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4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
inspiring
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:
Yes
I love this whole series s far. This was just as good as the first one! It's a cute story and quite amusing. I am looking forward to the next one!
An often silly romp through this satirical novel. If you have a sense of humor, you will enjoy this book!
A great Juvie Fiction by Jasper Fforde. A continuation of "The Last Dragonslayer" and this one is just as good. I have yet to be disappointed in any Jasper Fforde books...except that there can be a wait for them, and a delay between the UK publication and the USA publication. I believe that the 3rd book in this series is already out in the UK.
Great addition to the series and full of adventure.
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gaslighting
Minor: Classism
Not long ago, Jennifer Strange brought magic back to the world... which apparently doesn't earn you a break from your job.
And after the bittersweet note of "The Last Dragonslayer," Jasper Fforde's second Chronicles of Kazam novel is a bit lighter on its feet. "The Song of the Quarkbeast" still has some darker edges, but it's a nimbler, slightly more frenetic fantasy story -- and the multiple subplots show Fforde off in an entertaining manner. It also makes you quite happy that there is no magic in our world.
Magic has resurfaced in the world, but it's still building back to higher levels. And this means more work for Kazam's resident magicians, who have a knack for attracting trouble -- think petrification spells, a mysterious evil ring in a well, begging The King's Useless Brother for a magic license, and the possibility of a new Quarkbeast arriving in town.
But because politicians ruin everything, King Snodd IV decides declares that Kazam and their bitter rival iMagic will have a contest. Prize: the opposing company. And it doesn't take long before trumped-up charges land almost all the Kazam magicians in jail, forcing Jennifer and Tiger to confront a sinister conspiracy that could see all their coworkers turned to stone.
While I enjoyed "The Last Dragonslayer," it wasn't the best demonstration of Jasper Fforde's talents -- despite the wackiness of the Quarkbeast, it was rather bleak and straightforward. So it's kind of a relief that "The Song of the Quarkbeast" is a return to form, with a more convoluted plot, multiple subplots, and some rather wacky magics. Think caramelized clothes, lovestruck badgers and earwax-clearing teleportation spells.
It's still a pretty dark story in many ways, with heavy doses of treachery, political backstabbing and some severed extremities. However, there's a better balance of witty comedy and seriousness here, sometimes mingled together (the meeting with the obviously bored King's Useless Brother). And all the subplots are neatly tangled together into a convoluted plot -- all of which erupts into a beautifully dramatic climax.
And once again, poor plucky Jennifer finds herself afloat in a disastrous situation that only she can untangle, with the help of Tiger Prawns. It's fun to see a heroine in a fantasy who is an ordinary person, but still stays afloat because of brains and quick wits (take that, Bella Swan). And through these characters, Fforde gets to make some satirical points about the people in society who aren't considered "valuable," like the foundlings.
But Fforde also explores some of the magicians, both good and bad -- and while most of the Kazam sorcerers at first seem kind of petulant and egocentric, you see that they (mostly) aren't bad people. And the Once Magnificent Boo is... well, magnificent.
"The Song of the Quarkbeast" is no less dark than its predecessor, but it also has a heavy dose of clever comedy, a complex plot, and the occasional impossible animal. A fun read for Fforde fanatics.
And after the bittersweet note of "The Last Dragonslayer," Jasper Fforde's second Chronicles of Kazam novel is a bit lighter on its feet. "The Song of the Quarkbeast" still has some darker edges, but it's a nimbler, slightly more frenetic fantasy story -- and the multiple subplots show Fforde off in an entertaining manner. It also makes you quite happy that there is no magic in our world.
Magic has resurfaced in the world, but it's still building back to higher levels. And this means more work for Kazam's resident magicians, who have a knack for attracting trouble -- think petrification spells, a mysterious evil ring in a well, begging The King's Useless Brother for a magic license, and the possibility of a new Quarkbeast arriving in town.
But because politicians ruin everything, King Snodd IV decides declares that Kazam and their bitter rival iMagic will have a contest. Prize: the opposing company. And it doesn't take long before trumped-up charges land almost all the Kazam magicians in jail, forcing Jennifer and Tiger to confront a sinister conspiracy that could see all their coworkers turned to stone.
While I enjoyed "The Last Dragonslayer," it wasn't the best demonstration of Jasper Fforde's talents -- despite the wackiness of the Quarkbeast, it was rather bleak and straightforward. So it's kind of a relief that "The Song of the Quarkbeast" is a return to form, with a more convoluted plot, multiple subplots, and some rather wacky magics. Think caramelized clothes, lovestruck badgers and earwax-clearing teleportation spells.
It's still a pretty dark story in many ways, with heavy doses of treachery, political backstabbing and some severed extremities. However, there's a better balance of witty comedy and seriousness here, sometimes mingled together (the meeting with the obviously bored King's Useless Brother). And all the subplots are neatly tangled together into a convoluted plot -- all of which erupts into a beautifully dramatic climax.
And once again, poor plucky Jennifer finds herself afloat in a disastrous situation that only she can untangle, with the help of Tiger Prawns. It's fun to see a heroine in a fantasy who is an ordinary person, but still stays afloat because of brains and quick wits (take that, Bella Swan). And through these characters, Fforde gets to make some satirical points about the people in society who aren't considered "valuable," like the foundlings.
But Fforde also explores some of the magicians, both good and bad -- and while most of the Kazam sorcerers at first seem kind of petulant and egocentric, you see that they (mostly) aren't bad people. And the Once Magnificent Boo is... well, magnificent.
"The Song of the Quarkbeast" is no less dark than its predecessor, but it also has a heavy dose of clever comedy, a complex plot, and the occasional impossible animal. A fun read for Fforde fanatics.
I have to say, I really, really like the humor that Fforde uses in this series. Well done.
Longer review to come.
Longer review to come.
I normally LOVE books by Jasper Fforde. I love the unique worlds he creates, the characters, the "its almost reality, but with a twist". But this series, while enjoyable, just did not grab hold of me the way the Thursday Next, The Fairy Tale Crimes, or Shades of Grey series do.
Its a nice light read and the idea of magic as a power source, for hire, is interesting, but the conflict between the different magical houses, the politics of it all (which as usually so detailed and interesting) felt a little light and not well explained.
Honestly, I think because this was written as a Young Adult novel series, things felt a little flat. I think he tried to tone down his writing, not go into as much detail and that was what was truly missing in these books. That spark...but still a nice little read, but I'm waiting for the next Shades of Grey book...or I will go re-read my Thursday Next books when I need my Jasper Fforde fix. Don't get me wrong...its worth a read, but not one I will go back and read over and over again.
Its a nice light read and the idea of magic as a power source, for hire, is interesting, but the conflict between the different magical houses, the politics of it all (which as usually so detailed and interesting) felt a little light and not well explained.
Honestly, I think because this was written as a Young Adult novel series, things felt a little flat. I think he tried to tone down his writing, not go into as much detail and that was what was truly missing in these books. That spark...but still a nice little read, but I'm waiting for the next Shades of Grey book...or I will go re-read my Thursday Next books when I need my Jasper Fforde fix. Don't get me wrong...its worth a read, but not one I will go back and read over and over again.
I read this book in two hours and fifteen minutes. It was GLORIOUS!