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The Shattering of Kingdoms #1
The Mercenary Code
Winner of the 2020 Voice Arts Award, Audiobook Narration - Fantasy
Break the Code. Shatter the World.
Centuries ago, the murder of a beloved king tore apart the Kingdom of Caledun. The land was plunged into chaos and thousands perished in the aftermath. A new order was established in an attempt to return Caledun to its former glory. It failed, but in its place rose the beginnings of the Code.
During this same period, the mystical caretakers of the Great Wood retreated from the world of Kal Maran, their disappearance an ominous harbinger of the suffering that was to follow. The Great Wood now grows out of control. Cities, towns, and villages have fallen before the relentless march of the forest. Without the former guardians to keep her tame, the wood has become a place of peril, and dark creatures of legend now hunt beneath its leaves.
The summer season is now a time of armed conflict. The fall of the old monarchy has brought about a ceaseless cycle of combat. Grievances are settled by the strict tenets of a binding Mercenary Code and the men who would die to preserve its honour.
However, change is in the air. Political rivalries have escalated, and dire rumblings of a revolution abound. Thrust to the forefront of the shattered land's politics, a mercenary fights for more than just riches. In the north, a borderland soldier wrestles with his own demons and looks to find his true purpose. And in the shadow of the Great Wood, a young man's chance encounter with a strange visitor gives hope to a land divided.
Break the Code. Shatter the World.
Centuries ago, the murder of a beloved king tore apart the Kingdom of Caledun. The land was plunged into chaos and thousands perished in the aftermath. A new order was established in an attempt to return Caledun to its former glory. It failed, but in its place rose the beginnings of the Code.
During this same period, the mystical caretakers of the Great Wood retreated from the world of Kal Maran, their disappearance an ominous harbinger of the suffering that was to follow. The Great Wood now grows out of control. Cities, towns, and villages have fallen before the relentless march of the forest. Without the former guardians to keep her tame, the wood has become a place of peril, and dark creatures of legend now hunt beneath its leaves.
The summer season is now a time of armed conflict. The fall of the old monarchy has brought about a ceaseless cycle of combat. Grievances are settled by the strict tenets of a binding Mercenary Code and the men who would die to preserve its honour.
However, change is in the air. Political rivalries have escalated, and dire rumblings of a revolution abound. Thrust to the forefront of the shattered land's politics, a mercenary fights for more than just riches. In the north, a borderland soldier wrestles with his own demons and looks to find his true purpose. And in the shadow of the Great Wood, a young man's chance encounter with a strange visitor gives hope to a land divided.
570 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 16, 2019
467 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Emmet Moss
6 books41 followersEmmet Moss writes epic fantasy that whisks readers away to worlds far removed from our own while evoking the classic, sweeping fantasy of yesteryear. He is widely known for his four book saga, The Shattering of Kingdoms (completed in 2021). A labour of love over fifteen years in the making, the first book in the series, The Mercenary Code, won the prestigious Voice Arts Award for Audiobook Narration – Fantasy thanks to the impeccable performance of narrator Simon Vance.
In his latest two novels - A Mantle of Bones (2022) and The Knight of Fulton Court (2023) - Moss introduced his readers to the Earldom of Essenburg. In the midst of these two tales, a new continent in the world of Kal Maran was revealed, expanding the world first introduced in The Shattering of Kingdoms.
The stage has now been set for an epic new saga that will connect many threads from the previous books and reintroduce characters readers have grown to love. Moss is hard at work on a new four-book series and true sequel to The Shattering of Kingdoms. The first book in this new series is planned for release in 2025.
In his latest two novels - A Mantle of Bones (2022) and The Knight of Fulton Court (2023) - Moss introduced his readers to the Earldom of Essenburg. In the midst of these two tales, a new continent in the world of Kal Maran was revealed, expanding the world first introduced in The Shattering of Kingdoms.
The stage has now been set for an epic new saga that will connect many threads from the previous books and reintroduce characters readers have grown to love. Moss is hard at work on a new four-book series and true sequel to The Shattering of Kingdoms. The first book in this new series is planned for release in 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
June 24, 2019
I wanted to love this book. The blurb about it sounded like a perfect fit for me. I enjoy reading about warriors with troubled pasts who are just trying to do the right thing, monsters, magic, and battles. This story has all of that. The story is there, and it is a good one. Unfortunately, the writing is not quite there. The story is slow-moving, which is fine. The author is giving you time to get acquainted with the characters and history. For me, there was too much reliance on the dialog. I felt at times like I was hand-fed the story. Being told what this character feels, rather than allowed to feel it with them. And the dialog was not great. It felt a little flat and forced. It did improve some once the story got going, but not enough for me to really be drawn in. I guess I am used to reading authors that drop you in on the action and expect you to keep up. I know some people hate that style of writing, but I love it. This book is not like that at all. The characters were excellent and interesting. But because of the weakness of the writing, I felt like I was being held at arm's length. I never felt like I got to know them well enough for me to enjoy the story. For someone who reads books for the story, this is a great choice. But if you're like me and read for the characters, you might be a little disappointed. All the pieces are there for this to be great, and I hope the author continues to improve because, with a few adjustments, this could be excellent. It's worth the read, and I will be looking for the second book. I give it a strong three out of five stars.
June 24, 2019
thanks to netgalley and the publishers for a free copy in return for an open and honest review
this book was a slow starter but gradually picked up pace as the story went along, liked the different threads of the plot where you could see the gradual bits were going in the plot and the majority of the first book is character building and fleshing out the history of the world.
this book was a slow starter but gradually picked up pace as the story went along, liked the different threads of the plot where you could see the gradual bits were going in the plot and the majority of the first book is character building and fleshing out the history of the world.
June 18, 2019
Rating: 4.4/5
Review: This novel has quite a bit going on in terms of several separate story lines that seem to slowly converge. Each story is unique as it covers the expanse of the world in which it resides. The characters that ride each story line are impeccably built as are the supporting players, each with their own unique perspectives.
The evil that lurks on the periphery is a menace that continues to exert more and more influence as the novel progresses. This slow build creates tension that emotionally binds the reader to the characters creating intense immersion via visualization.
I enjoyed the “other” beings that reside in this world and would have liked to have seen more of the Dwarven story told. The Gath, Goblins and Earth Fiends are superbly written as are the Gorimn. What kept this novel from ascending to 5 star status was Kieri. The installation of the twembling damsel (hooker with a heart of gold) whom casts furtive glances towards her one love, Leoric, wore pretty thin.
A really well crafted and thought out novel that continues on in a series. Hopefully without Kieri, but that is a wish not to be realized, as it is mentioned over and over that Leoric will find her again. Barf. A long novel that beckons each evening. So settle in and enjoy.
Review: This novel has quite a bit going on in terms of several separate story lines that seem to slowly converge. Each story is unique as it covers the expanse of the world in which it resides. The characters that ride each story line are impeccably built as are the supporting players, each with their own unique perspectives.
The evil that lurks on the periphery is a menace that continues to exert more and more influence as the novel progresses. This slow build creates tension that emotionally binds the reader to the characters creating intense immersion via visualization.
I enjoyed the “other” beings that reside in this world and would have liked to have seen more of the Dwarven story told. The Gath, Goblins and Earth Fiends are superbly written as are the Gorimn. What kept this novel from ascending to 5 star status was Kieri. The installation of the twembling damsel (hooker with a heart of gold) whom casts furtive glances towards her one love, Leoric, wore pretty thin.
A really well crafted and thought out novel that continues on in a series. Hopefully without Kieri, but that is a wish not to be realized, as it is mentioned over and over that Leoric will find her again. Barf. A long novel that beckons each evening. So settle in and enjoy.
April 5, 2020
Robuster
This book should have had better editing. With a little work on some of the characters , the storyline and about 1/4 of the book trimmed , this would have been a five star book.
As it is , the book should be spilt into half with two of the four main characters in each installment. It became tiresome to jump from storyline to storyline.
Again I want to point out to the Author two things that set this genre apart from a good book to a really great book.
1 - the story is only as good as the villain is evil.,
Without the Villain rising to the occasion and being despised by the reader , the story bogs down.
The Villain , must be despised , hated by the reader. The author can’t hold back his identity or use multiple villains to create the storyline. Their must be one true villain the reader can can place blame and hate through the tale.
2- less is more. Create dialogue between the characters. Flesh them out , give them depth , a backstory with meaning.
For the love of God , can we cut down on the fight scenes and the endless description of them.
This is a great story . It’s told well , the world building is crated as good as it gets. The story is told with flare and passion. The hook is good. I see true promise of talent in this story.
I would most definitely recommend this book and the author who penned it.
This book should have had better editing. With a little work on some of the characters , the storyline and about 1/4 of the book trimmed , this would have been a five star book.
As it is , the book should be spilt into half with two of the four main characters in each installment. It became tiresome to jump from storyline to storyline.
Again I want to point out to the Author two things that set this genre apart from a good book to a really great book.
1 - the story is only as good as the villain is evil.,
Without the Villain rising to the occasion and being despised by the reader , the story bogs down.
The Villain , must be despised , hated by the reader. The author can’t hold back his identity or use multiple villains to create the storyline. Their must be one true villain the reader can can place blame and hate through the tale.
2- less is more. Create dialogue between the characters. Flesh them out , give them depth , a backstory with meaning.
For the love of God , can we cut down on the fight scenes and the endless description of them.
This is a great story . It’s told well , the world building is crated as good as it gets. The story is told with flare and passion. The hook is good. I see true promise of talent in this story.
I would most definitely recommend this book and the author who penned it.
August 26, 2019
The Mercenary Code is an exciting new fantasy that somehow feels both like a modern and a traditional old-style fantasy wrapped into one. It follows several main characters in different points of views, each with a different arc to display the author’s world. Not only is there gripping action within almost every chapter, but there is also deep emotional connections involving the character’s life. There were times where the story would slow down for a minute to let you catch your breath (especially in one character’s arc that is a bit slower than the rest), but I never found it to be distracting or tearing me away from the overall narrative of the tale. You’re going to worry about every one of the main characters as the danger they must endure arises.
There’s magic, politics, and almost action movie level of scenes within the pages of this book. I feel like everyone will enjoy something within this book. Moss’s world-building is stellar, giving the readers just enough here and there as the characters interact with the world around them. You end up learning a lot of the history through each of the points of views until you have a grasp of everything by the end. And don’t get comfortable, you might end up surprised and pleasantly horrified by some of the twists that this book throws you at you. When you think you’ve gotten the character arc figured out, Moss doesn’t mind taking your expectations and throwing it into the atmosphere.
Give this book a try! You’re doing yourself a disservice to rising self-published fantasy authors if you don’t!
There’s magic, politics, and almost action movie level of scenes within the pages of this book. I feel like everyone will enjoy something within this book. Moss’s world-building is stellar, giving the readers just enough here and there as the characters interact with the world around them. You end up learning a lot of the history through each of the points of views until you have a grasp of everything by the end. And don’t get comfortable, you might end up surprised and pleasantly horrified by some of the twists that this book throws you at you. When you think you’ve gotten the character arc figured out, Moss doesn’t mind taking your expectations and throwing it into the atmosphere.
Give this book a try! You’re doing yourself a disservice to rising self-published fantasy authors if you don’t!
December 8, 2024
4.5 Stars
For the full review, check out: https://medium.com/@kemerysjourneythr...
What's the story about: The Mercenary Code is a multiple POV story told primarily from four perspectives. Alessan, an untraditional coming of age story of a cripple who seeks to be more than he is intended to be. Leoric, a prisoner of war seeking freedom and happiness apart from the life he once knew. Gavin, a man in leadership of a mercenary company who finds that there is more going on between the companies than appears. And Coren, a man in Gavin's company looking to make a new life from his past.
All in all, what made The Mercenary Code a very satisfying read was due to the constant emotional connections to the main characters, Alessan, Leoric, and Gavin. Definitely a notch above most other self-published stories out there. I'm very excited to see where the story goes in this series!
For the full review, check out: https://medium.com/@kemerysjourneythr...
What's the story about: The Mercenary Code is a multiple POV story told primarily from four perspectives. Alessan, an untraditional coming of age story of a cripple who seeks to be more than he is intended to be. Leoric, a prisoner of war seeking freedom and happiness apart from the life he once knew. Gavin, a man in leadership of a mercenary company who finds that there is more going on between the companies than appears. And Coren, a man in Gavin's company looking to make a new life from his past.
All in all, what made The Mercenary Code a very satisfying read was due to the constant emotional connections to the main characters, Alessan, Leoric, and Gavin. Definitely a notch above most other self-published stories out there. I'm very excited to see where the story goes in this series!
April 2, 2020
I will give it a rating of 4, but honestly I would say it's between 4 and 5.I've found this book by accident, just looking through stuff.It has a solid plot with good character building.There are not so many POV's as to lose interest, just the right amount to create some different threads to the story.
I will only say this, if you need a breath of fresh air, and something different from all those YA books (not saying they're bad, but there's just so many of them), then give this one a try, you will not regret it.
Also, to the author, thank you for the hard work and keep it up.Looking forward to the 3rd book in this series.
I will only say this, if you need a breath of fresh air, and something different from all those YA books (not saying they're bad, but there's just so many of them), then give this one a try, you will not regret it.
Also, to the author, thank you for the hard work and keep it up.Looking forward to the 3rd book in this series.
November 18, 2020
Truly excellent first book.
The story follows three main plot threads. First: Alessan, A 15 year old boy with a crippled arm raised in a tavern, who due to his deformed arm could never wield an axe his people or his famed father, who are tasked with keeping the unstoppable growth of a the Aeldenwood forest at bay. He impresses a passing merchant who tasks Alessan with helping him on a dangerous quest. Second: Leoric, a soldier in The Iron Guard, who stand garrison over the goblins that lurk in the vast expanses of the Wilds. Bad shit happens for this fella. Third: two characters in a noble mercenary company, Bider, a scout of the company, and Gavin, the esteemed leader of the men.
Wars can only be fought by groups of mercenaries, each company no more than 250 strong, who are hired each year at a festival at the end of spring as no standing armies are allowed to be raised, lest they feel the combined wrath of the rest of the land.
The first hundred or so pages is very slow, slice of life story telling, with considerable lengths devoted to the history of the land, many pieces very minor. However I found it utterly engrossing and the action starts to pick up a quarter of the way through.
I didn't fully grasp the idea of a wild forest of trees, populated by werewolf type of creatures called Gath, that seem to be growing at an almost unstoppable rate.
There are Dwarves, Goblins, Mages and elf like characters known as Gorimm that speak through their thoughts (the book begins with a Gorimm coming through a portal from where the rest of his people have been trapped for centuries since they abandoned the land before the death of the High King of the human race.)
I'm already well into the second book in the series and the action from the beginning and I AM enjoying it even more than the first.
The story follows three main plot threads. First: Alessan, A 15 year old boy with a crippled arm raised in a tavern, who due to his deformed arm could never wield an axe his people or his famed father, who are tasked with keeping the unstoppable growth of a the Aeldenwood forest at bay. He impresses a passing merchant who tasks Alessan with helping him on a dangerous quest. Second: Leoric, a soldier in The Iron Guard, who stand garrison over the goblins that lurk in the vast expanses of the Wilds. Bad shit happens for this fella. Third: two characters in a noble mercenary company, Bider, a scout of the company, and Gavin, the esteemed leader of the men.
Wars can only be fought by groups of mercenaries, each company no more than 250 strong, who are hired each year at a festival at the end of spring as no standing armies are allowed to be raised, lest they feel the combined wrath of the rest of the land.
The first hundred or so pages is very slow, slice of life story telling, with considerable lengths devoted to the history of the land, many pieces very minor. However I found it utterly engrossing and the action starts to pick up a quarter of the way through.
I didn't fully grasp the idea of a wild forest of trees, populated by werewolf type of creatures called Gath, that seem to be growing at an almost unstoppable rate.
There are Dwarves, Goblins, Mages and elf like characters known as Gorimm that speak through their thoughts (the book begins with a Gorimm coming through a portal from where the rest of his people have been trapped for centuries since they abandoned the land before the death of the High King of the human race.)
I'm already well into the second book in the series and the action from the beginning and I AM enjoying it even more than the first.
May 20, 2021
I really really wanted like this book. It had all the potential and an interesting world. The book feels a bit like it was written by someone with ADHD. There is a lot going on but without any real focus on the story. I feel like the author struggles to write in the moment so he skips major events then describes them in retrospect by having another character tell someone what happened.... it made it hard for me to invest in the primary characters. I found myself not caring whether the main characters lived or not.
May 30, 2022
4.25 stars.
This was very good. Here's my thoughts on 4 criteria
Worldbuilding - Moss built a beautiful and unique world. An ever-growing forest slowly swallowing up towns was very engrossing. And he fit in a lot of lore, tradition, and history.
Characters - four POV characters, each felt different from the others. About halfway through, I wasn't sure if any were truly engaging, but I was won over by book's end.
Plot - plot was solid. Some parts felt like things I had seen before, but never in a way that felt copied. His "low magic, high stakes" story pulled few punches. Which I very much like.
Prose - this was the weak point, though by no means terrible. Some of the dialogue fell flat for me. It was apparent I was reading someone's story and not just lost in an engaging dialogue. Parts needed better editing and the way it was printed had some obvious holes.
All in all, a good read. Like the themes, world, and characters of Faithful and the Fallen? You should find this being a good scratch to that itch.
This was very good. Here's my thoughts on 4 criteria
Worldbuilding - Moss built a beautiful and unique world. An ever-growing forest slowly swallowing up towns was very engrossing. And he fit in a lot of lore, tradition, and history.
Characters - four POV characters, each felt different from the others. About halfway through, I wasn't sure if any were truly engaging, but I was won over by book's end.
Plot - plot was solid. Some parts felt like things I had seen before, but never in a way that felt copied. His "low magic, high stakes" story pulled few punches. Which I very much like.
Prose - this was the weak point, though by no means terrible. Some of the dialogue fell flat for me. It was apparent I was reading someone's story and not just lost in an engaging dialogue. Parts needed better editing and the way it was printed had some obvious holes.
All in all, a good read. Like the themes, world, and characters of Faithful and the Fallen? You should find this being a good scratch to that itch.
January 22, 2022
Strong beginning of an epic series, promising!
An engaging book one in a promising series, truly epic worldbuilding. Stories that encompass continents, battles filled with glory and tragedy as the story deepens. Engaging characters, an action driven plot, all elements of everything I enjoy in these remarkable books. My first reading of Emmet Moss work and I am a fan. Looking dforward to continuing into book two and beyond asap. Well done.
An engaging book one in a promising series, truly epic worldbuilding. Stories that encompass continents, battles filled with glory and tragedy as the story deepens. Engaging characters, an action driven plot, all elements of everything I enjoy in these remarkable books. My first reading of Emmet Moss work and I am a fan. Looking dforward to continuing into book two and beyond asap. Well done.
June 5, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book had its pros and cons. At first it moved very slowly, to the point where I got bored. There was a lot of setup, which I’m used to in this sort of fantasy book, but it was a bit of an info dump, which I was not a fan of. It felt very unnatural and was too much all at once.
However, once this book got going, it had a Tad Williams (the author of To Green Angel Tower) feel to it, in that it was a well thought out world. It left a lot of room for the story to continue to develop in the next installment in the series.
This is a shorter review than I usually post, simply because this book didn’t really stick with me. If I come across the sequel at the library at some point, I might pick it up, but this isn’t an author that I’ll go out of my way to look for.
This book had its pros and cons. At first it moved very slowly, to the point where I got bored. There was a lot of setup, which I’m used to in this sort of fantasy book, but it was a bit of an info dump, which I was not a fan of. It felt very unnatural and was too much all at once.
However, once this book got going, it had a Tad Williams (the author of To Green Angel Tower) feel to it, in that it was a well thought out world. It left a lot of room for the story to continue to develop in the next installment in the series.
This is a shorter review than I usually post, simply because this book didn’t really stick with me. If I come across the sequel at the library at some point, I might pick it up, but this isn’t an author that I’ll go out of my way to look for.
June 15, 2019
The Mercenary Code is the beginning of an epic fantasy series by Emmet Moss. The author introduces readers to a world torn apart by war, mysterious creatures that hide in the darkness of the woods, and a forest that is ever encroaching and destroying everything in its path.
The author starts this story off with a thrilling scene set by wild animals and a man who engages in a fight that seems to spell his end because he is sorely outnumbered by enemies. Then the story shifts to other characters - mercenaries, soldiers and a young man who due to an accident at the time of his birth lost the true use of one of his arms. The author guides us through the story with these characters, giving us touches of their backgrounds, who they are, healthy doses of their personalities, and the dangers that surround each one of them. The story is a slow build up so I would have to say be prepared for that and just go ahead and settle in. Because if you are looking for something fast-paced then you will be disappointed because it is apparent that the author wants us to get to know these characters and the situations that they find themselves in and what is to come.
My only true disappointment with this book is that I don't get the beginning that I was expecting from the blurb. I thought that the author was going to begin the story with the death of the king, the aftermath of war and destruction that follows, and the decline. I would have been happy with an encapsulated version of where we get a general gist, but for it to be skipped completely felt like a missed opportunity for me. I think that it would have been the ideal introduction to hook readers into the story.
All in all, I am rating this book 4.5 out of stars. I enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to the next book in this series. If you enjoy epic fantasy novels and don't mind a slower pace then this is a good book to pick up and get lost in.
The author starts this story off with a thrilling scene set by wild animals and a man who engages in a fight that seems to spell his end because he is sorely outnumbered by enemies. Then the story shifts to other characters - mercenaries, soldiers and a young man who due to an accident at the time of his birth lost the true use of one of his arms. The author guides us through the story with these characters, giving us touches of their backgrounds, who they are, healthy doses of their personalities, and the dangers that surround each one of them. The story is a slow build up so I would have to say be prepared for that and just go ahead and settle in. Because if you are looking for something fast-paced then you will be disappointed because it is apparent that the author wants us to get to know these characters and the situations that they find themselves in and what is to come.
My only true disappointment with this book is that I don't get the beginning that I was expecting from the blurb. I thought that the author was going to begin the story with the death of the king, the aftermath of war and destruction that follows, and the decline. I would have been happy with an encapsulated version of where we get a general gist, but for it to be skipped completely felt like a missed opportunity for me. I think that it would have been the ideal introduction to hook readers into the story.
All in all, I am rating this book 4.5 out of stars. I enjoyed the story and I am looking forward to the next book in this series. If you enjoy epic fantasy novels and don't mind a slower pace then this is a good book to pick up and get lost in.
July 7, 2019
The Mercenary Code, Book 1 of The Shattering of Kingdoms, builds an epic world of politics and social intrigue, magical elements and promises much more to come. Like many epics, this book contains many different storylines which slowly progress towards a cumulating point where the many worlds collide, so to speak.
The world-building Moss does in this novel is, as is necessary for any epic, complex and thorough. Learning the back story of each of the people and choosing to love or loathe them is part of the process that needs to be established, but Moss does it such a natural way that it draws you into each of their stories, and some parts offer hints of more to learn yet.
The characters are working their way through a warn torn world which is undergoing changes that are forced upon them from the balance that they have achieved after the fall of the king and his line. The intrigue and plotting the various factions face draw you into the world and leave you wanting to read more. The end promises much more to come. If you are a fan of epic fiction, don't miss this one.
The world-building Moss does in this novel is, as is necessary for any epic, complex and thorough. Learning the back story of each of the people and choosing to love or loathe them is part of the process that needs to be established, but Moss does it such a natural way that it draws you into each of their stories, and some parts offer hints of more to learn yet.
The characters are working their way through a warn torn world which is undergoing changes that are forced upon them from the balance that they have achieved after the fall of the king and his line. The intrigue and plotting the various factions face draw you into the world and leave you wanting to read more. The end promises much more to come. If you are a fan of epic fiction, don't miss this one.
April 17, 2020
Yawn, so discombobulated, then so very bored ...
I started reading about 40 pages at a time and this is so .. Discombobulated it swiftly went down hill from there. 35 pages, 30, 20, 10, 5, 3, 1, 1/2 and finally I had to force myself just to try to keep reading even paragraphs!
At 350 pages I still could not continue reading such a convoluted disaster. From the gate the author has continually covered 4 or more groups without real focus. He covers minute details while ignoring character development. Thus book is so scattered at 400 pages I barely understand even the basic hero's he has chosen.
But then my second frustration looms before me. He is so hung up in minutia I still have no clear idea even what this book is about. I can but prey the author does not foolishly continue this convoluted disaster in each progressive book! Yet the clues are there.😣
I started reading about 40 pages at a time and this is so .. Discombobulated it swiftly went down hill from there. 35 pages, 30, 20, 10, 5, 3, 1, 1/2 and finally I had to force myself just to try to keep reading even paragraphs!
At 350 pages I still could not continue reading such a convoluted disaster. From the gate the author has continually covered 4 or more groups without real focus. He covers minute details while ignoring character development. Thus book is so scattered at 400 pages I barely understand even the basic hero's he has chosen.
But then my second frustration looms before me. He is so hung up in minutia I still have no clear idea even what this book is about. I can but prey the author does not foolishly continue this convoluted disaster in each progressive book! Yet the clues are there.😣
June 7, 2019
I can honestly say I enjoyed this book. The characters are really developed, the world is diverse, and the story is interesting. I didn’t feel bored at any point and probably could have finished the book in a day if life didn’t get in the way. The one criticism I have is that I can’t read the second book in the series because it’s not out yet (I guess that’s not really a fault on this book, but I want more of the story). The second book does come out fall of this year, according to the author note at the end of the book, so the wait isn’t terrible. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed A Game of Thrones or enjoys fantasy.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and am leaving a completely honest review.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and am leaving a completely honest review.
January 18, 2023
It was an okay story for the first book of a trilogy but the storytelling was poor. Too many POV bouncing around did not cause confusion but was unnecessary. Most dialogue did not flow and characterisation needed work. I recall wanting to know more about captain Gavin but that’s it. This had echoes of another book I read about a mercenary co, their captain, the wilds. I nearly did not finish the book- went away came back and rushed to the end to get it done but won’t read the other books - don’t care.
July 3, 2019
A great start to an intriguing story.
I received The Mercenary Code as an ARC in return for an honest review.
I received The Mercenary Code as an ARC in return for an honest review.
This review will hold minor spoilers.
The Mercenary Code is a great book, which kept me mostly interested for the better part of the story. Despite a slow start, it really picks up by the middle, where we get some interesting turns and great character moments. My greatest issues were the abundant use of dialogue tags (some even written like ‘deadpanned’), and the long paragraphs of telling that threw me out of the story. But all in all, I am excited to see what Moss can bring for the sequel to the story.
The Mercenary Code is split up by four different characters, which generally left me utterly confused in the first half. Gavin and Bider seemed mostly the same early on, and the setting and action was so similar that you could barely tell the difference. Alessan is the character I had the easiest time connecting to. His story was that of finding strength when he had born with an underdeveloped body, and his work in Briar was easily distinctive compared to the other characters. Leoric was a good character who went through physical hardship, captured by the goblins, and driven through painful trials—that doesn’t seem to end any time soon.
I liked how Bider’s and Gavin’s story developed, although I still don’t see the sudden purpose of returning Gavin’s people.
The world of The Mercenary Code has some interesting aspects, mainly being the Aeldenwood, a forest that never ceases its impending growth, slowly marching to take over the world. Strange mysteries reside in the wood that holds malicious beasts, ancient buildings, and the Gorimm, an ancient people that once protected the forest.
The world has the Code of Mercenaries, an aspect that left me baffled early on, when in battles, there were so few contestants, the loss of five men would be terrible. Yet after the kingdom shattered, the Codes were created to better prevent a single ruler to rise to power. We know some of the Codes so far, and I’m excited to see how deeply they affect the world.
And now for my greatest issues, which mostly lie in the prose. As beforementioned, the dialogue needs much refinement. Some sentences are written like, He nodded, “What are you doing? Stop that!” he finished (there were not a sentence like this in the book, but many read like that, which became very distracting). Similarly, instead of using the most accepted “said,” Moss uses words like “implored,” “guffawed,” which left me rolling my eyes.
Furthermore, the sentence structure also had many issues. Again, as an example, sentences were written as, Panting due to the exhaustion, [character] dropped to the ground. (Again a fictional example). In themselves, such sentences have no issues and are grammatically correct, but when you get many in quick succession, they again become a distraction.
The battle scenes are way too quick, which makes it hard to immerse yourself in the story. And when there aren’t that many throughout the book, you feel like you were left hanging, wanting more.
We also had some “sex” scenes in the book, written in quotation because they were barely that. Spoiler alert: Alessan had sex for the first time in the book; firstly, none of it was shown, and secondly, it wasn’t even mentioned after by Alessan. Not even a remark at all. It was like Alessan had forgotten it had happened.
In general, The Mercenary Code gets a solid four out of five, with many positives and a few issues with the way it is written. I am looking forward to what Moss has in store for us in the continuation.
June 25, 2019
I received a free copy of this book from the author. I had the opportunity to review or not.
This book has helped me get over the end of Game of Throne series. Seriously, this book is truly a great read and full of fantastic characters, worlds, mysteries, heroes and villains. Mr. Moss builds his characters and worlds with great detail allowing us to get to know who we are reading about, what kind of a world each of them comes from, and where they are when we first get to know them. I love the detail of knowing who the characters are as I walk along with them. The details give me a chance to like, love, hate, despise or fear them. The opening scene of the book, however, does not do this. We meet a dark character that leaves us with trepidation as to his role is. We must read more to find out. And read more I did.
This book is an epic tale of a world shattered by war and great greed. The greed for power defines the actions of the characters that live there. Nobles, soldiers, mercenaries, power hungry despots and ordinary citizens. It is filled with mindless killer creatures, and benevolent creatures willing to help their human and humanoid companions.
If you are looking for an epic tale that will take you to another world, this is the book for you. It is the first in a series so there will be more. I can’t wait. It is a great story!
This book has helped me get over the end of Game of Throne series. Seriously, this book is truly a great read and full of fantastic characters, worlds, mysteries, heroes and villains. Mr. Moss builds his characters and worlds with great detail allowing us to get to know who we are reading about, what kind of a world each of them comes from, and where they are when we first get to know them. I love the detail of knowing who the characters are as I walk along with them. The details give me a chance to like, love, hate, despise or fear them. The opening scene of the book, however, does not do this. We meet a dark character that leaves us with trepidation as to his role is. We must read more to find out. And read more I did.
This book is an epic tale of a world shattered by war and great greed. The greed for power defines the actions of the characters that live there. Nobles, soldiers, mercenaries, power hungry despots and ordinary citizens. It is filled with mindless killer creatures, and benevolent creatures willing to help their human and humanoid companions.
If you are looking for an epic tale that will take you to another world, this is the book for you. It is the first in a series so there will be more. I can’t wait. It is a great story!
February 25, 2022
I have read the four books in this series prior to writing this review. This summary will be repeated for all books with additional comments on book 3.
First of all, I enjoyed this series. Had all the elements generally found in this genre. The author does an excellent job of bringing a feeling of intimacy with the characters. You feel their losses. You admire certain characters in the same way that of the characters. This isn't so unusual in lengthy stories except that the I felt much closer to the individuals in this story than I have in other works.
I developed a genuine appreciation several of the main characters who brought vitality and mystery to the story line.
Excellent job. Starts slow but builds up toward a satisfying conclusion.
First of all, I enjoyed this series. Had all the elements generally found in this genre. The author does an excellent job of bringing a feeling of intimacy with the characters. You feel their losses. You admire certain characters in the same way that of the characters. This isn't so unusual in lengthy stories except that the I felt much closer to the individuals in this story than I have in other works.
I developed a genuine appreciation several of the main characters who brought vitality and mystery to the story line.
Excellent job. Starts slow but builds up toward a satisfying conclusion.
October 13, 2024
I gave up at the beginning of the third book, and I almost never give up. This felt like watching someone play a video game: incessant descriptions of battles and fights, with a basic and predictable story dispersed in-between, and poorly developed characters that I never came to care about. I persevered through the hours of stuff like "he slit his throat and kicked him off the wall" and when the third book started with more of the same, I realized that I am not prepared to waste another 40 hours on this. It felt like it was written by AI, and it was repetitive as AI was a year or two ago. There are also annoying stitched-in patches of woke sermons and side characters that started appearing in the second book, and continued through the third, just to add insult to injury. Pass on this.
August 25, 2019
This a strong debut from Canadian Emmet Moss.
In 'The Mercenary Code' we follow a couple of characters stories in this novel and while I really like Gavin Silvares it was the story of the young Alessan as he leaves home and discovers there is more to himself than his slight stature and a withered arm.
In the vein of Brooks, Eddings and Weeks, 'The Mercenary Code' is set in a world with a rich history and many mysteries. Moss does an admirable job guiding us in the first tale of what is sure to be a thrilling quartet.
I am eagerly awaiting book two.
In 'The Mercenary Code' we follow a couple of characters stories in this novel and while I really like Gavin Silvares it was the story of the young Alessan as he leaves home and discovers there is more to himself than his slight stature and a withered arm.
In the vein of Brooks, Eddings and Weeks, 'The Mercenary Code' is set in a world with a rich history and many mysteries. Moss does an admirable job guiding us in the first tale of what is sure to be a thrilling quartet.
I am eagerly awaiting book two.
July 24, 2021
This is a great debut novel. I loved most of the characters and the few I didn't, I anticipate I will in later books as the story arc develops.
This book won an award on audible for being a great audio book. Simon Vance is a superb reader and did a great job with this book.
The setting feels a lot like Tolkein, Michael J. Sullivan and David Eddings - epic fantasy with all the elements you know - goblins, sentient forests, elves, prophecy and magic, but he is able to create those elements in a brand new world.
This book won an award on audible for being a great audio book. Simon Vance is a superb reader and did a great job with this book.
The setting feels a lot like Tolkein, Michael J. Sullivan and David Eddings - epic fantasy with all the elements you know - goblins, sentient forests, elves, prophecy and magic, but he is able to create those elements in a brand new world.
June 3, 2019
Fantastic fantasy
This has everything I love about great fantasy, well-written characters whose journey I can become invested in and top-notch world building. The prologue caught my attention and by the middle of chapter one I was hooked. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book, this is keeper-shelf material for sure.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This has everything I love about great fantasy, well-written characters whose journey I can become invested in and top-notch world building. The prologue caught my attention and by the middle of chapter one I was hooked. I absolutely cannot wait to read the next book, this is keeper-shelf material for sure.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 4, 2020
Good initial entry
I was impressed by this first book in a new series. The first 10% of the book perhaps needed a little fine-tuning, as the initial introductions of various characters were a little disjointed. However, once past this part, it bacame a captivating journey into a new realm. I just finished the second in the series (which is a solid 5 stars) and look forward to continuing the saga. This author should go far.
I was impressed by this first book in a new series. The first 10% of the book perhaps needed a little fine-tuning, as the initial introductions of various characters were a little disjointed. However, once past this part, it bacame a captivating journey into a new realm. I just finished the second in the series (which is a solid 5 stars) and look forward to continuing the saga. This author should go far.
June 5, 2022
3.75/5 ⭐ While this book starts off slow, the ending has me hooked and eager to read the next book in the series. There are several stories occuring throughout the novel, and at first, only one of them really interested me at all. By the Ed however, they had all picked up pace and I'm interested to see how these characters will ultimately interact. Well done for an indie publication and great for fans of LOTR or GOT
January 7, 2023
Solid start to a fantasy series. Not the best I’ve ever read but o so like that all the characters get a chance for their stories to get fully started. I expect some tie ins to occur in book two.
With that said I’m not rushing to get to book two. Nice story over all but I’m not sitting on pins and needles to find out what happens.
With that said I’m not rushing to get to book two. Nice story over all but I’m not sitting on pins and needles to find out what happens.
March 6, 2023
I enjoyed this read. As per the usual, there were characters that I thoroughly enjoyed and those that I wanted to throttle. I'm hoping that the next installment gives me more character development of all characters. However, I wonder if my suspicions about Gavin will be correct or if it will even be revealed in the next installment.
June 17, 2019
I really like the pace of each story in this book, I look forward to the next book to be released.
I have this book five stars, but I have to confess that the details are a little to long and I fast forward a few times, besides that an excellent book.
I have this book five stars, but I have to confess that the details are a little to long and I fast forward a few times, besides that an excellent book.
May 20, 2020
Good For Your Medieval Fantasy Fix
A solid read and an intruiging new world. I love how the world and the characters got more complex as the story progresses and I am looking forward to the next one.
A solid read and an intruiging new world. I love how the world and the characters got more complex as the story progresses and I am looking forward to the next one.
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