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verityw's review against another edition
4.0
I really really liked about the first two thirds of this book, but the last bit didn't work for me as well. I loved the wit and the humour of the descriptions of the fantasy genre and of Philip's unlikely success. But the end is much darker and goes more into more horror-y territory which isn't really my thing and the ending is a bit of a downer. Still I laughed a lot at the start of the book and a few points subsequent to that and for that I give it 4 stars - because even if I didn't lie the end, it's still very, very clever and well written.
molotov_apologist's review against another edition
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mrs_merdle's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not quite sure what to say about this book - I enjoyed it, but I didn't understand everything. I think to understand it fully I would have to be in the know about the inside workings of writing and publishing young adult fiction. However, despite probably missing a lot of the references, it was vivid and enjoyable, and I even laughed out loud a few times.
I think this book counts as "A Satirical Book" in the Popsugar reading challenge I am trying to do...
I think this book counts as "A Satirical Book" in the Popsugar reading challenge I am trying to do...
carmenghia's review against another edition
dark
lighthearted
medium-paced
- 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
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, and Transphobia
mapetiteliseuse's review against another edition
2.0
It really didn't do it for me. It has a hint of Pratchettian style that doesn't come off very fluidly, but the plot itself is funny and well done. I laughed a few times in the beginning but by half way through it was sort of hard work.
midgardener's review against another edition
4.0
I raced through this book in a single day, which is a nigh unheard-of event in my reading habits. This phenomenon occurred due to a few key factors:
1) good lord, the style is addictive. The story juggernauts ahead without pause for the majority of the book, and even when it slows you are, by then, inescapably bound to the fate of the hapless protagonist, Philip Murdstone.
2) this book is bitingly funny. I mean "bitingly" in the most intentional of senses, for this humor is not kind; but, boy, does it work, whether operating on higher or lower levels of class.
3) it's a fascinating foray into the world of F(ph)antasy. Unabashedly caustic in its criticisms of the genre, it also reads as an homage. It cuts, then dabs at the wound. While I'm sure that non-Fantasy buffs will enjoy the book on its own legs, the Fantasy reader will enjoy all the references and inside jokes.
Those things aside, there are a few (spoiler-free) quibbles keeping it from 5 stars.
1) this book is misogynistic. One could conceivably chalk all the blatantly sexist characters/moments up to Peet attempting to criticize the rampant objectification of women in Fantasy; but I think this goes beyond pure humor and tropism. With the exception of one side character (Evelyn), I cannot think of one female character (and there are several) who was actually likable. Minerva Cinch, arguably the secondary protagonist, is absolutely soulless and uncaring, and cannot get through a single scene without our hero Phil drooling at her breasts. The Weird Sisters are made out to be abominable through their stalking, their unhygienic habits, and their plain lack of sense. And the only woman in the literary world of the Realm, Mesmira, is simply sex embodied. A bit like Minerva, but without any time to prove the presence of brain cells or self-worth. This whole issue almost took the book down to three stars, but I kept it at four because, as a read, it was still tremendous.
2) there are several instances of racism. Unlike the misogyny, which permeates every chapter, this issue comes in here and there. Near the end of the tale we find ourselves visiting a few different locales on the Earthly realm, and one in particular is rife with Peet's jocular nomenclature. Was the nomenclature funny on a basic level? Sure. But Peet was a white Englishman, and it can't help but come off as incredibly disrespectful. A brief instance again occurs at the very end of the book, when a person is unnecessarily described as being "black." That's not a bad thing, objectively; but at no other point is there any kind of racial descriptor attached to a character, and it serves no purpose there, leaving us to guess at why, exactly, Peet though it was so important we know that this person was "black." Was it something the character leading the scene noticed? Were we supposed to attach certain judgments? No idea, but it was far from a good addition.
3) the ending. This book is funny. It promises to be funny, it knows it's funny, and it delivers--right up until things start to change. No spoilers, as promised, but those changes really took the buzz off for me.
Despite these three detractors, I'll still recommend it to my Fantasy-loving friends. The story is an utter lark, and it's fine to read a book containing awful things as long as we recognize them for what they are. If you like funny, dark, quick, or Fantasy, this book is 100% for you. Just keep the Scotch close by for when you need it most.
1) good lord, the style is addictive. The story juggernauts ahead without pause for the majority of the book, and even when it slows you are, by then, inescapably bound to the fate of the hapless protagonist, Philip Murdstone.
2) this book is bitingly funny. I mean "bitingly" in the most intentional of senses, for this humor is not kind; but, boy, does it work, whether operating on higher or lower levels of class.
3) it's a fascinating foray into the world of F(ph)antasy. Unabashedly caustic in its criticisms of the genre, it also reads as an homage. It cuts, then dabs at the wound. While I'm sure that non-Fantasy buffs will enjoy the book on its own legs, the Fantasy reader will enjoy all the references and inside jokes.
Those things aside, there are a few (spoiler-free) quibbles keeping it from 5 stars.
1) this book is misogynistic. One could conceivably chalk all the blatantly sexist characters/moments up to Peet attempting to criticize the rampant objectification of women in Fantasy; but I think this goes beyond pure humor and tropism. With the exception of one side character (Evelyn), I cannot think of one female character (and there are several) who was actually likable. Minerva Cinch, arguably the secondary protagonist, is absolutely soulless and uncaring, and cannot get through a single scene without our hero Phil drooling at her breasts. The Weird Sisters are made out to be abominable through their stalking, their unhygienic habits, and their plain lack of sense. And the only woman in the literary world of the Realm, Mesmira, is simply sex embodied. A bit like Minerva, but without any time to prove the presence of brain cells or self-worth. This whole issue almost took the book down to three stars, but I kept it at four because, as a read, it was still tremendous.
2) there are several instances of racism. Unlike the misogyny, which permeates every chapter, this issue comes in here and there. Near the end of the tale we find ourselves visiting a few different locales on the Earthly realm, and one in particular is rife with Peet's jocular nomenclature. Was the nomenclature funny on a basic level? Sure. But Peet was a white Englishman, and it can't help but come off as incredibly disrespectful. A brief instance again occurs at the very end of the book, when a person is unnecessarily described as being "black." That's not a bad thing, objectively; but at no other point is there any kind of racial descriptor attached to a character, and it serves no purpose there, leaving us to guess at why, exactly, Peet though it was so important we know that this person was "black." Was it something the character leading the scene noticed? Were we supposed to attach certain judgments? No idea, but it was far from a good addition.
3) the ending. This book is funny. It promises to be funny, it knows it's funny, and it delivers--right up until things start to change. No spoilers, as promised, but those changes really took the buzz off for me.
Despite these three detractors, I'll still recommend it to my Fantasy-loving friends. The story is an utter lark, and it's fine to read a book containing awful things as long as we recognize them for what they are. If you like funny, dark, quick, or Fantasy, this book is 100% for you. Just keep the Scotch close by for when you need it most.
elenasquareeyes's review against another edition
5.0
The Murdstone Trilogy is a lot of fun. It does make fun of the high fantasy genre but in such a light-hearted way that you can’t be mad at it. Plus what is says about the genre and all its tropes is true! I’m pretty sure it kind of alludes to the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini as well, a series I love by the way, but it does so in a good-natured way.
There’s kind of two stories going along at once. There’s Philip’s struggle to write and his interactions with his agent and the people in the local village (who are all a little odd) and the story Pocket tells in a fantasy world full of magic and creatures. Philip’s story is fun as it captures his desperation to write but how he is also so ill-equipped to write fantasy, plus Minerva is such a fun character who is a real battleaxe and it’s fun seeing her deal with Philip’s eccentricities.
The Murdstone Trilogy is pretty clever as you’re not always sure if the story Pocket is telling is really happening in a far off land or another universe or if it’s all happening in Philip’s head and he’s going a bit mad. Pocket’s story is full of action, magic, big forces of evil and a lost Prince struggling to save the kingdom. It is in a way paint-by-numbers fantasy but it’s aware of that and Pocket’s story is still gripping.
The Murdstone Trilogy is unlike any book I’ve read before. It’s funny and weird and has the best elements of high fantasy but told in a different way.
There’s kind of two stories going along at once. There’s Philip’s struggle to write and his interactions with his agent and the people in the local village (who are all a little odd) and the story Pocket tells in a fantasy world full of magic and creatures. Philip’s story is fun as it captures his desperation to write but how he is also so ill-equipped to write fantasy, plus Minerva is such a fun character who is a real battleaxe and it’s fun seeing her deal with Philip’s eccentricities.
The Murdstone Trilogy is pretty clever as you’re not always sure if the story Pocket is telling is really happening in a far off land or another universe or if it’s all happening in Philip’s head and he’s going a bit mad. Pocket’s story is full of action, magic, big forces of evil and a lost Prince struggling to save the kingdom. It is in a way paint-by-numbers fantasy but it’s aware of that and Pocket’s story is still gripping.
The Murdstone Trilogy is unlike any book I’ve read before. It’s funny and weird and has the best elements of high fantasy but told in a different way.
quackthump's review against another edition
2.0
I was on board with the book, especially in the beginning, but the ending.... geez.
watchingpreacher's review against another edition
2.0
There are many good ideas here, and an interesting story, but Mal Peet seemingly makes all the wrong decisions in telling it. I can see how others may like it, but to me it makes all the wrong decisions. It felt like I was continually on the outskirts of a better book, looking in. Didn't really think it was funny either.
readunderthestars23's review against another edition
3.0
I received a copy of The Murdstone Trilogy from Scholastic New Zealand in exchange for an honest review. I’d never heard of this before it arrived at my door.
This book was pretty enjoyable even though it did leave me a little baffled at the end. It’s a dark and sometimes funny satire book about the fantasy genre and I love the fantasy genre.
The Murdstone Trilogy is split into three parts, each one corresponding with a book in the “Murdstone Trilogy.” The first part was, for me at least, the best. After that things started to get a little weird. By the third and final part it was really fast paced and at times difficult to follow. Sometimes it was even hard to tell what was reality and what was fiction in Murdstone’s book. But then, was it fiction? I don’t know.
Despite the confusion at the end it was a fun read. It was a really fast read and funny in places. The Murdstone Trilogy is a bizarre, odd and very good fantasy satire.
This book was pretty enjoyable even though it did leave me a little baffled at the end. It’s a dark and sometimes funny satire book about the fantasy genre and I love the fantasy genre.
The Murdstone Trilogy is split into three parts, each one corresponding with a book in the “Murdstone Trilogy.” The first part was, for me at least, the best. After that things started to get a little weird. By the third and final part it was really fast paced and at times difficult to follow. Sometimes it was even hard to tell what was reality and what was fiction in Murdstone’s book. But then, was it fiction? I don’t know.
Despite the confusion at the end it was a fun read. It was a really fast read and funny in places. The Murdstone Trilogy is a bizarre, odd and very good fantasy satire.