Customer Reviews

Time of Legends: Heldenhammer (Book 1)

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I think of Fantasy, I tend to think of Jerry Pournelle, Robert Jordan, Terry Brooks, Dragonlance stuff, and then Christian fantasy like Tolkein.

I like the nuance of some of the author's I've mentioned and that they've successfully created a wondrous world with a degree of versimillitude.

I like Graham McNeill's Heldenhammer because Graham is a fine writer. His characterization is great. His dwarves are better than Tolkein's. Oops, I just got struck by lightning. Anyhow, this wasn't like a long drawn-out novel other authors would have written; replete with some long grail quest, etc. Reading this is like watching your own movie. I had a real visual trip with the book.

I recommend Heldenhammer for fans of MacBeth's witches, Braveheart, LOTR, Conan the Barbarian, and heavy hard rock & roll.

Having been a long-time fan of Warhammer Universe, although we are not gamers, we have seen a handful of writers emerge through the years that have created the Warhammer logo to more than just game merch, as well as a few well written books, to a huge mega-star conglomeration that covers both fantasy and sci-fi genres and taking them to all-time highs in the annals of both genres.

If you still think that Warhammer is just a game, or just blood and gore, then you haven't read the most recent novels in the last few years.

Such great authors like Graham McNeill are proving more and more that they are just as good - if not better - than their earlier counterparts of such authors as Raymond Feist, Tolkien, Eddings, Robert E. Howard, and George R. R. Martin, just to name a few. And McNeill's latest fantasy epic proves all that - and more!

Time of Legends: Heldenhammer definately catapults and proves once and for all that writers like this are at the top of their game. Putting epic back in epic fantasy is this. we'd venture to say that this novel alone is definately McNeill's magnus opus in the fantasy field.

This is Sigmar's time, a legend heard about and only mentioned as a wargod through numerous novels in the Warhammer universe. Well, some genius over at the Black Library studios decided - hey, let's make a series out of all these legendary gods that all of our past novels only hint and mention at! And bingo, you have top-notch writers going for it.

Heldenhammer has it all, from larger-than-life heroes to a dark and colorful world, chock full of warriors and creatures out of myth. Barbarians and sorcerers abound. Love and mystery also mix with bloody carnage that blend perfectly to this first of a trilogy that will surely fulfill fans of such epic fantasy novels that we named above by any author. Creative and top-notch writers such as Dan Abnett, Ben Counter, James Swallow, and Graham McNeill have most definately brought the Warhammer universe out of the pulp fiction genres of sci-fi and fantasy and made them worthy to be held up to such standards as even Best_selling authors such as Terry Goodkind, and even give more consistent and better fantasy of such authors.

Sigmar, prince and son of King Bjorn of the Unberogen tribe has a vision to unite the tribes of man, changing the course of history forever. Heldenhammer is like Thor, filled to the brim with the story of the rise to power of one of the most influential characters in the Warhammer universe. Whether you are a Warhammer gamer or not, or have never even read a Warhammer book - it doesn't matter! This is a great place to start.

If you like epic quests, characters that are well-rounded and memorable, all-out action/adventure, with an epic feel to the whole storyline - then this one is for you!

The will and the vision Sigmar has for the construction of a unified empire of all men to cope against their aggressor and to become something greater than their mere tribal's belonging is what force the admiration in this tale. This is what makes the greatness of this character. The book succeed very well to tell the story of this dream.

Sigmar is depicted mostly as an exemplar of goodness. He is a model of virtue that contrasts pretty much with the usual moral ambivalency that marks Warhammer's characters. Ironically, I could illustrate this by asserting that Sigmar doesn't turn out to be a Chaos devote at the end of the novel like the warhammer cliché would be.

Because Sigmar is an unfaltering becon of light in a world that takes pride to be portrayed as dark and grim, this novel could disappoint some fans. Personnally, I haven't been turn off by this representation of Sigmar. However, it makes the character less original, since it place him among the other heros of this sort that it is very often met in fantasy literature and in other kind of stories.

The book wants to be epic and succeed to reach this level in the display of Sigmar's hope and vision concerning the Empire he wants to build for the humankind. Indirectly, we can find back the tragedy and the ambivalency cherish in Warhammer universe if we compared this dream with what it became and how it is carry now in the current Warhammer period.

The book is also epic in the battles and combats it display. However, telling the tale of this sorte into one book leave little place between each climax. The epical aspect the novel wants to build up is, then, a bit affected, because the action from one scene to another feel sometimes to be a bit precipitated, since few space is availible to develop other aspects than Sigmar's ideals and battles.

The book remain discreet about the ascension of Sigmar to godhood station. The novel leave place to interpretation concerning this part of Sigmar's Legend. It is either possible to presume Sigmar succeed to became one god among the other divinities; while it is also possible to imagine that it is not Sigmar himself who became a god, but his hope and vision of a unify Empire of men who became transcendent.

Overall, I did enjoy this story and the portrait it makes of Sigmar. However, I haven't find it very unique, since many stories and myths have already made tales of such kind of hero.

To start things off, I'm a fan of Black Library books, as I find them so different from the usual tie-in books, a.k.a. books used to expand on an already famous subject. I may be on the minority here in claiming I have never played a Games Workshop wargame. Living in Brazil, such hobby is not only hard to practice (not too many people doing it) but also quite a stab to your wallet. My contact with the Warhammer universe was first realised through PC games, then some internet browsing on the subject, and finally with books. I have to say the universe (WH Fantasy and WH 40k) just flat out rocks, and every book in the mix just picks up the premise and, as a differential to all those other I.P. works, just builds a solid book, or series, on top of it all.

Picking up 'Heldenhammer', the second 'Time of Legends' book I've read, after Gav Thorpe's 'Malekith', and knowing I was about to read the tale of Sigmar, founder of the Empire, I was looking forward to being thoroughly entertained. You know what, to hell with it: I was entertained...

This is one of the most entertaining books I've read from BL so far, and I liked it from start to finish. Yet as I finished it, I wasn't possed by the all-too-familiar feeling of 'Oh, man, that was awesome, I need to order the second book of this series right away!' that so often leaves me pennyless. And that's the thing about this book: it takes no risks, it changes no stereotypes, it pretty much starts and finishes on the same note. It is one of the most predictable storylines I have ever read. Sure you don't know much about how Sigmar will forge his Empire, but once you read the title to each chapter, or at most read through the first paragraphs of those, you'll pretty much know what will happen for the next dozen pages or so. That the storyline is so predictable drops the reader in a safe-zone, where you are never on the edge about anything that is happening. The death of a character can be a heart-wrenching moment, but since you've picked up on the fact that he/she was going to die fifty pages earlier on the book, it never carries the punch required to elevate this story towards anything more than a broad-scoped tale of the rise of a God.

The broad scope makes the story akin to Tolkien's Silmarillion, and that feeling is only increased with the perfection of the character Sigmar... You want to know Sigmar? Picture Conan the Barbarian, then strip him of all humanizing features, you know, all the little flaws and characteristics that made him not perfect from a honor-bound point of view. Every 'dire' situation Sigmar faces will be countered by God-like inner strength or the berserk nature of his attacks. There's never a 'Oh my god he faces a (insert monster)!' moment in the book because you know that, him being perfect and all, he'll just find something on his inner self to give him strength before crushing the skull of his opponent with his Warhammer. In a sense you almost wonder if the author is going: 'Look at the glory of Sigmar! Don't you feel tears in your eyes on the noble nature of his character and how he is a model to all kings'

In fact that's one of the least memorable aspects of Graham McNeill's telling of Sigmar's rise to Emperor status: It is done with very little actual conquest of neighbouring tribes, and it is portraited as an elevation of the best amongst the great. Only a handful of characters in the book are anything but staunchly honorable warriors, which at times is the reason this feel's like a bard's tale. Sigmar talks of an Empire (not an alliance of men, an EMPIRE) and no King feels threatened, no jealousy errupts, no rebellion is in need of quelling. He talks of leading the united armies of men into battle under his command and every reluctant King is only considering that his men 'won't like to be led into battle by anyone but me' and all that... Then Sigmar admonished them all and they are all ashamed and promise to follow his orders... Somehow I figure that if Kings were treated as such by someone they knew was their superior in force of arms and charisma, they would, immediately after the battle behave in a manner akin to:

"Yey, we won! Now where's Sigmar? Let's kill him."

That's it... There's not that much difficulty. He doesn't grind his way to the top and learn from his mistakes (he makes no mistake, he was born with all his talents), he doesn't grow from an amazing warrior to an amazing king. There's no rise from man to legend. There's the following of such legend throughout his life.

Is this wrong? Not in its core, no. In a Tolkien-esque environment you'd be greeted all the time by perfect heroes and worthy adversaries. But this is the age of Warhammer, and if the main character's name wasn't Sigmar you wouldn't be aware that such fantasy universe was its setting. That's a major flaw, in my book.

After all, the world of Warhammer isn't a world of made of bard's tales.

As our story opens, Prince Sigmar Heldenhammer of the Unberogen tribe is about to ride into battle and earn his shield. Earn it he does, but he also loses his close friend and sword brother, Trinovantes. Gerreon, twin brother of Trinovantes, blames Sigmar for this brother's death in battle and plots for future vengeance.

Eventually, Sigmar becomes king. Wielding the mighty hammer Ghal-maraz, the Splitter of Skulls, Sigmar is determined to fulfill his dream of uniting all the tribes of man into one empire. This is the story of how young Sigmar brings together most of those tribes and brings all the others to their knees. For Sigmar, failure to accomplish his great quest of unity is not an option. Should Sigmar fail, all of man dies.

***** FIVE STARS! This tale captured my interest immediately as Sigmar catches two young boys sneaking into an area they do not belong. Prince Sigmar's character came across to me as brave, thoughtful, and fair. As king, Sigmar grew into so much more.

Since this is the first of a trilogy, not all loose ends are tied. Defeated enemies will regroup for future attacks. This story mainly explains how this wise prince becomes king and brings together the tribes to form a single empire of man. The dwarfs are by Sigmar's side almost from the beginning of the story. Each battle is tougher and bloodier than the last as they battle orcs, goblins, raiders, and more. But it is the last battle that will take your breath away as it seals the fate of all mankind. An astounding tale to be long remembered. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

The first entry in the new Times of Legend book series and the first of the Sigmar trilogy, Heldenhammer is an epic tale telling the beginnings of Sigmar and how he had come to unite 12 tribes of Men into the Empire.

Not only as a competent author, but a game developer for Games Workshop, McNeill uses his creative writing and deep knowledge of the Warhammer universe to weave this great tale of one of the game's most celebrated heroes.

There appears to be a lot of gripes about this book. Mainly that Sigmar isn't this nigh invincible warrior wreaking havoc and destruction against the enemies of Men. Instead, the book portrays the destined founder and god of the Empire as a man. I think this is what makes the book good actually because it makes Sigmar more believable. Besides, there's two more books left to make Sigmar into the more godlike warrior that most people expect him to be.

Sigmar is a great warrior. There's no doubting that. But again, there are some readers who just want more. My personal opinion regarding this is that this was also done so that McNeill could expand on Sigmar's battles and add tension while reading, instead of a short description on how Sigmar won because of his demi-God strength. And even without his fabled godlike strength, he still perform great deeds of heroism and courage that match with the universe's past heroes and other literary heroes.

While not quite as manly as Conan per say, the story of Sigmar Heldenhammer is a great read for any fan of the Warhammer universe or avid fantasy genre fan. The old Teutonic and epic saga feel of the entire setting of the book is a nice thing to see after seeing so much of the later medieval Germany inspired feel of the modern Empire. I can't wait for the sequel to Sigmar's story.

Sigmar, Patron Deity and Founder of the Empire of Man, born under the twin-tailed comet, is described in fantastic detail in the first part of a trilogy detailing the rise of the Empire.

Sigmar is portraied just like any other person, with faults, weaknesses, and trails. While this surely angered many people who wanted him to be one of the lost Primarchs, describing him as a man does not detract from his stories, but evalates them by the fact that he triumphes over so much.

The action is fast paced and well planned, and expounds on Sigmars tactical and strategic sense, which is evident from page one, and doesn't give itself over to the glorious, unstoppable sally of some fantasy fiction. War is a brutal and disgusting business, and no illusions are cast otherwise.

The characters, while a bit trite, are belivable and enjoyable, from Sigmars father to his Mordred-esque betrayer, who has more than a touch of the doomed Judas sense to his character. The wars do not overwhelm or blot out the political or logistical side of the book, and were refreshingly real and thought out. While war may clear out enemies, it does not an empire make.

The only downsides are sadly obvious: a handful of scenes are far too rushed, a couple decisions are made without much sense to them, and the climax of the book, the Battle of Black Fire Pass, arguably one of the pivital points of the Fantasy universe, is clunky and dull. The author could handle troops on the skirmish level amazingly, but could not write an army to army battle. This however, is not a dark enough black mark to overshadow what is otherwise a fantastic opening to a Fantasy trilogy.

An excellent book! Similar to the works of Jeff Grubb in so much as it is epic in scope without losing important characterzation. A truly masterful work.

The rise of Sigmar begins in this book throughout which his strength, endurance, and devotion for his unified Empire vision are continuously tested.
Even early on in Sigmar's life trials and hardship are common. His devotion to his ideal is birthed from his greatest lose.

The book culminates with Sigmar having united the various tribes and faces a swarm of orks.

The reason I think that 'Heldenhammer' is the best of the 'Sigmar' Time of Legends series (although not by a very significant margin) is that the characterization is slightly better in this installment than in the next two, especially as far as the protagonist is concerned.

McNeill obviously went to some effort trying to bring to life the Empire of 2500 years ago, when isolated tribes attempted to survive in the dangerous forested regions of the Old World. He also gave us his take on the man Sigmar, what made him great without forgetting his shortcomings, longings and ambitions. The author is at least partly successful - Sigmar, his companions and his love story are mostly believable (though a bit one-dimensional at times), the descriptions of Reikdorf and the rest of what would become the Empire feeling like something of a dream world when compared to the numerous modern day accounts of the same land. Also, without giving too much away the novel features what is probably the most famous battle in Imperial history, and McNeill does a fantastic job of detailing it at length, conveying its size and the desperate odds facing the human very effectively.

As a whole I give it 4.5 stars.