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tharina's review
3.0
I didn't realise that The Outsourcerer's Apprentice was the third in a series when I started it. I could manage to figure out most of the important details from the previous two books in the series, but it really would have been a whole lot better if I read the others first.
jhews's review
3.0
Enjoyed it, got a bit slow at parts and was just a bit too silly and predictable for 5 stars
chattymicchatty's review
4.0
3.5 stars. A fun read, but not as engaging as the previous to books in the series. Taking that into account, it was still entertaining and fun to read about the introduction of macroeconomics and a market economy in a fantasy universe.
popestig's review
2.0
Excellent premise. Some really good ideas. Completely forgettable. Shame, since the ideas deserved better execution.
squishy_mage42's review
4.0
There were spots where the pacing was a bit wonky, but overall I really enjoyed the book. The conversion from standard medieval agrarian to exploited masses to a market economy mixed with the hero's journey and a ton of self-aware humor made for a great story.
elnelson's review
3.0
What would happen if you asked a bemused economist to narrate and examine your favorite childhood fairytales? Well, I have a feeling it would look something like The Outsorcerer’s Apprentice. For years, a realm of magical creatures have been going about their business without any regard for rationality or basic market economics until a young woodcutter’s daughter starts realizing opportunities for arbitrage, a knight starts examining dragon populations, a goblin makes some un-goblin like decisions, and a young man starts an adventure that was never meant to be, well, quite so adventurous.
While I was excited by the premise of the Outsorcerer’s Apprentice, the wacky jokes and playful humor failed to get to a deeper level of emotionality, leading to Terry Pratchett-esque humor without the deeper bedrock of emotional depth. Holt writes some truly fun mash-ups of fantastical creatures running some of the most amusing corporate schemes, but after awhile, it feels a bit like reading a string of stand-up acts rather than a cohesive plot. For clever book to lighten your mind before bed, this might be a gem, but don’t expect a riveting page-turner.
While I was excited by the premise of the Outsorcerer’s Apprentice, the wacky jokes and playful humor failed to get to a deeper level of emotionality, leading to Terry Pratchett-esque humor without the deeper bedrock of emotional depth. Holt writes some truly fun mash-ups of fantastical creatures running some of the most amusing corporate schemes, but after awhile, it feels a bit like reading a string of stand-up acts rather than a cohesive plot. For clever book to lighten your mind before bed, this might be a gem, but don’t expect a riveting page-turner.
bookshopcat's review against another edition
4.0
I'm still reeling from the book. It takes a while to put things together even though the big reveal becomes really obvious partway through the story.
Overall, the story was a bit slow at the start but it really captures your attention from the beginning. Longer explanation below but:
Caution: slight spoilers ~~~~~
Anyway, I will reiterate what another reader, Kitvaria, had wrote - this book is not for everybody. Holt's writing style easily reminded me of Terry Pratchett, though more fragmented and loosely taken together so sometimes the story bordered on confusing. I also read this book without reading any of the previous entries, which, in hindsight, might have helped the story make more sense. That said, I managed well enough to say that the previous entries were not entirely needed and that certain things become really easy to figure out once you read enough into the story.
What REALLY kept my attention was the dearly and wonderfully misused medieval fantasy and fairy tail tropes coupled with the pointed critiques of our economic system and the ramifications of giving a greedy entrepreneur access to alternate universes.
Yes, I know... that sentence was a mouthful. However, Holt made such a wonderfully built setting and added so many fun details that even attempting to describe his incredibly constructed world requires such a complex sentence. What would happen when you realize that you have been given access to a less advanced civilization, with very exploitable people, and the ability to return to your original world without losing too much of your time? Holt answers that in this story, where the fantasy land lives with the consequences of having slowly been molded throughout thousands of years to become an unquestioning labor force for another world. Its such a unique concept. I mean, he places the stuff of fairy tales, slaying dragons, wolves as grandmothers in an economic point of view. After all, our stories a chock full of these things but what happens to that dead dragon, which is a potential pile of meat and other parts? In fairy tales, the wolves are killed, the dragon is slayed and the hero gets a reward in the form of a kingdom and marriage. But we never ask what comes after, or, if all of these stories come from the same universe how do we not run out of dragons to slay, or enemies to fight. Its a very exciting concept to thing about.
In addition to that, his world is an amusing blend of a normal fairy tale setting with woodcutters and knights, with a touch of the modern world with characters to match. I wished there was a bit more female characters, but what I was given was enough to satisfy me.
I did give this 4 out of 5 stars because of the very fragmented format of the story. Furthermore, halfway through the story it becomes increasingly obvious where this story is heading and the ending seemed to cut off really quickly. The climax did not really climax as revelations came one after the other with minimal fighting and the ending, while satisfying, really did not pack as much of a punch as I hoped it would be. At the very least, it did tie of most loose ends. I also enjoyed the other parts enough that I would most likely read this again.
Overall, the story was a bit slow at the start but it really captures your attention from the beginning. Longer explanation below but:
Caution: slight spoilers ~~~~~
Anyway, I will reiterate what another reader, Kitvaria, had wrote - this book is not for everybody. Holt's writing style easily reminded me of Terry Pratchett, though more fragmented and loosely taken together so sometimes the story bordered on confusing. I also read this book without reading any of the previous entries, which, in hindsight, might have helped the story make more sense. That said, I managed well enough to say that the previous entries were not entirely needed and that certain things become really easy to figure out once you read enough into the story.
What REALLY kept my attention was the dearly and wonderfully misused medieval fantasy and fairy tail tropes coupled with the pointed critiques of our economic system and the ramifications of giving a greedy entrepreneur access to alternate universes.
Yes, I know... that sentence was a mouthful. However, Holt made such a wonderfully built setting and added so many fun details that even attempting to describe his incredibly constructed world requires such a complex sentence. What would happen when you realize that you have been given access to a less advanced civilization, with very exploitable people, and the ability to return to your original world without losing too much of your time? Holt answers that in this story, where the fantasy land lives with the consequences of having slowly been molded throughout thousands of years to become an unquestioning labor force for another world. Its such a unique concept. I mean, he places the stuff of fairy tales, slaying dragons, wolves as grandmothers in an economic point of view. After all, our stories a chock full of these things but what happens to that dead dragon, which is a potential pile of meat and other parts? In fairy tales, the wolves are killed, the dragon is slayed and the hero gets a reward in the form of a kingdom and marriage. But we never ask what comes after, or, if all of these stories come from the same universe how do we not run out of dragons to slay, or enemies to fight. Its a very exciting concept to thing about.
In addition to that, his world is an amusing blend of a normal fairy tale setting with woodcutters and knights, with a touch of the modern world with characters to match. I wished there was a bit more female characters, but what I was given was enough to satisfy me.
I did give this 4 out of 5 stars because of the very fragmented format of the story. Furthermore, halfway through the story it becomes increasingly obvious where this story is heading and the ending seemed to cut off really quickly. The climax did not really climax as revelations came one after the other with minimal fighting and the ending, while satisfying, really did not pack as much of a punch as I hoped it would be. At the very least, it did tie of most loose ends. I also enjoyed the other parts enough that I would most likely read this again.
davidscrimshaw's review against another edition
5.0
I think I enjoyed this the most of the three so far.
It would seem that when Tom Holt reads a lot of fantasy out there, he ponders how people actually put food on their table.
It would seem that when Tom Holt reads a lot of fantasy out there, he ponders how people actually put food on their table.
hollowspine's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
After reading and enjoying Doughnut by Tom Holt, I figured I'd put my name on the list for his newest novel "The Outsorcerer's Apprentice." This is the third in a series of which I've now read the first and third. So, it seems the order isn't of huge importance. After all, we all know by now that I have a strange thing for corporate comedies and reading about the lives of cubical drones. So, this outsorcery business seemed a good fit.
It was, though there were less cubicles and more caves involved. Having read Doughnut I was able to understand a little better just what was going on, however, the story would be just fine on it's own as well, for those who haven't read other Holt works. I'm sure since I've only read the two that I may have missed a reference here or there and look at me, still writing a review!
It was comedic to see the characters of a fantasy world dealing with the business of the modern world, but also somewhat disheartening in a way. Sure, it's hilarious to imagine woodcutters sanding, shaping and trimming the perfect coffee stirrer, but it also brings one to imagine some of these jobs being performed in the real world by real people, which is less funny.
My favorite scenes usually involved Buttercup (and her ax). However, I was a bit disappointed about the lack of answers to some of her questions. Where did the wolves get all the tea and tea sets and cucumber for the tea sandwiches? How did they make the sandwiches? What killed them, did they have cyanide tablets in their teeth (though that wouldn't account for all the blood)?
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it did feel like a lot of threads were unwoven and while most did lead somewhere and got tied in nicely, others were just left hanging.
After reading and enjoying Doughnut by Tom Holt, I figured I'd put my name on the list for his newest novel "The Outsorcerer's Apprentice." This is the third in a series of which I've now read the first and third. So, it seems the order isn't of huge importance. After all, we all know by now that I have a strange thing for corporate comedies and reading about the lives of cubical drones. So, this outsorcery business seemed a good fit.
It was, though there were less cubicles and more caves involved. Having read Doughnut I was able to understand a little better just what was going on, however, the story would be just fine on it's own as well, for those who haven't read other Holt works. I'm sure since I've only read the two that I may have missed a reference here or there and look at me, still writing a review!
It was comedic to see the characters of a fantasy world dealing with the business of the modern world, but also somewhat disheartening in a way. Sure, it's hilarious to imagine woodcutters sanding, shaping and trimming the perfect coffee stirrer, but it also brings one to imagine some of these jobs being performed in the real world by real people, which is less funny.
My favorite scenes usually involved Buttercup (and her ax). However, I was a bit disappointed about the lack of answers to some of her questions. Where did the wolves get all the tea and tea sets and cucumber for the tea sandwiches? How did they make the sandwiches? What killed them, did they have cyanide tablets in their teeth (though that wouldn't account for all the blood)?
Overall, I enjoyed the book, but it did feel like a lot of threads were unwoven and while most did lead somewhere and got tied in nicely, others were just left hanging.
jorybear's review against another edition
3.0
This is a perfectly silly book. The premise - using a fairyland dimension to outsource work for our world - is hilarious. The characters play their roles well. Clichés abound as the book makes fun of all sorts of common fantasy tropes. Unfortunately, the story deteriorates along the way. The interactions may still be funny, but you lose the sense for why you're reading what you're reading. This is the perfect book if you like silly humor and want something light and entertaining after a difficult read. The writing isn't that great, and it could have come together in a more persuasive way, but it's not a bad book.