A review by jennyfer
The Purple Haze by Andrew Einspruch
5.0
This was a really fun read, that had me enthralled. Einspruch spins a classic tale of fantasy encompassing fellowships, epic journeys, (weak) magic, sibling rivalry, sisterhood and intrigue, balanced with a healthy amount of humour, wit and umlauts.
Princess Eloise Hydra Gumball III, mildly OCD future ruler and heir to the Western Kingdom and All that Really Matters, sets off on an epic quest to find and rescue her sister, who has disappeared with her uncle and a pair of sinister jesters. Accompanying the princess on her quest is an array of human and non-human characters, including a chipmunk with a penchant for tea and regional festivals, a stoic guard horse who has taken a vow of silence, and many, many more.
Einspruch's writing has a very "Pratchett" feel, with wordplay and witticisms painting vivid pictures and conjuring the appropriate moods. Often this style of writing can feel forced, but it flows easily from Einspruch's pen, allowing the reader to revel in both epic and absurdity at once.
The humour is woven seamlessly into the story, from the excessive use of umlauts and accents on the names, to twists on modern musical and pop-cultural references (the aside regarding the Messengers and Interceptors Guild had me in stitches).
A thoroughly enjoyable read! I look forward to reading the next instalment in the series
Princess Eloise Hydra Gumball III, mildly OCD future ruler and heir to the Western Kingdom and All that Really Matters, sets off on an epic quest to find and rescue her sister, who has disappeared with her uncle and a pair of sinister jesters. Accompanying the princess on her quest is an array of human and non-human characters, including a chipmunk with a penchant for tea and regional festivals, a stoic guard horse who has taken a vow of silence, and many, many more.
Einspruch's writing has a very "Pratchett" feel, with wordplay and witticisms painting vivid pictures and conjuring the appropriate moods. Often this style of writing can feel forced, but it flows easily from Einspruch's pen, allowing the reader to revel in both epic and absurdity at once.
The humour is woven seamlessly into the story, from the excessive use of umlauts and accents on the names, to twists on modern musical and pop-cultural references (the aside regarding the Messengers and Interceptors Guild had me in stitches).
A thoroughly enjoyable read! I look forward to reading the next instalment in the series