The Hammer and the Blade (Egil and Nix, #1) in Sword & Sorcery: "An earthier sort of fantasy"

Aug 01, 2012 Joseph rated it really liked it

It's got tomb-robbing, demon-slaying, an evil wizard, tavern brawls, everything you'd want in your sword & sorcery -- there are definite echoes of Fritz Leiber, Michael Moorcock and, I think, Gary Gygax. I'm not entirely sold on the ending -- there's a tonal shift about 75 or 80 percent of the way through the book that seemed kind of abrupt and maybe unearned -- but I enjoyed the book as a whole and look forward to reading more of Nix & Egil's adventures. ...more

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Aug 04, 2012 David rated it it was amazing

Shelves: fantasy, all-time-favorites

A little firecracker of a Sword and Sorcery novel! A very entertaining, page-turning, goes-down-easy read. I'm a Nix and Egil fan now. This one really scratched that S&S itch I've had for several years now. I'd sure love to see more novels tackle the sub-genre as well as Kemp does here, as they are so rare to find. ...more

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Feb 03, 2014 Robin rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I've been slightly dissatisfied with many of the books I've read this year, but The Hammer and the Blade turned out to be a welcome end to this unfortunate streak. It's a fun sword & sorcery novel from beginning to end.

The prologue introduces us to hammer-wielding priest Egil and his crafty rogue companion Nix, right in the middle of a raid on a pseudo-Egyptian tomb. The story very quickly establishes that they're in it for thrills, cash, and personal glory, rather than any more elevated goals. ...more

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Apr 05, 2012 Mike rated it really liked it

I haven’t read a lot of Forgotten Realms fiction, what I have read was typically from the setting’s creator Ed Greenwood or the ever-poular R. A. Salvatore but what I had read I enjoyed. But you can only take so much of a certain powerful wizard and a particular scimitar wielding dark elf before you grow a little weary. So, when I had heard buzz about Paul S. Kemp’s Erevis Cale books I decided to give it a shot. Kemp’s Twilight War series managed to not only tell an entertaining story full of ac I haven’t read a lot of Forgotten Realms fiction, what I have read was typically from the setting’s creator Ed Greenwood or the ever-poular R. A. Salvatore but what I had read I enjoyed. But you can only take so much of a certain powerful wizard and a particular scimitar wielding dark elf before you grow a little weary. So, when I had heard buzz about Paul S. Kemp’s Erevis Cale books I decided to give it a shot. Kemp’s Twilight War series managed to not only tell an entertaining story full of action, adventure and magic but also managed to muse a bit about the nature of spirituality and faith. Kemp has primarily worked with in shared worlds moving from The Forgotten Realms to Star Wars but I’ve always wanted to read something of his that was wholly original. Now, with the release of The Hammer and the Blade that time has come.

As I’ve said in the past there has been, I feel, a small resurgence of the old school style sword and sorcery fiction in recent years. Not such a massive movement as with the appearance of and popularity of steampunk but none-the-less a growing contingent of authors spawning out of the short-fiction scene who focus on stories of adventure, action, and intrigue. Kemp’s The Hammer and the Blade falls decidedly into that same camp most obviously drawing influence from the work of Fritz Leiber. The novel stars two mercenaries and treasure hunters Nix and Egil. Egil, the Hammer part of the title, is the priest of the Momentary God (a human who apparently achieved divinity only to die soon after) while Nix, the blade part of the title, is a thief and “drop out” of the Mage’s college. Together there is very little they won’t do for money.

The Hammer and the Blade opens with a bit of a bang and throws readers straight into the action. No lengthy exposition, introduction, or prologue. Instead readers just get two friends robbing a tomb for treasure and profit. There is action, there is banter and both seem to flow smoothly from Kemp’s pen. It’s hard to complain when a novel opens with a bit of larceny capped off with a fight against a demon. Particularly when the events of that opening are used to forward the plot by using the rest of the novel to explore the ramifications of that action. Most of those ramifications involve action, adventure, and healthy dose of danger and near-death for our quick witted heroes.

Now while The Hammer and the Blade is a story about adventure and excitement I should mention that one of the primary drivers behind the plot is a bit unsavory; which might be putting it mildly. Some minor spoilers ahead so be forewarned. The Mage who rather forcibly “hires” Egil and Nix is from an ancient family who long ago made a pact with a line of demons. Said pact involved the breeding of female members of this family with demon princes. It is a decidedly darker aspect to a novel that, despite its violence, tends to maintain something a lighter tone. The effect of these seemingly contradictory tones is disconcerting at times. This aspect of the novel was surprising and unexpected for me and I think readers might be better off having a bit of advanced knowledge.

The Hammer and the Blade is an enjoyable novel that fans of old school sword and sorcery fiction will likely enjoy. There isn’t a terrible amount of world building and most of the attention is spent developing the two lead characters. It isn’t a perfect novel, that same familiarity with typical tropes of the sword and sorcery and a definite sense of homage being paid to past authors lends the novel the feel of a well trod path. I was particularly taken by Egil and his Momentary God and I seriously hope that aspect of this world is explored in any future novels. ...more

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Feb 03, 2014 Steve Thomas rated it liked it

For the most part, this was a fun, rompy swords & sorcery. Unfortunately, I felt very unsatisfied by the ending. Without going into spoilers, the way Egil & Nix solved the major conflict felt like it undermined the themes and character development that had come before.

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Nov 01, 2016 John Adkins rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Very Fritz Leiber Like

The Hammer and the Blade takes you back to the adventures of the Grey Mouser and his barbarian buddy. A well written yarn with all the excitement you could wish for.

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Nov 22, 2012 Chris Conley rated it really liked it

Shelves: fantasy

I've decided that Paul Kemp is my kind of writer. He gets to the point. This book jumps right in at full speed and before I knew it, it was over. Was the plot anything earthshaking? Nope, but I didn't really care. The characters were entertaining, but not fantastic. The Hammer and the Blade handles its business well. ...more

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