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The Grim Company #2
Sword of the North
In The Grim Company, Luke Scull introduced a formidable and forbidding band of anti-heroes battling against ruthless Magelords and monstrous terrors. The adventure continues as the company—now broken—face new dangers on personal quests…
As Davarus Cole and his former companions were quick to discover, the White Lady’s victorious liberation of Dorminia has not resulted in the freedom they once imagined. Anyone perceived as a threat has been seized and imprisoned—or exiled to darker regions—leaving the White Lady’s rule unchallenged and absolute. But the White Lady would be wiser not to spurn her former supporters: Eremul the Halfmage has learned of a race of immortals known as the Fade, and if he cannot convince the White Lady of their existence, all of humanity will be in danger.
Far to the north, Brodar Kayne and Jerek the Wolf continue their odyssey to the High Fangs only to find themselves caught in a war between a demon horde and their enemy of old, the Shaman. And in the wondrous city of Thelassa, Sasha must overcome demons of her own.
Because the Fade are coming…
As Davarus Cole and his former companions were quick to discover, the White Lady’s victorious liberation of Dorminia has not resulted in the freedom they once imagined. Anyone perceived as a threat has been seized and imprisoned—or exiled to darker regions—leaving the White Lady’s rule unchallenged and absolute. But the White Lady would be wiser not to spurn her former supporters: Eremul the Halfmage has learned of a race of immortals known as the Fade, and if he cannot convince the White Lady of their existence, all of humanity will be in danger.
Far to the north, Brodar Kayne and Jerek the Wolf continue their odyssey to the High Fangs only to find themselves caught in a war between a demon horde and their enemy of old, the Shaman. And in the wondrous city of Thelassa, Sasha must overcome demons of her own.
Because the Fade are coming…
448 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 5, 2015
105 people are currently reading
3771 people want to read
About the author
Luke Scull
14 books920 followersLUKE SCULL is a British author and videogame designer. Luke’s first novel, The Grim Company, was shortlisted for the Gemmell Morningstar Award and earned a starred review from Kirkus as well as praise from the Guardian, the Sun, and the Daily Mail. Luke’s game design credits include several acclaimed titles for Ossian Studios. He has worked on The Witcher, Neverwinter Nights, and Baldur’s Gate franchises and is currently design lead for several projects.
You can keep up to date with Luke’s various projects by following him on Twitter at @Luke_Scull and visiting his website at www.lukescull.com
For book-specific monthly updates, join his mailing list and receive the short story “A Ring to Rule Them All” absolutely free!
You can keep up to date with Luke’s various projects by following him on Twitter at @Luke_Scull and visiting his website at www.lukescull.com
For book-specific monthly updates, join his mailing list and receive the short story “A Ring to Rule Them All” absolutely free!
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June 10, 2025Review contains 'bad language'.
Every year (OK 3 times I think - EDIT 9 now!), around lunchtime, I cycle down to the Bristol Fantasy Convention, Bristolcon, about 6 miles from my house, and spend a couple of hours in the bar.
In doing so back in 2013 I met, at random, authors Luke Scull and Snorri Kristjansson. Both of them happened to find themselves in Bristol again this Summer and (on separate occasions) came round to Casa Lawrence for a few beers, leaving copies of their latest work in their wake.
So, I have a signed copy of Sword of the North
I have to say, as someone with a rather undistinguished signature, that it's nice to see someone with an even worse one!
Anyway. The book has come in handy. I discovered a large spider in bed with me (you may have heard the scream), and totally defended my honour with my signed hardcover!
As to the story - well, there's a lot going on. It's certainly a book packed with action. People are gruesomely murdered at every turn, there are monsters, mages, unpleasant folk, huge magical battles ... it's all going on. There was a reasonably large cast at the end of the first book, Grim Company, and it's added to in this volume as our various bands, or individuals (Kayne & Jerek / Sasha & her sister / the Half-Mage / Davarus Cole) collect more vagrants on their travels.
The plot doesn't so much advance as grow. Kayne and Jerek, who were planning to go from A to B and do C, get from A to B. The Half-Mage who was planning to warn everyone about the Fade, tries to do that, and gets some help at the end.
New people and powers show up, opening new plotlines, saving the day, etc. A chosen one is dropped into the mix, a magelord's ex, a super-monster, a ninja woman, a mysterious henchling, an orc with an egg ... as I said, it's all go!
It's a very crude book on several levels - I don't think I've seen the word 'cunt' appear so many times in a book before - it's like an episode of Deadwood, without the 'cocksuckers'. I'm sure I haven't seen so many characters wade through so much literal shit before, seen such a yardage of entrails or acreage of maggoty flesh.
Brodar Kayne is still the ageing Conan but we get a second timeline for him that starts a few decades before the main story and jumps towards it in bounds of 5 or 10 years at a go. This fills us in on the Kayne back story and adds some weight to his family-saving ambitions. He is the eponymous Sword of the North and his journey gives the book its direction.
As with the previous installment there's a lot of imagination on display and the descriptions of various monsters and magic are pretty cool.
At times you're reminded that the author has his tongue in his cheek. There appears to be a homage to a scene from Pulp Fiction in one place, and the orphan Tiny Tom pokes his head into a number of scenes...
Some of the character relationships don't quite work for me. The Half-Mage's courtship is the main example, but with so much to get through you do find that quite often we dip directly into some very significant relationship moment without any of the build up to it, so that it can seem like the trailer for an episode of a soap opera with the emotional high points edited into a quick-fire series of coups de theatre.
But let's face it, you probably didn't pick up book 2 in The Grim Company for the subtle emotional crescendos of intricate relationships. You're more likely to be here to watch some huge warrior bristling with weaponry wade out of a shit-swamp trailing other people's entrails, call the bad(er) guy a cunt and hack him down while the horizon explodes with magical detonations extracted from one of Michael Bay's wet dreams. And if that's the case then you're in good hands here!
If you were a fan of the first book then you're going to love this one just as much ... maybe more.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
Every year (OK 3 times I think - EDIT 9 now!), around lunchtime, I cycle down to the Bristol Fantasy Convention, Bristolcon, about 6 miles from my house, and spend a couple of hours in the bar.
In doing so back in 2013 I met, at random, authors Luke Scull and Snorri Kristjansson. Both of them happened to find themselves in Bristol again this Summer and (on separate occasions) came round to Casa Lawrence for a few beers, leaving copies of their latest work in their wake.
So, I have a signed copy of Sword of the North
I have to say, as someone with a rather undistinguished signature, that it's nice to see someone with an even worse one!
Anyway. The book has come in handy. I discovered a large spider in bed with me (you may have heard the scream), and totally defended my honour with my signed hardcover!
As to the story - well, there's a lot going on. It's certainly a book packed with action. People are gruesomely murdered at every turn, there are monsters, mages, unpleasant folk, huge magical battles ... it's all going on. There was a reasonably large cast at the end of the first book, Grim Company, and it's added to in this volume as our various bands, or individuals (Kayne & Jerek / Sasha & her sister / the Half-Mage / Davarus Cole) collect more vagrants on their travels.
The plot doesn't so much advance as grow. Kayne and Jerek, who were planning to go from A to B and do C, get from A to B. The Half-Mage who was planning to warn everyone about the Fade, tries to do that, and gets some help at the end.
New people and powers show up, opening new plotlines, saving the day, etc. A chosen one is dropped into the mix, a magelord's ex, a super-monster, a ninja woman, a mysterious henchling, an orc with an egg ... as I said, it's all go!
It's a very crude book on several levels - I don't think I've seen the word 'cunt' appear so many times in a book before - it's like an episode of Deadwood, without the 'cocksuckers'. I'm sure I haven't seen so many characters wade through so much literal shit before, seen such a yardage of entrails or acreage of maggoty flesh.
Brodar Kayne is still the ageing Conan but we get a second timeline for him that starts a few decades before the main story and jumps towards it in bounds of 5 or 10 years at a go. This fills us in on the Kayne back story and adds some weight to his family-saving ambitions. He is the eponymous Sword of the North and his journey gives the book its direction.
As with the previous installment there's a lot of imagination on display and the descriptions of various monsters and magic are pretty cool.
At times you're reminded that the author has his tongue in his cheek. There appears to be a homage to a scene from Pulp Fiction in one place, and the orphan Tiny Tom pokes his head into a number of scenes...
Some of the character relationships don't quite work for me. The Half-Mage's courtship is the main example, but with so much to get through you do find that quite often we dip directly into some very significant relationship moment without any of the build up to it, so that it can seem like the trailer for an episode of a soap opera with the emotional high points edited into a quick-fire series of coups de theatre.
But let's face it, you probably didn't pick up book 2 in The Grim Company for the subtle emotional crescendos of intricate relationships. You're more likely to be here to watch some huge warrior bristling with weaponry wade out of a shit-swamp trailing other people's entrails, call the bad(er) guy a cunt and hack him down while the horizon explodes with magical detonations extracted from one of Michael Bay's wet dreams. And if that's the case then you're in good hands here!
If you were a fan of the first book then you're going to love this one just as much ... maybe more.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
September 1, 2015
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews
As a huge lover of the first book of this series, Sword of the North was a novel I had to get my hands on. The Grim Company had introduced me to a delicious grimdark world populated with so many fantastic characters and filled with loads and loads of gory action that I really needed another fix of Luke Scull’s addictive concoction. And he definitely delivered here.
Grim Company ended with our band of heroes ripped apart after the tyrant Salazar’s defeat by the White Lady. Now, Brodar Kayne (Sword of the North) and his constant companion Jerek are returning to their cold, northern homeland on a desperate quest. Sasha and her lost sister find one another, but also find themselves drifting apart as they discover that the White Lady might be more charlatan than deliverer. The Half-Mage is his ornery self, making cutting observations on the human condition, and still determined to warn everyone that the Fade are on their way back to the world to destroy everyone – even if no one pays him any attention. And then there is Davarus Cole, our would-be hero, who succeeded in his lifelong quest but discovered several truths he would have rather not known, finding himself in desperate circumstances.
From this beginning the plot begins to unfold like an origami masterpiece taking shape; each plot not appearing, but slowly evolving out of what has come before. Each character acting as his nature suggests he would, duly changed by the events in the preceding novel. Each person coming to life before a reader’s eyes, developing into an irreplaceable member of this cast. These people’s all-too-realistic flaws on display for everyone to see, and a few having those faults and mistakes come back to haunt them, destroying relationships that had – until the moment of revelation – seemed permanent and unassailable. Brodar Kayne’s quest and reliving of his past no more compelling or important to the overall story than the new cast members like Sir Meredith and his warped view of honor. Bitter and desperate, addicted and pathetic, every person has their role to play in this grimdark saga, even if it is no more than a reader taking great pleasure in seeing them get exactly what is coming to them.
But never fear action lovers, Mr. Scull has not forgotten that this is a blood and guts fantasy tour de force. Fights, atrocities, drugs, monsters, magical battles, and gruesome deaths fill the pages. Horrible things happen to undeserving victims. Vile villains strut their evil stuff. Abuse and torture are casually inflicted on certain individuals. Blood and gore splash across the pages in places. Yet, in the midst of it all, a few souls rise above the muck to exhibit heroic qualities. Sword of the North is a grimdark in all its gloomy, realistic glory.
Somehow though, Luke Scull is also able to impart a harsh humor to the tale, turning what could have been a depressing narrative into a light, fun read. The unexpected banter of comrades, the cynical observations of the Half-Mage, or the wry comments of a villain lightening the mood, winning a smile, or, occasionally, pulling out a laugh here and there.
What I especially liked was the wonderful world that Luke Scull continues to unveil. This land without gods, slowly deteriorating under the rule of the remaining wizards, and filled with the memories of a world that was before the destruction of the divine is truly developing into a wonderful canvas upon which to paint brilliant tales of daring-do. It might not be Middle-Earth, but it definitely stacks up well with grimdark favorites such as The Broken Empire of Mark Lawrence or The First Law of Joe Abercrombie.
Since I always say no book is without flaws, I suppose I have to point out negatives about Sword of the North, but it really is a hard thing to do, because, for what it is, this novel is nearly perfect. Yet I suppose I could see some readers being turned off by the decidedly horrible events and harsh language that occurs, for there are more than a few bad moments and a lot of cursing. None of this was especially egregious to me; each fitting into the ongoing narrative, not seeming placed there merely for shock value, but some might disagree with me about that.
Honestly, this was one of the best sequels that I’ve come across. Luke Scull deftly moving his original plot forward while introducing new concepts, new characters, and new lore into the organically growing story. To say I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series is not doing justice to my desperate need to get my hands on book three, because I have a feeling it is going to be one hell of a ride!
I received this book from Roc in return for a honest review. The opinion you have read is mine alone and has not been influenced by anyone else.
As a huge lover of the first book of this series, Sword of the North was a novel I had to get my hands on. The Grim Company had introduced me to a delicious grimdark world populated with so many fantastic characters and filled with loads and loads of gory action that I really needed another fix of Luke Scull’s addictive concoction. And he definitely delivered here.
Grim Company ended with our band of heroes ripped apart after the tyrant Salazar’s defeat by the White Lady. Now, Brodar Kayne (Sword of the North) and his constant companion Jerek are returning to their cold, northern homeland on a desperate quest. Sasha and her lost sister find one another, but also find themselves drifting apart as they discover that the White Lady might be more charlatan than deliverer. The Half-Mage is his ornery self, making cutting observations on the human condition, and still determined to warn everyone that the Fade are on their way back to the world to destroy everyone – even if no one pays him any attention. And then there is Davarus Cole, our would-be hero, who succeeded in his lifelong quest but discovered several truths he would have rather not known, finding himself in desperate circumstances.
From this beginning the plot begins to unfold like an origami masterpiece taking shape; each plot not appearing, but slowly evolving out of what has come before. Each character acting as his nature suggests he would, duly changed by the events in the preceding novel. Each person coming to life before a reader’s eyes, developing into an irreplaceable member of this cast. These people’s all-too-realistic flaws on display for everyone to see, and a few having those faults and mistakes come back to haunt them, destroying relationships that had – until the moment of revelation – seemed permanent and unassailable. Brodar Kayne’s quest and reliving of his past no more compelling or important to the overall story than the new cast members like Sir Meredith and his warped view of honor. Bitter and desperate, addicted and pathetic, every person has their role to play in this grimdark saga, even if it is no more than a reader taking great pleasure in seeing them get exactly what is coming to them.
But never fear action lovers, Mr. Scull has not forgotten that this is a blood and guts fantasy tour de force. Fights, atrocities, drugs, monsters, magical battles, and gruesome deaths fill the pages. Horrible things happen to undeserving victims. Vile villains strut their evil stuff. Abuse and torture are casually inflicted on certain individuals. Blood and gore splash across the pages in places. Yet, in the midst of it all, a few souls rise above the muck to exhibit heroic qualities. Sword of the North is a grimdark in all its gloomy, realistic glory.
Somehow though, Luke Scull is also able to impart a harsh humor to the tale, turning what could have been a depressing narrative into a light, fun read. The unexpected banter of comrades, the cynical observations of the Half-Mage, or the wry comments of a villain lightening the mood, winning a smile, or, occasionally, pulling out a laugh here and there.
What I especially liked was the wonderful world that Luke Scull continues to unveil. This land without gods, slowly deteriorating under the rule of the remaining wizards, and filled with the memories of a world that was before the destruction of the divine is truly developing into a wonderful canvas upon which to paint brilliant tales of daring-do. It might not be Middle-Earth, but it definitely stacks up well with grimdark favorites such as The Broken Empire of Mark Lawrence or The First Law of Joe Abercrombie.
Since I always say no book is without flaws, I suppose I have to point out negatives about Sword of the North, but it really is a hard thing to do, because, for what it is, this novel is nearly perfect. Yet I suppose I could see some readers being turned off by the decidedly horrible events and harsh language that occurs, for there are more than a few bad moments and a lot of cursing. None of this was especially egregious to me; each fitting into the ongoing narrative, not seeming placed there merely for shock value, but some might disagree with me about that.
Honestly, this was one of the best sequels that I’ve come across. Luke Scull deftly moving his original plot forward while introducing new concepts, new characters, and new lore into the organically growing story. To say I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment of this series is not doing justice to my desperate need to get my hands on book three, because I have a feeling it is going to be one hell of a ride!
I received this book from Roc in return for a honest review. The opinion you have read is mine alone and has not been influenced by anyone else.
December 6, 2017
So rather than gaining freedom the city of Dorminia has traded one magelord tyrant for another. Shockingly the new tyrant, The White Lady, cares even less about the people of Dorminia than their old tyrant Lord Salazar. While her public appearance is graceful and caring she's far more depraved than Salazar. She quickly moved to dispatch all threats such as the arrogant Davarus Cole while working him out of the narrative of Lord Salazar's downfall.
The Sword of the North at its best for me left me feeling indifferent. I had one brief moment that my pulse raised and I wanted to see what would happen next, but the majority of the time I wasn't concerned for the characters or the events of the book. Please don't misconstrue what I'm saying as though the author Luke Scull is a bad writer because I don't believe that's the case. My problem with this story is that if every character except perhaps Brodar Kayne were to fall down a well, I wouldn't even waste the energy to secure a rope to throw down to them. It's hard to care about a story when the thought of the point of view characters dying just makes me want to shrug my shoulders.
The overall creativity that Scull has infused into his story is disturbingly intriguing. I found the increased knowledge of the White Lady's handmaidens unnerving in a good way. The overall plot that the world has been ruined because the magelords killed the Gods is interesting conceptionally although I often can't help but wonder if they could die then how could they be Gods.
The Sword of the North isn't a bad story and I'm certain anyone who likes the characters will enjoy it more than I did.
The Sword of the North at its best for me left me feeling indifferent. I had one brief moment that my pulse raised and I wanted to see what would happen next, but the majority of the time I wasn't concerned for the characters or the events of the book. Please don't misconstrue what I'm saying as though the author Luke Scull is a bad writer because I don't believe that's the case. My problem with this story is that if every character except perhaps Brodar Kayne were to fall down a well, I wouldn't even waste the energy to secure a rope to throw down to them. It's hard to care about a story when the thought of the point of view characters dying just makes me want to shrug my shoulders.
The overall creativity that Scull has infused into his story is disturbingly intriguing. I found the increased knowledge of the White Lady's handmaidens unnerving in a good way. The overall plot that the world has been ruined because the magelords killed the Gods is interesting conceptionally although I often can't help but wonder if they could die then how could they be Gods.
The Sword of the North isn't a bad story and I'm certain anyone who likes the characters will enjoy it more than I did.
January 3, 2017
Such an impressive series that must be read!
I love all the characters. I love the world. I love the mysteries that are yet to follow and I have no doubt that I'll love the next book also, which just happens to have been released today (nice timing but I didn't mean it!).
Most impressive is the character arcs. There is a real journey for all the characters and real growth. I nearly cried at the whole Kayne and Jerek thing!
Please read it...I need to talk to someone about it with...
I love all the characters. I love the world. I love the mysteries that are yet to follow and I have no doubt that I'll love the next book also, which just happens to have been released today (nice timing but I didn't mean it!).
Most impressive is the character arcs. There is a real journey for all the characters and real growth. I nearly cried at the whole Kayne and Jerek thing!
Please read it...I need to talk to someone about it with...
Read
January 8, 2018DNF
I came, I tried, I threw it in the bin.
Well, I deleted it from my Kindle, which is somewhat less satisfying but you get the point.
I came, I tried, I threw it in the bin.
Well, I deleted it from my Kindle, which is somewhat less satisfying but you get the point.
May 5, 2015
4 of 5 stars guest review at Fantasy Book Critic: http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com...
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Of the many fantasy sequels coming out this year, Luke Scull’s Sword of the North is high on my anticipated list. The follow-up to the hit that was The Grim Company, this second book continues with a story teeming with fantastic characters, a strong plot, and plenty of action.
In the first book we met Brodar Kayne, a hero from the cold reaches whose battle prowess and skill with a blade earned him the title Sword of the North. Together with a band of ragtag outcasts, he and his companion Jerek the Wolf were able to survive the chaos that reigned after the White Lady declared victory and succeeded the tyrant Salazar. However, their new ruler has proven not to be as benevolent as she claimed. Something feels rotten at the heart of the city as dissidents are captured or disappeared, but if the White Lady cannot be convinced of the new danger threatening Dorminia, the state of things are sure to go from bad to worse.
Our grim company is broken now, the characters scattered across the land to pursue their own personal quests. Amidst dark tidings about the Shaman and demon hordes in the High Fangs, Brodar and Jerek begin their journey back to their homeland in light of new revelations about Brodar’s family. Weakened and injured from the ordeal at the end of book one, Davarus Cole wakes up in a labor camp and immediately finds himself put to work, but deep inside he is a changed man, no longer the puffed-up blowhard he once was. Sasha grieves, believing Cole lost to her, and falls back into her drug addiction even as she travels with her slightly unhinged sister Ambryl to bring news to the White Lady. And last but certainly not least, there is Eremul the Halfmage who continues his investigation into the race of immortals known as the Fade. Who are these mysterious creatures? And what do they want?
Make no mistake, the characters are the highlight of this series. It’s difficult for me to single out any favorites, because they are all so well written, deeply developed and memorable in their own way. I don’t know how Luke Scull does it, but even when his characters are dastardly and unlikeable, they’re great. Take for example, the chapters featuring Sir Meredith and his misguided notions of honor. I found them a pleasure to read, if for no other reason because you know it’ll feel so good when the cruel “knight” finally gets what he deserves.
I also believe much of the characters’ strength comes from their all-too-human flaws, which are nonetheless balanced by admirable virtues…well, in most cases anyway. Even Jerek who is as crass as ever can be lovable in his own way, because one would think nothing can shake the old Wolf’s loyalty to his friends. It’s what makes one significant plot development late in the novel so heart-wrenching. When it comes to plot elements that cut deeply, there’s also Sasha and her hopeless cycle of abstaining from the moon dust only to fall off the wagon again and again.
Scull has this way of getting you right into the heads of his characters, and Sasha’s struggle with the drug is one instance where the storytelling really closes in at a more intimate level. It’s all about personal stories, and nothing can be more personal than the flashbacks to Brodar Kayne’s past. These chapters were excellent, giving insight into our rough and tough protagonist, especially with the way they were interspersed with his present perspective. The company may be no more, most of its members separated, but in the process we’ve actually been given some great opportunities to further explore each character.
I was also surprised that for a heavy book containing such abundant themes and trappings of grimdark, Sword of the North was a relatively smooth, breezy read. It’s helped by the strong thread of wry humor woven through the story as well as the straight forward prose and dialogue, which at times featured language that bordered on modern-sounding. It’s not all gloom and doom despite the action and brutal violence, and actually managed to pull quite a few laughs out of me too.
As for flaws, I can’t think of many at all. Sword of the North is the middle book of a planned trilogy, and there are a lot of plot threads to follow so you can expect a slight slowdown in some of them while we gear up for the finale. On the whole, I found this to be the case with Davarus Cole as well as Eremul’s chapters. That’s not to say they were boring; on the contrary, there’s a lot of development happening there. But in terms of pacing, they were no match for Brodar Kayne’s action-filled chapters. Practically every other scene featured Brodar and his companions sticking a sword in something’s face, whether they be bandits, the risen undead, or poop-flinging barbarians. There were a couple new plot elements inserted into that storyline that felt a bit awkward though, such as a certain character from the Jade Isles who joins Brodar and his party late in the book. I think Scull may be setting up some game changers for book three, but the introduction of this character still seemed quite sudden and random. I guess we’ll see if it pays off in the next installment, but something tells me the author knows what he’s doing.
CONCLUSION: All told, this book was very enjoyable. Speaking of the next installment, I absolutely cannot wait for the third and final volume of this trilogy. If the first and second books are any indication, the finale is going to be well worth it. In Sword of the North, Luke Scull delivered a truly stellar sequel.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: Of the many fantasy sequels coming out this year, Luke Scull’s Sword of the North is high on my anticipated list. The follow-up to the hit that was The Grim Company, this second book continues with a story teeming with fantastic characters, a strong plot, and plenty of action.
In the first book we met Brodar Kayne, a hero from the cold reaches whose battle prowess and skill with a blade earned him the title Sword of the North. Together with a band of ragtag outcasts, he and his companion Jerek the Wolf were able to survive the chaos that reigned after the White Lady declared victory and succeeded the tyrant Salazar. However, their new ruler has proven not to be as benevolent as she claimed. Something feels rotten at the heart of the city as dissidents are captured or disappeared, but if the White Lady cannot be convinced of the new danger threatening Dorminia, the state of things are sure to go from bad to worse.
Our grim company is broken now, the characters scattered across the land to pursue their own personal quests. Amidst dark tidings about the Shaman and demon hordes in the High Fangs, Brodar and Jerek begin their journey back to their homeland in light of new revelations about Brodar’s family. Weakened and injured from the ordeal at the end of book one, Davarus Cole wakes up in a labor camp and immediately finds himself put to work, but deep inside he is a changed man, no longer the puffed-up blowhard he once was. Sasha grieves, believing Cole lost to her, and falls back into her drug addiction even as she travels with her slightly unhinged sister Ambryl to bring news to the White Lady. And last but certainly not least, there is Eremul the Halfmage who continues his investigation into the race of immortals known as the Fade. Who are these mysterious creatures? And what do they want?
Make no mistake, the characters are the highlight of this series. It’s difficult for me to single out any favorites, because they are all so well written, deeply developed and memorable in their own way. I don’t know how Luke Scull does it, but even when his characters are dastardly and unlikeable, they’re great. Take for example, the chapters featuring Sir Meredith and his misguided notions of honor. I found them a pleasure to read, if for no other reason because you know it’ll feel so good when the cruel “knight” finally gets what he deserves.
I also believe much of the characters’ strength comes from their all-too-human flaws, which are nonetheless balanced by admirable virtues…well, in most cases anyway. Even Jerek who is as crass as ever can be lovable in his own way, because one would think nothing can shake the old Wolf’s loyalty to his friends. It’s what makes one significant plot development late in the novel so heart-wrenching. When it comes to plot elements that cut deeply, there’s also Sasha and her hopeless cycle of abstaining from the moon dust only to fall off the wagon again and again.
Scull has this way of getting you right into the heads of his characters, and Sasha’s struggle with the drug is one instance where the storytelling really closes in at a more intimate level. It’s all about personal stories, and nothing can be more personal than the flashbacks to Brodar Kayne’s past. These chapters were excellent, giving insight into our rough and tough protagonist, especially with the way they were interspersed with his present perspective. The company may be no more, most of its members separated, but in the process we’ve actually been given some great opportunities to further explore each character.
I was also surprised that for a heavy book containing such abundant themes and trappings of grimdark, Sword of the North was a relatively smooth, breezy read. It’s helped by the strong thread of wry humor woven through the story as well as the straight forward prose and dialogue, which at times featured language that bordered on modern-sounding. It’s not all gloom and doom despite the action and brutal violence, and actually managed to pull quite a few laughs out of me too.
As for flaws, I can’t think of many at all. Sword of the North is the middle book of a planned trilogy, and there are a lot of plot threads to follow so you can expect a slight slowdown in some of them while we gear up for the finale. On the whole, I found this to be the case with Davarus Cole as well as Eremul’s chapters. That’s not to say they were boring; on the contrary, there’s a lot of development happening there. But in terms of pacing, they were no match for Brodar Kayne’s action-filled chapters. Practically every other scene featured Brodar and his companions sticking a sword in something’s face, whether they be bandits, the risen undead, or poop-flinging barbarians. There were a couple new plot elements inserted into that storyline that felt a bit awkward though, such as a certain character from the Jade Isles who joins Brodar and his party late in the book. I think Scull may be setting up some game changers for book three, but the introduction of this character still seemed quite sudden and random. I guess we’ll see if it pays off in the next installment, but something tells me the author knows what he’s doing.
CONCLUSION: All told, this book was very enjoyable. Speaking of the next installment, I absolutely cannot wait for the third and final volume of this trilogy. If the first and second books are any indication, the finale is going to be well worth it. In Sword of the North, Luke Scull delivered a truly stellar sequel.
May 1, 2015
This is some seriously high quality grimdark, with a brilliant cast of flawed and complex protagonists that you cannot help but become invested in.
The major story careens between Brodar Kayne, Davarus Cole, Sasha and Eremul the Halfmage whilst also flirting with the tale of how Brodar met Jerek, the Wolf, and earned his name forty some years before. This secondary tale gradually catches up to the current story and provides some of the most poignant and heartfelt moments I’ve ever encountered in the genre.
Cole is recovering from not just his physical wounds but some deeply scarring mental ones as well. He is not the hero he was told he was and sees no way of becoming the one he feels he should have been. Brodar continues to go on about his knees, although now we know why, and he along with Jerek, find themselves battling all sorts of classic fantasy creatures, while protecting a boy who is destined to change the future. We get some glorious fighting scenes with this crew and a couple of very fast paced action sequences that get the heart pumping. Whilst Cole was my favourite character in the first book Jerek and Brodar had me all the way in this one, and by the end, surprisingly, Jerek had taken the mantle.
The Halfmage is wonderful. He carries with him a god like reputation but almost none of the skills to back it up. His elevation has brought him all the failings of fame but few of the trappings with the poor and the many constantly badgering him for an uplifting word or spells for protection whilst he himself wonders what he did to deserve it all. One moment of his sums up the tone of the humour in the book particularly well.
“As he made his way through habourside alleys teaming with the poor and starving he wondered what had become of the two sisters he had sent to Thelassa. They should have returned long before now. He’d not heard so much as a peep. It was just like the time he’d sent the small band to the Wailing Rift, he reflected. It was almost as his quests weren’t being treated with the gravitas they deserved. After all, in the bad works of fiction he kept hidden in his depository, if a stern faced wizard arrived bearing tales of impending disaster, the chosen one bloody well did what was asked of them. They didn’t pocket the coin he has handed them and quietly bugger off Creator-knows where.”
There is an under current of cheekiness that is well used to in these odd moments of light and laughter, as long as you have a slightly dark sense of humour. Another example is after a particularly stirring speech by a wizard to motivate the men around him several inspired chaps step forward and there is always the chance that one guy will ruin it for everybody and this is captured so perfectly I need to share. I have changed some names as to Bob and Steve to avoid any spoilers
“’I lost a good friend back there. I haven’t got a family of my own, but Bob did. I owe it to him to get revenge on that bitch.’
That won a fresh round of cheers. Another Thelassan stepped forward. ‘Bob was my friend too. The White lady’s got to pay for what she’s done” She’s got to pay!’
More cheers roared across the dock. A consensus was beginning to form, the anger of the crowd turning it towards a singular purpose, a singular path of action.
Suddenly Smokes stepped forward. ‘I’ll burn the fucking city to the ground!’ he snarled. ‘And every man, women and child in it!”
The sound of someone clearing their throat was the only noise to break the silence that followed. ‘For what she’s done!’ Smokes added belatedly. He looked around, desperate for someone to back him up.
‘That seems a little…..extreme,’ Steve said slowly. ‘Besides, the city is constructed from marble. It’ll never catch fire, Especially not in this weather.’
Smokes sagged and a moment later shuffled shamefacedly back into the crowd, which now looked rather deflated.”
Ambryl and Sasha, the two sisters, have an interesting journey. Sent to bring news of a new enemy to the White lady, Ambryl goes from deadly assassin to possible religious convert. Sasha meanwhile is struggling with it being 4.20 all the time. Orgy in the middle of the street 4.20, riding on a boat 4.20, basically she’s either in rehab or it’s 4.20. Like a panicked child it was an interesting counterpart to her changed sister and a nice twist on where I thought it would go. The theme of drug abuse is not only explored on a personal level but on a societal level as well when it become clear people are being manipulated nationwide by a ruler eager to keep her people in a stupor. Sasha gets one of if not the best line in the entire book as well.
Sir Meredith deserves a mention as one of the most fearsome creations I’ve ever had in my mind. A broken man, covered in armour, who believes with the passion of a zealot that he is a knight but displays none of the moral or ethical strength needed to be one. He’ll kill a women he was saving if he says a hint of mirth her eyes when she’s hears his effeminate name.
There is a bit of language warning on this one but to be honest I love it. When some c#%t is behaving like an absolute c#%t you just have to call them out and say ‘Oi you’re a c$%t’ and Luke does this well. I don’t want to disparage the creation of new and interesting words that works as swears but the real ones work the best. It does nothing to me in terms of removing me from the world, after all everything else they say is in modern English, and actually draws me into the universe. In a world of swords, wizards, monsters and murder calling someone a piece of shit is actually pretty relatable.
The Grim Company was more than enough to convince me Luke Skull is an accomplished wordsmith but in this second book there is an improvement on an already stellar writing style. In book one Luke took us in the minds of a few major characters to great effect, in the Sword of the North we see how the actions of the previous book have affected not only our protagonists but also every member of the world he is created. From the heights of the usurping politicians and future rulers to the lows of the maligned merchants and the scrambling underfoot peasants we get a feel for the individual as well as the whole and it helps craft a remarkable world where every action has visible ripples of consequence. He wields humour brilliantly and keeps the edge between dark and light so keen it is possible to feel hope in the darkest situations whilst also sensing impending doom any time something is going well.
Overall Sword of the North is a marvellous book and one for all fans of fantasy and especially lovers of Grimdark. It has just about everything you could want in a second book.
Originally Posted at http://fantasy-faction.com/2015/sword...
The major story careens between Brodar Kayne, Davarus Cole, Sasha and Eremul the Halfmage whilst also flirting with the tale of how Brodar met Jerek, the Wolf, and earned his name forty some years before. This secondary tale gradually catches up to the current story and provides some of the most poignant and heartfelt moments I’ve ever encountered in the genre.
Cole is recovering from not just his physical wounds but some deeply scarring mental ones as well. He is not the hero he was told he was and sees no way of becoming the one he feels he should have been. Brodar continues to go on about his knees, although now we know why, and he along with Jerek, find themselves battling all sorts of classic fantasy creatures, while protecting a boy who is destined to change the future. We get some glorious fighting scenes with this crew and a couple of very fast paced action sequences that get the heart pumping. Whilst Cole was my favourite character in the first book Jerek and Brodar had me all the way in this one, and by the end, surprisingly, Jerek had taken the mantle.
The Halfmage is wonderful. He carries with him a god like reputation but almost none of the skills to back it up. His elevation has brought him all the failings of fame but few of the trappings with the poor and the many constantly badgering him for an uplifting word or spells for protection whilst he himself wonders what he did to deserve it all. One moment of his sums up the tone of the humour in the book particularly well.
“As he made his way through habourside alleys teaming with the poor and starving he wondered what had become of the two sisters he had sent to Thelassa. They should have returned long before now. He’d not heard so much as a peep. It was just like the time he’d sent the small band to the Wailing Rift, he reflected. It was almost as his quests weren’t being treated with the gravitas they deserved. After all, in the bad works of fiction he kept hidden in his depository, if a stern faced wizard arrived bearing tales of impending disaster, the chosen one bloody well did what was asked of them. They didn’t pocket the coin he has handed them and quietly bugger off Creator-knows where.”
There is an under current of cheekiness that is well used to in these odd moments of light and laughter, as long as you have a slightly dark sense of humour. Another example is after a particularly stirring speech by a wizard to motivate the men around him several inspired chaps step forward and there is always the chance that one guy will ruin it for everybody and this is captured so perfectly I need to share. I have changed some names as to Bob and Steve to avoid any spoilers
“’I lost a good friend back there. I haven’t got a family of my own, but Bob did. I owe it to him to get revenge on that bitch.’
That won a fresh round of cheers. Another Thelassan stepped forward. ‘Bob was my friend too. The White lady’s got to pay for what she’s done” She’s got to pay!’
More cheers roared across the dock. A consensus was beginning to form, the anger of the crowd turning it towards a singular purpose, a singular path of action.
Suddenly Smokes stepped forward. ‘I’ll burn the fucking city to the ground!’ he snarled. ‘And every man, women and child in it!”
The sound of someone clearing their throat was the only noise to break the silence that followed. ‘For what she’s done!’ Smokes added belatedly. He looked around, desperate for someone to back him up.
‘That seems a little…..extreme,’ Steve said slowly. ‘Besides, the city is constructed from marble. It’ll never catch fire, Especially not in this weather.’
Smokes sagged and a moment later shuffled shamefacedly back into the crowd, which now looked rather deflated.”
Ambryl and Sasha, the two sisters, have an interesting journey. Sent to bring news of a new enemy to the White lady, Ambryl goes from deadly assassin to possible religious convert. Sasha meanwhile is struggling with it being 4.20 all the time. Orgy in the middle of the street 4.20, riding on a boat 4.20, basically she’s either in rehab or it’s 4.20. Like a panicked child it was an interesting counterpart to her changed sister and a nice twist on where I thought it would go. The theme of drug abuse is not only explored on a personal level but on a societal level as well when it become clear people are being manipulated nationwide by a ruler eager to keep her people in a stupor. Sasha gets one of if not the best line in the entire book as well.
Sir Meredith deserves a mention as one of the most fearsome creations I’ve ever had in my mind. A broken man, covered in armour, who believes with the passion of a zealot that he is a knight but displays none of the moral or ethical strength needed to be one. He’ll kill a women he was saving if he says a hint of mirth her eyes when she’s hears his effeminate name.
There is a bit of language warning on this one but to be honest I love it. When some c#%t is behaving like an absolute c#%t you just have to call them out and say ‘Oi you’re a c$%t’ and Luke does this well. I don’t want to disparage the creation of new and interesting words that works as swears but the real ones work the best. It does nothing to me in terms of removing me from the world, after all everything else they say is in modern English, and actually draws me into the universe. In a world of swords, wizards, monsters and murder calling someone a piece of shit is actually pretty relatable.
The Grim Company was more than enough to convince me Luke Skull is an accomplished wordsmith but in this second book there is an improvement on an already stellar writing style. In book one Luke took us in the minds of a few major characters to great effect, in the Sword of the North we see how the actions of the previous book have affected not only our protagonists but also every member of the world he is created. From the heights of the usurping politicians and future rulers to the lows of the maligned merchants and the scrambling underfoot peasants we get a feel for the individual as well as the whole and it helps craft a remarkable world where every action has visible ripples of consequence. He wields humour brilliantly and keeps the edge between dark and light so keen it is possible to feel hope in the darkest situations whilst also sensing impending doom any time something is going well.
Overall Sword of the North is a marvellous book and one for all fans of fantasy and especially lovers of Grimdark. It has just about everything you could want in a second book.
Originally Posted at http://fantasy-faction.com/2015/sword...
December 6, 2020
Read the first book 3 years ago I think and this one still excited me as the last.
Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes grim dark fantasy.
Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes grim dark fantasy.
December 23, 2016
There's grimdark and there's dismal.
There's gritty and there's crass.
There's realistic and there's forced.
There's convoluted and there's psychedelic.
There's five stars and there's two.
There's gritty and there's crass.
There's realistic and there's forced.
There's convoluted and there's psychedelic.
There's five stars and there's two.
July 28, 2017
Well, DNF.
I realized I was not having fun, I was skipping entire pages, and I never skip pages.
I'm too old to read books for the sake of it.
First, I remember nothing from the first volume. I actually had to read online to figure out everyone compares this guy to Joe Ambercrombie (maybe because they are pals), and I remembered thinking it's nothing like. Then, I remember some floating ladies and this wheelchair mage.
The second book starts weirdly - odd combat scenes that serve no purpose with dramatic zoom-in on armor and trivial personality characteristics that are supposed to add depth but then they do not. Also, there are familiar motifs you've seen in other books and series, including but not limited to LoTR, SoT, WoT, Joe's books indeed, and a handful of others. Except they are stitched together by an unholy force rather than natural prose. And I hear Michael Dudikoff AKA American Ninja makes an appearance later in the book, too. Which is cool, but then, it isn't.
I don't think the author purposefully took elements from other books - but he created a universe that is so colorful and so illogical that it bends the boundaries of the genre, in a bad way. It simply feels like a crazy collection of random ideas, half baked, half realized, cliche, shallow, and not fun at all.
Anyway, I might have enjoyed something like this 20 years ago. Now, it feels contrived and cheap, and I just have no desire to continue. I don't care about anything that's happening in this book, and it's all erratic and messy anyway, and the story is stilted and haphazard and unfocused. I will not be reading more of this series, that's for sure.
No limerick, not in the mood.
Igor
I realized I was not having fun, I was skipping entire pages, and I never skip pages.
I'm too old to read books for the sake of it.
First, I remember nothing from the first volume. I actually had to read online to figure out everyone compares this guy to Joe Ambercrombie (maybe because they are pals), and I remembered thinking it's nothing like. Then, I remember some floating ladies and this wheelchair mage.
The second book starts weirdly - odd combat scenes that serve no purpose with dramatic zoom-in on armor and trivial personality characteristics that are supposed to add depth but then they do not. Also, there are familiar motifs you've seen in other books and series, including but not limited to LoTR, SoT, WoT, Joe's books indeed, and a handful of others. Except they are stitched together by an unholy force rather than natural prose. And I hear Michael Dudikoff AKA American Ninja makes an appearance later in the book, too. Which is cool, but then, it isn't.
I don't think the author purposefully took elements from other books - but he created a universe that is so colorful and so illogical that it bends the boundaries of the genre, in a bad way. It simply feels like a crazy collection of random ideas, half baked, half realized, cliche, shallow, and not fun at all.
Anyway, I might have enjoyed something like this 20 years ago. Now, it feels contrived and cheap, and I just have no desire to continue. I don't care about anything that's happening in this book, and it's all erratic and messy anyway, and the story is stilted and haphazard and unfocused. I will not be reading more of this series, that's for sure.
No limerick, not in the mood.
Igor
April 8, 2017
I'm quite sure If one really wanted to they could point out a lot of things that a wrong with this book: it's pace is very quick, characters appear seemingly out of nowhere to move the plot along, there may be some Deus Ex Machina here and there and some other smaller issues. But I. Here to tell you that none of then matter because this series has been nothing but awesome so far. Scull write characters that I find exactly to my tastes and the amount of crazy shit that is packed I to these 400-500 pages is astonishing. Finish this last night and will be heading out shortly to pick up book 3.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
July 12, 2015
I heartily congratulate myself on the completion of this particular book, as it took me an awfully long time to read. Other books, little time and temporary loss of interest made sure the book would take me a month to finish. Yesterday morning, I was only about one-fourth of the way done with the book. But then I sat down and thought to myself: Ojo! You've got to finish this book! You've got to say NO to reading-greed and finish this one before you move to other books(which are numerous). Here I am now, done! Yippee! Reading this book proved really challenging.
There's many trends in epic fantasy writing. There's the classic sword and sorcery. There's the heroic kind, championed by the likes of Terry Goodkind, Patrick Rothfuss, David Gemmell, and David Eddings. There's the 'gray' character type: Steven Erikson, Paul Kearney and G.R.R Martin. Then there's the 'Fellowship/Company type.
I recently read Prince of Thorns and was struck by the brutality and savagery of the' Company'. A month or so ago, I read 'The Black Company'. Same thoughts. But then, the characters in these 'companies' do not compare with their counterparts in 'Sword of the North', imo.
What makes this book better than Prince of Thorns imo is the strength of the characters. While Prince of Thorns is more plot-based, Sword of the the North is more character based. The 'company' here, unlike that of Prince of Thorns seem real. They aren't just savage and brutal. They have emotions. They aren't a bunch of brutal, savage killers and rapists whose only concern is the next raid. They actually contribute to the plot. It's an ensemble cast you've got here.
Still on comparisons with other books, I think Sword of the North is somewhat similar to Providence of Fire, plot wise. The plot is expanding. The game is getting bigger. New pieces are being added to the chessboard. It's so unpredictable. And the cliffhanger where the author left it off is not going to help matters...
The book's biggest strength is the writing. While lots of writers have good stories, they end up failing because they cannot write it well. Some books, while not sporting all so good stories, end up as bestsellers because the author has excellent writing skills.
Kudos to Luke Scull for such a great book. An excellent read.
There's many trends in epic fantasy writing. There's the classic sword and sorcery. There's the heroic kind, championed by the likes of Terry Goodkind, Patrick Rothfuss, David Gemmell, and David Eddings. There's the 'gray' character type: Steven Erikson, Paul Kearney and G.R.R Martin. Then there's the 'Fellowship/Company type.
I recently read Prince of Thorns and was struck by the brutality and savagery of the' Company'. A month or so ago, I read 'The Black Company'. Same thoughts. But then, the characters in these 'companies' do not compare with their counterparts in 'Sword of the North', imo.
What makes this book better than Prince of Thorns imo is the strength of the characters. While Prince of Thorns is more plot-based, Sword of the the North is more character based. The 'company' here, unlike that of Prince of Thorns seem real. They aren't just savage and brutal. They have emotions. They aren't a bunch of brutal, savage killers and rapists whose only concern is the next raid. They actually contribute to the plot. It's an ensemble cast you've got here.
Still on comparisons with other books, I think Sword of the North is somewhat similar to Providence of Fire, plot wise. The plot is expanding. The game is getting bigger. New pieces are being added to the chessboard. It's so unpredictable. And the cliffhanger where the author left it off is not going to help matters...
The book's biggest strength is the writing. While lots of writers have good stories, they end up failing because they cannot write it well. Some books, while not sporting all so good stories, end up as bestsellers because the author has excellent writing skills.
Kudos to Luke Scull for such a great book. An excellent read.
July 18, 2016
Now I thought I only read the first part a little while ago...... so why am i drawing a blank with recollecting the names...... is it cause i lost a bit o blood recently perchance or is it the turning of the dreaded 5-0...... either ways its grand so far as im getting to meet all these NEW & wonderful characters again!
A lot of very likeable characters too But it does read more like a collection of short stories as they’re scattered about the realm(s), some in new places which at first is hard to fathom as I try & pick up the thread from the previous book. Its great storytelling & that’s what keeps this reader hooked despite a few rocky scenes. My personnel favs being Brodar Kayne & Jarek, the two highlanders who manage to pick up an entourage on their journey, a meandering journey at that Id say but it makes for a good tale.
I wont give much away suffice to say its my new Grimdark series to follow having tried a few of late to replace Abercrombie.
A lot of very likeable characters too But it does read more like a collection of short stories as they’re scattered about the realm(s), some in new places which at first is hard to fathom as I try & pick up the thread from the previous book. Its great storytelling & that’s what keeps this reader hooked despite a few rocky scenes. My personnel favs being Brodar Kayne & Jarek, the two highlanders who manage to pick up an entourage on their journey, a meandering journey at that Id say but it makes for a good tale.
I wont give much away suffice to say its my new Grimdark series to follow having tried a few of late to replace Abercrombie.
May 7, 2015
Fantasy Review Barn
Did I like The Grim Company, Scull’s epic fantasy debut from last year? Of course I did. Hardly over hyped it was the type of book that felt designed to hit all the right notes of a popular series. Yet despite its familiarity almost by the numbers feel (*cough* First Law *cough) I never felt that it was derivative of the works it could be compared to. It took a well-worn feel and gave it a life of its own. I immediately was ready for Sword of the North to come out so I could continue the adventure.
Sword of the North is a very different animal than its predecessor despite keeping the same general feel. The Grim Company had its feet firmly planted in the Grimdark thing (call it a genre, sub-genre or whatever have you). It started with a man using magic to drop half an ocean onto a rival’s city after all. From there it followed a familiar path of people trying hard and ultimately failing in their futile efforts; that things were only going to get worse was perfectly clear.
I felt there was actually a bit of hope, a bit less chance of tragedy, hell a little bit of happiness hidden in a few pages. Don’t get me wrong, this book still walks on the darker side of fantasy complete with high body counts, betrayals by people you actually like and nasty people getting big wins. But unlike ‘grimdark’ books I found that characters I have liked through two books have for the most part stayed likable. I feel that there are people who actually care in this world, which of course takes out some of the caricature feel common in dark fantasy. What’s more, some characters actually show some will to improve themselves. What a concept! We are halfway to a comedy (by classical definition).
We continue to follow characters met in the first book; Brodar Kayne as he heads North to check on a rumor about his family along with the grim man who goes by Wolf. Cole, who should be a celebrated hero for his deeds in book one, instead wakes up in a penal colony. Sasha, following her sister into a confrontation with The White Lady (would be savior from The Grim Company). And the half-mage; a man digging into secrets that could prove important at a later date (and pissing off important people while doing so). The land is learning that anyone powerful to dispose of a despot should probably be looked into, war is coming to the north (with the help of some barely under control demons) and lots of dying people is pretty much inevitable.
I enjoyed each of these character’s paths, save one. The story’s expanded scope, and an overall villain much more interesting that that who ruled the first book, was well woven and entertaining. Minor anachronisms are forgiven (and Pulp Fiction homages are noted but ultimately ignored) for sake of a good read. But the grizzled barbarian who helped carry the first book, one Brodar Kayne, was given the short end of the story this time around. It felt like the author knew what to do with each piece of his puzzle save this one. So on a travel quest he goes! Picking up as large of a quest party as possible along the way, one piece at a time, just to keep the story going I suppose. It led to an entire POV that I wanted to skip each time it came up, never a good thing and for this reader slowed the story down greatly.
This is a shame because in a lot of ways I think Scull is giving us a more creative and in depth story this time around in every other aspect. As inevitable as ‘same as the old boss’ style mechanics may be it always breaks the heart when it turns out to be true. And the new bosses minions are one of those little unique touches that always makes me smile when I read fantasy. I can safely say that for the most part this book clicked all around for me. It just falls into that common trap of having too many pages that don’t add anything to the story.
3 Stars
Copy for review provided by publisher.
Did I like The Grim Company, Scull’s epic fantasy debut from last year? Of course I did. Hardly over hyped it was the type of book that felt designed to hit all the right notes of a popular series. Yet despite its familiarity almost by the numbers feel (*cough* First Law *cough) I never felt that it was derivative of the works it could be compared to. It took a well-worn feel and gave it a life of its own. I immediately was ready for Sword of the North to come out so I could continue the adventure.
Sword of the North is a very different animal than its predecessor despite keeping the same general feel. The Grim Company had its feet firmly planted in the Grimdark thing (call it a genre, sub-genre or whatever have you). It started with a man using magic to drop half an ocean onto a rival’s city after all. From there it followed a familiar path of people trying hard and ultimately failing in their futile efforts; that things were only going to get worse was perfectly clear.
I felt there was actually a bit of hope, a bit less chance of tragedy, hell a little bit of happiness hidden in a few pages. Don’t get me wrong, this book still walks on the darker side of fantasy complete with high body counts, betrayals by people you actually like and nasty people getting big wins. But unlike ‘grimdark’ books I found that characters I have liked through two books have for the most part stayed likable. I feel that there are people who actually care in this world, which of course takes out some of the caricature feel common in dark fantasy. What’s more, some characters actually show some will to improve themselves. What a concept! We are halfway to a comedy (by classical definition).
We continue to follow characters met in the first book; Brodar Kayne as he heads North to check on a rumor about his family along with the grim man who goes by Wolf. Cole, who should be a celebrated hero for his deeds in book one, instead wakes up in a penal colony. Sasha, following her sister into a confrontation with The White Lady (would be savior from The Grim Company). And the half-mage; a man digging into secrets that could prove important at a later date (and pissing off important people while doing so). The land is learning that anyone powerful to dispose of a despot should probably be looked into, war is coming to the north (with the help of some barely under control demons) and lots of dying people is pretty much inevitable.
I enjoyed each of these character’s paths, save one. The story’s expanded scope, and an overall villain much more interesting that that who ruled the first book, was well woven and entertaining. Minor anachronisms are forgiven (and Pulp Fiction homages are noted but ultimately ignored) for sake of a good read. But the grizzled barbarian who helped carry the first book, one Brodar Kayne, was given the short end of the story this time around. It felt like the author knew what to do with each piece of his puzzle save this one. So on a travel quest he goes! Picking up as large of a quest party as possible along the way, one piece at a time, just to keep the story going I suppose. It led to an entire POV that I wanted to skip each time it came up, never a good thing and for this reader slowed the story down greatly.
This is a shame because in a lot of ways I think Scull is giving us a more creative and in depth story this time around in every other aspect. As inevitable as ‘same as the old boss’ style mechanics may be it always breaks the heart when it turns out to be true. And the new bosses minions are one of those little unique touches that always makes me smile when I read fantasy. I can safely say that for the most part this book clicked all around for me. It just falls into that common trap of having too many pages that don’t add anything to the story.
3 Stars
Copy for review provided by publisher.
April 30, 2016
Good 2nd book in the series.
July 15, 2015
I love Luke Scull because
1, I always have a good time reading his stories. Going back to his world felt like coming home. I’m totally comfortable and familiar with his protagonists, and I welcomed them as long seen acquaintances.
2, He managed to write the darkest dark fantasy WHILE he made me believe this is not a dark fantasy at all. :D There is something in his writing style/narrative which helps you get over all the blight you read about. But this is just an illusion…This is a fucking sick story, and filth is flowing from every corner. We are head-to-toe deep in the darkness here and sometimes we just forget. Maybe Luke has some wizardy skills? :O I don’t know, but hell…This is really GRIM and DARK with the biggest capitals.
3, The characters are colorful, have their own motivations, backstories. They are wonderfully written and this is the biggest strength of the author. I especially like how he treats them: if Luke hurts them he REALLY HURTS them. He doesn’t go soft on his protagonists at all, and for me this is really positive, and makes the characters more believable and alive.
He is also great at the multi-POV writing, although it is not my favourite style. However, it was great that Brodar Kayne had more „screen-time” than the others, I really enjoyed his backstory. :)
(I hope in the future Luke will experiment with one-POV writing as well. I think he is extremely good at character-building and he could make something incredible if he had more time to focus on only one character.)
4, The story is unpredictable. Unlike the first book, the second one was full of surprises and I have no idea how it’s going to continue. I have some theories but they are really blurry and I’m not sure at all.
Especially with an ending chapter like this…WHAT A CLIFFHANGER.
So yeah, this book was really enjoyable. :D I liked it much more than the first one and I’m really curious how the story will end. I have a feeling it will be the darkest of them all. Can’t wait!
P.S. and (spoilers): Kayne and Jerek are the best. I am going to cry if they don’t get back together in the finale! :(
And I’m also going to cry if Jerek doesn’t return. But this is not an option!!! He is alive, I know.
4.5/5
Originally written in Hungarian on this site: moly.hu
1, I always have a good time reading his stories. Going back to his world felt like coming home. I’m totally comfortable and familiar with his protagonists, and I welcomed them as long seen acquaintances.
2, He managed to write the darkest dark fantasy WHILE he made me believe this is not a dark fantasy at all. :D There is something in his writing style/narrative which helps you get over all the blight you read about. But this is just an illusion…This is a fucking sick story, and filth is flowing from every corner. We are head-to-toe deep in the darkness here and sometimes we just forget. Maybe Luke has some wizardy skills? :O I don’t know, but hell…This is really GRIM and DARK with the biggest capitals.
3, The characters are colorful, have their own motivations, backstories. They are wonderfully written and this is the biggest strength of the author. I especially like how he treats them: if Luke hurts them he REALLY HURTS them. He doesn’t go soft on his protagonists at all, and for me this is really positive, and makes the characters more believable and alive.
He is also great at the multi-POV writing, although it is not my favourite style. However, it was great that Brodar Kayne had more „screen-time” than the others, I really enjoyed his backstory. :)
(I hope in the future Luke will experiment with one-POV writing as well. I think he is extremely good at character-building and he could make something incredible if he had more time to focus on only one character.)
4, The story is unpredictable. Unlike the first book, the second one was full of surprises and I have no idea how it’s going to continue. I have some theories but they are really blurry and I’m not sure at all.
Especially with an ending chapter like this…WHAT A CLIFFHANGER.
So yeah, this book was really enjoyable. :D I liked it much more than the first one and I’m really curious how the story will end. I have a feeling it will be the darkest of them all. Can’t wait!
P.S. and (spoilers): Kayne and Jerek are the best. I am going to cry if they don’t get back together in the finale! :(
4.5/5
Originally written in Hungarian on this site: moly.hu
August 26, 2015
Decidedly a much better read than the first book. Like I mentioned in my review of THE GRIM COMPANY, the thing that I liked least in the first book was that it ended just as I got acclimated to the characters and world.
Starting SWORD OF THE NORTH I knew the characters and (basically) understood the world so I could really sink my teeth into the story. And, oh what a story! This book had it all! Demons, zombies, drug abuse and of course the sickest and the most hardcore barbarian since The Bloody Nine!
As the title suggests, This novel shines more of the spotlight on Brodar Kayne and we get to learn more about his past. That's not to say that the characters we all know and love fall to the wayside. The POVs from the previous book in this series are continued in this book. But thankfully we get a whole lot more of Kayne and his enormous great sword.
My only real complaint is the addition of a POV which I found tedious and boring: That of the exiled knight, Meredith. I understand that this POV served some purpose but Mr. Scull couldn't have kicked Meredith to the side and added more Kayne chapters. Duh.
Great book. Highly recommended.
Starting SWORD OF THE NORTH I knew the characters and (basically) understood the world so I could really sink my teeth into the story. And, oh what a story! This book had it all! Demons, zombies, drug abuse and of course the sickest and the most hardcore barbarian since The Bloody Nine!
As the title suggests, This novel shines more of the spotlight on Brodar Kayne and we get to learn more about his past. That's not to say that the characters we all know and love fall to the wayside. The POVs from the previous book in this series are continued in this book. But thankfully we get a whole lot more of Kayne and his enormous great sword.
My only real complaint is the addition of a POV which I found tedious and boring: That of the exiled knight, Meredith. I understand that this POV served some purpose but Mr. Scull couldn't have kicked Meredith to the side and added more Kayne chapters. Duh.
Great book. Highly recommended.
June 12, 2016
"If Eremul had learned anything from years spent with his nose buried in books on history and philosophy, it was that contentment was the most transient emotion of all. The human spirit was not meant to float suspended in the calm waters of equanimity but rather to lurch wildly from one crisis to another."
I feel this reflects the general theme of this dark, explicit, twisted tale. This sequel joins the ranks of my top 5 fantasy novels I have read this year. Beware Big Shots, Luke Scull is the real fucking deal! Cheers!
I feel this reflects the general theme of this dark, explicit, twisted tale. This sequel joins the ranks of my top 5 fantasy novels I have read this year. Beware Big Shots, Luke Scull is the real fucking deal! Cheers!
May 18, 2015
Full review over at The Bibliosanctum
Read Mogsy's review over at Fantasy Book Critic
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: When it comes to sequels, it’s hard for the authors to write them, as often they have to do so within a strict time limit as well as take into consideration reader expectations. Now imagine if your debut was a successful one, Terry Brooks took 5 years between his debut Sword of Shannara and the follow-up Elfstones of Shannara. Supposedly he had written a different book but his editor had him scrap it, and aren't we all glad for it.
If Terry Brooks had such a hard time writing the sequel in a day and age without the internet, imagine what authors must go through in this age. Luke Scull had previously mentioned how he’s had to overcome many difficulties while writing this book and it’s being released nearly 2 years after its predecessor. As far as wait times go, that’s a tiny one in epic fantasy scale. For me The Grim Company was a standout debut and also the best debut in my 2013 year-end lists. The sequel was a highly anticipated one and of course this volume promised a lot more of Brodar Kayne & his highly taciturn comrade Jerek the wolf.
How did it figure? That’s a complicated answer and I’ll try my best to give a proper reply. Here’s what the novel is about. Broday Kayne and Jerek after the events of The Grim Company when they took part in upsetting Salazar’s reign aren't really feeling the love. So after three weeks they decide to go back to the north. However, their luck runs awry when bandits beset them. This book also dwells deeply on its titular character Kayne as we get to see how Brodar gained the title of the Sword Of The North beginning with events nearly thirty-six years ago.
Returning back from the last book are Davarus, Sasha and Yllandris. Davarus returns and finds that fate has crueler plans for him. He finds himself a prisoner in a concentration camp (of sorts) with a sadistic overseer. Sasha found her family in Ambryl but she finds that the sister she remembers is long gone. They are both conscripted by Eremul to find out more about the White Lady in Thelessa while delivering his message. Yllandris is in a rough situation as well, her paramour is now a tortured prisoner and she is beholden to a crazy sociopath who is known as the Butcher King. Lastly there’s Eremul who is now recognized as the half-mage who slew Salazar and is now trying his best to find out more about the Fade. There’s also a new POV character called Sir Meredith who is a knight sworn to the Butcher king and he’s a doozy.
That is the cast of POV characters and with this book, Luke Scull plunges the reader back into the crazy world that is the Age of Ruin. The characters whom we love are back however the author is not done with them. Readers should be warned that while this is a middle book of the trilogy, it doesn't quite suffer from the middle book syndrome. There’s a plan at work here, which deals with the events that were showcased in the prologue of its predecessor. This book does build up on a lot of things for Dead Man’s Steel, the final volume of the trilogy.
Here’s what I enjoyed about this book, once again the characterization is the author’s forte. Beginning with Brodar Kayne who shines mightily throughout, there’s also the focus on Davarus, Yllandris, Sasha and Sir Meredith. All these characters undergo a lot and not all of them make it throughout the book. I want to particularly highlight Sir Meredith who is as despicable as they come but thanks to the author we get to see a peek at the madness that lies within him. It’s a fascinating sort of look that while we hate the character and his actions, the author brilliantly illustrates what make him tick. This brilliant characterization is also showcased with Davarus and Sasha who have to undergo a lot of trials and they are made stronger for it.
If you thought Davarus was pompous in the previous chapter, this book showcases how far he falls. The horror he endures makes the stuff Harry Dresden faces seem like a walk in the park. In this regard, Luke Scull shows himself to be a crueler manipulator than Jim Butcher with regards to his characters. We also get a significant look into Brodar’s past and how his friendship with Jerek came to be. That bond is significantly focused upon in this volume and we are shown what truly makes Jerek tick. The author also shows a lot of ruthlessness with character deaths and there are some surprising ones in this volume. I enjoyed how the author made the read an even keel, as I wasn't sure who would survive for the next volume.
Lastly this book also gives us a more than clearer look at the events that lead to the Age of Ruin, the reason for the Fade’s disappearance and hatred for humanity. The author has sown some seeds within the first volume that will become clearer only after reading this book. I absolutely can’t wait to see how it all unfolds in the third volume wherein there’s a titanic struggle to for the remaining characters.
As intriguing as this book was, there were some middling points to it. Namely that the pace flounders a bit in the middle of the book wherein the author is setting up things for the climax. Another thing that was disappointing for me was the reduced role that Eremul had in this book. As a main character in the preceding volume, I was looking to more from him but sadly that wasn't the case. However I’m hoping he features more prominently in the sequel though.
CONCLUSION: Sword Of The North is a strong sequel to The Grim Company and as far as books go, it’s a fascinating read. I had high expectations and it managed to meet them strongly. It did have some missteps but then what book doesn't. Overall it neatly sidestepped the middle book syndrome and sets up the final volume superbly. Sword Of The North gets a solid thumbs-up and I can’t wait to read Dead Man’s Steel now.
February 5, 2015
I'm sure there's a light at the end of the tunnel for these characters; It's most likely the blast-wave of a nuclear explosion, but still!
Excellent if almost unremittingly grim follow up to the aptly name Grim Company see the characters continuing to not have the slightest hint of fun or good luck. This time we get some nice back story on Kayne and Jerek to really rub salt into the wounds, whereas Sasha spends the book drugged to the eyeballs, feeling sorry for herself and having to deal with her psychopathic sister...then she really learns some unpleasant stuff. As for Cole, well he continues to be his own worst enemy against some seriously stiff competition; I wish I could tell you he fought the good fight and Luke let him be but Sword of the North is no fairy tale...
The back story of the world continues to be fascinating but by the time of the final revelation as to what the 'bad guys' ultimate aim is I can't help but think they probably have a point and we should be cheering them on.
Looking forward to the next dose of pain. Bring it on!
Excellent if almost unremittingly grim follow up to the aptly name Grim Company see the characters continuing to not have the slightest hint of fun or good luck. This time we get some nice back story on Kayne and Jerek to really rub salt into the wounds, whereas Sasha spends the book drugged to the eyeballs, feeling sorry for herself and having to deal with her psychopathic sister...then she really learns some unpleasant stuff. As for Cole, well he continues to be his own worst enemy against some seriously stiff competition; I wish I could tell you he fought the good fight and Luke let him be but Sword of the North is no fairy tale...
The back story of the world continues to be fascinating but by the time of the final revelation as to what the 'bad guys' ultimate aim is I can't help but think they probably have a point and we should be cheering them on.
Looking forward to the next dose of pain. Bring it on!
August 15, 2017
Loved the first novel. Loved this one twice as much. It's a brilliant sequel that greatly improves upon the first's strengths. Brilliant characters to love and to hate; superb pacing and thriller-like plotting. Scull is an author to keep your eye on - and more than that he's an author Fantasy fans should read as soon as possible.
Even the author's wordsmithery is slightly improved in this round. The first novel did have a few flaws in what I'd call text imprecision, in wording, mostly. Though as I think of most writers, a vocabulary widening couldn't hurt. But those are very minor quibbles, moreso in this more polished follow-up.
Very excited to read the third novel which I'm starting instantly, even before I get up from this armchair. Now, off with me. Readings more fun than scribbling my tiny review.
Even the author's wordsmithery is slightly improved in this round. The first novel did have a few flaws in what I'd call text imprecision, in wording, mostly. Though as I think of most writers, a vocabulary widening couldn't hurt. But those are very minor quibbles, moreso in this more polished follow-up.
Very excited to read the third novel which I'm starting instantly, even before I get up from this armchair. Now, off with me. Readings more fun than scribbling my tiny review.
July 20, 2016
As slow as I was in making my way through this sequel to Luke Scull's impressive debut, The Grim Company, one might think I was disappointed, bored, or some nasty combination of the two.
In fact, I was naught but entertained ... and exceedingly time-poor.
I've developed something of a pattern to my purchasing of books of late. The ones I truly want to read, to savour, to honour the author's work by paying the full fee - they are the books I buy from a good ol' fashioned bookstore in hard copy. Those that fleetingly catch my fancy, I pick up for my e-reader. Sword of the North was one of those I purchased from a bookstore. But as I read it, I realised physical books are rarely as close to me as my phone, and by extension, my e-reader. As such, when in a line, or with 5 minutes to spare at work, or even when seated on the royal commode, the e-books typically get read...
Thankfully, at least in the case of Sword of the North, the wait was more than worth it.
Scull here traverses the tricky landscape of the middle book in the series by splitting most of his main characters that previously formed the Grim Company, and each having them go off on an adventure that continues to build his world. Except these are the kinds of adventures that involve death, dismemberment, dark magic, torture, enslavement, and a little anal rape.
So yes, this book does stays rooted firmly in the Grimdark sub-genre which is becoming ever more popular, and I, for one, am exceptionally glad for it.
Scull's characters are still compelling - if a little overly familiar - and he puts them through their paces in such a way as the reader is always left wanting more. There are a few character interactions which were a little too convenient (or manufactured) for my tastes but otherwise you will find yourself willing Eremul to get someone to listen to him, hoping Brodar finds his wife, and wincing for Cole as he hits rock bottom.
But the best part of Sword of the North is the way it ends - with such a perfect cliffhanger (and then satisfying coda afterwards) that if you are anything like me, you will be cursing yourself for finishing this before the third book in the series has been released.
A great middle book in an already exceptional series from an author who is already turning heads, Sword of the North comes highly recommended to all fans of Joe Abercrombie.
4 Vats of Birthing Blood for Sword of the North.
In fact, I was naught but entertained ... and exceedingly time-poor.
I've developed something of a pattern to my purchasing of books of late. The ones I truly want to read, to savour, to honour the author's work by paying the full fee - they are the books I buy from a good ol' fashioned bookstore in hard copy. Those that fleetingly catch my fancy, I pick up for my e-reader. Sword of the North was one of those I purchased from a bookstore. But as I read it, I realised physical books are rarely as close to me as my phone, and by extension, my e-reader. As such, when in a line, or with 5 minutes to spare at work, or even when seated on the royal commode, the e-books typically get read...
Thankfully, at least in the case of Sword of the North, the wait was more than worth it.
Scull here traverses the tricky landscape of the middle book in the series by splitting most of his main characters that previously formed the Grim Company, and each having them go off on an adventure that continues to build his world. Except these are the kinds of adventures that involve death, dismemberment, dark magic, torture, enslavement, and a little anal rape.
So yes, this book does stays rooted firmly in the Grimdark sub-genre which is becoming ever more popular, and I, for one, am exceptionally glad for it.
Scull's characters are still compelling - if a little overly familiar - and he puts them through their paces in such a way as the reader is always left wanting more. There are a few character interactions which were a little too convenient (or manufactured) for my tastes but otherwise you will find yourself willing Eremul to get someone to listen to him, hoping Brodar finds his wife, and wincing for Cole as he hits rock bottom.
But the best part of Sword of the North is the way it ends - with such a perfect cliffhanger (and then satisfying coda afterwards) that if you are anything like me, you will be cursing yourself for finishing this before the third book in the series has been released.
A great middle book in an already exceptional series from an author who is already turning heads, Sword of the North comes highly recommended to all fans of Joe Abercrombie.
4 Vats of Birthing Blood for Sword of the North.
June 2, 2015
This is the book about Brodar Kayne. Through flashbacks and the main story he is crafted into a grey, fully-fleshed character. He's a perfect example how the past can haunt you or even come back with a vengeance. The path deficiency of his life shapes him in his choices.
Another character a truely liked was Sir Meredith. The man is a knight from Tarbonne, presently serving in the Kingsguard. He is a man who thinks he doesn't get what he deserves, what he is ought to get as a knight. Combine that aspect with his highly inflamable rage and a twisted view on knighthood and you get a sick sort of fellow you love to hate. We get some insight in how he came to be the way he is and that makes him a very interesting character.
I didn't like Davarus Cole in the first book. I like him after reading Sword of the North. Luke Scull pulled of a great character change and although it fares into more traditional territory now I really like how humbled Cole is now. He's also being set up for a big roll in the next book so I'm expecting a lot from this character development.
Next to that we've got several other interesting character arcs (POVs or not). I don't need to stress how strongly most characters are developed. Definitely this book's strongsuit.
Plotwise everything progresses nicely without any unnecessary deviations or side stories. Very coherent. Scull doesn't really opt for a big epic ending (he could have played out the magical battle between The White Lady and the Crow or between the Shaman and the Herald, he kept them relatively brief) and instead chose for interesting, fun meet-ups between characters and some relations that lay a fundation for the last book in this trilogy.
I can wholeheartedly say I loved this book and give it 4,5 stars.
Another character a truely liked was Sir Meredith. The man is a knight from Tarbonne, presently serving in the Kingsguard. He is a man who thinks he doesn't get what he deserves, what he is ought to get as a knight. Combine that aspect with his highly inflamable rage and a twisted view on knighthood and you get a sick sort of fellow you love to hate. We get some insight in how he came to be the way he is and that makes him a very interesting character.
I didn't like Davarus Cole in the first book. I like him after reading Sword of the North. Luke Scull pulled of a great character change and although it fares into more traditional territory now I really like how humbled Cole is now. He's also being set up for a big roll in the next book so I'm expecting a lot from this character development.
Next to that we've got several other interesting character arcs (POVs or not). I don't need to stress how strongly most characters are developed. Definitely this book's strongsuit.
Plotwise everything progresses nicely without any unnecessary deviations or side stories. Very coherent. Scull doesn't really opt for a big epic ending (he could have played out the magical battle between The White Lady and the Crow or between the Shaman and the Herald, he kept them relatively brief) and instead chose for interesting, fun meet-ups between characters and some relations that lay a fundation for the last book in this trilogy.
I can wholeheartedly say I loved this book and give it 4,5 stars.
February 3, 2017
In my review of the first book I hoped that Luke Scull would find his own voice. Did he? Oh YES he did!.
The Sword of the North is an excellent book. The characters have acquired substance and feel like real people. It's full of great battles, huge swords, blood, demons, monsters, gods, mages, gore, human experimentation, dark humor, love, tragedy, hate and revenge.
A huge improvement compared to the first book in the series.
The Sword of the North is an excellent book. The characters have acquired substance and feel like real people. It's full of great battles, huge swords, blood, demons, monsters, gods, mages, gore, human experimentation, dark humor, love, tragedy, hate and revenge.
A huge improvement compared to the first book in the series.
March 23, 2015
The characters are really fantastic and well written. I enjoyed this book!
May 14, 2016
Book one of this series was good enough to bring me to book two. But, book two is good enough for me to call it a must-read series for grim-dark fans! Great stuff!
March 13, 2015
I have finished reading of the second book "The Sword of the North" and I would like to comment bellow, but please be aware that It may INCLUDE some light SPOILERS. Readers Beware.
...
..
.
Pantheonic Literature is perhaps as old as humanity`s firs epic i.e. The Gilgamesh - If not older, making it one of the oldest tropes in collective imagination.Humans have always included Gods as a pivotal part of the narrative, often being the cause or the effect of mayor events. Heroes may be tested, rewarded or punished according to divine providence.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh the goddess Ishtar turns against the inhabitants of Uruk after the hero, declines her romantic advances. In the Illiad the god Apollo sends a deadly plague against the Agamenon`s army for sullying both his temple and his priestess, Chryses. Finally in Tolkiens Silmarrileon, the free races suffer for ages the wrath of evil deity Melkor while other vala ignore the pleads of help.
But what if humanity said enough of the despotic rule of the Divine? What if humans turned against their creators and forged a new destiny free from any theocratic tyranny ? Luke Scull has asked himself this question and has decided to situate “The Grim Company” and “The Sword Of The North” in the aftermath of the Deicide that wrought forth the death of the gods.
But as it tuns out, killing ones creator might not have been such good idea after all. 500 years after humans stormed the heavens, the world finds itself in a post apocalyptic state, know as “the age of ruin” gods might be dead, but all-powerful Magelords rule with iron fist the the few settlements were human life is possible. The world is dying slowly, nature refuses to renovate itself, abominations roam the countryside, while toxic magic plagues the land.
Luke Scull`s world is a grim one, devoid of hope and certainty. His iconoclastic approach breaks every imaginable archetype in the genera, making his characters as flawed as the world they inhabit to some very humanizing extents:
There is the old barbarian, haunted by the past and limited by his aging body, there is the magic-weapon-wielding-youth, highly narcissistic and too foolish for his own good , there is the well-meaning thief with a drug addiction and perhaps the biggest antihero of all, the unremarkable wheelchair-bound magician whom unconsciously inspires the constant betraya. Seriously, the poor guy don`t seem to catch a break, but if anything can be said about Luke Scull is that he is not willing to do anything to his female characters that he is not willing to do to his male ones. No one is safe here, and every one is destined to suffer in one way or the other.
The author writes beautifully, and these books are filled with dark humor and plenty of eyebrow racing situations, but the more you read the harder it is to ignore the parallelisms with other mayor titles in fantasy fiction. Luke Scull seems to draw heavily upon “ Dark Sun” for his world building, while simultaneously drinking from Joe Abercrombie`s “Fist law” and at times, shamelessly paraphrasing Martin`s “A Game of Thrones”. Bellow are the excerpt for comparison:
“Let them see that their words can cut you and you’ll never be free of the mockery. If they want to give you a name take it make it your own. Then they can’t hurt you with it anymore.” - Tyrion Lanister to Jon Snow
“Seems to me that you can keep your fear closer than anyone. Turn it in to your sword and your shield and your armor. Make it a thing nothing is able to pierce” -Brodar Keyne tells Jana Shah Shan
Nevertheless and spite the parallels, Luke Scull manages to keep his own voice all thru the narration. His setting might be derivatory, but he commands the events with obvious intent and purpose. A writer does not need to be slave to originality as long one remains true to the story. THAT being said, he does seems unable to deter from some of the classic pitfalls in fantasy literature. e.g:
I just wish modern-day writers would be as careful with their treatment of race as they are with the treatment of gender. We can still see that that “dark” and “colored” people retain that alienating otherness to them that separates them from any real protagonism.
Just like with Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, “colored” cultures are often delegated to the periphery of the civilized world i.e Jungles and desserts. The characters are used as literary props to exalt the qualities of the fair-skinned hero while remaining utterly exotic to the reader .
In “Grim Company” Davarus Cole mentor is an mysterious man from a far far away land, with dark skin and strange customs. The White Lady`s mercenary army is also “colored” but not “dark” as if to demonstrate their near-proximity to civilization.
The other narrative pitfall that Luke Scull repeatedly falls on; is his tendency of writing impossible situations, only to have solutions later propelled out of nothingness in the tradition of deus ex machina (An interesting choice, this being a godless world)
Take for example the the mystery objectg found in Magelord Salazar`s obelisk, during the events of GC.
The object is implied to be a important element in later installment of the series, but before that can happen the writer needs to take the egg from point A to point B, thus he creates an inconsequential character to advance the plot.
This character “X” has by chance remained frozen in time for about 500 years but awakes some time during TSOTN, to transport the mysterious object.
Later he is “casually” engaged by the party on the middle of the road as if resulted by a “random encounter” in the purest RPG terminology; The next problem arises when character “X” interacts with the party. Because by being alive before the apocalyptic event that shaped the world, he has potential access to information that could spoil the plot, so the writer arbitrarily makes him mute.
Fear not, however, one of our heroes, happens to randomly understand a 500 year old sing language, or at least enough of it to convey the minimal plot required information, to the reader. Finally when character “X” has reached his purpose of transportation, he is disposed and forgotten within one paragraph...
That casual treatment of causality, made me feel at times that I was witnessing a truly epic D&D camping or a “Let`s play” of a minor RPG, instead of reading a fantasy novel. Luke Scull has no qualms in forcing the the “invisible hand of destiny” in his books, nothing is left to chance, thus hindrancing on the reader`s “willing suspension of disbelief”
By the gods, I liked the setting and I liked the characters, but I found the immersion difficult due to the improbability of events. Just because it is fantasy it does not mean that the writer can play on the readers ignorance to will anything into existence.
Midway during the second book I had the constant impression that Luke Scull was either being intentionally obvious or being clever beyond his keen, but for now I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
All in all I found the books entertaining, his characters interesting and his world fascinating. I would gladly recommend the series, if only to have something to read while one waits for Martin`s next book.
...
..
.
Pantheonic Literature is perhaps as old as humanity`s firs epic i.e. The Gilgamesh - If not older, making it one of the oldest tropes in collective imagination.Humans have always included Gods as a pivotal part of the narrative, often being the cause or the effect of mayor events. Heroes may be tested, rewarded or punished according to divine providence.
In the Epic of Gilgamesh the goddess Ishtar turns against the inhabitants of Uruk after the hero, declines her romantic advances. In the Illiad the god Apollo sends a deadly plague against the Agamenon`s army for sullying both his temple and his priestess, Chryses. Finally in Tolkiens Silmarrileon, the free races suffer for ages the wrath of evil deity Melkor while other vala ignore the pleads of help.
But what if humanity said enough of the despotic rule of the Divine? What if humans turned against their creators and forged a new destiny free from any theocratic tyranny ? Luke Scull has asked himself this question and has decided to situate “The Grim Company” and “The Sword Of The North” in the aftermath of the Deicide that wrought forth the death of the gods.
But as it tuns out, killing ones creator might not have been such good idea after all. 500 years after humans stormed the heavens, the world finds itself in a post apocalyptic state, know as “the age of ruin” gods might be dead, but all-powerful Magelords rule with iron fist the the few settlements were human life is possible. The world is dying slowly, nature refuses to renovate itself, abominations roam the countryside, while toxic magic plagues the land.
Luke Scull`s world is a grim one, devoid of hope and certainty. His iconoclastic approach breaks every imaginable archetype in the genera, making his characters as flawed as the world they inhabit to some very humanizing extents:
There is the old barbarian, haunted by the past and limited by his aging body, there is the magic-weapon-wielding-youth, highly narcissistic and too foolish for his own good , there is the well-meaning thief with a drug addiction and perhaps the biggest antihero of all, the unremarkable wheelchair-bound magician whom unconsciously inspires the constant betraya. Seriously, the poor guy don`t seem to catch a break, but if anything can be said about Luke Scull is that he is not willing to do anything to his female characters that he is not willing to do to his male ones. No one is safe here, and every one is destined to suffer in one way or the other.
The author writes beautifully, and these books are filled with dark humor and plenty of eyebrow racing situations, but the more you read the harder it is to ignore the parallelisms with other mayor titles in fantasy fiction. Luke Scull seems to draw heavily upon “ Dark Sun” for his world building, while simultaneously drinking from Joe Abercrombie`s “Fist law” and at times, shamelessly paraphrasing Martin`s “A Game of Thrones”. Bellow are the excerpt for comparison:
“Let them see that their words can cut you and you’ll never be free of the mockery. If they want to give you a name take it make it your own. Then they can’t hurt you with it anymore.” - Tyrion Lanister to Jon Snow
“Seems to me that you can keep your fear closer than anyone. Turn it in to your sword and your shield and your armor. Make it a thing nothing is able to pierce” -Brodar Keyne tells Jana Shah Shan
Nevertheless and spite the parallels, Luke Scull manages to keep his own voice all thru the narration. His setting might be derivatory, but he commands the events with obvious intent and purpose. A writer does not need to be slave to originality as long one remains true to the story. THAT being said, he does seems unable to deter from some of the classic pitfalls in fantasy literature. e.g:
I just wish modern-day writers would be as careful with their treatment of race as they are with the treatment of gender. We can still see that that “dark” and “colored” people retain that alienating otherness to them that separates them from any real protagonism.
Just like with Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, “colored” cultures are often delegated to the periphery of the civilized world i.e Jungles and desserts. The characters are used as literary props to exalt the qualities of the fair-skinned hero while remaining utterly exotic to the reader .
In “Grim Company” Davarus Cole mentor is an mysterious man from a far far away land, with dark skin and strange customs. The White Lady`s mercenary army is also “colored” but not “dark” as if to demonstrate their near-proximity to civilization.
The other narrative pitfall that Luke Scull repeatedly falls on; is his tendency of writing impossible situations, only to have solutions later propelled out of nothingness in the tradition of deus ex machina (An interesting choice, this being a godless world)
Take for example the the mystery objectg found in Magelord Salazar`s obelisk, during the events of GC.
The object is implied to be a important element in later installment of the series, but before that can happen the writer needs to take the egg from point A to point B, thus he creates an inconsequential character to advance the plot.
This character “X” has by chance remained frozen in time for about 500 years but awakes some time during TSOTN, to transport the mysterious object.
Later he is “casually” engaged by the party on the middle of the road as if resulted by a “random encounter” in the purest RPG terminology; The next problem arises when character “X” interacts with the party. Because by being alive before the apocalyptic event that shaped the world, he has potential access to information that could spoil the plot, so the writer arbitrarily makes him mute.
Fear not, however, one of our heroes, happens to randomly understand a 500 year old sing language, or at least enough of it to convey the minimal plot required information, to the reader. Finally when character “X” has reached his purpose of transportation, he is disposed and forgotten within one paragraph...
That casual treatment of causality, made me feel at times that I was witnessing a truly epic D&D camping or a “Let`s play” of a minor RPG, instead of reading a fantasy novel. Luke Scull has no qualms in forcing the the “invisible hand of destiny” in his books, nothing is left to chance, thus hindrancing on the reader`s “willing suspension of disbelief”
By the gods, I liked the setting and I liked the characters, but I found the immersion difficult due to the improbability of events. Just because it is fantasy it does not mean that the writer can play on the readers ignorance to will anything into existence.
Midway during the second book I had the constant impression that Luke Scull was either being intentionally obvious or being clever beyond his keen, but for now I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.
All in all I found the books entertaining, his characters interesting and his world fascinating. I would gladly recommend the series, if only to have something to read while one waits for Martin`s next book.
Read
September 8, 2025DNF’d at 40%.
August 2, 2017
I want to like the Grim Company series. I really do. But there are too many things holding it back.
Let me first say that I think that Luke Scull is an excellent writer. The prose is well-crafted, and the dialogue often engaging. But, the storytelling, here, could use some work.
Sword of the North is a story of coincidences. In most books, we can suspend our disbelief a bit at chance encounters. But, when the amount of disbelief is equivalent to a billion gallons of water dropped over the top of a city, it is much harder to suspend.
Let me start with the story of the northern warriors. While Kayne and Jerek journey north, they encounter:
There were also parts, in the book (like the first of the series) that felt too familiar. I did a double take when I read "The pattern wills what the pattern wills." Compare that to "The wheel weaves what the wheel will..." (in regard to the Pattern in the Wheel of Time series).
All that said, there were parts that I truly enjoyed. Yllandrius' storyline, I thought, was well-crafted. I enjoyed Cole's fall from cockiness (and becoming a real boy), though I felt his story sort of fizzled out at the end. A couple nights, I continued to read past my bedtime, so I was certainly engaged.
I'd give this a 2.5, but I'll round up because I think Scull has a lot of potential as a writer. I'm not going to finish the series until the next book drops in price.
Let me first say that I think that Luke Scull is an excellent writer. The prose is well-crafted, and the dialogue often engaging. But, the storytelling, here, could use some work.
Sword of the North is a story of coincidences. In most books, we can suspend our disbelief a bit at chance encounters. But, when the amount of disbelief is equivalent to a billion gallons of water dropped over the top of a city, it is much harder to suspend.
Let me start with the story of the northern warriors. While Kayne and Jerek journey north, they encounter:
There were also parts, in the book (like the first of the series) that felt too familiar. I did a double take when I read "The pattern wills what the pattern wills." Compare that to "The wheel weaves what the wheel will..." (in regard to the Pattern in the Wheel of Time series).
All that said, there were parts that I truly enjoyed. Yllandrius' storyline, I thought, was well-crafted. I enjoyed Cole's fall from cockiness (and becoming a real boy), though I felt his story sort of fizzled out at the end. A couple nights, I continued to read past my bedtime, so I was certainly engaged.
I'd give this a 2.5, but I'll round up because I think Scull has a lot of potential as a writer. I'm not going to finish the series until the next book drops in price.
April 5, 2022
Tak jsem zdolala další vrchol. Musím říct, že obrovská část knihy byla spíš velkou přípravou. Střídaly se různé pohledy postav z různých míst. A v případě mého oblíbence Kaynea, i malý náhled zpět časem do jeho minulosti. Většinu doby šlo o vývoj děje a tak to bylo celé i pomalejší a ne až tak záživné. Bylo to sice zajímavé, ale moc mě to ke čtení netáhlo.
Ale poslední třetina byla velkým zvratem. Spousta drobností se začala spojovat a dávat větší smysl. Najednou jsem si nebyla ničím jistá. Nejvíc asi tím, co jsou některé bytosti zač, začalo se to pěkně zamotávat. Ale i tím, přestože je to celou dobu plné umírajících, krve, zvratků, kousků těl a tak dále, že se autor rozhodl zbavovat i postav, které se zapojily už před dlouhou dobou a mě vůbec nenapadlo, že už nesehrají velkou roli.
Kniha sice působí trošku nesourodě, škoda, že to napětí posledních stran nefungovalo od začátku. Občas bych se obešla i bez těch létajících vnitřností a kostí a zubů, což se děje téměř pořád, ale jinak jsem spokojená. Sice je to pro mě jen průměr, nicméně nemám ani moc co vytknout. Postavy jsou sympatické, mám své oblíbence i ty, které z duše nesnáším. U některých z nich je krásně vidět vývoj, kdy se z totálního paka (viz Cole) stává někdo, kdo za to stojí.
Rozhodně jsem natěšená na poslední knihu. Tam se snad konečně dozvím, kdo je kdo, kam patří a dá mi to celé lepší smysl a sestaví celý obrázek. Někdy si totiž připadám trošku zmatená. Všechny ty pojmy a hierarchie, lidé, magelordi, svržení bohové, nezrození, mizející a tak dále. No, snad v závěru dostanu dostatečné vysvětlení. 🙂
Ale poslední třetina byla velkým zvratem. Spousta drobností se začala spojovat a dávat větší smysl. Najednou jsem si nebyla ničím jistá. Nejvíc asi tím, co jsou některé bytosti zač, začalo se to pěkně zamotávat. Ale i tím, přestože je to celou dobu plné umírajících, krve, zvratků, kousků těl a tak dále, že se autor rozhodl zbavovat i postav, které se zapojily už před dlouhou dobou a mě vůbec nenapadlo, že už nesehrají velkou roli.
Kniha sice působí trošku nesourodě, škoda, že to napětí posledních stran nefungovalo od začátku. Občas bych se obešla i bez těch létajících vnitřností a kostí a zubů, což se děje téměř pořád, ale jinak jsem spokojená. Sice je to pro mě jen průměr, nicméně nemám ani moc co vytknout. Postavy jsou sympatické, mám své oblíbence i ty, které z duše nesnáším. U některých z nich je krásně vidět vývoj, kdy se z totálního paka (viz Cole) stává někdo, kdo za to stojí.
Rozhodně jsem natěšená na poslední knihu. Tam se snad konečně dozvím, kdo je kdo, kam patří a dá mi to celé lepší smysl a sestaví celý obrázek. Někdy si totiž připadám trošku zmatená. Všechny ty pojmy a hierarchie, lidé, magelordi, svržení bohové, nezrození, mizející a tak dále. No, snad v závěru dostanu dostatečné vysvětlení. 🙂
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