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itsfreelancer's review against another edition
5.0
Where do I start about this book? The lack of a plot or the immensely lovable uncouth humour? The fantastic characters or the whirwind action sequences?
Scourge of the Betrayer takes you on a ride alongside ill-disciplined mercenaries where swords and flails speak mightier than the words of the scribe through whose POV we muddle across. An opportunist meets an unpredictable man and is left to make choices he never imagined were choices. Stuck between a rock and hard place, our scribe Arki attempts to pierce the mystery of the Slydoon in hopes of seeing himself in a glorified pedestral.
I love such books. I am a sucker for teams and cadres. Be it the Bridgeburners, the Mad Lancers or the Band of the Red Hand. If there are people worth following into battle, I invest more than a little emotion into them. The Slydoon is one such group. Jeff Salyards takes us on a nightmarish journey of gut wrenching fight brutality and a plot loosly tied around the outcome of such fights.
There is a larger story. There has to be. But for once, I'm glad to read a book without thinking too far ahead.
Scourge of the Betrayer takes you on a ride alongside ill-disciplined mercenaries where swords and flails speak mightier than the words of the scribe through whose POV we muddle across. An opportunist meets an unpredictable man and is left to make choices he never imagined were choices. Stuck between a rock and hard place, our scribe Arki attempts to pierce the mystery of the Slydoon in hopes of seeing himself in a glorified pedestral.
I love such books. I am a sucker for teams and cadres. Be it the Bridgeburners, the Mad Lancers or the Band of the Red Hand. If there are people worth following into battle, I invest more than a little emotion into them. The Slydoon is one such group. Jeff Salyards takes us on a nightmarish journey of gut wrenching fight brutality and a plot loosly tied around the outcome of such fights.
There is a larger story. There has to be. But for once, I'm glad to read a book without thinking too far ahead.
mxsallybend's review against another edition
3.0
I actually finished Scourge of the Betrayer last week, but it's taken me a few days to decide precisely how to approach a review. It's such an oddly structured novel, and one that forgoes so many genre cliches, I wanted to give myself time to separate the novelty of the reading experience from the story itself.
Most fantasy novels begin with a very clear explanation of who the characters are, what the story is about, and where the story is going; the author immediately defines a goal, a destination, or an objective against which to measure progress; and then leads us to the discovery of a monster, a villain, an empire, or a philosophy to be defeated as the ultimate measure of success.
With Scourge of the Betrayer we get none of that. We're introduced to the characters by name, given a few vague hints and clues as to their roles within the world, and then we're off. Much like Arki, the scribe who provides our focal point into the world, we're kept in the dark as to where we're going, why we're going there, and what it is we hope to accomplish. More than that, we're denied any insight into the significance of events, and robbed of the opportunity to play along and estimate where we are on the journey.
It's a dangerously ambitious way to tell a story, and one with as much potential to alienate readers as to engage them. Fortunately, Salyards know just how to pace his clues, creating a sense of drama and anticipation that wouldn't otherwise be found in what is ultimately revealed to be a rather straightforward tale. Instead of driving towards a goal or a destination we, as readers, are driving instead towards an understanding of who Captain Braylar is and what, exactly, his Slydoon are up to.
The fact that Salyards tells such a stark, brutal, realistic tale certainly helps - had this been a lighter or brighter fantasy, the storytelling likely wouldn't have worked so well. Instead, the edginess of the storytelling plays well against the edginess of the characters and their world, actually serving to draw the reader in. Make no mistake, it's a literary tease, and one that's often frustrating, but it somehow all comes together.
Of course, every story must have its end, and every mystery must have it's big reveal. The big reveal here is less of a "WOW!" and more of an "hmm . . . okay" moment, but it's in keeping with the rest of the story. While I was looking for something a bit more grand, something with a bit more significance, I can't really say I was disappointed. The reveal, and the casual way in which it takes place, just seem to fit. Besides, in a story that is so character-driven, it's only fitting that the most significant moments be saved for the characters themselves, not their purpose.
My only complaint is that this feels like less of a complete story and more of a first arc in a longer book, the kind of opening instalment that catches your interest but leaves you wanting to reserve judgement until you know more. Having said that, it's an intriguing enough first arc to make me want to read more, and there's no better recommendation I can offer than that.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
Most fantasy novels begin with a very clear explanation of who the characters are, what the story is about, and where the story is going; the author immediately defines a goal, a destination, or an objective against which to measure progress; and then leads us to the discovery of a monster, a villain, an empire, or a philosophy to be defeated as the ultimate measure of success.
With Scourge of the Betrayer we get none of that. We're introduced to the characters by name, given a few vague hints and clues as to their roles within the world, and then we're off. Much like Arki, the scribe who provides our focal point into the world, we're kept in the dark as to where we're going, why we're going there, and what it is we hope to accomplish. More than that, we're denied any insight into the significance of events, and robbed of the opportunity to play along and estimate where we are on the journey.
It's a dangerously ambitious way to tell a story, and one with as much potential to alienate readers as to engage them. Fortunately, Salyards know just how to pace his clues, creating a sense of drama and anticipation that wouldn't otherwise be found in what is ultimately revealed to be a rather straightforward tale. Instead of driving towards a goal or a destination we, as readers, are driving instead towards an understanding of who Captain Braylar is and what, exactly, his Slydoon are up to.
The fact that Salyards tells such a stark, brutal, realistic tale certainly helps - had this been a lighter or brighter fantasy, the storytelling likely wouldn't have worked so well. Instead, the edginess of the storytelling plays well against the edginess of the characters and their world, actually serving to draw the reader in. Make no mistake, it's a literary tease, and one that's often frustrating, but it somehow all comes together.
Of course, every story must have its end, and every mystery must have it's big reveal. The big reveal here is less of a "WOW!" and more of an "hmm . . . okay" moment, but it's in keeping with the rest of the story. While I was looking for something a bit more grand, something with a bit more significance, I can't really say I was disappointed. The reveal, and the casual way in which it takes place, just seem to fit. Besides, in a story that is so character-driven, it's only fitting that the most significant moments be saved for the characters themselves, not their purpose.
My only complaint is that this feels like less of a complete story and more of a first arc in a longer book, the kind of opening instalment that catches your interest but leaves you wanting to reserve judgement until you know more. Having said that, it's an intriguing enough first arc to make me want to read more, and there's no better recommendation I can offer than that.
Originally reviewed at Beauty in Ruins
surfmonkey01's review against another edition
4.0
Imagine the Black Company as written by Joe Abercrombie. Dark, brutal, and very good. Although, it was a little slow, and it ended VERY abruptly. Need the second book now to see if it follows through on the promise of this one
fantasyfunk's review against another edition
3.0
So I had a hard time with this book. On the one hand, the writing is excellent, it's grimdark, and I always love some snarky characters. On the other, I just couldn't seem to get into the story. I will say I'm always scared to read books where I've read a lot of great reviews beforehand. Sometimes i think my expectations are just too high going in.
I don't have a problem being thrown straight into a book and taking time to have the story and the world revealed to me. I have read Malazan after all. =) In Scourge, however, I really felt like it took almost until the last 15% of the book to get any sense of the story at all, but I think that's the fault of the narration style. The book is told from the viewpoint of Arki, a scribe hired by Captain Braylar to chronicle the actions of him and his men. Since Arki is kept in the dark about the master plan as a new recruit, so are we. This seemed to work for a lot of other people, but I guess I just wish that we'd gotten more pieces of the puzzle before the end. There are certainly moments where you know all is not as it seems, but they didn't seem connected enough to me to hint about where we're going. I will say this slow burn definitely picks up and I read the second half of the book much faster even if it was only the last 15% or so where I was excited to finally see the point of everything coming to fruition. I just didn't like having to think "Oh so that's what we're doing here" at the end of the book rather than "AH-HA! I guessed it!" or "OH SHIT! That makes sense."
Even if I didn't connect with the story, there were lots of of good things in this book. The combat is fantastic and I really appreciated the realism. Warhorses are trained to fight too and they can do a lot of damage. It's always refreshing to me when an author actually has soldiers get hurt in battle and act accordingly. Not every shot or stab can be a kill shot.
The characters are also great. Arki is a great narrator and we're privy to his awkward beginning interactions with the group and continual disbelief that he signed up for this ride. Captain Braylar and his men are typical grimdark characters - crude and blunt yet charismatic. We don't get a ton of time with the whole group and I really liked Lloi, the lone woman amongst the men. She is one of the characters we get to see the most so I don't know how much that affected her being my favorite character.
I would recommend this book just with a caveat that it definitely takes some time to get to the meat. I just really wish I had fallen more for the slow burn than I did. I will say, however, that I'm going to pick up Book 2 and 3. Partly because so many people love this series so I have hope and partly because I did start to enjoy it more especially at the end. I think if Scourge had maybe been a little longer I might have even been willing to give it 3.5 or 4 stars.
I don't have a problem being thrown straight into a book and taking time to have the story and the world revealed to me. I have read Malazan after all. =) In Scourge, however, I really felt like it took almost until the last 15% of the book to get any sense of the story at all, but I think that's the fault of the narration style. The book is told from the viewpoint of Arki, a scribe hired by Captain Braylar to chronicle the actions of him and his men. Since Arki is kept in the dark about the master plan as a new recruit, so are we. This seemed to work for a lot of other people, but I guess I just wish that we'd gotten more pieces of the puzzle before the end. There are certainly moments where you know all is not as it seems, but they didn't seem connected enough to me to hint about where we're going. I will say this slow burn definitely picks up and I read the second half of the book much faster even if it was only the last 15% or so where I was excited to finally see the point of everything coming to fruition. I just didn't like having to think "Oh so that's what we're doing here" at the end of the book rather than "AH-HA! I guessed it!" or "OH SHIT! That makes sense."
Even if I didn't connect with the story, there were lots of of good things in this book. The combat is fantastic and I really appreciated the realism. Warhorses are trained to fight too and they can do a lot of damage. It's always refreshing to me when an author actually has soldiers get hurt in battle and act accordingly. Not every shot or stab can be a kill shot.
The characters are also great. Arki is a great narrator and we're privy to his awkward beginning interactions with the group and continual disbelief that he signed up for this ride. Captain Braylar and his men are typical grimdark characters - crude and blunt yet charismatic. We don't get a ton of time with the whole group and I really liked Lloi, the lone woman amongst the men. She is one of the characters we get to see the most so I don't know how much that affected her being my favorite character.
I would recommend this book just with a caveat that it definitely takes some time to get to the meat. I just really wish I had fallen more for the slow burn than I did. I will say, however, that I'm going to pick up Book 2 and 3. Partly because so many people love this series so I have hope and partly because I did start to enjoy it more especially at the end. I think if Scourge had maybe been a little longer I might have even been willing to give it 3.5 or 4 stars.
lundos's review against another edition
2.0
After some of the praise I probably had too high expectations. Not really much going on in this one. It's kept at minimum of characters, development and the plot are pretty simple.
The main character is an annoying whelp not meant for the world he's chosen. The Syldoon are pretty much your well-known group of tough, no-nonsense action heroes, though. I'm reading the next one just to know what Salyards is plotting here.
The main character is an annoying whelp not meant for the world he's chosen. The Syldoon are pretty much your well-known group of tough, no-nonsense action heroes, though
Spoiler
the Deserter Gods plot line and the Bloodsounder effect is pretty novelchoochewtoy's review against another edition
4.0
Well written, and glad it stayed in 1st person, so I didn't have to rush through the interposing chapters with characters I don't care about.
lvh's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
natcatsbookishcafe's review against another edition
I didn’t actually finish this book but I didn’t want to give it too low a rating because I thought it was a decent book. It’s just not my style.
glowbump's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
mferrante83's review against another edition
4.0
Even with the publisher’s description I’m sure that I would have made the connection myself but when reading Jeff Salyards’ Scourge of the Betrayer the inevitable comparison is with Glen Cook’s Black Company series. The structure bears some similarity, a military fantasy narrated by a man chronicling deeds, but both remain distinct. Scourge of the Betrayer is told from the perspective of Arki, a young scribe hired to record the deeds of a band of Syldoon warriors lead by Captain Braylar Killcoin. The Syldoon are warriors that border on legendary and it is Arki’s intent to determine how much of that legend was true. Arki, untrained in the ways of battle or the hardships of the road, is thrown into a dangerous mission that will test his dedication to uncovering the truth of the Syldoon and his desire to make his own name.
Salyards’ tosses you straight into the fire with very little explanation about the characters and world. Reader’s are left only with the vague notion that Syldoon are famous for their warriors and are forced to learn more at the same pace as Arki. It is a bold, and somewhat clever, move on Salyards’ part placing the readers on the same page as the narrator. Of course it has the potential to alienate the impatient reader since aspects of Captain Killcoin and his mission are only revealed in drips and drabs as the novel progresses. Descriptions of the world and nations in Scourge of the Betrayer go only so far as to include only those aspects that directly impact the plot. Given that the novel is narrated entirely by Arki this makes sense and works quite well at keeping the attention focused on the actions of and personalities of the characters.
While our initial introduction to Captain Killcoin and his companions portrays them in a sort of stereotypical fashion as Arki, and by extension the reader, comes to know them better they each begin to resolve into more complete and engaging personalities. This is one of my favorite aspects as the slow burn revelation of character and personalities really makes the later violence that falls upon our characters all the more heart wrenching. Salyards’ places particular focus on two characters in particular: Captain Killcoin (who weilds the titular scourge) and the outcast tribeswoman Lloi. Captain Killcoin, who first appears as the badass of badasses, slowly resolves into a more distinct and trouble figure. As the truth behind the title of the novel becomes more apparent, the Betrayers in question are the Gods that have seemingly abandoned the world, Killcoin takes on a more tragic air. However it is Lloi who I really found myself gravitating towards. Like Killcoin there is tragedy in Lloi’s past as well and it is telling that her position amongst a group of hardened warriors, some of whom do not necessarily respect her, is an improvement over her past. The way her existence is entwined with that of Killcoin is touching without being sappy even more so when you realize that as much as Killcoin need’s Lloi’s help there is still a very profound loneliness to her existence.
Scourge of the Betrayer offers a slower burn than most gritty military fantasies. When the action does hit it is fast, furious and unapologetic. To his credit Salyards’ doesn’t linger on the violence and rather lets the grit come from its effect of his characters. This is also Salyards’ debut novel and the novel does not stumble and while the pace might not be blistering it marches forward at a steady gait that never wavers. While Salyards’ doesn’t go into the lengthy history of his world those instances where it does come up are welcome and interesting. The bits of history we do get not only flesh out the world these characters live in but lend greater depth and detail to who they are. While the novel falters a bit in its conclusion, the end just sort of happens, the journey to get there is engaging and evocative and I’ll definitely be back on board when Captain Killcoin and his men come back. If you are a fan of dark, military fantasy you can’t go wrong with Scourge of the Betrayer.
Salyards’ tosses you straight into the fire with very little explanation about the characters and world. Reader’s are left only with the vague notion that Syldoon are famous for their warriors and are forced to learn more at the same pace as Arki. It is a bold, and somewhat clever, move on Salyards’ part placing the readers on the same page as the narrator. Of course it has the potential to alienate the impatient reader since aspects of Captain Killcoin and his mission are only revealed in drips and drabs as the novel progresses. Descriptions of the world and nations in Scourge of the Betrayer go only so far as to include only those aspects that directly impact the plot. Given that the novel is narrated entirely by Arki this makes sense and works quite well at keeping the attention focused on the actions of and personalities of the characters.
While our initial introduction to Captain Killcoin and his companions portrays them in a sort of stereotypical fashion as Arki, and by extension the reader, comes to know them better they each begin to resolve into more complete and engaging personalities. This is one of my favorite aspects as the slow burn revelation of character and personalities really makes the later violence that falls upon our characters all the more heart wrenching. Salyards’ places particular focus on two characters in particular: Captain Killcoin (who weilds the titular scourge) and the outcast tribeswoman Lloi. Captain Killcoin, who first appears as the badass of badasses, slowly resolves into a more distinct and trouble figure. As the truth behind the title of the novel becomes more apparent, the Betrayers in question are the Gods that have seemingly abandoned the world, Killcoin takes on a more tragic air. However it is Lloi who I really found myself gravitating towards. Like Killcoin there is tragedy in Lloi’s past as well and it is telling that her position amongst a group of hardened warriors, some of whom do not necessarily respect her, is an improvement over her past. The way her existence is entwined with that of Killcoin is touching without being sappy even more so when you realize that as much as Killcoin need’s Lloi’s help there is still a very profound loneliness to her existence.
Scourge of the Betrayer offers a slower burn than most gritty military fantasies. When the action does hit it is fast, furious and unapologetic. To his credit Salyards’ doesn’t linger on the violence and rather lets the grit come from its effect of his characters. This is also Salyards’ debut novel and the novel does not stumble and while the pace might not be blistering it marches forward at a steady gait that never wavers. While Salyards’ doesn’t go into the lengthy history of his world those instances where it does come up are welcome and interesting. The bits of history we do get not only flesh out the world these characters live in but lend greater depth and detail to who they are. While the novel falters a bit in its conclusion, the end just sort of happens, the journey to get there is engaging and evocative and I’ll definitely be back on board when Captain Killcoin and his men come back. If you are a fan of dark, military fantasy you can’t go wrong with Scourge of the Betrayer.