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The Free #1
The Free
From the bestselling author of Winterbirth comes a magnificent new epic fantasy about The Free - the most feared and revered band of mercenaries the kingdom has ever known . . .
They are the most feared mercenary company the kingdom has ever known.
Led by Yulan, their charismatic captain, the Free have spent years selling their martial and magical skills to the highest bidder - winning countless victories that shook the foundations of the world. Now they finally plan to lay down their swords.
Yet when Yulan is offered a final contract, he cannot refuse - for the mission offers him the chance to erase the memories of the Free's darkest hour, which have haunted him for years.
As The Free embark on their last mission, a potent mix of loyalty and vengeance is building to a storm. Freedom, it seems, carries a deadly price.
They are the most feared mercenary company the kingdom has ever known.
Led by Yulan, their charismatic captain, the Free have spent years selling their martial and magical skills to the highest bidder - winning countless victories that shook the foundations of the world. Now they finally plan to lay down their swords.
Yet when Yulan is offered a final contract, he cannot refuse - for the mission offers him the chance to erase the memories of the Free's darkest hour, which have haunted him for years.
As The Free embark on their last mission, a potent mix of loyalty and vengeance is building to a storm. Freedom, it seems, carries a deadly price.
446 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
18 people are currently reading
1098 people want to read
About the author
Brian Ruckley
111 books168 followersI was born and brought up in Edinburgh. After studying at Edinburgh and Stirling Universities, and after a good deal of displacement activity (varying from spending three months in the rainforests of Borneo trying to record the dawn chorus of gibbons to briefly working in a tea warehouse / factory), I moved to England to enter the world of full-time employment.
As much by luck as judgement, I had a series of on the whole enjoyable and interesting jobs, mostly based in London. All of them save one have been in the charity sector, and at various times they have involved extensive overseas travel, environmental and community projects, nature conservation and fundraising.
Writing was a big feature of my childhood, and has ebbed and flowed as a spare-time occupation ever since. I sold a couple of short stories in the 1990s, but didn’t really start thinking seriously about writing novels until the 21st Century had got underway.
At the start of 2003, I turned myself into a freelance consultant on environmental projects, partly in order to devote more time to writing; since then, the writing side of things has taken over almost completely.
I am now back in Edinburgh, where I live with my lovely wife, and miss the excitement of London only a little, and only occasionally.
As much by luck as judgement, I had a series of on the whole enjoyable and interesting jobs, mostly based in London. All of them save one have been in the charity sector, and at various times they have involved extensive overseas travel, environmental and community projects, nature conservation and fundraising.
Writing was a big feature of my childhood, and has ebbed and flowed as a spare-time occupation ever since. I sold a couple of short stories in the 1990s, but didn’t really start thinking seriously about writing novels until the 21st Century had got underway.
At the start of 2003, I turned myself into a freelance consultant on environmental projects, partly in order to devote more time to writing; since then, the writing side of things has taken over almost completely.
I am now back in Edinburgh, where I live with my lovely wife, and miss the excitement of London only a little, and only occasionally.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
February 15, 2016
This had a great opening; it completely reeled me in. Books need to do this to get people to carry on reading, and in my opinion this did it quite well. The opening teased me a little and gave me a good idea of the sort of thing this book was going to be about; it established the tone of the novel and highlighted its gritty and bloody nature. The violence quickly began. This was all well and good, but a decent plot never developed from it. Therefore, a good opening was all this novel had.
An awkwardly generic plot
The novel follows a group of mercenaries called the Free. They are a general Robin Hood type band that felt undistinguished and ordinary. They’re like a poorer copy of the Brotherhood without Banners from A Game of Thrones. They, essentially, appear gruff and wicked but at the heart of things are good men. They’re led by a charismatic swordsman named Yulan who has a strong sense of honour. I got the impression that without him the group would have resulted to common bandit raids that they supposedly despise. But, for me, it felt a little odd. Instead of being standard mercenaries they try to help people whilst on their contracts and even go as far getting in-between their employers and brutalised peasants.
Surely, if you want to do well at mercenary work this sense of righteousness is a bad thing to have. Surely, an employer would not hirer this band again. So, I suppose, you’d term them as “good” mercenaries if ever a thing was possible; it just seemed a little silly to me. Personally, I think the novel would have worked better if they were either a group of hardened killers or, say, an independent freedom fighting group. By being a little bit of both just didn’t quite work for me. The group are given one last contract, which results in them being set up against the tyrannical Calotec . The plot that transpires is predictable and a little flat, like most of the characters.
Exciting action, lame characters.
However, I did like the surface level of the action. The magic system was quite well developed and interesting to read about. Some of the skirmishes were well written and moderately exciting; there were even a few good combat scenes. But, the characters were a little poor. Many of them felt very stereotypical, and the roles they played within the company were painstakingly more so. I didn’t like any of them. So, the combat scenes that were well written completely lacked any sense of intensity. I didn’t care about these characters. If Yulan was run through with a sword or had his head caved in with an axe, I couldn’t have cared less.
This is a bad reaction to have to a novel. If the characters don’t inspire any sympathy or investment then you know the novel is not for you. I wasn’t disappointed with the ending though. It resolves the conflict in the book, and closes the story. But, still, this novel left a lot to be desired. I have no intention of reading any more books by this author.
I won this copy in exchange for an honest review, and whilst I do recognise that my review is somewhat harsh, I do appreciate that this was sent to me free of charge.
An awkwardly generic plot
The novel follows a group of mercenaries called the Free. They are a general Robin Hood type band that felt undistinguished and ordinary. They’re like a poorer copy of the Brotherhood without Banners from A Game of Thrones. They, essentially, appear gruff and wicked but at the heart of things are good men. They’re led by a charismatic swordsman named Yulan who has a strong sense of honour. I got the impression that without him the group would have resulted to common bandit raids that they supposedly despise. But, for me, it felt a little odd. Instead of being standard mercenaries they try to help people whilst on their contracts and even go as far getting in-between their employers and brutalised peasants.
Surely, if you want to do well at mercenary work this sense of righteousness is a bad thing to have. Surely, an employer would not hirer this band again. So, I suppose, you’d term them as “good” mercenaries if ever a thing was possible; it just seemed a little silly to me. Personally, I think the novel would have worked better if they were either a group of hardened killers or, say, an independent freedom fighting group. By being a little bit of both just didn’t quite work for me. The group are given one last contract, which results in them being set up against the tyrannical Calotec . The plot that transpires is predictable and a little flat, like most of the characters.
Exciting action, lame characters.
However, I did like the surface level of the action. The magic system was quite well developed and interesting to read about. Some of the skirmishes were well written and moderately exciting; there were even a few good combat scenes. But, the characters were a little poor. Many of them felt very stereotypical, and the roles they played within the company were painstakingly more so. I didn’t like any of them. So, the combat scenes that were well written completely lacked any sense of intensity. I didn’t care about these characters. If Yulan was run through with a sword or had his head caved in with an axe, I couldn’t have cared less.
This is a bad reaction to have to a novel. If the characters don’t inspire any sympathy or investment then you know the novel is not for you. I wasn’t disappointed with the ending though. It resolves the conflict in the book, and closes the story. But, still, this novel left a lot to be desired. I have no intention of reading any more books by this author.
I won this copy in exchange for an honest review, and whilst I do recognise that my review is somewhat harsh, I do appreciate that this was sent to me free of charge.
July 29, 2015
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews
The Magnificent Seven. Seven Samurai. These action-packed, adventure movies supposedly inspired Brian Ruckley when writing this tale of a band of fantasy land mercenaries taking one last contract before retiring.
I’m sure that doesn’t wow many of you. Truthfully, it didn’t excite me either when I got this ARC. But after finishing The Free, I have to admit it was a fun, exciting adventure with lots of interesting ideas and concepts.
The story is set in a land ripped apart by civil war, as a rebellion of the nobility sweeps aside the royal line of kings who have kept the ominous “Orphans” of the south at bay using the threat of a Permanence known only as The Bereaved.
Remaining neutral in this epic societal clash is the realm’s “clevers,” or magic-users, who use a very exotic form of elemental magic to cause mass destruction.
One group that does take sides (albeit for a price) is the mercenary company known as the Free. This legendary band of warriors, clevers, and their horrifying Permanence, the Clamour, are completing their final contract, fighting for one of the nobles in his struggle against the remaining kingsmen. And as the war nears its end, its members are eager to disbanding for good; their leader, Yulan, being the one most ready for his companions to drift off into retirement and enjoy their well-earned gold.
But wait! Yulan is offered a final contract. A very lucrative one. A deal that will not only pay an ungodly sum of gold to the company but also allow them to rectify an old failure. And though he resists the idea, ultimately, Yulan cannot pass up the gold or, more important, the chance to legally slay (there is a contract after all!) the member of the royal family who dealt the Free its only embarassment.
Accompanying the mercenaries on their final mission is Drann, a young peasant who is a volunteer in the noble’s army. He has little training, less worldly experience, but more than a little respect and awe for the legendary Free company. And through good luck (or bad, according to your point of view) Drann finds himself riding among his childhood heroes, bearing the noble’s contract, sworn to witness the completion of this business arrangement and report back such news to his lord. But nothing in Drann’s past has prepared him for the wild adventure he has stumbled into!
As I mentioned earlier, there are lots of interesting elements in this novel. Let me list just a few.
What are clevers, and how do their powers work?
Who are the Orphans that everyone is afraid of?
What are the Permanences that are so carefully guarded and only whispered about in awe?
What is the terrible failure that the Free are so eager to rectify?
And how will the School of Clevers get involved in the whole situation, and how?
The story that slowly reveals the answers to all these questions is a well-written, tightly-woven, and exciting adventure. There are lots of intense battles, some cool “clever” action, and more than a few exciting characters. And while the world building is sparse, it is satisfying, revealing a very intriguing land with lots of lore and history hiding just under the surface.
The only issue I had with The Free was that the story used too many standard tropes and character archetypes for my taste. The grizzled, famous mercenary company taking one last ride into the sunset has been done before in books and movies. And the characters tended to fall into the usual categories: the naive, new guy (Drann); the haunted, well-loved leader (Yulan); the grizzled, kind veteran (Hamdan); the broken, spiteful female warrior (Akrana); and the list goes on. While none of this kept me from enjoying the story, it did cause me to read a little less closely at times, because, honestly, I could guess what each character was going to do and say in most situations.
Sounds a lot like watching The Magnificent Seven and Seven Samurai, doesn’t it?
That is because it is, except you are reading (as opposed to watching) an action-adventure extravaganza that might not overwhelm you in its complexity, but will definitely keep you entertained until the end.
I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them both for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
The Magnificent Seven. Seven Samurai. These action-packed, adventure movies supposedly inspired Brian Ruckley when writing this tale of a band of fantasy land mercenaries taking one last contract before retiring.
I’m sure that doesn’t wow many of you. Truthfully, it didn’t excite me either when I got this ARC. But after finishing The Free, I have to admit it was a fun, exciting adventure with lots of interesting ideas and concepts.
The story is set in a land ripped apart by civil war, as a rebellion of the nobility sweeps aside the royal line of kings who have kept the ominous “Orphans” of the south at bay using the threat of a Permanence known only as The Bereaved.
Remaining neutral in this epic societal clash is the realm’s “clevers,” or magic-users, who use a very exotic form of elemental magic to cause mass destruction.
One group that does take sides (albeit for a price) is the mercenary company known as the Free. This legendary band of warriors, clevers, and their horrifying Permanence, the Clamour, are completing their final contract, fighting for one of the nobles in his struggle against the remaining kingsmen. And as the war nears its end, its members are eager to disbanding for good; their leader, Yulan, being the one most ready for his companions to drift off into retirement and enjoy their well-earned gold.
But wait! Yulan is offered a final contract. A very lucrative one. A deal that will not only pay an ungodly sum of gold to the company but also allow them to rectify an old failure. And though he resists the idea, ultimately, Yulan cannot pass up the gold or, more important, the chance to legally slay (there is a contract after all!) the member of the royal family who dealt the Free its only embarassment.
Accompanying the mercenaries on their final mission is Drann, a young peasant who is a volunteer in the noble’s army. He has little training, less worldly experience, but more than a little respect and awe for the legendary Free company. And through good luck (or bad, according to your point of view) Drann finds himself riding among his childhood heroes, bearing the noble’s contract, sworn to witness the completion of this business arrangement and report back such news to his lord. But nothing in Drann’s past has prepared him for the wild adventure he has stumbled into!
As I mentioned earlier, there are lots of interesting elements in this novel. Let me list just a few.
What are clevers, and how do their powers work?
Who are the Orphans that everyone is afraid of?
What are the Permanences that are so carefully guarded and only whispered about in awe?
What is the terrible failure that the Free are so eager to rectify?
And how will the School of Clevers get involved in the whole situation, and how?
The story that slowly reveals the answers to all these questions is a well-written, tightly-woven, and exciting adventure. There are lots of intense battles, some cool “clever” action, and more than a few exciting characters. And while the world building is sparse, it is satisfying, revealing a very intriguing land with lots of lore and history hiding just under the surface.
The only issue I had with The Free was that the story used too many standard tropes and character archetypes for my taste. The grizzled, famous mercenary company taking one last ride into the sunset has been done before in books and movies. And the characters tended to fall into the usual categories: the naive, new guy (Drann); the haunted, well-loved leader (Yulan); the grizzled, kind veteran (Hamdan); the broken, spiteful female warrior (Akrana); and the list goes on. While none of this kept me from enjoying the story, it did cause me to read a little less closely at times, because, honestly, I could guess what each character was going to do and say in most situations.
Sounds a lot like watching The Magnificent Seven and Seven Samurai, doesn’t it?
That is because it is, except you are reading (as opposed to watching) an action-adventure extravaganza that might not overwhelm you in its complexity, but will definitely keep you entertained until the end.
I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. I’d like to thank them both for allowing me to receive this review copy and inform everyone that the review you have read is my opinion alone.
December 20, 2014
I received an eARC review copy from NetGalley.
Looking for a stand-alone epic fantasy? Want some grimdark gritty kick-ass action and some badass magic-fuqery? Look no further. If Joe Abercrombie and Steven Erikson had a secret love child, this would be it. A gruff company of legendary warriors thrown in together with some cool battle scenes, occasional humor, and a wicked magic system with such dire consequences. Magic users that throw this fuqery and its results, along with the cost of these energies, both to the receivers and casters of said magic.
Why 4-stars rather than 5, if it has all the great things I like about fantasy? Well, the pacing was a bit slow at times, and the ending had some parts that seemed rather abrupt. Though the majority of the ending was good for me.
This book is satisfactory as a self-contained story, but it might just leave you wanting more anyway. There's a lot of great world-building going on that is out there for just this one book. I'll definitely read more books if you write them in this world, Brian Ruckley!
For that matter, I need to go back and check out his earlier work. He was on the radar for fantasy to try, but now he's definitely on my list of authors to read.
Looking for a stand-alone epic fantasy? Want some grimdark gritty kick-ass action and some badass magic-fuqery? Look no further. If Joe Abercrombie and Steven Erikson had a secret love child, this would be it. A gruff company of legendary warriors thrown in together with some cool battle scenes, occasional humor, and a wicked magic system with such dire consequences. Magic users that throw this fuqery and its results, along with the cost of these energies, both to the receivers and casters of said magic.
Why 4-stars rather than 5, if it has all the great things I like about fantasy? Well, the pacing was a bit slow at times, and the ending had some parts that seemed rather abrupt. Though the majority of the ending was good for me.
This book is satisfactory as a self-contained story, but it might just leave you wanting more anyway. There's a lot of great world-building going on that is out there for just this one book. I'll definitely read more books if you write them in this world, Brian Ruckley!
For that matter, I need to go back and check out his earlier work. He was on the radar for fantasy to try, but now he's definitely on my list of authors to read.
June 27, 2018
‘In any war, there are only ever a few who truly win. It sometimes seems otherwise, but it is just that: a seeming.’
⚔️
The Free by Brian Ruckley is a fantasy standalone, that thoroughly exceeded my expectations. I really did doubt that a fantasy could be done so well in one single novel, but I have to say Ruckley nailed it. This book had everything I’d expect from a long series; fantastic world building, some well fleshed out characters, and one amazing magic system!
⚔️
The story begins with The Free, a group of mercenaries, who take on their last contract, one that will not only help rid the lands from a malicious king, but will also give them the chance to redeem from their past mistakes. The story however takes plenty of twists and turns, and naturally becomes something far more complex.
⚔️
The band of warriors, led by Yulan, all shared such a close and loyal bond with each other, they were like a close family. Seriously these character’s and their interactions with each other just gave me all the feels! Yulan was a seasoned warrior, but one who truly cared for those of The Free. Every hurt they felt, he felt. Every risk they took on his behalf, he felt the burden of it almost overwhelmingly. The way they all sacrificed themselves for each other, really did set off my sobbing!
⚔️
Another main character was Drann, a former farm boy, who joined the army to seek revenge on the King’s men. The only problem was; he couldn’t fight! Throughout the book his distaste for war became more evident as the realities of battle dawned upon him. It was nice to have a character that carried on doing his best, for principles sake, for his own pride, even when he clearly wasn’t skilled enough.
⚔️
Lastly, I just need to say how amazing and complex the magic system and world building was and how I think Ruckley did an amazing job incorporating it all, in such a short space. There was no long passages of info dumping, instead the author gives it to the reader drip by drip. He gives you just enough information to get your attention, keep you intrigued, and then reveals it in more detail as you read on. I loved it. For example there were the Clevers; basically elemental magic users who individually wield different powers, but we didn’t get to see the full extent of their powers until it was necessary to the story. There were also limitations to their magic, the more they were used the more it took from the person. I appreciated all these details. There was also The Clamour and The Bereaved, both relentlessly feared, but my lips are sealed on what they were, because it’s so exciting to discover it for yourself.
⚔️
It seems like I’m on a roll with fantasy books in 2018 because this one was fucking awesome too and deserves all the stars!
⚔️
The Free by Brian Ruckley is a fantasy standalone, that thoroughly exceeded my expectations. I really did doubt that a fantasy could be done so well in one single novel, but I have to say Ruckley nailed it. This book had everything I’d expect from a long series; fantastic world building, some well fleshed out characters, and one amazing magic system!
⚔️
The story begins with The Free, a group of mercenaries, who take on their last contract, one that will not only help rid the lands from a malicious king, but will also give them the chance to redeem from their past mistakes. The story however takes plenty of twists and turns, and naturally becomes something far more complex.
⚔️
The band of warriors, led by Yulan, all shared such a close and loyal bond with each other, they were like a close family. Seriously these character’s and their interactions with each other just gave me all the feels! Yulan was a seasoned warrior, but one who truly cared for those of The Free. Every hurt they felt, he felt. Every risk they took on his behalf, he felt the burden of it almost overwhelmingly. The way they all sacrificed themselves for each other, really did set off my sobbing!
⚔️
Another main character was Drann, a former farm boy, who joined the army to seek revenge on the King’s men. The only problem was; he couldn’t fight! Throughout the book his distaste for war became more evident as the realities of battle dawned upon him. It was nice to have a character that carried on doing his best, for principles sake, for his own pride, even when he clearly wasn’t skilled enough.
⚔️
Lastly, I just need to say how amazing and complex the magic system and world building was and how I think Ruckley did an amazing job incorporating it all, in such a short space. There was no long passages of info dumping, instead the author gives it to the reader drip by drip. He gives you just enough information to get your attention, keep you intrigued, and then reveals it in more detail as you read on. I loved it. For example there were the Clevers; basically elemental magic users who individually wield different powers, but we didn’t get to see the full extent of their powers until it was necessary to the story. There were also limitations to their magic, the more they were used the more it took from the person. I appreciated all these details. There was also The Clamour and The Bereaved, both relentlessly feared, but my lips are sealed on what they were, because it’s so exciting to discover it for yourself.
⚔️
It seems like I’m on a roll with fantasy books in 2018 because this one was fucking awesome too and deserves all the stars!
May 15, 2015
So I read The Free last week, having found a new copy in my local library and having heard some good things about Brian Ruckley. While I haven't read The Godless World trilogy, the description for The Free indicated it was a stand-alone story that sounded right up my proverbial alley - and indeed that proved to be largely the case.
The story follows the last days of a mercenary company, the eponymous The Free, as their formidable captain Yulan takes one last contract he can't refuse for reasons that, while initially personal, soon take on greater import. The cast of characters is drawn from a fairly archetypical pool - you have the brave and honourable Yulan; the callow recruit with glory on his mind; the damaged but deadly female soldier; the loyal sidekick, etc. None of the characters bar one or two are truly memorable but they combine well and bring to mind classic films like The Magnificent Seven, which Brian Ruckley readily acknowledges as an influence.
Brian Ruckley writes well and has a real talent for describing the environments the characters travel through. Personally, I'd have liked a little more humour - the dialogue is well-written but rarely sizzles. There's also a slight tendency to dip into the thesaurus and pull out a word that seems a little elaborate from the POV of a grizzled old mercenary. I've been guilty of this in the past too!
The best things about The Free are the world-building and clever plotting, which effortlessly combine to produce a shortish stand-alone novel that nonetheless packs in a considerable amount of lore and story. The role of mages in the world, known as Clevers, and the terrible aberrations they can birth - called Permanences - is brilliantly defined and infuse the typical fantasy world setup with a real sense of wondrous horror.
Overall, The Free is a cleverly plotted military/grimdark fantasy that pays homage to some great westerns whilst injecting a taste of horror in the concept of physical manifestations of magic gone bad. The characters don't bring a great deal new to the table and the ending maybe doesn't *quite* pack the punch I'd have hoped for - but it remains an entertaining and well-written story. I read it in two days - and there are very few books I can say that about. I'll definitely be checking out future books by Brian Ruckley!
Recommended.
The story follows the last days of a mercenary company, the eponymous The Free, as their formidable captain Yulan takes one last contract he can't refuse for reasons that, while initially personal, soon take on greater import. The cast of characters is drawn from a fairly archetypical pool - you have the brave and honourable Yulan; the callow recruit with glory on his mind; the damaged but deadly female soldier; the loyal sidekick, etc. None of the characters bar one or two are truly memorable but they combine well and bring to mind classic films like The Magnificent Seven, which Brian Ruckley readily acknowledges as an influence.
Brian Ruckley writes well and has a real talent for describing the environments the characters travel through. Personally, I'd have liked a little more humour - the dialogue is well-written but rarely sizzles. There's also a slight tendency to dip into the thesaurus and pull out a word that seems a little elaborate from the POV of a grizzled old mercenary. I've been guilty of this in the past too!
The best things about The Free are the world-building and clever plotting, which effortlessly combine to produce a shortish stand-alone novel that nonetheless packs in a considerable amount of lore and story. The role of mages in the world, known as Clevers, and the terrible aberrations they can birth - called Permanences - is brilliantly defined and infuse the typical fantasy world setup with a real sense of wondrous horror.
Overall, The Free is a cleverly plotted military/grimdark fantasy that pays homage to some great westerns whilst injecting a taste of horror in the concept of physical manifestations of magic gone bad. The characters don't bring a great deal new to the table and the ending maybe doesn't *quite* pack the punch I'd have hoped for - but it remains an entertaining and well-written story. I read it in two days - and there are very few books I can say that about. I'll definitely be checking out future books by Brian Ruckley!
Recommended.
October 15, 2014
Fantasy Review Barn
I know you like epic, heroic fantasy books. You love magic with real results and consequences. You enjoy the ballads of small bands of fighters taking on long odds. Farmboys going to war is not a trope you fear but embrace. But you are already behind on most of the popular series, yes? Even trilogies can be a bit daunting if book one sits there unopened. So trust me, go ahead and pick up The Free by Brian Ruckley. Everything you love in one standalone volume, honestly you have nothing to lose.
I actually went back and forth on whether or not I even wanted to read this one. I read Ruckley’s debut a few years back and was left with a sense of overwhelming bleakness and not enough interest to fight through it. Now this tale isn’t all sunshine and rainbows; expect the characters to go through plenty of hell. But the bleakness never completely overrode hope. And damn did it piss me off every time life forced me to put the book down.
In a land where ‘clevers’ have the ability to cause mass destruction there is a school that keeps these magic users in check. Even as rebellion sweeps the land and ousts the royal line there is a power dynamic at play with this school. All the clevers of the land are held to a line – all but a mercenary company known as The Free. On the verge of being disbanded for good their leader, Yulan, takes one last contract. A chance to revisit an old ghost and take down the last of the royal line.
Drann is young warrior who has spent his whole life idolizing The Free. He is sent to witness the completion of the contract. Drann has no choice but to grab on and hold tight; time spent with this company makes for a wild ride.
Less is sometimes more. Who are the Orphans and why is Yulan so afraid of them getting their hands on the object his target is taking them? Doesn’t matter, what matters is stopping the man. Who all can do what with their magic? Who cares? Only those who use their clever powers for this cat and mouse game reveal to us readers. Of course we want to know more about the ‘permanences’ that strike fear into people’s hearts ; the two named versions we see are true weapons with awesome capabilities. But learning about any others that can be found in the world wouldn’t add to the story so I am fine with them being left on the cutting room floor.
Instead of excess information we get a tight tale with well-paced action, interesting battles with dynamics a bit different than your typical fantasy warfare, and subdued but interesting character interactions. The characters fit into some standard archetypes to be sure (soldier with rage issues, grizzled leader, guy who takes pity on the new guy) but in this case I found it helped me identify with them early without needing to spend a huge amount of time with them in the early pages.
A very interesting world is being built in the background here, frustratingly so if you are a person who wants to know everything about it. Only glimpses of the full capabilities of the clevers are shown. Only a glance of the larger political picture can be seen. But if you, like me, can find happiness in only hints of a larger world around a great story with a strong focus then you can rejoice. Being free sometimes come with a cost after all.
4 Stars
Copy for review received from NetGally
I know you like epic, heroic fantasy books. You love magic with real results and consequences. You enjoy the ballads of small bands of fighters taking on long odds. Farmboys going to war is not a trope you fear but embrace. But you are already behind on most of the popular series, yes? Even trilogies can be a bit daunting if book one sits there unopened. So trust me, go ahead and pick up The Free by Brian Ruckley. Everything you love in one standalone volume, honestly you have nothing to lose.
I actually went back and forth on whether or not I even wanted to read this one. I read Ruckley’s debut a few years back and was left with a sense of overwhelming bleakness and not enough interest to fight through it. Now this tale isn’t all sunshine and rainbows; expect the characters to go through plenty of hell. But the bleakness never completely overrode hope. And damn did it piss me off every time life forced me to put the book down.
In a land where ‘clevers’ have the ability to cause mass destruction there is a school that keeps these magic users in check. Even as rebellion sweeps the land and ousts the royal line there is a power dynamic at play with this school. All the clevers of the land are held to a line – all but a mercenary company known as The Free. On the verge of being disbanded for good their leader, Yulan, takes one last contract. A chance to revisit an old ghost and take down the last of the royal line.
Drann is young warrior who has spent his whole life idolizing The Free. He is sent to witness the completion of the contract. Drann has no choice but to grab on and hold tight; time spent with this company makes for a wild ride.
Less is sometimes more. Who are the Orphans and why is Yulan so afraid of them getting their hands on the object his target is taking them? Doesn’t matter, what matters is stopping the man. Who all can do what with their magic? Who cares? Only those who use their clever powers for this cat and mouse game reveal to us readers. Of course we want to know more about the ‘permanences’ that strike fear into people’s hearts ; the two named versions we see are true weapons with awesome capabilities. But learning about any others that can be found in the world wouldn’t add to the story so I am fine with them being left on the cutting room floor.
Instead of excess information we get a tight tale with well-paced action, interesting battles with dynamics a bit different than your typical fantasy warfare, and subdued but interesting character interactions. The characters fit into some standard archetypes to be sure (soldier with rage issues, grizzled leader, guy who takes pity on the new guy) but in this case I found it helped me identify with them early without needing to spend a huge amount of time with them in the early pages.
A very interesting world is being built in the background here, frustratingly so if you are a person who wants to know everything about it. Only glimpses of the full capabilities of the clevers are shown. Only a glance of the larger political picture can be seen. But if you, like me, can find happiness in only hints of a larger world around a great story with a strong focus then you can rejoice. Being free sometimes come with a cost after all.
4 Stars
Copy for review received from NetGally
November 17, 2019
Jacob over on instagram organized a readalong for this book. I had it in my possession cause he recommended it once. And now I made the time and found reason to dive in!
It is a standalone, which is always a gem to find in this genre. The story is told wonderfully in this imaginative and character driven setting that is loaded with emotion and friendship. You follow a group called The Free, they have a fierce bond a type of mercenary that you can contract when you need them. The story starts slow and vague and you know little of the world. And still Ruckley keeps you captivated even when you feel lost and slowly he gives some more info on the world and magic and words start to make sense! I like how this was executed. I felt sooo eager and impatient at the same time to know more and understand the world better. In the end it was very satisfying! Every word used in this story has a reason to deepen a meaning/ emotion or character.
You do notice certain aspects as the politics and some characters are kept simple but still enough to play a role in the plot. It is a standalone so that makes sense. It will not be perfect. You would want to know more and have more complex characterization with some people. But that would make it into a series and impossible to tell in such a short time. The Free which we follow mostly told from Yulan his perspective are not fully fleshed out but enough to understand the dynamic of the group. Yulan is an intense person and I liked his POV. Drann was another POV that was fun to follow. A simple boy, a simple element in the group who gets caught up in their doings and ends up being the contract holder. He plays this young innocent role between these harsh group of people. Harsh but still so full of caring.
The magic is interesting. If you can reach the entelech which is where the magic recides you can make things happen. The people who can are called Clevers. But...the magic in return costs you your health, it takes as you take from it.
The story is set around The Free wanting to confront an old enemy, vengeance and freedom getting in each others way.
It is a standalone, which is always a gem to find in this genre. The story is told wonderfully in this imaginative and character driven setting that is loaded with emotion and friendship. You follow a group called The Free, they have a fierce bond a type of mercenary that you can contract when you need them. The story starts slow and vague and you know little of the world. And still Ruckley keeps you captivated even when you feel lost and slowly he gives some more info on the world and magic and words start to make sense! I like how this was executed. I felt sooo eager and impatient at the same time to know more and understand the world better. In the end it was very satisfying! Every word used in this story has a reason to deepen a meaning/ emotion or character.
You do notice certain aspects as the politics and some characters are kept simple but still enough to play a role in the plot. It is a standalone so that makes sense. It will not be perfect. You would want to know more and have more complex characterization with some people. But that would make it into a series and impossible to tell in such a short time. The Free which we follow mostly told from Yulan his perspective are not fully fleshed out but enough to understand the dynamic of the group. Yulan is an intense person and I liked his POV. Drann was another POV that was fun to follow. A simple boy, a simple element in the group who gets caught up in their doings and ends up being the contract holder. He plays this young innocent role between these harsh group of people. Harsh but still so full of caring.
The magic is interesting. If you can reach the entelech which is where the magic recides you can make things happen. The people who can are called Clevers. But...the magic in return costs you your health, it takes as you take from it.
The story is set around The Free wanting to confront an old enemy, vengeance and freedom getting in each others way.
August 18, 2014
average fantasy worth a fast reading but no more as there is much better there;
loved Winterbirth and the author showed great promise in that trilogy debut with a second good volume also but those were followed by an atrocious ending to the series which diminished it by a lot; however since I really liked one of B. Ruckely's books I kept an eye on what he publishes and after a volume of no interest for me (some kind of historical fantasy with vampires or such), The Free had potential but sadly while not as bad as Fall of Thanes, it is not that good either as it reads like a colorless, run of the mill fantasy adventure - again ok if you are in the mood for such and have nothing better on hand, but no more
blurb gives a good idea about the novel and the ending is good and relatively complete so at least The Free stand by itself
loved Winterbirth and the author showed great promise in that trilogy debut with a second good volume also but those were followed by an atrocious ending to the series which diminished it by a lot; however since I really liked one of B. Ruckely's books I kept an eye on what he publishes and after a volume of no interest for me (some kind of historical fantasy with vampires or such), The Free had potential but sadly while not as bad as Fall of Thanes, it is not that good either as it reads like a colorless, run of the mill fantasy adventure - again ok if you are in the mood for such and have nothing better on hand, but no more
blurb gives a good idea about the novel and the ending is good and relatively complete so at least The Free stand by itself
November 29, 2019
A solid and good Fantasy novel. Nice to find a quality standalone tale, although it makes you wish for other tales set within its world. Interesting characters, tumultuous politics, governmental upheaval, fell magic, and gory battles. The Free is a great action tale and it is one I think you'd enjoy!
December 16, 2018
"Wren knelt at Kerig's side as he lay in fitful slumber on a worn blanket. She dabbed at his brow with a folded cloth. Yulan knew her to be amongst the greatest of the Free's Clevers, capable of extraordinary and terrible things, yet her face now was nothing but gentle concern and love. She was the best of them, Yulan suspected. The least flawed. For all that he liked Kerig, he had never thought the man entirely worthy of her devotion; less so than ever, now that he had ventured all their lives for the sake of his own vengeance. But then, Yulan knew less of this sort of love than he would have liked. Desire and passing passion, yes, but not the rooted, pervasive thing Kerig and Wren shared."
I've been trying to write this review off and on for weeks now. It's just such a busy time of the year! As Dr. Ian Malcolm likes to say.. life, uh, finds a way!
The Free follows brave Yulan, the leader of a group of ragtag mercenaries. He is ready for the crew to disband and retire, but ends up taking One Last Job. Evidently, I seem to enjoy the One Last Job trope, lately. Which is a good thing, because it doesn't appear to be going anywhere in fantasy!
The secondary characters are interesting and dynamic. I'm a sucker for following a group of people throughout a story - learning about their various backstories, seeing what their relationships are like and how they interact with each other (GIVE ME ALL THE BANTER), as well as the comradery.
The Free is a standalone, which as we all know, is fucking rare these days! As much as I love my sprawling, chunky, epic fantasies.. it's nice to read the occasional standalone as well. Something that gets to the point and tightly wraps up the story all in one package.
In the acknowledgements, Ruckley makes note that Seven Samurai, The Magnificent Seven and The Wild Bunch influenced him while writing The Free. I would also compare it to 13 Assassins (the original) and The Twilight Samurai, in some respects. Trying to remain honorable, yet dealing with injustice in the world. It's safe to say, this wouldn't have any trouble fitting in on the big screen! There is certainly that cinematic quality to the worldbuilding (although I wanted to know even MORE about the world, which can be a minor gripe that I have when it comes to standalones.)
I can't talk about the intriguing worldbuilding without also mentioning my favorite thing in the book, the fully-realized magic system that Ruckley has come up with! It's complex and fascinating and just so brilliant! I truly loved how the balance of nature and what we put into it plays a part. I won't say anything else about the magic, because it's so damn exciting to see how it all unravels.
The Free is brutal, bloody and fun. This has grimdark elements, yet relies heavily on heroic fantasy storytelling. There is plenty of action and drama and more than a little romance. I dug the hell out of this!
I've been trying to write this review off and on for weeks now. It's just such a busy time of the year! As Dr. Ian Malcolm likes to say.. life, uh, finds a way!
The Free follows brave Yulan, the leader of a group of ragtag mercenaries. He is ready for the crew to disband and retire, but ends up taking One Last Job. Evidently, I seem to enjoy the One Last Job trope, lately. Which is a good thing, because it doesn't appear to be going anywhere in fantasy!
The secondary characters are interesting and dynamic. I'm a sucker for following a group of people throughout a story - learning about their various backstories, seeing what their relationships are like and how they interact with each other (GIVE ME ALL THE BANTER), as well as the comradery.
The Free is a standalone, which as we all know, is fucking rare these days! As much as I love my sprawling, chunky, epic fantasies.. it's nice to read the occasional standalone as well. Something that gets to the point and tightly wraps up the story all in one package.
In the acknowledgements, Ruckley makes note that Seven Samurai, The Magnificent Seven and The Wild Bunch influenced him while writing The Free. I would also compare it to 13 Assassins (the original) and The Twilight Samurai, in some respects. Trying to remain honorable, yet dealing with injustice in the world. It's safe to say, this wouldn't have any trouble fitting in on the big screen! There is certainly that cinematic quality to the worldbuilding (although I wanted to know even MORE about the world, which can be a minor gripe that I have when it comes to standalones.)
I can't talk about the intriguing worldbuilding without also mentioning my favorite thing in the book, the fully-realized magic system that Ruckley has come up with! It's complex and fascinating and just so brilliant! I truly loved how the balance of nature and what we put into it plays a part. I won't say anything else about the magic, because it's so damn exciting to see how it all unravels.
The Free is brutal, bloody and fun. This has grimdark elements, yet relies heavily on heroic fantasy storytelling. There is plenty of action and drama and more than a little romance. I dug the hell out of this!
November 27, 2019
3.5 stars
The Free reads as this classic fantasy that both feels entirely to big for the world and super small focusing on this one last quest or mission. You get these little peaks at this crew and who they are and what they mean to each other and the greater world around them. And then you see them fighting back against everything and everyone and it’s a compelling story. Though it’s a stand-alone you don’t feel cheated in the end because the story arch completes pretty smoothly if very bitter sweet. I’m glad that I read this one and can’t wait to see how this author tackles a larger series.
The Free reads as this classic fantasy that both feels entirely to big for the world and super small focusing on this one last quest or mission. You get these little peaks at this crew and who they are and what they mean to each other and the greater world around them. And then you see them fighting back against everything and everyone and it’s a compelling story. Though it’s a stand-alone you don’t feel cheated in the end because the story arch completes pretty smoothly if very bitter sweet. I’m glad that I read this one and can’t wait to see how this author tackles a larger series.
October 26, 2014
Good story and a great, orginal magic system.
However, not every part of the book was equally strong and interesting, the worldbuilding was a bit sparse and the story could have used some more fleshed out characters.
3 stars.
However, not every part of the book was equally strong and interesting, the worldbuilding was a bit sparse and the story could have used some more fleshed out characters.
3 stars.
May 10, 2016
Very easy to read. A bit more lighthearted than the previous trilogy, at least during the first half of the book, darker towards the end. Intense characters and a fast pace.
January 7, 2020
The Free, a band of mercenaries led by Yulan, have finished what they expected to be their final contract and are preparing to disband and settle down in their own chosen ways. Until a new contract appears, one that affects Yulan greatly from a contract many years before, when he first became the leader of The Free.
The Free is one of those very rare fantasy books that is a standalone, which is incredibly difficult to do sometimes, because it gives the author such a short amount of time for character development, world building, a proper magic system if there is meant to be one, as well as a fully thought out plot. Yet, Ruckley manages in The Free, and we have everything a fantasy reader could want within one book.
The characters are wonderful - Yulan as the leader of The Free truly feels like a leader, and we get a good chance to look into his motivations, his feelings, and how he runs the group, which is a truly caring individual looking out for his people. Another character we have a good look at is Drann - a farm boy, who inadvertently ends up travelling with The Free to ensure their new contract is completed. A boy who dreamed of being a great fighter, despite not having skills and who idolizes The Free.
The magic system within the book is subtle, but amazing. It take a while throughout the book for it to become fully actualized, yet each little snippet we get throughout adds to it, and makes you crave more of it. It’s not really until the end of the book that we see the full powers that this magic system has, but it is worth waiting for, especially for how well written it is in fight scenes.
The plot is a reasonably standard one in fantasy, looking for revenge, overthrowing corrupt governments, yet it’s done in such a unique way that it feels completely new. It lacks a lot of the traditional tropes found within fantasy, especially with the new, inexperienced farmer boy. All in all, The Free has convinced of what a brilliant writer Ruckley is, and I look forward to reading his series to see just what he can accomplish over more books. And for those readers that desperately crave a standalone in between the gigantic fantasy series that exist, The Free is exactly what you’re looking for.
The Free is one of those very rare fantasy books that is a standalone, which is incredibly difficult to do sometimes, because it gives the author such a short amount of time for character development, world building, a proper magic system if there is meant to be one, as well as a fully thought out plot. Yet, Ruckley manages in The Free, and we have everything a fantasy reader could want within one book.
The characters are wonderful - Yulan as the leader of The Free truly feels like a leader, and we get a good chance to look into his motivations, his feelings, and how he runs the group, which is a truly caring individual looking out for his people. Another character we have a good look at is Drann - a farm boy, who inadvertently ends up travelling with The Free to ensure their new contract is completed. A boy who dreamed of being a great fighter, despite not having skills and who idolizes The Free.
The magic system within the book is subtle, but amazing. It take a while throughout the book for it to become fully actualized, yet each little snippet we get throughout adds to it, and makes you crave more of it. It’s not really until the end of the book that we see the full powers that this magic system has, but it is worth waiting for, especially for how well written it is in fight scenes.
The plot is a reasonably standard one in fantasy, looking for revenge, overthrowing corrupt governments, yet it’s done in such a unique way that it feels completely new. It lacks a lot of the traditional tropes found within fantasy, especially with the new, inexperienced farmer boy. All in all, The Free has convinced of what a brilliant writer Ruckley is, and I look forward to reading his series to see just what he can accomplish over more books. And for those readers that desperately crave a standalone in between the gigantic fantasy series that exist, The Free is exactly what you’re looking for.
October 29, 2014
REVIEW SUMMARY: Stock characters but great action and even greater magic.
MY RATING: 4 stars
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: With war drawing to a close Yulan and his mercenary company accept one final commission -- to hunt down an old foe and bring him to justice before he can kill more innocents.
MY REVIEW
PROS: Intriguing setup and setting, better than usual revenge motivation, husband/wife dynamic, dynamic action, memorable scenes, stunning magic, Permanences!
CONS: Stock characters.
BOTTOM LINE: Brian Ruckley crafts a fun and satisfying revenge story.
It seems my choice in video games has influenced my reading habits of late. Playing Bungie's Destiny reignited my desire for military science fiction and so I read Henry V. Neil's Glory Main and was not disappointed. Last week I started playing Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and just had to get my hands on some quality fantasy. Fortunately Brian Ruckley's The Free showed up around this time. This being the first time I've read Ruckley's work, a nice thick standalone seemed a good place to start. I love the current state of the fantasy genre but there are so many different series that a standalone story has a special sort of appeal to it...or at least it did until I finished The Free and immediately wished I could read more about the world Ruckley has created.
The book opens by introducing us to a conflict that is nearing its end. The King has been toppled and all that is left for the victors to do is divide up the spoils of war. Well that's not all that is left to do. One final member of the Hommetic bloodline remains alive and is fleeing for the neighboring Empire of Orphans. There's no telling if the Empire is sanctuary or damnation for Callotec, the dead King's cousin, but his continued existence threatens everything the Council has bled to achieve. This is where the titular Free come into play. Yulan is captain of the last great mercenary company and has a vendetta to settle with Callotec reaching all the way back to his first days as leader of the Free. The Free takes on one final mission to track down Callotec and bring him back, dead or alive.
Ruckley does a superb job hitting the right notes from the very start. Fantasy novels often feature kingdoms on the brink of war or in the midst of war but rarely ever have I read about a kingdom nearing the end of a war. It's an interesting premise and lends itself well to the sword and sorcery nature of the story. The Free is a personal affair. Yulan has compelling reasons for seeking revenge against Callotec that go beyond the typical "murdered spouse/family" motivations. There is a dark stain on the Free's honor and Yulan seeks to see it expunged. The rest of the Free is motivated by loyalty alone, save for the few who were present during the company's darkest hour.
Included in this quest for redemption is Drann, a spearman of the Council's levy turned contract holder. Drann is a young farmer and a late addition to the war. He provides the naive and innocent foil to the battle hardened Yulan and his mercenaries. Drann is the reader's window into the Free as well as the sentimental heart of the novel. He is easily the most relatable of the characters featured in The Free. Yulan is a strong stoic leader, a clever tactician and expert swordsman. The mercenaries themselves are a little light on the characterization. There are glimpses of humanity behind the archetypes presented but it's unlikely that readers will grow deep attachments. The villains adhere to this same principle -- they aren't exactly nuanced. There are two characters that did grab my attention -- a husband and wife, both sorcerers. The relationship between the two drives a few of the best scenes in The Free, it's an angle I've not seen often explored in fantasy or genre fiction in general and would love to see examined at greater length.
Like all of the best revenge stories the real draw to The Free is the action. Brian Buckley's action writing straddles the line between heroic fantasy and sword & sorcery. Combat is bleak and violent, with the brutal realities of war intruding with every sword swing. As the buffer between the reader and the mercenaries, Drann's naivety and inexperience grounds the legend of the Free in the reality of the world they inhabit. The Free pits Yulan and his relatively small band of merry murderers against a few hundred armed men. The odds might seem dire but the playing field is more even than you might suspect. Yulan commands several powerful sorcerers (called Clevers) and even has access to a Permanence -- but more on Permanences in a moment.
The magic of The Free is easily its most memorable aspects. Though Ruckley never goes into intricate detail about the magic system he is not afraid to show off its effects and for that I am grateful. I appreciate logical and interesting magic systems as much as the next fantasy reader but sometimes you just want magic to be...mysterious and miraculous. The best scene in The Free involves a Clever and a tree -- I won't say any more than that for fear of ruining the moment. And then there's the Permanences! A Permanence is a spell gone wrong, a destructive force of nature and chaos. There are a number of these Permanences throughout the world. They bear ominous names like the Clamour and the Bereaved. Those with (nominal) control over a Permanence are nigh untouchable. They are a rare and dangerous prize -- Mutually Assured Destruction for a fantastical age. I understand that The Free is a standalone but I would love to read more stories set in this world and largely because of Clevers and Permanences.
The Free is a fun fantasy novel -- sharp, fast, and satisfying. Ruckley straddles the line between heroic and sword & sorcery fantasy, presenting a magic fueled revenge tale that is well worth reading. I look forward to checking out more of Brian Ruckley's work.
MY RATING: 4 stars
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: With war drawing to a close Yulan and his mercenary company accept one final commission -- to hunt down an old foe and bring him to justice before he can kill more innocents.
MY REVIEW
PROS: Intriguing setup and setting, better than usual revenge motivation, husband/wife dynamic, dynamic action, memorable scenes, stunning magic, Permanences!
CONS: Stock characters.
BOTTOM LINE: Brian Ruckley crafts a fun and satisfying revenge story.
It seems my choice in video games has influenced my reading habits of late. Playing Bungie's Destiny reignited my desire for military science fiction and so I read Henry V. Neil's Glory Main and was not disappointed. Last week I started playing Middle-Earth: Shadow of Mordor and just had to get my hands on some quality fantasy. Fortunately Brian Ruckley's The Free showed up around this time. This being the first time I've read Ruckley's work, a nice thick standalone seemed a good place to start. I love the current state of the fantasy genre but there are so many different series that a standalone story has a special sort of appeal to it...or at least it did until I finished The Free and immediately wished I could read more about the world Ruckley has created.
The book opens by introducing us to a conflict that is nearing its end. The King has been toppled and all that is left for the victors to do is divide up the spoils of war. Well that's not all that is left to do. One final member of the Hommetic bloodline remains alive and is fleeing for the neighboring Empire of Orphans. There's no telling if the Empire is sanctuary or damnation for Callotec, the dead King's cousin, but his continued existence threatens everything the Council has bled to achieve. This is where the titular Free come into play. Yulan is captain of the last great mercenary company and has a vendetta to settle with Callotec reaching all the way back to his first days as leader of the Free. The Free takes on one final mission to track down Callotec and bring him back, dead or alive.
Ruckley does a superb job hitting the right notes from the very start. Fantasy novels often feature kingdoms on the brink of war or in the midst of war but rarely ever have I read about a kingdom nearing the end of a war. It's an interesting premise and lends itself well to the sword and sorcery nature of the story. The Free is a personal affair. Yulan has compelling reasons for seeking revenge against Callotec that go beyond the typical "murdered spouse/family" motivations. There is a dark stain on the Free's honor and Yulan seeks to see it expunged. The rest of the Free is motivated by loyalty alone, save for the few who were present during the company's darkest hour.
Included in this quest for redemption is Drann, a spearman of the Council's levy turned contract holder. Drann is a young farmer and a late addition to the war. He provides the naive and innocent foil to the battle hardened Yulan and his mercenaries. Drann is the reader's window into the Free as well as the sentimental heart of the novel. He is easily the most relatable of the characters featured in The Free. Yulan is a strong stoic leader, a clever tactician and expert swordsman. The mercenaries themselves are a little light on the characterization. There are glimpses of humanity behind the archetypes presented but it's unlikely that readers will grow deep attachments. The villains adhere to this same principle -- they aren't exactly nuanced. There are two characters that did grab my attention -- a husband and wife, both sorcerers. The relationship between the two drives a few of the best scenes in The Free, it's an angle I've not seen often explored in fantasy or genre fiction in general and would love to see examined at greater length.
Like all of the best revenge stories the real draw to The Free is the action. Brian Buckley's action writing straddles the line between heroic fantasy and sword & sorcery. Combat is bleak and violent, with the brutal realities of war intruding with every sword swing. As the buffer between the reader and the mercenaries, Drann's naivety and inexperience grounds the legend of the Free in the reality of the world they inhabit. The Free pits Yulan and his relatively small band of merry murderers against a few hundred armed men. The odds might seem dire but the playing field is more even than you might suspect. Yulan commands several powerful sorcerers (called Clevers) and even has access to a Permanence -- but more on Permanences in a moment.
The magic of The Free is easily its most memorable aspects. Though Ruckley never goes into intricate detail about the magic system he is not afraid to show off its effects and for that I am grateful. I appreciate logical and interesting magic systems as much as the next fantasy reader but sometimes you just want magic to be...mysterious and miraculous. The best scene in The Free involves a Clever and a tree -- I won't say any more than that for fear of ruining the moment. And then there's the Permanences! A Permanence is a spell gone wrong, a destructive force of nature and chaos. There are a number of these Permanences throughout the world. They bear ominous names like the Clamour and the Bereaved. Those with (nominal) control over a Permanence are nigh untouchable. They are a rare and dangerous prize -- Mutually Assured Destruction for a fantastical age. I understand that The Free is a standalone but I would love to read more stories set in this world and largely because of Clevers and Permanences.
The Free is a fun fantasy novel -- sharp, fast, and satisfying. Ruckley straddles the line between heroic and sword & sorcery fantasy, presenting a magic fueled revenge tale that is well worth reading. I look forward to checking out more of Brian Ruckley's work.
June 21, 2024
The last half is so good. Elements of Seven Samurai for sure. The first half was a bit plodding. Took a while to really establish the world and the magical rules and lore. Granted I don’t like the opposite where the rules are explained outright with exhaustive exposition but I spent a lot of time in the first half saying “What? Who? How does that work?” Would enjoy returning to this world again if Brian ever starts writing novels again.
February 20, 2015
I came into this with zero information about it and found it an entertaining and smooth read. As other reviewers have noted it bears a lot of similarities to things like the Magnificent Seven, but the resemblance doesn't bring the work down in any way.
One thing that Ruckley does really well here is that he dribbles out backstory at a very even and natural pace. There weren't any painful info dumps that typify a lot of Fantasy and SF. Dealing with exposition is a highly valuable skill for a writer and I think the Free is an example of it done well.
The world was interesting, the technology and the magic was interesting, and even though from all indications this seems like a one-shot, I would be willing to read more stories set in this world.
February 25, 2015
A curious tale that feels like the end of a long saga -- a company of soldiers with a lot of cachet in their world, but in their last days. I wanted either much, much more, or less -- a short story, perhaps, or a novella. This novel seemed a bit out of synch with itself. But it's a page turner, and full of interesting characters and conceits. Maybe Ruckley is hooking us with this tale in order to give us the whole world and the entire saga. I hope so. I liked the combination of ninja-like warrior skills and magician-like people who could do interesting, but only singular, things with their minds, like dissolve hilltops, leading a battalion of the enemy to its destruction. But the mental effort costs dearly, of course, and thereby hangs some of the tale.
September 29, 2015
new world, new heroes, new terrors, new magic, new cool stuff. same ol' story (revenge, honor tinged, warring lords, warring classes of mages), same dual POV telling fairly common these days (but it mostly works). I enjoyed the short story plot fleshed into a novel. while not addictive, it was compelling, especially most of the last half. I'd read more of the magic system and some of the characters.
November 2, 2014
Some decent fun. One of those novels where you know exactly what you're going to get out of it by reading the blurb. Solid action, archetypal characters (though only one or two were memorable), pretty cool magic.
December 9, 2014
Best Fantasy novel I've read all year!
Very exciting Sword & Sorcery/Heroic Fantasy, page-turner. Great characters, masterly paced and plotted.
Going to have to go back and read Ruckley's other novels.
Very exciting Sword & Sorcery/Heroic Fantasy, page-turner. Great characters, masterly paced and plotted.
Going to have to go back and read Ruckley's other novels.
October 19, 2015
A worthy addition to any fantasy lover's bookshelf. A solid read from a solid author. If there's a sequel, I'll get it.
March 12, 2020
I had high hopes for Brian Ruckley’s The Free. As I’ve experienced more gritty fantasy stories, heavy on the action and morality displayed in shades of grey, I’ve come to realise that I enjoy them more than I would have given credit for many years ago. The Free seemed like something that would deliver that kind of hard-hitting action, given that the story revolves around a mercenary company and their last mission together.
Unfortunately, I ended up somewhat disappointed, as the book didn’t live up to my expectations.
The premise was sound, if a little bit overdone. The story centres around the Free, a mercenary group with some political loyalties that go beyond merely who can put the most coin in their pockets. Their final mission before disbanding? To bring down a tyrant who would be king, to avenge past wrongs, and to bring peace to the land once more. The story is told from two perspectives; that of Yulan, the leader of the Free, and of Drann, a farm boy turned soldier turned semi-willing contract-holder who was made to ride along with the Free on their mission, and thus provide an easy way to explain some thing to the reader by having them explained to the largely-ignorant Drann.
The book suffered, mostly, by having a cast of characters with little to no depth. Yulan was the only one who actually came across as a real person, with a history and complex emotions and any amount of, well, character to his character. Most of the others filled needed spots on a stage, notable more for what the story needed them to do than who they were. It was as though Yulan traveled with a company of plot points.
The antagonist, too, seemed fairly flat. A spoiled prince in many ways, thinking he can rule because he’s royal blood and that all those pesky smelly peasants should just bow before him. Cruel for cruelty’s sake. That’s about it. He was more of a caricature than a character, an irredeemable bad guy who exists just to stand in the way of the heroes and to give them a purpose and reason to act.
The style of writing also didn’t really do it for me. I found it to be irritatingly inconsistent at times, ranging from very evocative phrasing to such a distanced narrative that it was hard to compel myself to keep reading. For the most part, it felt rather flat, neither particularly bad nor good, which I suppose means that it could have been a lot worse even if it didn’t really do anything to stand out or encourage me to push on with the story.
There was some solid world-building underfoot, hinted at more than explicitly stated, and I wish more attention could have been paid to people and places and cultures rather than trying to explain things to Drann, since a greater look into the world and its people would have been very welcome. Readers get to see only a tiny portion, enough to know that the author has done his work in establishing things well enough to make the foundation solid, even if you don’t get to actually see the effects. There’s a confidence to the writing that I have to commend, even if the narration wasn’t all I was hoping for.
One aspect of the book that shines, though, is the magic system. At first glance it seems like a variation on the classic “four elements” system, only substituting seasonal influences. That alone would have been an interesting twist, incorporating a more varied set of talents than magic often sees in traditional tales, but then Ruckley introduces the idea of Permanences. Permanences occur when a magic-user channels more than they can handle and compensate for, the energy spills over and creates a Permanence, an embodiment of the seasonal element channeled than cannot move away from the physical world. Terrifying, destructive, and the stuff that nightmares are made from and that scare children into staying inside after dark, Permanences were amazing things, and every time one was mentioned, it was as though my ears perked up and everything became so much more interesting. Imagine something like The Bereaved, vaguely human-shaped and crying black tears of rot and decay that drains the life from everything it touches. How can that not be interesting?!
The Free isn’t a book that took great force of will to keep reading, but it was one that, after a while, I wanted to finish mostly so I could just see what happened and move on. It doesn’t have much in the way of reread value, due mostly to the lack of character interest or distinction. It’s a fairly run-of-the-mill sword-and-sorcery tale with mercenaries. Not something I’d really recommend, but not something I’d advise that people stay away from, either. Which, from everything I hear about Ruckley’s other books, makes it a shame that this was my introduction to his work. Ultimately, it’s a take-it-or-leave it book, okay but not great, and one that I don’t think will have much of an impact.
Unfortunately, I ended up somewhat disappointed, as the book didn’t live up to my expectations.
The premise was sound, if a little bit overdone. The story centres around the Free, a mercenary group with some political loyalties that go beyond merely who can put the most coin in their pockets. Their final mission before disbanding? To bring down a tyrant who would be king, to avenge past wrongs, and to bring peace to the land once more. The story is told from two perspectives; that of Yulan, the leader of the Free, and of Drann, a farm boy turned soldier turned semi-willing contract-holder who was made to ride along with the Free on their mission, and thus provide an easy way to explain some thing to the reader by having them explained to the largely-ignorant Drann.
The book suffered, mostly, by having a cast of characters with little to no depth. Yulan was the only one who actually came across as a real person, with a history and complex emotions and any amount of, well, character to his character. Most of the others filled needed spots on a stage, notable more for what the story needed them to do than who they were. It was as though Yulan traveled with a company of plot points.
The antagonist, too, seemed fairly flat. A spoiled prince in many ways, thinking he can rule because he’s royal blood and that all those pesky smelly peasants should just bow before him. Cruel for cruelty’s sake. That’s about it. He was more of a caricature than a character, an irredeemable bad guy who exists just to stand in the way of the heroes and to give them a purpose and reason to act.
The style of writing also didn’t really do it for me. I found it to be irritatingly inconsistent at times, ranging from very evocative phrasing to such a distanced narrative that it was hard to compel myself to keep reading. For the most part, it felt rather flat, neither particularly bad nor good, which I suppose means that it could have been a lot worse even if it didn’t really do anything to stand out or encourage me to push on with the story.
There was some solid world-building underfoot, hinted at more than explicitly stated, and I wish more attention could have been paid to people and places and cultures rather than trying to explain things to Drann, since a greater look into the world and its people would have been very welcome. Readers get to see only a tiny portion, enough to know that the author has done his work in establishing things well enough to make the foundation solid, even if you don’t get to actually see the effects. There’s a confidence to the writing that I have to commend, even if the narration wasn’t all I was hoping for.
One aspect of the book that shines, though, is the magic system. At first glance it seems like a variation on the classic “four elements” system, only substituting seasonal influences. That alone would have been an interesting twist, incorporating a more varied set of talents than magic often sees in traditional tales, but then Ruckley introduces the idea of Permanences. Permanences occur when a magic-user channels more than they can handle and compensate for, the energy spills over and creates a Permanence, an embodiment of the seasonal element channeled than cannot move away from the physical world. Terrifying, destructive, and the stuff that nightmares are made from and that scare children into staying inside after dark, Permanences were amazing things, and every time one was mentioned, it was as though my ears perked up and everything became so much more interesting. Imagine something like The Bereaved, vaguely human-shaped and crying black tears of rot and decay that drains the life from everything it touches. How can that not be interesting?!
The Free isn’t a book that took great force of will to keep reading, but it was one that, after a while, I wanted to finish mostly so I could just see what happened and move on. It doesn’t have much in the way of reread value, due mostly to the lack of character interest or distinction. It’s a fairly run-of-the-mill sword-and-sorcery tale with mercenaries. Not something I’d really recommend, but not something I’d advise that people stay away from, either. Which, from everything I hear about Ruckley’s other books, makes it a shame that this was my introduction to his work. Ultimately, it’s a take-it-or-leave it book, okay but not great, and one that I don’t think will have much of an impact.
June 10, 2021
[No Spoilers] - The Free - Brian Ruckley
Overall Rating : 4.5/5
I received this book as part of a subscription service by A Box of Stories (No Affiliation) and as such it was not a book I would have selected of my own merit.
In this epic standalone fantasy novel we're taken on a journey following multiple perspectives of The Free, a force that has been recognised for its unstoppable proficiency in both martial and magical combat. Leading Julan and his band of talented comrades to many victories. As we join them, they are fixing to lay down their swords for the last time and retire.
However, when the opportunity is presented in the form of one last contract, Julan can't refuse the chance to right the wrongs of the past.
Ruckley takes us on a journey of discovery throughout the pages of this novel. Slowly revealing motivations and the history of the characters and world they live in. Each of the characters have a strong role to play in the plot as it develops. Somewhat predicable, however perfectly likeable personalities. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters a fair amount.
I was attached to all the characters, and felt their motivations clear and understandable throughout the tale. I appreciated the time we got to spend learning more about each of them.
The world is well established and the magic system, although used more sparingly than I would have imagined going in, is well considered and executed with a pace in keeping with the action. Overall I found this to be a very quick read, aided by the abundance of snappy combat and intriguing developments in the world building and back story of our band of mercenaries. The latter I felt was well scheduled into the more tame moments and when the cast had need to travel, I enjoyed the opportunity to answer some of the more burning questions at the forefront of my mind without it interrupting the flow that Ruckley manages to establish quickly upon entry to his world.
The prose, at times felt a little awkward. I'm uncertain as to the cause, given it being not too dissimilar to what I have come to expect of other entries to this genre. I enjoyed the writing style for the most part. However I did find myself a few too many times having to re-read passages and clarify points as they became muddled by the phrasing. I found this to be the only real hinderance to my reading and enjoyment as it did break the immersion that Ruckley had crafted.
I'm glad to have concluded the story and did enjoy my time with the free. There are definitely some moments that will stay with me.
Overall Rating : 4.5/5
I received this book as part of a subscription service by A Box of Stories (No Affiliation) and as such it was not a book I would have selected of my own merit.
In this epic standalone fantasy novel we're taken on a journey following multiple perspectives of The Free, a force that has been recognised for its unstoppable proficiency in both martial and magical combat. Leading Julan and his band of talented comrades to many victories. As we join them, they are fixing to lay down their swords for the last time and retire.
However, when the opportunity is presented in the form of one last contract, Julan can't refuse the chance to right the wrongs of the past.
Ruckley takes us on a journey of discovery throughout the pages of this novel. Slowly revealing motivations and the history of the characters and world they live in. Each of the characters have a strong role to play in the plot as it develops. Somewhat predicable, however perfectly likeable personalities. I enjoyed the interactions between the characters a fair amount.
I was attached to all the characters, and felt their motivations clear and understandable throughout the tale. I appreciated the time we got to spend learning more about each of them.
The world is well established and the magic system, although used more sparingly than I would have imagined going in, is well considered and executed with a pace in keeping with the action. Overall I found this to be a very quick read, aided by the abundance of snappy combat and intriguing developments in the world building and back story of our band of mercenaries. The latter I felt was well scheduled into the more tame moments and when the cast had need to travel, I enjoyed the opportunity to answer some of the more burning questions at the forefront of my mind without it interrupting the flow that Ruckley manages to establish quickly upon entry to his world.
The prose, at times felt a little awkward. I'm uncertain as to the cause, given it being not too dissimilar to what I have come to expect of other entries to this genre. I enjoyed the writing style for the most part. However I did find myself a few too many times having to re-read passages and clarify points as they became muddled by the phrasing. I found this to be the only real hinderance to my reading and enjoyment as it did break the immersion that Ruckley had crafted.
I'm glad to have concluded the story and did enjoy my time with the free. There are definitely some moments that will stay with me.
October 14, 2017
The novel had a decent pace and story. Would have liked more to have happened at the beginning, I would the first 25% of the story was just in setting up the characters and setting. Something about the way the author writes is different too, the phrasing and way the words are put together are unique in a hard-to-pinpoint way which I found interesting.
After getting to the end, I find the story to have been good but nothing special. Just an average fun militaristic fantasy novel. I find that I'm annoyed when authors use the "all perfect killing machine" or "all powerful magician with powers" approach which basically just makes a whole bunch of stuff happen without needing to justify it. This was a bit too liberal in this story I think in terms of the Permanence's and when Wren rescues her captive husband. The end battle was well done and not something I was expecting.
Overall I enjoyed the story but wouldn’t rush to read another story by the author. It reminded me a bit like The Black Company by Glen Cook.
After getting to the end, I find the story to have been good but nothing special. Just an average fun militaristic fantasy novel. I find that I'm annoyed when authors use the "all perfect killing machine" or "all powerful magician with powers" approach which basically just makes a whole bunch of stuff happen without needing to justify it. This was a bit too liberal in this story I think in terms of the Permanence's and when Wren rescues her captive husband. The end battle was well done and not something I was expecting.
Overall I enjoyed the story but wouldn’t rush to read another story by the author. It reminded me a bit like The Black Company by Glen Cook.
March 3, 2019
(No spoilers.)
A spectacularly gripping piece of work that kept me up til the small hours of the morning, frantically needing to reach the end before going to bed. After finishing, I couldn't sleep, because my head was full of dangerous intense adventures, compelling (and heartbreaking) characters and extraordinary magics. This is a story that I will return to many times, which is a very rare thing for me; it takes something very special to make me want to read a book more than once, and this book has that quality in so many different ways. A really stunning piece of writing, and I'm already adding the rest of this author's books to my "to-read" list. If you enjoy gritty, heartfelt, living-the-experience fantasy, then this one is for you. Really outstanding, I only wish there were lots more like this out there.
A spectacularly gripping piece of work that kept me up til the small hours of the morning, frantically needing to reach the end before going to bed. After finishing, I couldn't sleep, because my head was full of dangerous intense adventures, compelling (and heartbreaking) characters and extraordinary magics. This is a story that I will return to many times, which is a very rare thing for me; it takes something very special to make me want to read a book more than once, and this book has that quality in so many different ways. A really stunning piece of writing, and I'm already adding the rest of this author's books to my "to-read" list. If you enjoy gritty, heartfelt, living-the-experience fantasy, then this one is for you. Really outstanding, I only wish there were lots more like this out there.
November 16, 2021
The opening of this book was epic and I was hooked. I really liked all the characters and following along with them through there journey, I liked the flashbacks we got as well.
The plot definitely drags in the middle and I know flashbacks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, so if that (and more character driven stories) is something that bothers you, I would maybe not read this one.
The fight scenes that we do get are really well done, very intense and well written. Very interesting and different form of magic.
I really enjoyed this one.
The plot definitely drags in the middle and I know flashbacks aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, so if that (and more character driven stories) is something that bothers you, I would maybe not read this one.
The fight scenes that we do get are really well done, very intense and well written. Very interesting and different form of magic.
I really enjoyed this one.
July 19, 2017
It's the end of an era. The last of the free companies of mercenaries (The Free) is retiring, but they are talked into one last job, to kill or capture their nemesis, the last royal prince, their old enemy. Told from the perspective of a young man representing the Contract Holder. Skilled Warriors, Battle Mages and a pair of magical super-villains abound. Moving, dramatic yet wistful and moving with bravery, courage self-sacrificing heroes and evil villains. I'll definitely read a sequel.
July 31, 2018
Terrific
A well written gritty novel, full of detail while moving the story forward. Characters are absolutely interesting and engaging. Reminding me of the cast of characters from the Black Company. While the plot is not complex, it doesn't need to be, you are dropped into the last remaining days of the Free. You learn all about what bond these people share, what they do for each other and how nasty this bunch really is. Only wishing it was longer.
A well written gritty novel, full of detail while moving the story forward. Characters are absolutely interesting and engaging. Reminding me of the cast of characters from the Black Company. While the plot is not complex, it doesn't need to be, you are dropped into the last remaining days of the Free. You learn all about what bond these people share, what they do for each other and how nasty this bunch really is. Only wishing it was longer.
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