Kevin Hearne

'TRULY EPIC FANTASY' James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost From the east came the Bone Giants. From the south, the fire-wielding Hathrim. It was an invasion that sparked war across the six nations of Teldwen. Now the kingdom's only hope is the discovery of a new form of magic - one that will call the wondrous beasts of the world to fight by the side of humankind. In the start of a thrilling new series, the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles creates an unforgettable fantasy world of warring giants and elemental magic. 'This isn't just a breath of fresh air for the genre, it's a damned hurricane' Jason M. Hough, New York Times bestselling author 'A rare masterpiece that's both current and timeless . . . merging the fantasy bones of Tolkien and Rothfuss with a wide cast of characters who'll break your heart' Delilah S. Dawson

A Plague of Giants

This one is probably a bit challenging for some people. It's very focused on the frame story.  I think the impetus for the book is since but the language used is a lot like Sanderson. Anachronistic. Not classicall fantasy. And that'll be a huge problem for some people. I didn't really mind. I don't demand verbose, boring language from my fantasy but some do so your milage may vary. Overall I think this is an interesting start to a series but maybe not perfect. 

From the author of The Iron Druid Chronicles, a thrilling novel that kicks off a fantasy series with an entirely new mythology—complete with shape-shifting bards, fire-wielding giants, and children who can speak to astonishing beasts MOTHER AND WARRIOR Tallynd is a soldier who has already survived her toughest battle: losing her husband. But now she finds herself on the front lines of an invasion of giants, intent on wiping out the entire kingdom, including Tallynd’s two sons—all that she has left. The stakes have never been higher. If Tallynd fails, her boys may never become men. SCHOLAR AND SPY Dervan is an historian who longs for a simple, quiet life. But he’s drawn into intrigue when he’s hired to record the tales of a mysterious bard who may be a spy or even an assassin for a rival kingdom. As the bard shares his fantastical stories, Dervan makes a shocking discovery: He may have a connection to the tales, one that will bring his own secrets to light. REBEL AND HERO Abhi’s family have always been hunters, but Abhi wants to choose a different life for himself. Embarking on a journey of self-discovery, Abhi soon learns that his destiny is far greater than he imagined: a powerful new magic thrust upon him may hold the key to defeating the giants once and for all—if it doesn’t destroy him first. Set in a magical world of terror and wonder, this novel is a deeply felt epic of courage and war, in which the fates of these characters intertwine—and where ordinary people become heroes, and their lives become legend. Praise for A Plague of Giants “You’ll laugh and cry and crave mustard as you’re immersed in the literal magic of storytelling in Kevin Hearne’s vivid new epic fantasy. I have experienced acute withdrawal symptoms since the book ended. I don’t want to leave this world.”—Beth Cato, author of Breath of Earth and The Clockwork Dagger “A Plague of Giants is an absorbing epic fantasy, with clever storytelling that allows its many threads to each feel important, personal, and memorable. I’m very much looking forward to the sequel!”—James Islington, author of The Shadow of What Was Lost “A Plague of Giants is a rare masterpiece that’s both current and timeless, groundbreaking yet traditional, merging the fantasy bones of Tolkien and Rothfuss with a wide cast of characters who’ll break your heart while reminding you of your humanity.”—Delilah S. Dawson, author of Star Wars: Phasma

A Novel

Christina M Masters

A Plague of Giants is the first book in acclaimed author Kevin Hearne’s newest fantasy series the Seven Kennings.

I am going to be completely honest. I almost gave up on this book. I don’t normally DNF books. I can probably count on one hand the number of books in my life I have done this with. But, this one nearly pushed me to that brink. The only thing that stopped me was a friend telling me to give the book at least 100 pages and it actually took me about 150 to 200 pages in this 600 page plus book to really warm up to the story. It started off a bit confusing for me in terms of time frame and the constant switching of all the character viewpoints. I eventually came to enjoy the multiple storylines and characters, but at first it felt very disjointed and didn’t flow so well. 

A Plague of Giants is basically a story in a story. Told daily over a period of time by the bard, Fintan, is the story of the events leading up to their world being invaded by giants and the aftermath. The Bard, who in this world has perfect recall and can project his voice to everyone in the surrounding areas, also has a special way of being able to take on the visage of the person whose story he is telling at that moment, making it all the more impactful. Day by day he is informing the people of (insert town name here) what took place in other areas besides their own, why it took place, and what was involved. He weaves a fascinating and informative story of both tragedy, hope, and heroism and how every day, ordinary people can become extraordinary in a blink of an eye. 

Kevin Hearne is a fantastic world builder. There is so much to this story and so many characters that it would be impossible for me to outline it all here because that would make this about 20 pages long. This series is definitely going to need a detailed appendix in further books. But he has created a spectacular world, with rich characters, some more fleshed out than others, but all very intriguing. There is also a fascinating magic system, called Kennings. You have to risk your life to see if you are worthy and are to be blessed with a kenning and if you are you, then have to be careful how you use it, since basically the kennings run off of life force and if you use too much magic at one time you could basically drain out your entire life in one instance. 

I am so glad I persevered with this book. I didn’t love the entire story. There were some parts I didn’t like. One of the characters, who I thought for sure would be developed and play a larger role in future books, was unceremoniously disposed of. Maybe his point was to show us that no character is untouchable or safe. Kind of like another author some of us know and love…I am looking at you George R. R. Martin. And I suppose that is why he has the Fintan tell the story in such a way. That was actually one of my favorite parts of the story. I thought having a bard relay the different journeys of all these people, not to mention being able to look like them, was a unique device to use. 
 
So, I highly recommend this to fantasy lovers who enjoy epic fantasy and want to become invested in a story and a new world. It might not be for everyone, but I think most people who enjoy this genre will be rewarded. If you do read it, I urge you to give it about 150 pages if you feel like you are struggling at the beginning. I certainly intend to get the 2nd book when it comes out and to think this is a book I nearly didn’t finish. 

See this and other reviews at The Xtina Files

Enfys J. Book

Well-written, but not my personal jam. If you're into war stories and love complex, epic fantasy with political intrigue and a ton of different viewpoints, I'd highly recommend it.

Melissa Railey

Michael Cowell

In the start of an enchanting new series, the New York Times bestselling author of The Iron Druid Chronicles creates an unforgettable fantasy world . . . one that is forever changed when an army of giants invades. The kingdom's only hope? The discovery of a form of magic that will call the world's wondrous beasts to fight by the side of humankind.

A Plague of Giants

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