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The Conspiracy of Crows #1
Bastards of Liberty
In the heart of the Holy Imperium, a family's lives are shattered. Runt Ashburn, the youngest of three siblings, journeys to seek his father needing answers. His sister Alsyha, now an indentured servant to blacksmiths, plots her escape and revenge. At the same time, the oldest, Ashburn Benjamin, juggles the life of a soldier and the pressure of a father who's the General of an army. Political forces twist around the three siblings. Could one of their deaths lead to a revolution?
Bastards of Liberty features a gritty adventure and deep world-building in an alternative America where orcs, goblins, elves, and dwarves strive to gain the same rights as their human counterparts as they struggle under the yoke of a newly formed royal government.
Fans of the Dragonlance Chronicles, The Blade Itself Trilogy, and Game of Thrones will enjoy this journey full of plots, politics, magical universities, and unstoppable weapons mixed with sharp rogues, a drunken mage, a failed squire, and a grumpy line cook.
Bastards of Liberty features a gritty adventure and deep world-building in an alternative America where orcs, goblins, elves, and dwarves strive to gain the same rights as their human counterparts as they struggle under the yoke of a newly formed royal government.
Fans of the Dragonlance Chronicles, The Blade Itself Trilogy, and Game of Thrones will enjoy this journey full of plots, politics, magical universities, and unstoppable weapons mixed with sharp rogues, a drunken mage, a failed squire, and a grumpy line cook.
- GenresFantasy
402 pages, Paperback
Published February 7, 2023
13 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
About the author
Matthew Zorich
3 books30 followersMatthew Zorich is an Ohio-based author specializing in fiction writing leaning into the fantasy genre. He has always been an avid reader, and his obsession turned to writing. He graduated college with a degree in journalism from The University of Akron. Comics, novels, and periodicals lay all over his house while several cats, his two teenagers, and his incredible wife put up with his book hoarding.
Along with reading, writing, and reviewing books, he appreciates hiking and a fine bourbon while gaming with his friends. His fantasy trilogy includes Bastards of Liberty and Maiden of Storms and is currently writing the ending Union of Steel.
Along with reading, writing, and reviewing books, he appreciates hiking and a fine bourbon while gaming with his friends. His fantasy trilogy includes Bastards of Liberty and Maiden of Storms and is currently writing the ending Union of Steel.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
September 6, 2023
This book gave me The Lot Lands series vibes, as well as The Demon Cycle vibes, with a dash of Skyrim so if you like those, then you might want to pick this up.
The first comparison is because, well, there's orcs in both series, but it's mostly the language used here and there. Or rather the jokes, it's a similar type of humour.
I do have a slight complaint about that, I think said jokes could've flown better, and I trust they will in the next book(s).
The second comp is purely vibes, don't ask me why, they just match.
The third comp, is because the universities reminded me of Winterhold, and, of course, "The Lonely Nights of the Milkmaid" which instantly reminded me of "The Lusty Argonian Maid. I'M SORRY, IT'S JUST MY BRAIN.
But it was also unique, and I had fun following these characters on their own journeys.
We had several PoVs, and my favourite was Alysha's. I wish we got more of her because she was probably the strongest character of them all. Also, a female blacksmith who isn't a dwarf? Extra points.
Her brother, Runt, got a lot more page time and I grew to love him too (but not as much as Alysha, sorry Runt!). Both he and Alysha end up in found-family situations, even if they didn't really start off that way (Alysha's in particular).
Their oldest brother Benjamin is who we know least about, and I'm not sure if he can be redeemed after that ending...but we'll see.
Speaking of, THAT WAS AN UNFAIR PLACE TO END THE BOOK!!!! What am I supposed to do now? Wait???? So rude.
I'm curious to see where the story will go from here, and if Judith will be more ~involved~, based on the title of the sequel. I'd love to see more mentions of Stribog as well, but that's because I'm Slavic and biased.
ALSO, Sorella Silvercrow is an epic name, just putting that out there.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The first comparison is because, well, there's orcs in both series, but it's mostly the language used here and there. Or rather the jokes, it's a similar type of humour.
I do have a slight complaint about that, I think said jokes could've flown better, and I trust they will in the next book(s).
The second comp is purely vibes, don't ask me why, they just match.
The third comp, is because the universities reminded me of Winterhold, and, of course, "The Lonely Nights of the Milkmaid" which instantly reminded me of "The Lusty Argonian Maid. I'M SORRY, IT'S JUST MY BRAIN.
But it was also unique, and I had fun following these characters on their own journeys.
We had several PoVs, and my favourite was Alysha's. I wish we got more of her because she was probably the strongest character of them all. Also, a female blacksmith who isn't a dwarf? Extra points.
Her brother, Runt, got a lot more page time and I grew to love him too (but not as much as Alysha, sorry Runt!). Both he and Alysha end up in found-family situations, even if they didn't really start off that way (Alysha's in particular).
Their oldest brother Benjamin is who we know least about, and I'm not sure if he can be redeemed after that ending...but we'll see.
Speaking of, THAT WAS AN UNFAIR PLACE TO END THE BOOK!!!! What am I supposed to do now? Wait???? So rude.
I'm curious to see where the story will go from here, and if Judith will be more ~involved~, based on the title of the sequel. I'd love to see more mentions of Stribog as well, but that's because I'm Slavic and biased.
ALSO, Sorella Silvercrow is an epic name, just putting that out there.
*Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
August 3, 2023
Review originally on JamReads
Bastards of Liberty is the initial book in the historical fantasy/grimdark trilogy The Conspiracy of Crows, written by Matthew Zorich, one of the SPFBO9 entries. Zorich has created a really ambitious story, dark for moments, inspired by the moments that shaped the United States as an independent nation, with a large cast of characters; using his own secondary world, Vineland, allowing him to throw into the mix fantasy creatures.
This is a book that doesn't take its readers by the hand. Au contraire, we are directly introduced to the Ashburn family, living in the heart of the Holy Imperium, whose lives get shattered after an incursion of the Army decides to reprisal their town. The Ashburn siblings are separated, having each one to follow their own way: while Runt, the youngest, journeys to seek his father and look for answers, Alysha becomes a servant to some dwarf blacksmiths, plotting her own escape; and the older one, Benjamin, is serving in the army, having to deal with the pressure of being the son of a General.
Our three siblings will have to fight for their lives while political forces are conspiring, trying to control the threads that might end creating a new nation. While I thought we were mostly going to be following Alysha, she disappears for a good chunk of the plot; Runt's journey takes most of the spotlight, being plagued by adventures and casualties (I will totally blame Doc Young on this).
The story is told using a great variety of POVs, which makes this book even more complex; and while this is a little bit confusing at the start, once we are properly introduced, it does an excellent work at portraying the different sides that are taking positions around the possible conflict.
Pacing is a bit off, feeling irregular in many parts; it may be a consequence of the amount of info dumps that there are at some fragments. Vineland is vast and rich territory, populated by fantasy creatures in coexistence with the humans, something that leads to complex politics and relationships; personally I would love to know more about different from those particular aspects, but I feel they could have been introduced in a more progressive and slower way.
In summary, if you like grim fantasy, with a historical inspiration, I must recommend you Bastards of Liberty. It's a fun book, even with problems mentioned, and reading it is a really enjoyable experience. I'm really curious to see how this develops in Maiden of Storms.
Bastards of Liberty is the initial book in the historical fantasy/grimdark trilogy The Conspiracy of Crows, written by Matthew Zorich, one of the SPFBO9 entries. Zorich has created a really ambitious story, dark for moments, inspired by the moments that shaped the United States as an independent nation, with a large cast of characters; using his own secondary world, Vineland, allowing him to throw into the mix fantasy creatures.
This is a book that doesn't take its readers by the hand. Au contraire, we are directly introduced to the Ashburn family, living in the heart of the Holy Imperium, whose lives get shattered after an incursion of the Army decides to reprisal their town. The Ashburn siblings are separated, having each one to follow their own way: while Runt, the youngest, journeys to seek his father and look for answers, Alysha becomes a servant to some dwarf blacksmiths, plotting her own escape; and the older one, Benjamin, is serving in the army, having to deal with the pressure of being the son of a General.
Our three siblings will have to fight for their lives while political forces are conspiring, trying to control the threads that might end creating a new nation. While I thought we were mostly going to be following Alysha, she disappears for a good chunk of the plot; Runt's journey takes most of the spotlight, being plagued by adventures and casualties (I will totally blame Doc Young on this).
The story is told using a great variety of POVs, which makes this book even more complex; and while this is a little bit confusing at the start, once we are properly introduced, it does an excellent work at portraying the different sides that are taking positions around the possible conflict.
Pacing is a bit off, feeling irregular in many parts; it may be a consequence of the amount of info dumps that there are at some fragments. Vineland is vast and rich territory, populated by fantasy creatures in coexistence with the humans, something that leads to complex politics and relationships; personally I would love to know more about different from those particular aspects, but I feel they could have been introduced in a more progressive and slower way.
In summary, if you like grim fantasy, with a historical inspiration, I must recommend you Bastards of Liberty. It's a fun book, even with problems mentioned, and reading it is a really enjoyable experience. I'm really curious to see how this develops in Maiden of Storms.
December 24, 2025
Bastards of Liberty is a solid first book in Matthew Zorich's trilogy. We are introduced to a lot of characters and there is some excellent world-building, including a mad prince, religious zealots, political aspirants, military leaders playing at law enforcement, wizards and ancient weapons of great power. The focus, however, is on the characters, particularly Runt, a farmboy whose mother is murdered, sister whisked away to become a slave, a brother in the evil Red Army and a father one of that army's generals. I look forward to diving into Book Two, as this one does end on a cliffhanger. Who lives? Who dies? What happens next? Three great questions to leave a reader wanting more!
March 27, 2023
Really surprised me at how intricate the worldly politics were and how historical the book ended up being. I fell in love with some of the characters and I was definitely eager to see how things kept progressing. Alysha is probably the best. There’s one storyline in the alternating POV that I almost wanted to skip, but there always needs to be that “necessary evil”. I think the writing is beautiful when it comes to world building, history, politics, etc (even if some of it is deeply confusing). That was probably some of the best parts. The dialogue was a bit crude at some points and it’s not my favorite thing to read, but it does really add the perfect color to what the world is like at this time. I’m invested, I need book 2.
September 19, 2023
Holy Strigbog's balls, move over, there is a new Grimlord in town, Matthew Zorich takes you on a trip through his dark, new world of Vineland of humans, elves, dwarves, orcs and goblins.
Bastards of Liberty is the first book of a new upcoming trilogy. The Conspiracy of Crows. The writing worldbuilding and setting are grimalicious. In a bleak world where politics, slavery and magic rule over the weak.
The story is told true multiple pov's, and the characters are absolutely fantastic. You can't help but feel them as no character is safe from the chop, as the author scythes through them like cutting wheat.
Even though there are a lot of dark moments, there are lots of good humoured and funny moments that will have you giggling to yourself, especially from one of my favourite characters, the Dwarf Angus with his drunkenness and witticisms.
Bastards of Liberty is a historical fantasy, and Grimdark, it's fast-paced, action-packed full of twists and turns that will leave you absolutely floored.
After the battle of the Reaping between the three nations, Vineland, Stouya, and Carigreed were brought to an end through magical destruction, left Vineland winners and with a big wage bill and a tyrant prince Damon and the Holy Imperium that wants to rule all Vineland and consolidate all independent city states through taxation and Blood.
It all starts in Grimwood when the Holy Imperium arrives with murder and mayhem. The Ashburn family is separated, Runt is on the run with the help of the Wizard Doc and his apprentice Maynard, while his sister Alysha is indentured into slavery.
Runt must find his father and brother, which will lead to meeting new friends and enemies along the way. Death isn't far behind them, and Runt vows vengeance on those who destroyed his home.
Fantastic storytelling and an ending that was like a punch in the face, hoping that we won't be waiting too long and anticipating to see what happens in book two Maiden of Storms.
If you love your fantasy grim, bloody, magical universities, magical weapons, and where the author doesn't hold your hand throughout, then look no further than Bastards of Liberty, very highly recommended....😁🖤💀🔥🗡
Bastards of Liberty is the first book of a new upcoming trilogy. The Conspiracy of Crows. The writing worldbuilding and setting are grimalicious. In a bleak world where politics, slavery and magic rule over the weak.
The story is told true multiple pov's, and the characters are absolutely fantastic. You can't help but feel them as no character is safe from the chop, as the author scythes through them like cutting wheat.
Even though there are a lot of dark moments, there are lots of good humoured and funny moments that will have you giggling to yourself, especially from one of my favourite characters, the Dwarf Angus with his drunkenness and witticisms.
Bastards of Liberty is a historical fantasy, and Grimdark, it's fast-paced, action-packed full of twists and turns that will leave you absolutely floored.
After the battle of the Reaping between the three nations, Vineland, Stouya, and Carigreed were brought to an end through magical destruction, left Vineland winners and with a big wage bill and a tyrant prince Damon and the Holy Imperium that wants to rule all Vineland and consolidate all independent city states through taxation and Blood.
It all starts in Grimwood when the Holy Imperium arrives with murder and mayhem. The Ashburn family is separated, Runt is on the run with the help of the Wizard Doc and his apprentice Maynard, while his sister Alysha is indentured into slavery.
Runt must find his father and brother, which will lead to meeting new friends and enemies along the way. Death isn't far behind them, and Runt vows vengeance on those who destroyed his home.
Fantastic storytelling and an ending that was like a punch in the face, hoping that we won't be waiting too long and anticipating to see what happens in book two Maiden of Storms.
If you love your fantasy grim, bloody, magical universities, magical weapons, and where the author doesn't hold your hand throughout, then look no further than Bastards of Liberty, very highly recommended....😁🖤💀🔥🗡
June 7, 2023
I'll be honest, for about the first 10-15% or so, I had no idea what was going on, but the writing is fantastic so it was easy to push through. This is a very vast and complex world, with factions and the standard bag of fantasy races (goblins, dwarves, elves, etc) There are a ton of pov's; the best way I can describe Bastards of Liberty is the world of Dragon Age written in Garden of the Moon style.
Alysha and Runt were my favorites. I figured Alysha was going to end up the main character, but she sort of disappears for 100 pages or so lol. I would've been more annoyed, but Runt, Duncan, and Doc are fun to follow and by the time we get back to Alysha the book really takes off.
The dialogue was my favorite part. Its definitely NOT for everyone but if you enjoy lines like:
“Talleyho, shit bags!” He loped for the back door.
"You try sleight of hand in this town, and I will watch the city guard fuck you with a broken bottle the length of your whore mother’s arm. Is that clear?”
You're going to have a good time. This book is easy to recommend to anyone willing to tackle a complex fantasy world. Its dark, but never got to a level that made me uncomfortable.
Alysha and Runt were my favorites. I figured Alysha was going to end up the main character, but she sort of disappears for 100 pages or so lol. I would've been more annoyed, but Runt, Duncan, and Doc are fun to follow and by the time we get back to Alysha the book really takes off.
The dialogue was my favorite part. Its definitely NOT for everyone but if you enjoy lines like:
“Talleyho, shit bags!” He loped for the back door.
"You try sleight of hand in this town, and I will watch the city guard fuck you with a broken bottle the length of your whore mother’s arm. Is that clear?”
You're going to have a good time. This book is easy to recommend to anyone willing to tackle a complex fantasy world. Its dark, but never got to a level that made me uncomfortable.
June 5, 2023
A grievously good grimdark story
A grievously good grimdark story that from the start takes you through a realm of in-depth and clever lore. Told through the eyes of many great characters with plenty of back story and history, Mathew Zorich takes you through Vineland, a kingdom of many fantasy races ruled by a cruel and unjust king.
From the start, the opening chapters hit you like a heavy mace to the gut - throwing you into the gruesome beginnings of an incredible adventure which had me gripped from the first page.
Book 2 - Maiden of Storms is under way and I can’t wait to continue the journey when it’s released.
A well deserved 5 stars
A grievously good grimdark story that from the start takes you through a realm of in-depth and clever lore. Told through the eyes of many great characters with plenty of back story and history, Mathew Zorich takes you through Vineland, a kingdom of many fantasy races ruled by a cruel and unjust king.
From the start, the opening chapters hit you like a heavy mace to the gut - throwing you into the gruesome beginnings of an incredible adventure which had me gripped from the first page.
Book 2 - Maiden of Storms is under way and I can’t wait to continue the journey when it’s released.
A well deserved 5 stars
May 11, 2024
Dnf 20%
Not for me.
Not for me.
April 8, 2023
Thrilling escapism
A heady imaginative tale replete with drama, action sequences, set to the whimsical backdrop of an allegorical America. A centuries old battle between nations distilled through masterful prose by Zorich into a reunion epic of the Ashburn’s. And this story is just the start. I cannot wait for more!
A heady imaginative tale replete with drama, action sequences, set to the whimsical backdrop of an allegorical America. A centuries old battle between nations distilled through masterful prose by Zorich into a reunion epic of the Ashburn’s. And this story is just the start. I cannot wait for more!
April 2, 2023
Great cast of characters. Fast paced story telling and great battle descriptions. Very gritty and dialogue was excellently done to accurately depict how a band of misfits would banter. Loved it.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 17, 2024
Bastards of Liberty by Matthew Zorich
Challenging, dark, funny, hopeful, inspiring,
reflective, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25 Stars
Ugh. That ending.
I have to admit...I was NOT sure (as I was reading this novel) if it was a standalone OR the beginning of a series. I try not to look...and just jump in.
As I was reading...I kept hoping that it was the beginning of a series...for the worldbuilding was being excellently portrayed, AND I was falling in love with the characters.
At the end...where the author explains that the story will continue with Maiden of Storms...there was a sigh of relief, but then anger (in a good way) that the story ended where it did. First question is: When are we getting the sequel? Second question is: You better have NOT killed off any of my favourite characters?
My favourite characters are Runt and Ayisha. I love the ensemble cast, but those two just have captured my imagination...about living in a country that seems to becoming more and more controlling and willing to kill its inhabitants...under a tyrannical and dictator's whims.
While reading, I was thinking about OUR current situation (politically) and thinking about what is the next step, and the next step...and we won't be too far off from what is happening in this story. Not what I want, that is for sure.
I love how you (the author) has shown the other side in POV chapters, and have not "white-washed it", but revealed it as if you were among the interior of Imperium. Those were the most scary chapters, for even the people close to the leaders...were seeing the writing on the wall, and what's going to happen, next.
This was an incredibly wonderful story. Thank you.
Challenging, dark, funny, hopeful, inspiring,
reflective, sad, and tense.
Medium-paced
Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25 Stars
Ugh. That ending.
I have to admit...I was NOT sure (as I was reading this novel) if it was a standalone OR the beginning of a series. I try not to look...and just jump in.
As I was reading...I kept hoping that it was the beginning of a series...for the worldbuilding was being excellently portrayed, AND I was falling in love with the characters.
At the end...where the author explains that the story will continue with Maiden of Storms...there was a sigh of relief, but then anger (in a good way) that the story ended where it did. First question is: When are we getting the sequel? Second question is: You better have NOT killed off any of my favourite characters?
My favourite characters are Runt and Ayisha. I love the ensemble cast, but those two just have captured my imagination...about living in a country that seems to becoming more and more controlling and willing to kill its inhabitants...under a tyrannical and dictator's whims.
While reading, I was thinking about OUR current situation (politically) and thinking about what is the next step, and the next step...and we won't be too far off from what is happening in this story. Not what I want, that is for sure.
I love how you (the author) has shown the other side in POV chapters, and have not "white-washed it", but revealed it as if you were among the interior of Imperium. Those were the most scary chapters, for even the people close to the leaders...were seeing the writing on the wall, and what's going to happen, next.
This was an incredibly wonderful story. Thank you.
September 13, 2023
Brief Synopsis:
After a deadly war ends, a greedy prince wants to consolidate his power. Sending his forces to take lands that don’t belong to him and levying harsh taxes sows the seeds of rebellion. People long for freedom while others are slaughtered and sold into slavery. Families will be torn apart.
For the Ashburn children, their paths are soon set. War is upon them, which side will they choose?
What worked for me:
Can we just start with that cover??? That’s a beaut right there. Made me want to pick this book up just based on the cover alone.
Another thing that drew me to this story is that it has a basis in alt-world American history, specifically the American Revolution. I think that’s a baller idea and the book doesn’t disappoint. Some things are pretty obvious (aka taxes on everything, a printer named Franklin) but others are more subtle nods with bigger impact (friends/lovers turning on each other based on their allegiance). Then sprinkle in elves, dwarves, orcs, and goblins and you have this amazing melting pot (see what I did there?) of a world.
If we take a look at the three main characters Alsyha, Rhett (aka Runt), and Ben, we see three siblings with insanely different paths to tread. If I’m being truthful, Alsyha is far and away the most compelling and has the largest character growth. Watching her go from simple village girl pining of a dude (who turned out to be that douchebag who turned allegiance) to witnessing her mother and village slaughtered, to being an indentured slave, to becoming a blacksmith apprentice, to a badass who clearly has some magic by the end. Bravo Alsyha, excellent character. Runt has some great growth too, don’t get me wrong, but he also has a lot of friends along his journey and since this story is written in omniscient 3rd person point of view (more on that below), he isn’t the very center of his scenes. And Ben, we don’t get much about him to be honest, so he is middling as a character for me.
The cast of characters (the bastards if you will) is not only huge but also wildly entertaining. Sure, the three main characters are the children of a certain banished general, but I think the supporting characters deserve a lot of praise for being well-rounded and each have their own motivations, which is damn important. Many times, side characters are bland and only serve small parts of the overall plot, and that is perfectly fine, but since this series is a mimic of the American Revolution, it is quite necessary for side characters to be nuanced and important, to have roles in sowing the seeds for rebellion.
For me, this is why Gray Jim is the best of them all. He is an executioner but he also has this sense of morality about him. He knows what he does can be considered evil, but he also knows that it’s just a job that he was forced into. I love how conflicted he is, but then the next moment he is letting bygones be bygones and helping the bastards out. We need more characters like him!
It’s also hard to not like Angus the angry line cook dwarve. I mean I actually did chortle out loud when he corrected a character over the difference between dwarve and dwarf. Besides, his weapon of choice is a cast iron pan (Tika Waylan anyone???)
Oh, and big shoutout to Mr. Zorich for his naming of characters: Cordial, Stitch, last names such as Flatrock, Purenut, Goldthorn, etc. Pretty neat names.
As far as storytelling, there are a few pace issues at times (see below) but for the most part, it is a pretty decently paced story. There are no major lulls or unnecessary threads. The prose is well-crafted and easily digestible. There isn’t a lot of purple prose here.
Let’s just say this book ends on a massive cliffhanger mid-scene. Well done, Mr. Zorich, well done.
What didn’t work for me:
I realize this might make me seem irritably pedantic, but dialogue tags at the end of a character’s turn to speak was not something I enjoyed, especially when said character had a lot to add to the conversation or was a new character I couldn’t place a voice to. It was nearly every dialogue tag too. It was added to the end when the character was done speaking, so many times I had to go back and reread the dialogue just because I wanted to ensure I had character and motivation correct. The pedant in me likes the dialogue tag to be within the first sentence of speech, just so that I’m armed with all the correct information as the character expands on their thoughts.
This isn’t indicative of my reading experience but I can see how it could be for others, but 3rd person omniscient can become quite confusing when jumping from one character POV to another paragraph after paragraph, especially during action sequences like the climax riot. Again, I was fine with it, but it could be jarring for some.
Although I love a massive cast of characters, I wish there was a bit more restraint in adding POV characters. I know the general on the Council of Crows is important and will probably play a bigger role in the next two books, but we get only a single chapter of him and thus it bears a heavy load of introducing us to someone we need to not only care about, but also to understand what role he plays in the larger story. But he just disappears after that scene. Same goes with the prince’s guards and their lustful waltz through the night. Both scenes were integral to moving the plot along, I just wish there was a way to use only one of those characters as the POV in both so that we get more of a chance to connect.
But for the big one for me, it was the info dumps. Listen fair friends, I love me a good info dump. I love learning about these worlds authors spends days, weeks, years, decades building. I love all the little details, but there are ways and places for info dumps to exist, and it needs to be sporadic. Unfortunately, I felt there were far too many multi-paragraph info dumps dropped in spots where it killed the tension. For example, we got a military history of a side character right as said character was in the middle of destroying and butchering Alsyha’s family and town. The tension was high then sagged when you as a reader want that tension to keep peaking.
Rating: 4 out of 5
After a deadly war ends, a greedy prince wants to consolidate his power. Sending his forces to take lands that don’t belong to him and levying harsh taxes sows the seeds of rebellion. People long for freedom while others are slaughtered and sold into slavery. Families will be torn apart.
For the Ashburn children, their paths are soon set. War is upon them, which side will they choose?
What worked for me:
Can we just start with that cover??? That’s a beaut right there. Made me want to pick this book up just based on the cover alone.
Another thing that drew me to this story is that it has a basis in alt-world American history, specifically the American Revolution. I think that’s a baller idea and the book doesn’t disappoint. Some things are pretty obvious (aka taxes on everything, a printer named Franklin) but others are more subtle nods with bigger impact (friends/lovers turning on each other based on their allegiance). Then sprinkle in elves, dwarves, orcs, and goblins and you have this amazing melting pot (see what I did there?) of a world.
If we take a look at the three main characters Alsyha, Rhett (aka Runt), and Ben, we see three siblings with insanely different paths to tread. If I’m being truthful, Alsyha is far and away the most compelling and has the largest character growth. Watching her go from simple village girl pining of a dude (who turned out to be that douchebag who turned allegiance) to witnessing her mother and village slaughtered, to being an indentured slave, to becoming a blacksmith apprentice, to a badass who clearly has some magic by the end. Bravo Alsyha, excellent character. Runt has some great growth too, don’t get me wrong, but he also has a lot of friends along his journey and since this story is written in omniscient 3rd person point of view (more on that below), he isn’t the very center of his scenes. And Ben, we don’t get much about him to be honest, so he is middling as a character for me.
The cast of characters (the bastards if you will) is not only huge but also wildly entertaining. Sure, the three main characters are the children of a certain banished general, but I think the supporting characters deserve a lot of praise for being well-rounded and each have their own motivations, which is damn important. Many times, side characters are bland and only serve small parts of the overall plot, and that is perfectly fine, but since this series is a mimic of the American Revolution, it is quite necessary for side characters to be nuanced and important, to have roles in sowing the seeds for rebellion.
For me, this is why Gray Jim is the best of them all. He is an executioner but he also has this sense of morality about him. He knows what he does can be considered evil, but he also knows that it’s just a job that he was forced into. I love how conflicted he is, but then the next moment he is letting bygones be bygones and helping the bastards out. We need more characters like him!
It’s also hard to not like Angus the angry line cook dwarve. I mean I actually did chortle out loud when he corrected a character over the difference between dwarve and dwarf. Besides, his weapon of choice is a cast iron pan (Tika Waylan anyone???)
Oh, and big shoutout to Mr. Zorich for his naming of characters: Cordial, Stitch, last names such as Flatrock, Purenut, Goldthorn, etc. Pretty neat names.
As far as storytelling, there are a few pace issues at times (see below) but for the most part, it is a pretty decently paced story. There are no major lulls or unnecessary threads. The prose is well-crafted and easily digestible. There isn’t a lot of purple prose here.
Let’s just say this book ends on a massive cliffhanger mid-scene. Well done, Mr. Zorich, well done.
What didn’t work for me:
I realize this might make me seem irritably pedantic, but dialogue tags at the end of a character’s turn to speak was not something I enjoyed, especially when said character had a lot to add to the conversation or was a new character I couldn’t place a voice to. It was nearly every dialogue tag too. It was added to the end when the character was done speaking, so many times I had to go back and reread the dialogue just because I wanted to ensure I had character and motivation correct. The pedant in me likes the dialogue tag to be within the first sentence of speech, just so that I’m armed with all the correct information as the character expands on their thoughts.
This isn’t indicative of my reading experience but I can see how it could be for others, but 3rd person omniscient can become quite confusing when jumping from one character POV to another paragraph after paragraph, especially during action sequences like the climax riot. Again, I was fine with it, but it could be jarring for some.
Although I love a massive cast of characters, I wish there was a bit more restraint in adding POV characters. I know the general on the Council of Crows is important and will probably play a bigger role in the next two books, but we get only a single chapter of him and thus it bears a heavy load of introducing us to someone we need to not only care about, but also to understand what role he plays in the larger story. But he just disappears after that scene. Same goes with the prince’s guards and their lustful waltz through the night. Both scenes were integral to moving the plot along, I just wish there was a way to use only one of those characters as the POV in both so that we get more of a chance to connect.
But for the big one for me, it was the info dumps. Listen fair friends, I love me a good info dump. I love learning about these worlds authors spends days, weeks, years, decades building. I love all the little details, but there are ways and places for info dumps to exist, and it needs to be sporadic. Unfortunately, I felt there were far too many multi-paragraph info dumps dropped in spots where it killed the tension. For example, we got a military history of a side character right as said character was in the middle of destroying and butchering Alsyha’s family and town. The tension was high then sagged when you as a reader want that tension to keep peaking.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Want to read
August 24, 2024-----
8/24/24—Purchased ($1) during the Narratess Indie Sale. I mean, the title, the cover, orcs, three siblings, pretty good reviews. So you're saying there's a chance.
8/24/24—Purchased ($1) during the Narratess Indie Sale. I mean, the title, the cover, orcs, three siblings, pretty good reviews. So you're saying there's a chance.
August 9, 2024
Stars: 3.75/5
“Neither the dead nor the living spoke in reply.”
MY THOUGHTS
Bastards of Liberty by Matthew Zorich is one of the books that had me constantly moving up and down on a roller coaster. There were some good punches. Some were freaking good and at times, I would sit and wonder why. The prologue as we know is something that has created debates over time. I cannot start the book without prologues and this book has won me with the prologue. Directly, between a battle. If that isn’t a strong start, I don’t know what is. So, a big plus point to the writer.
“He looked at his hands and knew the joy of life after surviving.”
I would love to stress how this book is a fraction of what the author has planned. The scope of the book is quite easy to understand. Being the first book in the series, this book is going through all the different places and different phases- jumping between time, place and characters. But as soon as you reach the last page, you realise just how many stories are in play and you want to know them all.
“When the birds fly away or you can’t run them, that’s when there’s trouble.”
Starting with the format, I love how the siblings have their journey. In this book, we focused a little more on Runt’s journey but the overall progress for each of them was something I enjoyed reading. While I generally love a character-driven book. This book was not one of them. I think there was a lot of potential for this to be a character-driven book because of these amazing characters and that is one of my complaints. I loved the story, the plot and I was reading for the story. But not for the characters. I would not have cared for any of them. But but, things were looking a lot better towards the end. I also found a certain stage where there were jump scenes. There was a scene going and suddenly I felt lost. I think it was an editing error rather than writing.
“Hear the rain and thunder…the lightning is mine.”
There is something about the stories that shows a battle is won but war isn’t. I feel this series is one of them. We witness political instability, unrest of citizens, people losing faith, people punishing for their faith, fallen war heroes, unsung criminals, hidden magical abilities, and connecting with animals. So, on and on. Thus, proving once again my point that this series has the potential to become something huge.
So, to sum it up. I think this series can become something big. The story spans between ages and thus is going to be a wonderful epic once we see the whole story. And I can’t wait to know more in Book 2 Maiden of Storms.
The summary can be found here .
“Neither the dead nor the living spoke in reply.”
MY THOUGHTS
Bastards of Liberty by Matthew Zorich is one of the books that had me constantly moving up and down on a roller coaster. There were some good punches. Some were freaking good and at times, I would sit and wonder why. The prologue as we know is something that has created debates over time. I cannot start the book without prologues and this book has won me with the prologue. Directly, between a battle. If that isn’t a strong start, I don’t know what is. So, a big plus point to the writer.
“He looked at his hands and knew the joy of life after surviving.”
I would love to stress how this book is a fraction of what the author has planned. The scope of the book is quite easy to understand. Being the first book in the series, this book is going through all the different places and different phases- jumping between time, place and characters. But as soon as you reach the last page, you realise just how many stories are in play and you want to know them all.
“When the birds fly away or you can’t run them, that’s when there’s trouble.”
Starting with the format, I love how the siblings have their journey. In this book, we focused a little more on Runt’s journey but the overall progress for each of them was something I enjoyed reading. While I generally love a character-driven book. This book was not one of them. I think there was a lot of potential for this to be a character-driven book because of these amazing characters and that is one of my complaints. I loved the story, the plot and I was reading for the story. But not for the characters. I would not have cared for any of them. But but, things were looking a lot better towards the end. I also found a certain stage where there were jump scenes. There was a scene going and suddenly I felt lost. I think it was an editing error rather than writing.
“Hear the rain and thunder…the lightning is mine.”
There is something about the stories that shows a battle is won but war isn’t. I feel this series is one of them. We witness political instability, unrest of citizens, people losing faith, people punishing for their faith, fallen war heroes, unsung criminals, hidden magical abilities, and connecting with animals. So, on and on. Thus, proving once again my point that this series has the potential to become something huge.
So, to sum it up. I think this series can become something big. The story spans between ages and thus is going to be a wonderful epic once we see the whole story. And I can’t wait to know more in Book 2 Maiden of Storms.
The summary can be found here .
May 11, 2023
The book is ambitious and deserves to push its potential further.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and its context. Although it incorporates many elements of "Dark" fantasy, I was expecting and hoping for something even darker. To be honest, I would even classify it as high fantasy. However, this might be because I have been reading more brutal books lately. It's not the book's fault that I compared it a bit to a hit series and therefore expected it to head in the same direction.
I don't often rely on maps, but they do have the advantage of providing a clear image of a territory, which I found lacking here.
The main characters are portrayed correctly, but the secondary characters lack a little depth. However, I understand that expanding on them would have required doubling the size of the book.
I had to reread the first passages several times, which rarely happens to me (English is not my mother tongue).
The ending of the volume is very abrupt for my taste. Considering the story took a while to progress, presumably to justify character progression, the sudden ending didn't sit well with me either.
It's a very promising start to the series, which leads me to believe that there will be more than three books. I hope the author will be able to achieve what they want and see the adventure truly blossom as it deserves or as I hope it will.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Overall, I enjoyed the book and its context. Although it incorporates many elements of "Dark" fantasy, I was expecting and hoping for something even darker. To be honest, I would even classify it as high fantasy. However, this might be because I have been reading more brutal books lately. It's not the book's fault that I compared it a bit to a hit series and therefore expected it to head in the same direction.
I don't often rely on maps, but they do have the advantage of providing a clear image of a territory, which I found lacking here.
The main characters are portrayed correctly, but the secondary characters lack a little depth. However, I understand that expanding on them would have required doubling the size of the book.
I had to reread the first passages several times, which rarely happens to me (English is not my mother tongue).
The ending of the volume is very abrupt for my taste. Considering the story took a while to progress, presumably to justify character progression, the sudden ending didn't sit well with me either.
It's a very promising start to the series, which leads me to believe that there will be more than three books. I hope the author will be able to achieve what they want and see the adventure truly blossom as it deserves or as I hope it will.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 23, 2023
Holy exposition! Yeah, there are some stylistic issues with the writing that I really struggled with, but conceptually there are some interesting ideas. Overall this was a mixed lot with some very good things and some very bad...
First lets get the cat out of the bag. This book is incredibly exposition heavy. And that exposition is very intrusive, being thrown into conversations in a very mansplaining way on a regular basis. It is also repetitive. The same unsubtle exposition is thrown up multiple times in random conversation. The book felt under edited and the author seemed to be learning as he went on as it did improve through the book (but the tendency never went fully away). Unfortunately it definitely detracted from my enjoyment of the novel.
On the positive side - the conceptual basis for the book is very interesting. Taking the American Revolution as an influence and applying a fantasy skin is something I haven't really seen before. And this book manages to feel very American, even from a cultural perspective, distinctive from the more euro centric classic fantasy stories. Yes we get the classic tropey fantasy races of elves, orcs and dwarves, but they are given a distinctively American twist. The growth of industry, the allusions to slavery and treatment of the natives are all linked in with the fantasy races and how they are treated in the book. The names of places and empires draw heavily on real things, just given a slight twist, tying closely into American history.
This is definitely an interesting setting for a fantasy novel, and whilst I may have struggled with the it stylistically I applaud the conceptual work that went into it.
First lets get the cat out of the bag. This book is incredibly exposition heavy. And that exposition is very intrusive, being thrown into conversations in a very mansplaining way on a regular basis. It is also repetitive. The same unsubtle exposition is thrown up multiple times in random conversation. The book felt under edited and the author seemed to be learning as he went on as it did improve through the book (but the tendency never went fully away). Unfortunately it definitely detracted from my enjoyment of the novel.
On the positive side - the conceptual basis for the book is very interesting. Taking the American Revolution as an influence and applying a fantasy skin is something I haven't really seen before. And this book manages to feel very American, even from a cultural perspective, distinctive from the more euro centric classic fantasy stories. Yes we get the classic tropey fantasy races of elves, orcs and dwarves, but they are given a distinctively American twist. The growth of industry, the allusions to slavery and treatment of the natives are all linked in with the fantasy races and how they are treated in the book. The names of places and empires draw heavily on real things, just given a slight twist, tying closely into American history.
This is definitely an interesting setting for a fantasy novel, and whilst I may have struggled with the it stylistically I applaud the conceptual work that went into it.
June 13, 2023
Wow, I really enjoyed this book. It didn’t say “book one” or anything, so I thought it was one book. I’m glad to say it isn’t, but what a cliffhanger to leave on and wait for the next book. There was plenty happening and the characters became more fleshed out. It can be a little overwhelming at first with all the names and groups, but that happens with world-building in epic fantasy and there’s a guide in the back for characters at least. I thoroughly enjoyed the historical references I noticed, and wish there was a way to read about all of the historical references and inspiration and better delve into the book. If there is ever an additional novel that only discusses that, you bet I would be reading it and I know I wouldn’t be the only one. The reversed racial stereotypes seen with elves and dwarves was unique, especially the topics of mixed races. I can’t help but wish it was longer or have access to the next book. Fans of epic fantasy adventures and political intrigue should definitely read this book!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 24, 2023
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I absolutely loved the book! The beginning started off slow and a bit confusing. But, after getting through the initial chapters the book really picked up and all confusion had gone. I enjoyed the variety of characters and the multiple POVs. I also enjoyed a lot of the dialogue as it was crass and rough cut, how I usually imagine hight fantasy to be. The world building really was interesting and I wish a map of the world came with the ebook as it would've made imagining the traveling a bit easier. Loved the book have a list of characters and who they were, making it easy to keep track of all the characters. I'm gutted that the ending ended in a cliff hanger because now I'm desperately waiting for the next installment. I just have to know what happens to my favorite characters. I'd definitely recommend if you like more adult high fantasy, challenging journeys, and character growth.
I absolutely loved the book! The beginning started off slow and a bit confusing. But, after getting through the initial chapters the book really picked up and all confusion had gone. I enjoyed the variety of characters and the multiple POVs. I also enjoyed a lot of the dialogue as it was crass and rough cut, how I usually imagine hight fantasy to be. The world building really was interesting and I wish a map of the world came with the ebook as it would've made imagining the traveling a bit easier. Loved the book have a list of characters and who they were, making it easy to keep track of all the characters. I'm gutted that the ending ended in a cliff hanger because now I'm desperately waiting for the next installment. I just have to know what happens to my favorite characters. I'd definitely recommend if you like more adult high fantasy, challenging journeys, and character growth.
June 20, 2023
Picked this up for SPFBO 9
Overall is was very meh on this book
The world was great. Being set in a pseudo New England frontier was a great choice and was a fresh take on a fantasy world for me. You can really tell the author put a lot of love into the intricacies of this world.
However, the info dumping was a lot. There were times, especially in the first half of the book, where the flow of the scene or the chapter was jarring Lt interrupted by a paragraph or two info dump.
The characters were mildly interesting, but I really didn’t get attached to any of them. Most of the dialogue was awkward. Some of it included some good one liners, but the rest just felt off to me.
Great world, but the storytelling needed some work
Disclaimer: I don’t subscribe to the star system because it’s a needlessly reductive system that also suffers from massive inflation (much like our current economy). So I give everything 5 stars because the stars are made up and nothing really matters.
Overall is was very meh on this book
The world was great. Being set in a pseudo New England frontier was a great choice and was a fresh take on a fantasy world for me. You can really tell the author put a lot of love into the intricacies of this world.
However, the info dumping was a lot. There were times, especially in the first half of the book, where the flow of the scene or the chapter was jarring Lt interrupted by a paragraph or two info dump.
The characters were mildly interesting, but I really didn’t get attached to any of them. Most of the dialogue was awkward. Some of it included some good one liners, but the rest just felt off to me.
Great world, but the storytelling needed some work
Disclaimer: I don’t subscribe to the star system because it’s a needlessly reductive system that also suffers from massive inflation (much like our current economy). So I give everything 5 stars because the stars are made up and nothing really matters.
February 8, 2025
Bastards of Liberty (The Conspiracy of Crows book One by Matthew Zorich first caught my attention with its striking cover art by David Gardias. The book opens as old-fashioned good natured fantasy but soon evolves into a more serious, grimmer tale filled with fully realized characters you will either love or hate (standouts for me were: Gray Jim and Hob & Bob). The story has great world-building, political rivalries and zealotry. This book follows the established path for epic fantasy but adds its own unique modern twist. This book moves along at a nice pace, mixing humor, action and tragedy. The distinct group of soldiers, criminals, hangman, magicians, elves and dwarves come together to form a unforgettable band of adventurers.
This will be a series I will definitely be following.
This will be a series I will definitely be following.
March 21, 2024
this book tried to do too much. there were way too many narratives that were only used once or twice and just never revisited. also the use of modern day slang absolutely killed it for me.
August 22, 2023
This was a book that I was eager to start having heard great things from the community. Now having finished, I look forward to the next in the series.
The pacing through multiple POVs hit the right tempo for me, without pushing "filler" that didn't develop or drive the story forward.
There were several moments throughout that I found myself asking "What?!" and continued turning the page to find out what happened next. Devastated when the last page crept up on me.
The pacing through multiple POVs hit the right tempo for me, without pushing "filler" that didn't develop or drive the story forward.
There were several moments throughout that I found myself asking "What?!" and continued turning the page to find out what happened next. Devastated when the last page crept up on me.
March 16, 2023
What a fun and exiting read! The characters and world the author creates feels so real and gritty. Compelling storyline with a few unexpected turns keeps you intrigued. This book kept my interest the whole way through. Really looking forward to the next book in the series!
March 24, 2023
This is not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed it. The characters are vivid and lively. The writing takes you on an adventure from the beginning. I'm looking forward to the next book.
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