Age of Iron
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4.1 • 22 Ratings
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
LEGENDS AREN'T BORN. THEY'RE FORGED.
Dug Sealskinner is a down-on-his-luck mercenary travelling south to join up with King Zadar's army. But he keeps rescuing the wrong people.
First, Spring, a child he finds scavenging on the battlefield, and then Lowa, one of Zadar's most fearsome warriors, who's vowed revenge on the king for her sister's execution.
Now Dug's on the wrong side of that thousands-strong army he hoped to join - and worse, Zadar has bloodthirsty druid magic on his side. All Dug has is his war hammer, one rescued child and one unpredictable, highly-trained warrior with a lust for revenge that's going to get them all killed . . .
It's a glorious day to die.
Look out now for YOU DIE WHEN YOU DIE - first in a new historical fantasy series from Angus Watson.
'Watson's tale is gore soaked and profanity laden - full of visceral combat and earthy humor, and laced with subtle magic. The blend of historical accuracy and authorial liberties suggests an old-school sword-and-sorcery epic, though with some modern sensibilities thrown in for good measure!'
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
'Would I read the next one? Yes, absolutely. Bring me my hammer, bring my beer, bring it on.'
SF CROWSNEST
'Watson has created a brilliant and confident debut . . . If you like your fantasy packed with hammer-wielding heroes, bloodthirsty druids, strong female leads, action, intrigue, betrayal, and a brilliantly conceived world then AGE OF IRON is for you.'
THE BOOK BEARD
'Thoroughly entertaining from the get go . . . I really got a kick out of the AGE OF IRON'
THE ELOQUENT PAGE
For more epic action from Angus Watson, check out:
West of West Trilogy
You Die When You Die
The Land you Never Leave
Where Gods Fear to Go
The Iron Age Trilogy
Age of Iron
Clash of Iron
Reign of Iron
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Watson's Iron Age trilogy kicks off in the relatively uncharted period before Britain was invaded by the Romans, circa 61 B.C.E. The land is populated by strapping warriors, power-hungry kings, and enigmatic druids, all battling for survival and supremacy. Dug Sealskinner, past his prime at 40, is still playing mercenary when he'd rather be settled down with a family. Lowa Flynn is a powerful archer in service to the cunning, ambitious King Zadar, who intends to conquer Britain, one village at a time. After Dug flees a disastrous battle and Lowa is betrayed by Zadar, the two become reluctant allies and traveling companions, soon adopting the plan of killing Zadar to avenge Lowa's slain sisters in arms. They're joined by an inexperienced druid and a fast-talking girl, and must face an entire army if they want to succeed. Watson's tale is gore soaked and profanity laden full of visceral combat and earthy humor, and laced with subtle magic. The blend of historical accuracy and authorial liberties suggests an old-school sword-and-sorcery epic, though with some clearly modern sensibilities thrown in for good measure.
Customer Reviews
Woeful
I rarely give up on books and I can't remember ever stopping before I got a quarter of the way through. This book is so gratuitously and carelessly violent it should come with a warning on the front. I'm not squeamish but I couldn't stomach this brand of violence.
Almost as disturbing is the context. It is supposedly set in late Iron Age Britain - just prior to the Roman invasion - but as far as I can tell the historical basis is late 20th and early 21st century fantasy - sort of Mad Max meets Game of Thrones with Dorset hillforts.
It would have been better to give up on the historical veneer altogether.
Bernard Cornwell this ain't.