The Freeing of the World is the first book in the five novel epic fantasy series Union of Man, written by A.M. Knight. A relatively low fantasy story that is really ambitious in its approach, mixing military action and political intrigue, trying to portray the events that shaped the world of this saga, following a wide cast of characters, but especially putting the focus on Second, general to the King.

And honestly, what a character is Second; a general from low origins that acts as ruthlessly as possible in order to preserve the kingdom. Probably not a bad man, but a bit violent; he will be one of the key actors in this book, navigating the difficult waters of politics in order to assure the dynasty continues. The rest of the actors in this play pale a bit in comparison with Second, but the ambition is a common denominator among them, acting as the main force that moves the plot.

In terms of worldbuilding, we have a really ambitious and expansive proposal; the inclusion of multiple POVs gives us a great way to immerse ourselves not only into the world (details such as the fear of Gulls, or how the Islanders consider themselves as higher class), but also puts us into the skin of those that shaped the history of this world.
The pacing is relatively quick, combined with a sharp and concise prose; if I have a minor gripe, is that I feel at some points as reading a history book instead of a fantasy novel, with a rather dispassionate approach, surgical in its execution.

Said that, The Freeing of the World is a great starter for a series that will totally delight epic fantasy readers, especially if you are into the darker side of humanity, such as Game of Thrones. The Union of the Man has potential, so I will continue reading the series to see how the story continues!