The Hammer and the Blade

“Most heroes work up to killing demons. Egil and Nix start there and pick up the pace.
There’s enough page-turning mayhem here to sate the most avid sword & sorcery fans,
but the heart and strength of this story is a friendship that goes deep and rings true.”
Elaine Cunningham, author of The Thorn Trilogy

“The Hammer and the Blade is a gritty, rollicking yarn that captures the essence of sword & sorcery adventure. A tale of lost treasures and lusty demons that Egil and Nix are sharing right now somewhere, bellied up to a tavern bar with Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, Conan, and, of course, Kemp’s own Erevis Cale.”
- James Lowder, bestselling author of Prince of Lies and Knight of the Black Rose

“This rollicking tale hooked me from the get-go. Told with zest and humor, this is everything that is good and golden about classic old-school fantasy yarns. It joins my precious bedside shelf of favorite re-reads, ‘comfort food’ books I turn to again and again. Egil and Nix might not be the safest guys to go adventuring with, but they’re sure good company. I’ll be waiting for a sequel. Impatiently.”
– Ed Greenwood, bestselling creator of Forgotten Realms

“A fast-paced sword-and-sorcery adventure, action-packed and dark, with some great interpretations of classic fantasy tropes and themes. Highly recommended if you like your sword and sorcery no-holds-barred, dark, action-packed and with an insouciant sense of humour.”
– Civilian Reader

“[Kemp's] voice is very engaging, the characters came across as very believable and I want to know more about the world they inhabit.”
- Rob H. Bedford, SFFWorld.com

“The Hammer and the Blade provides an enjoyable afternoon of reading (with more than a few twists to keep even long term readers’ predictive powers satisfied). A likeable duo, some inspired action – what more can you want from a sword and sorcery novel?”
- Jacon Topp-Mugglestone, Drying Ink

“When things heat up. Kemp gives us sequences that wouldn’t look out of place in an Indiana Jones film, with the undead and vengeful wraiths only proving to be half of the fun. There is always something happening and that’s just what a ‘Sword & Sorcery’ novel needs to be all about. Kemp really delivers the goods on that score.”
- Graeme Flory, Graeme’s Fantasy Book Review

“A fast paced ride full of disturbing detail, gluttonous gore and fantastic fun. Egil and Nix may not be your traditional heroes, but these two men, as close as brothers serve to check the excesses of the other’s personality. The ending was both fulfilling and disturbing, and I hope we get to revisit the adventures of Egil and Nix in the near future.”
- Lightsaber Rattling

“The Hammer and the Blade is swords and sorcery at its best. 5*****”

- Stefan’s Bookshelf