mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
An epic road trip with a Minotaur girl and a perfect boy, put in some magical creatures, various incidents, and oh did I mention love? :)
nicolioli's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
philfromocs's review against another edition
4.0
Best one from Mr. Martinez for a while, not that there's really any bad ones.
heatherp23's review against another edition
5.0
As ever, finishing the latest A. Lee Martinez book has left me drained and sad, only because I know that it will be quite a while until I get to tear into the next. His books are like nerdy sorbet. Delicious, refreshing, acidic but sweet. I love that he never panders, never explains every reference, he just knows that his reader will understand the well he has drawn his latest characters from and gleefully giggle while going along for the ride. If you haven't picked up a single one of his books yet, read this one and then read all of the rest! I just hope he comes out with another soon.
cwebb's review against another edition
4.0
Martinez weiss, was er schreiben kann, und er tut es. So einfach kann es sein. Das Buch is wunderbar unterhaltsam, wer z.B. Monster gelesen hat, dem wird es auch sehr gut gefallen.
verkisto's review against another edition
4.0
Welcome to the modern world! Here, we have the United States as we know it now, complete with kitschy roadside attractions, cell phones, the National Questing Bureau, and Enchanted Americans like Helen, a seven-foot tall Minotaur. So, yeah. "The modern world."
In Helen & Troy's Epic Road Quest, Martinez takes us on a zany road story along something similar to Route 66. Both have been conscripted by an ancient god who took his form from a pile of old hamburger to complete a quest. Neither of them know what the quest is about, but Troy's wholesome, perfect attitude toward the whole thing convinces Helen, who is more cautious, to come along with him. Aside from the fact that if they don't go on the quest, they'll die, she's reluctant to do a petty god's bidding.
As usual, Martinez creates a fun, engaging story, and populates them with a cast of characters who are silly and serious at the same time. The orcs, for example, are no longer the bloodthirsty killing machines; they're accountants and real estate agents and computer programmers, but they spend their weekends in a motorcycle club in an effort to capture their roots. But once their own gods tell them to pursue and eliminate Helen and Troy, they're not too hesitant to get a little violent (sorta). The threat of real death looms over the cast of characters.
I'm also impressed with how well Martinez adds gravity to his stories by touching on real issues. Helen struggles with her enchantedness and how other people perceive it, and Martinez takes that opportunity to examine stereotypes and expected behavior. Like Terry Pratchett, Martinez isn't satisfied with just writing a silly story; he wants to write a serious story about silly things and maybe get you to think about something along the way.
As I've said before, Martinez writes goofy novels that are just fun to read. Anyone going in looking for the next To Kill a Mockingbird might be disappointed, but anyone looking for a fun, light read is in for a real treat with his books. This novel is a great blend of a 1950s road movie, Looney Tunes, and The Odyssey.
In Helen & Troy's Epic Road Quest, Martinez takes us on a zany road story along something similar to Route 66. Both have been conscripted by an ancient god who took his form from a pile of old hamburger to complete a quest. Neither of them know what the quest is about, but Troy's wholesome, perfect attitude toward the whole thing convinces Helen, who is more cautious, to come along with him. Aside from the fact that if they don't go on the quest, they'll die, she's reluctant to do a petty god's bidding.
As usual, Martinez creates a fun, engaging story, and populates them with a cast of characters who are silly and serious at the same time. The orcs, for example, are no longer the bloodthirsty killing machines; they're accountants and real estate agents and computer programmers, but they spend their weekends in a motorcycle club in an effort to capture their roots. But once their own gods tell them to pursue and eliminate Helen and Troy, they're not too hesitant to get a little violent (sorta). The threat of real death looms over the cast of characters.
I'm also impressed with how well Martinez adds gravity to his stories by touching on real issues. Helen struggles with her enchantedness and how other people perceive it, and Martinez takes that opportunity to examine stereotypes and expected behavior. Like Terry Pratchett, Martinez isn't satisfied with just writing a silly story; he wants to write a serious story about silly things and maybe get you to think about something along the way.
As I've said before, Martinez writes goofy novels that are just fun to read. Anyone going in looking for the next To Kill a Mockingbird might be disappointed, but anyone looking for a fun, light read is in for a real treat with his books. This novel is a great blend of a 1950s road movie, Looney Tunes, and The Odyssey.
savannahjostock's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0