The Free Bastards

by Jonathan French

Series: The Lot Lands (3)

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Fantasy. Fiction. HTML:*The long-awaited war has come in the sweeping conclusion to the Lot Lands trilogy�??another irresistibly swashbuckling, swaggering, foul-mouthed fantasy from the author of The Grey Bastards.* *�??[A] rip-roaring, shelf-bending conclusion . . . nothing short of an adventure fantasy masterwork.�?��??Kirkus Reviews* (Best Books of the Year)** 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 O… (more)

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Third in the series, third viewpoint character and a wild plot twist towards the end.

The humor is taking a bit of a backseat as we hurtle... or creep towards the end, the culmination of all machinations. Still a good series, but leaves me feeling it could have been... more. (

)

cwebb | Jun 3, 2024 |

A fitting finish to an epic series -- continues epic, and returns to Oat's point of view. Somehow I didn't expect that this series would have serious themes in amongst the non-stop action and adventure, but it consistently addresses racism, classism, the trauma of poverty and oppression and the growth that is sometimes needed to choose your own path. you know, just with Orcs and violence and wonderful pigs and massive amounts of cursing. Still awesome.

Advanced Reader's copy provided by Edelweiss. (

)

jennybeast | Apr 14, 2022 |

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! (

)

MontzaleeW | Aug 8, 2021 |

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Fantasy. Fiction. HTML:The long-awaited war has come in the sweeping conclusion to the Lot Lands trilogy�??another irresistibly swashbuckling, swaggering, foul-mouthed fantasy from the author of The Grey Bastards.
�??[A] rip-roaring, shelf-bending conclusion . . . nothing short of an adventure fantasy masterwork.�?��??Kirkus Reviews (Best Books of the Year)
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 O

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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.

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