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Dwarvish Dirty Dozen #1
Mud War
War is a messy business and anyone who claims otherwise is trying to sell you something. The dwarvish legions, the Holt’Dwan, are familiar with this but these are strange times.
The dead are rising from the earth in the freshly settled Ysgand Vale and the war just got a lot messier. So an old custom was resurrected and the Bad Badgers were formed. Condemned and disowned, the Badgers have nothing to lose and everything to prove. But in a world where the dead don't stay dead and victory will cost you everything, what can be done? A lot, if one has the will and stomach for it. Scroll up and click BUY NOW or READ FOR FREE and dive into a tale of war and desperation, of grit and heroism, and see just what a batch of desperate dwarves can do when the chips are down.
The dead are rising from the earth in the freshly settled Ysgand Vale and the war just got a lot messier. So an old custom was resurrected and the Bad Badgers were formed. Condemned and disowned, the Badgers have nothing to lose and everything to prove. But in a world where the dead don't stay dead and victory will cost you everything, what can be done? A lot, if one has the will and stomach for it. Scroll up and click BUY NOW or READ FOR FREE and dive into a tale of war and desperation, of grit and heroism, and see just what a batch of desperate dwarves can do when the chips are down.
- GenresFantasy
262 pages, Paperback
Published July 13, 2022
About the author
Aaron D. Schneider
36 books18 followersAaron was born to parents who taught him two very important things: truth matters and imagination is not a crime.
Our protagonist has spent the rest of his life trying to live out those two maxims, much to the chagrin of every unfortunate around him (progenitors included).
As such, by age six or seven, he was writing stories about a dark, reptilian avenger who brought final, painful justice to the guilty- with unsettling illustrations to boot. His beloved and benighted parents realized that budding sociopathy would simply not do, and so they began introducing him to tales of great and good heroes. First the account of a certain carpenter, then a hairy-footed burglar, then a savior lion, and after that point our protagonist was plunging face first and arms out into a world of heroism both real and imagined. While far from a hero himself, he has endeavored to try and capture that same bowed but unbroken spirit that dwells in a dark and ugly world, because that as far as he can tell is what makes it all worth while.
Along this rambling, dreaming way he managed to find a woman he could bamboozle into loving him, and then even have children with, Lord have mercy on them all.
Now Aaron has managed to cram no few exciting jobs and hair-raising experiences into his life so far, and God help him, he hopes for many more. It is these that drive his captured glimpses of something epic. If you have the time you should pull up a chair, grab a beer, light a pipe, or whatever your pre-literary consumption ritual may be and give them a look. It's been said they are truly monstrous, but as any true hero knows, monsters often guard treasure.
Our protagonist has spent the rest of his life trying to live out those two maxims, much to the chagrin of every unfortunate around him (progenitors included).
As such, by age six or seven, he was writing stories about a dark, reptilian avenger who brought final, painful justice to the guilty- with unsettling illustrations to boot. His beloved and benighted parents realized that budding sociopathy would simply not do, and so they began introducing him to tales of great and good heroes. First the account of a certain carpenter, then a hairy-footed burglar, then a savior lion, and after that point our protagonist was plunging face first and arms out into a world of heroism both real and imagined. While far from a hero himself, he has endeavored to try and capture that same bowed but unbroken spirit that dwells in a dark and ugly world, because that as far as he can tell is what makes it all worth while.
Along this rambling, dreaming way he managed to find a woman he could bamboozle into loving him, and then even have children with, Lord have mercy on them all.
Now Aaron has managed to cram no few exciting jobs and hair-raising experiences into his life so far, and God help him, he hopes for many more. It is these that drive his captured glimpses of something epic. If you have the time you should pull up a chair, grab a beer, light a pipe, or whatever your pre-literary consumption ritual may be and give them a look. It's been said they are truly monstrous, but as any true hero knows, monsters often guard treasure.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 29, 2022
Crap
Got about 12% in to the book before all the weird names and ranks had my head spinning. The storyline was not unique. A bunch of bully dwarfs and their antics.
Got about 12% in to the book before all the weird names and ranks had my head spinning. The storyline was not unique. A bunch of bully dwarfs and their antics.
September 11, 2022
Quizzical, entertaining, and I’m hooked!
Opening the first book of a new series is a lot like getting on a roller coaster with its long, slow climb to the top before it’s first drop…
What’s going to come next? Is it going to be the usual, and so typical, ups and downs? That’s fun, by not really all that…
Or, is it going to surprise you with twists and turns, where you expected none, and then send you screaming over an unseen precipice? Hmmm… that roller-coaster analogy works better than I thought.
Quite definitively, this book falls “somewhere” in between these two extremes. It’s a lot of world building and stage-settinf
Opening the first book of a new series is a lot like getting on a roller coaster with its long, slow climb to the top before it’s first drop…
What’s going to come next? Is it going to be the usual, and so typical, ups and downs? That’s fun, by not really all that…
Or, is it going to surprise you with twists and turns, where you expected none, and then send you screaming over an unseen precipice? Hmmm… that roller-coaster analogy works better than I thought.
Quite definitively, this book falls “somewhere” in between these two extremes. It’s a lot of world building and stage-settinf
June 23, 2025
I have to admit, that it's been a while since I bought this book, and before just starting to read it. With my bad memory, I hadn't read the synopsis before I started it, so the storyline was a bit of a mystery - though I DO love reading about Dwarves! Lol
But it had Michael Anderle as one of the two Authors, and I've enjoyed every book that I've read with his name on it, so I just started to read.
I'm really glad that I did so,, as this book, with it being about Dwarves - and definitely NOT the Disney kind - caught my attention immediately.
Within literal moments, I'd been dragged into the story, and I didn't put this book down until I read the last sentence.
I loved it. I loved the storyline, as rough, & as harrowing as it was, at times. I loved this band of Dwarves - every one of them outside of their normal Dwarven culture, and for as many reasons, as the people in their group.
I loved that, despite the strength of the culture that they were brought up in, with its rigid structure, and lines they mustn't cross, that this small band of misfits learned to accept - with some hesitancy, given how strong their taboos were - and to welcome, the younger brother & sister team that was sent to them.
Every one of these Dwarves has their own story. Each of them have ended up in this group that is unacceptable to all but the Commander of the Holt'Dwan - the Dwarven Army - who is using them, to their deaths, rather than wasting their talents by killing them for the crimes they committed, against the strict Dwarvish Laws!
BAD BADGERS:-
TORBJON - Former Tweldwan: or Division Commander. Now Outcast Commander of the 'Bad Badgers'. Torbjon is now one of the Shabr'dwan: - the Condemned.
LARDWAN KLAUS - Torbjon's Commander & old friend. He deals with Communications and Intelligence.
RAELON - Dwarf: died in the first mission of the book..
MORI - Dwarfess; died in the same battle as Raelon.
WAELON - Raelon's Brother. A strong fighter.
GROMIC - Older Dwarf. Former Fordwan: a Line Officer. Hard Fighter. Skilled.
HAEDA- Older Dwarfess. A strong fighter. Looks after the Sows who pull the Team Wagon.
TOMZA - Younger Dwarfess. Ascedwan: - Soldier with a special skill. She is a Healer/Witch.
OBER - Tomza's younger brother - inhabited by a Spirit. Dwan - lowest rank in the Army.
I very much enjoyed this book, & am eager to get to Book 2: 'Dirt Line'.
Once I've read this, I'll catch you on the flip side, to let you know what I thought of this second book!
But it had Michael Anderle as one of the two Authors, and I've enjoyed every book that I've read with his name on it, so I just started to read.
I'm really glad that I did so,, as this book, with it being about Dwarves - and definitely NOT the Disney kind - caught my attention immediately.
Within literal moments, I'd been dragged into the story, and I didn't put this book down until I read the last sentence.
I loved it. I loved the storyline, as rough, & as harrowing as it was, at times. I loved this band of Dwarves - every one of them outside of their normal Dwarven culture, and for as many reasons, as the people in their group.
I loved that, despite the strength of the culture that they were brought up in, with its rigid structure, and lines they mustn't cross, that this small band of misfits learned to accept - with some hesitancy, given how strong their taboos were - and to welcome, the younger brother & sister team that was sent to them.
Every one of these Dwarves has their own story. Each of them have ended up in this group that is unacceptable to all but the Commander of the Holt'Dwan - the Dwarven Army - who is using them, to their deaths, rather than wasting their talents by killing them for the crimes they committed, against the strict Dwarvish Laws!
BAD BADGERS:-
TORBJON - Former Tweldwan: or Division Commander. Now Outcast Commander of the 'Bad Badgers'. Torbjon is now one of the Shabr'dwan: - the Condemned.
LARDWAN KLAUS - Torbjon's Commander & old friend. He deals with Communications and Intelligence.
RAELON - Dwarf: died in the first mission of the book..
MORI - Dwarfess; died in the same battle as Raelon.
WAELON - Raelon's Brother. A strong fighter.
GROMIC - Older Dwarf. Former Fordwan: a Line Officer. Hard Fighter. Skilled.
HAEDA- Older Dwarfess. A strong fighter. Looks after the Sows who pull the Team Wagon.
TOMZA - Younger Dwarfess. Ascedwan: - Soldier with a special skill. She is a Healer/Witch.
OBER - Tomza's younger brother - inhabited by a Spirit. Dwan - lowest rank in the Army.
I very much enjoyed this book, & am eager to get to Book 2: 'Dirt Line'.
Once I've read this, I'll catch you on the flip side, to let you know what I thought of this second book!
April 6, 2023
I really enjoyed MUD WAR, first book of THE DWARVISH DIRTY DOZEN. It had its faults with the fact the jargon is sometimes nigh-incomprehensible but the story of a group of disgraced dwarves in a suicide legion is a very enjoyable one. They're on a mission to fight the hordes of undead and die in the process. There's a lot of interesting twists and turns throughout the book and I especially liked the treatment of elves (as dupliticous spoiled scheming weasals). I look forward to reading the next book.
The worldbuilding is economical and I appreciate it doesn't take that much to "get" the setting. I also appreciate the gritty hard-edged grousing and complaining from the group. They're very much like the real soldiers I know and the book is stronger for it.
The worldbuilding is economical and I appreciate it doesn't take that much to "get" the setting. I also appreciate the gritty hard-edged grousing and complaining from the group. They're very much like the real soldiers I know and the book is stronger for it.
July 3, 2022
Mud War book 1 is amazing! Dirt Line is book 2 and sounds even better!
I have to admit that it has been years since I have read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Ring etc. So I admit it has been years since I was able to picture the new worlds being build and everyone's language. Add it all together, and I am still working to put together the different military roles and different enemies. Love Ober, Tomaz!!
I have to admit that it has been years since I have read The Hobbit and the Lord of the Ring etc. So I admit it has been years since I was able to picture the new worlds being build and everyone's language. Add it all together, and I am still working to put together the different military roles and different enemies. Love Ober, Tomaz!!
July 6, 2022
Dwarves and Elves oh my
There is a war between the elves, dwarves, humans and wights. The Bad Badgers are a small group of outcast dwarves that get sent out on orders that they would not send any of the other dwarves on. I like the mixed group of dwarves and the way they learn each others secrets and become a close knit crew. There is lots of action and a great storyline in this book and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
There is a war between the elves, dwarves, humans and wights. The Bad Badgers are a small group of outcast dwarves that get sent out on orders that they would not send any of the other dwarves on. I like the mixed group of dwarves and the way they learn each others secrets and become a close knit crew. There is lots of action and a great storyline in this book and I am looking forward to the rest of the series.
July 25, 2022
Wow what fun this book is to read
This was a really fun book to read. The characters were great, there was a lot of action, some magic, and all around a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the detailed description of the universe these characters live in, and although there is a lot of havoc, I do think it may be a fun place to visit. I recommend this book and am glad it will be the start of a series.
This was a really fun book to read. The characters were great, there was a lot of action, some magic, and all around a lot of fun. I really enjoyed the detailed description of the universe these characters live in, and although there is a lot of havoc, I do think it may be a fun place to visit. I recommend this book and am glad it will be the start of a series.
October 22, 2022
Interesting
I got hung up for a bit with the (to me) needless introduction of a new language. The ranks of any military would have equivalents with one another and it is assumed in a fictional world that modern English is not the language spoken in a non-Earth world. At about 69 percent I went back and re-read the prologue which now had tremendously more meaning for me! I finally began to bond with these characters about that time so all ends well!
I got hung up for a bit with the (to me) needless introduction of a new language. The ranks of any military would have equivalents with one another and it is assumed in a fictional world that modern English is not the language spoken in a non-Earth world. At about 69 percent I went back and re-read the prologue which now had tremendously more meaning for me! I finally began to bond with these characters about that time so all ends well!
August 30, 2023
Another five star series from this duo!!!!!
Congratulations to Aaron D. Schneider and Michael Anderle for this amazing series. It’s extremely hard to find such interesting and exciting authors who not only write intelligently but also provide top rated plots, characters and excitement in the stories. I’m really looking forward to the next book.
Congratulations to Aaron D. Schneider and Michael Anderle for this amazing series. It’s extremely hard to find such interesting and exciting authors who not only write intelligently but also provide top rated plots, characters and excitement in the stories. I’m really looking forward to the next book.
December 30, 2022
Interesting spin on the unlikely heroes tale.
Good vs evil, but with a lot of blurring on what is good. If you like to root for the underdog, you'll be rooting for the merry crew of warriors in no time.
Good vs evil, but with a lot of blurring on what is good. If you like to root for the underdog, you'll be rooting for the merry crew of warriors in no time.
September 28, 2022
May the Beard Forever Rule
From honor to Cowards. From Dwarves to goblins ,and wights to ogres & Dragons to sleeping beauties. Packed with non-,stop action from beginning to end.
From honor to Cowards. From Dwarves to goblins ,and wights to ogres & Dragons to sleeping beauties. Packed with non-,stop action from beginning to end.
March 4, 2023
Read on a whim
Great Prologue. Lost it a bit in early chapters. Piqued my curiosity from mid way again. New spin on old characters' battles ie elves and dwarves.
Great Prologue. Lost it a bit in early chapters. Piqued my curiosity from mid way again. New spin on old characters' battles ie elves and dwarves.
March 22, 2023
I received the first three books as a boxed set. What I'm going to do is write a review that covers all three and the boxed set too.
It's a really good read I enjoyed them immensely. I found good writing, good world building, and good storytelling.
It's a really good read I enjoyed them immensely. I found good writing, good world building, and good storytelling.
September 16, 2023
I, only made it about half way through, I had hard time following what was going on especially, with the weird rank names.
February 12, 2024
Struggled to get in to but so glad I did
March 12, 2024
I liked it
If I hadn't remembered reading a previous series a while ago I would of been lost. I am going to continue to the next in the series
If I hadn't remembered reading a previous series a while ago I would of been lost. I am going to continue to the next in the series
May 3, 2024
God do I love dwarves! Always a favorite for me. What a great and fun read. Fast and exciting. Ready to plow through the rest.
February 5, 2025
Decent enough fun book.
But it just ends, with no resolution. Far too obviously just part of a larger story, and no reason for it to just stop where it did.
But it just ends, with no resolution. Far too obviously just part of a larger story, and no reason for it to just stop where it did.
June 29, 2022
Interesting tale
After many years of fantasy gaming, I am a huge fan of dwarves which is how I came to read this book. I find it entertaining enough that I look forward to the next books in the series. I must say, however, that I am not a fan of made-up words even though there is a glossary of sorts at the start. Made-up words just make for difficult reading and broken continuity.
After many years of fantasy gaming, I am a huge fan of dwarves which is how I came to read this book. I find it entertaining enough that I look forward to the next books in the series. I must say, however, that I am not a fan of made-up words even though there is a glossary of sorts at the start. Made-up words just make for difficult reading and broken continuity.
September 27, 2023
I mostly enjoyed the book and loved that the dwarf was a Bear changer. It was a bit confusing at times I found some of the made-up words to much. However I was able to get the meaning of most of the dwarvern slang.
It was really interesting to read a book wear the dwarves were the main faction in the world.
It was really interesting to read a book wear the dwarves were the main faction in the world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 31, 2024
Somehow, I expected this book to be more lighthearted. It is, instead, gritty. Didn't take away from my enjoyment of it. Looking forward to reading the next in the series.
June 29, 2022
Omg
Omg this book was so good.I couldn't put it down.I'm so looking forward to reading more of this series.I love these author's.
Omg this book was so good.I couldn't put it down.I'm so looking forward to reading more of this series.I love these author's.
February 14, 2026
I abandoned this. Complete rubbish
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews