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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
I got this through work as an uncorrected PDF.
The second in this series, and even though I don’t remember much from the first it wasn’t hard getting back into this world. The way this author writes, he tells you everything you need to know before anything happens, and as the plot unfolds you go ‘’ahh I see now why you told me about x, y, and z’’ a different way to approach a book, but not entirely unpleasant. A fun book with lots of the randomness that is this series, not something that I typically like, but Forde makes it work. Jennifer and crew are now fighting against their rivals to stay in business.
The second in this series, and even though I don’t remember much from the first it wasn’t hard getting back into this world. The way this author writes, he tells you everything you need to know before anything happens, and as the plot unfolds you go ‘’ahh I see now why you told me about x, y, and z’’ a different way to approach a book, but not entirely unpleasant. A fun book with lots of the randomness that is this series, not something that I typically like, but Forde makes it work. Jennifer and crew are now fighting against their rivals to stay in business.
In many ways I enjoyed this more than the last dragonslayer - Jennifer seems more settled into her role at Kazam, and into being able to stand up for herself and what she believes in, the story of magic slowly returning is interesting, and the magic and politics and rivalries are fun and compelling.
I missed the dragons, obviously, and also wanted more Quarkbeast as it was great in the last book - and I think that’s largely why I think the books are equal.
I also really liked getting to see more of Jennifer’s everyday life, so to speak.
As always, Fforde sets up a society that is brilliantly bizarre and perfectly sensible - you look at the random and wonderful laws or societal norms that get mentioned, and each time they make perfect sense to the book!
I missed the dragons, obviously, and also wanted more Quarkbeast as it was great in the last book - and I think that’s largely why I think the books are equal.
I also really liked getting to see more of Jennifer’s everyday life, so to speak.
As always, Fforde sets up a society that is brilliantly bizarre and perfectly sensible - you look at the random and wonderful laws or societal norms that get mentioned, and each time they make perfect sense to the book!
I love Jasper Fforde as an author but this new series is fantastic. Jennifer Strange is amazing.
I am primarily a fan of Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series…but also enjoy the Nursery Crime books. His first foray into fiction for a slightly younger audience (The Last Dragonslayer) was good – but after finishing “The Song of the Quarkbeast” – feel that this series is improving as it goes on.
The tone of all of Fforde’s books is a combination of gentle sarcasm, whimsy, and smart social commentary. Reading one of his books is an enjoyable experience – and one that leaves the reader feeling smarter – either because s/he picked up on one of the many literary references integrated throughout the story or because s/he learned something.
Jennifer Strange, the main character of the Kazam books, is a wonderful prequel to Thursday Next – one of the best characters in fiction.
“I took a glass globe from my bag, just one of the many useful objects that I liked to have with me on assignment. “It runs on sarcasm,” I said, handing it to him. “Great,” Tiger replied, and the globe lit up brightly.”
And I loved Fforde’s comments on some of the most inexplicable aspects of modern life. He attributes cell phones, medical scanners – and (most accurately as far as I am concerned) – copy machines to magic. The way the characters brush aside the idea that these devices came to be through any means other than mystical ones make perfect sense – especially in a world where magic carpets are used for pizza delivery.
“I liked him, but since his particular field of interest was Remote Suggestion – the skill of projecting thoughts into people’s heads from a distance – I didn’t know whether I actually liked him or he was suggesting I like him, which was both creepy and unethical. In fact, the whole Remote Suggestion or “seeding” idea was banned once it was discovered to be the key ingredient in promoting talentless boy bands, which had until then been something of a mystery.”
The way he weaves elements of the modern world and the magical world together makes for a delightful book and one that is even better than the first book in this series. The characters are getting stronger and the depth and detail of their world makes for a more interesting story. I look forward to the next installment!
The tone of all of Fforde’s books is a combination of gentle sarcasm, whimsy, and smart social commentary. Reading one of his books is an enjoyable experience – and one that leaves the reader feeling smarter – either because s/he picked up on one of the many literary references integrated throughout the story or because s/he learned something.
Jennifer Strange, the main character of the Kazam books, is a wonderful prequel to Thursday Next – one of the best characters in fiction.
“I took a glass globe from my bag, just one of the many useful objects that I liked to have with me on assignment. “It runs on sarcasm,” I said, handing it to him. “Great,” Tiger replied, and the globe lit up brightly.”
And I loved Fforde’s comments on some of the most inexplicable aspects of modern life. He attributes cell phones, medical scanners – and (most accurately as far as I am concerned) – copy machines to magic. The way the characters brush aside the idea that these devices came to be through any means other than mystical ones make perfect sense – especially in a world where magic carpets are used for pizza delivery.
“I liked him, but since his particular field of interest was Remote Suggestion – the skill of projecting thoughts into people’s heads from a distance – I didn’t know whether I actually liked him or he was suggesting I like him, which was both creepy and unethical. In fact, the whole Remote Suggestion or “seeding” idea was banned once it was discovered to be the key ingredient in promoting talentless boy bands, which had until then been something of a mystery.”
The way he weaves elements of the modern world and the magical world together makes for a delightful book and one that is even better than the first book in this series. The characters are getting stronger and the depth and detail of their world makes for a more interesting story. I look forward to the next installment!
So fun and enjoyable. Going to upload these on my son's kindle as well. The ending was rushed and odd- as though he was trying to end the series and tie up loose ends, yet there is another book out in October. Strange. Still fun and I love the main character and her Quarkbeast.
Really, really fantabulous book that contained everything I expect a Fforde book to have. A lovely, quirky world, a special sense of humor (which might not be everyone's taste, I admit that) and social commentary.
It may have one flaw but I rated five stars anyway because I enjoyed every single word. That one flaw is that it's quite similar to the Thursday Next series and so, the construction of the plot is somewhat predictable. Fforde adds all these details little details that become very important in the end and his protagonist has to face more and more problems until it seems that there is hardly any way this book could end good but it does. It requires a lot of skill to unravel everything and that makes up for it.
Also, we get amazing descriptions like these:
„She was sitting in an armchair in front of a fire, her gnarled fingers resting on top of her cane, and her face so suffused with wrinkles that lost infant tortoises often followed her home.“
And we get Quarkbeasts because that's the name of the book and also Quarkbeasts are like the best thing ever. Plus, there are interesting characters with interesting opinions who are not just black and white:
„[...] Maybe magic shouldn't be regulated at all. Maybe it should take its own path, like the Quarkbeast, unfettered by our meddling. Perhaps magic needs to be used for evil before it can take the right course for good and if so, Zambini's need to control it is as damaging as Blix's. The only thing that separates the pair of them is their viewpoint and dress sense.
Jasper Fforde is the author I turn to when I lose hope, when I've read just one bad book too many. He hasn't disappointed me one single time so far.
It may have one flaw but I rated five stars anyway because I enjoyed every single word. That one flaw is that it's quite similar to the Thursday Next series and so, the construction of the plot is somewhat predictable. Fforde adds all these details little details that become very important in the end and his protagonist has to face more and more problems until it seems that there is hardly any way this book could end good but it does. It requires a lot of skill to unravel everything and that makes up for it.
Also, we get amazing descriptions like these:
„She was sitting in an armchair in front of a fire, her gnarled fingers resting on top of her cane, and her face so suffused with wrinkles that lost infant tortoises often followed her home.“
And we get Quarkbeasts because that's the name of the book and also Quarkbeasts are like the best thing ever. Plus, there are interesting characters with interesting opinions who are not just black and white:
„[...] Maybe magic shouldn't be regulated at all. Maybe it should take its own path, like the Quarkbeast, unfettered by our meddling. Perhaps magic needs to be used for evil before it can take the right course for good and if so, Zambini's need to control it is as damaging as Blix's. The only thing that separates the pair of them is their viewpoint and dress sense.
Jasper Fforde is the author I turn to when I lose hope, when I've read just one bad book too many. He hasn't disappointed me one single time so far.
Fantastic sequel. This continues the simpler but still clever and definitely fun style of the last dragonslayer.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No