The Way of Renegades

The Bards and Dragons Saga, Book 1

By: Steve D. Wall

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

Length: 14 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

An action-packed flintlock fantasy audiobook about guns, mages, bards, and dragons!

Ulric, former war hero, has been living a quiet life of exile in the frontier city of Quinport and wants only to continue hiding from the mistakes of his past. But then he discovers the invention of a revolutionary new kind of rifle, and worse, the ruling Coalition discovers his identity.

Enter Dellioph, no mere bard, who just arrived to Quinport and wants only to play his music and to keep his secrets. But trying to do both lands him directly in the path of one of the Coalition chancellors, who wants to use Dellioph and his secrets. Dellioph must choose to keep his secrets, his freedom, or his music. But when the choice is between anything and his music, it’s no choice at all.

And Gali, future chief of the one of the Teo tribes, who wants nothing more than to save her people, even if that means forcing them to change. She disobeys her father, lies to her people, and travels to the Coalition city to learn how to do some of the things they do—making and using muskets foremost among them. But the people of the Coalition are not ready to accept the Teo, and Gali will be forced to learn the hard way that a renegade’s only friend is another renegade.

Meanwhile, two mysterious strangers from opposite sides of the world come hunting a sorcerer who has unbelievable power, a hunger for more, and dragons, but they are nothing like the stories.

©2023 Steve D. Wall (P)2023 Steve D. Wall

Fantastic Characters

Lovely story, fast paced with interwoven plots. Loved it. Cant wait until the next book.

Loved it!

Can’t wait for more—loved the characters, descriptions, magic system, and worldbuilding. Great narration too!

Was This Secretly Written by Joe Abercrombie?

This book was absolutely incredible start to finish. Steven Pacey is the best narrator in the business and does not disappoint here. Maybe not quite as polished as some of the First Law books, but still great in its own right. I’m really looking forward to the rest of this trilogy and anything else this author writes moving forward.

Outstanding!

The Way of Renegades is one of the better novels I’ve read this year, and a truly spectacular debut. This reads as though Mr. Wall has been writing professionally for decades, and I’m not exaggerating!

The narration by Steven Pacy is also, of course, sublime.

There are several distinct characters with unique voices - character development is handled expertly, leaving the reader invested in the characters in no time, yet also eager to learn more about them.

Pacing and plotting are well-done, too, and well-balanced with character development. The world feels real and lived in. Honestly, I don’t have much that isn’t glowingly positive to say.

I loved it.

And I will buy the second volume immediately when it’s released.

awesome debut

Steve d Wall has written an awesome debut novel.
this was fun. lots of action, fast dialogue and characters I came to care about. I wanted to know what was next from chapter to chapter. and now readily await the next installment.

Steven pacey as always is amazing. est narrator in the business.

A lot of fun.

If you like Joe Abercrombie. Then this book is for you. Thoroughly enjoyed it. If it’s actually a different writer. And not a “pen name” then bravo for the effort. Original in its story. But the chops of one of my favorites. Well thought out. Characters rich. World similar but different. I don’t care what the authors name is. Or who he is for that matter. Just get the rest of the series completed and published. Can’t wait.
One of the better audiobooks I’ve listed to. A special thanks to Steven Pacey. He is extremely good. I really like his ability to make it very real in front of you. The synergy between the author/story and Paceys knack for making the characters feel real. It’s almost not even like “hearing” it. But more like experiencing it. My guess is anybody who likes the style of writing JA or Steve Wall seems to channel. They will love this book as well, maybe better than any of the Abercrombies first law series books. We’ll almost ;-)

Fantastic debut!

Truly hard to believe this is a debut. Really loved how the characters are fleshed out and how smoothly the story develops on its own. It feels like an Abercrombie book in a way, more so because it’s read by the incomparable Steven Pacey. I was really a pleasure to read this book, and I can’t wait to read the next one when it comes out.

Pure fun, give us more!

This book was everything I hoped it would be. Hopefully the wait for the continuation won't be too long.
Impressive world building and cool characters, Just a fun ride throughout really!

JA or not - this is GREAT

This author is outstanding; if it is or isn’t JA is irrelevant.

I could listen to Mr. Pacey read a phone book.

Easily worth the credit.

Robust cast of characters

I enjoyed it. I can’t tell if it reminded me of Abercrombie because of Pacy or if it was the dark humor. Pacy is one of my favorite narrators and this book fit his voice well, or vice versa. Highly recommend