What do you think?
Rate this book
Free Trader #1
The Free Trader of Warren Deep
Following the civil war on the human colonized world of Cygnus VII, humanity and its creations rise again. Free Trader Braden and his mindlinked Hillcat are plying the trade routes of Warren Deep when things start to get hot. Giving events time to be forgotten, Braden gathers engineered (mutant) creatures to him for a trip south of the Great Desert where he hopes to find Old Tech that he can trade for untold riches. The more he learns about the ancients, the more he wants to learn. Along the way, he establishes a new ideal regarding trade and collaboration in the south where trust of strangers is unknown. Braden and his companions, a Hawkoid, a Hillcat, a Tortoid, and a female warrior find that some Old Tech still functions, with the potential to change their world for the better or worse, depending on what they decide.
268 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2016
596 people are currently reading
1192 people want to read
About the author
Craig Martelle
309 books7,858 followersVisit Craig's web page, craigmartelle.com for the latest posts and updates or find him on Facebook, Author Craig Martelle. Send an email to craig@craigmartelle.com to join his mailing list for the latest on new releases, information on old releases, and anything related to his books.
I see my other lives, a career in the Marines, those damn hand-written tests in law school, a business consultant, as if they're stories from a book. I see my books as if I lived there, as if I were friends with the characters. All things we remember are behind us, only those we imagine lie before.
I'm not sure which place I prefer, but I don't have to choose. They live together in my mind. My books have some award nominations, they have bestseller tags across multiple countries. I write about justice, honor, and loyalty because that's what I care about. My stories are mostly set within worlds that haven't been, but could be. We have to be ready for when those times come.
No matter where I went, I always had a book with me. Thanks to 21st Century technology, I now have hundreds of books loaded on my phone and always with me. This breakthrough allows me to binge read my favorites. How many books would I have read on deployments had I not had to have a physical book with me? I paced myself so I wouldn't finish too quickly.
We aren't encumbered like that now. I love the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, JRR Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and so many more. I have been compared to Andre Norton and that is humbling - she was an incredible author with a huge list of novels to her credit. With every new book, I aspire to live up to those that you, the readers, have compared me to.
Through a bizarre series of events, I ended up in Fairbanks, Alaska. I never expected to retire to a place where golf courses are only open for four months out of the year. But that's the way it is. It is off the beaten path. My wife and I get to watch the northern lights from our driveway. Our dog has lots of room to run. And temperatures reach fifty below zero. We have from three and a half hours of daylight in the winter to twenty-four hours in the summer.
It's all part of the give and take of life. If we didn't have those extremes, then everyone would live in the sub-arctic.
I see my other lives, a career in the Marines, those damn hand-written tests in law school, a business consultant, as if they're stories from a book. I see my books as if I lived there, as if I were friends with the characters. All things we remember are behind us, only those we imagine lie before.
I'm not sure which place I prefer, but I don't have to choose. They live together in my mind. My books have some award nominations, they have bestseller tags across multiple countries. I write about justice, honor, and loyalty because that's what I care about. My stories are mostly set within worlds that haven't been, but could be. We have to be ready for when those times come.
No matter where I went, I always had a book with me. Thanks to 21st Century technology, I now have hundreds of books loaded on my phone and always with me. This breakthrough allows me to binge read my favorites. How many books would I have read on deployments had I not had to have a physical book with me? I paced myself so I wouldn't finish too quickly.
We aren't encumbered like that now. I love the works of Robert Heinlein, Anne McCaffrey, JRR Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, and so many more. I have been compared to Andre Norton and that is humbling - she was an incredible author with a huge list of novels to her credit. With every new book, I aspire to live up to those that you, the readers, have compared me to.
Through a bizarre series of events, I ended up in Fairbanks, Alaska. I never expected to retire to a place where golf courses are only open for four months out of the year. But that's the way it is. It is off the beaten path. My wife and I get to watch the northern lights from our driveway. Our dog has lots of room to run. And temperatures reach fifty below zero. We have from three and a half hours of daylight in the winter to twenty-four hours in the summer.
It's all part of the give and take of life. If we didn't have those extremes, then everyone would live in the sub-arctic.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 12, 2018
This tale is suitable for YA readers but adults who enjoy SF will be fine with it too. A lad who is a free trader, with his pal the telepathic hill cat, decides to cross the wide desert and see if there are better goods to trade on the far side, maybe ancient technology.
The story is a little slow to start as we get introduced to the situation. As the story progresses, a few more members are added to the little party, and battles occur, and our lad starts using more intelligence on problem solving and easier travel. We gradually discover more about the wide world and who created the odds and ends of tech. This unfolding is nicely done.
To start I was annoyed every time the cat was called a 'cat but by midway I didn't see it any more. I like the two horses and all the talking (for which read mutant) creatures. I very much enjoyed the spread of environments, but the jungle should have been full of problem insects and wasn't.
This is the start of a series. I downloaded an ARC on a free Kindle download day. This is an unbiased review.
The story is a little slow to start as we get introduced to the situation. As the story progresses, a few more members are added to the little party, and battles occur, and our lad starts using more intelligence on problem solving and easier travel. We gradually discover more about the wide world and who created the odds and ends of tech. This unfolding is nicely done.
To start I was annoyed every time the cat was called a 'cat but by midway I didn't see it any more. I like the two horses and all the talking (for which read mutant) creatures. I very much enjoyed the spread of environments, but the jungle should have been full of problem insects and wasn't.
This is the start of a series. I downloaded an ARC on a free Kindle download day. This is an unbiased review.
June 12, 2016
Read this on a recommendation. Bits of it reminded me of David Gemmell, others of Larry Niven, and some of the old RPG world novelisations that I recall from my teens/early 20s (back in the 80s - do people still write those?). In all a bit too YA for me, although the main characters and general plot are fairly engaging; young, adventurous man making his way in a hard world by wit, charisma and calculated risk taking, his only friend a mutant, psychic cat. He embarks on a quest, gaining friends and allies along the way by his actions and attitudes.
My biggest problem with the book - and perhaps this shouldn't be seen as a criticism per se - is that I'm a Brit, and this is a very American novel. There are elements of US English use which grate a little, although we are all pretty much used to that, but Brits have a cynicism that I've yet to really encounter in anyone from the US. The value systems of our two cultures are different enough that we respond differently; the underlying story here is uplifting, as the characters make progress by working together. Nothing wrong with that, but it feels a bit moralistic to me (as a Brit from the post-WW2 era; our Victorian & early 20th Century forebears would probably have loved it).
The writing, pacing and plotting is pretty good, as are the characters in the main, but unfortunately didn't quite work for me. I gave it 3 stars as it was too well done to give less.
My biggest problem with the book - and perhaps this shouldn't be seen as a criticism per se - is that I'm a Brit, and this is a very American novel. There are elements of US English use which grate a little, although we are all pretty much used to that, but Brits have a cynicism that I've yet to really encounter in anyone from the US. The value systems of our two cultures are different enough that we respond differently; the underlying story here is uplifting, as the characters make progress by working together. Nothing wrong with that, but it feels a bit moralistic to me (as a Brit from the post-WW2 era; our Victorian & early 20th Century forebears would probably have loved it).
The writing, pacing and plotting is pretty good, as are the characters in the main, but unfortunately didn't quite work for me. I gave it 3 stars as it was too well done to give less.
November 14, 2023
Unusual Story
This was different and a quick read. Written almost like a fable. I was drawn in by the main characters positive and naive outlook on the world. But as the story progressed, it became a little too surreal at times and the journey too rushed. The scenarios faced later in the book were also way too simplistic. Yet having said all that, I did really enjoy the book.
This was different and a quick read. Written almost like a fable. I was drawn in by the main characters positive and naive outlook on the world. But as the story progressed, it became a little too surreal at times and the journey too rushed. The scenarios faced later in the book were also way too simplistic. Yet having said all that, I did really enjoy the book.
January 6, 2021
Some non-graphic references to pre-marital sex and domestic violence may knock this out of the juvenile/middle grade classification for some, but I think this story is suitable for most readers 10 and up. Short chapters lend themselves to daily reading for younger readers. - and still an enjoyable light read for older teens and adults as well. Nice world building. Interesting characters. Reasonable, non-cliffhanger stopping spot to take you to the next book in the series. Recommended to sci-fi loving pre-teens - and anyone who ever wanted a snarky, psychic cat.
March 23, 2025
This book had an interesting premise and I liked the concept of the mutant animals and being able to telepathically communicate with them. Where this book suffered was the clunky writing and naive, immature human characters. Braden, the main character is supposed to be twenty years old but he talks and thinks like someone who is a very young teen. He doesn't really act like a young teenager, he doesn't do dumb things but he is very naive and innocent. He comes up with annoying, childish nicknames for all the animal characters, like A-Dog for a tortoise, Ess for the hawk and G-War for the Hillcat. I can understand the Hillcat needing a nickname since his name is like a full sentence but the others have normal length names, why not just call them by their names? Ultimately, just annoying tiny things that don't really matter.
The writing being clunky matters a little bit more, a lot of the dialogue was very awkward and didn't flow well. I am hoping that this will improve in later books since I am interested to see where Braden and company go next.
3/5 stars. Not super great but not bad either.
The writing being clunky matters a little bit more, a lot of the dialogue was very awkward and didn't flow well. I am hoping that this will improve in later books since I am interested to see where Braden and company go next.
3/5 stars. Not super great but not bad either.
November 24, 2016
Free Trader Braden and his three sapient, mutated animal companions take a Hero's Journey across The Great Desert of Cygnus VII in search of the Old Tech of The Ancients. Along the way, the companions meet and befriend a young woman warrior named Micah who aids them on their quest. For older readers who enjoyed the pencil and paper RPGs Metamorphosis Alpha and Gamma World, this novel will bring back many welcome memories. For younger readers, The Free Trader of Warren Deep is a good introduction to the feel and style of 1970s and 1980s sci-fi, with which they may not yet be acquainted. Highly recommended for an immersive reading experience.
June 28, 2016
I loved it! The characters are easy to imagine, explained just enough so your mind has something to do to fill in the blanks. The action is smooth and continuous and surprising. I couldn't wait to turn the page to find out what happens next.
I look forward to reading the rest of the story (meaning book 2 and 3)
I look forward to reading the rest of the story (meaning book 2 and 3)
October 27, 2016
Interesting premise: post-apocalyptic society of a colonized planet recovering from apocalyptic loss of society. Protagonist has a mutant cat for a best friend, and befriends other mutants and humans as he attempts to rebuild trade amongst the survivors.
Fun read with some interesting perspectives as to personal and societal priorities.
Fun read with some interesting perspectives as to personal and societal priorities.
August 10, 2016
Great book
November 5, 2018
Imagine living in a world where technology was so advanced that people mutated animals in order to have humanity continue to thrive, only to be mostly destroyed by a massive nuclear war. Now, a thousand years later, Humans are still coping with the aftermaths of the war, the mutant animals that don’t get along with the humans after the humans tried killing them off. Free Trader Braden has been a trader his whole, going from district to district auctioning items off. Braden notices that strange things were happening in the north, so he decides to travel across the Great Desert and bring back the old technology that was once everywhere on the planet. The only problem is that no human has ever survived long enough to make it to the other side of the desert.The book The Free Trader of Warren Deep will allow to see the sacrifices that Braden makes on his journey to Old Tech, the allies that he makes, and also how the world has been surviving since the war.
One thing that I enjoyed about this book is the creativity. The animals that Braden encounters are beings that I would never even think of. For example, Braden meets a Tortoise named Master Aadi that can float and when he feels threatened, he releases a very loud noise called a thunderclap that can makes you deaf and can even kill you. Another example is a mountain lion named Golden Warrior of the Stone Cliffs, or “G-War” for short. Braden can talk to G-War and Master Aadi using a mindlink, where they all speak english and understand how the other creature is feeling. Every animal/creature that Braden and his crew come upon has their own special abilities, and I found this to be very interesting and kept me reading.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this book is how it was written. A lot of books for people my age aren’t written to be very entertaining, but The Free Trader of Warren Deep is as interesting as a book can get. I was surprised by this, for usually I read books about either sports or crime solving. When someone handed me this book and told me to read it, I was very skeptical of it, for I thought I wouldn’t make it halfway through the book before giving up on it. However, once I started reading the book, I couldn’t put the book down! The saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is very true, and because of this I will be very open to trying other books in the future.
The book The Free Trader of Warren Deep is one of the best books that I have ever read, and I am very happy that it is the first book of a 3 book series. If the next book is anywhere near as entertaining as this one, then I think that I will love reading it. I highly recommend that you read The Free Trader of Warren Deep if you are interested in action and comedy.
One thing that I enjoyed about this book is the creativity. The animals that Braden encounters are beings that I would never even think of. For example, Braden meets a Tortoise named Master Aadi that can float and when he feels threatened, he releases a very loud noise called a thunderclap that can makes you deaf and can even kill you. Another example is a mountain lion named Golden Warrior of the Stone Cliffs, or “G-War” for short. Braden can talk to G-War and Master Aadi using a mindlink, where they all speak english and understand how the other creature is feeling. Every animal/creature that Braden and his crew come upon has their own special abilities, and I found this to be very interesting and kept me reading.
Another thing that I enjoyed about this book is how it was written. A lot of books for people my age aren’t written to be very entertaining, but The Free Trader of Warren Deep is as interesting as a book can get. I was surprised by this, for usually I read books about either sports or crime solving. When someone handed me this book and told me to read it, I was very skeptical of it, for I thought I wouldn’t make it halfway through the book before giving up on it. However, once I started reading the book, I couldn’t put the book down! The saying “Don’t judge a book by its cover” is very true, and because of this I will be very open to trying other books in the future.
The book The Free Trader of Warren Deep is one of the best books that I have ever read, and I am very happy that it is the first book of a 3 book series. If the next book is anywhere near as entertaining as this one, then I think that I will love reading it. I highly recommend that you read The Free Trader of Warren Deep if you are interested in action and comedy.
February 21, 2020
The Free Trader of Warren Deep (Free Trader Series Book 1) - a review by Rosemary Kenny
*slight spoilers*I have long been a great fan of other series by the amazing Craig Martelle,(both as a solo author and in partnership with Michael Anderle etc) but I'm really kicking myself that it's taken me so very long to discover his brilliant sci-fi/post-apocalyptic/adventure/quest/expedition/overcoming the odds etc novel The Free Trader of Warren Deep (Free Trader Series Book 1), that I absolutely became engrossed in, taken off to a future time when humans (aka the Ancients), have exited Earth and colonised two out of the 8 'Cygnus'planets, before letting their warlike ways hold sway, until they used their (now called)'Old Tech', advanced weapons to destroy each other until practically none are left.
The remnants of the population are separated into towns,around a previous Command Centre,located at the far side of the Great Desert.Out of one such town called Warren Deep, on the planet Vii, (as the colonists call Cygnus VII), comes a young man called Braden, a Free Trader (as were his parents before him), in the manner of a medieval-style wagoneer - trading anything and everything that will make him a profit - from a cart pulled by water-buffalo and accompanied by G-War (aka Golden Warrior of the Stone Cliffs), a Hillcat (mutant feral cat) that's been with him some time and can communicate telepathically,not just with Braden, but also a Hawkoid (mutant hawk), Skirrill/Ess, !st Master Aadi of the Tortoid (mutant giant tortoise)Consortium,who floats/swims through the air, (and has a deadly 'focused thunderclap' sonic weapon ability that comes in useful when predators attack), following the small group, as they travel across the Great Desert in search of the Old Tech valued by Braden's rich clients and left behind at Wayposts along their gruelling and dangerous route. What do they find at the 1st Oasis they reach? Who is Micah and how do they react to Braden and his weird and wonderful travelling companions?
Reminding me of Austin Dragon's epic adventures, Fabled Quest Chronicles, in its scope,great world-building and wonderful characters,The Free Trader of Warren Deep, Book 1 of the Free Trader series, is an outstanding introduction to what's my new favourite Craig Martelle winner, that's sure to become yours too.I cannot recommend this story highly enough and it definitely deserves more than the 5 stars available on review sites. I'm also happy to say that there are 8 more available for yours and my reading pleasure,that I'll be ordering straight away. Try them all for yourself today and tell all your friends how great they are!
*slight spoilers*I have long been a great fan of other series by the amazing Craig Martelle,(both as a solo author and in partnership with Michael Anderle etc) but I'm really kicking myself that it's taken me so very long to discover his brilliant sci-fi/post-apocalyptic/adventure/quest/expedition/overcoming the odds etc novel The Free Trader of Warren Deep (Free Trader Series Book 1), that I absolutely became engrossed in, taken off to a future time when humans (aka the Ancients), have exited Earth and colonised two out of the 8 'Cygnus'planets, before letting their warlike ways hold sway, until they used their (now called)'Old Tech', advanced weapons to destroy each other until practically none are left.
The remnants of the population are separated into towns,around a previous Command Centre,located at the far side of the Great Desert.Out of one such town called Warren Deep, on the planet Vii, (as the colonists call Cygnus VII), comes a young man called Braden, a Free Trader (as were his parents before him), in the manner of a medieval-style wagoneer - trading anything and everything that will make him a profit - from a cart pulled by water-buffalo and accompanied by G-War (aka Golden Warrior of the Stone Cliffs), a Hillcat (mutant feral cat) that's been with him some time and can communicate telepathically,not just with Braden, but also a Hawkoid (mutant hawk), Skirrill/Ess, !st Master Aadi of the Tortoid (mutant giant tortoise)Consortium,who floats/swims through the air, (and has a deadly 'focused thunderclap' sonic weapon ability that comes in useful when predators attack), following the small group, as they travel across the Great Desert in search of the Old Tech valued by Braden's rich clients and left behind at Wayposts along their gruelling and dangerous route. What do they find at the 1st Oasis they reach? Who is Micah and how do they react to Braden and his weird and wonderful travelling companions?
Reminding me of Austin Dragon's epic adventures, Fabled Quest Chronicles, in its scope,great world-building and wonderful characters,The Free Trader of Warren Deep, Book 1 of the Free Trader series, is an outstanding introduction to what's my new favourite Craig Martelle winner, that's sure to become yours too.I cannot recommend this story highly enough and it definitely deserves more than the 5 stars available on review sites. I'm also happy to say that there are 8 more available for yours and my reading pleasure,that I'll be ordering straight away. Try them all for yourself today and tell all your friends how great they are!
January 7, 2022
This is by a new author to me, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this first book in The Free Trader Of Warren Deep series.
The writing can be a little staccato at times, and the chapter layout rather different to my usual reading, but it seems to work well with the subject matter - a post-apocalyptic world, with humanity, and every other being, trying to survive, and often managing to thrive, in it.
I felt sympathy for the main characters, Braden, the son of Free Traders, but orphaned now, and trying to make a living within Warren's Deep, while evil men begin to change the lives of people desperately trying to survive.
Braden's companion, G-War, short for Golden Warrior, is a Hellcat, with the power to speak to Braden, mind to mind, and who, he rescued from drowning as a kitten.
As they start their adventure, of travelling south, to try to find Old Tech that Braden could sell, in order to make money for better Trading, they come across what Braden thinks is an Eagle, but is actually a Hawkoid, another creature able to speak both telepathically and, after some practice, physically, although his speech is hampered somewhat by his beak shape. They aid the Hawkoid, whose name is Skirill, and he joins the human and Hellcat on their journey.
As they travel, they next come across a Tortoid - a tortoise able to float, and also speak telepathically. His name is Aadi, and is First Master of the Tortoise Consortium. He is around two centuries old, and has a powerful defense in his mind power. Because Braden and his companions treat him with respect, Aadi decides to travel with them, to find out what lies ahead.
Their next companion, a girl called Micah, joins them when she realises that the companions are safer travelling together. Micah is very strong, and can beat most men in hand to hand fighting. She has some old tech - a Blaster - which is drained of power, and she knows where the old city of their area of the planet is, called Sanctuary, so she joins the group to get there, in the hopes of being able to recharge the Blaster somehow.
The five companions travel hard, meeting trouble as they go, and doing their best to protect each other along the way, and this book ends with their reaching Sanctuary.
I enjoyed this a lot, and look forwards to reading the next book in the series: The Free Trader Of Planet Vii.
The writing can be a little staccato at times, and the chapter layout rather different to my usual reading, but it seems to work well with the subject matter - a post-apocalyptic world, with humanity, and every other being, trying to survive, and often managing to thrive, in it.
I felt sympathy for the main characters, Braden, the son of Free Traders, but orphaned now, and trying to make a living within Warren's Deep, while evil men begin to change the lives of people desperately trying to survive.
Braden's companion, G-War, short for Golden Warrior, is a Hellcat, with the power to speak to Braden, mind to mind, and who, he rescued from drowning as a kitten.
As they start their adventure, of travelling south, to try to find Old Tech that Braden could sell, in order to make money for better Trading, they come across what Braden thinks is an Eagle, but is actually a Hawkoid, another creature able to speak both telepathically and, after some practice, physically, although his speech is hampered somewhat by his beak shape. They aid the Hawkoid, whose name is Skirill, and he joins the human and Hellcat on their journey.
As they travel, they next come across a Tortoid - a tortoise able to float, and also speak telepathically. His name is Aadi, and is First Master of the Tortoise Consortium. He is around two centuries old, and has a powerful defense in his mind power. Because Braden and his companions treat him with respect, Aadi decides to travel with them, to find out what lies ahead.
Their next companion, a girl called Micah, joins them when she realises that the companions are safer travelling together. Micah is very strong, and can beat most men in hand to hand fighting. She has some old tech - a Blaster - which is drained of power, and she knows where the old city of their area of the planet is, called Sanctuary, so she joins the group to get there, in the hopes of being able to recharge the Blaster somehow.
The five companions travel hard, meeting trouble as they go, and doing their best to protect each other along the way, and this book ends with their reaching Sanctuary.
I enjoyed this a lot, and look forwards to reading the next book in the series: The Free Trader Of Planet Vii.
March 20, 2018
Fascinating
Interesting story set on a planet that was transformed by humans from another planet. After developing much of the planet they disappeared and those that survived entered a dark age without technology and only vague knowledge of the Ancients who were responsible for their being on the planet they called vii. This is a story of a young human, Braden, who is bonded to a Hill Cat (or Hell Cat to most people) after saving the cat from drowning when Braden was a child and the cat a kitten. Braden is a Free Trader, following in the footsteps of his parents, going from town to town in a previously developed area called Warren Deep. He hunters for knowledge and the opportunity to maybe get some of the Ancient's technology to trade. Believing that's his ticket to wealth and success, he leaves Warren Deep on a quest that their history, that span many generations, showed never having been attempted before.
So began the journey across the Great Desert, where along the way he meets others, some who became friends who joined him on the quest. Others more interested in taking what Braden had. There is some action and some reflections that makes you think about the world we live in and how human nature can survive no matter how far they travel through space and time. Intriguing story that ends leaving you wanting more. But thanks to our technology, the next book is just a few key strikes away.
Interesting story set on a planet that was transformed by humans from another planet. After developing much of the planet they disappeared and those that survived entered a dark age without technology and only vague knowledge of the Ancients who were responsible for their being on the planet they called vii. This is a story of a young human, Braden, who is bonded to a Hill Cat (or Hell Cat to most people) after saving the cat from drowning when Braden was a child and the cat a kitten. Braden is a Free Trader, following in the footsteps of his parents, going from town to town in a previously developed area called Warren Deep. He hunters for knowledge and the opportunity to maybe get some of the Ancient's technology to trade. Believing that's his ticket to wealth and success, he leaves Warren Deep on a quest that their history, that span many generations, showed never having been attempted before.
So began the journey across the Great Desert, where along the way he meets others, some who became friends who joined him on the quest. Others more interested in taking what Braden had. There is some action and some reflections that makes you think about the world we live in and how human nature can survive no matter how far they travel through space and time. Intriguing story that ends leaving you wanting more. But thanks to our technology, the next book is just a few key strikes away.
March 8, 2021
All of the credit for the discovery of this series goes to my wife.she mentioned it to me a few weeks back and although it seemed interesting I kind of forgot all about it.well that's def on me.needless to say I finished the 1st book in basically two sittings.its a young adult sci fi book that just checked all the boxes for me.very interesting world and it's inhabitants and also touches upon some very strong themes.the gist of the story is braden a free trader of warren deep along with his trusty hillcat g war set out to retrieve some old tech from a forgotten outpost beyond the great desert.both braden and g war share a telepathic bond that developed when braden saved g war from drowning as a kitten.as the two make their way towards the great desert they encounter a hawkoid and tortoid along with the humsn female micah who join their party and with the help of g war join in the telepathic bond.they encounter many strange inhabitants and by journey's end have discovered and learned a whole lot more then they ever expected.im really excited to see where the second book goes.thanks again to my lovely wife Karen for once again hitting a home run with this book selection.
July 5, 2025
Braden is the Free Trader of Warren Deep
The Golden Warrior he meets first is a Hellcat and he learns to talk with the 'cat and nicknames it G War or just G. The Hellcat is the first nonhuman friend he makes on his new trading venture. Each 'friend' he makes strengthens his band and encourages him that he's doing the right thing. Far from his usual routes, Braden finds friends and an occasional enemy to keep him sharp. Now he faces a great desert to cross and hopefully find Old Tech he can trade for valuables he can trade elsewhere.
The storyline brings new friends to Braden strengthen his trading. Each of his new friends bring strength and knowledge to his trading skills. The new characters are each knowledgeable and skilled in different ways. Their 'mutie' abilities bring strength and knowledge and make him stronger. They also teach him respect. Respect for their abilities and respect for each other as their strengths meld. Trading is their goal and their strength. This is a good read!
The Golden Warrior he meets first is a Hellcat and he learns to talk with the 'cat and nicknames it G War or just G. The Hellcat is the first nonhuman friend he makes on his new trading venture. Each 'friend' he makes strengthens his band and encourages him that he's doing the right thing. Far from his usual routes, Braden finds friends and an occasional enemy to keep him sharp. Now he faces a great desert to cross and hopefully find Old Tech he can trade for valuables he can trade elsewhere.
The storyline brings new friends to Braden strengthen his trading. Each of his new friends bring strength and knowledge to his trading skills. The new characters are each knowledgeable and skilled in different ways. Their 'mutie' abilities bring strength and knowledge and make him stronger. They also teach him respect. Respect for their abilities and respect for each other as their strengths meld. Trading is their goal and their strength. This is a good read!
June 4, 2022
Martelle, Craig. The Free Trader of Warren Deep. Free Trader No 1. Create Space Independent Publishing, 2016.
Craig Martelle’s The Free Trader of Warren Deep is set on an abandoned colony on Cygnus Six. There is a small remnant population of humans, along with some mutants of various species and some still-working old-tech. Our hero is a young free trader traveling the wasteland with his telepathic hillcat. His goal is to contact new communities and link them into a bartering network. As he adventures along, he picks up traveling companions of several species. His cat helps him evaluate and communicate with them. The plot structure is a simple episodic road adventure aimed at young adult readers. The series runs to at least nine volumes. I will pass on them, but I have read worse. 3 stars.
Craig Martelle’s The Free Trader of Warren Deep is set on an abandoned colony on Cygnus Six. There is a small remnant population of humans, along with some mutants of various species and some still-working old-tech. Our hero is a young free trader traveling the wasteland with his telepathic hillcat. His goal is to contact new communities and link them into a bartering network. As he adventures along, he picks up traveling companions of several species. His cat helps him evaluate and communicate with them. The plot structure is a simple episodic road adventure aimed at young adult readers. The series runs to at least nine volumes. I will pass on them, but I have read worse. 3 stars.
February 11, 2020
7/10: Good solid read, something to get your teeth into.
G-War took it as his personal mission to never let a female domestic cat in heat go unserviced.
A surprisingly good read. I hadn't thought a talking (mind-speaking) cat would work, but the author made G-War (or Golden Warrior) a brilliant addition to the story.
I enjoyed this quite a bit and am keen to read on in the series. It's clean and an easy read and still managed to hold my attention.
I'm already reading the next.
‘You are the best friend anyone could ever have.’ ‘I know,’ the ‘cat responded in a friendly tone. ‘Ass.’
G-War took it as his personal mission to never let a female domestic cat in heat go unserviced.
A surprisingly good read. I hadn't thought a talking (mind-speaking) cat would work, but the author made G-War (or Golden Warrior) a brilliant addition to the story.
I enjoyed this quite a bit and am keen to read on in the series. It's clean and an easy read and still managed to hold my attention.
I'm already reading the next.
‘You are the best friend anyone could ever have.’ ‘I know,’ the ‘cat responded in a friendly tone. ‘Ass.’
March 25, 2018
Great Reading!
Craig is a gifted writer and I’ve enjoyed all the books of his that I’ve read, so far. Free Trader looks to be a fun and entertaining series and I am looking forward to digging in to them. It’s nice to have a male protagonist for a change, Braden is likable and competent without being a macho ass kicker. The other characters are equally attractive and the story is original enough. I like the post apocalyptically genre. This book ends too abruptly but that seems common in the ebook age and fortunately, book two is there to pick up where one left off.
Craig is a gifted writer and I’ve enjoyed all the books of his that I’ve read, so far. Free Trader looks to be a fun and entertaining series and I am looking forward to digging in to them. It’s nice to have a male protagonist for a change, Braden is likable and competent without being a macho ass kicker. The other characters are equally attractive and the story is original enough. I like the post apocalyptically genre. This book ends too abruptly but that seems common in the ebook age and fortunately, book two is there to pick up where one left off.
October 29, 2019
I throughly enjoyed reading this fantastic adventure. It is the first in the Free Trader series and it filled with action, imagination, light-hearted moments and times fraught with danger. Craig Martelle has every reason to be outstandingly proud of this entertaining novel. The characters are incredibly well-developed and the world is fabulously described. I'd share more but I don't want to spoil it for you, plus I need to read book 2, NOW! I highly recommend it and hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Read via Kindle Unlimited
Read via Kindle Unlimited
February 24, 2020
Fun for teens
Not bad for a teen adventure story. There's combat and a quest but it moves slowly anyway. The love angle reveals a dated middle age perception of affection and still has a MC who's the male-in-charge (reluctantly but by acclaim).
It's not bad but there's no character depth and teen stories don't feature development as a rule, so he gets a pass on that. The point of the quest is not what the MC keeps spouting but I'm not sure what the series is aiming at. I imagine that it's a return to technological society but who knows?
Not bad for a teen adventure story. There's combat and a quest but it moves slowly anyway. The love angle reveals a dated middle age perception of affection and still has a MC who's the male-in-charge (reluctantly but by acclaim).
It's not bad but there's no character depth and teen stories don't feature development as a rule, so he gets a pass on that. The point of the quest is not what the MC keeps spouting but I'm not sure what the series is aiming at. I imagine that it's a return to technological society but who knows?
August 16, 2020
Great introduction to a series that should be very powerful
This is a sweeping idea masterfully imagined and deftly presented. The story held my interest through all 200+ pages. I love the idea of commerce as a civilizing influence. Craig Martelle illustrates how the creation and trading of goods and services encourages peacemaking; and why this is a good thing. The theme of a star faring civilization reduced to scattered settlements with only memories of “the ancients” is handled in a very entertaining fashion.
This is a sweeping idea masterfully imagined and deftly presented. The story held my interest through all 200+ pages. I love the idea of commerce as a civilizing influence. Craig Martelle illustrates how the creation and trading of goods and services encourages peacemaking; and why this is a good thing. The theme of a star faring civilization reduced to scattered settlements with only memories of “the ancients” is handled in a very entertaining fashion.
September 14, 2022
Love this series
I'm actually rereading this series. It was my first purchase of a 99 cent omnibus and I didn't realize the importance of reviews yet. Now that I do, review 99 percent of the time. I really think it is well worth your time to read this series Craig Martelle weaves an excellent story with characters that continue to grow and learn throughout the series. Brandon's curiosity drives him and he takes his friends along for the ride. After this first book, I'm sure you will continue as I did and will. Enjoy!
I'm actually rereading this series. It was my first purchase of a 99 cent omnibus and I didn't realize the importance of reviews yet. Now that I do, review 99 percent of the time. I really think it is well worth your time to read this series Craig Martelle weaves an excellent story with characters that continue to grow and learn throughout the series. Brandon's curiosity drives him and he takes his friends along for the ride. After this first book, I'm sure you will continue as I did and will. Enjoy!
May 31, 2019
For some reason, I thought this was going to be set on a space station based on the cover. I was delighted to find a sci-fi fantasy story in the vein of Dragon Riders Of Pern. The cooperation between the different creatures and their mission makes for an entertaining read. I love the back story of this world and how it is revealed piece by piece through the eyes of someone who does not understand the ancient tech. I am looking forward to exploring more of this world in the sequels!
September 29, 2017
VERY GOOD DYSTOPIAN ( or apocalyptic if you perfer ) SERIES
A good start to a new series, with some excellent backstory as needed. The characters, both human and animal, reflect some very serious thought to how they would interact with each other. I have part two downloaded thru KU and cannot wait to read. Thank you for a very interesting read, Danny and Debbie Scott.
A good start to a new series, with some excellent backstory as needed. The characters, both human and animal, reflect some very serious thought to how they would interact with each other. I have part two downloaded thru KU and cannot wait to read. Thank you for a very interesting read, Danny and Debbie Scott.
February 12, 2018
Quite a unique and very interesting story.
This is quite unlike any story I've read before. Character build-up and plot development was great. The storyline kept me hooked. Basically a "before the last great war" to "after...", you just keep reading to find out what our future may hold. What will we do if that time becomes us?
This is quite unlike any story I've read before. Character build-up and plot development was great. The storyline kept me hooked. Basically a "before the last great war" to "after...", you just keep reading to find out what our future may hold. What will we do if that time becomes us?
May 5, 2018
I really enjoy the great characters Craig Martelle creates
I read, and loved, the Cygnus series first. Martelle did such a great job of world building that I felt compelled to explore more of its history. Wendy, thanks for your species input; I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each one. Ta! I'm on to the rest of the Trader books.
I read, and loved, the Cygnus series first. Martelle did such a great job of world building that I felt compelled to explore more of its history. Wendy, thanks for your species input; I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know each one. Ta! I'm on to the rest of the Trader books.
June 9, 2018
Great reading
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the companions, and their interactions with each other. I very much want to read the rest of this series. This story kept me attentive to the end. Golden Warrior was a good cat, but wasn't always nice to his bond mate. I also liked Skirill, the hawkoid. And Aadi the tortoid. The companions seemed to work well together.
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the companions, and their interactions with each other. I very much want to read the rest of this series. This story kept me attentive to the end. Golden Warrior was a good cat, but wasn't always nice to his bond mate. I also liked Skirill, the hawkoid. And Aadi the tortoid. The companions seemed to work well together.
July 11, 2019
Interesting read. A trader who wanders a planet talking to some animals he mind links with. At first, I wasn't sure how to absorb this. Then, I just let the story unfold. Martelle is a good and entertaining storyteller. I couldn't put the book down. In the end, I wanted more of his stories. I'm sure that's what he was going for and it worked. A great job for any writer in any genre.
August 2, 2020
Fascinating łook at the future
The characters were wonderful. The fact that the animals were intelligent and could mind speak was fascinating. It was interesting to see how the settlers from Earth almost destroyed themselves and that the survivors of the war had created their own civilization. There were some nice twists and turns, which I enjoyed. It was a fun read.
The characters were wonderful. The fact that the animals were intelligent and could mind speak was fascinating. It was interesting to see how the settlers from Earth almost destroyed themselves and that the survivors of the war had created their own civilization. There were some nice twists and turns, which I enjoyed. It was a fun read.
August 3, 2020
This was a very interesting story. The characters were strong and believable, the plot was straight forward with twists and turns, and the lesson an old one, depending too much on technology. I have always liked this author's writing, and this was no disappointment. I do recommend this story and look forward to the next ones.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews