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    The Vagrant
    The Vagrant
    The Vagrant
    Audiobook13 hours

    The Vagrant

    Written by Peter Newman

    Narrated by Jot Davies

    4/5

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    About this audiobook

    The Vagrant is his name. He has no other.

    Years have passed since humanity’s destruction emerged from the Breach.

    Friendless and alone he walks across a desolate, war-torn landscape.

    As each day passes the world tumbles further into depravity, bent and twisted by the new order, corrupted by the Usurper, the enemy, and his infernal horde.

    His purpose is to reach the Shining City, last bastion of the human race, and deliver the only weapon that may make a difference in the ongoing war.

    What little hope remains is dying. Abandoned by its leader, The Seven, and its heroes, The Seraph Knights, the last defences of a once great civilisation are crumbling into dust.

    But the Shining City is far away and the world is a very dangerous place.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateApr 23, 2015
    ISBN9780008121631
    Author

    Peter Newman

    Peter Newman lives in Somerset with his wife and son. Growing up in and around London, Peter studied Drama and Education at the Central School of Speech and Drama, going on to work as a secondary school drama teacher. He now works as a trainer and Firewalking Instructor. He sometimes pretends to be a butler for the Tea and Jeopardy podcast, which he co-writes, and which has been shortlisted for a Hugo Award.

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    Reviews for The Vagrant

    4/5

    115 ratings12 reviews

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    • 2/5
      This book was too much work for me. There may be an interesting story in there somewhere, but it was just too weird. About a third of the time I had absolutely no idea what was going on. Really, what am I to make of: "It opens its mouth, tasting the air as the flies scrabble from its gullet, each sucking a droplet of the master's wishes before swarming into the darkening sky." Or "...those that were too big or too unfortunate to find a host body, who lost integrity and blended with other unfortunates into a single unconscious, a soup of blood and failure." I liked the book pretty much when it stuck to the story of the mute Knight, the infant girl he was protecting, his magic sword and the goat. Ultimately, however, I abandoned this book at the 38% point. I don't want to have to struggle this much to figure out a book.I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Very good start to the series. Plausible characters and a well-built world.
    • 3/5
      Liked it a lot at first but began to drag towards the end. Down grom four to three stars.
    • 5/5
      I am in love with this novel, although definitely not a read for sci-fi beginners. It is written in omniscient present-tense, so it may be a hurdle for some. But, if you’re an avid reader and ready for something different, beautiful, and macabre—this is the book for you.
    • 5/5
      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.

    • 4/5
      The VagrantBy: Peter NewmanNarrated by: Jot DaviesThis 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!!!
    • 5/5
      After finishing this book, I thought for a bit and concluded that there was really no part of the book I disliked. Hence the 5 star rating.

      This book does dystopian right. I am generally sceptical of this sub-genre but the author put beautifully written characters in a very well imagined world and introduced a couple of plot elements to set it apart from the stock dark dystopian book.

      The worldbuilding is excellent. The author does a really good job mapping out the devastated world and its various features in a plausible manner. The writing quality is good, though I have read better.

      What makes this book stand out are the characters. The Vagrant - the primary protagonist who never talks. A baby - doing baby stuff, in a very effective way. A goat. Being a very stubborn goat. It is in the interaction of these disparate and unconventional elements and the author's stellar ability to move along by description the plot that sets this book apart.
    • 3/5
      starts slow, a bit confusing for a bit, but fun conclusion. Gotta say the goat is the best part
    • 3/5
      I would say this book is good but not great. There is an extremely interesting premise here with a silent protagonist traveling through a demon-infested world with a baby, a goat, and a mysterious sword. It reminded me of a mix between the Demon Cycle and Mad Max, but it didn't quite live up to that potential.

      The best part of the book for me, by far, is the relationship between the Vagrant, the baby, Harm, and the Hammer. It felt very real and organic, which is something that's lacking in a lot of fantasy books.

      The main thing I didn't like about the story was when it would shift to the POV of the demons (the Uncivil, Knights, First, and Usurper) and the Seven. For me, those characters weren't fleshed out enough for me to separate what each of their goals were. They just felt jumbled into a single group.

      Still, the story is interesting enough for me to continue on.
    • 5/5
      A man, mute and known only as the Vagrant, travels across an apocalyptic landscape carrying a baby and a sword. The sword may be the last hope for humanity in a world being destroyed by demons and he is determined, against all odds, to deliver it to those he believes can best use it. The enemy is just as determined to stop him and he encounters opposition and danger every step of the way. But he also finds allies including Harm, a member of a rebel group, as well as a very smart, very stubborn goat.I have to say that it took me a while to get into The Vagrant by author Peter Newman. The beginning drops you somewhere in the middle of the story several years after the cataclysmic events that changed this world. We are introduced to characters, culture, events, and a world already fully realized and in motion and it took me a while to catch up. Still I hung in and I am so glad I did. The story jumps back and forth in time between the Vagrant’s mission and the events leading up to it. As a result, the story at first felt fragmented to me, the cause of my initial confusion. But, as the story progressed, I began to appreciate this style of story-telling. It required commitment on my part to continue but it rewarded me for that commitment with a beautifully written tale, almost lyrical in its prose, both thoughtful and full of action.The world-building weds modern technology with more typical fantasy culture in a way I have never seen before and that it works so well says much about Newman’s writing abilities. But it is the characters that made this one of my favourite reads so far this year. The Vagrant is a complex hero, preferring to settle disputes with money if possible, run away if he can, willing to stand and fight if that is the only option left. Despite the fact that he cannot speak, he has the ability to attract and retain loyal followers and his interaction with them and with the baby makes a sharp and fascinating contrast to the brutal world that exists around him. Harm is also a very interesting character, a man who worked as enforcer for the rebel group, committed to violence, but who sees in the Vagrant the possibility of redemption. And, of course, the baby who may be the most adorable heroine in fantasy and the goat who adds humour to this otherwise dark tale. But perhaps my favourite character was the one called the Hammer that Walks as well as the Usurper’s daughter. She was one of the first humans tainted by the demons and one of the most terrifying. She is sent to destroy the Vagrant and the sword but something changes and her story is one of hope and heartbreak in almost equal measure.The Vagrant is Newman’s debut novel and the first in a series. It is a tale full of adventure, complex characters and world-building, and beautiful prose. It is well-written and compelling, combining dark fantasy with post-apocalyptic. It is smart and violent and requires much from the reader but, for those who are willing to invest in the story, the result is well worth it. With thanks to Edelweiss and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review
    • 5/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie TalesQuick & Dirty: A silent knight, with a sword that is alive, on a very dangerous mission, will he make it?Opening Sentence: “Starlight gives way to bolder neon.”The Review:The Vagrant, a baby and a goat are trying to get to the Shining City. That actually sounds like a joke, but seriously, the Vagrant is traveling with a baby and a goat. He is the last Seraph Knight on this side of the world, and he carries with him a deadly sword. The Shining City is the last place fully human, and the Vagrant hopes the sword will help them turn the tide. In a world losing it’s hope the Vagrant is slowly rekindling that fire.Along the way he ends up with some traveling companions, Harm, a man who sees the Vagrant for what he is and decides to help him as a way to redeem himself. The Hammer also joins them, and her change is nothing less than miraculous. As they continue to stay ahead of the Knights of Jade and Ash and all that hunt the sword, will the Vagrant be able to make it to the Shining City or will he fall on his quest?Okay, first off I really enjoyed this book. I slightly edge away from love because it is a little confusing. Some of that gets cleared up near the end of the book, but some due to the nature of the story is just a mystery. I am glad to see that this is a series, because I really still need some answers. Now that I have said what bothered me I have to get to the point, I mean this book is soo different than anything I have ever read. The main character, The Vagrant, goes by no other name. I mean that literally, even in the chapters that fill in the back story at no point does the author let loose the name of the Vagrant. Oh, and to top it all off he doesn’t speak very much throughout out the entire book, and I am not joking, this book carries it though and is really good despite the lack of dialogue or even inner thought of the main character.He is a giant enigma through the whole book, you do learn why he doesn’t talk, because in the back story you only figure who he is when the story comes to that conclusion and you understand why he doesn’t speak at all. All of that being said, this is definitely towards the science fiction side of fantasy. There are plenty of high fantasy elements, but an edge of futuristic thrown in. Honestly, when I started this I was sure I would hate it, and when I saw that the he didn’t talk, I really thought this is going to suck, but I just kept reading. Out of fascination, curiosity, heck, I am not sure what drove me. I couldn’t put the book down.I am hoping the other books will answer more questions, but I have to say that for a non speaking swordsman, a goat and one baby girl to be the stars of this book, it just blows me away. The level of talent that requires those types of characters to drive a book and make it successful. It’s like Tom Hanks in Castaway level of good. Seriously, if you are into fantasy you must read this book!Notable Scenes:“One canine, black in the poor light, unreadable, but the other human one: it flickers in recognition.”“In New Horizon nothing is wasted.”“To him the Seraph Knights are heroes from a time when childhood was more than the few moments between consciousness and disappointment.”“He closes his eyes, covering his face with quick hands to hide the trembling.’“The Hammer that walks and the Malice?”“You must be strong in yourself, pure of intent, if you are truly to master being a knight.”“At his side, the sword twitches, wings parted, metal feathers unashamedly tipped in red.”FTC Advisory: Harper Voyager provided me with a copy of The Vagrant. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 4/5
      This reminded me of China Mieville in the weird bodies and dropping you to flounder in the middle of a story way. I don't mean this disparagingly but I had to re-read the last few chapters to really get what had happened, and I don't do that often.When the demons came the armies led by the Seraph Knights tried to hold them back, but they failed. Now the entities from the breach use human bodies like components in a strange jigsaw, sometimes taking over bodies wholesale, and infecting others with their taint. Into this walks a man with a sword, a baby and a mission, he wants to reach the Shining City the last bastion of the human race and to deliver a weapon.Oh man, this was pretty powerful stuff, full of twists and turns and slightly red-herrings but at the core a character who is determined to do the right thing and works well against his inability to speak. A man who wants to do the right thing in a world where bodies are parts and possible profit and survival is very tough.There were times when it was too gritty for my taste but overall I found it a compelling read.