The good: poetic, melancholic, original background, very dark, solid world-building, interesting interaction between the antagonists. Very good start (first 25%), extremely good ending (last 25%).
The bad: somewhat simplistic, somewhat YA, over-ambiguous at times, over-Christian (forgive thy enemy... even when it is a bad idea), sluggish, even boring middle (50%), underdeveloped main character, too easily to defeat archenemies.
Liked the goat, though.
Enjoyed enough to read the sequel, but only moderately looking forward to it. ( )

The Vagrant is a silent man, a wanderer with a magic sword, a baby, and a goat. This is the story of his journey through a post-Demonic apocalypse world and the family he starts to build in it.

I loved this book, in a way that kind of astounds me. I bought it on the recommendation of its similarities to Dark Souls, and that recommendation was spot on. The core idea, the feeling of a world and powerful entities within it caught in decay and decline, is evoked perfectly here, and at the same time the glimpse into how people adapt to, and sometimes even embrace, corruption feels so unspeakably real. At the same time, the bleak world is studded with both hope and humor, for a perfect balance of darkness and light. And more than anything, the Vagrant is a good man, a decent man, and it shows in his every action and reaction.

The characterization in The Vagrant is outstanding. I can only assume that Peter Newman is a truly gifted observer of the world, because the way that every character in the books feels true to the core could only come from heart-deep understanding. Even the goat, THE GOAT, is a fully fleshed character while still remaining truly and utterly goatlike. It's amazing. And Vesper, the baby! She's perfect. She's a baby, and a person, and full of character it's almost painful.

It's almost shocking, really, how human this book is considering how inhuman the world it depicts is. The people and land are growing ever more tainted by the Demonic invasion, and even the "pure" humanity in the north is wrapped in eerie light of entities that are anything but human. Yet between these two poles, people get on with their lives as they have ever done, and it's beautiful in a way. There is badness there, of course, but there is also the Vagrant and his simple decency, wrapped up in the power of a sentient, unstoppable sword.

It's a heady mixture, and one I can recommend wholeheartedly to fans of adventure, action, and human drama alike.

( )

Not exactly comfort zone reading but overall worth the effort. ( )

There is something about this book that demanded I not put it down for the past 24 hours and read voraciously until the last page. I hesitate to compare any author with another--but the Vagrant calls to mind my other favorite series of books, The Dark Tower. This strange mix of fantasy, science-fiction, post apocalypse, hopeful-horror mix turns into something all on it's own. I wonder at how the author managed to suck me in, and keep me, with a main character without a voice--pretty sure it was through the sorcery of pure writing talent.

I've waited a long time to be able to afford this book and to read it. I am so happy to have gotten the chance to read it, and inevitably sad that it's over. I hope to be able to read more, soon.

( )

The Vagrant
By: Peter Newman
Narrated by: Jot Davies

This is a science fiction and fantasy book combined. I don't even know how to review this book because it is so different. I really liked it a lot because it was unique. There was no inner thought dialogue going on from the main character and the main character wouldn't or couldn't speak so the only progression of the story was from the action going on around him and dialogue from others. There is some flashback scenes to show the vagrant before the present time.

The main character was The Vagrant of the story. A guy on a mission and nothing was going to get in his way. He had a sword, a special sword of power that was feared and few dared to touch but wanted. He also was caring for an infant. The reader slowly finds out how he got the baby and the sword. He also has a goat to feed the baby milk.

The world building is awesome! There is talk of a space craft crash landing, people scavenging parts. But then a taint came upon the people. Unsure if it's related. But it seems there came some plague, there are monsters, and people that are using cybernetics and body parts. That part seemed fuzzy to me. But the city was not lacking. Chips in their brains, flying ships.

It was a trek that encountered many people, things, creatures, and situations. The vagrant is a Knight so he is bound to help where he can. It's a very enthralling read. I know you must be wondering how interesting can a man, a baby, and a goat be but it is an epic journey!

There are many memorable characters in here. Hammer and the goat are my two favorites. Hammer is a giant monster of a creature like a Big Foot. The goat because of her attitude!

Lots of action, emotions, imagination, and wonder in here! It's not for everyone. But I enjoyed the unique style.

The narrator was new to me and I found he was absolutely marvelous! A man of many voices! A baby...check! A monster...check! Men, women, creatures, anything... Perfectly... Check!!! ( )