TBR #11. The Hammer by K. J. Parker.
First sentence: “When Gignomai was seven years old, his brother Stheno gave him three chickens.”
This is what I need more of in my life: reading 400-page novels in a day. Let’s all give a big, warm welcome to the month of December!
The Hammer is my new favorite Parker stand-alone. Gignomai is the youngest son of a noble family exiled to isolation amidst a town of indentured farmers. When Gignomai decides to leave his family to go into business for himself, his best friend Furio, son of the local merchant, gradually realizes that Gignomai has a long-buried family secret that he is set on revenging, even if he involves the whole town in his plan.
Parker novels never finish very happily, but this one was powerfully satisfying. It appeals to me for the same reason that I liked Parker’s Engineer Trilogy so much–most of the characters are trying to con the others for one reason or another. Some of them even succeed.
It should be noted that I have a dark sense of humor and thoroughly enjoy a good tragedy. Be warned.
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