The Scroungers

Vermin of the Old Empire

By: Thomas J Devens

Narrated by: R J Bayley

The lords have fallen.

It was the war to end all wars. Violence had plagued the Fractured Kingdoms since the fall of the Old Empire. But as the generals and the lords died in the Valley of Torglen, the folk looked beyond their allegiances. Beyond their nations.

The bedraggled masses that survived the battle flocked to the nearest town with hopes of a new life. One in which their rulers remained rotting in the mud.

Brigge led her company of sellswords to foreign lands. Now she seeks to lead the dispossessed into a new life.

Ebar was forced into duty. Conscripted by the war machine of Volgsland. Though the war is over, his service is not.

A killer stalks the streets of Bright Hollow. Tortured by their past and longing for vengeance.

Disparate tales intertwine as the lives of the survivors collide. Bright Hollow is a small town, brimming with newcomers.

©2024 Thomas J Devens (P)2025 Thomas J Devens

A Lot to Love, Wish there Was More

An anti-war story set in a Medieval town, THE SCROUNGERS plays with a lot of really fun ideas. It’s a story told through many perspectives and vignettes, from characters on both sides of a disastrous battle and the events that follow. I like this kind of format, but it caused me to struggle to understand what was happening for some time, and made it tough to connect with the cast. Ultimately, I enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone seeking a quick Medieval fantasy read, but I can't help but feel like I wanted more from it.

Thank you to the author for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.