I wasn’t sure what to expect when starting a book called Brianna’s Blood Hammer, with a picture of a scantily dressed red-haired woman being attacked by monsters on the cover. They say never judge a book by its cover, but I actually think the cover art put me off the book a bit, which I ended up enjoying despite the initial impression. Due to its graphic content and untraditional protagonist, it’s the quintessential type of book that the traditional big five publishers would probably not touch with a ten-foot pole, yet that’s part of its appeal. If nothing else, it’s a really fun read.
Brianna’s Bloody Hammer is set in a medieval world reminiscent of Game of Thrones, but far less self-serious—more like Dungeon Crawler Carl or the recent movie Damsel where Millie Bobby Brown gets revenge in a similarly dramatic fashion. The world is a mythologized Northern Europe around the Viking Age, and author Max Ingram peppers the story with “Norther” proverbs that add a nice touch. Here’s an example of one: “And so that one, then, that’s not worthy of faith, and suspicious you may find, jest with them, you might, but mind, you shan’t express; repay what’s given in kind.” These little details show the thought put into the worldbuilding, even if it doesn’t reach Game of Thrones-level complexity, or even try to.
After a prologue chapter that introduces us to the villains (which I would have shortened personally, but it’s still pretty interesting), we’re introduced to Brianna and her father Magnus on probably the worst day of their lives. They’re woken up by a knock on the door, and strange calling voices. Magnus can’t find trousers so goes out naked (yes, this book is pretty funny at times), which sets the tone to follow. The men are looking for Brianna’s mother, who they believe is a witch. Long story short, it isn’t long before Magnus is brutally murdered, half of Brianna’s family is dead and she’s teaming up with dwarf Wilfrid to get revenge. The revenge quest is a well-explored trope—in recent times, The Last of Us: Part 2 comes to mind—but this book still largely manages to do something unique enough with it, and I never found myself bored. Additionally, I haven’t even mentioned that the book includes a sub-plot with a creature called the draugr, the book’s version of a zombie.
The characters are likeable, especially Wilfrid the dwarf, whose loyalty and wit make him a standout companion. There’s a moment early in their partnership that really shows his personality: “You need help… I know I’m not great in size or terribly strong, but I have this,” he says, gesturing to his knife, “and this, as well,” pointing to his head. “Neither of which I would still have if you’d not just saved me. So, little as my help may be, I do offer it.” Both characters are easy to root for, and entertaining to read because they obviously do not meet their world’s gender stereotypes of femininity or masculinity.
Now, I need to be upfront about the content warnings because this is not a book for the faint of heart. There is a scene at the beginning where Brianna gets raped, and there’s plenty of gore throughout. It feels like there are some scenes that will mainly appeal to men—as in, there are some sexual, borderline fetish scenes in there. Without going into details, there is a very disturbing scene involving Brianna torturing someone by cutting off their testicles, which is extremely brutal. This means I doubt this is the book that’s likely to get a Disney adaptation, and honestly, some of the violence was a bit too much for me at times. If you’re sensitive to sexual violence or extreme gore, this book will not be for you. That isn’t a criticism, however.
One criticism I do have is that chapters are a bit overlong—by chapter 3 we’re already on page 85—which can make the pacing feel uneven at times. However, once the revenge quest gets rolling, the momentum generally carries you forward. No spoilers, but it’s satisfying when the revenge finally starts happening, and the payoff feels earned after everything Brianna and the reader has been through. As for the prose, it is pretty barebones and isn’t exactly that descriptive, but clearly the focus is on fast-paced entertainment and escape, and it achieves that goal admirably. The prose isn’t showy either. It just does what the story needs without calling attention to itself. I found the book generally well-edited and the perfect length as well at 293 pages.
Despite some extremely graphic content that won’t be for everyone, Brianna’s Blood Hammer delivers an entertaining revenge fantasy with likeable characters, a good sense of humor, and solid pacing. Just be prepared for significant violence, mature sexual content, and some scenes that push boundaries even for dark fantasy. If you can handle the darker elements and aren’t put off by the cover, there’s a genuinely enjoyable story here that balances brutality with heart.
Final verdict: An oft violent, fast-paced revenge tale that won’t be for everyone, but if you can stomach the graphic content, you’ll find a surprisingly heartfelt story with memorable characters and a satisfying ending. With an epilogue that raises some intriguing questions, I’m looking forward to the sequel.
You can get your copy of “Brianna’s Bloody Hammer” or read it for free on Kindle Unlimited here!
