Reviews

Šedí bastardi by Jonathan French

ceena's review against another edition

5.0

This is one of those reviews I wish I had written days after reading instead of over a month later. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to give the book justice.

I absolutely loved this book. There were times I did need to take breaks from it, but that is because I'm not a huge epic fantasy reader. I was hooked the whole time though. Usually when reading these more complex fantasy novels, I feel like I'm drowning in details, which I understand why it needs to be done and I know some people LOVE it, but this book never made me feel that way. From the get go I was pulled in and slowly the information is given about the world and people at just the right speed for me.

I will say, at first I wasn't sure what the point of the story was-- what is it about and where is it going? For the most part, I didn't care because I was so invested in Jackal and the problems he was facing. It did catch me off guard though when I was only halfway through the book and thought I was almost done --although I usually read book less than 400 pages, so that might have contributed as well.

This book is gritty and I tended to read it in a more stereotypical deep, gravely male voice because it just fits Jackal so well and the merciless world he lives in. This definitely feels more like Sons of Anarchy in a Lord of the Rings setting. It was so interesting! This is a book to read slow and savor. I think most of the characters are pretty well developed and I'm hoping that they will show up in future books.

Yes, I am totally going to be continuing this series. I recommend this one to people looking for a gritty, badass epic fantasy andwho don't mind cursing.

coris's review against another edition

Not in the mood for this level of misogyny, where it's so unrelenting it interferes with the world building.

max341q132543253's review against another edition

5.0

Review of the whole series: It's believable, I liked and cared about the characters, and I couldn't predict what would happen next. What more do you want? You might especially like this book if you've read a few fantasy series already because it kind of pushes off of them, inverting some familiar tropes and feeling more like it's from the gut/unconscious, raw and weird, than something assembled according to formula.

katpavlikova's review

4.0

Začítala jsem se na dvakrát, protože do první pořádné bitvy (asi strana 35) mi to přišlo velmi nedobré. Vysíraly mě dialogy, které se mi zdály sprosťácké, jen aby byly sprosťácké, neposouvaly děj, rozhodně nebyly vtipné. A to mi sprostá mluva nevadí, obzvlášť když je to ozvláštnění rasy.

Pak se to naštěstí rozjelo. A tím myslím, že se to pořádně rozjelo. Výborné popisy akce, co opravdu dokážou vtáhnout. Zajímavé zvraty (někdy dost průhledné, ale asi ne neodpustitelně), neustále máte pocit, že jste ve víru událostí.

Zpočátku je hustota bláto chlemtajích zmrdů velmi silná, ale lze si všimnout, že ustupuje ději. A jejich výskyt se stává příjemně trefný. I přesto jsem celý nádech knihy čekala humornější.

Pozadí světa i jeho historie působí promyšleně, líbilo se mi, jakým způsobem a v jakých dávkách jsou předávány informace o něm.

Jedná se o sprosťáckou řežbu a zároveň slušnou poctu klasickým fantasy příběhům jednoho hrdiny, jedné závěrečné bitvy. Přesto je tam dost prvků svěže překroucených. Autor je taková hračička. Třeba má oblíbená postava je čaroděj Šikula s turbanem na hlavě.

Chtěla bych zmínit i jazykovou redakci a překlad, muselo to dát zabrat. :)

Zoufale mi chyběla mapa.

Hlavně...
mě to dost bavilo číst.

Jo a příběh může fungovat i samostatně bez pokračování.
I když to mě stejně dost zajímá.

sade's review against another edition

2.0

This novel had all the markings to be a really good book but it unfortunately couldn't muster up. From the blurb you think you'll be treated to a hero of epic proportions. i mean he's described as Young, cunning and ambitious So here i am expecting this:

but what you get is a young hero quite alright who isn't quite bright really and about as ambitious a poddle.
Jackal was basically a leap before you look guy, cannot count the number of times he went into a situation half cocked and ended up being saved by either Fetch or Oats or somebody else. i have to say at a point i was kinda intrigued with the idea that from all accounts he was basically as ordinary as they come. He wasn't the fastest, strongest or really even the worst, he had charisma yes, but i mean you can only take charisma so far in a book.

Also i felt the plot of this book was largely scattered. As this is not a huge series (it's not like you have the luxury of a shit load of books like say Malazan so you feel like you can veer off and explore different plots) i feel authors' in this situation really don't have a lot of time to muck about with their plot. This is largely i feel what killed the book and not even the really interesting fight for like 3 chapters or less towards the end could erase how long winding and totally of course the book went to get to it's point.

I did like the cuss words in the book but at a point it was like, yeah okay, i get you guys have a really colourful vocabulary, get on with the plot. Also they were always so damn horny.. i mean. priorities please, am i reading about treachery, betrayal and whatever sinister thing you can throw in or about people who just want to have sex??

I hope the next book will be better though.

kaairi's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

chutten's review against another edition

adventurous medium-paced

2.5

youngthespian42's review against another edition

4.0

4.5 rounded down. I started this book as a meme. I love Sons of Anarchy and loved the concept of the homage. A humorous homage sells this story short. The characters and plot are very compelling. I find myself thinking about the world of the Lot Lands a lot. I jumped out of my seat devastated at twists in this story and don’t let the cover and concept sell it short. Grey Bastards is damn good fantasy.

lenaoknihach's review

4.0

Jó, tohle můžu. Ale haló! Kde je mapa?!

Jsem tak neskutečně ráda, že jsem této fantasy dala šanci. To víte, mám na seznamu spoustu jiných (věřím, že skvělých) knih, jenže pak začnu všude vídat Šedý bastardy a nadšené ohlasy a nějakej seznam může jít stranou.

K těm skvělým ohlasům se hrdě přidávám a všem starším čtenářům a fanouškům fantasy ji musím doporučit. Byla to jízda. Vážně. S Kaňourem, Šakalem a Nádhernou jsem se ani na chvilku nenudila. Bylo to skvěle vymyšlené a propracované. Když už s tím ale bylo tolik práce, tak by ta mapa byla jen takovej malej detail, ne? Strašně moc mi tam scházela.

Doufám, že u nás vyjde i pokračování, protože chci s touhle bandou zažít ještě další dobrodružství.

canaanmerchant's review against another edition

3.0

Ok so it is well written and tightly plotted with some great action scenes. But once I realized the world kind of resembled medieval Spain and that meant the chaotic evil orcs were the Moors then it was kind of hard to think about anything else.