Gavin G. Smith

Well, this knighthood tale took a very unexpected turn. Thornto as the main character along with the Red Earl, Gritcham, Prince Philippe and some other make this ghoulish, and bloody tale very readable. Not your typical knight in shining armor story, but probably more realistic with regard to medieval warfare. I enjoyed the premise and the story development but I am conflicted about whether or not I can like how poor Thornto's ended up. A very novel twist on knighthood. CERTAINLY worth the read. Maybe there is room for some more of his adventures.… (meer)

I was delighted to receive this ARC from Netgalley. having enjoyed reading 'Veteran' and 'War in Heaven'

'The Bastard Legion / Hangman's Daughter' is an all out violent action science fiction page turner.
I started reading and when I next looked up I was more than half way through the book.
The Hangman's Daughter is a prison ship incarcerating more than six thousand violent criminals. Miska an ex military/ spook hijacks the ship puts explosive collars round the prisoners necks and with an uploaded copy of her murdered father proceeds to train them as mercenaries for hire. If they disobey orders she decapitates them, if they try to kill her the same result.
Hired out to retake a valuable asteroid from the miners who have revolted as a proof of concept things go rapidly wrong when an sentient AI virus is found to be siding with the miners.
After a renegotiation with the corporation hiring Miska they go back for a second attempt.
The action is non stop, the virtual boot camp where the prisoners are trained to be soldiers by the dead copy of her gunnery sergeant father was fun. The prisoners are complex, being at times morally superior, stupid beyond belief or in the case of the mob bosses outsmarting Miska.
The baddest of the bad are barely human.
Miska is not that different from them and in her own words is 'wired wrong'. She has a hidden agenda and shady motivations.
It will be interesting to see who survives the next book.

Thank you Netgalley… (meer)