A Plague of Giants / Kevin Hearne

4 out of 5 stars

In the city of Pelemyn, Fintan the bard takes to the stage to tell what really happened the night the giants came . . .

From the east came the Bone Giants, from the south, the fire-wielding Hathrim - an invasion that sparked war across the six nations of Teldwen. The kingdom's only hope is the discovery of a new form of magic that calls the world's wondrous beasts to fight by the side of humankind.

Quite a change from Hearne’s Iron Druid series! This is still fantasy, but in a world of his own creation, not just an altered present. A world of giants, special magical talents, and storytelling.

This is a complicated world, with several nations, each of which has its own special talent or Kenning. There are masters of water or air or fire for example. Using that talent past a certain level, however, drastically ages the person wielding it.

The tale is told by a bard, who has the technology to change his appearance and tell the tale from the point of view of each character in his story. Through this means, Hearne manages to introduce us to the complexities of his new world quite painlessly and entertainingly.

There is, of course, a war because a good conflict is necessary to a good story. The major characters are facing an invasion of Bone Giants, from an unknown source, for an unknown reason. This major mystery does not get fully addressed in this volume, leaving the way open for future installments. I, for one, will be looking forward to the next book!