A Blight of Blackwings

The Seven Kennings, Book 2

By: Kevin Hearne

Narrated by: Luke Daniels, Xe Sands

Length: 20 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

From the New York Times best-selling creator of the Iron Druid Chronicles comes the highly anticipated sequel to A Plague of Giants: A world-breaking war - an invasion of giant warriors - inspires a movement to fight back.

Soldier and avenger

Daryck is from a city that was devastated by the war with the Bone Giants, and now he and a band of warriors seek revenge against the giants for the loved ones they’ve lost. But will vengeance be enough to salve their grief?

Dreamer and leader

Hanima is part of a new generation with extraordinary magical talents: She can speak to fantastical animals. But when this gift becomes a threat to the powers-that-be, Hanima becomes the leader of a movement to use this magic to bring power to the people.

Sister and seeker

Koesha is the captain of an all-female crew on a perilous voyage to explore unknown waters. Though her crew is seeking a path around the globe, Koesha is also looking for her sister, lost at sea two years ago. But what lies beyond the edges of the map is far more dangerous than storms and sea monsters....

In this sequel to A Plague of Giants, these characters and more will become the voices of a new generation bringing hope and revolution to a war-torn world.

Don’t miss any of Kevin Hearne’s action-packed Seven Kennings series
A Plague of Giants • A Blight of Blackwings • A Curse of Krakens (coming later!)

©2020 Kevin Hearne (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic Reviews

“So strong [that] it is very easy to become immersed...Kevin Hearne is continuing to prove how earned his reputation is as a storyteller at the top of his game who is continuing to push his storytelling skills to new heights. A Blight of Blackwings is an immensely entertaining, rewarding, and powerful novel.” (SFFWorld)

“Elements mesh perfectly, presenting an inventive, eye-filling panorama...that will leave readers impatiently awaiting the concluding volume.” (Kirkus Reviews)

my last book from Kevin Hearne

I loved his iron druid chronicle. It was light hearted and magical. You had an old soul trying to fit into two worlds. This book though, seems more like a propaganda book to promote socialism. I enjoyed many parts and the over arching story had merit but the longer the book went on, the more it became evident that Kevin has drank the socialist koolaid. I will find better stories to fill my time with going forward. Kevin, if you're reading this, you might want to check out Wild Swans. It's a biography of a girl who lived through the Maoist Regime in China.

Only so much fantasy I can buy into

I loved A Plague Of Giants and couldn’t wait for this book. I was disappointed in this addition to the series. It advanced the characters and plot very little. There was only sporadic conflict that easily resolved itself with a win for the protagonists. This book seems more like Karl Marx’ fantasy than Kevin Hearne’s. I can suspend belief and buy into people that talk to animals and control the wind but if Hanima’s communist city state doesn’t end in totalitarianism, mass starvation and bloodshed, like every time it’s been tried in the real world, that may be a bridge to far.

One of the best!

One of the very best stories. I pine for the next book. There is such wonderful character building and the language K.H. Uses is very fresh, contemporary and story driven.

Masterful Storytelling

‪Kevin Hearne’s masterful weaving of stories, creating the larger tapestry of The Seven Kennings is the work of a true Bard. As the threads come together under his incredible hand, readers are drawn in, waiting, mesmerized by the picture slowly coming together.

Luke Daniels and Xe Sands bring the characters to life ~ making them even more tangible in the telling.

Excellent listen. Fantastic storytelling.

starting again

As with the first book in this series, I enjoyed listening to this one so much that I'm starting it again, some 14 hours after I listened to it for the first time. I just can't wait!

Absorbing and entertaining, Kevin Hearne’s at the top of his game with this series.

I enjoyed ’A Plague of Giants’ so much, and awaited the sequel so eagerly, that I read it three times!
‘A Blight of Blackbirds’ definitely delivered on the promise of ‘Plague’...
Kevin Hearne has created a fascinating world with a brilliant system of magic, vivid characters and this richly imagined universe you just don’t want to leave! Coupled with the brilliant narration of Luke Daniels and Xe Sands, this is top-notch fantasy to get lost in!
If you love fantasy, don’t waste another second! Start with A Plague of Giants, but don’t miss The Seven Kennings!

Better than the first

I have enjoyed all of Kevin Hearnes book, both in print and in Audible format. I thought the first book in the series was good but I didn't really connect with any of the characters. That changed in the second book and I really enjoyed it and grew very invested in the characters. I am impatiently awaiting the next installment.

Engaging story with a top shelf narration.

Daniels and Sands performance brings these characters and their world to life.
The characters are diverse and compelling, and the story totally pulled me in.

Just plain awful and disappointing

I read all of the Iron Druid books and enjoyed them for the most part. This latest book from the author is garbage. The story is weak and disjointed, hard to stay interested in. The author also seems to have a perverse desire to include numerous "songs" throughout the book that are beyond awful. The lyrics are terrible and they are made worse when the poor narrator is forced to try to sing them. I ended up fast forwarding through the songs.

To make a terrible plot even worse, the author decided to include just about every whiny liberal, leftist, social justice theme possible. Glorified homosexualality, homosexual marriage, class envy, taking private businesses and property and giving it to those who didn't earn it, etc. Only a homosexual bolshevik could stomach reading this trash. Very disappointed and will be returning for a refund.

Amazing world being built

I really love this series so far. Very cool magic system, great characters, and a very interesting world. Looking forward to how the story develops!