The Free

Name: The Free
Brand: Hachette Audio
Availability: InStock
Author: Brian Ruckley
ISBN: 9781478952930

Author: Brian Ruckley

Narrator: Bernard Setaro Clark

Unabridged: 13 hr 34 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Orbit

Published: 10/14/2014

Categories: Fiction, Fantasy, Epic, Historical Fiction, Action & Adventure

Synopsis

They are the most feared mecenary 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 have shaken 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.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sean Barrs

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 a......more

Goodreads review by Bookwraiths

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. Truthfu......more

Goodreads review by Nils | nilsreviewsit

‘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 t......more

Goodreads review by Luke

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 th......more

Quotes

"...the author delivers what...readers want: a big cast of interesting, sympathetic characters involved in complex, intelligent action and intrigue."—scifi.com on Winterbirth

"Heroic fantasy splashed with 300-style gore. . .Ruckley's realistic characters and sparing use of magic breathe new life into well-trod epic territory."—Entertainment Weekly on Winterbirth

"The author's unapologetically stark yet darkly poetic narrative displays a refreshing lack of stereotypical genre conventions, ensuring a fervent audience of epic fantasy fans..."—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on Winterbirth

"Ruckley is an imaginative, dramatic storyteller."—Associated Press