What do you think?
Rate this book
The Silent Champions #0.5
The Last March
Sergeant Koltun and his Screaming Howlers should never have been caught up in the desperate battle to defend Highcliff Motte from a horde of Eirdkilrs. But with so few Legionnaires against so many barbarians, they couldn’t simply ride away and leave their fellow soldiers to die.
Outnumbered, cut off from reinforcements, with no chance of victory, their only hope is to embark on one last march...every step a fight to survive.
Outnumbered, cut off from reinforcements, with no chance of victory, their only hope is to embark on one last march...every step a fight to survive.
- GenresFantasy
295 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 6, 2020
39 people are currently reading
81 people want to read
About the author
Andy Peloquin
90 books1,296 followersI am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
July 8, 2022
There's something quite remarkable in the fact that I knew exactly how this was going to end before I started reading the first page, and yet I was still absolutely drawn in by the characters and the desperate situation that they faced. This is a prequel novel, covering the events of a battle that happened long before Aravon's adventures of the main series and having read the main series, the history of this battle had already been explored. So I knew, without a shadow of a doubt what the final result was going to be. You'd think that would impinge on my enjoyment of the tale, but it really, really didn't.
This is the tale of the battle for Highcliff Motte, a desperate last stand against a hoard of Eirdkillrs, impossible odds and desperate measures. It's also the origin story of Lingram, one of the characters seen standing by Aravon's side. It's far shorter than the bulk of the series, but doesn't lose out on character development or action scenes because of it. The world-building is a little light, I guises, but this isn't noticeable as the bulk of the action takes place in one or two places and if you've read the main series the world is fully drawn out. It's a simpler tale than the main series, but no less worth reading.
My only real niggle was the Legionnaires song that was written in full for the first time throughout the entire series. It drove me mad trying to figure out a tune to fit it to and then I realised why. The verses have wildly different numbers of beats per line which is not standard for a repeating verse hymn/tune. So if you take Onward Christian Soldiers as an example, the number of syllables per stanza is 6/5/6/5/6/5/6/5 and this repeats consistently throughout. This is a fairly standard song writing method. However the number of syllables per stanza here differs significantly per verse, making it all but impossible to work out a consistent tune. Watch:
8/9/8/8
7/8/8/6
7/7/11/8
12/7/10/7
8/8/11/8
9/8/10/7
9/8/9/9
It's a small niggle I know, but it's honestly driving me mad!
Aside from that, I do recommend this to anyone who has already enjoyed the rest of the series. It's a prequel, so you can certainly read it first if you'd prefer to avoid the spoilers the rest of the series, however you will miss out on a lot of the world building that is present in the main series. A compromise might be reading to the end of Ragged Heroes where you are first introduced to Lingram and no further. You'll get a sense of the world and characters, without having this origin battle spoilereed (also not a word, but sue me).
This is the tale of the battle for Highcliff Motte, a desperate last stand against a hoard of Eirdkillrs, impossible odds and desperate measures. It's also the origin story of Lingram, one of the characters seen standing by Aravon's side. It's far shorter than the bulk of the series, but doesn't lose out on character development or action scenes because of it. The world-building is a little light, I guises, but this isn't noticeable as the bulk of the action takes place in one or two places and if you've read the main series the world is fully drawn out. It's a simpler tale than the main series, but no less worth reading.
My only real niggle was the Legionnaires song that was written in full for the first time throughout the entire series. It drove me mad trying to figure out a tune to fit it to and then I realised why. The verses have wildly different numbers of beats per line which is not standard for a repeating verse hymn/tune. So if you take Onward Christian Soldiers as an example, the number of syllables per stanza is 6/5/6/5/6/5/6/5 and this repeats consistently throughout. This is a fairly standard song writing method. However the number of syllables per stanza here differs significantly per verse, making it all but impossible to work out a consistent tune. Watch:
8/9/8/8
7/8/8/6
7/7/11/8
12/7/10/7
8/8/11/8
9/8/10/7
9/8/9/9
It's a small niggle I know, but it's honestly driving me mad!
Aside from that, I do recommend this to anyone who has already enjoyed the rest of the series. It's a prequel, so you can certainly read it first if you'd prefer to avoid the spoilers the rest of the series, however you will miss out on a lot of the world building that is present in the main series. A compromise might be reading to the end of Ragged Heroes where you are first introduced to Lingram and no further. You'll get a sense of the world and characters, without having this origin battle spoilereed (also not a word, but sue me).
March 31, 2020
I am always in awe of Andy Peloquin's writing, his grimdark military novels are so strong both in the action and the fighting scenes which take place, but more so in the courage and loyalty and camaraderie between the soldiers, and this book The Last March is nothing less. I don't know whether this book is about our heroic dwarf Koltun or about Lingram's start to a great military career. In this book we see the fall of Highcliff Motte to the horde of thousands of Eirdilrs who swooped down on the few hundred soldiers and as many miners and their families who lived within this outpost. It is a story of standing tall and never yielding or leaving any of their comrades behind, putting the safety of the women and children first and foremost even at the cost to their own lives. Koltun's team, the screaming howlers, were only at the Motte because they were travelling with Dayn, an arch guardian of the secret keepers who was looking for a rock which he said had the potential to turn the war around, but when the motte was attacked they stood by the legionnaires till the last man standing. The flarequartz which Deyn and his apprentice found and collected saved their lives more than once during their escape through the mountains however it was really the last march for many of them! This 6th book in The Silent Champions series is one of the most powerful yet, I am still stunned at the vividly detailed, yet not gory descriptions, of the battle scenes which brought the war to life, depicting all the pain and suffering and loss any war brings with it. Peloquin is a master in this genre of military fantasy which I never tire of reading.
February 13, 2023
Excellent book, a prequel to the Silent Companions books. The story of the Screaming Howler and the origin of Liligram as well as sealing the pass against a horde of Eirdkilrs. Constant action and interesting characters
August 5, 2024
This is book 6 in the series and shows the fight against the Eirdkillrs long before the Grim Reavers from the main series were called into existence. Here, we see a young Lingram who is serving under Sargeant Koltun at Highcliff Motte and learn more about what happened there.
A shirt version of what is happening in this book is told by Lingram in Courage to Sacrifice, but here it is told from Sargeant Koltun's POV.
Again, Andy Peloquin writes to make you suffer. The way I get attached to these characters is insane and that's thanks to the way he writes them. They feel so real, which makes it tough to see them go through sh*t.
I'm really sad I finished this series - I just don't want it to end. I could read about these characters forever.
A shirt version of what is happening in this book is told by Lingram in Courage to Sacrifice, but here it is told from Sargeant Koltun's POV.
Again, Andy Peloquin writes to make you suffer. The way I get attached to these characters is insane and that's thanks to the way he writes them. They feel so real, which makes it tough to see them go through sh*t.
I'm really sad I finished this series - I just don't want it to end. I could read about these characters forever.
April 3, 2020
This was not my favourite of Peloquin's books; the personal dimension was not as fully drawn out of the characters as I'd have liked. The revelation early in the book that Koltun was a dwarf held out a suggestion that issues around society's treatment of people with physical differences might be explored, but this was not followed up. Nevertheless, it is an exciting read, and lovers of military fiction will appreciate the issues of strategy and tactics.
The ending of the book, however, is utterly magnificent. For fear of spoiling, I shan't say more than that it was a beautiful rendition of courage in extremity, a wonderful celebration of the human spirit.
The ending of the book, however, is utterly magnificent. For fear of spoiling, I shan't say more than that it was a beautiful rendition of courage in extremity, a wonderful celebration of the human spirit.
April 6, 2020
I received this book as a gift.
The Screaming Howlers, Koltun, Caela, Wallis, Connell, Thog...introducing Lingram, Arch-Guardian Dayn ( Secret Keeper) follow are heroes as they guard, in service to find the mystical flare quartz! While Koltun and his crew are stationed at High Cliff Motte beside the Legionaries all hell breaks loose The Eirdkilrs attack!!
With only a handful of teammates and a handful of Legionnaires they must stand against 1000's of blue faced Eirdkilrs. Will these would be heroes survive or will they pay the ultimate sacrifice.
This is an outstanding military fantasy!
The Screaming Howlers, Koltun, Caela, Wallis, Connell, Thog...introducing Lingram, Arch-Guardian Dayn ( Secret Keeper) follow are heroes as they guard, in service to find the mystical flare quartz! While Koltun and his crew are stationed at High Cliff Motte beside the Legionaries all hell breaks loose The Eirdkilrs attack!!
With only a handful of teammates and a handful of Legionnaires they must stand against 1000's of blue faced Eirdkilrs. Will these would be heroes survive or will they pay the ultimate sacrifice.
This is an outstanding military fantasy!
April 7, 2020
I really enjoy Mr. Peloquin's books so much, his military fantasy novels are some of the best. He can really express the emotional depth of each character and the turmoil they go through. We meet up with Lingram here as a young lad before joining the Legionnaires and eventually becoming Captain. We also see the Screaming Howlers in action lead by Sargent Koltun. I would have liked to see more detail or back story on the Howler's characters. But the finale really brings it home with an amazing finish that left me in tears and satisfied!!! I Highly Recommend it.
I was given a copy of the book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.
I was given a copy of the book from the author for free in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2020
Overall rating: 4.7
I have come to expect gut gripping, heart wrenching and emotional highs and lows throughout each of these books, and this tale did not fail to deliver. The conclusion is almost indescribably epic and I have earmarked as a read over already, just because I am sure I missed some nuances here and there. The Howlers are a backstory prior to the Grim Reapers, so expect to have some difference characters leaving you perplexed. A brilliant read! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
I have come to expect gut gripping, heart wrenching and emotional highs and lows throughout each of these books, and this tale did not fail to deliver. The conclusion is almost indescribably epic and I have earmarked as a read over already, just because I am sure I missed some nuances here and there. The Howlers are a backstory prior to the Grim Reapers, so expect to have some difference characters leaving you perplexed. A brilliant read! All my reviews are always voluntarily written.
April 17, 2020
Wow what a prequel for the previous books
As I said in the title, this is a prequel to the books before in the series. Mere again the author has shown a common theme for in in all the books in the series. In the armed forces a soldier does not fight for many reasons people think. Whether you are a Roman soldier manning a shield wall or a soldier in our civil war manning the line or even a modern soldier serving far away from this country. A soldier serves for the soldier on their right or the soldier in their left and their squad leader. Well done!
As I said in the title, this is a prequel to the books before in the series. Mere again the author has shown a common theme for in in all the books in the series. In the armed forces a soldier does not fight for many reasons people think. Whether you are a Roman soldier manning a shield wall or a soldier in our civil war manning the line or even a modern soldier serving far away from this country. A soldier serves for the soldier on their right or the soldier in their left and their squad leader. Well done!
April 7, 2020
I found The Last March to be slightly less engrossing than the other Silent Champions books but it gives valuable background to Lingram. In Last March we are shown the Legionaires who were fundamental in forming Lingrams's own character for his future military career as well as the reason he was so vital to the Grim Reavers mission in Courage to Sacrifice.
It is a good stand alone story but helps fill in some gaps in the series as a whole.
It is a good stand alone story but helps fill in some gaps in the series as a whole.
April 6, 2020
Received as an arc
This companion novel to the Silent Champions series is an absolute must read. Andy’s writing style has a way to take the reader into the story and keep them involved throughout. The story that is told is full of excitement, intrigue, twists and turns. It’s an emotional roller coaster ride that will keep you strapped in and your heart pounding.
This companion novel to the Silent Champions series is an absolute must read. Andy’s writing style has a way to take the reader into the story and keep them involved throughout. The story that is told is full of excitement, intrigue, twists and turns. It’s an emotional roller coaster ride that will keep you strapped in and your heart pounding.
March 26, 2020
This book is the culmination and
beginning of a series that is
**OUTSTANDING ** !!
In all my years of reading fiction of
whatever genre, this is the first military
series of sci - fi that consistently held my
interest and ** always ** left me wanting
more.
Superbly done !!
Phyllis S.
beginning of a series that is
**OUTSTANDING ** !!
In all my years of reading fiction of
whatever genre, this is the first military
series of sci - fi that consistently held my
interest and ** always ** left me wanting
more.
Superbly done !!
Phyllis S.
April 11, 2020
Excellent! The tragic story of the fall of Highcliff Motte and the sealing of the Eastern pass in the Sawtooth Mountains. We get to meet Captain Lingram when he is just a boy and learn how he became the only survivor. A deeply moving and extremely well written story. Loved it!
April 1, 2020
Wow, What a final book, with an ending you don't see coming. Full of action all the way, twists and turns aplenty. Looking forward to the next series that's for sure. Highly recommended.
July 26, 2021
Good Conclusion
The last of the series told in epic fashion. It was great to read about the battle we read about earlier in the series.
The last of the series told in epic fashion. It was great to read about the battle we read about earlier in the series.
September 4, 2021
Absolutely loved this series! Can’t wait to read more by Peloquin in this world!
November 12, 2022
I don't understand this rating. (at the time of writing 4.67 out of 5). The cover refers to the bridgeburners and black company. Why?
This whole book so far (page 200) is a repetition of the following four lines:
Koltun is a dwarf sized man with a noble heart and can reload and fire a crossbow in 5 seconds. He gets angry at the simple-minded buffoon of a captain but manages to keep his temper. A bunch (2000 at every moment of the book even though they killed hundreds in the meantime) of jotunheim giants tries to kill everyone. Koltun tries to prevent this.
That. Is. It. No character building, no witty dialogue or uniqueness. And that while referring to pure greatness. I don't think I dare to read the other books.
This whole book so far (page 200) is a repetition of the following four lines:
Koltun is a dwarf sized man with a noble heart and can reload and fire a crossbow in 5 seconds. He gets angry at the simple-minded buffoon of a captain but manages to keep his temper. A bunch (2000 at every moment of the book even though they killed hundreds in the meantime) of jotunheim giants tries to kill everyone. Koltun tries to prevent this.
That. Is. It. No character building, no witty dialogue or uniqueness. And that while referring to pure greatness. I don't think I dare to read the other books.
July 6, 2021
The Screaming Howlers
Man that has me like a blubbering mess, Damn you Andy Peloquin, the final book of an amazing series, that was emotional, the characters as usual are brilliant, the camaraderie, the battles, damn those Eirdkilrs to hell, highly recommend....😊
Man that has me like a blubbering mess, Damn you Andy Peloquin, the final book of an amazing series, that was emotional, the characters as usual are brilliant, the camaraderie, the battles, damn those Eirdkilrs to hell, highly recommend....😊
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews