Book Review: The Quest for Freedom (The Conquest Trilogy, #1) by Matthew D. Devitt

The Quest for Freedom by Matthew D. Devitt
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Non-stop Action! Action! Action!

The Quest for Freedom is the first book in author Matthew Devitt’s rough and tumble The Conquest Trilogy, and if you’re looking for a story that hits the ground running, is full of action, and desperate hand-to-hand combat, this book is for you. With its straightforward plot to free the enslaved humans, multiple supernatural/mythical races, and comrades-by-necessity elements, I was transported back to the days of classic DnD gaming and fellowship.

The main character, Fletcher Rush, is one of the humans whose ancestors had coexisted on the planet Affer alongside angels, demons, elves, and others until their collective success began to feel like a threat. Banding together, the other kingdoms overtook the humans and divided the survivors up amongst the victors to serve as slaves for all eternity. Four hundred seventy-three years later, Fletcher is the hero who rises from obscurity to free his people.

The action is truly non-stop as Fletcher, his sidekick, Ji, and the various companions they pick up along the way, battle their way across the planet to secure a future of freedom for the human race. The good guys are earnest and driven, with their focus on their crusade from start to finish. The bad guys are evil, entitled, and in charge, until Fletcher and company arrive on the scene. The fight scenes are plentiful, vivid, and, at times, graphic in their depiction of the damage inflicted.

The planet of Affer features different kingdoms of supernatural beings, with a variety of wild terrain in between for the heroes to traverse, but my favorite was the abandoned human capital of Admont. As a bonus, the author includes a wonderfully illustrated map of the world, as well as a simple pronunciation guide for many city names, places, and more unusual character names.

The book is not complex literature, just a bit of fun, and I would definitely read the rest of the trilogy. But I wish the author would stop using CAPS throughout to emphasize shouted or excited dialogue. We get it.

I recommend THE QUEST FOR FREEDOM to fans of epic fantasies that harken back to the early days of the genre and nostalgic DnD gaming.


View all my reviews