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Hammer & Glass: Kalleron Book IV
Her mother means the World, yet Chara has been abandoned, inexplicably left alone in the immortal citadel of An’Korathall. Naïve of the human ways, who does a lonely Elemental child turn to when the eyes of malicious men fall upon her?
There is a man in the mountains. Something her mother had said: the man who lives among stone is a man apart from flesh. This ancient force whose legend has ebbed in time; he will keep her safe. He must.
An old, reluctant power rises once again in An’Korathall, the forgotten King grumbling and reaching for his cataclysmic weapon. With his unearthly war hammer in hand, he swears to protect the child of glass.
Seeking answers to Chara’s plight, and joined by friends old and new, he learns of a terrible new threat. The Elemental covenant is in play; Fire has spread her wings. The Great Destroyer is coming to Earth.
* * *
Hammer & Glass introduces the reader to the world of Kalleron in Book IV. A standalone story, its timeline sits in the centre of the saga, bonding together the heroes of old and the heroics of the future. The saga will continue in Spring 2023 with the release of the foundation story, Kalleron Book I.
There is a man in the mountains. Something her mother had said: the man who lives among stone is a man apart from flesh. This ancient force whose legend has ebbed in time; he will keep her safe. He must.
An old, reluctant power rises once again in An’Korathall, the forgotten King grumbling and reaching for his cataclysmic weapon. With his unearthly war hammer in hand, he swears to protect the child of glass.
Seeking answers to Chara’s plight, and joined by friends old and new, he learns of a terrible new threat. The Elemental covenant is in play; Fire has spread her wings. The Great Destroyer is coming to Earth.
* * *
Hammer & Glass introduces the reader to the world of Kalleron in Book IV. A standalone story, its timeline sits in the centre of the saga, bonding together the heroes of old and the heroics of the future. The saga will continue in Spring 2023 with the release of the foundation story, Kalleron Book I.
363 pages, Paperback
Published November 10, 2022
About the author
James D. McEwan
6 books1 followerJames D. McEwan won an Easter egg for a poem he wrote about rabbits in primary school. That was 1985, and he has won nothing since. To rectify this grievous oversight, he released his debut fantasy novel, Hammer & Glass: Kalleron Book IV, in November 2022. In January 2023, he doubled his output with M7RRORS, a humorous and dark love story set in contemporary Glasgow. Driven to avoid pop-culture and thoughtless consumerism, he refuses to follow tropes and market trends. He therefore expects to die penniless, but happy. His favourite book of all time is The Time Machine by HG Wells, though he doubts M7RRORS would exist without having first read Chuck Palahniuk.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
April 19, 2023
I was sent a copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.
This book in three words:
Profound
Gripping
Intriguing
Values/Themes/Tropes:
Equality
Lgbtq+ representation
Found family
Mortality
Kinship
Gods/Elementals
Deciet
Sarcasm/humour
Twists and turns
Review:
The writing style of this book is more like traditional epic fantasy rather than modern fantasy, but you soon settle into the rhythm. It is definitely worth the few pages of adjustment if you aren't used to the style because this book is fantastic from start to finish. A lot of the plot is developed through character interactions and dialogue rather than narration of observations. I found this to make the book much more engaging.
The world building is great as it is detailed enough for a reader to follow if they read this book first. However, it isn't so over described and done that if you read the rest of the series first, it wouldn't be jarring and repetitive. It's clear there is so much more to this world than we learn about in this book. The story is clearly set in an epic world with a lot of history.
I really like the different perspectives used throughout the book without the need to specifically call out who is speaking. It's refreshing to just realise by the change in thought process or writing style of the character whose POV you are reading.
My favourite thing about this book and its greatest strength is the character's development. The relationships being built between the characters are so natural and subtle and entirely believable. It honestly makes you forget you are reading and draws you into being part of this found family. The use of humour and sarcasm in interactions makes the relationships more believable, relatable, and makes the reader form a real bond with the characters.
You leave this book feeling like you've gained a family yourself and been on the epic adventure with them. It's a book you know it will stick with you forever. I can't wait to follow the series further and see just how far this all goes!
This book in three words:
Profound
Gripping
Intriguing
Values/Themes/Tropes:
Equality
Lgbtq+ representation
Found family
Mortality
Kinship
Gods/Elementals
Deciet
Sarcasm/humour
Twists and turns
Review:
The writing style of this book is more like traditional epic fantasy rather than modern fantasy, but you soon settle into the rhythm. It is definitely worth the few pages of adjustment if you aren't used to the style because this book is fantastic from start to finish. A lot of the plot is developed through character interactions and dialogue rather than narration of observations. I found this to make the book much more engaging.
The world building is great as it is detailed enough for a reader to follow if they read this book first. However, it isn't so over described and done that if you read the rest of the series first, it wouldn't be jarring and repetitive. It's clear there is so much more to this world than we learn about in this book. The story is clearly set in an epic world with a lot of history.
I really like the different perspectives used throughout the book without the need to specifically call out who is speaking. It's refreshing to just realise by the change in thought process or writing style of the character whose POV you are reading.
My favourite thing about this book and its greatest strength is the character's development. The relationships being built between the characters are so natural and subtle and entirely believable. It honestly makes you forget you are reading and draws you into being part of this found family. The use of humour and sarcasm in interactions makes the relationships more believable, relatable, and makes the reader form a real bond with the characters.
You leave this book feeling like you've gained a family yourself and been on the epic adventure with them. It's a book you know it will stick with you forever. I can't wait to follow the series further and see just how far this all goes!
August 6, 2023
In a world where elemental beings and humans co-exist, a motley group of characters must band together to prevent great danger and war befalling their lands. The Great Destroyer has awoken, the consequences of which will forever change the face of Earth…
I’ll start by saying that Hammer and Glass wouldn’t be my usual type of read, but, once I had adjusted to the unique writing style, I ended up loving it. Not your typical fantasy with dragons, magic and monsters, this read almost like literary fiction to me. The world building was epic and very well drawn without being over the top or sensationalised, and each character’s identity and role in the story was evident. The dialogue felt natural, and in parts added humour to the narrative. I particularly enjoyed the growing friendship between Jerune and Bucka during their adventures at the forge in Laria - and, of course, the father-daughter relationship of Goddard and Chara, the hammer-wielding giant and the girl made of black glass.
This wasn’t a story I wanted to rush through reading; I wanted to savour the book and catch most of the details so I read this one while I wasn’t distracted and took my time.
I read a lot of books so I start to see the same stories and ideas and tropes being used over and over again. Therefore, I award this book 5 stars for imagination, inventiveness and originality and look forward to going back to the beginning and finding out how it all started with part 1, Melody & Majesty.
A big thank you to James D. McEwan for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll start by saying that Hammer and Glass wouldn’t be my usual type of read, but, once I had adjusted to the unique writing style, I ended up loving it. Not your typical fantasy with dragons, magic and monsters, this read almost like literary fiction to me. The world building was epic and very well drawn without being over the top or sensationalised, and each character’s identity and role in the story was evident. The dialogue felt natural, and in parts added humour to the narrative. I particularly enjoyed the growing friendship between Jerune and Bucka during their adventures at the forge in Laria - and, of course, the father-daughter relationship of Goddard and Chara, the hammer-wielding giant and the girl made of black glass.
This wasn’t a story I wanted to rush through reading; I wanted to savour the book and catch most of the details so I read this one while I wasn’t distracted and took my time.
I read a lot of books so I start to see the same stories and ideas and tropes being used over and over again. Therefore, I award this book 5 stars for imagination, inventiveness and originality and look forward to going back to the beginning and finding out how it all started with part 1, Melody & Majesty.
A big thank you to James D. McEwan for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2023
Fantasy is not my go-to genre, and so I was pleasantly surprised this didn’t contain the stereotypical concoction of dragons and demons with gratuitous sex or unnecessary violence.
Rather, I found myself becoming rather attached to the characters as their owns bonds with one another grew. The interplay between them was simply lovely.
An incredibly well thought out world with interjections of humour and leanings towards modern day themes makes this appealing to all. I’m excited to see where it all started.
Rather, I found myself becoming rather attached to the characters as their owns bonds with one another grew. The interplay between them was simply lovely.
An incredibly well thought out world with interjections of humour and leanings towards modern day themes makes this appealing to all. I’m excited to see where it all started.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews