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The Grim Company (The Grim Company Series Book 1) Kindle Edition

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,697 ratings

First in an epic, gritty trilogy from the hottest new voice in British fantasy.

It is a time of darkness. The last magic of the dead gods is on the wane. Demons and half-formed monsters plague the land as the final barriers between the realms begin to fail. The jealous Magelords of three great cities sit in their towers of stone and brood over the scant power that remains...

It is not a time of heroes. Their songs are long forgotten, their deeds go unwritten.

But, even now, some few still nurse a spark of hope, an unlikely fellowship, united against the tyranny of their immortal overlords – THE GRIM COMPANY.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Video game designer Scull makes his fiction debut with this complex series opener, set in a fantasy world where the gods are dead and the Magelords who killed them now act as tyrannical overlords of an increasingly hostile, decaying land. As war threatens to bloom between the Grey City of Dorminia and Thelassa, a disparate group of not-quite-heroes are drawn into the conflict, including Davarus Cole, a callow youth convinced of his own heroism; Eremul, a legless mage; and several barbarian warriors long past their prime. The premise is fleshed out through political intrigue, graphic violence, and a richly detailed setting. It's not without flaws: female characters don't leave a lasting impression, and almost no one is truly sympathetic. Nonetheless, this novel will please fantasy fans who like their protagonists to sweat, swear, bleed, and obsess about bodily functions. Scull both revels in and gently tweaks genre conventions while delivering a visceral, sometimes off-putting story. Agent: Robert Dinsdale, A.M. Heath Literary Agency. (Sept.)

Review

"[F]un yet fearsome, gritty and gripping in equal measure...The Grim Company is pretty brilliant."--Tor.com

"[S]pins a gripping tale with expertise and relish."--
The Guardian

"[A] grisly, compelling read...hugely enjoyable."--
The Daily Mail 

"A noteworthy and gripping debut that promises to develop into an altogether superior series--one well-worth getting hooked on at the outset."--
Kirkus Reviews

"Luke Scull delivers a fantastic story that is ripe with action, strong characterization and a tight plot....This is one debut not to be missed and marks Luke Scull as one of epic fantasy's talented debutants."--Fantasy Book Critic

"[A] rollicking dark fantasy adventure novel. It moves with verve and pace...and is threaded through with a great sense of humor."--The Wertzone

"Highly memorable with a great cast and an even greater story all wrapped up in a mature world, told by a true story-teller. 
The Grim Company is one of the best fantasy books you will read this year."--SFBook.com

"Luke Scull is more than good. He's the sort of author you buy on publishing date and read on the way home."--TheBookBag.co.uk

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B00APDVEJI
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Head of Zeus (March 1, 2013)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 1, 2013
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.3 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 401 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,697 ratings

About the author

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Luke Scull
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LUKE SCULL is a British author and videogame designer. Luke’s first novel, The Grim Company, was shortlisted for the Gemmell Morningstar Award and earned a starred review from Kirkus as well as praise from the Guardian, the Sun, and the Daily Mail. Luke’s game design credits include several acclaimed titles for Ossian Studios. He has worked on The Witcher, Neverwinter Nights, and Baldur’s Gate franchises and is currently design lead for several projects.

You can keep up to date with Luke’s various projects by following him on Twitter at @Luke_Scull and visiting his website at www.lukescull.com

For book-specific monthly updates, join his mailing list and receive the short story “A Ring to Rule Them All” absolutely free!

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
1,697 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They appreciate the well-developed characters with interesting personalities and flaws that make them believable. The story is solid and interesting, with multiple points of view. Readers describe the book as an amusing, exciting adventure with a satisfying ending. They find the pacing fast and engrossing. Opinions differ on the writing quality - some find it well-written and gritty, while others feel it's not great and reads like Joe Abercrombie's YA novels.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

43 customers mention "Readability"35 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the book and find it readable. They say it's an enjoyable read and look forward to the next book in the series.

"...The last third of the book is really awesome and I read it in one sitting...." Read more

"A great read that moves quickly without being rushed. It’s a grim setting and the author puts the characters through hell...." Read more

"...Dont get me wrong, i enjoyed the book. It just didnt seem like it was quite RIGHT......" Read more

"I enjoyed this book. Its pretty dark and the setting is depressive at times...." Read more

34 customers mention "Character development"26 positive8 negative

Customers find the characters well-developed with interesting personalities and flaws that make them believable. The shifting POV characters enliven the story and give it voice. The characters are vividly painted, each with a uniquely immersive story that explains. However, some characters made it painful to read, while bad-ass ones were cool, but not quite.

"...The characters are all likeable. Initially, it seems as if the author borrowed the cast from Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy...." Read more

"...It’s a grim setting and the author puts the characters through hell. Really a great adventure with a satisfying if not too happy ending." Read more

"...What I liked most about this book is that I didn't hate the bad guy, and I could even follow the logic that lead him to where he was...." Read more

"...None of the characters are fully fleshed out to the point that you KNOW them or feel any bond with them past the whole 'these people are good, that..." Read more

34 customers mention "Story quality"31 positive3 negative

Customers find the story engaging with a solid plotline and relatable characters. They describe the book as an exciting adventure with a satisfying conclusion. Readers appreciate the gritty world and multiple points of view.

"...The plot and the setting pack a punch. While the first 100 pages of the book feel a little rushed (and having some infodumps), the book settles down...." Read more

"...Really a great adventure with a satisfying if not too happy ending." Read more

"...The plot is good, and doesn't follow the standard mold of the normal good vs evil, at least not yet...." Read more

"As others have said, this is true epic sword and sorcery fantasy in the vein of Abercrombie and Erickson and Anthony Ryan and Miles Cameron, my..." Read more

16 customers mention "Enjoyment"16 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it amusing, exciting, and fast-paced. The adventure is satisfying with a satisfying ending.

"...The Grim Company is a gritty dark fantasy which moves fast and is really fun as well. Highly recommended." Read more

"...Really a great adventure with a satisfying if not too happy ending." Read more

"...give it voice, the tone is grim but not bleak and it's an enjoyable read throughout." Read more

"This was a good, entertaining read...." Read more

13 customers mention "Pacing"10 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's pacing fast and engaging. They describe it as more of a sprint than a marathon, with an intense story that grips readers tightly.

"...Overall, The Grim Company is a gritty dark fantasy which moves fast and is really fun as well. Highly recommended." Read more

"A great read that moves quickly without being rushed. It’s a grim setting and the author puts the characters through hell...." Read more

"...Dark and gritty with a complex storyline, lots of characters, and huge scope...." Read more

"First offering I have read by this author. Initially the story began relatively slowly...." Read more

17 customers mention "Writing quality"11 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing quality. Some find it well-written with an intriguing setting and gritty action. Others feel the writing isn't great and the influence of other writers is clear.

"Well written with an intriguing setting: post-apocalyptic sorcerors as autocratic tyrants in city-states fighting over a dwindling source of power,..." Read more

"...Author 's writing is acceptable, although at this point he is certainly not in the same lead with Abercrombie, Martin, Lawrence et cetera...." Read more

"...It reads like Joe Abercrombie's YA novels, and many of the characters seem like a direct ripoff. The Halfmage is a weak version of Glokta...." Read more

"...Other than that this was a very solid read. While a little magic heavy it was still subtle in its own right...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2013
    The Grim Company is Luke Scull’s debut novel, the first of a trilogy going by the same name. There has been a lot of buzz about the book and after seeing Amazon selling the kindle version for just 2 dollars, I immediately bought it.

    The Grim Company is a “grim-dark” fantasy. The world building is top notch. Five centuries ago, a bunch of wizards killed the Gods, becoming immortal and now ruling the remaining world as magelords. When one such magelord, Salazar of Dorminia, is weakened, a group of rebels in his city try to overthrow him. Among them is our protagonist Davarus Cole, who believes it is his destiny to liberate the city. Meanwhile, two barbarians from far North, Kayne and the Wolf, come south, getting tangled up here. The magelord of the North, the Shaman, faces his own problems with demons as a wizardess there tries to achieve her ambition.

    The plot and the setting pack a punch. While the first 100 pages of the book feel a little rushed (and having some infodumps), the book settles down. Halfway through I was hooked. Considering the length of the book it is incredible how much backstory and information the author was able to provide. I quite liked the heavy use of magic as well.

    The characters are all likeable. Initially, it seems as if the author borrowed the cast from Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy. However, the appearances are just superficial. Cole in particular was incredibly amusing and it was always fun to see him taken down a peg or two.

    After a chaotic beginning, the author manages to keep the reader interested till the end. The last third of the book is really awesome and I read it in one sitting. In spite of it being the first book of a trilogy, there is a sense of resolution at the end while leaving enough loose threads to make me want to read the second book as soon as possible.

    Overall, The Grim Company is a gritty dark fantasy which moves fast and is really fun as well. Highly recommended.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2024
    A great read that moves quickly without being rushed. It’s a grim setting and the author puts the characters through hell. Really a great adventure with a satisfying if not too happy ending.
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2016
    3 out of 5. Heres why:

    The story basically only tells the tale of 2 of the main characters. Which is fine, if those were the only two characters' perspective that we saw the story from.

    Dont get me wrong, i enjoyed the book. It just didnt seem like it was quite RIGHT...
    Characters are added to the story and do nothing more than give the main group a little trouble and then die within the next chapter. Thats ok when you need a quick spot of action, but thats how it is throughout the entire story. None of the characters are fully fleshed out to the point that you KNOW them or feel any bond with them past the whole 'these people are good, that guys bad'.

    The story feels like a series of dots that are strung together, or dominoes set up to where the characters 'go here do this, then go here and fight this person, now go here and do some other thing' it didnt feel like the epic tale I was expecting.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on February 6, 2016
    I enjoyed this book. Its pretty dark and the setting is depressive at times. The story comes to us from a world where the wizards rose up to kill the gods at some point in the past. As a result this caused huge consequence that people are currently dealing with in during the current timeline.

    The plot is good, and doesn't follow the standard mold of the normal good vs evil, at least not yet. I feel that this might have more of a role due to some foreshadowing, but I am only half way through the second book at this time. What I liked most about this book is that I didn't hate the bad guy, and I could even follow the logic that lead him to where he was. I find this to be what drove me to like the book as much as I did. I always hated books were the bad guy is bad for the sake of there needs to be a bad guy for the heroes to face off against.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2024
    Just when the author gives you enough to figure out the ending, he throws a wicked curve ball and forces you to buy the next book. Can’t but love stories like these.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Jonas
    4.0 out of 5 stars Ganz gut
    Reviewed in Germany on April 26, 2017
    Buch an sich ganz spannend. Charakter s7nd jedoch manchmal etwas überzeichnet. Aber sonst ganz gut u so we i trr
  • S. Snipes
    3.0 out of 5 stars ok
    Reviewed in Italy on October 23, 2014
    I personally found the book dissapointing. It was capitvating writing, and I couldn't put it down, but by the end, you're not left particularly content with the turn of events.
    I recomend it in that it's a very readable fantasy, just don't go expenting the next Song of Ice and Fire.
  • paul nelson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining debut
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2013
    The Grim Company is set in the age of ruin, where the magelords fought a momentous battle against the Gods and cast their bodies down to the earth. The sites where the Gods fell are now mined for the raw magic they harbour and the magelords harness this power to use as they see fit.
    Salazar is one of the most powerful magelords and we get an early indication of his prowess when he unleashes a spell that destroys a city, a spell that takes months to cast and leaves his magic severely depleted. He rules Dorminia with an iron fist, using mindhawks to seek out dissenters and end their rebellious natures.

    Davarus Cole is a young member of the rebels resistance movement called the Shards, opposed to the tyrannical rule of the magelord and they are able to torment the cities watch by using drugs to block the mindhawks. Cole has been told all his life that he is the son of a hero, he has heroes blood that enables him to wield an enchanted dagger and all his thoughts centre on the deeds he will and should be accomplishing but his actions never quite go to plan. His attitude can be a little annoying and for this reason he was my least favourite character, his heroes blood line is disputed but he does redeem himself in the end.

    The most entertaining characters by far are the two Northmen or highlanders from the High Fangs, Brodar Kayne is the sword of the North adept with his broad sword and no stranger to violence, his companion is Jerek the wolf, an expert tracker and single minded individual who rarely strays from the sullen exterior he portrays. Both have seen better days but the history they share binds them together and makes an interesting component of the story, both men should not be underestimated. On entering Dorminia the Northmen run into Cole almost immediately and soon become embroiled in the plans of the rebels.

    The plot is certainly well crafted, compelling and the events that take place in the High Fangs is equally if not more enthralling as both sub plots draw together.
    The flow of the story is well paced, interrupted occasionally with story's of the past for the benefit of world building and the exploration of Brodar Kayne's brutal history, this doesn't slow the story but enhances it.

    Luke Scull has been compared to Joe Abercrombie, I think mainly because he combines the odd expletive with some sarcastic humour and the fact that he has barbarians from the North or highlanders, with a gritty feel to it but the author should be commended for an excellent debut novel after all these are some of the major traits of modern fantasy and its the stuff I enjoy. Comparisons to Abercrombie should be taken as a huge compliment and I have a feeling the second novel of the series Sword of the North is going to raise the bar even higher.
  • PlasticMan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
    Reviewed in Australia on January 29, 2015
    Recommended
  • Kindle Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars fun "grimdark" debut
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 8, 2013
    This was an absolute bargain (in ebook format) and the author's unashamed admission of writing "grimdark" had me checking it out. I'm quite pleased that I did. I'm sure the author is sick of hearing the comparison but it has a very strong "Joe Abercrombie" feel about it in terms of humour and characters. Some characters even feel a bit too similar as there's a Northern Barbarian, a cocky upstart and a cynical cripple. Fortunately these characters come into their own and the cocky upstart, Davarus Cole, turns out to be a hilarious protagonist. Towards the end of the book I also found myself caring about the fates of some of the other characters (The Wolf and Barandas) and it's always a sign of good characterisation when you start to care. One thing that sets this book apart from Abercrombie is that the world is a lot more magical with sorcerers, demons, magical weapons and deicide. This rich world suggests there are more stories to be mined in future installments. It's not a perfect book but it settles into an enjoyable groove in the last third of the book with its abundance of action and twisting revelations left me wanting more. Definitely worth a look at the current ebook price and I suspect future installments will improve upon this debut.

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