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In Search of Beira's Hammer: A Fantasy Novella
“A fast-paced, magical adventure packed full of twists, turns – and comedy! A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!” - The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
An adventure filled with silliness, folklore, grumpiness, and absurdity. In Search of Beira’s Hammer follows Scarlet and Amhlaidh on their adventures along the West Highland Way in Scotland. Scarlet travels from Berlin to look for a legendary hammer that will allow her to perfect her city. On the way, she meets Amhlaidh, a grumpy troll, who is willing to help her at a cost. Join them in their search, discovering Beira, kelpies, and other legendary creatures along their way, and find out how their adventure unfolds.
#folklore #humor #comedy #fantasy #scotland #scottish #silly
An adventure filled with silliness, folklore, grumpiness, and absurdity. In Search of Beira’s Hammer follows Scarlet and Amhlaidh on their adventures along the West Highland Way in Scotland. Scarlet travels from Berlin to look for a legendary hammer that will allow her to perfect her city. On the way, she meets Amhlaidh, a grumpy troll, who is willing to help her at a cost. Join them in their search, discovering Beira, kelpies, and other legendary creatures along their way, and find out how their adventure unfolds.
#folklore #humor #comedy #fantasy #scotland #scottish #silly
- GenresFantasy
118 pages, Unknown Binding
Published January 1, 2022
30 people want to read
About the author
Kristina Young
2 books9 followersKristina Young is an author, data scientist and software engineer from Bulgaria, Venezuela, and South Africa; currently living in London, UK. She writes poetry and prose (both fiction and non-fiction) often inspired by travel. Her work ranges from modern folkloric tales to dystopian science fiction and travel memoirs.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 27, 2023
4 Phantom Pebble Stars ⭐️
DISCLAIMER: I am friends with the author, but this does not affect my rating. All thoughts and opinions are my own
In Search of Beira's Hammer was a whimsical heartwarming absurd little tale that leaves you with a feeling of being warm and cosy, I only wish that it had been longer.
The story is a first-person fantasy, told from the POV of our main character Scarlet. Scarlet has set out on an adventure quest to find Beira's Hammer which can change the current topography of Berlin, which she believes is too flat. Along the way, Scarlet meets Amhlaidh, a grumpy little troll, and an abundance of other mythical and magical creatures as her quest progresses.
I liked how the fantasy/folk elements and modern elements were mixed together in a unique and compelling way. I do wish there was a little more description of the setting and environment, as well as a little more depth to Scarlet's inner monologue. There are a lot of instances of just pure dialogue between characters; so the setting, feel of the scene and Scarlet's thoughts are often pushed to the wayside. This means these aspects are left to the reader's imagination and not explained to the reader.
This book has GREAT bedtime story potential, so I would recommend it as a shared experience for parents with their little ones. It has a simple storyline that is pretty linear. There aren't any scary aspects and is not too long. It can be shared over a night or two and is a great way to introduce fantasy to kids who want a dreamy story about friendship with an underlying flavour of Scottish lore and mythology.
DISCLAIMER: I am friends with the author, but this does not affect my rating. All thoughts and opinions are my own
In Search of Beira's Hammer was a whimsical heartwarming absurd little tale that leaves you with a feeling of being warm and cosy, I only wish that it had been longer.
The story is a first-person fantasy, told from the POV of our main character Scarlet. Scarlet has set out on an adventure quest to find Beira's Hammer which can change the current topography of Berlin, which she believes is too flat. Along the way, Scarlet meets Amhlaidh, a grumpy little troll, and an abundance of other mythical and magical creatures as her quest progresses.
I liked how the fantasy/folk elements and modern elements were mixed together in a unique and compelling way. I do wish there was a little more description of the setting and environment, as well as a little more depth to Scarlet's inner monologue. There are a lot of instances of just pure dialogue between characters; so the setting, feel of the scene and Scarlet's thoughts are often pushed to the wayside. This means these aspects are left to the reader's imagination and not explained to the reader.
This book has GREAT bedtime story potential, so I would recommend it as a shared experience for parents with their little ones. It has a simple storyline that is pretty linear. There aren't any scary aspects and is not too long. It can be shared over a night or two and is a great way to introduce fantasy to kids who want a dreamy story about friendship with an underlying flavour of Scottish lore and mythology.
April 20, 2022
From sock-tailed sheep to hitchhiking pebbles - Beira's Hammer was a whirlwind of the absurd. Through the absurdity though stands a relatable tale, emphasising the joy of travel, and encouraging the reader to look for the mystical in the everyday. In this, the story stayed relatable and relevant - I felt as though I was there half of the time, and wished that I was there for the other half.
January 4, 2023
What a fun little novella this was! Full of tongue-in-cheek humour, we follow Scarlet as she sets off across the Scottish Highlands in search of Beira’s hammer, the legendary object that shaped the Scottish landscape. Along the way she meets all sorts of characters and beings from Scottish folklore, eventually coming face-to-face with Beira herself.
📚Find this and more reviews on my blog!📚
The story was so immersive and atmospheric. As I sat and read it in a service station in Birmingham on Christmas Eve, all I wanted to do was go to the Scottish wilderness and experience the magic and beauty depicted in the book! It’s a love letter to nature, to folklore, and to how those things intertwine.
The humour was also right up my alley; the end had me laughing and rolling my eyes at the same time, and the characters had plenty of observational one-liners. It didn’t take itself too seriously, without losing sight of the mystical setting and tone.
My main complaint is that I wanted more! Not just because I was having a great time reading it, but a few extra paragraphs here and there would have really added to the world-building and the characterisation. However it was still a very enjoyable read, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy for review. All opinions are my own.
📚Find this and more reviews on my blog!📚
The story was so immersive and atmospheric. As I sat and read it in a service station in Birmingham on Christmas Eve, all I wanted to do was go to the Scottish wilderness and experience the magic and beauty depicted in the book! It’s a love letter to nature, to folklore, and to how those things intertwine.
The humour was also right up my alley; the end had me laughing and rolling my eyes at the same time, and the characters had plenty of observational one-liners. It didn’t take itself too seriously, without losing sight of the mystical setting and tone.
My main complaint is that I wanted more! Not just because I was having a great time reading it, but a few extra paragraphs here and there would have really added to the world-building and the characterisation. However it was still a very enjoyable read, and I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.
Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy for review. All opinions are my own.
April 19, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed this fine writing. Highly recommended and worth the read!
Educational is what the author ensured throughout the book, and overflowing with humour, imagination, creativity, a dash of emotion, and a sufficient vocabulary should one ever find themselves in Scotland. Don't be surprised to find yourself flipping back to page one, when you finally do reach the end.
Not only did this read transport me to world where humans, trolls and islands are friends, I learnt more about Scottish folklore, more than I would have anywhere else.
Educational is what the author ensured throughout the book, and overflowing with humour, imagination, creativity, a dash of emotion, and a sufficient vocabulary should one ever find themselves in Scotland. Don't be surprised to find yourself flipping back to page one, when you finally do reach the end.
Not only did this read transport me to world where humans, trolls and islands are friends, I learnt more about Scottish folklore, more than I would have anywhere else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2022
A jam-packed quirky, silly, relatable adventure that kept me laughing the entire story. It reminds me of the tales of Roald Dahl or Enid Blyton. This story really highlights Georgieva's knack for absurd and warm humour! Highly recommend!
May 7, 2022
Most enjoyable reading. The characters were so beautifully described, creating a wonderful image in my mind. Thoroughly enjoyed the wonderful story. I would highly recommend this book to others.
May 3, 2022
Exciting new fantasy novel. Full of character varieties, sense of humor, moving us in unexpected storylines and alternative realities.
February 11, 2025
Hi from Marcelo’s friend! I found the book of Kristina Young at the house of my and author’s friend. Written by data scientist, this novel immediately caught my attention. I spent a very relaxed and joyful evening immersing myself in the Scottish folklore and witty puns here and there. Additional bonus points for roasting Berlin 🤝
May 9, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this fantasy novella, which gave me a good laugh now and again. The character's descriptions were great. They all had a back story that intertwined throughout the book, drawing you into the mythical landscape. The combination of Scottish mythology, archeology, German bureaucracy, academic research, poetry, and pebbles made the book interesting and relatable. This book will easily be enjoyed by most and I would definitely recommend it.
November 24, 2022
Thank you for Netgalley for the copy.
I picked this up on a whim. The cover drew me in.
I generally avoid whimsy magical realism, but I really connected to this one. I would have finished it in one sitting, if I hadn't started reading it at midnight.
It breezy and fun, The setting was charming and full of magic. I loved finding out about all the fantastical details and learning about all the different creatures that populate this world.
I would read more by this author.
I picked this up on a whim. The cover drew me in.
I generally avoid whimsy magical realism, but I really connected to this one. I would have finished it in one sitting, if I hadn't started reading it at midnight.
It breezy and fun, The setting was charming and full of magic. I loved finding out about all the fantastical details and learning about all the different creatures that populate this world.
I would read more by this author.
November 21, 2022
On a walk along the Scottish Highlands in search of the resting place of Beira's Hammer, Scarlett crosses paths with a small number of fantastical and mythological creatures. Along the way she is assisted by Amhlaidh, the troll whose payment for his help is to be read Scottish Poetry before bedtime.
This is a fun book that can be read in one sitting and is a genuinely pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Kristina Young's humour is a little on the absurdist side, throwing in today's technology with mythological creatures as well as some talking grass and phantom pebbles.
It is well recommended.
This is a fun book that can be read in one sitting and is a genuinely pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Kristina Young's humour is a little on the absurdist side, throwing in today's technology with mythological creatures as well as some talking grass and phantom pebbles.
It is well recommended.
February 2, 2024
The author weaves a delightfully fun and adventurous story by combining her wonderfully varied array of interests and knowledge into a novel that takes you through historical and mythological landscapes littered with characters of the many worlds we have to experience from.
Read
May 25, 2022A very captivating, imaginatively written and witty tale, which takes you into the fantasy world of trolls and all sorts of strange creatures, but also brings a dose of modern "21st century" reality.
Without a doubt, the author uses a great deal of clever humour, sarcasm and puns which make the tale so much fun to read! The dialog between the characters is very amusing, and at the same time, there is an enticing storyline that keeps you wanting to find out how it all unravels - as soon as possible.
The book is a good read for people of all ages. It makes a great reference to the absurdity of the bureaucracy, which is very relatable in the real world, and it is a fusion of mystical fiction, the current technology reality and social network hype. I definitely recommend this book
Without a doubt, the author uses a great deal of clever humour, sarcasm and puns which make the tale so much fun to read! The dialog between the characters is very amusing, and at the same time, there is an enticing storyline that keeps you wanting to find out how it all unravels - as soon as possible.
The book is a good read for people of all ages. It makes a great reference to the absurdity of the bureaucracy, which is very relatable in the real world, and it is a fusion of mystical fiction, the current technology reality and social network hype. I definitely recommend this book
December 3, 2022
Fun novella of whimsical characters that help a curious protagonist in her quest to change her city.
December 2, 2022
Scarlet sets off to discover Beira's famous hammer, where she meets Amhlaidh, the grumpiest troll, who accompanies her on her eventful quest and reveals how to get the hammer. She encountered several mythological animals, monsters, and deities. The folktale guides Scarlet in discovering that you can't take anything that doesn't belong to you by using historical stories.
It's a light fantasy book that introduces me to several Scottish folktales, and the illustrations help me visualize them. It is an enjoyable read that made us smile. Scarlet and Amhlaidh's conversation are hilarious. The details are vivid, and the adventure is fast-paced, mainly admirable for children.
A charming short fantasy read that fills every check of your adventurous ride.
Full Review on OJ Reads
It's a light fantasy book that introduces me to several Scottish folktales, and the illustrations help me visualize them. It is an enjoyable read that made us smile. Scarlet and Amhlaidh's conversation are hilarious. The details are vivid, and the adventure is fast-paced, mainly admirable for children.
A charming short fantasy read that fills every check of your adventurous ride.
Full Review on OJ Reads
May 28, 2022
Brilliant read. It was like going back in time reading a good fairytale!
November 11, 2022
Thank you Kristina Young, BooksGoSocial and Netgalley for this free ARC in exchange for a review.
This was a cute, fun book, yet it lacked description. Maybe a full length novel would have been a better idea, rather than only a novella.
This was a cute, fun book, yet it lacked description. Maybe a full length novel would have been a better idea, rather than only a novella.
December 23, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a free copy of this book to read, it was a delight!
A short yet very sweet novella of folklore and a mystical adventure through the Scottish wilderness. Scarlet is out on a hike looking for a hammer to bring mountains to the rather flat Berlin in which she lives. In the process, she meets a troll who she enlists for help in finding it as well as a few other folktale creatures that that come across in the process.
This book reads much like a fairy tale, the main character not usually fazed by the many different creatures that she comes across. Her mind open to who she meets along her way, and respectful of their culture as well. It takes me back to when I had a book of short stories as a child, due to this, the language is just easy enough for a child to understand as they are falling asleep.
However that definitely doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable for the older crowd! It made me laugh multiple different times, especially over the phantom pebbles that had been cursed to fill hiker's shoes. If you want to have a short light hearted read, this is the book for you!
A short yet very sweet novella of folklore and a mystical adventure through the Scottish wilderness. Scarlet is out on a hike looking for a hammer to bring mountains to the rather flat Berlin in which she lives. In the process, she meets a troll who she enlists for help in finding it as well as a few other folktale creatures that that come across in the process.
This book reads much like a fairy tale, the main character not usually fazed by the many different creatures that she comes across. Her mind open to who she meets along her way, and respectful of their culture as well. It takes me back to when I had a book of short stories as a child, due to this, the language is just easy enough for a child to understand as they are falling asleep.
However that definitely doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable for the older crowd! It made me laugh multiple different times, especially over the phantom pebbles that had been cursed to fill hiker's shoes. If you want to have a short light hearted read, this is the book for you!
June 30, 2022
An enjoyable read! This book took me on a beautiful adventure and I'm keen to go on some hikes in the Scottish Highlands in future (Hopefully meeting some of the creatures mentioned in the book along the way).
September 8, 2022
This was a cute story, but I’m not sure who it is targeted to. It was presented as a “novella” and not labeled for children, but I’d say it is more of a short story you could read to kids, maybe ages 5-10. I read it in about 30 minutes.
The story is very simple — there’s no context, no character development; it is mostly dialogue between a handful of characters - the main character is on a quest, and avails herself of assistants along the way. There are some humorous aspects to the story - I particularly liked that we “met” several wild haggis.
I reviewed an “Early Reviewer” version, and the notes were all at the end of a PDF, which made them rather useless, as they were “translations” of words found along the way. Fortunately, I’m literarily familiar with Highlands Scottish, so I knew most of the words anyway.
If this was targeted as a read aloud story for young children, I’d probably give it 3-4 stars (and recommend renaming some of the character names to be pronounceable, or adding phonetic guidance). As it was, it left me feeling a bit empty — not enough substance for an adult reading this as a “fantasy novella.”
The story is very simple — there’s no context, no character development; it is mostly dialogue between a handful of characters - the main character is on a quest, and avails herself of assistants along the way. There are some humorous aspects to the story - I particularly liked that we “met” several wild haggis.
I reviewed an “Early Reviewer” version, and the notes were all at the end of a PDF, which made them rather useless, as they were “translations” of words found along the way. Fortunately, I’m literarily familiar with Highlands Scottish, so I knew most of the words anyway.
If this was targeted as a read aloud story for young children, I’d probably give it 3-4 stars (and recommend renaming some of the character names to be pronounceable, or adding phonetic guidance). As it was, it left me feeling a bit empty — not enough substance for an adult reading this as a “fantasy novella.”
September 18, 2023
Thank you for Netgalley for the copy.
I picked this up on a whim. The cover drew me in.
I generally avoid whimsy magical realism, but I really connected to this one. I would have finished it in one sitting, if I hadn't started reading it at midnight.
It breezy and fun, The setting was charming and full of magic. I loved finding out about all the fantastical details and learning about all the different creatures that populate this world.
I would read more by this author.
I picked this up on a whim. The cover drew me in.
I generally avoid whimsy magical realism, but I really connected to this one. I would have finished it in one sitting, if I hadn't started reading it at midnight.
It breezy and fun, The setting was charming and full of magic. I loved finding out about all the fantastical details and learning about all the different creatures that populate this world.
I would read more by this author.
March 4, 2025
This book was entered in The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. This is what our readers thought:
Title: In Search of Beira's Hammer
Author: Kristina Young
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 2/5
Of the 15 readers:
12 would read another book by this author.
6 thought the cover was good or excellent.
10 felt it was easy to follow.
12 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
12 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“The children in my class mostly enjoyed this book. As it’s for 9 -12 year olds, and the opening sentence is too difficult for most of them (Spontaneously committing to a five day walk that apparently required three months of preparation was, in retrospect, probably a bad idea) it didn’t get off to a good start. But they liked the humour, particularly between the two MCs, and they felt the plot was unpredictable. We spotted a few small errors in the dialogue, and there’s rather too much interrupting of the characters e.g. ‘He may have taken it out on the—’ which is off-putting.” Primary school teacher, aged 59
“A very silly book, and that’s why I liked it so much. I wish it had been longer. I didn’t follow all of it, but most of it, say 70%. The cover is not the best, sort of boring looking with no colour. The author is very funny.” Boy, aged 8 – with a little help from his TA
“I liked that it was set in Scotland, had magic and fantasy animals in it like the troll, It’s never boring and there are LOTS of funny bits. Good book.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from mum
“Too short. I was just getting into it and it ended. It’s a fun fantasy adventure. The grumpy troll is the best character. It’s very funny like a grumpy old grandad.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from her TA
“I liked the setting, and I liked how funny the dialogue was. There’s not a lot of description in it, so that’s good too. I think that slows a story down.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from her TA
To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced, magical adventure packed full of twists, turns – and comedy! A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
Title: In Search of Beira's Hammer
Author: Kristina Young
Star Rating: 4 Stars
Number of Readers: 15
Stats
Editing: 8/10
Writing Style: 7/10
Content: 8/10
Cover: 2/5
Of the 15 readers:
12 would read another book by this author.
6 thought the cover was good or excellent.
10 felt it was easy to follow.
12 would recommend this book to another reader to try.
Of all the readers, 4 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘plotting a story’.
Of all the readers, 6 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘developing the characters’.
Of all the readers, 5 felt the author’s strongest skill was ‘writing style’.
14 felt the pacing was good or excellent.
12 thought the author understood the readership and what they wanted.
Readers’ Comments
“The children in my class mostly enjoyed this book. As it’s for 9 -12 year olds, and the opening sentence is too difficult for most of them (Spontaneously committing to a five day walk that apparently required three months of preparation was, in retrospect, probably a bad idea) it didn’t get off to a good start. But they liked the humour, particularly between the two MCs, and they felt the plot was unpredictable. We spotted a few small errors in the dialogue, and there’s rather too much interrupting of the characters e.g. ‘He may have taken it out on the—’ which is off-putting.” Primary school teacher, aged 59
“A very silly book, and that’s why I liked it so much. I wish it had been longer. I didn’t follow all of it, but most of it, say 70%. The cover is not the best, sort of boring looking with no colour. The author is very funny.” Boy, aged 8 – with a little help from his TA
“I liked that it was set in Scotland, had magic and fantasy animals in it like the troll, It’s never boring and there are LOTS of funny bits. Good book.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from mum
“Too short. I was just getting into it and it ended. It’s a fun fantasy adventure. The grumpy troll is the best character. It’s very funny like a grumpy old grandad.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from her TA
“I liked the setting, and I liked how funny the dialogue was. There’s not a lot of description in it, so that’s good too. I think that slows a story down.” Girl, aged 8 – with a little help from her TA
To Sum It Up:
‘A fast-paced, magical adventure packed full of twists, turns – and comedy! A RED RIBBON WINNER and highly recommended!’ The Wishing Shelf Book Awards
November 13, 2022
Very mildly amusing. There's mainly one joke, which boils down to "Hipsters, amirite?"
It's short even for a novella, and therefore quite linear. The main character lives in Berlin, and is bored by how flat the area is, so she goes on a quest in Scotland for a legendary hammer that can create lakes and mountains. Early on, she connects with a local troll, and they meet several other supernaturals while searching for the hammer. Everyone has exactly one quirk, and no more depth than that.
There are a couple of dozen footnotes that explain Scottish and, later, German phrases, most of which are clear from context or would be well known to a native English speaker (which I believe the author is not); few native English speakers will need a note to understand "rascal," for example. The German for the Department of Forestry is translated in the main text immediately after the footnote that translates it, making the footnote redundant.
It has the feel of someone who's been told about Terry Pratchett, and that he made jokes in the context of fantasy and put in footnotes, but who has either never read him or hasn't understood anything about his approach.
In the pre-publication version I received via Netgalley, the author also makes pretty much all the mistakes it's possible to make when punctuating dialog. I don't know how much editing it's going to get between now and publication, but I suspect not enough.
For me, unsuccessful.
It's short even for a novella, and therefore quite linear. The main character lives in Berlin, and is bored by how flat the area is, so she goes on a quest in Scotland for a legendary hammer that can create lakes and mountains. Early on, she connects with a local troll, and they meet several other supernaturals while searching for the hammer. Everyone has exactly one quirk, and no more depth than that.
There are a couple of dozen footnotes that explain Scottish and, later, German phrases, most of which are clear from context or would be well known to a native English speaker (which I believe the author is not); few native English speakers will need a note to understand "rascal," for example. The German for the Department of Forestry is translated in the main text immediately after the footnote that translates it, making the footnote redundant.
It has the feel of someone who's been told about Terry Pratchett, and that he made jokes in the context of fantasy and put in footnotes, but who has either never read him or hasn't understood anything about his approach.
In the pre-publication version I received via Netgalley, the author also makes pretty much all the mistakes it's possible to make when punctuating dialog. I don't know how much editing it's going to get between now and publication, but I suspect not enough.
For me, unsuccessful.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews