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Reviews
Sir Hereward and Mister Fitz: Stories of the Witch Knight and the Puppet Sorcerer by Garth Nix
philibin's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
(2.5, rounded up to 3 Stars for audio)
This was a good collection of stories. In typical fashion, the protagonist is full of bluster and typical machismo, but the stories themselves are interesting and enjoyable. The narrator is excellent and I will be looking for more books narrated by him.
If you like adventure fantasy books, this is a decent collection, fast paced, and easy to follow.
This was a good collection of stories. In typical fashion, the protagonist is full of bluster and typical machismo, but the stories themselves are interesting and enjoyable. The narrator is excellent and I will be looking for more books narrated by him.
If you like adventure fantasy books, this is a decent collection, fast paced, and easy to follow.
telltalepage's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fabulous read.
I've read a few Garth Nix books and have always found them enchanting. This was no exception. I knew nothing of the world or characters beyond what the title infers and I was swept away in this amazing world.
This is not a complete tale - it's a series of short stories previously published in journals and publications (except the last tale which was new for this book!) and yet they all built upon each other. Sure, you could read one without the other, but it wouldn't have the same impact.
The first story immediately throws you in (as all short stories do) and quickly expands on a totally new world. The worldbuilding is insane in the best way and I would read a full series of this if I could! I loved the characters, the plots, the world, the names of everything...superb!
I really need to get my act together and read the Abhorsen series now just for more of Nix's amazing writing.
I've read a few Garth Nix books and have always found them enchanting. This was no exception. I knew nothing of the world or characters beyond what the title infers and I was swept away in this amazing world.
This is not a complete tale - it's a series of short stories previously published in journals and publications (except the last tale which was new for this book!) and yet they all built upon each other. Sure, you could read one without the other, but it wouldn't have the same impact.
The first story immediately throws you in (as all short stories do) and quickly expands on a totally new world. The worldbuilding is insane in the best way and I would read a full series of this if I could! I loved the characters, the plots, the world, the names of everything...superb!
I really need to get my act together and read the Abhorsen series now just for more of Nix's amazing writing.
anna_hepworth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I get that these are a set of stories written across a lot of time, for a range of publications, but I found them overall overly similar, and a bit on the tedious side. Which is annoying, because the premise is great.
I read this on a plane, and to some extent the repetition was helpful there. I thought I'd made more extensive notes, but I can't find them, so no story by story comment, nor a favourite.
I read this on a plane, and to some extent the repetition was helpful there. I thought I'd made more extensive notes, but I can't find them, so no story by story comment, nor a favourite.
chawlios's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
drkappitan's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
An enjoyable series of characters and adventures, as per usual. My one qualm with this collection of short stories is that despite the ostensibly equitable world in which the protagonists operate (women in positions of power, women fighters, no obvious sexism influencing who can do what), Sir Hereward ends up killing or seriously wounding a female antagonist more often than not, and it struck an odd note.
listless_librarian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
liz5895's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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? No
4.25
inthewindd's review against another edition
Not sure if it was bad or it was the narrator but it’s a no for me
cocoleeney's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
timinbc's review against another edition
4.0
I dunno. Kinda fun overall, but ...
Fitz is excellent. I need to know, though, how he reloads his sewing kit.
The variety of adventures is good, considering the limitations of the initial assumptions.
But Hereward, despite seeming like a basically decent guy, is really just a weapon that Fitz points at people, and one that in its spare time wants to get drunk and/or laid. He has many skills, but seems incurious about anything outside his area. OK, lots of people like that in real life, but books need more interesting characters.
And, in these times as the world drifts to the right, I am not up for their approach of "collateral damage? meh, none of them matter." They sometimes make a weak attempt to save a few good people, but really anything that isn't them can die if that's what it takes to get 'er done in not too many pages. A lot of "whoo, cool weapon!"
Fitz is excellent. I need to know, though, how he reloads his sewing kit.
The variety of adventures is good, considering the limitations of the initial assumptions.
But Hereward, despite seeming like a basically decent guy, is really just a weapon that Fitz points at people, and one that in its spare time wants to get drunk and/or laid. He has many skills, but seems incurious about anything outside his area. OK, lots of people like that in real life, but books need more interesting characters.
And, in these times as the world drifts to the right, I am not up for their approach of "collateral damage? meh, none of them matter." They sometimes make a weak attempt to save a few good people, but really anything that isn't them can die if that's what it takes to get 'er done in not too many pages. A lot of "whoo, cool weapon!"