Three Swords by C.L. Werner

 

 Three Swords

By 

C.L. Werner

The Warriors Three must traverse space and time to save their realm from magical villainy, in this swashbuckling fantasy adventure from Marvel’s Legends of Asgard

During a fierce battle to free the people of Skornheim, the valiant Warriors Three – Fandral, Volstagg, and Hogun – encounter an ancient mystic who bears ominous tidings for Asgard. Three sorcerous brothers who call themselves the Enchanters have wrought evil across the realms, and are building armies with which to conquer the Realm Eternal. It has been foreseen that only one heroic trio can end their wicked plot… But the Enchanters are scattered through time and space, each fortified by their magical Living Talisman. The Warriors Three must be cast across the cosmos, to explore strange worlds, and risk life and limb against unimaginable odds to stop these sorcerers before they can overthrow Odin’s rule.

So, Three Swords, What’s it all about?

I’m not sure, but it was quite fun! It was like C.L.Werner decided that he was going to get some of the classic Marvel comics, and throw everything at you.

I mean this book just throws eeeeeverything at you – reptile aliens, giant robotic warriors, a trip back to Civil War England, Matthew Hopkins (Witchfinder General) Dinosaurs …. wait! What? Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Slow down! What the heck are you talking about? I think you need to go back to the beginning.

We start the book with Vigdis, taking a message to the rebel force in Gunnarsfell that could help topple the evil tyrant King Gunar. She gets attacked by a patrol and a dashing hero helps her against the odds. And who is the dashing hero? Why it’s Fandral the Dashing from the Warriors Three, who along with Volstagg the (insert whatever name her) and Hogun the Grimm are currently in town, training the rebels against said tyrant.

Now, if you have not met the Warriors Three, they turn up in the Thor comics and also in the MCU. However, in Three Swords, the Warriors Three get the starring role instead of playing second fiddle to the God of Thunder.

Anyways, where was I? Oh yes, swordplay and fisticuffs! After beating the patrol Vigdis is taken to the rebel hideout, is introduced to the rest of the Warriors Three, gets into another fight when King Gunnar’s forces attack and they escape.

In the midst of the escape, The Warriors Three are saved from capture by a mysterious sorcerer, who tells them that Asgard is in danger by a group of nasty evil Sorcerers, calling themselves The Enchanters Three. Thus you must help……..yadda, yadda, yadda!

Thus begins the dimension hopping adventure in Time and Space.

Like I said earlier, what happens next is that C.L. Werner then basically writes comic books without the pictures and we get a whole load of classic Marvel scenarios that are just bonkers and fun. I think one of the reasons that I liked this as well, is that all the different settings that the Warriors Three are thrown into are all familiar and I felt that I had read the comics that they were based on, although I can’t recall which ones they actually were.

However, no matter! What is pertinent though is that I had so much fun with this book. The Warriors Three in the starring role really worked well and it was Fandral who shone throughout the story as the emotional centre of the crew. Volstagg is the comic relief throughout and regularly gives himself whatever name comes to mind, and Hogun is the conscience of group.

There are lots and lots of nods to classic marvel comics and that old style sense of it just being completely barking mad adventure. At one point, they even go back to Civil War England and come face to face with Matthew Hopkins (he of the Witchfinder General fame) and get themselves into a number of scrapes, including playing around with some english folklore.

I gotta say – I enjoyed this immensely! So There!

Aconyte Books are the novel division of Asmodee Entertainment. Asmodee Entertainment is based in an amazing building in Nottingham, England. The Star Brewery opened in 1852, producing beer for Shipstones until 1991. 

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