joolz_reads's review against another edition
5.0
***5 Stars***
Gosh, this book was so strange.
Jo Larouche wanted adventure in her life, and boy did she get some. One night during her Aunt Lily's famous parties, a Colonel Korsakov finds Jo and warns her that she is in danger. In the morning, a box falls out of the sky addressed to Jo from the Order of Odd-Fish. Eventually Jo, Aunt Lily, Colonel Korsakov, and his companion Sefino (a cockroach obsessed with his social status) 'return' to Eldrich City, filled with strange buildings, gods, more talking cockroaches, and the Order of Odd-Fish, with their sole job in life being researching useless information.
This book was beautifully written and is filled with absurdly wonderful adventures. It is so original, and will keep you laughing and turning the page. I love this type of humour, it just makes the book so unique, a rarity that you see (well, read) once in a blue moon.
The characters are lovable and not easily forgettable. I absolutely adored Jo, and Colonel Korsakov with his glorious digestion. Everything about this book was just magnificent, and I can't stop praising Kennedy for writing a masterpiece. This book has it all; a solid plot, humour, strong characters (including Jo being a woc ^.^!!), suspense, and might even make one get out the kleenex at a point. Amazing book. A++.
Gosh, this book was so strange.
Jo Larouche wanted adventure in her life, and boy did she get some. One night during her Aunt Lily's famous parties, a Colonel Korsakov finds Jo and warns her that she is in danger. In the morning, a box falls out of the sky addressed to Jo from the Order of Odd-Fish. Eventually Jo, Aunt Lily, Colonel Korsakov, and his companion Sefino (a cockroach obsessed with his social status) 'return' to Eldrich City, filled with strange buildings, gods, more talking cockroaches, and the Order of Odd-Fish, with their sole job in life being researching useless information.
This book was beautifully written and is filled with absurdly wonderful adventures. It is so original, and will keep you laughing and turning the page. I love this type of humour, it just makes the book so unique, a rarity that you see (well, read) once in a blue moon.
The characters are lovable and not easily forgettable. I absolutely adored Jo, and Colonel Korsakov with his glorious digestion. Everything about this book was just magnificent, and I can't stop praising Kennedy for writing a masterpiece. This book has it all; a solid plot, humour, strong characters (including Jo being a woc ^.^!!), suspense, and might even make one get out the kleenex at a point. Amazing book. A++.
kricketa's review against another edition
5.0
one of my co-workers arranged for james kennedy to visit our library in january. somehow the book had escaped my radar, perhaps because we had it in the 'youth middle school' section, but when i found out kennedy would be coming, i grudgingly decided to read his book. and i am so glad i did, FOR IT IS SCRUMPTIOUS!!
jo is 13, living with her batty aunt lily in a red palace in the desert outside los angeles. at aunt lily's christmas costume party, many mysterious occurrences occur, and the next day jo finds herself vomited from a giant fish onto the shores of eldritch city with aunt lily, the mysterious colonel korsakov, and his butler, a giant cockroach called sefino. (hands down my favorite character in the book.) They have come to rejoin the Order of Odd-fish, a group of knights researching useless information in a lodge filled with secret rooms and twisty passageways. The secrets of jo's real family and strange birth are contained in eldritch city, and it is up to her to uncover the secrets as she desperately tries to change her fate.
meanwhile, the writing is brilliant, colorful, and hilarious, and eldritch city is a fantasy world unlike any other. i laughed, i cried, and was thrilled to the core. definitely one of my top reads this year.
jo is 13, living with her batty aunt lily in a red palace in the desert outside los angeles. at aunt lily's christmas costume party, many mysterious occurrences occur, and the next day jo finds herself vomited from a giant fish onto the shores of eldritch city with aunt lily, the mysterious colonel korsakov, and his butler, a giant cockroach called sefino. (hands down my favorite character in the book.) They have come to rejoin the Order of Odd-fish, a group of knights researching useless information in a lodge filled with secret rooms and twisty passageways. The secrets of jo's real family and strange birth are contained in eldritch city, and it is up to her to uncover the secrets as she desperately tries to change her fate.
meanwhile, the writing is brilliant, colorful, and hilarious, and eldritch city is a fantasy world unlike any other. i laughed, i cried, and was thrilled to the core. definitely one of my top reads this year.
twocents's review
4.0
A certain kind of absurdity, and I mean that in the best possible way. Had a lot of fun with it. :)
addiemae09's review against another edition
4.0
This book was very strange and random in a good way. It’s a crazy ride into the bewildering world of the Odd Fish, but it was a fun casual read that made me laugh. I wouldn’t say it sucked me in but i was really interested and enjoyed reading about jo’s adventures. it was light hearted and goofy without being meaningless, and i loved james kennedy’s vivid and colorful world.
emilyk099's review against another edition
5.0
This book is very ridiculous. That is what makes it absolutely amazing. Despite all of the absurdity present in the story, there are still serious plot points. It is a great balance between humor and serious fantasy.
sarah_of_bramblewood's review against another edition
5.0
This book was surprisingly good. I was expecting some lame, weird teen fantasy book, but it totally blew me away. I can't wait to read more by James Kennedy.
charmiecm's review against another edition
There is just too much nonsense. It’s like a whole book of Jabberwocky, but in a contrive and annoying way.
easemily's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
4.25
My reading challenge for the year is to read a favorite book of one of my friends each month, and this is Michaela’s. I was skeptical going into it because it is a middle grade novel, however I was pleasantly surprised. I enjoyed the curve balls — or not so much curve balls as out of pocket moments. Every other page there was some new weird concept introduced. This book struck a great balance of being realistic while also introducing odd concepts and characters. It was a pleasant read and definitely a nice break from all the thrillers I’ve been reading. The characters are lovable — if a bit weird — and the resolution at the end is satisfying while still having consequences and effects.
cleverruhs's review against another edition
5.0
"As an Odd-Fish, it is not my job to be right," said Sir Oort. "It is my job to be wrong in new and exciting ways."