Review: The Dread Hammer

The Dread Hammer by Linda Nagata

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Book Info: Genre: Fantasy Reading Level: Adult

Disclosure: I purchased this book for myself after winning the 2nd in an early reviewer’s giveaway in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: Ketty is a pretty shepherdess with a contrary nature, who runs away from home to escape an unwanted marriage. As she flees along the forest road, she prays to the Dread Hammer for help—and to her astonishment help comes in the form of a charming and well-armed young murderer named Smoke. As Ketty soon discovers, Smoke is not entirely human.

Smoke, too, is taken by surprise at their encounter. He had lurked beside the forest road intending to pierce hearts and slit throats, not to fall in love. But love it is—or it would be—if only he can convince Ketty that marriage is better than death.

But just when happily-ever-after seems within reach, Smoke's past returns to claim him. A deserter from the Koráyos army, his supernatural skill at killing is still very much in demand. Now the army wants him back.

The Dread Hammer is an enthralling, dark tale of love, war, murder, marriage, and fate.

My Thoughts: This is Book 1 of the Tales of the Puzzle Lands; because I forgot I had this one, I read book 2 first oops. Though I didn’t love Hepen the Watcher, I liked it well enough to want to read this first book, which tells – among other things – about how Dismay AKA Smoke and Ketty first met.

I liked this book better than the 2nd book, just because there isn’t as much abuse of women as in the 2nd one, but I still spent a lot of this book furious – furious at Dehan, Smoke’s father, for being such a cruel jerk; furious at the treacherous Nedgalvin. I’d really like to read something less... extreme next, so I think I’ll be reading something lighter to up my mood. But if you are a fan of Dexter, I think you’ll enjoy Dismay as well – nothing like a murderous fiend who prefer to kill the guilty to make one sit up and take notice. Check this series out.



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