A Thunder of War

The Avalon Chronicles, Book 3

This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Buy on Amazon Buy on BN.com Buy on Bookshop.org
*This page contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app

1
To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.
2
Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.
Pub Date 18 Dec 2018 | Archive Date 01 Jan 2019

Talking about this book? Use #AthunderOfWar #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

There’s thunder on the horizon, and the lightning of war is about to strike.

After years of struggle, Layla Cassidy has finally mastered the dark powers that threatened to control her and turned them to good. She’s ready to fight, but the next battle will be her greatest test yet.

The forces of Avalon are growing ever stronger, reinforcing their dominance with almighty displays of brutality. When Abaddon comes close to crushing Layla and her friends, it’s clear that the thunder of war is about to give way to lightning—and that they have no chance of surviving it alone.

The final battle against Abaddon is drawing closer. Now Layla and her friends must fight for themselves—and the future of the world. To win, they will need every power and ally they can muster. But even with all their strength, will it be enough to stand against the impending doom?

There’s thunder on the horizon, and the lightning of war is about to strike.

After years of struggle, Layla Cassidy has finally mastered the dark powers that threatened to control her and turned them...


A Note From the Publisher

Steve McHugh is the author of the popular Hellequin Chronicles. He lives in Southampton, on the south coast of England, with his wife and three young daughters. When not writing or spending time with his kids, he enjoys watching movies, reading books and comics, and playing video games.

Steve McHugh is the author of the popular Hellequin Chronicles. He lives in Southampton, on the south coast of England, with his wife and three young daughters. When not writing or spending time with...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781542047043
PRICE $14.95 (USD)
PAGES 304

Average rating from 11 members


Featured Reviews

Once again Steve McHugh has taken us on an amazing adventure through this wonderful world he has created. Layla and the rest of your favorite characters (plus some new ones) continue their fight again Avalon, trying to gain just a little ground in this battle. There were quite a few laughs and some unexpected tears. This was a great addition to the Avalon Chronicles and all 3 books are a must read for the continuing Hellequin/Nate Garrett books.

Was this review helpful?

When McHugh began the Avalon Chronicles, it was clear that he was shifting gears, both in terms of style and in terms of the primary protagonist. While I have enjoyed the Avalon Chronicles, I missed the style from the Hellequin Chronicles. In A Thunder of War, McHugh returns to some of the stylistic form of the Hellequin Chronicles. In A Thunder of War, the reader experiences a series of substantial events in the Avalonian war without the book feeling like a series of action sequences. One of the things the McHugh excels at in this book is imagery. The backdrop is painted with such vivid detail, that one can feel like they are present in the story. This book was by far my favorite of the Avalon Chronicles. The ending of the book gave me chills and makes me excited for McHugh's next installment in the series.

Was this review helpful?

I haven't come across any of Steve McHugh's work before so I was going into reading this completely blind (so to speak). I really enjoyed his writing style and the images that were conjured up during this were brilliant. I have often said that I don't like long descriptive monologues, especially in science fiction or thrillers, but I feel this story had the right balance. There was a lot of description, but it felt necessary rather than frivolous.

There was an incredible amount of suspense and action and I really enjoyed the "journey" too. I have researched this and found out that this story is part of a series and I feel like I would have benefited from reading the previous ones first. There were a couple of references to the previous stories (I think, I can't be certain because I haven't seen the previous ones yet!) and I think some of the characters from previous stories come back. But this does work alone too - I didn't get too lost!

There was quite a lot of heart throughout too, and although I don't want to give spoilers I found the emotive writing quite unexpected. I will look out for Steve McHugh in the future!

Was this review helpful?

I have always really enjoyed reading stories based in the world created by Steve McHugh. The characters are so fleshed out and lifelike and it always has the right mix of humour, action and serious storytelling.

A Thunder of War is the perfect culmination of the three-part series "The Avalon Chronicles". The action scenes are absolutely stunning and you can feel the pressure as the war continues to rage. Most of all this book showcases the advancing story and world that we were first introduced to in Crimes Against Magic and leaves us ever ready for the next chapter.

Was this review helpful?

Brilliant Series of books as usual. Great ensemble of characters. Steve McHugh has a way of scooping you up in to his universe and taking you on a thrilling ride with fantastic lands, meeting legends from Lore and monsters from myths. Bring on the next one!

Was this review helpful?

A Thunder of War, by author Steve McHugh, is the third and final installment in the authors Avalon Chronicles series. The story picks up right where A Flicker of Steel left off. It has been several years since Layla Cassidy discovered a new world that lives right under the eyes of humanity. She became an umbra (a joining of 3 spirits and a demon), found she had kick ass powers, and joined a group that fights against Avalon, an organization that once stood to protect mankind, but now wants nothing more to push it's agenda on everyone from shifters, to gods, and goddesses, and everyone in between.

When a mission to the realm of Norumbega goes wrong, Layla and her allies are faced with the possibility that their rebellion may be at an end. After all, Abaddon has been several steps ahead of Layla's group and always seems to come out ahead while her group ends up on the raw end of things. The battle against Avalon has become more brutal as the fighting increases and the losses stack up. No one knows if Avalon can be defeated and everything is risked. No one knows if they are safe anywhere in any realm from Abaddon and Arthur's forces.

Yet, Layla refuses to give up. Not even when Avalon masses an army to conquer Yggdrasil, the Tree of Life, thereby gaining control of all the portals so they could kill everyone. Not even when several key figures in the rebellion are taken has hostage in yet another Abaddon plan to smash the rebellion and bring all realms to their knees. One of the main reasons I like reading this series is that the author mixes and draws on legends, folklore, mythology from various countries and times. The author also introduces new characters to the story including a shadow elf, Norse dwarves, fire giants, and a saber tooth panther which becomes Layla's side kick.

He also takes readers to such realms as Helheim & Tartarus and Shadow Falls. If you've read the first series, you know all about Shadow Falls. While Mordred is thought of as the leader of the group, and there are several chapters which are told from his narrative, it is Layla who seems to be involved in every single aspect of the rebellion, and it is she, and her allies who find themselves involved in the bloodiest battles across several realms. A Thunder of War is a bloody, violent, emotional and thoroughly entertaining finale to this part of her story.

It is true that I spent time getting involved in these books after failing to read the Hellequin Chronicles first It is also true that Layla's arc seems to have come to an end. Still, I still have lots of questions. However, I clicked over to the authors web page and was surprised to learn that a new three book trilogy will be releasing in 2019. The new series is being called Rebellion Chronicles. Apparently this means the return of Nate Garrett who has all but disappeared since being reintroduced in this new trilogy. All three books in the new series pick up right where this book leaves off.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this world. It was great to read and I couldn't put down at some points. Steve McHugh writes a fantastic storyline with great characters. The mix between action and the funny moments was great. I didn't read the first two books after I read this one I liked it so much.

Was this review helpful?

This is the final book in this series and I felt it to be the weakest too unfortunately.

I hadn't read McHugh previous series and I now now that a lot of the secondary characters from this series have featured before but as I had missed that series I didn't know who or what they were and the book kept introducing new people with no explanation as to who they were as if we were expected to already know and that really bugged me (not just with this book but the the whole series)

Not a recommendation from me this time sadly unless you have read McHugh previous works maybe.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately this was spoilt with just too many names being thrown at you making it very difficult to follow the story line.
If you like Fantasy and action then maybe it would be worth your while but I have to say I think there are far better books to read than this.

Was this review helpful?

Readers who liked this book also liked: