spuddleing's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
napkins's review
3.0
I got this from the library because it looked light and funny and quick, and in those respects I was not disapponted.
However, nothing warned or prepared me for the fact that it was the third on a series, a fact I didn't know until I came to add it here, in fact.
It's technically fine to pick it up without reading the other two - from what I can tell, they take place on different parallel realities anyway - but there are many terms and short in-jokes that I'd shrugged off as just another part of the author's wink-knudge approach to humor.
There's really only one running joke that makes up the book, and it gets a little tired by the fourth iteration of it, but all I was looking for was a quick, light read for the laundromat, and it performed that function admirably.
However, nothing warned or prepared me for the fact that it was the third on a series, a fact I didn't know until I came to add it here, in fact.
It's technically fine to pick it up without reading the other two - from what I can tell, they take place on different parallel realities anyway - but there are many terms and short in-jokes that I'd shrugged off as just another part of the author's wink-knudge approach to humor.
There's really only one running joke that makes up the book, and it gets a little tired by the fourth iteration of it, but all I was looking for was a quick, light read for the laundromat, and it performed that function admirably.
thelauramay's review
2.0
It was entertaining--and I do love a fairy-tale or ten--but not up to the standard of 'Expecting Someone Taller'. 2.5 stars.
alliebookworm's review
5.0
Really fun, unique, funny and smart take on a fantasy realm. (How *is* woodcutting a sustainable economic model in a forest?) I liked that the book trusted the reader to be intelligent enough to figure out what happened between the lines. Great read for anyone who enjoys a bit of snark in their fantasy.
kitvaria_sarene's review
4.0
First of - this is not a book for everybody.
If you love silly, crazy and over the top humor - then go for it! You'll love it as much as me! If you don't - keep clear of this one...
Scenes like this one, made me absolutely fall in love with the book:
“In order to fulfill your quest -"
"Would you please not use that word? It's so Robert E. Howard."
"Fine. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to travel to the far ends of the earth...?"
"What? In these shoes? You must be joking."
"Crossing arid desserts and steaming jungles," the unicorn continued grimly, "fording mighty rivers and climbing snow-capped mountains-"
"I take it scheduled public transport isn't an option."
"Until you reach the Cradle of All Goblins, interrupt just once more and I wash my hooves of you, where you will encounter three trials. You must uncover the great truth that was hidden, you must right the ancestral wrong, and you must throw the fire into the ring of power. Only when you have done that -"
"Excuse me-"
"I warned you. Only when you have done that will you -"
"Excuse me," Benny said firmly, "but I think you may have got the last one a bit turned round. Surely it should be throw the ring-”
If you enjoy such silliness, this is the right book for you. If you are looking for "serious epic fantasy" or something of the like - just back of slowly :P
Holt combines a magical fairytale with economics, lots and lots of humor and perfectly crazy characters.
Just my cup of tea!
If you love silly, crazy and over the top humor - then go for it! You'll love it as much as me! If you don't - keep clear of this one...
Scenes like this one, made me absolutely fall in love with the book:
“In order to fulfill your quest -"
"Would you please not use that word? It's so Robert E. Howard."
"Fine. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to travel to the far ends of the earth...?"
"What? In these shoes? You must be joking."
"Crossing arid desserts and steaming jungles," the unicorn continued grimly, "fording mighty rivers and climbing snow-capped mountains-"
"I take it scheduled public transport isn't an option."
"Until you reach the Cradle of All Goblins, interrupt just once more and I wash my hooves of you, where you will encounter three trials. You must uncover the great truth that was hidden, you must right the ancestral wrong, and you must throw the fire into the ring of power. Only when you have done that -"
"Excuse me-"
"I warned you. Only when you have done that will you -"
"Excuse me," Benny said firmly, "but I think you may have got the last one a bit turned round. Surely it should be throw the ring-”
If you enjoy such silliness, this is the right book for you. If you are looking for "serious epic fantasy" or something of the like - just back of slowly :P
Holt combines a magical fairytale with economics, lots and lots of humor and perfectly crazy characters.
Just my cup of tea!
davidscrimshaw's review
5.0
I think I enjoyed this the most of the three so far.
It would seem that when Tom Holt reads a lot of fantasy out there, he ponders how people actually put food on their table.
It would seem that when Tom Holt reads a lot of fantasy out there, he ponders how people actually put food on their table.
laterry75's review
3.0
Tim Holt is here to save us because Christopher Moore has gotten boring.
This book is a solid effort, although I get the sense I missed a lot of inside jokes. I feel like if I'd read a lot more and a lot more recent Holt books, I might have picked up a few things -- cross references and the like. Still, what's not to love about a massive multi-national corporation finding a way to outsource manual labor to a fairy tale kingdom to severely undercut the competition?
This book is a solid effort, although I get the sense I missed a lot of inside jokes. I feel like if I'd read a lot more and a lot more recent Holt books, I might have picked up a few things -- cross references and the like. Still, what's not to love about a massive multi-national corporation finding a way to outsource manual labor to a fairy tale kingdom to severely undercut the competition?
assaphmehr's review
5.0
Every time I read on of Holt's books (often under his KJ Parker pen-name), I end up loving it. Since I was in the mood for light fantasy and he's known for that, I picked this one up from my TBR.
What to Expect
With a deft pen, Holt packs a lot into a fantasy novel - unique world-building, loveable characters, social commentary, humour. The novel starts as a twisty fairytale world, and progresses into the differential economics in fantasy and the real world.
What I liked
Absolutely loved the tone, with pop references and understated humour. Holt shows how fantasy can be, an excellent example of speculative fiction. This is simply a book you can enjoy at whichever way you like, but enjoy it you will.
What to be aware of
This isn't a grand epic, neither does it contain abysmal villains. This is a rather more intimate fantasy story, light on the surface but to deep enough to make you think about the fantasy worlds you read and your relationship to them.
Felix's Review
Felix did find the whole concept of fantasy economies bizarre, though he agrees about the importance of a happy workforce (that from a man coming from a society where slavery is the norm). He missed a bit of the 'big bad wolf' references, but that didn't prevent him from relating to the various characters.
Summary
A very enjoyable read, entertaining and not taxing. I found out Holt has other books in that world, which I intend to read soon (they don't seem too interrelated for the reading order to matter).
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596954987p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457914061l/29500700._SY75_.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
What to Expect
With a deft pen, Holt packs a lot into a fantasy novel - unique world-building, loveable characters, social commentary, humour. The novel starts as a twisty fairytale world, and progresses into the differential economics in fantasy and the real world.
What I liked
Absolutely loved the tone, with pop references and understated humour. Holt shows how fantasy can be, an excellent example of speculative fiction. This is simply a book you can enjoy at whichever way you like, but enjoy it you will.
What to be aware of
This isn't a grand epic, neither does it contain abysmal villains. This is a rather more intimate fantasy story, light on the surface but to deep enough to make you think about the fantasy worlds you read and your relationship to them.
Felix's Review
Felix did find the whole concept of fantasy economies bizarre, though he agrees about the importance of a happy workforce (that from a man coming from a society where slavery is the norm). He missed a bit of the 'big bad wolf' references, but that didn't prevent him from relating to the various characters.
Summary
A very enjoyable read, entertaining and not taxing. I found out Holt has other books in that world, which I intend to read soon (they don't seem too interrelated for the reading order to matter).
Enjoying the reviews, but wondering who the heck is that Felix fellow? Glad you asked! He's the protagonist of the Togas, Daggers, and Magic series, an historical-fantasy blend of a paranormal detective on the background of ancient Rome.
[a:Assaph Mehr|14422472|Assaph Mehr|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1596954987p2/14422472.jpg], author of [b:Murder In Absentia|29500700|Murder In Absentia (Felix the Fox, #1)|Assaph Mehr|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1457914061l/29500700._SY75_.jpg|46845657]: A story of Togas, Daggers, and Magic - for lovers of Ancient Rome, Murder Mysteries, and Urban Fantasy.
mygeekblasphemy's review
3.0
Enjoyable enough. I was looking for something light and fluffy to read after finishing the not entirely peppy Last Policeman trilogy, and this more or less fit the bill, although it took me a while to get into it. I felt like the first 50-60 pages were all telling the same joke, only with each chapter starring a different character. I was impatient for people to meet up so the story could actually BEGIN. I also wasn't aware when I started this book that it was the third in a series, although I think it reads fine as a stand-alone. Still, some loose ends might not have bothered me so much if they were addressed in earlier books. (And this book does have some loose ends that I'm pretty sure weren't address in any prior books. Like the whole chapter with Yglaine the Elf. Why even have her if she's not going to come back? Surely we could have just started with John the Lawyer? Also, the soldiers were hard to picture and ultimately seemed pretty unnecessary, which was kind of a letdown.)
I did like how most of the story wrapped up, although I wasn't crazy about the epilogue (of sorts). I also liked that the chief romance in this book is based on a mutual love for how to make money and run a good business.
I could potentially try other books in this series -- there were parts of it that were pretty funny -- but I also don't feel any particular need to read them, either.
I did like how most of the story wrapped up, although I wasn't crazy about the epilogue (of sorts). I also liked that the chief romance in this book is based on a mutual love for how to make money and run a good business.
I could potentially try other books in this series -- there were parts of it that were pretty funny -- but I also don't feel any particular need to read them, either.
scarletine6's review
1.0
I wanted this to be good. I wanted to find a comedy fantasy author who could fill a little of the huge hole left by the loss of Terry Pratchett, but no. This was complete and utter twaddle.
All though it is clearly stated here, The Outsorcerer's Apprentice audio blurb does not say that this is part of a series. The synopsis makes it sound like a completely standalone story, a good story, a funny story, but it was none of these.
Nope
All though it is clearly stated here, The Outsorcerer's Apprentice audio blurb does not say that this is part of a series. The synopsis makes it sound like a completely standalone story, a good story, a funny story, but it was none of these.
Nope