A review by sindrealmost
The Grey Bastards by Jonathan French

dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

The concept is strong, and the grimdark tone sets the stage nicely—gritty, unpolished, and not your typical shiny fantasy. The writing is solid, and the world has some real weight. But where it falters is in the characters and pacing. 

There’s very little character development—people stay more or less who they were at the beginning, and that makes it hard to connect. The plot is full of twists, but not the clever kind. It’s more a case of repeated: “Ah, you thought you knew?”—followed by yet another misdirection or the main character jumping to the wrong conclusion based on incomplete or faulty information. Once or twice? Fine. But it happens so often, with so little resolution, that it just becomes exhausting. 

The ending wraps up the main conflict, but it's rushed—squeezed into the final 10 or so pages after a long, slow buildup. And yes, there's a definite Deus Ex Machina feel to it. 

Spoiler:

(Think Army of the Dead from Lord of the Rings—only different, and not as earned.)

 

I’ve heard the sequel digs more into character and nuance, but this first book doesn’t do much to inspire confidence. I don’t regret reading it, but I doubt I’ll continue the series. My copy’s probably getting donated to my local library.