A cracking finale to a great series! I found this to be really refreshing and a new take on orcs rather than them just being bad guys from Lord of the Rings.

I can't wait to see what the author does next!

The Free Bastards brings to a pause the sequence that began with The Grey Bastards and continued in The True Bastards. I say a pause, not a conclusion, because French states, in his Acknowledgements, that he would like to ride the Lots again some day. And clearly, there is much remaining to be worked out in story terms which would allow that.

Nevertheless, we have some closure here, seeing how the war turned out that began when the Bastards rose up against the tyranny of Hispartha; understanding Crafty and his motivations (perhaps...?) and witnessing several well loved characters get some ease from their tribulations (and others die cruelly and unfairly: these are the Lots, after all).

I think I like this approach to a fantasy sequence. All too often an author, bent on tying up EVERYTHING, produces for their third volume an indigestible pottage of plot. We've also seen this with certain film franchises (mentioning no names but I know who I'm looking at). In contrast, the Free Bastards sets itself more modest goals, and meets them with aplomb.

The story is seen through the eye of Oats, closest friend of Jackal and Fetching, who the first and second books respectively followed. It some respects it's a more worm's eye view of the world than in them - both Jackal and Fetching have gained, or discovered they had, unnatural degrees of power or talent (though, as we see in this book, nothing that makes them invincible or always right). Oats, in contrast, is still rather ordinary - for values of ordinary that encompass a Thrice, a three-quarters Orc - and my, how he suffers here as a result. The Lot Lands trilogy has not previously, and The Free Bastards does not now, spare us the messy aftermath of conflict and both physical and mental wounds abound here. The downside of the raw, bloody conflict that's described in minute detail is the scars and suffering that follow. Oats becomes, bluntly, battle-sick and part of his struggle in this book is to keep on keeping on through it all, especially when the odds seem well-nigh impossible. That's a struggle that in the end is down to him, one which can't be helped by magic, artefacts or relics of old or even the loyalty of his mighty steed, Ugfuck.

And the way that struggle plays out - its relationship to ideas of loyalty, friendship and rivalry as well as to wider plot threads involving the Lots, the elves, Orcs and Halflings - is at the heart of this book. It couldn't, in the end, be anyone else's story other than Oats', and the way it ends is magnificent. I think that French's decision to tell each of these books wholly from the perspective of a different character - rather than having one main viewpoint, or chopping up the three stories among different protagonists - really pays off here, allowing undiluted focus on the three individuals. It was perhaps a high risk device, but really succeeds by allowing each of the three the necessary emotional depth and space to tell their own stories.

It also, of course, leaves a lot unspoken, unsaid, as we know that each of the three was having adventures in the background, as it were, of each others' books, adventures we only know the bare bones of. I feel knowing that will add even more depth and resonance if - when - French returns to Ul Wundulas.

I'll be waiting for that day, ready to saddle up again and 'Live in the saddle; Die on the hog'.

I read the paperback of The Free Bastards but I also enjoyed much of the book as audio, again I'd strongly recommend Will Damon's narration and mastery of a range of voices which together with the great narrative drive of this story and its intimate and personal moments, makes it a superb experience to listen to.

I'm a bit unobservant and thought this was the third book in another series I read (it also deals with half-Orcs).
That said I loved it from the first pages as the author is a hell of a talented storyteller and I was thoroughly enjoying what I was reading even if I'm sure I missed something.
I loved the characters, the fast paced plot, and the humour.
The world building is fascinating and I will surely appreciated it more once I read the rest of the series.
It surely was serendipity as i discovered a new to me excellent fantasy author.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

First of all, a big thanks to Orbit, Nazia, and the marketing team for an early copy of the book (which I failed at reading in time for release because I was so immersed in it I decided to take it slow). It in no way affected my review.

The Free Bastards is a final book that takes everything we hold dear, all the cool, badass, components we’ve loved from the first two and throws a dash more of court intrigue that’s a weird fit with mongrels around, more strange magic and ramps it all up to a hundred! It’s a book that knows itself and ain’t scared to flaunt it. It’s a tapestry of all that the Lot Lands had to offer in books 1 and 2, woven into a tight picture then set ablaze; let me tell you this, reader, when the fire that’s Oats starts, it doesn’t stop.

Immediately, my first thoughts when stepping into the Lot Lands and Ul-wundulas again are that I’m dazzled by French’s writing, how’s it both evolved and the same it’s always been: clear, concise, and brutal, in parts, and how he draws us into a new voice … one we know but not as closely as the past two, yet we’re treated to a distinguished, familiar voice. A friend coming home. A side point to the creativity of the writing: I really enjoyed the way Oats described the town as it was plotted on their rudimentary map, where he’d viewed the town plotted on old paper, marked by bits and bobs they could find, we’re treated to a very Oats field of view instantly; the way he complained about his beard etc. It helped fit right into character and ground us immediately. Though, after the initial pages it wends slow, and I did admit I found it a bit difficult to orient myself in Oats’ voice. I found myself searching for Jackal or Fetch, but that quickly disappeared with … a … certain …

Maiden Spear are so. Freaking. Cool. And that, my friends, is where Oats took over and I never looked for anyone else.

The story truly comes into form by 20%, the relationship between Oats and Muro is honest and genuine; knowing French is a father himself, this is more sincere. Oat’s character arc, and the two little boys that surround it is ever endearing and couldn’t grip the heart more if it tried. It really put Oats forefront as a real, believable character and not just the brute force he was in earlier books. The ‘healing’ I share the same sentiments about. It, along with the rest of the book, is painstakingly plotted. Ever intriguing.

Story of Herathos Lionclad is cool and sets us up for a bit more world-building, a bit more history and culture. And I was definitely there for it. Until now, we’ve seen Hispartha and the frails as just evil jailers keeping the Lot Lands under control. We saw a bit of them at Castille but nothing like we do in this book. The world expands before my eyes, sprawls into histories with Herathos’ story and the promise of powers and magic beyond what we first thought they wielded. The Maiden Spear and whatever else lurks in their power made me wonder why the Incursion wasn’t easily stopped. Hispartha are a force to be reckoned with. 

Battles are quite obviously at thew forefront of this book, visceral and fully formed. There’s wet beneath you, mud caked, and you wait for the blare of the horn; then it’s a churn of madness, cannon fire, all of it experienced, not felt. The show not tell is strong in this one. I loved the carnage that French sowed in this book; this is the first time we’ve seen the Bastards go to war. And it was war at its best and worst. Wars claim much and give little, and that’s no truer here than it is anywhere else. 

A side note: Ruin … whoa. What a scene. You know if you know.

There’s such a change of pace in the second half, where the Bastards go to Hispartha to duel with words and royals, that it really does slow down. In fact, before the last act it feels like an entirely different series. It displayed versatility in writing and what the land of the frails is really like. If the first part of the book is a pitched battle, a muddy and bloody scupper for land in the Lots, the second very much is at court in the land of humans, castles, and royals. And the funny thing is that French makes this seem a lot more vicious and brutal than any of the battles before it. There’s a stark cruelty to those who wield power over another group, something that’s far more harrowing than war. It’s in these last chapters that we truly see how much French can break our heart (damn you!) and how mature, heartfelt and complex the writing was up until that points. I’m not going to lie; I was utterly stunned at one point in this book. I honestly had to stop reading and go back over the page. Yes, there’s a lot of badassery and magic in the end, but it’s those personal moments, those last conversations, those subtle cues that make this book and make this series. You care about the characters, despite them being half-orcs you relate to their suffering.

Overall, this gave me a lot more than I thought it would. If you’ve reading Grey Bastards or as far as True Bastards, then it’s criminal not to read this one. It truly is a work of art, but, be warned, there’s certain parts that may trigger you (I mean, who am I kidding, the Lot Lands are one big trigger warning). I feel … or hope … that this isn’t truly the end. Not with some of the hints that French drops in his acknowledgements page, nor with the unexplored parts of Ul-wundulas, nor with certain people still at large. I’m hoping we see these lands again.

The third in a very entertaining trilogy. You must read the previous two before this, but it will be worth it.
So far the books have been about a band of Half Orcs (a “Hoof”) and their bit of the barren Lot Lands, an area of constant danger that nobody wants. But now there are suggestions of invasion and the life and survival of those in the Lot Lands may be in jeopardy. In order to defend themselves the Bastards may have to make alliances with people likely to betray them, but everything is at stake.
The two previous books have definitely taken us in a direction that leads to this. There have been a cast of interesting characters and many plot twists to get us to where we start this book. And all of that continues, the main difference here is that the focus is on Oats, a “thrice blood” who may be even more dangerous than even he realises.
This tale takes us out of the Lot Lands to confront those who might covert them and takes them to a place that might be more dangerous than any before, Royal Court.
This is not for the faint hearted, glorious swearing and descriptions, fabulous characters, twists and turns, blood and violence.
Proper grown up fantasy and author Jonathan French has completed an astonishingly good trilogy.

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

Received arc from Little Brown Book Group UK and Netgalley for honest read and review.
This is the third in a completely absorbing series. I absolutely loved it, a little bit slow in the middle,but picked up to give me everything insane from a great book.I f you like Orcs, gore, fun and the odd swear words then this is for you.
I have not enjoyed a series as much as this for a while and I highly recommend.

A massive thank you to the Little Brown Book group for the advanced reader copy through Netgalley!
I was so hyped, i did a little squeek and dance.
Tossed all other books i was reading and got stuck in.
The free bastards is a fantastic 3rd book to a real fun series. I grew to love this half-orc world. I did not always love everything that happened but that meant nothing - i think it is safe to say it is literally my favourite trilogy. The cheeky dirty humour is just delightful.
The story went a bit differently to what i expected and it was really well thought out.
I'm looking forward to seeing more books from Mr French.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book.
This final book in the trilogy is just as engaging as the other two was, I couldn't put it down at all! Fascinating world, exciting storyline, great characters, fun dirty humour and language - a perfect read.