LitPick Review
The Hammer, a fascinating story, is about the life of a young boy named Corvan. The story started with Corvan having his usual nightmares and progressed to the part where he got bullied in school due to his short stature, which was unusual in his environment as it seemed only he and his father had this kind of stature. He had a friend called Kate who usually stood up for him and wouldn't hesitate to fight back, but in this case, she had avoided him and tried not to meddle in his affairs. Not too long after, however, they met and patched things up and were back to behaving as the friends they were. Corvan's fifteenth birthday was fast approaching and his family was having a tough time financially, but amidst all this, other events occurred. First, he saw a strange animal, which was a huge lizard. Next, he found a hammer which possessed certain powers. Then, he had a conversation with his father who informed him about his grandfather leaving a gift that is to be given to him when he turns fifteen as he would be mature enough at that time to know and to do the right thing. After this, there were new discoveries such as Corvan discovering his grandfather's letter, informing Kate about the hammer and the lizard, and Corvan and Kate learning of a secret passage around their playground amongst the rocks. One thing led to another, and soon Corvan and Kate found themselves on an adventurous journey.
Opinion:
The author, Vance Neudorf, did an amazing job putting this novel together. Even though it didn't have a Table of Contents, the storyline flowed perfectly and was intriguing. The adventure into the world below, known as the Cor, was simply mind-blowing. The characters were well-developed. Despite not taking a special liking to any character, the characters who laid down their lives for the greater good of the Cor are worthy of accolades. As for Corvan, the main character of the story, his parents had tried to ingrain in him the value of honesty, which he later realized was crucial. He acted like anyone his age would act when exposed to an unusual and dangerous situation, but he soon learned how to deal with the fear when responsible for the lives of people around him. The book possess what an incredible book should have: suspense, adventure, action, and fantasy. It is indeed a page-turner. I wouldn't say I loved how the story ended because I wished the story would go even further, but it sure had a nice ending leaving me wondering what would happen next. I'd recommend this book to lovers of adventures. The Hammer is suitable to teens and adults.
