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Gunlaw
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Technically ... a weird western. Gunslingers, hex witches, dogmen, minotaur, trains that run further than you can imagine ...
Mikeos Jones is a gunslinger, faster than thinking, part of the gunlaw, a man who can seldom afford the luxury of looking past the end of any given day.
Jenna Crossard is a hex-witch, but her ambitions are larger than spells and charms - the need to understand the world consumes her. They say the gunlaw keeps men safe from the endless horror of the sect, but to Jenna it's a cage and she wants out. If that means breaking open the world and killing a few gods ... so be it.
Technically ... a weird western. Gunslingers, hex witches, dogmen, minotaur, trains that run further than you can imagine ...
Mikeos Jones is a gunslinger, faster than thinking, part of the gunlaw, a man who can seldom afford the luxury of looking past the end of any given day.
Jenna Crossard is a hex-witch, but her ambitions are larger than spells and charms - the need to understand the world consumes her. They say the gunlaw keeps men safe from the endless horror of the sect, but to Jenna it's a cage and she wants out. If that means breaking open the world and killing a few gods ... so be it.
320 pages, ebook
35 people are currently reading
1866 people want to read
About the author
Mark Lawrence
99 books56.1k followersMy books vary a LOT - so
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[My new book The Book That Broke The World is out now!]
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Mark Lawrence is married with four children, one of whom is severely disabled. Before becoming a fulltime writer in 2015 day job was as a research scientist focused on various rather intractable problems in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. At one point he was qualified to say 'this isn't rocket science ... oh wait, it actually is'.
Mark used to have a list of hobbies back when he did science by day. Now his time is really just divided between writing and caring for his disabled daughter. There are occasional forays into computer games too.
[My new book The Book That Broke The World is out now!]
Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/marklawrencea...
Blog here: http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.co.uk/
I'm on Youtube now! *excitement!*
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIrB...
Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/MarkLawrence...
https://www.instagram.com/mark___lawr...
Threads
https://www.threads.net/@mark___lawrence
Blue Sky
https://bsky.app/profile/marklawrence...
Three-emails-a-year newsletter here:
http://eepurl.com/cimnK1 #Prizes #FreeContent
I'm even on Tumblr!
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/marklawre...
Pintrest!
https://uk.pinterest.com/princeofthor...
Plus I have free stuff on Wattpad!
https://www.wattpad.com/user/MarkLawr...
Mark Lawrence is married with four children, one of whom is severely disabled. Before becoming a fulltime writer in 2015 day job was as a research scientist focused on various rather intractable problems in the field of artificial intelligence. He has held secret level clearance with both US and UK governments. At one point he was qualified to say 'this isn't rocket science ... oh wait, it actually is'.
Mark used to have a list of hobbies back when he did science by day. Now his time is really just divided between writing and caring for his disabled daughter. There are occasional forays into computer games too.
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March 19, 2025Out of 3000+ readers of Gunlaw, nobody has ever commented on this pair of undead gunslingers...
“I’m George Ay. My brother Billy.”
++++++++
The whole book is free and on Wattpad (where nobody has commented at the end for the last 4 years), and nowhere else!
https://www.wattpad.com/story/4345373...
You can get it in Kindle form on my Patreon.
It's a departure from my swords and sorcery into six-guns and sorcery! Go give it a try.
Many thanks for starring/voting on each part, it makes all the difference.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
“I’m George Ay. My brother Billy.”
++++++++
The whole book is free and on Wattpad (where nobody has commented at the end for the last 4 years), and nowhere else!
https://www.wattpad.com/story/4345373...
You can get it in Kindle form on my Patreon.
It's a departure from my swords and sorcery into six-guns and sorcery! Go give it a try.
Many thanks for starring/voting on each part, it makes all the difference.
Join my Patreon
Join my 3-emails-a-year newsletter #prizes
...
January 17, 2016
Rating, 4.5 (rough start, open ending, some words glued together near the end... for the rest, great)
I've been tricked. I must have overlooked some fine print, or I missed a memo ... that's playing dirty, Mark. I've been waiting for the last chapter to be out just to avoid this situation. And what do my eyes see? ....
"Yes, that, gentle readers, is the end of Book 1 of Gunlaw."
Say what?!!! Why, why, why?!! It's alright when I know of it in advance. I don't mind a surprise, but not of this nature. (*breaths in , breaths out*)
I've gotten this one off my chest, now lets move on. Halfway through that last chapter I was actually worried that the story could end too open, so the fact that it isn't over, is a good thing story-wise after all.
I've read the Broken Empire series first (and Jorg is still one of my favorites characters, ever), than came The Red Queen's War (technically one left to go), and it was totally different. Somebody loved it more. Somebody expected it to be Jorg 2.0, and ended disappointed. Personally I've enjoyed that one too (even if Jorg is still number one). I like to have diversity when reading. I don't stick with one particular style. Lawrence has created (again) a set of original main characters for this story. Nothing Jorg or Jalen-like. I will venture to say that there is less humor (even of the dark kind) to be found in Gunlaw. Some have compared it to The Dark Tower series, and I kind of see where they are coming from. It has that dry feel to it. There's a quest of a kind. Mikeos, Jenna and Hemar (the main characters) ARE in search of some deep answers, or deliverance, or peace. The landscape reminds us of the desolate lands from THAT series (also a million more western/desert like settings). The story is set in an alternate universe to which some of the characters/species are not indigenous.. We have a sort of a "ka-tet" here. And there is a longish part of the story set in the past (fifty years back), like that memorable fourth book of the Dark Tower series. There are trains that cross the wastelands (albeit not of the Blaine-the-Mono kind). And there's one formidable gunslinger.
alt="description"/>
“What's the plan?" Hemar hissed at his side.
"Anyone with a gun I shoot in the head" Mikeos kept his eyes on the junction before them where two cracks in the fallen block intersected. "Anyone moves to stop me, I shoot them in the head. Anyone who looks to be in charge, I shoot in the head."
"Good plan." Hemar stepped back and let Mikeos turn the corner.”
Yet I would say that's it.
If we go and pick every epic/fantasy book apart I'm sure there would be parallels to Tolkien galore. I don't mind. The important thing is that is well written, and that has it's own flare.
“Hemar could smell the violence rising in Mikeos. Domen were quick to anger and quick to forgive. Taur slow to anger and quick to forgive. hunska quick to anger and slow to forgive. Men however ... like all peoples under gunlaw they came in many flavours, but their defining feature was they fought their own nature as often as they fought anything else.”
I'll admit that the first few chapters needed some warming up to. It wasn't in it from the first chapter like with Jorg or Jalen. The world was different. My head was buzzing. Taur, hunska, kin, domen (dogmen), corpsers, sect, hex-witches, the Old Ones, the pillars, the gunlaw. I was off my rocker for awhile. Then we've had a jump of ten years forward. Than back, and forward, and back, and forward, one POV, then another. Despite this, I was getting along pretty well, I like a challenge. And then we jumped back fifty years, and it was LOVE.
There was something special in those Sweet Water chapters. The kids locked in the shed, Eben, Hemar, three of the most despicable, creepiest villains (the sect may be scary, but men are always the worst), horror-like amounts of flies, flickers ... and a duo that had the best entrance scene(s) in history. Those Ay brothers sure know how to make an appearance (twice).
“There ain't no cure for guilt, a man's just as guilty on the end of the rope as he was before the fall, but there are plenty of sure-fire cures for shame. The dead don't know shame, and with an army of sect behind him and the open desert and Jim Bright up ahead, the cure looked to be on its way.”
A tight second place goes to the final chapters, after our trio alights from The Wayne, in (again) Sweet Water,... till almost to the very end. Well, now I AM happy that it isn't over. I love an open ending like the next person ... but this would've been one entirely too open. So, thanks, Mark, for continuing with the story (do continue with it, yes) ... but please next time let me know in advance I'm reading Book One in a series.
“Hemar sniffed. He'd always had a nose for trouble. Rain was coming. A hard rain, and soon. But the bullets were coming sooner and would hit harder.”
I've been tricked. I must have overlooked some fine print, or I missed a memo ... that's playing dirty, Mark. I've been waiting for the last chapter to be out just to avoid this situation. And what do my eyes see? ....
"Yes, that, gentle readers, is the end of Book 1 of Gunlaw."
Say what?!!! Why, why, why?!! It's alright when I know of it in advance. I don't mind a surprise, but not of this nature. (*breaths in , breaths out*)
I've gotten this one off my chest, now lets move on. Halfway through that last chapter I was actually worried that the story could end too open, so the fact that it isn't over, is a good thing story-wise after all.
I've read the Broken Empire series first (and Jorg is still one of my favorites characters, ever), than came The Red Queen's War (technically one left to go), and it was totally different. Somebody loved it more. Somebody expected it to be Jorg 2.0, and ended disappointed. Personally I've enjoyed that one too (even if Jorg is still number one). I like to have diversity when reading. I don't stick with one particular style. Lawrence has created (again) a set of original main characters for this story. Nothing Jorg or Jalen-like. I will venture to say that there is less humor (even of the dark kind) to be found in Gunlaw. Some have compared it to The Dark Tower series, and I kind of see where they are coming from. It has that dry feel to it. There's a quest of a kind. Mikeos, Jenna and Hemar (the main characters) ARE in search of some deep answers, or deliverance, or peace. The landscape reminds us of the desolate lands from THAT series (also a million more western/desert like settings). The story is set in an alternate universe to which some of the characters/species are not indigenous.. We have a sort of a "ka-tet" here. And there is a longish part of the story set in the past (fifty years back), like that memorable fourth book of the Dark Tower series. There are trains that cross the wastelands (albeit not of the Blaine-the-Mono kind). And there's one formidable gunslinger.
alt="description"/>“What's the plan?" Hemar hissed at his side.
"Anyone with a gun I shoot in the head" Mikeos kept his eyes on the junction before them where two cracks in the fallen block intersected. "Anyone moves to stop me, I shoot them in the head. Anyone who looks to be in charge, I shoot in the head."
"Good plan." Hemar stepped back and let Mikeos turn the corner.”
Yet I would say that's it.
If we go and pick every epic/fantasy book apart I'm sure there would be parallels to Tolkien galore. I don't mind. The important thing is that is well written, and that has it's own flare.
“Hemar could smell the violence rising in Mikeos. Domen were quick to anger and quick to forgive. Taur slow to anger and quick to forgive. hunska quick to anger and slow to forgive. Men however ... like all peoples under gunlaw they came in many flavours, but their defining feature was they fought their own nature as often as they fought anything else.”
I'll admit that the first few chapters needed some warming up to. It wasn't in it from the first chapter like with Jorg or Jalen. The world was different. My head was buzzing. Taur, hunska, kin, domen (dogmen), corpsers, sect, hex-witches, the Old Ones, the pillars, the gunlaw. I was off my rocker for awhile. Then we've had a jump of ten years forward. Than back, and forward, and back, and forward, one POV, then another. Despite this, I was getting along pretty well, I like a challenge. And then we jumped back fifty years, and it was LOVE.
There was something special in those Sweet Water chapters. The kids locked in the shed, Eben, Hemar, three of the most despicable, creepiest villains (the sect may be scary, but men are always the worst), horror-like amounts of flies, flickers ... and a duo that had the best entrance scene(s) in history. Those Ay brothers sure know how to make an appearance (twice).
“There ain't no cure for guilt, a man's just as guilty on the end of the rope as he was before the fall, but there are plenty of sure-fire cures for shame. The dead don't know shame, and with an army of sect behind him and the open desert and Jim Bright up ahead, the cure looked to be on its way.”
A tight second place goes to the final chapters, after our trio alights from The Wayne, in (again) Sweet Water,... till almost to the very end. Well, now I AM happy that it isn't over. I love an open ending like the next person ... but this would've been one entirely too open. So, thanks, Mark, for continuing with the story (do continue with it, yes) ... but please next time let me know in advance I'm reading Book One in a series.
“Hemar sniffed. He'd always had a nose for trouble. Rain was coming. A hard rain, and soon. But the bullets were coming sooner and would hit harder.”
March 7, 2023
If you have read and loved any of Mark's other books while missing this one you're missing out on a gem. It's a free read. His other books are among some of my favorite fantasy series out there. If you love gunslingers stories, great writing, and a fun ride, read this.
November 11, 2021
4.75/5 stars
Lawrence on form!!! I never round up my ratings, but this truly deserves it. When you binge a series, you will then read absolutely everything by that author in the hope of capturing that same glorious feeling. After blasting through The Broken Empire, I've steadily been working my way through the rest of his work and nothing has came close to the same sort of brilliance for me, but this, this is close. It's not a re-run of Jorg, but it holds the same aesthetic and cleverness, that same pure fire. If you loved Broken Empire, this is what you've been looking for.
Highly original, totally unexpected and something quite different; this was a breath of fresh air. It's a weird western fantasy story with a whole mix of elements, but Lawrence brings it together amazingly. I was a little sceptical beforehand as to whether I would really enjoy it, seeing as it's a western, which is not something I would seek to read/watch but it was SO great. There's no point me trying to explain this story- you're better off going into it blind and discovering as you go- just reading the little blurb is enough to set you up. Perfect pacing and tension, vividly wrought scenes that place you within the story and just the right amount of pervading sense of creepiness. Every character and backstory was expertly realised and intertwined; Hemar and Sally's were my favourites, but they were all as strong as each other. There's so much to love about this, but some highlights in particular stood out to me.
This has everything that excites me and that Lawrence is great at, brilliantly fleshed out, flawed characters, deliciously dark humour, awesome action scenes- the slow-mo scene in part 31 is a work of art- no holds barred, brutal violence and gruesome scenes/images- stuff that makes you cringe and grin in delight simultaneously, and threading it all together, truly masterful wordplay containing astute observations about life. So much of this book is quotable, there's some really beautiful lines; had I been reading on my kindle, half my quotes would be from this book by now, but inputting it all manually would've taken time and I really just wanted to carry on reading. Add to that an intriguing and mysterious world and mythos and some deep, touching themes, it all makes for an excellent read.
The story is written in a non-linear format with time jumps, which seems to have become something of a signature for Lawrence. In some of his other works I've found it unnecessary and it hasn't really worked, in this, it's used to great effect. I love the challenge of having to figure out what is going on, which is also made harder by switching through various characters; you definitely need your thinking cap on for this and your wits about you. However, it also meant I didn't binge it, as much as I was enjoying it, due to the fact that you couldn't really ascertain where it was going or really get your teeth into it. The other part where it just fell short for me was the ending, there was a massive build-up towards it and I feel it was too short-lived and didn't really deliver the grand climax that I was waiting for.
Lawrence's prose is always a joy to read, his stories/story-telling isn't as strong or consistent, but when he does hit on gold with it, he's a force to be reckoned with. I was totally loving this, apart from my little gripe at the end, this was near perfect. Really recommend, what a ride!
P.S. This story is free on Wattpad- just search "Wattpad Gunlaw" and it'll come up- which is amazing, but I do wish it was published as reading something this long on a computer screen does make you googly-eyed and I'd also love to have my own copy. I'd recommend reading on your phone or tablet and turning the blue light filter on, so that's it's easier on your eyes.
Lawrence on form!!! I never round up my ratings, but this truly deserves it. When you binge a series, you will then read absolutely everything by that author in the hope of capturing that same glorious feeling. After blasting through The Broken Empire, I've steadily been working my way through the rest of his work and nothing has came close to the same sort of brilliance for me, but this, this is close. It's not a re-run of Jorg, but it holds the same aesthetic and cleverness, that same pure fire. If you loved Broken Empire, this is what you've been looking for.
Highly original, totally unexpected and something quite different; this was a breath of fresh air. It's a weird western fantasy story with a whole mix of elements, but Lawrence brings it together amazingly. I was a little sceptical beforehand as to whether I would really enjoy it, seeing as it's a western, which is not something I would seek to read/watch but it was SO great. There's no point me trying to explain this story- you're better off going into it blind and discovering as you go- just reading the little blurb is enough to set you up. Perfect pacing and tension, vividly wrought scenes that place you within the story and just the right amount of pervading sense of creepiness. Every character and backstory was expertly realised and intertwined; Hemar and Sally's were my favourites, but they were all as strong as each other. There's so much to love about this, but some highlights in particular stood out to me.
This has everything that excites me and that Lawrence is great at, brilliantly fleshed out, flawed characters, deliciously dark humour, awesome action scenes- the slow-mo scene in part 31 is a work of art- no holds barred, brutal violence and gruesome scenes/images- stuff that makes you cringe and grin in delight simultaneously, and threading it all together, truly masterful wordplay containing astute observations about life. So much of this book is quotable, there's some really beautiful lines; had I been reading on my kindle, half my quotes would be from this book by now, but inputting it all manually would've taken time and I really just wanted to carry on reading. Add to that an intriguing and mysterious world and mythos and some deep, touching themes, it all makes for an excellent read.
The story is written in a non-linear format with time jumps, which seems to have become something of a signature for Lawrence. In some of his other works I've found it unnecessary and it hasn't really worked, in this, it's used to great effect. I love the challenge of having to figure out what is going on, which is also made harder by switching through various characters; you definitely need your thinking cap on for this and your wits about you. However, it also meant I didn't binge it, as much as I was enjoying it, due to the fact that you couldn't really ascertain where it was going or really get your teeth into it. The other part where it just fell short for me was the ending, there was a massive build-up towards it and I feel it was too short-lived and didn't really deliver the grand climax that I was waiting for.
Lawrence's prose is always a joy to read, his stories/story-telling isn't as strong or consistent, but when he does hit on gold with it, he's a force to be reckoned with. I was totally loving this, apart from my little gripe at the end, this was near perfect. Really recommend, what a ride!
P.S. This story is free on Wattpad- just search "Wattpad Gunlaw" and it'll come up- which is amazing, but I do wish it was published as reading something this long on a computer screen does make you googly-eyed and I'd also love to have my own copy. I'd recommend reading on your phone or tablet and turning the blue light filter on, so that's it's easier on your eyes.
September 8, 2023
I really, really, really, REALLY loved this one!
The ending was a bit "meh". The enjoyment was in the journey. A very fantastic world, but a pity, I don't think anymore were done. I would love to read more about Jenna.
The ending was a bit "meh". The enjoyment was in the journey. A very fantastic world, but a pity, I don't think anymore were done. I would love to read more about Jenna.
July 9, 2021
“Why is this not a book?!”
That’s the first question that came to my mind when I found out that there is no hardcopy available for this book. Turns out it can’t be one due to technical reasons and what a shame that is since this is one of the finest books I’ve read.
An amazing Blend of Western and Fantasy, Gunlaw is a fascinating tale well told. Never a dull moment and never a wasted word. I am not certain if it is true but the limited structure of the Wattpad chapters actually brings out the best in this book. It’s quick and it’s deadly.
Story: Set in a world far away, where mankind is the outsider, Gunlaw tells a tale with many tales embedded in between. It’s quite difficult to easily explain what the story is as the overall arc contains several small and equally interesting stories. One things most authors struggle with is making each side story as interesting as the main one. However this book does a fantastic job of it. Never a dull moment and never a boring tale. Each character and their background story is so amazing that when the PoV switches you never feel disappointed. As we move from chapter to chapter it just keeps getting better and better.
World building Gunlaw is set in a western with dead men, hexes, trains and pillars. The author provides very little details about the world but that actually works well with the story, giving the whole setting a shroud of mystery. Why are things as they are? They just are. There are some fascinating concepts and creatures in the book. It’s actually quite surprising how vivid the world is considering it’s barely three hundred pages long.
Magic The world of Gunlaw contains many forms of magic including the Primary one. The Gunlaw. Keeping in mind the western theme, the magic is actually used in a limited capacity. It blends well with the world the author creates and doesn’t feel like unnecessary burden.
Characters There are some really well written characters which suit the tone of the novel. None of the characters are explored in detail but what is shared with the reader is enough to keep us entertained.
Overall a fine read. This book deserves far more reads than it currently has on GR right now. I hope this turns into a book one day. Until then, you can enjoy this on Wattpad.
That’s the first question that came to my mind when I found out that there is no hardcopy available for this book. Turns out it can’t be one due to technical reasons and what a shame that is since this is one of the finest books I’ve read.
An amazing Blend of Western and Fantasy, Gunlaw is a fascinating tale well told. Never a dull moment and never a wasted word. I am not certain if it is true but the limited structure of the Wattpad chapters actually brings out the best in this book. It’s quick and it’s deadly.
Story: Set in a world far away, where mankind is the outsider, Gunlaw tells a tale with many tales embedded in between. It’s quite difficult to easily explain what the story is as the overall arc contains several small and equally interesting stories. One things most authors struggle with is making each side story as interesting as the main one. However this book does a fantastic job of it. Never a dull moment and never a boring tale. Each character and their background story is so amazing that when the PoV switches you never feel disappointed. As we move from chapter to chapter it just keeps getting better and better.
World building Gunlaw is set in a western with dead men, hexes, trains and pillars. The author provides very little details about the world but that actually works well with the story, giving the whole setting a shroud of mystery. Why are things as they are? They just are. There are some fascinating concepts and creatures in the book. It’s actually quite surprising how vivid the world is considering it’s barely three hundred pages long.
Magic The world of Gunlaw contains many forms of magic including the Primary one. The Gunlaw. Keeping in mind the western theme, the magic is actually used in a limited capacity. It blends well with the world the author creates and doesn’t feel like unnecessary burden.
Characters There are some really well written characters which suit the tone of the novel. None of the characters are explored in detail but what is shared with the reader is enough to keep us entertained.
Overall a fine read. This book deserves far more reads than it currently has on GR right now. I hope this turns into a book one day. Until then, you can enjoy this on Wattpad.
January 3, 2020
Excellent world building and characters you can care about in an odd but supremely enjoyable book which compulsively pulls you through it.
October 4, 2018
So a gunslinger, a hex witch, and a dogman walk into a bar...stop me if you've heard this one...?
This is an absolutely fantastic story that grabbed me from page one, sentence one:
"There's a cold weight to a handgun that speaks of purpose. A six-shooter, the dull iron gleam of it, the forged simplicity, may seem a weapon but it is a tool, an agent of change."
Every little boy plays cowboys and indians and/or wanted to be a wizard at some point in their lives so finding a story that combines gunslingers and sorcery, hex witches, minotuars, dogmen, cat people (hunska), corpsers (undead men), killer giant insect warriors (sect), a god like race (The Old Ones), colossal ancient ruins, in an old west setting on an alien world with a train that jumps from world to world just hit me right at home. It filled me with a sense of nostalgia and wonder...kind of like the first season of Stranger Things on Netflix.
This story is filled with the same great Mark Lawrence writing you find in The Broken Empire or Red Queens War trilogies with the same messed up cast of characters trying to fix their broken selves and find some redemption for their past mistakes.
My only critique is that it is only available on Wattpad at the moment: https://www.wattpad.com/story/4345373...
Call me old fashioned but I'm not fond of digital readers, I much prefer to hold the actual book in my hand and turn the pages one by one...seems so much more satisfying when you finish the book. Hopefully at some point this story will be published in tangible book form preferably hardback.
This is an absolutely fantastic story that grabbed me from page one, sentence one:
"There's a cold weight to a handgun that speaks of purpose. A six-shooter, the dull iron gleam of it, the forged simplicity, may seem a weapon but it is a tool, an agent of change."
Every little boy plays cowboys and indians and/or wanted to be a wizard at some point in their lives so finding a story that combines gunslingers and sorcery, hex witches, minotuars, dogmen, cat people (hunska), corpsers (undead men), killer giant insect warriors (sect), a god like race (The Old Ones), colossal ancient ruins, in an old west setting on an alien world with a train that jumps from world to world just hit me right at home. It filled me with a sense of nostalgia and wonder...kind of like the first season of Stranger Things on Netflix.
This story is filled with the same great Mark Lawrence writing you find in The Broken Empire or Red Queens War trilogies with the same messed up cast of characters trying to fix their broken selves and find some redemption for their past mistakes.
My only critique is that it is only available on Wattpad at the moment: https://www.wattpad.com/story/4345373...
Call me old fashioned but I'm not fond of digital readers, I much prefer to hold the actual book in my hand and turn the pages one by one...seems so much more satisfying when you finish the book. Hopefully at some point this story will be published in tangible book form preferably hardback.
August 11, 2018
Love this book! I had so much fun reading and I could not put it down. The characters were awesome. I wish I had a little more idea what Walker was all about. Other than that, AWESOME.
July 15, 2017
"Sometimes you have to make a stand."
Mark Lawrence brings us to the world of West with the deserts and gunslingers and bugs, loads of bugs. And yes it is fucking awesome! I was like 20% done with the book and realized that -
Crude translation: Give up, kid! You won't be able to finish it.
The plot was more complex than Game of Thrones and Gangs of Wasseypur combined. Each chapter brought a new character and the story developed on it. At one point of time, I could not figure out who the fuck is the MC. Yet! Yet! Yet! The threads are interconnected and knit together to form an action-packed story which leaves a lot of questions to think about.
"If you steal a man's luck you've upset a balance, the universe tends to spring back and settle the account."
Mark Lawrence has the uncanny ability to understand the human mind.
"Men might seem complex things but strip enough away from them and their needs can be met with simple things."
And some more,
"All those brave lines written by little men who scribbled them at night and would never speak them. The real men who won the west were as weak and grasping and dirty as the rest of us."
Now, let's come to the characters. The MC (which I believe is Mikeos) is a gunslinger. He is a simple man. His answer to every problem is like this -
"So I'm asking it now. Put the hex on these fuckers. Get a gun in my hand and I'll see to the rest…"
When asked about a plan, he replies -
"Anyone with a gun I shoot in the head." Mikeos kept his eyes on the junction before them where two cracks in the fallen blocks intersected. "Anyone moves to stop me, I shoot in the head. Anyone who looks to be in charge, I shoot in the head."
Then, there is Jenna Crossard, a hex witch with an ugly bleeding scar on her forehead which draws the strength from the witches network. She is curious about the world and how it works and who makes it work.
And finally, the bestdoggy dogman or domen, Hemar who is an alcoholic and loves whiskey more than his dear life. His actions can be best described by -
"Hunska might be quicker, and taur stronger, but a domen defending friends is a savage and primal force."
"Gunslingers didn't have to worry about getting old."
The good thing about the gunfights is the tremendous excitement they have while the bad thing is that they end up within a second. However, the author was able to show slow gunfights and graphic violence which made me understand the them properly. Although, there are a few typos which could have been avoided, the book is a blockbuster just like Mark Lawrence's quotes.
"The truth is an edged weapon. It can cut those who hold it just as easily as those they would turn it against."
Mark Lawrence brings us to the world of West with the deserts and gunslingers and bugs, loads of bugs. And yes it is fucking awesome! I was like 20% done with the book and realized that -
Crude translation: Give up, kid! You won't be able to finish it.
The plot was more complex than Game of Thrones and Gangs of Wasseypur combined. Each chapter brought a new character and the story developed on it. At one point of time, I could not figure out who the fuck is the MC. Yet! Yet! Yet! The threads are interconnected and knit together to form an action-packed story which leaves a lot of questions to think about.
"If you steal a man's luck you've upset a balance, the universe tends to spring back and settle the account."
Mark Lawrence has the uncanny ability to understand the human mind.
"Men might seem complex things but strip enough away from them and their needs can be met with simple things."
And some more,
"All those brave lines written by little men who scribbled them at night and would never speak them. The real men who won the west were as weak and grasping and dirty as the rest of us."
Now, let's come to the characters. The MC (which I believe is Mikeos) is a gunslinger. He is a simple man. His answer to every problem is like this -
"So I'm asking it now. Put the hex on these fuckers. Get a gun in my hand and I'll see to the rest…"
When asked about a plan, he replies -
"Anyone with a gun I shoot in the head." Mikeos kept his eyes on the junction before them where two cracks in the fallen blocks intersected. "Anyone moves to stop me, I shoot in the head. Anyone who looks to be in charge, I shoot in the head."
Then, there is Jenna Crossard, a hex witch with an ugly bleeding scar on her forehead which draws the strength from the witches network. She is curious about the world and how it works and who makes it work.
And finally, the best
"Hunska might be quicker, and taur stronger, but a domen defending friends is a savage and primal force."
"Gunslingers didn't have to worry about getting old."
The good thing about the gunfights is the tremendous excitement they have while the bad thing is that they end up within a second. However, the author was able to show slow gunfights and graphic violence which made me understand the them properly. Although, there are a few typos which could have been avoided, the book is a blockbuster just like Mark Lawrence's quotes.
"The truth is an edged weapon. It can cut those who hold it just as easily as those they would turn it against."
April 18, 2025
Exceptional novel. A hidden gem published to wattpad. A free read. Props to Mark Lawrence for leveraging this platform. I am a pretty big fan of Lawrence but do set a high bar for his novels (translation = I do not auto rate at 5 stars). Gunlaw is wonderful. Easy 5 stars from me. I like how he weaves past with present and creates a world with a handful of different creature types (human, dogman, hunska, corpser, etc.).
And absolutely love the western cowboy sheriff theme! Gunlaw belongs in the Stephen King Dark Tower-Gunslinger and David Gemmell's Wolf in Shadow category. Throw in some Star Wars Mandalorian in terms of the fantasy world creatures. I enjoy these gun totting fantasy heroes. Brian McClellan's Powder Mage series is another. Lawrence brings his version and I hope he could continue with more books in this realm or a similar world. Loved it. And the ending is getting lots of criticism on other reviews, but I was ok with it. Give me more Mark! Give us more Gunlaw!
And absolutely love the western cowboy sheriff theme! Gunlaw belongs in the Stephen King Dark Tower-Gunslinger and David Gemmell's Wolf in Shadow category. Throw in some Star Wars Mandalorian in terms of the fantasy world creatures. I enjoy these gun totting fantasy heroes. Brian McClellan's Powder Mage series is another. Lawrence brings his version and I hope he could continue with more books in this realm or a similar world. Loved it. And the ending is getting lots of criticism on other reviews, but I was ok with it. Give me more Mark! Give us more Gunlaw!
December 15, 2015
This book reminds me of The Dark Tower, but it's better. I hope Mark continues it into a series. Loved reading it in small bits every week as released.
December 3, 2018
Excellent read. Hope there are more to come. Felt like an Ode to Darktower, but very original and well written characters. Was difficult to put it down.
December 16, 2015
What's more fascinating than reading a Mark Lawrence book? Reading it WHILE HE IS STILL WRITING IT. That was probably the coolest part, for me. His command of the English language still does not fail to enthrall me—and I love books that present ideas that have not been tried and popularized elsewhere. I have never heard of a story like "Gunlaw." Whereas Broken Empire has a very real-world connection, this one doesn't... Exactly... Or it might... That's the only trouble with reading a work-in-progress, is that point-of-reference is diminished, reading one chapter (or segment) at a time. But the detail in the individual scenes, and the characters are STELLAR. This story is the reason I got a Wattpad account... And it's really the only reason you need. Masterful job!
May 10, 2016
I caution readers to enter this story at their own risk. This author will sucker punch you without remorse time and again. And if you hate cliffhangers...
September 13, 2024
Writing so rich I could feel the dust from the dry scratching my skin, loved it! I’ve only just pulled into Mark Lawrence’s station (the shame!) but I’m definitely boarding this choo choo train!
July 7, 2016
First off, why haven't more people read this? It's free. And yes there are lots of free books out there, but most aren't by authors as good as Mark.
This is a weird book. And by that, I mean that it seems to fit in with the New Weird genre that China Mieville is known for. In fact, this really felt like a cross between Mieville's Bas-Lag series and Stephen King's Dark Tower series. And yes it is good enough to stand up to them.
This is also a tough book to read. The story and world are fed very slowly over time (usually though disconcerting flaskbacks), and Mark doesn't offer up much guidance. Instead he relies on the intelligence and patience of his readers. As a result, this book is very literary and experimental. While this can make some parts confusing and difficult, it also makes for a rewarding and fascinating experience.
There are great, complex lead characters that are hard to pin down, such as Mikeos (gunslinger), Jenna (hex-witch) and the superb Hemar, who has a ton of humanity in spite of being a "Dogman". Also, the Ay corpser brothers steal the couple scenes they are in.
I don't want to go into the story too much, but the world built here regarding the Gunlaw restrictions and the overarching competition between the Three Old Ones is both mysterious and topical. In fact, there are many thought provoking ideas here surrounding the nature of humans, from their parasitic relationship toward gods to their uneasy relationship with technology.
Please write the sequel!
4 stars.
This is a weird book. And by that, I mean that it seems to fit in with the New Weird genre that China Mieville is known for. In fact, this really felt like a cross between Mieville's Bas-Lag series and Stephen King's Dark Tower series. And yes it is good enough to stand up to them.
This is also a tough book to read. The story and world are fed very slowly over time (usually though disconcerting flaskbacks), and Mark doesn't offer up much guidance. Instead he relies on the intelligence and patience of his readers. As a result, this book is very literary and experimental. While this can make some parts confusing and difficult, it also makes for a rewarding and fascinating experience.
There are great, complex lead characters that are hard to pin down, such as Mikeos (gunslinger), Jenna (hex-witch) and the superb Hemar, who has a ton of humanity in spite of being a "Dogman". Also, the Ay corpser brothers steal the couple scenes they are in.
I don't want to go into the story too much, but the world built here regarding the Gunlaw restrictions and the overarching competition between the Three Old Ones is both mysterious and topical. In fact, there are many thought provoking ideas here surrounding the nature of humans, from their parasitic relationship toward gods to their uneasy relationship with technology.
Please write the sequel!
4 stars.
September 14, 2018
Definitely enjoyed this world. Recommend the book to others, and I give it a big thumbs up Mark.
Sidebar: I’m curious to learn more about the connection of this world and the that of the Book of the ancestor, both of which feature versions of the hunska.
Sidebar: I’m curious to learn more about the connection of this world and the that of the Book of the ancestor, both of which feature versions of the hunska.
December 31, 2021
Think: the Dark Tower series if it never went off the rails (so to speak). Smart, fascinating, twisty. I'm just annoyed that there are apparently no plans for it to continue.
February 7, 2019
Finally got this finished after starting it a long while ago.
As expected from mark Lawrence the characters are compelling and complex. The idea of the Gunlaw is fantastic and this raises some good ideas. Hope that Mr Lawrence is kind enough to bless us with more of this as it needs to be completed.
As expected from mark Lawrence the characters are compelling and complex. The idea of the Gunlaw is fantastic and this raises some good ideas. Hope that Mr Lawrence is kind enough to bless us with more of this as it needs to be completed.
April 17, 2017
"... the sweetness of life comes... because it is fleeting. Without change, and age, life's an empty pantomime. The days get thin. You spread yourself over too many years and it's them that shape you, not you that puts a mark on them."
This was really surprising and an excellent story.
I have to praise the worldbuilding here, as it was really creative and meshed many things effectively to make it a very unique Western.
But Gunlaw doesn't have only a curious worldbuilding to move the story forward. I say this as more often than not, whenever I praise the worldbuilding of a book as being a major part of what made me read it beginning to end, it tends to be because characterization, plot and tension isn't on the same level which often causes the sensation of a decent read that really lacked something more.
Not the case with Gunlaw. Characterization is very well done and the plot is very deep and ambitious.
With characterization I have to add that characters that appear shortly and get killed in the main storyline actually also have deep and hard lives of their own.
For example, Sykes Bannon made his appearance, killed Jenna's brother then got killed. Later we have his backstory (through another character mainly) and see how important he was and pretty much a victim just as the others.
The same for a character named Remos Jax, who appears pretty shortly, leaves his mark on a young Mikeos and then we get to know him better later.
I really liked this, because even if the protagonists don't get to know those characters or even kill some of them, nobody lives or lived in a vacuum. Something got them to stand where they are today, even the most meaningless secondary or tertiary characters.
However, the structure of the flashbacks maybe wasn't the best.
In the Broken Empire trilogy we had one present day, one flashback, so even the backstory being very gripping and visceral, we were never far from the main story for too long.
In Gunlaw the flashbacks sometimes were pretty long and covered various chapters.
And worse, when something pretty big happened and the group of characters really, really gripped me, then I was thrown into those flashback chapters with entirely new characters/situations and pretty much had to start from zero again.
While they provided the depth I mentioned before, and some had very nice foreshadow and situations, the structure did make it feel like a bucket of cold water more than once.
This almost took a star from me but I really liked the ending and the fact that it's actually book 1, not a standalone (that made me fear the ending was gonna be rushed).
And being fair, it also provides a nice option for a re-read, to really get all the nuances and implications.
And of course, also have to mention Mark Lawrence's prose, which made for a smooth reading, specially for me, who can only read this story at home staring at a LCD monitor with a long-day tired eyesight.
And that Wattpad doesn't even have a bookmark option, something its users are asking in the same vein Goodreads users had been asking for the re-read feature (later I opted in for some beta test option and apparently a "Continue" option was added, as previously I had to write down which chapter I was in).
Hopefully he'll one day make it available as an e-book for those of us who need to bathe in the blessings of electronic ink.
Oh, yes, prose. Here's another quote:
She knew why she was angry. For missed chances. For not being the person to take them. For being as wrapped in her business as Mikeos was in his. Bound up with saving people that didn't even know they needed saving and wouldn't consider her offer to be saved even if they did. Too bound up with saving humanity to actually take the time to be human.
I expect more great things in the future.
This was really surprising and an excellent story.
I have to praise the worldbuilding here, as it was really creative and meshed many things effectively to make it a very unique Western.
But Gunlaw doesn't have only a curious worldbuilding to move the story forward. I say this as more often than not, whenever I praise the worldbuilding of a book as being a major part of what made me read it beginning to end, it tends to be because characterization, plot and tension isn't on the same level which often causes the sensation of a decent read that really lacked something more.
Not the case with Gunlaw. Characterization is very well done and the plot is very deep and ambitious.
With characterization I have to add that characters that appear shortly and get killed in the main storyline actually also have deep and hard lives of their own.
For example, Sykes Bannon made his appearance, killed Jenna's brother then got killed. Later we have his backstory (through another character mainly) and see how important he was and pretty much a victim just as the others.
The same for a character named Remos Jax, who appears pretty shortly, leaves his mark on a young Mikeos and then we get to know him better later.
I really liked this, because even if the protagonists don't get to know those characters or even kill some of them, nobody lives or lived in a vacuum. Something got them to stand where they are today, even the most meaningless secondary or tertiary characters.
However, the structure of the flashbacks maybe wasn't the best.
In the Broken Empire trilogy we had one present day, one flashback, so even the backstory being very gripping and visceral, we were never far from the main story for too long.
In Gunlaw the flashbacks sometimes were pretty long and covered various chapters.
And worse, when something pretty big happened and the group of characters really, really gripped me, then I was thrown into those flashback chapters with entirely new characters/situations and pretty much had to start from zero again.
While they provided the depth I mentioned before, and some had very nice foreshadow and situations, the structure did make it feel like a bucket of cold water more than once.
This almost took a star from me but I really liked the ending and the fact that it's actually book 1, not a standalone (that made me fear the ending was gonna be rushed).
And being fair, it also provides a nice option for a re-read, to really get all the nuances and implications.
And of course, also have to mention Mark Lawrence's prose, which made for a smooth reading, specially for me, who can only read this story at home staring at a LCD monitor with a long-day tired eyesight.
And that Wattpad doesn't even have a bookmark option, something its users are asking in the same vein Goodreads users had been asking for the re-read feature (later I opted in for some beta test option and apparently a "Continue" option was added, as previously I had to write down which chapter I was in).
Hopefully he'll one day make it available as an e-book for those of us who need to bathe in the blessings of electronic ink.
Oh, yes, prose. Here's another quote:
She knew why she was angry. For missed chances. For not being the person to take them. For being as wrapped in her business as Mikeos was in his. Bound up with saving people that didn't even know they needed saving and wouldn't consider her offer to be saved even if they did. Too bound up with saving humanity to actually take the time to be human.
I expect more great things in the future.
May 15, 2021
Fun read. Mark Lawrence has a way of pulling you into a novel. Not as dark as some of his other works. It delves into the capacity of man to be good, evil, just, criminal, independent, yet needful. I enjoyed that component as well.
July 23, 2021
I see a strong parallels with Kings The Dark Tower series.
Also, it might be nostalgia, but my favourite part is the beginning/prologue with the young protagonist Mike (which I read about a year ago).
Overall, a strong book, quite different from authors other ones.
Also, it might be nostalgia, but my favourite part is the beginning/prologue with the young protagonist Mike (which I read about a year ago).
Overall, a strong book, quite different from authors other ones.
October 21, 2016
Mark Lawrence you bastard!! When are we getting the print version of this?? Having read his adventures of Jorg, I read this spread out over a couple of months as a prep to his next trilogy. Reading this and Gunslinger by Stephen King it's easy to make some comparisons but man are they totally different. Great story, action and characters that only Lawrence can put together.
March 18, 2016
Gunslingers and magic and strange gods in the desert. Love Mark's work, including this train ride of twists and strange things to tantalize us fantasy junkies. Thanks Mark. Keep writing such things. Please please.
December 13, 2015
Another great read by Lawrence with addictive characters in a land familiar enough to almost be real yet crazy enough to be undeniably fantasy.
If this was published as a bound book I'd absolutely buy it.
If this was published as a bound book I'd absolutely buy it.
Want to read
March 18, 2016Available for FREE here: https://www.wattpad.com/story/4345373...
July 12, 2017
The author had me at "hunska sex-woman".
That's how a real hombre goes a'mashin' them thar genres!
That's how a real hombre goes a'mashin' them thar genres!
August 6, 2018
Really enjoyed this. Question is, is there another part coming?
July 11, 2024
Wild from front to back, like watching a surreal painting come to life. Confusing at times but very interesting.
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