What do you think?
Rate this book
Retrievers #5
Free Fall
The Cosa Nostradamus is in disarray; the Truce holding violence in check has been broken. Magical Manhattan is at war, and Wren Valere is left without her partner/lover Sergei, whose past loyalties keep him from her side just when she needs him the most.
Hoping to keep herself occupied, Wren takes a job—but what should have been an ordinary Retrieval instead forces her to realize that it is time to do more. It is time for the Cosa to take the battle to the enemy.
But she'll do it her way. The Retrievers' way. Sneaky, smart—and with maximum damage possible. What was lost will be found, what was stolen will be Retrieved. And this war will be ended, once and for all.
Wren Valere always finishes the job. Always.
Hoping to keep herself occupied, Wren takes a job—but what should have been an ordinary Retrieval instead forces her to realize that it is time to do more. It is time for the Cosa to take the battle to the enemy.
But she'll do it her way. The Retrievers' way. Sneaky, smart—and with maximum damage possible. What was lost will be found, what was stolen will be Retrieved. And this war will be ended, once and for all.
Wren Valere always finishes the job. Always.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
601 people want to read
About the author
Laura Anne Gilman
122 books824 followersLaura Anne Gilman’s work has been hailed as “a true American myth” by NPR, and praised for her “deft plotting and first-class characters” by Publishers Weekly. She has won the Endeavor Award for THE COLD EYE, and been shortlisted for a Nebula, (another) Endeavor, and a Washington State Book Award. Her work includes the Devil’s West trilogy, the Cosa Nostradamus urban fantasy series, the Vineart trilogy, and the story collection WEST WINDS’ FOOL. Her upcoming move, UNCANNY TIMES, will be out from Saga Books in 2022.
She lives in Seattle with a cat, a dog, and many deadlines.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
May 3, 2008
Burning Bridges, the book before Free Fall pushed the Retrievers story off a cliff: "Wren" Valere and her partner/boyfriend Sergei split up, each thinking they were pushing the other away to protect them, her demon friend P.B. revealed that he is her familiar, whether she wants it or not, P.B. and Sergei were colluding instead of bickering, The Silence was the enemy instead of the client, and Valere was a leader instead of staying in the background and keeping her head down. While it was a fun book, it looked like the end of everything that made the series good.
Fortunately, this book sets out to undo most of the previous. In the several months since Bridges, Wren has taken small jobs on her own and tried to distance herself from the debacle at the Brooklyn Bridge. She's avoided Sergei completely and had P.B. move in so she can keep an eye on him. She is once again the lonejack Wren everyone expects: no one can get her involved in anything except her own life.
Early in the book, someone--presumably The Silence--sets her up and she winds up captured by three Nulls (non-magic-using humans) who are geared up to be protected from her magic. As they hold her down and discuss whether raping her is acceptable (if she's human, it is, they decide, but since she's a magic user....) she tries to find a way to escape and has to make a choice: is she willing to kill to protect herself? Either answer would be traumatic and her friends' response to either would not help.
This sets the theme of the book. Wren is haunted by her decision to kill the attackers, she is afraid of the deep, old power she called on to do so, and her friends don't understand why it bothers her at all. She is going slowly insane, closer to "wizzing" every day, and her friends can't do anything but watch. P.B. even encourages it to some extent. And having crossed the line to intentionally killing people, even in self-defense, she decides to let Thou Shalt Not Kill go the same way Thou Shalt Not Steal has and take the battle to The Silence. Since she's a thief, she decides to play to her strengths this time (unlike in Bridges) and do what she does best: she plans to "steal" back the young magic users The Silence has kidnapped and brainwashed to fight them.
It's an audacious plot and a strong character story as she wrestles with the morality and consequences of what she's doing. There is a short foreward by the author about why the series is on the Luna line, which publishes romantic fantasy, when there is little traditional romance in it. She points out that the series focuses on the personal relationships Valere forms and that love, not just lust, infatuation, or need, is an acceptable subject for romance.
If you liked the books before Bridges, you'll like this one quite a bit. If you liked Bridges, this is a nice continuation. Valere still takes some leadership moments, mostly when she's closest to wizzing, but she's closer to character (and more comfortable with what she's doing). P.B. reveals more about what demons are. Sergei proves his loyalties and we learn whether his faith in Andre is well-founded.
There are a few problems with the book, mostly around the ending (where the timing gets confused) and around how Wren's descent into madness is shown. Gilman relies a lot on the "she knew something was wrong but didn't know what' device, which fails when it's overused and when the reader doesn't know precisely which wrong thing it means. The addiction storyline with Sergei needs more time than it's getting to make sense, but hopefully that is the next book.
All in all, one of the better books in the series. If you like the genre and the characters, worth a read.
Fortunately, this book sets out to undo most of the previous. In the several months since Bridges, Wren has taken small jobs on her own and tried to distance herself from the debacle at the Brooklyn Bridge. She's avoided Sergei completely and had P.B. move in so she can keep an eye on him. She is once again the lonejack Wren everyone expects: no one can get her involved in anything except her own life.
Early in the book, someone--presumably The Silence--sets her up and she winds up captured by three Nulls (non-magic-using humans) who are geared up to be protected from her magic. As they hold her down and discuss whether raping her is acceptable (if she's human, it is, they decide, but since she's a magic user....) she tries to find a way to escape and has to make a choice: is she willing to kill to protect herself? Either answer would be traumatic and her friends' response to either would not help.
This sets the theme of the book. Wren is haunted by her decision to kill the attackers, she is afraid of the deep, old power she called on to do so, and her friends don't understand why it bothers her at all. She is going slowly insane, closer to "wizzing" every day, and her friends can't do anything but watch. P.B. even encourages it to some extent. And having crossed the line to intentionally killing people, even in self-defense, she decides to let Thou Shalt Not Kill go the same way Thou Shalt Not Steal has and take the battle to The Silence. Since she's a thief, she decides to play to her strengths this time (unlike in Bridges) and do what she does best: she plans to "steal" back the young magic users The Silence has kidnapped and brainwashed to fight them.
It's an audacious plot and a strong character story as she wrestles with the morality and consequences of what she's doing. There is a short foreward by the author about why the series is on the Luna line, which publishes romantic fantasy, when there is little traditional romance in it. She points out that the series focuses on the personal relationships Valere forms and that love, not just lust, infatuation, or need, is an acceptable subject for romance.
If you liked the books before Bridges, you'll like this one quite a bit. If you liked Bridges, this is a nice continuation. Valere still takes some leadership moments, mostly when she's closest to wizzing, but she's closer to character (and more comfortable with what she's doing). P.B. reveals more about what demons are. Sergei proves his loyalties and we learn whether his faith in Andre is well-founded.
There are a few problems with the book, mostly around the ending (where the timing gets confused) and around how Wren's descent into madness is shown. Gilman relies a lot on the "she knew something was wrong but didn't know what' device, which fails when it's overused and when the reader doesn't know precisely which wrong thing it means. The addiction storyline with Sergei needs more time than it's getting to make sense, but hopefully that is the next book.
All in all, one of the better books in the series. If you like the genre and the characters, worth a read.
May 8, 2008
The final book of the battle between the Cosa and the Silence, it is less then the spectacular finish. The book opens with the Wren having left both Sergei and her mother behind, with PB still at her side, and the battle moving towards full-on war.
This book is suppose to be, I think, about Wren finally stretching and reaching her limits - her limits of her morality, her magic - ability to channel her old magic vs new - how far can she go without wizzing and without loosing herself?
But really, it just ends up being a mess of emotional whining and flashes of what I think is suppose to be glimpses into her Wrecked Soul...but end up reading more like disjointed writings for a sleep-deprived junior high schooler.
Emotional turmoil is not Laura Gilmans' strong suit.
It was a disappointment to see that the series is going to continue, as this was a natural stopping point.
This book is suppose to be, I think, about Wren finally stretching and reaching her limits - her limits of her morality, her magic - ability to channel her old magic vs new - how far can she go without wizzing and without loosing herself?
But really, it just ends up being a mess of emotional whining and flashes of what I think is suppose to be glimpses into her Wrecked Soul...but end up reading more like disjointed writings for a sleep-deprived junior high schooler.
Emotional turmoil is not Laura Gilmans' strong suit.
It was a disappointment to see that the series is going to continue, as this was a natural stopping point.
May 8, 2023
Intense and perfect. Loved it.
September 13, 2020
Free Fall is a hard read. It felt like half a story and seemed much darker than the previous books.
Perhaps this is logical, after all we are discussing bigotry, and class warfare. The Truce hammered out in Book 4 has broken, the sweet romance between Sergei and Wren is now tainted with a life
threatening addiction. More and more Wren feels abandoned, and much worse she is noticed. What thief wants to be noticed?
In the world of Talent, the danger is losing control. If (and when) that happens, the rat brain takes over. An individual is drawn into the seductive dance of power and more power. Madness reigns.
Wren still harboring psychic bruises from the Battle of the Bridge finds herself trapped, and more than trapped threatened with rape and then a slow death. She snaps. Gilman then takes a risk, showing us wren's muddled thoughts, shutting out help and hope as the reader becomes more enmeshed in the painful drama. A person in free fall needs a parachute. Will our Wren find one?
The B plot involves the rescue of the young Talent who were introduced in Book 4. The nature of the plot, told from Wren's POV left this situation far in the background. This reader was hoping for a 'meanwhile in another location' this is what is happening. Gilman was steadfast in keeping the suspense building. The explosive conclusion brought about a good resolution; or was it?
The adult nature of the violence leads me to suggest this volume is for mature readers.
Recommended
Perhaps this is logical, after all we are discussing bigotry, and class warfare. The Truce hammered out in Book 4 has broken, the sweet romance between Sergei and Wren is now tainted with a life
threatening addiction. More and more Wren feels abandoned, and much worse she is noticed. What thief wants to be noticed?
In the world of Talent, the danger is losing control. If (and when) that happens, the rat brain takes over. An individual is drawn into the seductive dance of power and more power. Madness reigns.
Wren still harboring psychic bruises from the Battle of the Bridge finds herself trapped, and more than trapped threatened with rape and then a slow death. She snaps. Gilman then takes a risk, showing us wren's muddled thoughts, shutting out help and hope as the reader becomes more enmeshed in the painful drama. A person in free fall needs a parachute. Will our Wren find one?
The B plot involves the rescue of the young Talent who were introduced in Book 4. The nature of the plot, told from Wren's POV left this situation far in the background. This reader was hoping for a 'meanwhile in another location' this is what is happening. Gilman was steadfast in keeping the suspense building. The explosive conclusion brought about a good resolution; or was it?
The adult nature of the violence leads me to suggest this volume is for mature readers.
Recommended
October 25, 2018
This continued to be a good series about Wren, whose magic leaves her unnoticed by most people, and her partner Sergei, who isn't magical at all. If you're looking for a series that shows relationship development and isn't filled with explicit sex scenes, this could be your lucky day. :) Lot going on in this particular book and I put it in time out for a day because I was anxious about how things were shaking out.
February 16, 2018
4.75 stars.
Darker, grittier. Missed the Wren /Sergei connection though.
Darker, grittier. Missed the Wren /Sergei connection though.
September 10, 2022
Well, that was grim as hell - and really well executed.
January 23, 2015
This is my absolute favorite book of Author Laura Anne Gilman's A Retrievers Novel!
Free Fall had me equally enthralled as the previous books but in this one the beloved Wren had more fire, more spirit! I felt like all of my senses were heightened and engaged throughout the entire story, my eyes stayed glued to page after page of this action packed book! I literally felt as if Free Fall was being imprinted in my mind for all the impression it made on my book addicted self! Wren and Sergei belong together, their differences mean nothing in the face of the total love and devotion they both have for each other. Sometimes love is blind and instead of being blind to your partners imperfections your blind to the lengths they go to, to protect the one person who means everything even if its also from yourself. And that is exactly what Sergei and Wren did. P.B. is definitely a favorite of mine, I want a P.B. (insert pout) He is insanely awesome and his devotion is absolutely limitless!! I love how the fae came together for their hidden cousin!
I completely recommend this book and it's entire series is a must read.
18+up due to adult situations
Free Fall had me equally enthralled as the previous books but in this one the beloved Wren had more fire, more spirit! I felt like all of my senses were heightened and engaged throughout the entire story, my eyes stayed glued to page after page of this action packed book! I literally felt as if Free Fall was being imprinted in my mind for all the impression it made on my book addicted self! Wren and Sergei belong together, their differences mean nothing in the face of the total love and devotion they both have for each other. Sometimes love is blind and instead of being blind to your partners imperfections your blind to the lengths they go to, to protect the one person who means everything even if its also from yourself. And that is exactly what Sergei and Wren did. P.B. is definitely a favorite of mine, I want a P.B. (insert pout) He is insanely awesome and his devotion is absolutely limitless!! I love how the fae came together for their hidden cousin!
I completely recommend this book and it's entire series is a must read.
18+up due to adult situations
May 12, 2008
I just finished this book yesterday. It only took me two days to read and that's only because it was a busy weekend. If it wasn't a busy weekend I would have eaten this book in a day. This is my favourite of the Retriever series and if Laura Anne Gilman left this as the final book I would be happy because it resolved everything that has been building up in the books before it. I am curious to see what happens next for Wren, Sergei and P.B. though so bring on another one and I'll read it. This is a great urban fantasy full of adventure, magic and love. I'm normally not one for romantic fantasy, but Gilman does a great job by mostly focusing on everything else and letting the romance play a very small part. I love her take on magic in this series it being electrical current that is manipulated by the Talent that Wren is slightly different from most of the other Talents in that she likes to source from thunderstorms instead of man-made electricity.
If you enjoy Harry Dresden, you will most likely enjoy this series.
If you enjoy Harry Dresden, you will most likely enjoy this series.
November 3, 2008
This was a good continuation of the Retriever series. It picks up after Wren and Sergei have split up, and Wren is trying to move away from the center of events. This doesn't work so well for her, and she ends up caught up more intensely than ever. In the last book, we discovered that The Silence was kidnapping, torturing, and brainwashing younger members of the magical community. Wren and the rest of the Cosa Nostradamus decide it's time to rescue those kids, and bring the war directly to The Silence. The shifting alliances and crises brought on by this choice culminate in a complex struggle between the two, just in time for Wren to realize she's wizzing.
I like that we find out more about P.B. in this one, and that Wren gets a better sense of her limits and her abilities. I wish she hadn't separated from Sergei, but I can work with that. I still think the fortune cookie seer is the most inspired part of the books. :)
I like that we find out more about P.B. in this one, and that Wren gets a better sense of her limits and her abilities. I wish she hadn't separated from Sergei, but I can work with that. I still think the fortune cookie seer is the most inspired part of the books. :)
January 28, 2013
Free Fall was better than the previous book in this Retrievers series. It brought back some of that action, killer attitudes and more focus. It had some intense moments, life changing moments for Wren that really gave her character a serious mind twist that effects her the rest of the book. It was one of those things though, that should effect someone.
The relationship drama between Wren and Sergei is there, it's just not the main show, which was nice. It did feel a bit more realistic, as did the friendship thats growing with P.B.
The writing in this novel was much better than the last, the plots felt more directed and there was tension so that you kept on reading to find out what in the world is going on and going to happen. You can feel the build up in this book and it doesn't disappoint.
The relationship drama between Wren and Sergei is there, it's just not the main show, which was nice. It did feel a bit more realistic, as did the friendship thats growing with P.B.
The writing in this novel was much better than the last, the plots felt more directed and there was tension so that you kept on reading to find out what in the world is going on and going to happen. You can feel the build up in this book and it doesn't disappoint.
June 12, 2008
Note: This book comes out from Luna, which is a fantasy/horror/SF romance line. But the novel is very gritty and hard-edged. Things happened at the end of BURNING BRIDGES, the fourth Retrievers book, that are definitely not HEA (happily ever after). This is a fine fantasy-mystery, and has an evolving relationship in the story, as well as examining the bindings of friendship. But this is not a book where 51% of the story is microscopic analysis of the relationship.
That said, I like the writing and the world -- they're clean and no-nonsense, and carry a well-woven long arc while finding real ends of "acts" for each book. Good characters, too, although Gilman kills off secondary characters too fast!
This is the fifth Retrievers book -- a sixth is forthcoming.
That said, I like the writing and the world -- they're clean and no-nonsense, and carry a well-woven long arc while finding real ends of "acts" for each book. Good characters, too, although Gilman kills off secondary characters too fast!
This is the fifth Retrievers book -- a sixth is forthcoming.
September 9, 2008
Emotionally wrenching for those fans of the series. We see our heroine become stretched to her limits after an event that scarred her deeply but an event that she locks away in a mental box. She begins pushing people away just when she needs them the most and because of this, she has no safe haven, no support.
She is pushed to her limits only to be brought back slightly more damaged but stronger, harder and wiser.
One thing that bugged me was the relationship between Wren and Sergei. She is so smart about a lot of things and he is no moron, so why can't they figure out a way to fix their problems? Or at least admit to each other that they have these problems?
Looking forward to the next book when hopefully Wren begins to grow up emotionally and Sergei admits he has a problem.
She is pushed to her limits only to be brought back slightly more damaged but stronger, harder and wiser.
One thing that bugged me was the relationship between Wren and Sergei. She is so smart about a lot of things and he is no moron, so why can't they figure out a way to fix their problems? Or at least admit to each other that they have these problems?
Looking forward to the next book when hopefully Wren begins to grow up emotionally and Sergei admits he has a problem.
January 19, 2009
I've been following Gilman's Retrievers series for - five books now, and I'm not tired of it. In this revised version of our world, the creatures of fairy tale are real and hiding among us (or out in the wilderness). Also, some humans have the ability to channel "current" (which is basically, though not exactly, electricity) (one must wonder if Tesla and Edison were Talent - Gilman doesn't say, but it seems likely). I'm not going to recap the whole plot of this series here, just say that in this one, everybody antes up and shows their hand, and the results are spectacular - if somewhat ambiguous in some ways. I look forward to the next in the series to see what happens next.
August 23, 2011
I really wasn't looking forward to this installment in the Retriever series; such doom and gloom and dire straits were hard to look forward to in the beginning of the story. I'm glad now I stuck with it, as several of the issues were nicely resolved. I'm still rooting for Wren and Sergei to work through their remaining issues and come out the other side stronger than ever. This series has been building with each book and I'm sticking along for the ride.
May 25, 2009
These books just get better. Valere is estranged from Sergei as he has become addicted to her current and it is jeopardizing his health. Meanwhile, life's challenges continue. She believes The Silence, the secret organization that trained Sergei as a spy, is behind the recent attacks and slaying of the talented and fatae. She decides to retrieve talented poeple that the Silence have abducted and are torturing into mindless slaves.
Read
May 1, 2008In this book Wren must take on the Mage Council, The Silence, and The Lonejacks for her own survival and that of the Fatae that are her friends. Also it helps Sergi to accept PB and relize that they can both love Wren and that no matter what else happens their relationship is strong enough to weather it.
July 4, 2011
Amazing. My favorite of the series so far. I think Wren is one of my favorite urban fantasy characters. I am really intrigued to see where the series goes from here, I was surprised that this was not the last book.
November 30, 2014
book 5 in series. Wren and her usual partner Sergei are estranged. A job goes wrong. The Silence, whose mandate is to protect the innocent, is now targeting anyone who doesn’t fit their idea of human-only. Reluctantly, Wren must become a leader.
May 24, 2008
A fine continuation of the series.
February 11, 2009
Great as always
November 30, 2009
I just could not get into this book.
Read
January 9, 2010fantasy,urban,Amazon received
Read
April 12, 2010new author for me; want to go back and read the first four and then the next one.
February 2, 2012
I liked this one best so far out of the series. Got to about 80% done, and couldn't put it down until I finished it... at 2am.
January 18, 2011
can tell it's a book 5. more drama and less action. pg-married due to sexual content. final battle type. and the hero has to live with the darkness. getting a little predictable.
June 16, 2011
Finally, a plot! After two books of a whole lot of nothing happening, there is finally some action again. Fast-paced, emotional, gripping. Loved it.
October 4, 2015
I like this series overall, but this one... it took me almost a year to drag myself through it. I had to make myself finish it, and now I pretty much never want to see it again.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews