Rogues of the Black Fury

by Travis Heermann

When a band of shadowy fanatics abducts Javin Wollstone's little sister, Bella, from his care, his only hope to bring her home is turning to a hard-bitten band of special warriors, the Black Furies, led by Commander Rusk. Javin follows Rusk and his men through a maze of political intrigues, religious fanaticism, and centuries of distrust. Little do they know that little Bella Wollstone could be the spark that sets off a war of Armageddon. 

The investigation unfolds into a frantic chase that leads Javin, Rusk, and the Black Furies across trackless, pirate-infested seas into the ancient heart of Fartha, the religion-steeped land of prophets and priest-kings. Using stealth, guile, and sheer audacity, the Furies fling themselves into the teeth of the serpent, trying to snatch Bella back before she is swallowed forever. Javin finds himself torn between his genteel, noble upbringing and the raw, brutal necessity of what he must do to save her life. 

"Bold, colorful characters pull the reader into an unforgettable adventure with the perfect mix of suspense, intrigue, and action." -- Jeanne Cavelos, author of The Passing of the Techno-Mages

"Rogues of the Black Fury mixes a berserk action thriller sharp as a mercenary's sword with hard-bitten fantasy so gritty it might scour your bones clean by the time you're done." -- Matt Forbeck, author of The Amortals and Carpathia

"Heermann's  Rogues  is epic, exciting, and a hell of a lot of fun! From the very beginning, the world he crafts feels alive and real. By the last page, I didn't want to leave. Adventure at its finest, honed to a gleaming bloody edge". -- Marcus Pelegrimas, author of the Skinners  series

Genres: Fantasy

362 pages, Paperback

First published May 10, 2012

About the author

Travis Heermann is also known as T. James Logan.

Freelance writer, novelist, award-winning screenwriter, editor, poker player, poet, biker, roustabout, Travis Heermann is a graduate of the Odyssey Writing Workshop, a member of the Authors Guild, an Active member of SFWA and the HWA, and the author of The Hammer Falls, The Ronin Trilogy, Rogues of the Black Fury, and co-author of Death Wind. His short fiction appears in anthologies and magazines such as Apex Magazine, Alembical, Blood & Gasoline, BattleTech: Legacy, and many others. As a freelance writer, he has contributed a metric ton of work to such properties as Firefly Roleplaying Game, Legend of Five Rings, EVE Online, and BattleTech.

He enjoys cycling, collecting martial arts styles and belts, torturing young minds with otherworldly ideas, and monsters of every flavor, especially those with a soft, creamy center.

Reviews

[Mihir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full Review originally at Fantasy Book Critic

OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Rogues Of The Black Fury by Travis Heermann was a book that attracted my attention for a couple of reasons namely that it seemed to be a standalone and the blurbs promised a dark adventure ride. It seems the first reason is partly wrong and the second one is absolutely correct.

The story is set in a secondary fantasy world wherein two nations Cusca and Fartha have been warring with each other for generations and now are in an uncomfortable stalemate. The world is set in a time wherein firearms have been recently invented and yet to become the primary weapon. The main character is Javin Wollstone, son of Janus Wollstone who is the most powerful general in the land of Cusca. The plot opens with Javin and his sister Bella enjoying a play and that’s when disaster strikes as men from his own unit (the Blue Dragons) abduct Bella and leave everyone shell shocked. Janus Wollstone is forced to think of the impossible and hire the company of mercenaries known as the Black Furies to find and bring back his daughter.

Captain Rusk is the leader of this team and his competency and coarseness are both legendary along with his team's exploits in the previous battles. He has though been tasked with the task of finding Bella but with a caveat that Javin join the Black Furies in this task. The story is then set as to whether Javin is successful in joining the Black Furies as well rescue Bella. This book has some strong points in regards to an action-packed plot, strong paced plot as well as some good twists.

This book has a very robust plot that is very akin to a thriller and at several moments in the book, I almost forgot that this was a fantasy book. The book has a very low-key magic role however just when you think that its not there, a plot twist or reveal occurs to remind you about its presence. This book manages to showcases a geo-political conflict that is very reminiscent of the Crusades and shows a world wherein war has sundered the lives to both sides. The book's pace is such that the reader is constantly flipping pages. Also the characterization is done decently and shows a varied cast of characters however not all of them get a chance to shine. It also has a rousing adventure story that makes for a fascinating read and also keeps the reader’s distracted from some of the drawbacks of the story.

The main drawback of the story was that the story has two sides fighting over a theological issue, which is very reminiscent of the troubles mirroring Christianity & Islam. Also the villains in this book rather closely mirror the Islamic villain stereotypes as seen in books by Brad Thor & Vince Flynn. Perhaps the author had intended to lampoon such a stereotype showcased in most books however the villains rather are too close cut to those stereotypes for it to seem satirical. The book also doesn’t showcase much of the world’s back history and therefore is rather low on the world-building front. This perhaps was done on purpose as to help keep the book as fast paced as it is currently.

This was a fun read with a single fault for me. Perhaps for most this drawback might not be such a big point as it will depend on their individualistic perspective. I would heartily recommend Rogues Of The Black Fury to readers who want a rollicking read choc-a-bloc with pace, action and adventure. Give it a read and I think you will not be disappointed.

[Mieneke · Rating 4 out of 5]

A military fantasy adventure in the tradition of The Black Company , albeit far less dark and gritty, Rogues of the Black Fury was a very entertaining read. The story is set in a secondary world where two large and powerful nations face each other in a conflict born of a religious dispute, which enables many parallels to be drawn to the struggles between Christianity and Islam. It's a book with familiar elements, but done in such a way that it didn't feel stale and was never boring.

The characters found in Rogues of the Black Fury were all somewhat archetypical. We have the reluctant hero, who sacrifices his position to save his sister, the gruff, hard-bitten mercenary that turns out to be a good man at heart, the noble half-blood, the Mary, the Eve with a good heart, the over-ambitious snake who masquerades as a hound, just to name a few. Nevertheless, these characters are enjoyable and well-written. I really liked Javin, Rusk, Tonin, Sasha and Bella particularly. Javin showed some true growth through the novel, even if at times it seemed incremental. Rusk and Tonin were just very likeable and I took to them immediately. I liked that Sasha and Bella despite being archetypical were strong in their own right. Bella's virginal maiden character was somewhat softened by her stubborn fight for dignity and survival. Even if for most of the narrative she isn't in a position to act she remains strong and once the moment comes she tries to take her fate into her own hands. Likewise, Sasha is far more than just the Eve-like character she's introduced as. I love that she is as competent a fighter as any of the men and they see her as a complete equal. But she manages to be so and still be completely feminine.

Similar to the characters, the plot contains a number of tropes as well, though I liked the twist in the whodunit. However, familiar doesn't have to mean boring. One thing I would definitely have liked to have seen more of was Javin, Tonin and Maggot's training; how especially Tonin and Javin grow to trust each other. There are also some plotlines that didn't work so well, such as Taril's behaviour. I didn't know whether that was meant to be a red herring or meant to be a set up for a sequel. I do know that every time I got jarred out of the narrative as I started trying to puzzle it out. Another element that didn't work for me was the tension between Javin and Maggot. While it was a clear cut and effective way of creating tension, the way it was resolved left me rather deflated, as it felt like it just fizzled out.

My biggest gripe with the narrative was the fact that the social commentary sometimes seemed laid on rather thickly. Or at least it read to me that way. For example, in one scene Javin faces a small Farthi girl and she's all agog at seeing a foreigner for the first time and he thinks to himself that this is the first time for him too. Furthermore, there are internal dialogues that run along the lines of hey these people are just people and not demons sent from hell to kill us all. Perhaps it says more about my world view than the author's, but it could still have been put more subtly, even if I agree with the message Heermann seems to want to convey.

Despite the familiarity of the story and the heaviness of the social commentary, Rogues of the Black Fury was still very entertaining and I'd love to see more of Rusk and Javin and the rest. The book was previously released as a podcast and I definitely plan on giving that a listen as well, once I've caught up on my podcasts. For fans of Glen Cook or Jeff Salyards Rogues of the Black Fury could be a great read for a dark winter afternoon.

This book was provided for review by the author.

[Inara · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, let me say that “Rogues” is lot of fun. Plus, as a woman, I was happy to see a strong female lead character - this woman is seriously bada**! Add that to the swoon factor of the various other male characters, and this book is a winner! But don’t let the action/fun factor fool you – there is some serious commentary about society lurking just beneath the surface. However, if you’re not in the mood for deep thinking and just want a fast-paced, well-written story for your summer reading, “Rogues of the Black Fury” is still a great choice. “Rogues” is, first and foremost, a very solid story – well-developed characters, well-written prose, and a seamless plot. There is truly something for everyone here - suspense, drama, and even a bit of romance. Well done, Mr. Heermann! This would be an excellent choice for fans of David Drake, Glen Cook, and David Gemmell.. Highly recommended.

[Wendy C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rogues of the Black Fury by Travis Heermann

Rogues of the Black Fury by Travis Heermann is a fantasy adventure story. You have two nations, Cusca and Fartha who are fighting with each other. Javin is the son of Janus Wollstone, the greatest General in Cuscas. Javin takes his sister Bella to the theater for a new play that just opened. (Bella loves the theater.) Javin has the men from his unit, the Blue Dragons, on a protection detail guarding his sister. The only problem is that some men from the Blue Dragons turn traitor and kidnap Bella from the play.

Janus tries to figure out a way to find and get his daughter back. He decides that the best way to get his daughter back as quick as possible is by hiring a band of mercenaries, the Black Furies.(It is also a good idea to hire the mercenaries until they can figure out if they do have a traitor amongst themselves.) The Black Furies are very well known. Javin ends up going along with Captain Rusk and his men to find his sister.

Rogues of the Black Fury has a little bit of something for everyone. The story is action packed with notable characters that draw the reader in. The story is set with a good pace and has a few twists and turns to keep things exciting. Heerman does a good job at keeping the reader on the edge of their seats wanting more. The characters are well thought out and grow throughout the book. This book should be a definite read for any fantasy, action-adventure reader.

4 stars

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rogues of the Black Fury start off with Javin Wollstone's sister, Belle being kidnapped. Javin, a captain in his father's military, has failed to protect his sister. His father, Grand General Janus Wollstone, saw through Javin's pain and knew that his son is suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and needed to have the Black Furies, led by Commander Rusk to toughen him up and at the same time to find his sister.

The Rogues of the Black Fury is set in a Regency background where pistol and sword are commonly used in battle with the theme of the modern world's conflict: terrorism. There is one thing that Javin has to learn is that in war, no one played fair. It is not a gentlemen game and that there are no rules in war especially when one believes that they are fighting a holy war.

I also love the Black Furies' tests and the explanation behind them. The most colorful character in this story is Commander Rusk. His language is also quite colorful but he does know what he is doing.

This book is a very good start in the series. The readers should read this book first since it gives the background for each of the characters in this book. The Black Fury are not invincible which define them as heroes. They are smart and cunning. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Ashe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book on First Reads and I'm so glad that I did! To be honest, I really am a very biased person so I tend to do a lot of judging just based on looks. But I read the summary which really interested me so I just had to give it a try.
The characters, plot, action, and everything was just WONDERFUL! I'm looking forward to more books from him!

[Rob Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun- with just enough military tradition to be comforting.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out great. It had some good plot lines, some interesting characters, and a great pace. The first hiccup for me was the world creation. It was like Charles the Great's Sweden vs. the Ottoman Turks, with the typical Islamic fundamentalists in their midsts. I mean we even have the sadith instead of the hadith--I feel like this author had enough creativity to create their own world template, not pull a Salvatore and mish mash earth's history into a fantasy world. The lack of any map, shows the author's lack of interest in truly creating an alternate world.

The next hiccup was the laughable attempt to create some sort of drill instructor, pirate, Navy Seal group that the royal heir is made to join. Aside from the fact it ran thin in the plot department, the attempt to portray expletive-ridden military training had me in tears it was so awful.

Lastly, there was the tiresome attempt at suspense. Instead of creating tension, the author employs a series of repeated near rescues of the same person to try and artificially create some sort of cliffhanger that was more wearisome than anything. The final rescue by the end was anti-climatic to say the least.

The ending was ridiculously neat, packaged, and happy, making me wonder if it was the same author that had done a halfway decent job of creating some pretty malevolent characters and scenes. It almost seemed as if the author became exhausted with his own multiple rescue attempts and wanted to just bring it all to an end as quickly as possible.

This book started near 5 star territory for me and ended somewhere in the 2 to 3 range. I'm giving it 3 because it did move pretty quickly, but this could have been so much better...

[Ty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Military fantasy with loads of action

This story reminded me a lot of Nick Thomas's Craven series.

The setting is a sort of analog to Christianity v Islam. It woupd have been better with this being less obvious. It sort of feels like a far future after a cataclysm with tech rising to 18th century or a alternate history or earth etc.

Has a good balance of men and women lead characters. It sort of feels like there was previous stories to this novel with the Commander Rusk.

The plot is good and the heroes aren't Mary Sue superhumans. Lots of action. Very special forces in a previous era as elite soldiers try and free a kidnapped character.

[Gh · Rating 1 out of 5]

I listened to the audio version of this book on LibriVox. Although not mentioning Islam by name, this book spreads Islamophobia. It contains many of the wrong views on Islam. Further more it justifies killing of Muslims (even children).

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book through the Goodreads First Reads program in exchange for an unbiased review. While my fantasy preferences tend to be more towards magic than gunpower, the premise was interesting enough for me to give this novel a try.

The story begins with the abduction of the daughter of one of the militaristic noble houses, but who is behind it? This premise really caught my interest, I enjoy the political machinations of powerful families, ever since I read Dune back in high school. But this isn't so much about them (though there is a lot of intrigue to go around), but about the mercernaries they hire to retrieve the girl, with her brother Javin, providing the contrast between the two world's.

As a girl, after meeting Rusk and the other Furies I went...uh oh...am I going to drown in testosterone here? What did I get myself into? They didn't just swear, Rusk made swearing an art. And lets just say there's a fair amount of blood spilt, a good chunk of it while in training even before the fights start.

But then we meet Sasha, a female member of the Furies who could probably take on any one of them, heck, she could take on half of them and still win. She, and Bella Wollstone were such strong characters that everything balanced out. Especially since the guys, though a little rough around the edges, kind of grew on me. The book is filled with likeable characters from Javin to even Rusk who had is own kind of charm, in particular his strong loyalty and pride in his men.

There is plenty of action, so you never get bored, but you never get overhelmed with non-stop fighting either. But its not all about butt-kicking, the Farthi have a lot of similarity with fantasical muslim groups (a bit too much in my mind) but while the villains of the story are kind of one-dimensional due to their single-minded fanaticism with little positive going for them, we also get to see that not everyone is cut from the same cloth.

I enjoyed how this world is very similar to our own, but every now and then you're surprised by something. When Javin goes to get his mount, you think "horse", but then next thing you know it's got fur, and paws, and is in no way anything like a horse at all. Although that caused a jarring effect when the characters would refer to familiar animals, needed a bit more consistency there.

I'm not sure if this is a series, but the potential is there, and I would certainly like to return to this world should a sequel be written.

[Zak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I won this book in a first-reads giveaway.

Now that I'm done with that, onto the review.

The story is pretty good, and the plot moves very quickly, though not too quickly. The characters were decent, though they could have stood to be a little bit better fleshed out. I did very much like the setting, even though the Farthi seemed a bit too much like stereotypical Muslims. I did have a hard time picturing some things in my head though, especially the temple the climax takes place in (spoiler?)

My main problem with the book was the actual writing. Sometimes I thought sentences didn't really flow well, and I noticed very many typographical errors. I assume that the book is self-published, so that might explain some of it. To be frank, this is why I don't read many self-published books (that and the fact that its hard to find reviews for them) and so a person who reads more self-published novels may be more lenient.

Overall, pretty decent. I suppose I would recommend it, even though I'd recommend other things first. Three and a half stars.

[Dragan Simić · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is possibly my best read, so far, from Travis. I have become a trusted fan. I couldn't stop until I was finished. A fast-paced adventure, with great characters and plots, wit a lot of vivid action. A story of loyalty, bravery and honour. I also like the shorter chapters which keep you very much engaged. I am wondering now will there be a sequel? The last words have left a door open. I just had a great, short, weekend as I was just sinking it in. Am not going into the details, just read it! Keep on blackening the pages Travis!

[Eric Grimm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever want to know what modern day block ops specialist would be like back in the days of sail and sword? This excellent book had me craving for more well before I finished it. Alas I know not if the author plans to do more like this but his other works are just as delightful to read such as the Ronin trilogy.

[Liviu]

another book that starts well

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story. Really enjoyed the split between different characters and their respective adventures. Can't wait for more Travis Heermann books

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kick-ass action! Can the elite squad known as the Black Furies invade an enemy country, save kidnapped princess Bella, and stop a swiftly encroaching war? If they can't, they'll die trying...