Seven Kennings
Fantasy
Del Rey
October 17, 2017
640
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. 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.
A Plague of Giants is an engaging and complex story that is woven together masterfully. It tells the story of the beginnings of a war with a strange people referred to as the Bone Giants, and it features bravery, cunning, and perseverance in confronting the forces that march against the main characters.
Kevin Hearne does a brilliant job of constructing the plot and telling the story in a creative way. The story is relayed to us via a bard, who essentially brings the tale to life in a first-person point of view for each main character’s perspective. The tales are all separate, but each adds dimension and depth to the overarching epic. I found this approach to narrative to be exciting and effective, and indeed I found the parts of the story that involve the bard himself to be engaging as well (i.e. the story between the bard’s tales).
I have always enjoyed Kevin Hearne’s cheerful wit in The Iron Druid books. This book is much more serious, but Kevin’s humor shines through in places with wonderful effect.
I eagerly await the next book, and highly recommend this one to fans of epic fantasy.