ladyvictoria's review
dark
funny
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
crtsjffrsn's review
3.0
A wonderfully told fantasy tale with unexpected twists that easily engages the reader. Everything about this story is original from the world it in which it takes place right down to the way the wizards practice their magic. With a touch of high fantasy combined with an air of a tribal legend, K.J. Parker spins a tale that excites, regales, and shares an interesting message with readers. It does seem to run a bit longer than it needs to be, but not enough to really detract from the message. I definitely recommend checking this out if you enjoy fantasy or science fiction.
ababoglo's review
5.0
Absolutely incredible and delightful! I savoured every page. 5 ⭐️ fiction in a short form.
As strong as ‘Academic Exercises’. Similar themes and tone of voice. Goes straight to my ‘absolute favourite shelf’.
Merged review:
Another great story! Not quite my favourite though... I guess I am getting picky
Merged review:
Ha! What a clever piece! This time set in a historical setting (London) and not in the usual alt universe. The story is about the playwrights, theatre, fake relics and soul pacts (a la Faust).
Intriguing and thought-provoking writing full of author’s hallmark wit and dry humour.
What I enjoy most about KJ Parker is that he never fails to delight you with his cleverness (both plot-lines and a turn of phrase). It vaguely reminds me of Umberto Eco (another writer that I love), but more succinct and with much more comedy in the mix.
As strong as ‘Academic Exercises’. Similar themes and tone of voice. Goes straight to my ‘absolute favourite shelf’.
Merged review:
Another great story! Not quite my favourite though... I guess I am getting picky
Merged review:
Ha! What a clever piece! This time set in a historical setting (London) and not in the usual alt universe. The story is about the playwrights, theatre, fake relics and soul pacts (a la Faust).
Intriguing and thought-provoking writing full of author’s hallmark wit and dry humour.
What I enjoy most about KJ Parker is that he never fails to delight you with his cleverness (both plot-lines and a turn of phrase). It vaguely reminds me of Umberto Eco (another writer that I love), but more succinct and with much more comedy in the mix.
metaphorosis's review
3.0
3 stars, Metaphorosis Reviews
Summary
A collection of fantasy stories from K.J. Parker
Review
What can I say that I haven’t said before? I complain on and on that Parker has only one note to play, but I keep buying the books. I think, though, that I’ve finally reached the end of my tether, at least on his short fiction. All the stories are clever and interesting – one at a time. Read en masse, though, they’re hard to tell apart. All the characters are very, very similar; in fact, most of them are the same character with a different name; sometimes not even that. A number of the stories felt long – appropriate if you just want to revel in the smooth prose, picaresque heroes, and sardonic tone, but not if you want something to happen.
There’s no denying that Parker is a good writer, and that he’s got this interesting character down to a T. I just wish he’d move on to U and V and W. Too often, here, he’s just hitting the same key over and over again. I had hoped that a collection of short stories would force him to focus and introduce some diversity of theme. I was dead wrong on that one. The stories are in different settings, sure, but looking back, I find them hard to tell apart. I’ve still got some unread Parker on my shelves, but after that? Maybe I’ll just re-read some old ones; I’m not sure there’s any difference between those and the new ones. Maybe not, though. Once I’ve decided an author is on the A list, I find it hard to take them off. Still, Parker is doing his best to convince me to cull.
Summary
A collection of fantasy stories from K.J. Parker
Review
What can I say that I haven’t said before? I complain on and on that Parker has only one note to play, but I keep buying the books. I think, though, that I’ve finally reached the end of my tether, at least on his short fiction. All the stories are clever and interesting – one at a time. Read en masse, though, they’re hard to tell apart. All the characters are very, very similar; in fact, most of them are the same character with a different name; sometimes not even that. A number of the stories felt long – appropriate if you just want to revel in the smooth prose, picaresque heroes, and sardonic tone, but not if you want something to happen.
There’s no denying that Parker is a good writer, and that he’s got this interesting character down to a T. I just wish he’d move on to U and V and W. Too often, here, he’s just hitting the same key over and over again. I had hoped that a collection of short stories would force him to focus and introduce some diversity of theme. I was dead wrong on that one. The stories are in different settings, sure, but looking back, I find them hard to tell apart. I’ve still got some unread Parker on my shelves, but after that? Maybe I’ll just re-read some old ones; I’m not sure there’s any difference between those and the new ones. Maybe not, though. Once I’ve decided an author is on the A list, I find it hard to take them off. Still, Parker is doing his best to convince me to cull.
withoutsoul's review
2.0
It started out with an interesting twist, but got boring quickly. Even though It's short, finishing it was difficult.
So a man meets a witch with basically unlimited powers. She wants to do anything to make him happy. Spoiled, he starts hating it and attempts to kill himself. Witch brings him back - there is no escape. Eventually, he gets tired and tries to rethink his position.
If you can't leave her, might as well try to love her.
And he does, and then after short while she falls in love with someone else and leaves him.
Yeah, that's it.
There were some redeeming moments, discussions of what is good in life, if bad things come out of good intentions, and the other way around. Book resolves it by saying "good is doing what you want". Another is the definition of love. And the final definition, as the fear of loss of someone seemed to be very reasonable.
So a man meets a witch with basically unlimited powers. She wants to do anything to make him happy. Spoiled, he starts hating it and attempts to kill himself. Witch brings him back - there is no escape. Eventually, he gets tired and tries to rethink his position.
If you can't leave her, might as well try to love her.
And he does, and then after short while she falls in love with someone else and leaves him.
Yeah, that's it.
There were some redeeming moments, discussions of what is good in life, if bad things come out of good intentions, and the other way around. Book resolves it by saying "good is doing what you want". Another is the definition of love. And the final definition, as the fear of loss of someone seemed to be very reasonable.
verkisto's review
3.0
K.J. Parker is my newest must-read author. I've already mentioned how he drew me in with two innocuous-looking novellas that surprised me with their depth and plot, so I've started looking for more of his fiction. I've ordered a few of his novellas, and I found The Things We Do for Love online, so I didn't waste time in tearing through it.
The story has the wry wit that's evident in his other two novellas I've read, though here he seems to be making it the showcase of the story. It opens with a man confessing the murder of his wife, willing the judge and jury to hurry up with the trial so he can be hanged. Before they can pass judgment, his wife sashays into the courtroom, explains that it was all a mix-up, and takes her husband home. On the way back to their home, she tells him not to kill her again, to which he sighs and says, "Yes, dear."
With a set-up like that, how can you resist it?
I didn't find the story to be quite as good as either The Last Witness or The Devil You Know, namely because it lost most of its steam about halfway through the story. There, the focus shifts away from our narrator (the husband), and the momentum and voice is lost. Plus, the other two novellas highlight Parker's skills at plotting, leaving nothing to chance or coincidence, and this one feels more like a light romp through the unusual relationship between the two characters. It still reads like a Parker story, but it wouldn't be the story I'd recommend to hook someone else on the author.
I already have a lot more by this author on my list (Downfall of the Gods is next on my list of novellas, and The Two of Swords isn't that much behind), so I'm not going to let this story put me off from reading the rest of his work. Based on my own reactions to his work, and the critics' and fans' praise for it, I expect to like it as much as I did the first two novellas I read.
The story has the wry wit that's evident in his other two novellas I've read, though here he seems to be making it the showcase of the story. It opens with a man confessing the murder of his wife, willing the judge and jury to hurry up with the trial so he can be hanged. Before they can pass judgment, his wife sashays into the courtroom, explains that it was all a mix-up, and takes her husband home. On the way back to their home, she tells him not to kill her again, to which he sighs and says, "Yes, dear."
With a set-up like that, how can you resist it?
I didn't find the story to be quite as good as either The Last Witness or The Devil You Know, namely because it lost most of its steam about halfway through the story. There, the focus shifts away from our narrator (the husband), and the momentum and voice is lost. Plus, the other two novellas highlight Parker's skills at plotting, leaving nothing to chance or coincidence, and this one feels more like a light romp through the unusual relationship between the two characters. It still reads like a Parker story, but it wouldn't be the story I'd recommend to hook someone else on the author.
I already have a lot more by this author on my list (Downfall of the Gods is next on my list of novellas, and The Two of Swords isn't that much behind), so I'm not going to let this story put me off from reading the rest of his work. Based on my own reactions to his work, and the critics' and fans' praise for it, I expect to like it as much as I did the first two novellas I read.
paladinjane's review
4.0
Full disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
This was a good collection of novellas/stories all set in the same fantasy world. (I gather that this is the same world as many of Parker's other novels, although I'm afraid I don't know if this particular world has a name.) These are stories involving tricksters, people who make deals with demons, people who try to cheat demons, etc. The stories are funny and make me want to check out Parker's novels.
This was a good collection of novellas/stories all set in the same fantasy world. (I gather that this is the same world as many of Parker's other novels, although I'm afraid I don't know if this particular world has a name.) These are stories involving tricksters, people who make deals with demons, people who try to cheat demons, etc. The stories are funny and make me want to check out Parker's novels.
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