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Spinner's Soldier
They’re mean, they’re keen, and they’re about to shovel a whole lot of pointy tools of their trade down your throat. Why, you may ask? Because the Wanderers have taken a job, and their moral compass is dunked way down the priority list, in favour of that glimmering goodness that is gold.
But times are a-changin’, and when the Wanderers stumble upon a plot that may unhinge the very realm they live in, it might be just the moment to grow a conscience and start giving a damn.
Meet the wizened wizard, the lethal woman, the illiterate savage, the drunken Dwarf and sardonic youth that make up the outfit of the Wanderers, a crew of misfits if ever there was one. Within this book, you will find their account of how it all went down.
But times are a-changin’, and when the Wanderers stumble upon a plot that may unhinge the very realm they live in, it might be just the moment to grow a conscience and start giving a damn.
Meet the wizened wizard, the lethal woman, the illiterate savage, the drunken Dwarf and sardonic youth that make up the outfit of the Wanderers, a crew of misfits if ever there was one. Within this book, you will find their account of how it all went down.
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Published November 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 8, 2017
Matig boek, ik kan het zeker niet aanraden. De schrijver schrijft erg eentonig, het lijkt wel alsof hij latijn geeft.
June 9, 2016
Very good and nice-writting fantasy book!
April 3, 2016
Ever started to laugh out loud while reading a book, and then explained to the person next to you what it was that made you laugh, which in turn made that person grin as well? It happened to me more than once when I was enjoying The Wanderers Part 1: Spinner’s Soldier. Here’s a quick review.
In The Wanderers, you follow a group of mercenaries, ready to take on whatever morally dubious job they can get their hands on. Eventually, however, they become involved in a grand plot that will affect the Realm they live in, and even the very fabric of the cosmos, both the physical and the metaphysical. The story is set in a world of wizards, dwarves, goblins, dragons, and much, much more. Sure, this makes for a typical fantasy setting, and D&D players in particular may find elements of this fictional universe strangely familiar, but let me assure you: Van Gorp has made the world and, most of all, the story, unmistakably his own. For example, he has invented an original, yet credible religion, included complicated political intrigue, intertwined his narrative with discussions of various histories, legends and traditions, made room for several lovestories, and even added two hand-drawn maps, which give a clear view of the author’s creativity and imagination. The story is exciting, surprizing and, at the book’s climax, jaw-droppingly epic.
What makes The Wanderers an especially good read, however, are both the characters and Van Gorp’s unique writing style. Firstly, the story’s protagonists, to which the book owes it’s title, quickly turn out to be a lot more complicated than one might expect from a group of fantasy mercenaries. They each have their own qualities and faults, and the reader will get to know every one of them as the story goes along. They’re not all great fighters, they’re not all equally funny, they’re not even all particularly likeable, but that’s exactly what makes them so interesting: you sympathize with some more than with others, but you relate to all of them, making you fascinated to follow their character development. As the main figures are so different (ranging from a drunken dwarf priest to a sexy rogue dame), they complement each other perfectly, making for one hell of a protagonist dream-team.
Secondly, the author’s writing style is nothing short of admirable. His vocabulary is remarkably rich, and he is a master at adjusting his idiom and manner of writing to a given character or situation. He is at his best when describing the interaction between the members of The Wanderers group, or when recounting the many exciting battle sequences the story has to offer. And as if all of this wasn’t enough, I repeat what I implied at the start of this review: Van Gorp’s book is just extremely funny, especially when you’re into dry and intelligent humor.
Needless to say, I highly recommend you give The Wanderers a shot, all the more so if you fancy epic, complicated, well-written, witty fantasy. Personally, I can’t wait of Part 2 :)
In The Wanderers, you follow a group of mercenaries, ready to take on whatever morally dubious job they can get their hands on. Eventually, however, they become involved in a grand plot that will affect the Realm they live in, and even the very fabric of the cosmos, both the physical and the metaphysical. The story is set in a world of wizards, dwarves, goblins, dragons, and much, much more. Sure, this makes for a typical fantasy setting, and D&D players in particular may find elements of this fictional universe strangely familiar, but let me assure you: Van Gorp has made the world and, most of all, the story, unmistakably his own. For example, he has invented an original, yet credible religion, included complicated political intrigue, intertwined his narrative with discussions of various histories, legends and traditions, made room for several lovestories, and even added two hand-drawn maps, which give a clear view of the author’s creativity and imagination. The story is exciting, surprizing and, at the book’s climax, jaw-droppingly epic.
What makes The Wanderers an especially good read, however, are both the characters and Van Gorp’s unique writing style. Firstly, the story’s protagonists, to which the book owes it’s title, quickly turn out to be a lot more complicated than one might expect from a group of fantasy mercenaries. They each have their own qualities and faults, and the reader will get to know every one of them as the story goes along. They’re not all great fighters, they’re not all equally funny, they’re not even all particularly likeable, but that’s exactly what makes them so interesting: you sympathize with some more than with others, but you relate to all of them, making you fascinated to follow their character development. As the main figures are so different (ranging from a drunken dwarf priest to a sexy rogue dame), they complement each other perfectly, making for one hell of a protagonist dream-team.
Secondly, the author’s writing style is nothing short of admirable. His vocabulary is remarkably rich, and he is a master at adjusting his idiom and manner of writing to a given character or situation. He is at his best when describing the interaction between the members of The Wanderers group, or when recounting the many exciting battle sequences the story has to offer. And as if all of this wasn’t enough, I repeat what I implied at the start of this review: Van Gorp’s book is just extremely funny, especially when you’re into dry and intelligent humor.
Needless to say, I highly recommend you give The Wanderers a shot, all the more so if you fancy epic, complicated, well-written, witty fantasy. Personally, I can’t wait of Part 2 :)
February 28, 2016
Loved this book! Lots of intrigue, witty characters and a tension that keeps on building up towards the very end. Would love to know where the Wanderer's are going to take us next... Warmly recommended.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews