Finally on his way toward revenge, John Swale's anticipation to engage Folville drives The Wild Hunt. However, encountering Folville's relatives proves far easier than meeting the bandit leader himself.

Another brief segment of The John Swale Chronicles, The Wild Hunt breaks into the real action of the feud. From opening tactics to the first battle, Swale and Folville keep this work tight, dark and harsh. Unlike previous installments to this story, no other character is allowed to broaden the story. This simpler structure and use of only established characters makes the story sharper, with a more direct message. On the other hand, it's missing Pilling's usual doses of nuance and clever whole-world building. As part of a larger work, The Wild Hunt would make a compelling sequence. Published on its own, its success is narrowed to those who appreciate military tales or are highly invested in Folville and Eustace, as opposed to other players in this series.

In short, this is the part of a fight where expectations are still building and resolution is not yet in sight. Time to place your bets.