Book Review - Heirs of Hammerfell

This volume has the slightly predictable premise of noble twins separated shortly after birth, who then rediscover each other years later and find themselves vying for the same inheritance. The lack of remorse for the dead is also unconvincing at times, though this is something common to much fantasy fiction, as the genre often demands great loss of life through epic battle without much time given over to length descriptions of grief (which admittedly could become painfully dull).

The book in general didn't grip me in quite the same way as the others I've read thus far, though there was an attempt at some socio-economic discussion, with historical resonance in England at least (probably elsewhere too, but being UK educated, I'm not too up on the economic history of other countries...:p).

There is also a small amount of gender issues, but unfortunately not to the same level as in a book like Two to Conquer. Nevertheless, Heirs of Hammerfell remains an enjoyable short piece of fantasy fiction, and sticks to a classic formula - not quite up to Bradley's highest standards, but MZB's not-quite-best is still better than many other writers of the genre.