*Winner of Mark Lawrence's self-published fantasy competition, voted by a panel of ten top fantasy bloggers*

'FRANKLY EXCELLENT' Mark Lawrence

'A BLOODY GOOD TALE OF BATTLE, BETRAYAL AND WAR PIGS' Brian McClellan

In this stunning fantasy debut, enter the world of orcs - as you've never seen them before . . .

LIVE IN THE SADDLE, DIE ON THE HOG.

Jackal is proud to be a Grey Bastard, member of a sworn brotherhood of half-orcs. Unloved and unwanted in civilized society, the Bastards eke out a hard life in the desolate no-man's-land called the Lots, protecting frail and noble human civilization from invading bands of vicious full-blooded orcs.

But as Jackal is soon to learn, his pride may be misplaced. Because a dark secret lies at the heart of the Bastards' existence - one that reveals a horrifying truth behind humanity's tenuous peace with the orcs, and exposes a grave danger on the horizon.

On the heels of the ultimate betrayal, Jackal must scramble to stop a devastating invasion - even as he wonders where his true loyalties lie.

'Jonathan French has to be lauded for his plot ingenuity, bawdry charm and vicious characters. The Grey Bastards has instantaneously catapulted him into my must-read list' Fantasy Book Critic

'I'd like to raise a tankard to The Grey Bastards' brilliance' Fantasy Faction

'Fans of Abercrombie's THE FIRST LAW or the soldierly banter of Erikson's MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN will like this a lot' Django Wexler