Wasteland Warlords 4

Wasteland Warlords #4

by James A. Hunter, Eden Hudson

“What’s the point of having magical powers if we don’t use ’em to help people?”Forged in the fires of the lawless wasteland, Clay, Alex, and Joe have finally earned the unimaginable power of Incants. All they want now is to settle down, drink a few beers, and carve out a new life west of the containment wall. Not everyone in the IZ has such noble goals at heart, however. When the Jaeger Squad learns that another group of magic-slinging Incants are enslaving homesteaders to farm gold and harvest enchanted items to sell on the black market, they can’t just turn a blind eye. Especially since Clay and the others are the only ones with the power to make things right. But the Jaegers might have picked a fight too big for their newfound abilities. These Incants have had years to level up and fortify their LA stronghold. Unless the crew can unlock the dark secrets of an ancient order of eccentric monks, their dream of a new life in the wasteland might turn into a waking nightmare.

Genres: Fantasy, Audiobook, Fiction, Novella, Comedy, Urban Fantasy, Science Fiction

141 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2024

About the author

James Hunter is a full-time ink slinger, a member of SFWA, and the bestselling author of Vigil Bound, Rogue Dungeon, Shadowcroft Academy, Bibliomancer (The Completionist Chronicles Expanded Universe), and the litRPG epic Viridian Gate Online! In addition to writing, James also runs Shadow Alley Press, an industry leader that specializes in publishing LitRPG, Fantasy, and selection Science Fiction.

James is a former Marine Corps Sergeant, combat veteran, and pirate hunter (seriously). He’s also a member of The Royal Order of the Shellback—’cause that’s totally a real thing. And a spaceship captain, can’t forget that. Okay … the last one probably isn’t true. When not writing or spending time with family, James occasionally finds time to eat and sleep.

Find out more about James Hunter at www.ShadowAlleyPress.com

Reviews

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Jaeger Squad have become incants against all odds, and all they planned to do now was settle down and take life easy, however fate had other plans for them it seems. They hear of another group of incants who are enslaving humans to produce stuff for them to sell on the black market over the wall. They are lining their pockets off the sweat and blood of others who they treat abominably, and our squad of heroes cannot turn a blind eye. A new quest is given to them to take these evil siblings down. They needed to get stronger though, and had to face a group of crazy monks in order to acquire the help they needed in order to face incants who were much more powerful than they were. Rhett and Cassidy Cameron had years of experience in swindling people and enslaving others to do their dirty work, however the Jaegers were not put off by this. They also needed to help Griff, their old timer companion, get back his daughter. I loved that we got to meet a character from the previous series, even though PwnrBwner was never a great favourite of mine and it seems he has not changed at all. It was also great to be reminded where we had met Griff before and to embark on yet another very thrilling adventure across the wasteland but can they save Griff's daughter for him? One evil villain down, another yet to go!

[Andy Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasteland Warlords 4

It turns out that stirring up the dungeons in LA will get you some serious attention. The Warlord of the West has come calling and he is not impressed. There is also news of another incant group that has taken to enslaving hopeful settlers. That can’t be allowed to continue.

I love it when series tie into other series. I knew that this was a spin off from Rogue Dungeon, but this one just hammered that fact home with a few guest appearances. The book was rather short at just over 3 hours long, but all six of the books are included with the Audible subscription. Well worth the listen. Travis Baldree does an amazing job with the narration.

Content warning: language

[Cmoore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well James Hunter and eden Hudson certainly changed my opinion of what "odd" can really mean! This book starts out seemingly reasonably enough on the right foot and everything, as our team accepts their quest, but the quest soon made a left turn when Clay, Alex, and Joe ran into a stumbling block in the form of the Monks of the Dew and unfortunately for them they hafta go off on a side quest.
And as always Travis Baldree is the narration King. These stories are short and fun and addictive I just can't wait to goble the next one down!

[Jeremy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now that the heroes have progressed to the point of each obtaining their main goal, the story can now ramp up and we can experience even more epic battles and quests. The major objective in this entry is similar to the previous books in that the party needs to eliminate a specific threat, but in this instance they actually get sidetracked and we experience a side quest experience that adds depth and more realism to the read. I enjoyed this addition to the series just like the others that came before, especially if one likes the dynamic that our team of protagonists exhibits.

[Bill Philibin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(2.75 Stars)

This was my least favorite of the series so far. I do like the battle scenes, they are done well. And I enjoy listening to Travis Baldree... I just feel like this story was more filler than anything substantial and didn't really advance the story much. Don't get me wrong, the "level up" and skills increase will probably play a big part in the final two volumes, so hopefully those will be better than this one was.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big laughs Big action

So funny! So climactic! Also heart warming and nail biting. Another success in the continuing adventures of the wasteland warlords.

I would also like to mention the continuing addition of awesomely creative, thoughtful, and hilarious characters throughout each edition of this series.

Keep up the great work!

[Adam Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

who knew the power of the Dew?!

Mountain Dew is life in this one, as the crew have to navigate things with Pwnr. We get some interesting info on Roark and Kaz, meet the Warlords girlfriend, and get some history on Griff!

[Danny Moody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily the best book in the series so far. I am a big Pwnr fan so it is a lot of fun to see him in this series. The Mountain Dew plot is amazing and really funny. I am looking forward to the next book.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't stop reading

I love this series. I also like that they are short, and I can binge them like a Netflix series. I'm going to be sad when it's over, but looking forward to what's next

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series continues to be an absolute blast, with the subtle worldbuilding from the first few entries really coming to a head this time around.

The last 3, I had to listen to one after the other as the main plot really kicks in and it is addicting.

[Daniel Read Good · Rating 3 out of 5]

My least favorite of the series so far. The pace just isn’t the same and the action was lacking for such a short book. Still mostly enjoyable but not nearly as good as the first 3 books.

[Matthew Winburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The more I read 'em the more I like 'em

[Aaron Sher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, if short

More of a novella, but it gives you what you expect from this series. Well worth reading if you're a fan.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[Michael Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book yet in the series and an easy solid 5 stars, action, pacing, character development, humor, and challenge on point to really show the authors and narrator at their best.

[Veronik Durocher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

Read all the series from book 1 to 6 and it stays true to itself all along. So, if you liked book 1, you'll like the complete series.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish there would be slightly more high stakes conflict with consequences but it’s kind of nice knowing everything will turn out okay

[Mikeal Gallaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book four of the Wasteland Warlords saga is an absolute powerhouse that earns every bit of its five-star rating. Just when you think a trilogy has capped off a story, James Hunter returns to this world with a renewed sense of purpose, proving that there were still massive, unexplored depths to both the setting and the characters. This isn't just a "bonus" story; it is an essential expansion that takes the gritty foundation of the first three books and polishes it into a masterpiece of post-apocalyptic fiction.

The most striking thing about this fourth instalment is the visible jump in Hunter’s prose and narrative complexity. You can see the experience he gained from his other series, like the world-building scale of Viridian Gate and the character-driven snark of his later works bleeding back into this grittier universe. The stakes have shifted from simple survival to the actual reconstruction of a broken world, and the "warlord" mechanics are deeper than ever. The way he handles the logistics of a growing empire while keeping the individual combat scenes feeling desperate and dangerous is a masterclass in genre writing.

The character growth here is some of the best in the entire saga. We are no longer dealing with someone just trying to make it to the next sunrise; we are seeing a leader grapple with the burdens of legacy and the ghost of the decisions made in the previous trilogy. There is a sense of "pre-modern history" being written in real-time, and the emotional payoff for long-term readers is immense. The dialogue is sharper, the villains are more nuanced, and the world feels wider and more lived-in than it ever has before.

This book represents James Hunter firing on all cylinders. It takes the "straight-edged" grit of the original Wasteland Warlords and injects it with the confidence and narrative flair of a seasoned veteran. It is a rare sequel that manages to surpass the original trilogy in both scope and heart, making the wasteland feel fresh, terrifying, and deeply compelling all over again.