Brian Ruckley

The Free is probably one of the shortest fantasy novels I have read in the last year, however probably packed more punch than any four tome series I have ever read. Done through succinct, yet still lyrical writing and denying some of the more arduous rambles through magical systems and world building, it is a brief glimpse into the last days of a mercenary group off to fight their last battle.

That is not to say the magic and world building is forgotten or done poorly, but is given to the show more reader by way of seeing what is done, rather than how. There are little divergences here and there to explain the consequences of action, but only what was necessary to make sure the reader understands the sacrifices each character makes and allows the emotional impact of each sacrifice to wield a really powerful blow. Watching the magic unfold (as I felt I was watching it, rather than reading it) was a thing of beauty, even as it stole and ripped from the characters. Totally brutal, though more believable than anything else I could compare it to. Though at one point I had a "The birds! The birds!" moment, which was probably my head trying to deflect the sense of grief filling the scene.

The world is given to us through the characters experiences of it, rather than Ruckley simply telling us what it is and why it is. It was an exclusive experience, but made it clear this was not about the greater whole, but only why these characters are here and doing what they are doing. I certainly wasn't left with any lingering feeling that I had missed anything of greater importance.

The writing is simple and accessible, refreshingly so. There was no need to use arcane words so long forgotten you needed a dictionary in your free hand, to explain the workings of this novel. The importance of the task at hand and the bond between the characters was enough to carry it through without unnecessary affectations.

Nothing is missing from this vignette. Bravery, love, loss, massive battles, down right despicable enemies and intrigues galore, a massive book in content, even though it had a narrow view scope. And albeit I love a good rambling read, I actually think fleshing it out any more would've just made it flabby. It's fast motions kept me captivated enough to read it in one sitting. And quite sad to see it end!

If you are looking for all the heroes to walk off into the sunset unscathed and skipping toward bright futures as the next kings and queens of the realm however, well, this isn't one of those books. I was a bit disappointed in the ending, but not because it ended on the wrong note, it actually wrapped up with more skill than the greats of the genre seem to muster. However, I am a greedy reader and I was yearning to see where the future would lead for the characters, so with great frustration I had to concede to the fact it is a set piece, not a life story.

Though, the ending could be a nice intro to the world in the aftermath of a certain untamed and very angry flying Permanence.. Just a suggestion Mr. Ruckley ;)

A very accomplished fantasy and very satisfying first foray into the depths of Ruckley's little grab of genius. Looking forward to delving into the authors other books. *runs off to frantically search the kindle store* show less

With an aura of Edgar Allen Poe, a Dickensian style, and the creativity of Mary Shelley, Brian Ruckley pens his tale of The Edinburgh Dead with an incredible Victorian flourish. Steeped in historic atmosphere, this story takes place in the early 1800s amidst an Edinburgh Scotland still locked in the days of horse-drawn carriages, cobblestone streets, and lamplighters that nightly climb to the top of gas lit light posts so that one can see their way through the darkened alleyways and show more descending fog.

Ruckley introduces a new detective that readers may find a little akin to characters that Johnny Depp played in the movies From Hell and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Adam Quire is not quite refined, but no guttersnipe either. As a member of the Edinburgh Police force he is lately charged to investigate the murder of a man found dead in a doorway with his throat ripped out. Wounds show Adam that this was not a natural act or the act of man. Once this story takes off and Quire begins his hunt for the killer, readers will get sucked into an evocative and intoxicating world of both the elite and seedy sides of Scotland's Victorian era. Both a murder thriller and horror chiller combined, the author deftly concocts a mystery most gruesome and will have his readers locking doors and keeping candles burning in order to keep the beasts of the night at bay as they listen to the things that go bump in the night. This is an eerie tale told with panache and stamped with talent.

Quire's character is sharp and likeable. I am hoping that this book will be the first in a series of adventures featuring this humble and soulful detective who has a penchant for setting things aright. Going along for the ride in the background of this tale are some decent supporting role characters that I'd like to see become more involved in any future stories. The Edinburgh Dead definitely gets two thumbs up from this reviewer who highly recommends that you give it a try. show less

Edinburgh 1827. In the starkly-lit operating theatres of the city, grisly experiments are being carried out on corpses in the name of medical science. But elsewhere, there are those experimenting with more sinister forces. Amongst the crowded, sprawling tenements of the labyrinthine Old Town, a body is found, its neck torn to pieces. Charged with investigating the murder is Adam Quire, Officer of the Edinburgh Police. The trail will lead him into the deepest reaches of the city's criminal show more underclass, and to the highest echelons of the filthy rich. Soon Quire will discover that a darkness is crawling through this city of enlightenment and no one is safe from its corruption.

A mash up of historical urban Gothic horror, with historical facts, fiction and fantasy all coming together to produce as one review put it Sharpe meets Dawn of the Dead. The appearance of historical characters like Burke and Hare is a great addition and are brilliantly imagined
The lead character, Adam Quire, is a tenacious, rebellious sergeant in the Edinburgh Police, a real life flawed anti hero with enough background history to fill a book with his own story.

But it is the pacing of the novel that stands out, too slow maybe for many readers, but I thought it worked well. The author gives a master class on how to build tension perfectly, showing the reader just enough to make you feel unsettled and want to carry on reading.

Very well written with rich historic detail and evocative scenes describing the dirt and despair of Edinburgh in 1828.

Contrary to the fact I am not a huge fan of the reanimated just a personal thing) I thoroughly enjoyed Edinburgh Dead. show less

Undoubtedly the best fantasy epic I have ever read; Winterbirth is a tale of power, religion, politics and war, set against the backdrop of a misty Scottish highland. More breathtaking than Robert Jordan’s books, and with descriptive language second to no other novel I have encountered, this is an adventure of epic proportions that leaves no possibility unexplored. The effects of the Black Road’s return spread like ripples in a pond, until the plot becomes amazingly complex. Ruckley has show more left not a single corner of his world in the dark – he illuminates every aspect of the story to create a tale so deep and involving that it makes the reader gape in wonder.

The story of Winterbirth is especially relevant to today’s society, as it provides an insight into religiously motivated war. Most of the main antagonists of the novel are of the Black Road clans, who believe that the stories of their lives are written before their births, and that they must convert every human to their way of thinking to bring about the Kall: the rebirth of the world. This is comparable to extremist Muslims who believe that it is their duty to convert or kill the rest of the world. The most interesting part of this link, however, is Ruckley’s remarkable habit of telling the story from all points of view, so that readers often forget whose side they are on, and realise that the antagonists are real people, and not necessarily just heartless, evil monsters, as most books portray them to be.

All the breathtaking brilliance of Ruckley’s world, however, is sometimes jeopardised by the sheer size of the novel, and the nature of the genre. This is very heavy reading, filled with rich, unhurried descriptions that can easily deter uncommitted readers. The rewards are great for those who put in the work – but there is hard work involved in reading a book like this one. The huge number of places and characters to remember make for especially slow going, but once the reader becomes an expert on the world of the book, reading becomes much easier.

A fantastic achievement, especially for a first novel, Winterbirth is an epic waiting to be experienced, and an absolute must-read for fantasy-lovers old enough to cope with occasional scenes of strong violence and gore. show less