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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
If I had half this talent for world-building, I'd be an amazing writer. Fforde builds world that are almost but not quite ours. He doesn't explain the rules - they just are, and that takes amazing talent to write that way and not leave the reader frustrated. I hope Fforde continues to write many different books and series. Capturing humor with brilliant SciFi/Fantasy storytelling is a special thing indeed.
I enjoy all Jasper Fffordes novels. This is aimed at a YA audience and not as involved as some of his work. Enjoyable nevertheless just could have done without the footnotes, what was in them could just have been in the text or left to the imagination. I felt that they ruined the flow
Jennifer Strange, office manager for one of the last two magic companies in her kingdom, finds out more about the founder of her company and the political machinations going on behind the scenes. A fun return to this series.
In her second adventure, foundling Jennifer Strange must win a wizards' challenge to save the magical company she manages, protect the freedom of magic and prevent a despot from gaining unlimited power. Sounds easy enough - except everything keeps going wrong. The Kazam wizards, one after another, are out of commission, the corrupt king & his cronies are rigging the contest against Kazam and a strange quark beast is on the loose and in danger of being captured by a scruple-less hunter.
A fun, crazy read with lots of strange twists. Fforde is clearly having fun with this series and indulging his love for the absurd. While the plot dragged a tiny bit, particularly in the first third of the book, overall it's an engaging read. This is the sort of story that will make you smile with all the quirky little details packed inside. Recommended for anyone who loved the first book, Fforde's Thursday Next series, or satirical writing in general.
A fun, crazy read with lots of strange twists. Fforde is clearly having fun with this series and indulging his love for the absurd. While the plot dragged a tiny bit, particularly in the first third of the book, overall it's an engaging read. This is the sort of story that will make you smile with all the quirky little details packed inside. Recommended for anyone who loved the first book, Fforde's Thursday Next series, or satirical writing in general.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve really been enjoying this series. Fforde’s writing style reminds me a lot of Terry Pratchett. Clever, with moments that make you laugh out loud, but also beautiful and weirdly emotional in places.
I love the idea of the Quarkbeast. I hope we see more of them in the next book!
I love the idea of the Quarkbeast. I hope we see more of them in the next book!
This series is incredibly fun to read.
Our heroes in this story is thwarted almost by every turn by Blix and Lord Tenbury - I was frustrated and indignant for them, but love how things were resolved.
Once Magnificent Boo is a fantastic character and I loved learning more about the Transient Moose...
Is there a third book? Please let there be a third book - the epilogue sounded so final T_T
Our heroes in this story is thwarted almost by every turn by Blix and Lord Tenbury - I was frustrated and indignant for them, but love how things were resolved.
Once Magnificent Boo is a fantastic character and I loved learning more about the Transient Moose...
Spoiler
horribly sad that he's goneIs there a third book? Please let there be a third book - the epilogue sounded so final T_T
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This is a much better book than the first in the series. Where before it felt like the author was trying to shoehorn as many jokes into the story as possible, this book has a better balance between humour and engaging story.
Oh, Jasper Fforde, you've done it again!
I enjoyed this installment even more than the first book of the series. It was funny, quirky, and completely original. Jasper Fforde is a fantastic world-builder, and his work shines with odd details and richly-imagined characters. (I especially enjoyed the King's Useless Brother.) This was an amusing, sweet book, full of charm and humor.
I enjoyed this installment even more than the first book of the series. It was funny, quirky, and completely original. Jasper Fforde is a fantastic world-builder, and his work shines with odd details and richly-imagined characters. (I especially enjoyed the King's Useless Brother.) This was an amusing, sweet book, full of charm and humor.
This was another stellar outing from Jasper Fforde. I found myself feeling as excited by this story as I did about the first few Thursday Next novels. The characters here are strong and memorable, and the story carries Fforde's signature blend of the magical and the all-too-real. As Jennifer Strange continues to manage the wizards of Kazam, battling the corrupt government and seeking her disappeared boss, things heat up with the rival magicians of iMagic. It is never a given that the good side will prevail in Fforde's worlds, so the tension builds to the right level before the resolution. I spent the last few chapters of this book dragging my heels a bit, not wanting it to end, and I was very happy to discover there is another in the series that I can look forward to. As Thursday winds down, the future looks Strange.
Update: I'm not sure I can beat the last line of my original review (Well done, me!) but I thoroughly enjoyed this re-read. The Quarkbeast takes a larger part here, even with all the other excitement, and the mythology grows. I will save the last two volumes of this series until after a brief sojourn into other things, but I can hardly wait to re-read the next, and delve into the finale (?). As ever, Fforde and his merry, disparate band do not disappoint.
Update: I'm not sure I can beat the last line of my original review (Well done, me!) but I thoroughly enjoyed this re-read. The Quarkbeast takes a larger part here, even with all the other excitement, and the mythology grows. I will save the last two volumes of this series until after a brief sojourn into other things, but I can hardly wait to re-read the next, and delve into the finale (?). As ever, Fforde and his merry, disparate band do not disappoint.