Rating: 
Summary: Gritty, interesting (alt) history stories
Review: I read these books a few years back at the same time as my brother in-law. We were both impressed by the depth, (alt)history, and interest in the stories. Not as thick as a George R.R. Martin's books, but a similar grittiness. (The first book features the removal of limbs by sword and preserving of life by searing the limbs with fire to cauterize the wounds. eeyoo!)The stories are really well crafted and takes the reader from the North Sea to the Medeterainian and throughout the land masses in between. The character develpoment kept me reading the entire series end to end despite my semi-revulsion at the gore. As a fan of Orson Scott Card, Issac Asimov, Terry Goodkind, C.J. Cherryh, Mercedes Lackey, Neal Stephanson and Carl Sagan, I can say I liked this book and its predecessors enough to read them all.
Rating:
Summary: Gritty, interesting (alt) history stories
Review: I read these books a few years back at the same time as my brother in-law. We were both impressed by the depth, (alt)history, and interest in the stories. Not as thick as a George R.R. Martin's books, but a similar grittiness. (The first book features the removal of limbs by sword and preserving of life by searing the limbs with fire to cauterize the wounds. eeyoo!) The stories are really well crafted and takes the reader from the North Sea to the Medeterainian and throughout the land masses in between. The character develpoment kept me reading the entire series end to end despite my semi-revulsion at the gore. As a fan of Orson Scott Card, Issac Asimov, Terry Goodkind, C.J. Cherryh, Mercedes Lackey, Neal Stephanson and Carl Sagan, I can say I liked this book and its predecessors enough to read them all.
Rating: 
Summary: In a different Universe
Review: I've enjoyed this third volume of "Hammer & the Cross" saga greatly. First I want to point out how Harrison starts from an universe deeply rooted in early middle ages in the first volume and end in a completely different environment, created by the new facts and actions performed by Shef and his pals. In "King and Emperor", the human dimension of each character grows and they are confronted with moral and ethical dilemmas. Shef, Svandis, Cwicca, Thorvin, Bruno, Brand and the rest (even the crooked Erkenbert) has to choose between different actions in order to proceed. Still is a novel full of action, adventure and entertainment. In my personal point of view, some aspects of Svandis cuasi Freudian dream explanations are out of context. I don't agree with other reviewers, in their appreciation of an abrupt and rash ending of the novel. The confrontation between Bruno and Shef is well paced and reach a "logical" ending. The overall background of examining different religious beliefs is provoking, but each reader may extract it's own conclusions without being forced by the author to take sides or accept his points of view. A great book!
Reviewed by Max Yofre.
Rating:
Summary: In a different Universe
Review: I've enjoyed this third volume of "Hammer & the Cross" saga greatly. First I want to point out how Harrison starts from an universe deeply rooted in early middle ages in the first volume and end in a completely different environment, created by the new facts and actions performed by Shef and his pals. In "King and Emperor", the human dimension of each character grows and they are confronted with moral and ethical dilemmas. Shef, Svandis, Cwicca, Thorvin, Bruno, Brand and the rest (even the crooked Erkenbert) has to choose between different actions in order to proceed. Still is a novel full of action, adventure and entertainment. In my personal point of view, some aspects of Svandis cuasi Freudian dream explanations are out of context. I don't agree with other reviewers, in their appreciation of an abrupt and rash ending of the novel. The confrontation between Bruno and Shef is well paced and reach a "logical" ending. The overall background of examining different religious beliefs is provoking, but each reader may extract it's own conclusions without being forced by the author to take sides or accept his points of view. A great book!
Rating: 
Summary: Great start, poor finish.
Review: The Hammer and the Cross started a potentially excellent series; the premise, the rediscovery of lost technology, together with the inclusive approach to religion, offered a more than competent and generally exciting author vast scope to demonstrate his powers. Having made the first book so intriguing that I could hardly wait for the second, I was delighted with "One king's way" - not only were the situations in the first volume moved towards a resolution {albeit by largely dropping the female interest in tH&C}, but fascinating new creatures were introduced. The third volume seemed to drop most of the original themes to concentrate on one, which proved least interesting. There was a conclusion to the story, but it seemed to me, at least, that the author had lost interest and commitment to the project. After an enthralling beginning and a strong middle movement, the orchestra went home.
Rating:
Summary: Interresting Mix of Religions
Review: The rich tapestry of the spirituality in this series, as well as the rich, accurate historical views and alternate histories continue to pull the reader within the realm of it's pages. I found the interresting mix of religious viewpoints in this story intriguing. Harrison has done his research in both history and religion quite well. This also brings to light some more disturbing aspects of various religions. This book brings the wonderful trilogy to a close in a way that is satisfying. Shef and his ex-slave companions, as well as his viking companions head to the mediteranian region to seek a flying man in Shef's never-satisfied search for knowledge. The ending wasn't quite what I was expecting of the trillogy, but is still a good one.
Rating:
Summary: Interresting Mix of Religions
Review: The rich tapestry of the spirituality in this series, as well as the rich, accurate historical views and alternate histories continue to pull the reader within the realm of it's pages. I found the interresting mix of religious viewpoints in this story intriguing. Harrison has done his research in both history and religion quite well. This also brings to light some more disturbing aspects of various religions. This book brings the wonderful trilogy to a close in a way that is satisfying. Shef and his ex-slave companions, as well as his viking companions head to the mediteranian region to seek a flying man in Shef's never-satisfied search for knowledge. The ending wasn't quite what I was expecting of the trillogy, but is still a good one.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite what I expected
Review: This was a bit of a disappointing finale to an otherwise excellent trilogy. The previous book ("One King's Way") and part of this one build towards a climactic battle between Shef's kingdom and the new Holy Roman Empire, but fizzles out towards the end. Harrison's theories on holy relics of the Christian faith is somewhat interesting, but he apparently has some misgivings about Christianity and lets it show through in the story. The ending was a definate disappointment, and I almost get the feeling that Harrison simply got tired of the storyline and just wanted it to end (something which I felt in his last Stainless Steel Rat novel, as well). Overall, I truly loved the trilogy, but this last "chapter" of the story is by far the weakest link.
Rating:
Summary: Not quite what I expected
Review: This was a bit of a disappointing finale to an otherwise excellent trilogy. The previous book ("One King's Way") and part of this one build towards a climactic battle between Shef's kingdom and the new Holy Roman Empire, but fizzles out towards the end. Harrison's theories on holy relics of the Christian faith is somewhat interesting, but he apparently has some misgivings about Christianity and lets it show through in the story. The ending was a definate disappointment, and I almost get the feeling that Harrison simply got tired of the storyline and just wanted it to end (something which I felt in his last Stainless Steel Rat novel, as well). Overall, I truly loved the trilogy, but this last "chapter" of the story is by far the weakest link.
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