Reviews

The Outsorcerer's Apprentice by Tom Holt

gwendle_vs_literature's review

adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

This book was enjoyable and fun, but is not among Tom Holt’s best. It’s been several years since I read “Doughnut” and “When it’s a Jar”, and although remembering the details of them was not necessary to follow this book, I could tell that there were some references I wasn’t quite picking up on, but I also don’t feel compelled to re-read them. I’m not against re-reading, but there are other books by this author that I’d look to first. 

If you’re looking for Tom Holt’s best series I’d read the J W wells & co. books which start with “The Portable Door”, and if you prefer stand-alone works my personal favourites were “Nothing But Blue Skies” and “The Management Style of the Supreme Beings”

heyt's review

3.0

This was a fun read but I didn't realize until after I started that it was part of an already established world. I enjoyed seeing fantasy tropes taken to extremes and then sort of subverted into modern day economics. The wizard was set up to be the villain but you also kind of didn't mind when he succeeded because it all seemed so rational. It's a great satire on outsourcing and capitalism with a bit of sci-fan icing.

bookwyrm37's review

1.0

was thoroughly enjoying this romp when I was rudely interrupted by a character comparing being weak and annoying to my gender. and no, mr. holt isn't the only author guilty of this, but I just hit my breaking point. It's hard to be reading a perfectly good story written with wit and humor....and be insulted. I couldn't pick it back up after that. It's too bad because I was planning on recommending this...

wolfdaystar's review

3.0

3 and a half stars. The premise sounded fun and also funny but Holt failed to deliver. It also didn't really have a plot until the last third of the book. Then once there was stuff happening, it ended abruptly.

bridge_to_narnia's review

3.0

A funny book, for sure, but I only really liked one of the characters (Buttercup). Her chapters were the best and it was nice that all the storylines came together in the end, but I felt like the book sort of petered out. It wasn't bad, and I would definitely say it was a good book, but I also never want to read it again.

wmhenrymorris's review

It gets much better towards the end, but it takes much too long to get there. I also think that Holt should have dialed back the number of POV characters.

That being said: there are some very funny and very clever bits, which I enjoyed.

hezichoo's review

3.0

Thought I would try this author as he seems to have written a lot of books and was looking for sci-fi fantasy series I could get into.

It was a pretty light read, storyline was new and a bit funny but not a book I would say was particularly high on my must read list.

It reminded me a lot of a modern take on Terry Prachett and Pier Anthony (both whom I've read A LOT of their books)...

If I was looking for a change up from something heavy, I'd probably read another of his books.

bentimmo's review

3.0

Fun, but laboured. Spends too long flogging a dead horse, before remembering that there is meant to be a plot. Enjoyed Holt's earlier stuff, but this is nowhere near the quality.

azranai's review

3.0

I really wanted to love this book, however what started out as a great premise seemingly fell flat for me. The characters didn't seem very dynamic and the plot wasn't very memorable in the end. Perhaps this is because I did not get the full story as I had not realized it was a part of a series although it seemed as though it was written to be a standalone book as well. It was an easy read and although it wasn't bad per say, I can't see myself rereading this book in the future, too muddled not enough spunk for me.

chauceye's review

4.0

It made me grin in the same way that "the hitch-hikers guide to the galaxy" does. Lots of absurd stuff.