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The Lot Lands #3
The Free Bastards
The long-awaited war has come in the conclusion to the Lot Lands trilogy.
War has come to the Lot Lands—and Oats stands upon the frontline.
The Hisparthan armies on the horizon are mighty, bolstered by divine champions, dread sorcerers, and gunpowder. It’s almost more than the half-orc rebellion can hope to repel.
But Oats has won impossible fights before. He’s a thriceblood, after all, more orc than man. And he hasn’t forgotten how to kill. He’ll stack the bodies high for his chief and his brethren, if that’s the price of freeing the Lots from human tyranny.
Besides, the invading forces are getting a damned sight more than they bargained for. They’re not facing a handful of half-orc hoofs, but a true army—one forged from all the peoples of the Lots. At its head are Fetching, in full command of the ruinous power that runs through her veins, and Jackal, armed with the blessings of a dead god.
Yet Oats can’t help but find his faith wavering. Once the strongest Bastard, he soon realizes that in this battle, even the strength of a thriceblood is easily conquered. And after a grievous loss strikes, he begins to fear that this war will lead the Lots not to freedom but to ruin.
So when another path to peace beckons, he has no choice but to walk it. Even if it means betting the Lots’ fate, and his own, on the promises of the Bastards’ wiliest adversary—and making a perilous journey into the heart of Hispartha itself.
Brimming with all the epic battles, surprising sorcery, and fiendish twists a Bastards fan could wish for, alongside unforgettable moments for characters old and new, The Free Bastards builds a new future for the Lots—even as it gives our beloved trio of Jackal, Fetching, and Oats the rousing, blood-soaked sendoff they deserve.
War has come to the Lot Lands—and Oats stands upon the frontline.
The Hisparthan armies on the horizon are mighty, bolstered by divine champions, dread sorcerers, and gunpowder. It’s almost more than the half-orc rebellion can hope to repel.
But Oats has won impossible fights before. He’s a thriceblood, after all, more orc than man. And he hasn’t forgotten how to kill. He’ll stack the bodies high for his chief and his brethren, if that’s the price of freeing the Lots from human tyranny.
Besides, the invading forces are getting a damned sight more than they bargained for. They’re not facing a handful of half-orc hoofs, but a true army—one forged from all the peoples of the Lots. At its head are Fetching, in full command of the ruinous power that runs through her veins, and Jackal, armed with the blessings of a dead god.
Yet Oats can’t help but find his faith wavering. Once the strongest Bastard, he soon realizes that in this battle, even the strength of a thriceblood is easily conquered. And after a grievous loss strikes, he begins to fear that this war will lead the Lots not to freedom but to ruin.
So when another path to peace beckons, he has no choice but to walk it. Even if it means betting the Lots’ fate, and his own, on the promises of the Bastards’ wiliest adversary—and making a perilous journey into the heart of Hispartha itself.
Brimming with all the epic battles, surprising sorcery, and fiendish twists a Bastards fan could wish for, alongside unforgettable moments for characters old and new, The Free Bastards builds a new future for the Lots—even as it gives our beloved trio of Jackal, Fetching, and Oats the rousing, blood-soaked sendoff they deserve.
560 pages, Hardcover
First published September 21, 2021
123 people are currently reading
3614 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan French
5 books1,070 followersJonathan French is the author of the Autumn’s Fall Saga and The Grey Bastards. His debut novel, The Exiled Heir, was nominated for Best First Novel at the Georgia Author of the Year Awards in 2012. His second book, The Errantry of Bantam Flyn, rose to #6 on the Kindle Norse/Viking Fantasy bestseller list, proudly sharing the top ten with Neil Gaiman. His newest work, The Grey Bastards, is best described as “Sons of Anarchy…with half-orcs” and is poised to be his biggest seller to date. The book is currently a finalist in The Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off #SPFBO. An outspoken advocate on the merits and future of independent publishing, Jonathan has led panel discussions at conventions such as DragonCon, TimeGate, and CONjuration. Recently, Jonathan had the pleasure of being featured in an episode of the web-series Retroblasting as a consultant on the cultural impact of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise. You can find out more at www.jonathanfrenchbooks.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 206 reviews
July 20, 2021
4.5 Stars ⭐️
I love these guys!! Fetch will always be my favorite, she’s a kickass chief!!
This book was Oats book and it was so good. Who knew a damn book full of half orcs that are foul-mouthed beyond all comprehension, would make me cry!! There are battles and gore and cussing and a bit of tenderness!
If you loved the first two books, you will love this book and the overall outcome. I cried at the end as well. These BASTARDS had a bittersweet ending and above all, remember, "Live in the saddle! Die on the hog!"
This is an uncorrected proof so these few quotes that could be subject to change.
*The rokh shrieked as it dove, snatching the Maiden’s attention. She looked up in time to see the figure leap from the great bird’s back, but she wouldn’t be able to see who it was. Oats couldn’t either, but still he knew. The chief had arrived.*
*Ugfuck was a lumbering mass of sagging pig flesh covered in rashes and stiff patches of louse-ridden hair. One eye was red and bulging, the other small and often clogged with mucus. Born a misshapen runt, he should have been killed on the day he first drew breathe. Were it not for Oats, he would have been. He’d saved the hog’s life that morning.*
You have to love Ug!! This whole trilogy was wonderful and I look forward to more of the authors work.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Del Ray for a digital copy of this book!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Thank you to Penguin for sending me a Netgalley of this book!
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
I love these guys!! Fetch will always be my favorite, she’s a kickass chief!!
This book was Oats book and it was so good. Who knew a damn book full of half orcs that are foul-mouthed beyond all comprehension, would make me cry!! There are battles and gore and cussing and a bit of tenderness!
If you loved the first two books, you will love this book and the overall outcome. I cried at the end as well. These BASTARDS had a bittersweet ending and above all, remember, "Live in the saddle! Die on the hog!"
This is an uncorrected proof so these few quotes that could be subject to change.
*The rokh shrieked as it dove, snatching the Maiden’s attention. She looked up in time to see the figure leap from the great bird’s back, but she wouldn’t be able to see who it was. Oats couldn’t either, but still he knew. The chief had arrived.*
*Ugfuck was a lumbering mass of sagging pig flesh covered in rashes and stiff patches of louse-ridden hair. One eye was red and bulging, the other small and often clogged with mucus. Born a misshapen runt, he should have been killed on the day he first drew breathe. Were it not for Oats, he would have been. He’d saved the hog’s life that morning.*
You have to love Ug!! This whole trilogy was wonderful and I look forward to more of the authors work.
*Thank you to Netgalley and Del Ray for a digital copy of this book!
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
Thank you to Penguin for sending me a Netgalley of this book!
BLOG: https://melissa413readsalot.blogspot....
September 3, 2021
The Free Bastards
(The Lot Lands #3)
by Jonathan French
The first book of the series is one of my favorite books ever! The second one was was excellent too! When I was offered to read this one I was on Cloud 9 for days! This is a series that most people would not associate with me. It's brutal, harsh, foul, violent, but absolutely brilliant! It has orcs, half-orcs who are the main characters, elves, cyclops, minotaurs, wizards, magic, humans, a demon, and more.
The half-orcs are not wanted by man or orcs so the are pushed off to the poorer lands called the lots. They ride big wild hogs as big and vicious as the men and women who ride them. But the half-orcs love their beasts! They are family to them.
This last book centers around a handful of characters we have followed since they were slops (just caring for the hogs and not yet riders). Now they are seasoned warriors. They go through so much in this book! There's a prison break, water/sea battle, and battle against a wizard and demon! They are betrayed numerous times and even in the hands of an evil Queen at one time! It's unpredictable! Besides the terrific characters, suspense, the witty dialogue, great world building, and fantasy, there is some great lines that really stand out. I can't share because I had an arc.
I think this book brings out more of the tenderness beneath the rough exterior more than the other books. It is told from Oat's POV but even from there we see the tenderness, caring, softness of the hoof ( their group). Never thought I would say that about these warriors!
I have to say, I was touched many times during this book. I often just enjoy the book and move on. This book had many parts that continued to linger in my mind.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this wonderful, brutal, fantastic book! Oh, and love the incredible cover!
Live in the saddle! Die on the hog!
(The Lot Lands #3)
by Jonathan French
The first book of the series is one of my favorite books ever! The second one was was excellent too! When I was offered to read this one I was on Cloud 9 for days! This is a series that most people would not associate with me. It's brutal, harsh, foul, violent, but absolutely brilliant! It has orcs, half-orcs who are the main characters, elves, cyclops, minotaurs, wizards, magic, humans, a demon, and more.
The half-orcs are not wanted by man or orcs so the are pushed off to the poorer lands called the lots. They ride big wild hogs as big and vicious as the men and women who ride them. But the half-orcs love their beasts! They are family to them.
This last book centers around a handful of characters we have followed since they were slops (just caring for the hogs and not yet riders). Now they are seasoned warriors. They go through so much in this book! There's a prison break, water/sea battle, and battle against a wizard and demon! They are betrayed numerous times and even in the hands of an evil Queen at one time! It's unpredictable! Besides the terrific characters, suspense, the witty dialogue, great world building, and fantasy, there is some great lines that really stand out. I can't share because I had an arc.
I think this book brings out more of the tenderness beneath the rough exterior more than the other books. It is told from Oat's POV but even from there we see the tenderness, caring, softness of the hoof ( their group). Never thought I would say that about these warriors!
I have to say, I was touched many times during this book. I often just enjoy the book and move on. This book had many parts that continued to linger in my mind.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this wonderful, brutal, fantastic book! Oh, and love the incredible cover!
Live in the saddle! Die on the hog!
July 14, 2025
There are hordes of thicks (orcs), frails (humans), and half-blood mongrels waiting impatiently to get their bloody hands on this. This is the third chapter of French’s amazing trilogy. First, came the Grey Bastards. Then, the True Bastards. Now, the Free Bastards. “Live in the saddle. Die on the hog.”
The Stars of this trilogy are half-orc, half-human mongrel Bastards who no one wants. The thicks or Orcs will rampage across the world, but their bastard children are all that stands between civilization and utter wasteland.
In the lots you can find the bawdy, foul-mouthed hoofs of the mongrels, caught in no man’s land between empires that want to wipe them out and the savages from beyond.
Ugly, tattooed, fearsome, and riding astride giant barbarian hogs with giant tusks just as fierce as the warriors in the saddles. The biggest and ugliest of all the hogs is Uggfuck, Oat's beast, named that because it sure fits. When reading this book, be sure to play Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” 🐷 at maximum volume. That fits too.
The story and the language is not for the dainty. These half-breeds fill their speech with every other word a reference to the nether regions of anatomy. Bawdy is the word describing their world. The battles are vicious, bloody, unyielding. The drunken revelry following battle is just as fierce.
This particular volume tells its 600-page story from thrice-born Oat’s point of view. It begins with a prison break and a great battle on a forbidden hill against odds no normal person would contemplate. What follows is a long-awaited war with Hispartha, wielding magical forces Oat never imagined would be unearthed. It’s a war the Bastards and their allies must win or the Lots would forever be wiped out and there are plots within plots to get there.
What makes this volume sizzle is the desperate odds Oats, Fetching, Jackal, and the rest face as the alliances shift. There is no lack of action, no intermission. No dull plodding moments. There are battles with hordes of centaurs, naval blockades, storming of fortified cities, and always the odds seem to favor Oat's enemies.
Despite the bawdy language and unremitting violence, the mad mongrel warriors of the Lots are all complex characters from Hoodwink to Sluggard to Oat. Each one has a backstory and ghosts that forever haunt them. This book is highly recommended.
The Stars of this trilogy are half-orc, half-human mongrel Bastards who no one wants. The thicks or Orcs will rampage across the world, but their bastard children are all that stands between civilization and utter wasteland.
In the lots you can find the bawdy, foul-mouthed hoofs of the mongrels, caught in no man’s land between empires that want to wipe them out and the savages from beyond.
Ugly, tattooed, fearsome, and riding astride giant barbarian hogs with giant tusks just as fierce as the warriors in the saddles. The biggest and ugliest of all the hogs is Uggfuck, Oat's beast, named that because it sure fits. When reading this book, be sure to play Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” 🐷 at maximum volume. That fits too.
The story and the language is not for the dainty. These half-breeds fill their speech with every other word a reference to the nether regions of anatomy. Bawdy is the word describing their world. The battles are vicious, bloody, unyielding. The drunken revelry following battle is just as fierce.
This particular volume tells its 600-page story from thrice-born Oat’s point of view. It begins with a prison break and a great battle on a forbidden hill against odds no normal person would contemplate. What follows is a long-awaited war with Hispartha, wielding magical forces Oat never imagined would be unearthed. It’s a war the Bastards and their allies must win or the Lots would forever be wiped out and there are plots within plots to get there.
What makes this volume sizzle is the desperate odds Oats, Fetching, Jackal, and the rest face as the alliances shift. There is no lack of action, no intermission. No dull plodding moments. There are battles with hordes of centaurs, naval blockades, storming of fortified cities, and always the odds seem to favor Oat's enemies.
Despite the bawdy language and unremitting violence, the mad mongrel warriors of the Lots are all complex characters from Hoodwink to Sluggard to Oat. Each one has a backstory and ghosts that forever haunt them. This book is highly recommended.
May 13, 2022
The Free Bastards is the third and final book in The Lot Lands trilogy. This is Oats’ book and I think my favourite in the series, it shows more of the world, the other hoofs and also Hispartha. This book features lots of themes about freedom, I love that. The battle scenes, politics, friendship and comradeship was what made this book one of a kind.
Another thing that sets this book apart from other fantasy is that half orcs are the main characters and the ones that are oppressed, humans in this book are the villains, how cool is that.
The world building is good, a bit above average. The writing style used is straightforward, this book is written in third person POV of Oats the protagonist.
The events in this book happened a few months after Fetching declared war on Hispartha and the freedom of the hoofs from Hispartha.
Oats’ POV is refreshing, it’s different from that of Jackal and Fetching, Oats might be thriced blood orc but he is so human and emotional, I love that about him, he is willing to sacrifice himself for his love one.
Fetching and Jackal were also here and I love the new and improved them, their character development is over the rooftop, they still remain true to who they are, despite coming into power.
Sluggard, Culprit, Hoodwink, Polecat, Shed Snake are also great characters, all members of The True Bastards hoof.
Finally Thistle and Muro, how I love these two humans in the half orc world. Thistle is amazing while Muro is simple minded child, I love how Thistle adores and care for this boy most will abandon.
Another thing that sets this book apart from other fantasy is that half orcs are the main characters and the ones that are oppressed, humans in this book are the villains, how cool is that.
The world building is good, a bit above average. The writing style used is straightforward, this book is written in third person POV of Oats the protagonist.
The events in this book happened a few months after Fetching declared war on Hispartha and the freedom of the hoofs from Hispartha.
Oats’ POV is refreshing, it’s different from that of Jackal and Fetching, Oats might be thriced blood orc but he is so human and emotional, I love that about him, he is willing to sacrifice himself for his love one.
Fetching and Jackal were also here and I love the new and improved them, their character development is over the rooftop, they still remain true to who they are, despite coming into power.
Sluggard, Culprit, Hoodwink, Polecat, Shed Snake are also great characters, all members of The True Bastards hoof.
Finally Thistle and Muro, how I love these two humans in the half orc world. Thistle is amazing while Muro is simple minded child, I love how Thistle adores and care for this boy most will abandon.
September 28, 2021
5 of 5 stars at The BiblioSanctum https://bibliosanctum.com/2021/09/28/...
The Lot Lands trilogy comes to a close with The Free Bastards, centering on the final member of our True Bastards hoof trio, the thriceblood known as Oats. It’s also important to note that although every novel in the series has followed a different character, each story builds upon the events that happened before. As such, these books aren’t really meant to be read as standalones, and experiencing them in chronological order is recommended.
As the novel begins, the inevitable war with Hispartha has finally come to the Lot Lands, and Oats, loyal friend and Bastard that he is, finds himself on the front lines because he knows that’s where he belongs. Our protagonist is aware that he’s nothing special, unlike his friends Jackal, god-touched and off on his own mission, or Fetching, who has brought the people of the Lots together into a grand army and now leads them as their new war chief. However, Oats has never desired for anything more than to fight for his hoof, and being three-quarters orc has always made him bigger and stronger than his half-blood brethren, making him very good at what he does.
Unfortunately, the forces of Hispartha also have their divine warriors and dark sorcery, and Oats soon realizes this isn’t a war they can win through brute strength alone. The stakes are high, and should the half-orc rebellion fail, their enemies would bring ruin to all the Lot Lands and the hoofs that live within them. With the lives of his loved ones on the line, Oats must make the difficult choice to journey to the heart of the human’s empire rescue his friends and confront the scheming wizard who betrayed them. Once there, it will take more than brawn and violence to survive the dangerous political quagmire of Hispartha, unless the frails make the mistake of pushing our thriceblood Bastard a little too far…
I’ve got to hand it to Jonathan French. Oats began the series as a peripheral character, hovering just on the edge of my attention. Sure, he was interesting enough, but still incomparable to the larger-than-life personalities of Jackal or Fetch and the excitement of their rip-roaring adventures. But all of that’s changed with The Free Bastards, which singlehandedly vaulted to Oats to the position of my favorite True Bastard. Behind his daunting scarred physique hides a thoughtful soul, deeply committed to his family and friends. Paired with a steely resolve to take on anything, this makes him the most complex of The Lot Lands protagonists.
You also best hold tight to your hog if you’re to have any chance of keeping up with the insane pacing. The book opens with a measured introduction as French takes a moment to catch readers up, tying up some loose ends from the previous books as well as to give Oats a proper introduction so that we can get reacquainted. But once all that’s taken care of, we’re off to the races, with the action coming in fast and unrelenting. If you’ve enjoyed the series thus far, you’ll certainly love this installment as well, with its vicious blood-soaked battles, ribald sweary language, and irreverent genre-bending takes on epic fantasy tropes–all of which have become The Lot Lands trademarks.
But like I said, Oats is really the highlight here. A fearsome warrior, he is also capable of much insight and compassion. Of the True Bastards trio which consists also of Jackal and Fetching, Oats was perhaps the one I connected to emotionally the most. There were moments where I felt close to tears, especially the ending, which cast such a warm, comfortable and glowing light on this trilogy of books otherwise filled with so much darkness and violence. One wouldn’t think such a conclusion would be fitting, but I felt the scene was the perfect sendoff for these characters, and the crowning glory this brilliant epic fantasy masterpiece.
So, do yourself a favor and pick up The Lot Lands if you haven’t yet. For any fantasy fan who has ever lamented the fact that high fantasy with elves and orcs seem to all feel the same, here is your cure.
The Lot Lands trilogy comes to a close with The Free Bastards, centering on the final member of our True Bastards hoof trio, the thriceblood known as Oats. It’s also important to note that although every novel in the series has followed a different character, each story builds upon the events that happened before. As such, these books aren’t really meant to be read as standalones, and experiencing them in chronological order is recommended.
As the novel begins, the inevitable war with Hispartha has finally come to the Lot Lands, and Oats, loyal friend and Bastard that he is, finds himself on the front lines because he knows that’s where he belongs. Our protagonist is aware that he’s nothing special, unlike his friends Jackal, god-touched and off on his own mission, or Fetching, who has brought the people of the Lots together into a grand army and now leads them as their new war chief. However, Oats has never desired for anything more than to fight for his hoof, and being three-quarters orc has always made him bigger and stronger than his half-blood brethren, making him very good at what he does.
Unfortunately, the forces of Hispartha also have their divine warriors and dark sorcery, and Oats soon realizes this isn’t a war they can win through brute strength alone. The stakes are high, and should the half-orc rebellion fail, their enemies would bring ruin to all the Lot Lands and the hoofs that live within them. With the lives of his loved ones on the line, Oats must make the difficult choice to journey to the heart of the human’s empire rescue his friends and confront the scheming wizard who betrayed them. Once there, it will take more than brawn and violence to survive the dangerous political quagmire of Hispartha, unless the frails make the mistake of pushing our thriceblood Bastard a little too far…
I’ve got to hand it to Jonathan French. Oats began the series as a peripheral character, hovering just on the edge of my attention. Sure, he was interesting enough, but still incomparable to the larger-than-life personalities of Jackal or Fetch and the excitement of their rip-roaring adventures. But all of that’s changed with The Free Bastards, which singlehandedly vaulted to Oats to the position of my favorite True Bastard. Behind his daunting scarred physique hides a thoughtful soul, deeply committed to his family and friends. Paired with a steely resolve to take on anything, this makes him the most complex of The Lot Lands protagonists.
You also best hold tight to your hog if you’re to have any chance of keeping up with the insane pacing. The book opens with a measured introduction as French takes a moment to catch readers up, tying up some loose ends from the previous books as well as to give Oats a proper introduction so that we can get reacquainted. But once all that’s taken care of, we’re off to the races, with the action coming in fast and unrelenting. If you’ve enjoyed the series thus far, you’ll certainly love this installment as well, with its vicious blood-soaked battles, ribald sweary language, and irreverent genre-bending takes on epic fantasy tropes–all of which have become The Lot Lands trademarks.
But like I said, Oats is really the highlight here. A fearsome warrior, he is also capable of much insight and compassion. Of the True Bastards trio which consists also of Jackal and Fetching, Oats was perhaps the one I connected to emotionally the most. There were moments where I felt close to tears, especially the ending, which cast such a warm, comfortable and glowing light on this trilogy of books otherwise filled with so much darkness and violence. One wouldn’t think such a conclusion would be fitting, but I felt the scene was the perfect sendoff for these characters, and the crowning glory this brilliant epic fantasy masterpiece.
So, do yourself a favor and pick up The Lot Lands if you haven’t yet. For any fantasy fan who has ever lamented the fact that high fantasy with elves and orcs seem to all feel the same, here is your cure.
June 13, 2022
Top drawer grimdark Fantasy and a fantastic conclusion to a great trilogy. I think, of the three books, that this one has been my favourite. This is entirely to do with Oats, a big hearted, loveable and somewhat violent half-orc !😄 My favourite character by quite some distance. Highly recommended and really looking forward to seeing what Johnathan French does next.
December 5, 2021
ALL THE STARS!
With the trilogy complete, I highly recommend binging the entire series back-to-back.
With the trilogy complete, I highly recommend binging the entire series back-to-back.
July 3, 2021
4.5 / 5
The freedom of the mongrels is on the precipice of failure: The Lot Lands are at the tipping point of being crushed between Hispartha and the Tyrkanian empire, and betrayal seeps from every ill-begotten ally. Violent fates for the True Bastard brothers and sisters is inevitable. Hell, the first arc of this book is a non-stop action sequence consisting of a chase scene that culminates in an against-all-odds, fingernail-chewing battle. The Free Bastards is a brutal, thrilling read, laced with dark humor and tough decisions, unexpected gut-punches and genuine surprises.
But it was the quiet moments that hit hardest.
Jackal, Fetch, and Oats have traveled a long road together. We didn’t know them as slops—hoof prospects—but we’ve been at their side as they’ve evolved from the lower ranks of their hoof to the powerful leaders and symbols of hope that they are by story’s end. But with that power comes the inability to connect with their peers like they used to. So the only truest, most honest bonds that they’re able to keep have been with each other.
French reserves these conversations during the calm in between storms where few words are said, but so much more is conveyed -- and they’re beautiful moments, showing just how strong this family knows each other. A look, a smile, a nod of the head, a shared anecdote – the understanding that passes between the three I found to be some of the most powerful moments of the entire trilogy.
As this volume is Oats’ story – we never leave his POV for a single moment – we are privy to some of his other struggles with decisions on his future, his relationships with those who raised him, and those who look to him as a future father and, maybe, something more. French interspersed these story beats incredibly well amongst thrilling ship battles, city clashes, rescue missions, court politics, and tying up mysteries that have been hanging around for the past thousand+ pages. It’s deft work.
One strike against the story was when one of the biggest plot mysteries was finally revealed, I found myself asking a lot of “well why didn’t it” and “how could it” questions. It felt a little forced, a bit too neat, written more for maximum mic-drop effect instead of fitting into the context of the story. It was still a great moment – and while it was somewhat projected and might not pass the closest scrutiny, it does not take away from the satisfaction and epic feel of the conclusion to the Bastards trilogy.
There’s been some chatter about the rampant homophobia by the mongrel community in these books, substituting the word ‘backy’ instead of gay, and using that word as the punchline of some dialogue. And that’s fine, as they’re just characters, and that’s just how some characters are written. But for what it’s worth, I’d like to mention that there is far more positive representation of the LBGTQ+ community in this story than in previous volumes.
Jonathan French is a Crafty one, wrapping up Jackal, Fetching, and Oats’ stories with the heart and loss and depth it deserves, but it also leaves the door open for more Lot Lands stories to explore. No matter what the future may bring, for three books I’ve lived in this saddle, and with the killer conclusion of The Free Bastards, I’m fortunate to die on this hog.
P.S. Best pickup line ever:
"Come, bedwarmer. Let's find a nook and get shameful."
The freedom of the mongrels is on the precipice of failure: The Lot Lands are at the tipping point of being crushed between Hispartha and the Tyrkanian empire, and betrayal seeps from every ill-begotten ally. Violent fates for the True Bastard brothers and sisters is inevitable. Hell, the first arc of this book is a non-stop action sequence consisting of a chase scene that culminates in an against-all-odds, fingernail-chewing battle. The Free Bastards is a brutal, thrilling read, laced with dark humor and tough decisions, unexpected gut-punches and genuine surprises.
But it was the quiet moments that hit hardest.
Jackal, Fetch, and Oats have traveled a long road together. We didn’t know them as slops—hoof prospects—but we’ve been at their side as they’ve evolved from the lower ranks of their hoof to the powerful leaders and symbols of hope that they are by story’s end. But with that power comes the inability to connect with their peers like they used to. So the only truest, most honest bonds that they’re able to keep have been with each other.
French reserves these conversations during the calm in between storms where few words are said, but so much more is conveyed -- and they’re beautiful moments, showing just how strong this family knows each other. A look, a smile, a nod of the head, a shared anecdote – the understanding that passes between the three I found to be some of the most powerful moments of the entire trilogy.
As this volume is Oats’ story – we never leave his POV for a single moment – we are privy to some of his other struggles with decisions on his future, his relationships with those who raised him, and those who look to him as a future father and, maybe, something more. French interspersed these story beats incredibly well amongst thrilling ship battles, city clashes, rescue missions, court politics, and tying up mysteries that have been hanging around for the past thousand+ pages. It’s deft work.
One strike against the story was when one of the biggest plot mysteries was finally revealed, I found myself asking a lot of “well why didn’t it” and “how could it” questions. It felt a little forced, a bit too neat, written more for maximum mic-drop effect instead of fitting into the context of the story. It was still a great moment – and while it was somewhat projected and might not pass the closest scrutiny, it does not take away from the satisfaction and epic feel of the conclusion to the Bastards trilogy.
There’s been some chatter about the rampant homophobia by the mongrel community in these books, substituting the word ‘backy’ instead of gay, and using that word as the punchline of some dialogue. And that’s fine, as they’re just characters, and that’s just how some characters are written. But for what it’s worth, I’d like to mention that there is far more positive representation of the LBGTQ+ community in this story than in previous volumes.
Jonathan French is a Crafty one, wrapping up Jackal, Fetching, and Oats’ stories with the heart and loss and depth it deserves, but it also leaves the door open for more Lot Lands stories to explore. No matter what the future may bring, for three books I’ve lived in this saddle, and with the killer conclusion of The Free Bastards, I’m fortunate to die on this hog.
P.S. Best pickup line ever:
"Come, bedwarmer. Let's find a nook and get shameful."
January 3, 2024
“You’re wrong. Today, on this hill, we showed Hispartha that they can kill us, but they cannot cage us. We showed them that we will accept death before we will return to chains. We showed them that we will come for our own and slay armies to liberate a handful. Remember that. The frails will.”
Time to return to the “Lot Lands” for the third and final, blood-soaked, Kirkus Star-winning installment, in Jonathan French’s unique trilogy, entitled “The Free Bastards”.
The half-orc hoofs of the Lot Lands are rising above oppression by humans. Typically, those creatures, born of orcs forcing themselves on humans, had been ostracized by both human and orc parentage, yet obliged to protect the humans who look down on them, and fight the orcs who see both humans and half-orcs as prey.
But now the day of the half-orc hoofs, has come.
This book, the final book in the series, is designated as Oats’ book, inasmuch as Book One "The Grey Bastards" was Jackal’s book, and Book Two "The True Bastards" was Fetching’s book.
Though Oats is the biggest and strongest amongst the trio of siblings-in-name, by the events of this final book, he is the only one whose powers merely lie in natural strength, as opposed to enhanced abilities, like his dear comrades.
Fetch has become a legendary warrior and hoof-chief, who has united the entire Lot Lands under her banner, and who has tapped into her magical heritage. Jackal is god-touched, and seemingly invincible, off on his own lofty side-quests. Yet steadfast Oats, though the most ordinary of the three in terms of capability, is certainly the match of Fetch and Jackal in guts and heart.
And Oats is no physical weakling, for he is a giant thrice-blood, the scion of a full orc on one side of his parentage, and a half-orc on the other. Such orcs are imbued with immense physical power.
Oats will need all that brute power, his fighting prowess, smarts, and of course his loyal war-hog Ugfuck, if he is to survive the coming storm. For full-scale battle has come to the Lot Lands, with the inevitable war between the humans (frails) of Hispartha and the half-orc tribes of the Lot Lands. Oats, enforcer for Fetching’s hoof, takes his muscle and menace to the thick of the fighting. His first task, however, is beyond daring, and dangerous. Oats leads a desperate rescue mission into the belly of Hispartha in order to save some captured hoof-mates.
This mission leads in unexpected directions, and Oats later finds himself on a diplomatic endeavour, mingling and liaising with the highest echelons of Hispartha, in an effort to bring about peace between the human nation and the hoofs of the Lot Lands, and free the half-orc tribes that have so long protected the humans from destruction from the threat of invasion by the mighty full orcs.
But Oats soon learns that freedom comes at a high cost, that the negotiating table can be just as deadly as combat on hog-back, and that one part of his family may need to be left behind, to save another.
The characters, both human and non-human in this book, as in previous installments, are fabulously well-drawn, extremely complicated, and highly authentic. There are plenty of morally grey types, yet by this point in the series, the half-orcs stand head and shoulders above most of the human characters, in terms of displaying noblesse. The camaraderie, sense of duty, honour, and fairness, and adoration of their beloved hogs have made them truly endearing. A very different type of orc than those depicted over half-a-century ago in Tolkien’s masterwork “Lord of the Rings”, where those creatures were – unfailingly – inherently evil.
Oats is perhaps the most easy to like and admire, of the previous hoof riders who enjoyed their perspectives represented in this series’ books. Jackal is extremely ambitious, arrogant, and more conniving. Fetching is irascible, aloof, and exacting.
Oats, on the other hand, fierce warrior though he clearly is, is also the strong, silent, sensitive type. We also see how incredibly Oats responds when he is seriously wounded, and vulnerable, or when others around him are. His bravery and compassion shine through.
French writes Oats to be very cerebral, extremely loyal to his friends and colleagues, and someone who has natural parental instincts, as we see through Oats’ relationship with the orphan Muro. Oats ended up supplanting Fetching as my favourite character in the series, by just hair, after I finished reading this finale.
In terms of supporting cast, it’s a bit strange after the first two books to categorize them as ‘supporting’, but Fetching and Jackal are more on the periphery in this book. Still, they both continue to be awesome characters. Polecat, Sluggard, Anvil, and of course Ugfuck maintained very strong showing as auxiliary players. Crafty is wonderfully treacherous, devious, complex, and hilarious as usual. He ALMOST stole favourite character from Oats, for me.
“I ask you, I ask all of you, what is in your heart for this place?… When a land and its people hate you so, how can you be anything but stained by that hatred and begin to reflect it?… No matter who has ruled from that seat, their intention has ever been to enslave you. And to kill you if you dare rise. How can you feel ought but hate when confronted with such a truth?”
What can I say about how great the worldbuilding has been in this book, and overall in this series. Just the huge barbarian war-hogs alone, the faithful and nigh indestructible steeds of the hoof, were worth the price of the book to me. But add a dark and diverse world filled with rampaging crazed centaurs, humongous birds of prey, malevolent wizards and dark sorcery, god-touched soldiers, half-orc protectors, full-orc marauders, demons, elves, and more, and you have a incredibly-realized setting that is unique and filled with adventure, malevolence, and wonder. I can’t forget to add: THE MAIDEN SPEAR! Wow, not a foe one would ever want to tangle with!
There were so many wonderful thematic elements I could chat about in this book, but readers will love the found family thread that permeates throughout the book.
The pacing is brisk, but French doesn’t scrimp on those quiet moments that will touch you, and make you think. The battles are appropriately visceral, absolutely bloody and thrilling. Crudeness and rudeness remain standard fare, and there will be an expletive, rest assured, in every few lines. There are betrayals, there is bawdiness, and the bombastic mongrel Free Bastards fight, fornicate, and fall into the reader’s hearts, as unforgettable literary characters.
The poignant ending will have many readers reaching for the tissue box, but rest assured, French sticks the landing, and gives Oats, Jackal, and Fetching the rousing conclusion they deserve.
This is one of the most unashamedly ribald, dark, and ultimately fun series I have ever read, and “The Free Bastards” was a delightful way to wrap things up.
Five stars!
“Live in the saddle, die on the Hog!”
Time to return to the “Lot Lands” for the third and final, blood-soaked, Kirkus Star-winning installment, in Jonathan French’s unique trilogy, entitled “The Free Bastards”.
The half-orc hoofs of the Lot Lands are rising above oppression by humans. Typically, those creatures, born of orcs forcing themselves on humans, had been ostracized by both human and orc parentage, yet obliged to protect the humans who look down on them, and fight the orcs who see both humans and half-orcs as prey.
But now the day of the half-orc hoofs, has come.
This book, the final book in the series, is designated as Oats’ book, inasmuch as Book One "The Grey Bastards" was Jackal’s book, and Book Two "The True Bastards" was Fetching’s book.
Though Oats is the biggest and strongest amongst the trio of siblings-in-name, by the events of this final book, he is the only one whose powers merely lie in natural strength, as opposed to enhanced abilities, like his dear comrades.
Fetch has become a legendary warrior and hoof-chief, who has united the entire Lot Lands under her banner, and who has tapped into her magical heritage. Jackal is god-touched, and seemingly invincible, off on his own lofty side-quests. Yet steadfast Oats, though the most ordinary of the three in terms of capability, is certainly the match of Fetch and Jackal in guts and heart.
And Oats is no physical weakling, for he is a giant thrice-blood, the scion of a full orc on one side of his parentage, and a half-orc on the other. Such orcs are imbued with immense physical power.
Oats will need all that brute power, his fighting prowess, smarts, and of course his loyal war-hog Ugfuck, if he is to survive the coming storm. For full-scale battle has come to the Lot Lands, with the inevitable war between the humans (frails) of Hispartha and the half-orc tribes of the Lot Lands. Oats, enforcer for Fetching’s hoof, takes his muscle and menace to the thick of the fighting. His first task, however, is beyond daring, and dangerous. Oats leads a desperate rescue mission into the belly of Hispartha in order to save some captured hoof-mates.
This mission leads in unexpected directions, and Oats later finds himself on a diplomatic endeavour, mingling and liaising with the highest echelons of Hispartha, in an effort to bring about peace between the human nation and the hoofs of the Lot Lands, and free the half-orc tribes that have so long protected the humans from destruction from the threat of invasion by the mighty full orcs.
But Oats soon learns that freedom comes at a high cost, that the negotiating table can be just as deadly as combat on hog-back, and that one part of his family may need to be left behind, to save another.
The characters, both human and non-human in this book, as in previous installments, are fabulously well-drawn, extremely complicated, and highly authentic. There are plenty of morally grey types, yet by this point in the series, the half-orcs stand head and shoulders above most of the human characters, in terms of displaying noblesse. The camaraderie, sense of duty, honour, and fairness, and adoration of their beloved hogs have made them truly endearing. A very different type of orc than those depicted over half-a-century ago in Tolkien’s masterwork “Lord of the Rings”, where those creatures were – unfailingly – inherently evil.
Oats is perhaps the most easy to like and admire, of the previous hoof riders who enjoyed their perspectives represented in this series’ books. Jackal is extremely ambitious, arrogant, and more conniving. Fetching is irascible, aloof, and exacting.
Oats, on the other hand, fierce warrior though he clearly is, is also the strong, silent, sensitive type. We also see how incredibly Oats responds when he is seriously wounded, and vulnerable, or when others around him are. His bravery and compassion shine through.
French writes Oats to be very cerebral, extremely loyal to his friends and colleagues, and someone who has natural parental instincts, as we see through Oats’ relationship with the orphan Muro. Oats ended up supplanting Fetching as my favourite character in the series, by just hair, after I finished reading this finale.
In terms of supporting cast, it’s a bit strange after the first two books to categorize them as ‘supporting’, but Fetching and Jackal are more on the periphery in this book. Still, they both continue to be awesome characters. Polecat, Sluggard, Anvil, and of course Ugfuck maintained very strong showing as auxiliary players. Crafty is wonderfully treacherous, devious, complex, and hilarious as usual. He ALMOST stole favourite character from Oats, for me.
“I ask you, I ask all of you, what is in your heart for this place?… When a land and its people hate you so, how can you be anything but stained by that hatred and begin to reflect it?… No matter who has ruled from that seat, their intention has ever been to enslave you. And to kill you if you dare rise. How can you feel ought but hate when confronted with such a truth?”
What can I say about how great the worldbuilding has been in this book, and overall in this series. Just the huge barbarian war-hogs alone, the faithful and nigh indestructible steeds of the hoof, were worth the price of the book to me. But add a dark and diverse world filled with rampaging crazed centaurs, humongous birds of prey, malevolent wizards and dark sorcery, god-touched soldiers, half-orc protectors, full-orc marauders, demons, elves, and more, and you have a incredibly-realized setting that is unique and filled with adventure, malevolence, and wonder. I can’t forget to add: THE MAIDEN SPEAR! Wow, not a foe one would ever want to tangle with!
There were so many wonderful thematic elements I could chat about in this book, but readers will love the found family thread that permeates throughout the book.
The pacing is brisk, but French doesn’t scrimp on those quiet moments that will touch you, and make you think. The battles are appropriately visceral, absolutely bloody and thrilling. Crudeness and rudeness remain standard fare, and there will be an expletive, rest assured, in every few lines. There are betrayals, there is bawdiness, and the bombastic mongrel Free Bastards fight, fornicate, and fall into the reader’s hearts, as unforgettable literary characters.
The poignant ending will have many readers reaching for the tissue box, but rest assured, French sticks the landing, and gives Oats, Jackal, and Fetching the rousing conclusion they deserve.
This is one of the most unashamedly ribald, dark, and ultimately fun series I have ever read, and “The Free Bastards” was a delightful way to wrap things up.
Five stars!
“Live in the saddle, die on the Hog!”
July 14, 2025
This book felt like a return to form for the series, even if .
I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on Oats as a POV character of refreshing vulnerability, while the previous POVs Jackal and Fetching are wisely kept mostly to the margins.
I feel there are still stories to be told in this world, and the author certainly leaves enough story threads dangling to support me, but if this is the last we get of these Bastards it still stands as a worthy cap to a fine series.
I particularly enjoyed the emphasis on Oats as a POV character of refreshing vulnerability, while the previous POVs Jackal and Fetching are wisely kept mostly to the margins.
I feel there are still stories to be told in this world, and the author certainly leaves enough story threads dangling to support me, but if this is the last we get of these Bastards it still stands as a worthy cap to a fine series.
September 26, 2021
The publisher sent me an ARC!!
The Lot Lands #3 is out, and I'm happier than a sot in a river o' whiskey! And the best part? Jackal is baaaaaack!
Powerful characters. I especially loved Beryl and her strength and vulnerability. Oats, for all his hardness and sensitivity. The world building and story creation was stronger in this one, but it's the characters that bring The Lot Lands to life. Love these orcs! 5 stars!
The Lot Lands #3 is out, and I'm happier than a sot in a river o' whiskey! And the best part? Jackal is baaaaaack!
Powerful characters. I especially loved Beryl and her strength and vulnerability. Oats, for all his hardness and sensitivity. The world building and story creation was stronger in this one, but it's the characters that bring The Lot Lands to life. Love these orcs! 5 stars!
September 28, 2021
Thank you, Mr. French, for exceeding my expectations. Thank you for the wonderful vulgarities. And thank you for plucking my emotional strings. The arts…ya gotta love them! 5⭐️
February 11, 2025
A fine end to a series that landed with a combined score of 4.5
Oats' pov was powerful and a welcome change from book 2.
The author did a fabulous job linking the stories together and delivered a punched ending, which was both satisfactory and exhilarating
I think my only criticism is the raw, differential style that we got in book 1, was refined considerably after getting a trad deal. It meant the series lost its edge and tarnished the entertainment in places
The brilliant character work and arching story did mean it was an excellent trilogy. I just wish the raw, unapologetic style from book 1, was allowed to carry through
Oats' pov was powerful and a welcome change from book 2.
The author did a fabulous job linking the stories together and delivered a punched ending, which was both satisfactory and exhilarating
I think my only criticism is the raw, differential style that we got in book 1, was refined considerably after getting a trad deal. It meant the series lost its edge and tarnished the entertainment in places
The brilliant character work and arching story did mean it was an excellent trilogy. I just wish the raw, unapologetic style from book 1, was allowed to carry through
October 17, 2021
I had a feeling it will end like that ...
The success of two initial volumes of TLL (The Lot Lands) was due to the great idea: the author has put atypical characters (as the key figures in the story), made them complete underdogs, but at the same time, he made sure they still stand out: are likable, unique enough, easy to keep fingers crossed for. In the initial tomes, we were learning about them, seeing them facing surprising situations on a rather unimpressive scale (fighting for dominance in the hoof, investigating the story of the mysterious pregnant elf-woman, the chase for the wizard mongrel). All that was fun, the narration was jovial, characters were rather light-hearted, the story was simple but fulfilling.
Unfortunately, this is not enough for the conclusion of the whole trilogy.
I had a feeling that the conflict doesn't make sense anymore (isn't realistic/credible), the motivations (of characters) are not interesting, all the key mysteries (that were really interesting) are already answered (yes, there are still some open questions - important ones, but I didn't care about them that much). Because of all that, it was really hard to get emotionally involved in the story. There were moments I had to struggle to keep my attention on what's happening.
What didn't help much was that the author has again changed the main protagonist (in the 1st installment it was Jackal, in the 2nd one it was Fetching) - unfortunately in this case it didn't add much (a wasted potential, TBH).
The only thing I really likes was ... the swearing. Yes, I'm serious - it was so ... natural (mongrel style) that it was barely hard to notice, even if it happened every 2nd sentence (e.g. centaurs are more frequently referred to as "horse cocks" than "centaurs" ;>) - the funny thing is when you realize that the swearing doesn't just happen in character's dialogues, but also in narrator's descriptions. LOL, adorable (seriously).
After all, I had my dose of fun, but it doesn't mean that J. French has finished the trilogy in style. It's 2.5-3 stars, but because of good memories from the previous two books, I round it up to 3.
The success of two initial volumes of TLL (The Lot Lands) was due to the great idea: the author has put atypical characters (as the key figures in the story), made them complete underdogs, but at the same time, he made sure they still stand out: are likable, unique enough, easy to keep fingers crossed for. In the initial tomes, we were learning about them, seeing them facing surprising situations on a rather unimpressive scale (fighting for dominance in the hoof, investigating the story of the mysterious pregnant elf-woman, the chase for the wizard mongrel). All that was fun, the narration was jovial, characters were rather light-hearted, the story was simple but fulfilling.
Unfortunately, this is not enough for the conclusion of the whole trilogy.
I had a feeling that the conflict doesn't make sense anymore (isn't realistic/credible), the motivations (of characters) are not interesting, all the key mysteries (that were really interesting) are already answered (yes, there are still some open questions - important ones, but I didn't care about them that much). Because of all that, it was really hard to get emotionally involved in the story. There were moments I had to struggle to keep my attention on what's happening.
What didn't help much was that the author has again changed the main protagonist (in the 1st installment it was Jackal, in the 2nd one it was Fetching) - unfortunately in this case it didn't add much (a wasted potential, TBH).
The only thing I really likes was ... the swearing. Yes, I'm serious - it was so ... natural (mongrel style) that it was barely hard to notice, even if it happened every 2nd sentence (e.g. centaurs are more frequently referred to as "horse cocks" than "centaurs" ;>) - the funny thing is when you realize that the swearing doesn't just happen in character's dialogues, but also in narrator's descriptions. LOL, adorable (seriously).
After all, I had my dose of fun, but it doesn't mean that J. French has finished the trilogy in style. It's 2.5-3 stars, but because of good memories from the previous two books, I round it up to 3.
May 12, 2025
A great ending to the trilogy. I love these Bastards and their hogs!
October 17, 2021
It really pains me to give this book such a low score but I feel rather disappointed. I loved the first book & the second was a tornado but this is slow and rather boring in comparison.
Oath is rather a lame, whinny and depressing POV character after you've been in Jackal and Fetch's mind. Sitting on Oat's shoulder I always left out of the juicy part of the action. Always wondering what Fetch, Jackal, Hood or Ruin were doing.
This last book lacked a good villain, Hisparta is distant and impersonal as far are antagonist go. I don't know what should have been done but I don't love this ending, it's too happy and easy.
The comedy and banter is still strong and hilarious.
I for one would love a sidestory about Jackal's time in the east or Ruin's life in the land of the orcs
Oath is rather a lame, whinny and depressing POV character after you've been in Jackal and Fetch's mind. Sitting on Oat's shoulder I always left out of the juicy part of the action. Always wondering what Fetch, Jackal, Hood or Ruin were doing.
This last book lacked a good villain, Hisparta is distant and impersonal as far are antagonist go. I don't know what should have been done but I don't love this ending, it's too happy and easy.
The comedy and banter is still strong and hilarious.
I for one would love a sidestory about Jackal's time in the east or Ruin's life in the land of the orcs
December 9, 2021
Took me a while to get into this one. I rolled with audio for the first 2 of the series and was blown away especially by book one which is 100% a five star on audio. The last quarter of the book salvaged things for sure, and I'd have to say the final scenes were superb. Love it when an author is sending off characters and it seems absolutely genuine. French will miss writing these characters for sure.
October 29, 2021
A very good finish to The Lot Lands trilogy, and an enjoyable read. Bit sad it’s finished.
The structure of the story in this volume is simple. Mainly centred on Oats, a linear timeframe with no flashbacks or competing timelines for other characters. Plenty of action, a plot with loads of uncertainty about the direction it’d progress in. I enjoyed that it was unclear for long periods whether several of the supporting cast were supporters or not of the Half-Orcs cause and that led to an interesting conclusion which was difficult to second guess.
As in the earlier books in the trilogy the unpredictable violence and coarse language of the Half-Orcs is in your face. My own lexicon of such language is only very rarely displayed, certainly since my distant sporting days, but sometimes there’s a time and place for it and with the Half-Orcs this coarseness is an essential part of their characterisations. Not a story for ‘tender flowers’!
My only complaint is the one I make about three-quarters of series I read, so I’m sorry if it seems like an audio tape loop; the lack of an introduction to this book, via a one or two page summary of ‘the story so far’, or a cast list. And I couldn’t see one elsewhere online.
To be fair, the general flow of the story, with the Hoof taking the war to the Hisparthians, is easy to recall and get back into. But there were several names I had to double-check (eg Zirko) from #2. I think it all slowly comes back to mind as you read on, but that first 10% of the story where you’re trying to recall characters and side plots from time to time is a distraction. As I said, this is unfortunately common, at least for me, for volumes in many series published a year plus apart, far from unique for this volume.
If you’ve not read The Lot Lands series (and you’re happy with justifiable coarseness, and violence) then you’re seriously missing out. And this concluding volume was just right. It’s been a great ride. A 5* finish to a five star series.
The structure of the story in this volume is simple. Mainly centred on Oats, a linear timeframe with no flashbacks or competing timelines for other characters. Plenty of action, a plot with loads of uncertainty about the direction it’d progress in. I enjoyed that it was unclear for long periods whether several of the supporting cast were supporters or not of the Half-Orcs cause and that led to an interesting conclusion which was difficult to second guess.
As in the earlier books in the trilogy the unpredictable violence and coarse language of the Half-Orcs is in your face. My own lexicon of such language is only very rarely displayed, certainly since my distant sporting days, but sometimes there’s a time and place for it and with the Half-Orcs this coarseness is an essential part of their characterisations. Not a story for ‘tender flowers’!
My only complaint is the one I make about three-quarters of series I read, so I’m sorry if it seems like an audio tape loop; the lack of an introduction to this book, via a one or two page summary of ‘the story so far’, or a cast list. And I couldn’t see one elsewhere online.
To be fair, the general flow of the story, with the Hoof taking the war to the Hisparthians, is easy to recall and get back into. But there were several names I had to double-check (eg Zirko) from #2. I think it all slowly comes back to mind as you read on, but that first 10% of the story where you’re trying to recall characters and side plots from time to time is a distraction. As I said, this is unfortunately common, at least for me, for volumes in many series published a year plus apart, far from unique for this volume.
If you’ve not read The Lot Lands series (and you’re happy with justifiable coarseness, and violence) then you’re seriously missing out. And this concluding volume was just right. It’s been a great ride. A 5* finish to a five star series.
November 12, 2021
First book started with a POV of Jackal, a shockingly good looking half orc. Book 2 a POV from Fetch, a fabulous looking half orc. and now Oats, a bit on the ugly side, especially now with all the new scars. Jonathan French has created a wonderful series with half orcs, not your usual cast of characters such as Elves, dwarves, and dragons. Riding on their hogs, not motorcycles but actual hogs, the Bastards motto is "live in the saddle, die on the hog." Caught between Orc on one side and humans on the other, The Lots is the borderland between those two worlds. But war with the humans is coming and Oats is caught up in the intrigues. Jonathan French started out as a self published author, won SPFBO 2 (2016), but got picked up by a major publishing house for the next two books. Hopefully there will be more books in this series to come.
August 9, 2021
An exciting, fun, and surprising conclusion to the Lot Lands series. Oats may be my favorite protagonist of the three -- he's fallible, emotional, and complicated. Not every plot thread wraps up neatly, but that's in keeping with the messy world of these books. I look forward to seeing what this author does next.
December 27, 2022
Oh so good!
January 18, 2022
Mini-Review:
4 Stars for Narration by Will Damron
4 Stars for Key Scenes
2 Stars for Lack of Clear Plot
3 Stars for Overall Story, Final Rating Round Up for Great Audiobook
Intro to the story was great! Dark humor mixed with questionable plans in action. I loved that the key characters were brought together for the finale. There are a couple of key events that were amazing, but the story between were a mixed bag of good to bland. I wasn't sure how French would pull off a solid ending to the trilogy. There wasn't enough done within the first two books to leave room for a complete wrap up.
Grey Bastards is one of my favorite books. An excellent debut by a new author. It was the right mix of well-developed plot, characters, action and setting. However, the actual direction for the over arcing story seemed to have gotten a bit hazy in True Bastards, and that lack of direction was more obvious here. There's a different story voice for drama, action, romance, political wrangling and etc. You can mix up the different types together and create a fun tale.
My Take:
- There are three main characters that we follow in the Bastards: Jackal, Fetching and Oats. There's a book for each one. The best developed and portrayed character was Jackal. I had no problems picturing Jackal and following him on his journey. Fetching & Oats were great side characters, but I did not get the same certainty of personage for either Fetching or Oats in their respective novels. That created a distance that was briefly bridge in certain scenes, but lost consistency in the rest.
- Ending: I'd say about 90% of the story elements that I would have wanted an answer for has been noted, dealt with and tied up in an unyielding knot by the end of the Free Bastards.
Is it an amazing ending?
No. Too much was done behind the scenes and I get a summary vs being a part of it.
Is it good?
It didn't make me mad or sad. I was left somewhere in the middle. Thus, it was okay, but not grand.
- Free Bastards: If the story was character focused with active sequences to show character related points, action and politics, Free Bastards would have been a solid slam duck amazing. Instead, there's an attempt to deep dive into Oats' mind & heart, show what it was like to be in different situations of poverty/wealth/etc, action packed hijinks, web of political movements, meaning of freedom, mysterious magic, variety of plotting and I could list a bunch more. An unfocused story that tried to tell all the tangents and relevant points, but failed to bring the pieces together as a whole.
I'm glad I read the book and look forward to reading more work done by French.
4 Stars for Narration by Will Damron
4 Stars for Key Scenes
2 Stars for Lack of Clear Plot
3 Stars for Overall Story, Final Rating Round Up for Great Audiobook
Intro to the story was great! Dark humor mixed with questionable plans in action. I loved that the key characters were brought together for the finale. There are a couple of key events that were amazing, but the story between were a mixed bag of good to bland. I wasn't sure how French would pull off a solid ending to the trilogy. There wasn't enough done within the first two books to leave room for a complete wrap up.
Grey Bastards is one of my favorite books. An excellent debut by a new author. It was the right mix of well-developed plot, characters, action and setting. However, the actual direction for the over arcing story seemed to have gotten a bit hazy in True Bastards, and that lack of direction was more obvious here. There's a different story voice for drama, action, romance, political wrangling and etc. You can mix up the different types together and create a fun tale.
My Take:
- There are three main characters that we follow in the Bastards: Jackal, Fetching and Oats. There's a book for each one. The best developed and portrayed character was Jackal. I had no problems picturing Jackal and following him on his journey. Fetching & Oats were great side characters, but I did not get the same certainty of personage for either Fetching or Oats in their respective novels. That created a distance that was briefly bridge in certain scenes, but lost consistency in the rest.
- Ending: I'd say about 90% of the story elements that I would have wanted an answer for has been noted, dealt with and tied up in an unyielding knot by the end of the Free Bastards.
Is it an amazing ending?
No. Too much was done behind the scenes and I get a summary vs being a part of it.
Is it good?
It didn't make me mad or sad. I was left somewhere in the middle. Thus, it was okay, but not grand.
- Free Bastards: If the story was character focused with active sequences to show character related points, action and politics, Free Bastards would have been a solid slam duck amazing. Instead, there's an attempt to deep dive into Oats' mind & heart, show what it was like to be in different situations of poverty/wealth/etc, action packed hijinks, web of political movements, meaning of freedom, mysterious magic, variety of plotting and I could list a bunch more. An unfocused story that tried to tell all the tangents and relevant points, but failed to bring the pieces together as a whole.
I'm glad I read the book and look forward to reading more work done by French.
September 8, 2021
4 Stars
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
The first book was about Jackal, the second was about Fetching, and this one was, last but not least, Oats’s story, and he was just as interesting. There was a lot going on with him, emotionally, that I never even realized. And as tough as he is, being not only one of the Bastards but also a thrice blood (the child of an orc and half-orc, rather than orc and human), he, in many ways, has a soft and caring heart. At least, for some of the people in his life.
But every character in this series felt so realistic and believable and complex and three-dimensional. This is one of those series in which it truly feels like these are real people (or half-orcs), and I would kind of forget that they were actually created in someone’s head.
Also, I never thought I’d care so much about a giant hog so ugly and smelly it is literally named Ugfuck.
I was a bit bummed that, after the first book, Jackal wasn’t really in the story anymore, and then, in this one, neither Jackal nor Fetching were really in the story. I loved these three, as a trio and individually, and they loved each other, and I just would’ve liked more time with all of them together. But I guess this was what was needed for Oat’s to have his own arc and realize some things about himself and make the hard decisions he had to make.
And it was just a great book! Intricate plotting. Intense action. Laughs and fun moments. Sadness and difficult moments. Gory, brutal fighting. Friendship. A hint of romance. Emotional struggle. And, of course, half-orcs on hogs!
I will once again warn, for anyone who hasn’t read the previous books, that many of the characters are vulgar and crude and say/think things that are sexist, homophobic, fatphobic, and otherwise offensive, so this may not be a series for everyone. Also trigger/content warning for *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Overall, this was a solid ending to the series. It was bittersweet, at times it was sad, but this book wrapped up everything nicely without overdoing it. The characters were superbly well-written, the world and plot were complex, and I’m glad I decided to give these half-orcs a chance!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Jonathan French's The Lot Lands series. Anyone who likes high fantasy, half-orcs, complex plotting and world-building, and badass, likeable, developed characters.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book via NetGalley. This has not influenced my review.*
The first book was about Jackal, the second was about Fetching, and this one was, last but not least, Oats’s story, and he was just as interesting. There was a lot going on with him, emotionally, that I never even realized. And as tough as he is, being not only one of the Bastards but also a thrice blood (the child of an orc and half-orc, rather than orc and human), he, in many ways, has a soft and caring heart. At least, for some of the people in his life.
But every character in this series felt so realistic and believable and complex and three-dimensional. This is one of those series in which it truly feels like these are real people (or half-orcs), and I would kind of forget that they were actually created in someone’s head.
Also, I never thought I’d care so much about a giant hog so ugly and smelly it is literally named Ugfuck.
I was a bit bummed that, after the first book, Jackal wasn’t really in the story anymore, and then, in this one, neither Jackal nor Fetching were really in the story. I loved these three, as a trio and individually, and they loved each other, and I just would’ve liked more time with all of them together. But I guess this was what was needed for Oat’s to have his own arc and realize some things about himself and make the hard decisions he had to make.
And it was just a great book! Intricate plotting. Intense action. Laughs and fun moments. Sadness and difficult moments. Gory, brutal fighting. Friendship. A hint of romance. Emotional struggle. And, of course, half-orcs on hogs!
I will once again warn, for anyone who hasn’t read the previous books, that many of the characters are vulgar and crude and say/think things that are sexist, homophobic, fatphobic, and otherwise offensive, so this may not be a series for everyone. Also trigger/content warning for *SPOILER* *END SPOILER*
Overall, this was a solid ending to the series. It was bittersweet, at times it was sad, but this book wrapped up everything nicely without overdoing it. The characters were superbly well-written, the world and plot were complex, and I’m glad I decided to give these half-orcs a chance!
*Rating: 4 Stars // Read Date: 2021 // Format: Ebook via TTS*
Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1 and 2 in Jonathan French's The Lot Lands series. Anyone who likes high fantasy, half-orcs, complex plotting and world-building, and badass, likeable, developed characters.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
December 2, 2021
Rating: 3.2
Review: Long wait but worth it.
Really no downers to speak of in this possible conclusion to the Free Bastards series. There is some gore but no too much. Sex is not dwelled upon but made use of as a cultural process. Ribald banter, jokes, insults and innuendo round out the sexual interplay. The magic/abilities are not over the top and more importantly, wholly believable.
I enjoyed the writing, characterization and story line so why am I not overly excited? This was middle of the road entertainment. No chances were taken in terms of the plot, with the story line “To-ing and Fro-ing” around the countryside. Muro really did not enjoin compassion in the reader by default of his infirmity nor did it help Oats purvey his depth of emotion. Their relationship skittered on the surface of true bonding. A little kid screaming OADS!! does not endearment make. Annoying comes to mind.
There was a big issue with the descriptive/spatial geography of Hispartha the Lots etc. For example, when the Bastards travel up the river to fight the big battle, they beach, unload and raid the Castile to the East and North (South Castile wall). Later Oats and crew decide to retreat, get the boat and come around to the bridge fronting the Castile wall North. Here it gets confusing. Why at this point do they have to swim the river to get to the North Castile wall? Much ado is made of them leaping great spans or drowning in the process but if they truly did swim then they beached on the west bank and made an unnecessary foray.
Still a good read but average for the series.
Review: Long wait but worth it.
Really no downers to speak of in this possible conclusion to the Free Bastards series. There is some gore but no too much. Sex is not dwelled upon but made use of as a cultural process. Ribald banter, jokes, insults and innuendo round out the sexual interplay. The magic/abilities are not over the top and more importantly, wholly believable.
I enjoyed the writing, characterization and story line so why am I not overly excited? This was middle of the road entertainment. No chances were taken in terms of the plot, with the story line “To-ing and Fro-ing” around the countryside. Muro really did not enjoin compassion in the reader by default of his infirmity nor did it help Oats purvey his depth of emotion. Their relationship skittered on the surface of true bonding. A little kid screaming OADS!! does not endearment make. Annoying comes to mind.
There was a big issue with the descriptive/spatial geography of Hispartha the Lots etc. For example, when the Bastards travel up the river to fight the big battle, they beach, unload and raid the Castile to the East and North (South Castile wall). Later Oats and crew decide to retreat, get the boat and come around to the bridge fronting the Castile wall North. Here it gets confusing. Why at this point do they have to swim the river to get to the North Castile wall? Much ado is made of them leaping great spans or drowning in the process but if they truly did swim then they beached on the west bank and made an unnecessary foray.
Still a good read but average for the series.
November 12, 2021
Loved this, love the characters. If you are bothered by swearing don't read this as these characters have some very "colourful" language that will curl your hair if you're sensitive. Very much in keeping with these "Bastards".
Highly recommend
.
Highly recommend
.
February 1, 2024
4.5 star
The Free Bastards by Jonathan French is the third and what I assume final installment from the Lot Lands series. This series initially hit my radar as I found books one and two cheap and picked up physical copies for my home library. Granted it took me almost two years before I finally got around to reading them but it's be a gritty and exciting adventure from beginning to end.
I know this isn't going to be a popular opinion and by no means am I calling this a one to one match. However, I can't help but think if someone took Lord of the Rings but told it from the perspective of Orcs and Half-orc, this is something it would look like. This is much darker, gritty and often times vulgar, but it actually worked for me.
Even though I owned physical copies of the first two books I did choose to listen to the audiobook versions for this entire series. The Free Bastards returned to Will Damron who also narrated book one. Book two was the only one that had Lisa Flanagan narrate from Fetching's perspective. Book three is told from Oats' point of view and I have to admit by the end of this one, he became my favorite character.
The pacing worked really well for me. The pacing of the story is really good as well as the narration by Will Damron. Book three seemed very balanced to me with plenty of build up and plenty of action to get the blood pumping!
Worldbuilding is wrapped up nicely in The Free Bastards. We mostly know the setting of this world at this point but we experience this time around is bringing several parts of the story and world full circle with a nice conclusion.
Finally the character development brings another layer of nice conclusions with The Free Bastards. We do go a bit more in depth with a few newer characters not previously given that time. On the flip side we see some of our familiar characters really come to a nice conclusion too. I mentioned previously that even though Oats was a solid character throughout the series, his story arc truly shines in this one. He is such an interesting character! He came to remind me of a similar character of Opie from Sons of Anarchy. The big strong guy that struggles plenty internally but nobody can question his need to protect those he loves.
This series started a bit rough for me just with the vulgarity of dialog but that did seem to level off a bit in the first book and though it was always present here and there it didn't distract from the story being told. This was definitely a darker theme with gritty characters, plenty of political intrigue and a good mix sprinkle of different sorts of magic to finish things off.
The Free Bastards by Jonathan French is the third and what I assume final installment from the Lot Lands series. This series initially hit my radar as I found books one and two cheap and picked up physical copies for my home library. Granted it took me almost two years before I finally got around to reading them but it's be a gritty and exciting adventure from beginning to end.
I know this isn't going to be a popular opinion and by no means am I calling this a one to one match. However, I can't help but think if someone took Lord of the Rings but told it from the perspective of Orcs and Half-orc, this is something it would look like. This is much darker, gritty and often times vulgar, but it actually worked for me.
Even though I owned physical copies of the first two books I did choose to listen to the audiobook versions for this entire series. The Free Bastards returned to Will Damron who also narrated book one. Book two was the only one that had Lisa Flanagan narrate from Fetching's perspective. Book three is told from Oats' point of view and I have to admit by the end of this one, he became my favorite character.
The pacing worked really well for me. The pacing of the story is really good as well as the narration by Will Damron. Book three seemed very balanced to me with plenty of build up and plenty of action to get the blood pumping!
Worldbuilding is wrapped up nicely in The Free Bastards. We mostly know the setting of this world at this point but we experience this time around is bringing several parts of the story and world full circle with a nice conclusion.
Finally the character development brings another layer of nice conclusions with The Free Bastards. We do go a bit more in depth with a few newer characters not previously given that time. On the flip side we see some of our familiar characters really come to a nice conclusion too. I mentioned previously that even though Oats was a solid character throughout the series, his story arc truly shines in this one. He is such an interesting character! He came to remind me of a similar character of Opie from Sons of Anarchy. The big strong guy that struggles plenty internally but nobody can question his need to protect those he loves.
This series started a bit rough for me just with the vulgarity of dialog but that did seem to level off a bit in the first book and though it was always present here and there it didn't distract from the story being told. This was definitely a darker theme with gritty characters, plenty of political intrigue and a good mix sprinkle of different sorts of magic to finish things off.
June 24, 2023
Hope we get a sequel 👍
September 28, 2021
Book: The Free Bastards
Author: Jonathan French
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2021
POTENTIAL SPOILER WARNINGS
This is the last book in the Lot Lands trilogy. I’m not going to give much background on the series as I intend to do a review of book 1 (the Grey Bastards) once I find the right beer to go with it.
I got The Free Bastards from Netgalley as an e-arc and as it was released in the UK today I’m reviewing it before the previous two, but you should really read the whole series as it’s awesome.
We start with the Hoofs at war. Like with the previous two books, the POV in Free Bastards has switched. This time we are following Oats the ‘Big Bastard’ thrice-blood, a giant with a heart of gold. As the book opens he is leading a raid on a city behind enemy lines in order to rescue a number of fellow half-orcs who have been captured. I think this scene sets the tone of Oats’ book well. Unlike his two best friends who have ascended to levels of superiority over their brethren - Fetching as the war chief of all Ulwundulas and Jackal as the near-invulnerable Arm of Atukhan - Oats can still get down and dirty with his fellows. He can still lead from the front and that makes him the perfect character to follow in this story.
Something the author does well over the three books is creating a distinct voice for each of the 3 POVs. Jackal’s think first ask questions later freneticism comes across perfectly in the first book, and likewise Fetching’s cynicism pervades how her story is told in book two. Here, with Oats, we have his internal war between his capacity for violence and his caring nature taking centre stage. Nowhere is this better explored than through his interactions and reminiscences about the two boys - Muro and Wiley- who he sees as almost his own. His tenderness and desire for a better world for them to grow up into provides the perfect counterpoint to the violence he must do to achieve it.
It’s a brilliant, epic conclusion to a series that has so much more depth than its set-up -half-orc ‘bikers’ on massive war pigs- suggests it has any right too.
Bleed for the Saddle, Fight to be Free
Author: Jonathan French
Publisher: Orbit
Published: 2021
POTENTIAL SPOILER WARNINGS
This is the last book in the Lot Lands trilogy. I’m not going to give much background on the series as I intend to do a review of book 1 (the Grey Bastards) once I find the right beer to go with it.
I got The Free Bastards from Netgalley as an e-arc and as it was released in the UK today I’m reviewing it before the previous two, but you should really read the whole series as it’s awesome.
We start with the Hoofs at war. Like with the previous two books, the POV in Free Bastards has switched. This time we are following Oats the ‘Big Bastard’ thrice-blood, a giant with a heart of gold. As the book opens he is leading a raid on a city behind enemy lines in order to rescue a number of fellow half-orcs who have been captured. I think this scene sets the tone of Oats’ book well. Unlike his two best friends who have ascended to levels of superiority over their brethren - Fetching as the war chief of all Ulwundulas and Jackal as the near-invulnerable Arm of Atukhan - Oats can still get down and dirty with his fellows. He can still lead from the front and that makes him the perfect character to follow in this story.
Something the author does well over the three books is creating a distinct voice for each of the 3 POVs. Jackal’s think first ask questions later freneticism comes across perfectly in the first book, and likewise Fetching’s cynicism pervades how her story is told in book two. Here, with Oats, we have his internal war between his capacity for violence and his caring nature taking centre stage. Nowhere is this better explored than through his interactions and reminiscences about the two boys - Muro and Wiley- who he sees as almost his own. His tenderness and desire for a better world for them to grow up into provides the perfect counterpoint to the violence he must do to achieve it.
It’s a brilliant, epic conclusion to a series that has so much more depth than its set-up -half-orc ‘bikers’ on massive war pigs- suggests it has any right too.
Bleed for the Saddle, Fight to be Free
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