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goonerette's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
tezzarudge's review against another edition
5.0
5 star read
I was pleasantly surprised by how well this series rounded off. Rarely is the last book of a series the best book. (think how bad the last Harry Potter book is,compared to the rest)
What I loved about the book, was the character development and the humour throughout. I can't remember reading many books in the historical fiction range as funny as this series. Yes some bits are completely over the top but that's what made the book brilliant. (ragnel dream)
Overall I really enjoyed the series and it's convinced me to purchase his next two books.
I was pleasantly surprised by how well this series rounded off. Rarely is the last book of a series the best book. (think how bad the last Harry Potter book is,compared to the rest)
What I loved about the book, was the character development and the humour throughout. I can't remember reading many books in the historical fiction range as funny as this series. Yes some bits are completely over the top but that's what made the book brilliant. (ragnel dream)
Overall I really enjoyed the series and it's convinced me to purchase his next two books.
saraishelafs's review against another edition
4.0
The conclusion of the trilogy about Britain's iron age and the attempted conquests by Julius Caesar. The descriptions of "man's inhumanity to man" during war stir up emotions.
ghostmuppet's review against another edition
4.0
What a great conclusion to a really enjoyable series. This book concentrates on the Romans invading Britain. As the author notes, these are based on historical fact to the point it was described in written form - not the actual battles.
The battles themselves are well detailed - a little too detailed in some areas. While they dominated parts of the book, they were not over powering. We would skip to different POV where the battle was a minor details.
All of our favourite characters are back, along with a few new ones (i really enjoyed Springs relationship with he two guards).
I believe the book ended where everyone would like it to have ended. However, that being said, i was a little disappointed with the very end - not what happened, but how it happened. This is a minor grumble, and as the author noted, there must have been magic around.
I will be signing up to the authors newsletter waiting for news on any more books/novellas set in this world.
The battles themselves are well detailed - a little too detailed in some areas. While they dominated parts of the book, they were not over powering. We would skip to different POV where the battle was a minor details.
All of our favourite characters are back, along with a few new ones (i really enjoyed Springs relationship with he two guards).
I believe the book ended where everyone would like it to have ended. However, that being said, i was a little disappointed with the very end - not what happened, but how it happened. This is a minor grumble, and as the author noted, there must have been magic around.
I will be signing up to the authors newsletter waiting for news on any more books/novellas set in this world.
bent's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. Watson infuses his fantasy with a healthy dollop of humour that makes for a fun read. I had originally planned to stop reading after the second installment of this trilogy - after Dug died, I kind of lost my enthusiasm - but I ended up reading this last book and enjoyed it much more than it's predecessor. A light-hearted book, but one with a strong plot and interesting characters. Lots of twists and turns that kept the book from being predictable. A very enjoyable read.
annastarlight's review against another edition
4.0
Reign of Iron is one of those fantasy books that is a breeze to read. There is not a single dull moment in there.
In the final book of the Iron Age trilogy, Julius Caesar has arrived in Britain. It is up to our rag-tag band of British heroes to stop him from enslaving everyone they care for. But what can they do against Caesar's superior numbers, and his secret weapon: a group of unnaturally fast and strong monsters led by the druid Felix?
After the build-up of two books, the Roman invasion is finally happening. And it's epic. Instead of doing the boring preamble again, Reign of Iron is almost exclusively filled with interactions and clashes between the Romans and Britons. There are battles and cool strategies and small skirmishes. We are given alternate points of view between characters like Chamanca, who does what she does best in the bloody battlefield, and Lowa, who as a queen oversees the battle from a high vantage point. The problem I usually have with battle-focussed book, in that it is hard for me to follow what is going on, was never a real issue here. Mr Watson writes battle scenes very well. He mixes the gore, the bone smashing and gut wrenching, with a dark humour that works very well in these books.
Like the other Iron Age books, Reign of Iron is filled with touching moments and sad ones, funny and poignant. As people who have read the second book know, the author doesn't shy away from killing his darlings, and there is this constant fear while reading that some of my favourites might not make it. Ultimately, I think Mr Watson struck a perfect balance between tragedy and triumph. Characters are not killed simply to be killed - there is always a sense of purpose, and as a reader I appreciate that we're not to be tortured with needless deaths of all the fun characters.
My only point of critique is that the resolution of the story was over incredibly quickly. I would have enjoyed another chapter or two so the reader can see more of what comes after. As it was, the ending was a bit abrupt. All the plot points were resolved, but I did want to know more.
In the notes at the end of the book, there are hints that there might be more books featuring some of the Iron Age characters. I hope that's the case, because I'm not ready to say goodbye yet!
In the final book of the Iron Age trilogy, Julius Caesar has arrived in Britain. It is up to our rag-tag band of British heroes to stop him from enslaving everyone they care for. But what can they do against Caesar's superior numbers, and his secret weapon: a group of unnaturally fast and strong monsters led by the druid Felix?
After the build-up of two books, the Roman invasion is finally happening. And it's epic. Instead of doing the boring preamble again, Reign of Iron is almost exclusively filled with interactions and clashes between the Romans and Britons. There are battles and cool strategies and small skirmishes. We are given alternate points of view between characters like Chamanca, who does what she does best in the bloody battlefield, and Lowa, who as a queen oversees the battle from a high vantage point. The problem I usually have with battle-focussed book, in that it is hard for me to follow what is going on, was never a real issue here. Mr Watson writes battle scenes very well. He mixes the gore, the bone smashing and gut wrenching, with a dark humour that works very well in these books.
Like the other Iron Age books, Reign of Iron is filled with touching moments and sad ones, funny and poignant. As people who have read the second book know, the author doesn't shy away from killing his darlings, and there is this constant fear while reading that some of my favourites might not make it. Ultimately, I think Mr Watson struck a perfect balance between tragedy and triumph. Characters are not killed simply to be killed - there is always a sense of purpose, and as a reader I appreciate that we're not to be tortured with needless deaths of all the fun characters.
My only point of critique is that the resolution of the story was over incredibly quickly. I would have enjoyed another chapter or two so the reader can see more of what comes after. As it was, the ending was a bit abrupt. All the plot points were resolved, but I did want to know more.
In the notes at the end of the book, there are hints that there might be more books featuring some of the Iron Age characters. I hope that's the case, because I'm not ready to say goodbye yet!
ghostmuppet's review
4.0
What a great conclusion to a really enjoyable series. This book concentrates on the Romans invading Britain. As the author notes, these are based on historical fact to the point it was described in written form - not the actual battles.
The battles themselves are well detailed - a little too detailed in some areas. While they dominated parts of the book, they were not over powering. We would skip to different POV where the battle was a minor details.
All of our favourite characters are back, along with a few new ones (i really enjoyed Springs relationship with he two guards).
I believe the book ended where everyone would like it to have ended. However, that being said, i was a little disappointed with the very end - not what happened, but how it happened. This is a minor grumble, and as the author noted, there must have been magic around.
I will be signing up to the authors newsletter waiting for news on any more books/novellas set in this world.
The battles themselves are well detailed - a little too detailed in some areas. While they dominated parts of the book, they were not over powering. We would skip to different POV where the battle was a minor details.
All of our favourite characters are back, along with a few new ones (i really enjoyed Springs relationship with he two guards).
I believe the book ended where everyone would like it to have ended. However, that being said, i was a little disappointed with the very end - not what happened, but how it happened. This is a minor grumble, and as the author noted, there must have been magic around.
I will be signing up to the authors newsletter waiting for news on any more books/novellas set in this world.
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