Military Fantasy romance is my new jam! As a mythology and ancient history buff this so gave me Ancient Rome v Celts vibes. The "baddies" were Roman and the lost company had a miscellany of British accents, lol.

The pacing was really good and I didn't think it slowed too badly. The characters were funny, war-weary, flawed and complicated. They really leaped off the page for me and I could pretty much relate each character to any multitude of military or police officer I know!

Tuggs and Captain Roma are complete opposites but they both know how to get the job done, just in different styles. Did I love the fact that the Captain was a no nonsense woman? You betcha. The entire company is mixed and whilst there is more than a little "fraternisation" it mostly takes place off page and is only referred to on page. There is still a bit of misogyny to be faced by the women, can't escape it even in a fantasy world sadly.

Mane has a real development through the book and Danza remains the dependable second, but even she makes a few revelations along their journey.

Solid debut novel and I'd happily read more books set in this world!

thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review! <3

’Plenty have tried, now they’re all dead’

The Lost Company is an unremarkable but acceptable fantasy debut, claiming to be inspired by the likes of Steven Erikson and Joe Abercrombie, but doing very little to live up to that claim.

While its premise initially hooked me and world-building appeared at first glance to be quite rich, this story quickly devolved to one of mediocrity within the first 10 or so chapters. We follow Sergeant Tuggs and his company as they are stranded in a foreign land after a battle with the invading Imperial Army. Their aim is to get home, and under the leadership of the formidable Captain Roma, they attempt just that. Captain Roma was possibly the only highlight character-wise, I will always adore a no-nonsense big badass lady, but the rest, including Tuggs, were pretty indistinguishable from one another, and boring to say the least.

The story, while nothing offensive, has been done over and over again and at a much higher quality, so I wasn’t taken with it at all. The world-building which, going by the cover, seems to be Norse / Goth inspired had little depth, and scarce Norse / Goth elements. The best section of world-building was the magic system, subtle but effective, and the enemy Imperials, whose Roman-inspired naming conventions and battle tactics were interesting. Other than that, nothing in this world or plot was new, and none of it was engaging. By the half-way mark I can say that I was wholeheartedly bored, and really had to push myself through to the end.

The book is also pockmarked with both spelling errors and repetitive and quite clumsy descriptions, words used multiple times in quick succession, that give the book an unfortunate amateur feel. I commend Maguire for taking such a dive into a complicated and saturated genre like fantasy, but this could certainly have done with more revisions.

Overall, The Lost Company gets 3/5 stars. It has potential, and I could see myself being curious enough to read on in the series, but I can’t say this is anything I’d particularly rush to recommend.

Highly addictive read I couldn't put it down!

As a fan of Military Fantasy, I really enjoyed being thrown in the deep end with a squad of soldiers who have found themselves behind enemy lines. Reading about the characters and dynamic of the soldiers over the course of the book is probably the highlight of the book for me. Both the high and the lows. I don't think I'll forget the scenes around that big hill any time soon!

I did really like the world building and magic system, especially when it is given to us bit by bit over the course of the book, and I did like the use of squad mages.

With themes of just trying to be yourself and kindness, even in and around a war I thought how the main character was battling this was pretty clever.

This can be read as a standalone as its ending is pretty complete. However I am already looking forward to the next one, as I really want to know what happens next.

The Aenean Empire has come for Ethylund. The last free kingdom in a conquered land, its people will do anything to defend their independence and way of life - and when they land a surprising victory against the invading army, the Ethyl hope it will be enough to turn the tide of the war. However, they are quickly beaten back, and during a hasty, scrambled retreat, one company is left behind. Alone in enemy territory, starving and exhausted with Imperial forces pressing in from every side, the Lost Company (led by the formidable Captain Roma and a haunted Sergeant Tuggs) will only survive using their wit and fierce loyalty to each other. Will it be enough to see them home safely?

This book had non-stop action from the very first page, and I was instantly gripped by the story and its setting. The plot was very fast paced, and there were even a few moments where I was hoping the company could sit and catch a break for a while! One of my favourite aspects of this book was how well-written and developed the characters were - I really appreciated watching Mane, the squad mage, conquer his fears, and seeing a different side to Captain Roma when we learn her motivations. The desire to see how the characters were faring and whether they would all make it to safety in one piece kept me excited to pick up this book again and again. I was personally really fond of Shoots and Doris! The world building was also very strong, and with the descriptions of Ethyl mythology, beliefs, and customs, I could clearly see the parallels with the Roman conquest in Britain.

My one gripe with the copy of this that I read is that I think it would have benefitted from a more careful hand while editing. There were a few spelling and grammar mistakes that took me out of the story slightly, but since this was an advanced copy this may be a non-issue.

The Lost Company is quintessential character-driven military fantasy with elements reminiscent of The Lot Lands and The First Law series.

I really enjoyed this book. This book is set in a time that is not really ever written about. And I really enjoyed read it. The writing was very good.

The Aenean Empire, the godless Empire of the Fist, stretches from the Wall of Civilization in the east to the Cold Sea in the west. The small, proud kingdom of Ethylund is the last bastion of freedom in the western world. These warrior people are tied to the land and worship the spirits that reside there; but what chance do they have against the all-conquering Empire?

Yet hope remains. Led by the legendary swordsman Harold Hadrin and the fearsome Captain Roma, the Ethyl have won a historic victory against the Aeneans, sending shockwaves across the land and spelling a change in the war.

But when catastrophe strikes - for reasons no one understands - and the Ethyl army are forced to fight a desperate retreat, one company finds itself behind Imperial lines with enemies all around them. It falls to the indomitable Captain Roma, who is said to be wedded to death, Sergeant Tuggs, a man held back by guilt, and the cowardly squad-mage Mane, whose own men despise him as much as the enemy, to get the company home.

Their struggle will see mountains toppled, ancient powers awoken, and the embers of rebellion fanned to life.

But with enemies within the company as well as without, and a strange dark presence haunting their every step, will they have the strength and courage to bring the lost company home?

A pretty good, action packed and fast paced fantasy book. Reminded me of a more modern version of The Black Company. Would recommend to anyone like me who is into military fantasy with a norse or Viking twist:)