Plot: 4/5
His Ragged Company follows a trigger happy marshal trying to hold order in the small town of Blackpeak, Texas. Until a simple run in turns deadly and the people of Blackpeak meet unknown forces with mystical magic.
The overall plot was enjoyable, if at times confusing, but I fell like our main POV was just as confused, so it became more of a case of learning together. Each “Part” of the book almost felt like a different episode of a limited series, following a small story that ended up coming together in the end brilliantly. The story was a phenomenal read for those interested in a gunslinging western with a bit of magic tossed in for fun.
Characters: 5/5
The characters were a very strong point of this book, featuring a diverse and interesting cast that butted heads in many ways. Each character and relationship between them felt like a strong addition to the story, even when they only had a minor role within the story.
Worldbuilding: 4/5
The magic brought into the story had a lot of interesting play with it, though I have plenty of questions at the end with some of it staying a bit vague for the time being. I would have loved to understand and learn more about the magic, and about the various different creatures/species that make an appearance, though I can understand keeping it vague. I found it interesting enough either way that the lack of information did not hinder my enjoyment, and I look forward to hopefully learning more about the world crafted here in the future.
Writing: 4/5
Denton’s writing is fantastic overall, though at times it felt like Elias Faust had very little agency and instead was tugged in several directions as other characters propelled the story line. However, Faust is a man stuck in the middle of a secret battle, which adds to the reasons for this lack of agency early on. The way each part plays out, as mentioned earlier, could cause some hiccups with the pacing, however, I personally enjoyed how it felt episodic.
Enjoyability: 5/5
Overall, His Ragged Company is a magnificent fantasy western, weaving together both genres effortlessly. It rides on the strength of superb characters and interesting worldbuilding to tell a wonderful story. I am looking forward to, hopefully, return to Elias Faust and the people of Blackpeak in the future!
OVERALL: 4.5/5 Ball Bearings
Narration: 5/5
The audiobook is narrated by John Pirhalla who does an excellent job with it. He brings the feeling of a western into the story, and does a fantastic job with clarity for the characters. He brings this book alive in a fantastic way for those who prefer to listen.
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