ancient legend, rather than a work of modern sensibilities in medieval costume.
May 21, 2018
This is the conclusion of the Winter of the World trilogy, and pretty good it is too.
There's lots to like here. The story wraps up very neatly and we can see that the three books were definitely written as a piece. There are hints and clues to the ending all the way through the three book series, even from the very first words of the first book (Anvil of Ice).
It is refreshing to see a flawed hero. Sure he does brave things and (usually) is the moral compass of the series. But he also makes immense mistakes and has to suffer for them. So while there isn't much character progression in the books there is at least some.
The flaws are the same as for the first two books. The language can be overblown at times. The book so desperately wants to be Lord of the Rings. Some sections race ahead with lots of action and derring-do. Others crawl by with interminable long descriptive passages.
The third book adds a new problem. Much of the plot is lifted from Norse mythology, particularly the legends of Wayland the Smith. I couldn't quite make up my mind whether this was a clever homage or blatant plagiarism. If you don't know about Wayland it won't be an issue. If you do, it will have you scratching your head.
All in all, I liked it. If you've read the other two books in the series you have to read this and you won't be disappointed. Or at least, any more disappointed than you were with the first two.
Still flawed, but fun. And still recommended.
There's lots to like here. The story wraps up very neatly and we can see that the three books were definitely written as a piece. There are hints and clues to the ending all the way through the three book series, even from the very first words of the first book (Anvil of Ice).
It is refreshing to see a flawed hero. Sure he does brave things and (usually) is the moral compass of the series. But he also makes immense mistakes and has to suffer for them. So while there isn't much character progression in the books there is at least some.
The flaws are the same as for the first two books. The language can be overblown at times. The book so desperately wants to be Lord of the Rings. Some sections race ahead with lots of action and derring-do. Others crawl by with interminable long descriptive passages.
The third book adds a new problem. Much of the plot is lifted from Norse mythology, particularly the legends of Wayland the Smith. I couldn't quite make up my mind whether this was a clever homage or blatant plagiarism. If you don't know about Wayland it won't be an issue. If you do, it will have you scratching your head.
All in all, I liked it. If you've read the other two books in the series you have to read this and you won't be disappointed. Or at least, any more disappointed than you were with the first two.
Still flawed, but fun. And still recommended.
May 12, 2020
I think I liked the second one best out of all of these. Probably because Ils was in most of it.
Hammer of the Sun was a worthy end to this Trilogy. I had trouble with the style and language - I'm not used to it so I would sometimes read a whole page and not really comprehend what had happened, and have to go back and read more carefully. Good practice for when I finally read the lord of the rings again, I guess!
More later. I did overall enjoy these books but I don't think I'll be picking up the others in the series.
Hammer of the Sun was a worthy end to this Trilogy. I had trouble with the style and language - I'm not used to it so I would sometimes read a whole page and not really comprehend what had happened, and have to go back and read more carefully. Good practice for when I finally read the lord of the rings again, I guess!
More later. I did overall enjoy these books but I don't think I'll be picking up the others in the series.
July 30, 2010
I have never before been this disappointed with the final installment in a trilogy. In fact, had it not been the last book of three then I would have given up when it failed to become interesting before page 200, rather than carrying on doggedly until the bitter end out of some bizarre sense of duty as I did. Even after the initial 200 pages of deathly boring sea voyage had been overcome, although the storyline picked up it never became anything particularly different or anything more than a remix of books one and two with a slightly different setting. The ending was perfunctory, out of place and completely unnecessary. It added nothing at all to the narrative and felt like it was tacked on in a vain attempt to make the otherwise pedestrian story seem more spectacular.
This particular edition (the 1988 printing) is riddled with misprints and spelling errors, which made it even more of a chore to read. While I would still reccommend 'The Anvil of Ice' and 'The Forge in the Forest', I would advise anyone tempted by this trilogy to stop at book two. This book feels like it was simply written to round out the pair of books into a trilogy and adds nothing to a story which is already nicely tied up after the initial two books.
This particular edition (the 1988 printing) is riddled with misprints and spelling errors, which made it even more of a chore to read. While I would still reccommend 'The Anvil of Ice' and 'The Forge in the Forest', I would advise anyone tempted by this trilogy to stop at book two. This book feels like it was simply written to round out the pair of books into a trilogy and adds nothing to a story which is already nicely tied up after the initial two books.
December 31, 2014
I left this on my currently reading shelf for ages so as to write a proper review... and now I have left it so long, none of it is really very fresh in my mind any more, defeating the point.
In general, my opinions of the writing and the story are very much the same as previous two books; epic, well crafted, prose well fitted with the style, an excellent vision of the world. I still prefer The Forge in the Forest a little more, but a lot of that is to do with the setting. The Hammer of the Sun concludes the trilogy well, and the author's depiction of a final days of an Empire are evocative and has a certain melancholic historical gravitas to it. The mix of exploration into the world and society Rohan reveals to us coupled with the unfolding story and indeed the conclusion of the greater plot and in fact, the meta-plot, makes this a great cap to a great series.
In general, my opinions of the writing and the story are very much the same as previous two books; epic, well crafted, prose well fitted with the style, an excellent vision of the world. I still prefer The Forge in the Forest a little more, but a lot of that is to do with the setting. The Hammer of the Sun concludes the trilogy well, and the author's depiction of a final days of an Empire are evocative and has a certain melancholic historical gravitas to it. The mix of exploration into the world and society Rohan reveals to us coupled with the unfolding story and indeed the conclusion of the greater plot and in fact, the meta-plot, makes this a great cap to a great series.
August 25, 2007
Probably my least favorite of the series, but still beautiful, and turns into a wonderful telling of the swan maiden tale-type. A great conclusion to one of my favorite series. And it could be that the fact that I liked this one least could be attributed to the fact that I almost always like the first book of a series best-- well, at least with trilogies (eg, Fellowship of the Ring), though I also like the first book in the Wheel of Time best. This one manages to pull the series into the realm of cosmological forces in a way that feels at onece human/realistic, "true", and also mythic (which is a difficult terms, as I say in my review of the first book). Don't read this series out of order! So much of it's beauty comes from the gradual unfolding of character, world, and the mystery of what's behind the things happening-- read them as one long story, like Lord of the Rings, though admittedly divided up a bit more clearly into separate plots.
July 30, 2011
Well... Rohan didn't let me down. His "mass battle" scenes were quite involved and worthy of the build-up he'd made. Many secrets are revealed in the final part of the trilogy (as one expects), including one that I didn't foresee concerning the main character. Elof - the main character, has been haunted by many things (and not necessarily creatures, but some of his own choices), and we finally see how some of these are resolved. The antagonist-behind-the-antagonist is met in The Hammer of the Sun, and it was a relief to finally "feel" for the villain, in other words, I truly believed that the antagonist thought what they did was right. As opposed to so many antagonists that seem to be simply "madd" in fantasy fiction, this one was simply following their nature (pun intended - if you read it you'll know what I mean).
August 12, 2013
I love these books, though I can't say I've read them quickly or voraciously (I don't think they are that sort of books). They just manage to conjure moments of power and awe like few but the best classic fantasies can. They are up there with Tolkien in that respect, and though some parts of the formula are very similar, yet they do things in a wonderfully different way. Not sure there's a market for books like this any more (or ever was as much as they deserve) but they will always be among my favourites.
This one, as usual, has some great moments of tragedy and triumph, and draws things to a powerful conclusion--not sure how he managed to write two more sequels, but I'm sure I'll find out, eventually. Like I said, I never hurried these books, as they are ones to savour...
This one, as usual, has some great moments of tragedy and triumph, and draws things to a powerful conclusion--not sure how he managed to write two more sequels, but I'm sure I'll find out, eventually. Like I said, I never hurried these books, as they are ones to savour...
February 23, 2013
Maybe I just don't like good things to come to an end but i feel that this was probably my least favourite of the trilogy.
It seemed to take forever (a good 200-250 pages) to actually make any progress in the plot and just as it starts to show some of the likeable traits of the previous books, it ends rather bizarrely and abruptly.
I am still a fan of M.S.R and I really like the technical aspect of his work. His method of describing the smith crafting makes you at times consider building a forge yourself and this really helps engross you as a reader. I just feel that this book may have been a bit forced and not quite the promising ending to the trilogy I was hoping for.
It seemed to take forever (a good 200-250 pages) to actually make any progress in the plot and just as it starts to show some of the likeable traits of the previous books, it ends rather bizarrely and abruptly.
I am still a fan of M.S.R and I really like the technical aspect of his work. His method of describing the smith crafting makes you at times consider building a forge yourself and this really helps engross you as a reader. I just feel that this book may have been a bit forced and not quite the promising ending to the trilogy I was hoping for.
July 19, 2013
Rohan wrapped up his trilogy in a pretty dramatic fashion. Our mastersmith is maimed, enslaved, the world of Ice is ever-expanding . . . and somehow, spring is returned to the world. The shape-shifting lovers took up way too much space and time as far as I'm concerned. I don't think Rohan handles the element of love with deftness. But . . . once they were on their way, and engaged with the forces, I found the tale quite satisfying. Elof Valantor is an unlikely hero, crippled but determined. Rohan did surprise me with the mastersmith's actual identity. And for that, I say Good Show!
July 28, 2014
The least adventurous but arguably most dramatic of the Winter of the World trilogy, Hammer of the Sun again brings to life a rich ice-age world strongly tinged with Finnish mythology and interesting smithcraft creations. I feel that this final volume bogs down somewhat in the middle, treading water for a while following a disaster which befalls our hero, but not so much that I wouldn't recommend it. If you've read this far, you'll need to know how it ends.
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