"Fantastic quest filled fantasy"
Rhenna the amazon warrior with powers of air, Cian the
Aliuri shapeshifter, Tehva the seer, and Nyx a woman with
secrets to keep all escape from the capital city of
Karchedon in the evil Arrihidaean Empire. Only Quintos
stays behind because the Tiberian rebel learns that he
really is the baseborn half-brother of the Emperor
Nikodemos. The Emperor Nikodemos wants Quintos to prove
his loyalty. However, Quintos plans to work within the
Empire to break the power of the Stone and the clergy who
worship it especially, the chief priest Baalshillek, who
wants to control the entity in the stone and rule the
world after the Emperor has conquered it. Rhenna, Cian, and Tehva overcome many obstacles to recover
the Hammer that was meant for the Godborn Cian, a Bearer
who in the near future will use the weapon in the war
against the Exalted, those gods who wanted more power than
their peers and were encased in the stone when they lost
the battle. Rhenna and Tehva with Nyx's help once again
journey to the secret city of New Meroe where the
prophecies are written down about the upcoming war. They
also hope to find where their hidden weapons are located
because they need them to defeat those who kill In the
name of the Stone, their high priest and the emperor. Susan Krinard has written another fantastic quest filled
fantasy where it is hard to tell friend from foe and the
protagonists are at the mercy of the various gods they
come in contact with. There is plenty of action and a
touch of romance in HAMMER OF THE EARTH but the heart of
this novel lies with the characters who though they live
in a fantasy world have the same qualities as readers. It
will be hard to wait for the next installment in this
stunning series. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 25, 2006
SummaryThe Stone God is building in power....
Defeating an empire takes many weapons, and Rhenna and her
band—including shape-shifting panther Cian—must
brave unpredictable dangers, crossing vast deserts,
trackless jungles and impenetrable swamps to seek the Hammer
of the Earth.
Yet the Exalted Ge, who holds the Hammer in her stronghold,
has set deadly traps that rise out of the Earth itself. Even
if Rhenna and her companions can defeat a goddess, do they
dare trust each other when the Hammer has done its work?
Meanwhile, in Karchedon, their ally Quintus must decide if
working from within the Emperor's palace will aid in the
downfall of the Stone God or simply betray all he holds
dear.
Despite every battle won, the power of the Stone God still
stands against them. And the ultimate victory may demand the
ultimate price....
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