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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
No I mean I LOVE the idea. And I don't mind it's all what I do go where do what. It's just, the weird soulless reviews piss me off.
And I even think the main character to be this weirdly obedient guy, which give me some kinky feeling. How Interesting.
And I even think the main character to be this weirdly obedient guy, which give me some kinky feeling. How Interesting.
Lowell, Nathan. The Wizard’s Butler. Kindle, 2020.
In The Wizard’s Butler Nathan Lowell turns his hand to urban fantasy, but it is urban fantasy in the same way that Quarter Share is a space opera, where many of the tropes of space opera are dialed down, and we learn as much about running a spacefaring cafeteria and making good coffee as we do about interstellar travel. And while you are at it, forget laser cannons and aliens. The Wizard’s Butler tells us as much about being a butler as it does about ancient curses. Along the way, we also learn something about how the very rich might shop for cars and the problems of estate law when you have to protect the fairies in the garden. Lowell as always gives us a nice story arc and a collection of characters we are happy to have met. Our butler hero, for example, is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and an EMT who wants a job with less trauma. Surely, taking care of an old man who thinks he is a wizard would fit the bill, especially if after a year, there is a million-dollar payout. But, uh oh, the old man doesn’t just think he is a wizard. He can cast a spell when needed.
In The Wizard’s Butler Nathan Lowell turns his hand to urban fantasy, but it is urban fantasy in the same way that Quarter Share is a space opera, where many of the tropes of space opera are dialed down, and we learn as much about running a spacefaring cafeteria and making good coffee as we do about interstellar travel. And while you are at it, forget laser cannons and aliens. The Wizard’s Butler tells us as much about being a butler as it does about ancient curses. Along the way, we also learn something about how the very rich might shop for cars and the problems of estate law when you have to protect the fairies in the garden. Lowell as always gives us a nice story arc and a collection of characters we are happy to have met. Our butler hero, for example, is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan and an EMT who wants a job with less trauma. Surely, taking care of an old man who thinks he is a wizard would fit the bill, especially if after a year, there is a million-dollar payout. But, uh oh, the old man doesn’t just think he is a wizard. He can cast a spell when needed.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Not a plot heavy book,but I had a very enjoyable time with interesting characters and would love to read more of them.
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
The title kind of captures the whole essence of the book. It's about a wizard's butler. Although it wasn't the most intriguing story I've ever read, there was something about it that kept me coming back. I think maybe it was the dangling of magic in small doses, promising for a rewarding pay off which I have to say, the lower score on this is due to the somewhat let down of an ending. It's not bad, but I don't feel like the author fulfilled the promises he made to the full extent. The characters are very well defined, the pace is nice and everything is easy to digest and understand, but for a book with the 2nd main character of a wizard, it certainly lacked flair. I will tune into book 2 but mainly, to see if the story unfolds more rewarding promises- as everything else was enjoyable.
Really nice easy going tale. I'm curious where the next book in the series takes the characters. Only reason why it's a 4 is because I felt nothing really big happened. No like wow. There were enty of plot points and I enjoyed them all it just felt like it stayed in cruise instead of ever getting really risky if that makes sense. Anyway will pick up the next one when it comes out on audible. And looks like the author has another series that im curios about, quarter share. I may pick that up while I wait.
Very enjoyable read, slow listen for sure but every time I picked it up I could just relax and enjoy the story telling. I like all the characters and the final resolution even if it wrapped a little fast. Only removed a star because there was no urgency reading it. If I put it down it might be days before I felt the need to pick it back up because again it was just a nice slow novel. But excellent character development.
Honestly this was a great read, but I took an entire star off the rating for the terrible begining. There's no reason to have your main character be so gross that he's shown lavisciously checking out a woman five times in one scene. And then in the scene after that being a gross belching-after-beer dude-bro with his army pal. This is not just disgusting to read, but it also make this character growth feel very flat and one dimensional: before magic he's gross and mean but after finding his True Calling TM he's the most charming and caring man you'll ever meet. Don't give up on this one ladies! *Wink wink*
But aside from that terrible character choose most of this book is pretty great. It's a quiet Yale, full of making coffee, collecting laundry, and figuring out how to save an old man's life. It's lovely in it's simplicity. I am looking forward to the next installment.
But aside from that terrible character choose most of this book is pretty great. It's a quiet Yale, full of making coffee, collecting laundry, and figuring out how to save an old man's life. It's lovely in it's simplicity. I am looking forward to the next installment.
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The protagonist spent the first chapter openly ogling a married woman in front of her husband, over the course of 2 separate meetings. I'm not sure how this was supposed to make me feel, but what it did was make me dislike both the character and the author.
Mark Nathan Lowell off the list, I guess.
Mark Nathan Lowell off the list, I guess.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Misogyny
04. The Wizard's Butler by Nathan Lowell
What it says on the tin.
Roger Mulligan, ex-military, ex-EMT, is sent by his employment office to interview for a job as… a butler. It's only the first of many inexplicable events in this story that is big on excruciating detail, but small on consistency or follow-through.
We soon learn that Mulligan is to be put in charge of Joseph Shackleford, whom his niece (Naomi, who grew to remind me more and more of Cruella deVil as the story went on) insists has dementia because he thinks he's a wizard. We also learn fairly early on that Joseph's confusion and memory loss is due to a magic amulet. He's spent years studying old books trying to find a way to lift his curse, but do we find out anything else about the amulet or whatever being is using it to steal ol' Joe's memories? Noooo. We do, however, get to follow Mulligan through each and every step-by-step moment of his day, from exactly what he makes for breakfast, to the innumerable times he serves said breakfast to Joe, to all the many times he lets guests into the house, always with something along the lines of, "Will you please wait in the parlour while I see if Mr. Shackleford is in, sir" and then the escorting to the library and then the making of coffee and oh gotta put some shortbread on there and then collecting the cups and the checking his butler book for recipes and then the daily duties of cleaning and OMG I DO NOT NEED TO READ THIS SEVENTEEN TIMES. Find another way to show me what Shackleford is doing in the library, and even then limit it to a couple of times!
And whenever there's something new to Mulligan's day, we also get to hear about THAT in extreme detail. There are *pages* devoted to Mulligan and his friend going through the house to put in the internet. PAGES that literally could have been handled in a paragraph. There are more pages describing Mulligan's morning runs, where he meets a woman from the condo across the way. After a few occasions, the woman is never heard from again. She served no purpose. She has absolutely nothing to do with the plot or with Mulligan. And then there's a long lost relative. Again, pages and pages and PAGES or discussion about what could be done to make Shackleford House earn money – this, despite the fact that ol' Joe is a gazillionaire and the house could sit there and just be a house for eternity – and then, does anything come of all those discussions? No, of course not. How about the relative? Nope, not really. Does the long-lost relative help advance the main plot about the cursed amulet in any way? Absolutely not. In fact, the amulet is hardly discussed at all.
I found this book infuriating and frustrating. I'm not even sure there was a story in there.
What it says on the tin.
Roger Mulligan, ex-military, ex-EMT, is sent by his employment office to interview for a job as… a butler. It's only the first of many inexplicable events in this story that is big on excruciating detail, but small on consistency or follow-through.
We soon learn that Mulligan is to be put in charge of Joseph Shackleford, whom his niece (Naomi, who grew to remind me more and more of Cruella deVil as the story went on) insists has dementia because he thinks he's a wizard. We also learn fairly early on that Joseph's confusion and memory loss is due to a magic amulet. He's spent years studying old books trying to find a way to lift his curse, but do we find out anything else about the amulet or whatever being is using it to steal ol' Joe's memories? Noooo. We do, however, get to follow Mulligan through each and every step-by-step moment of his day, from exactly what he makes for breakfast, to the innumerable times he serves said breakfast to Joe, to all the many times he lets guests into the house, always with something along the lines of, "Will you please wait in the parlour while I see if Mr. Shackleford is in, sir" and then the escorting to the library and then the making of coffee and oh gotta put some shortbread on there and then collecting the cups and the checking his butler book for recipes and then the daily duties of cleaning and OMG I DO NOT NEED TO READ THIS SEVENTEEN TIMES. Find another way to show me what Shackleford is doing in the library, and even then limit it to a couple of times!
And whenever there's something new to Mulligan's day, we also get to hear about THAT in extreme detail. There are *pages* devoted to Mulligan and his friend going through the house to put in the internet. PAGES that literally could have been handled in a paragraph. There are more pages describing Mulligan's morning runs, where he meets a woman from the condo across the way. After a few occasions, the woman is never heard from again. She served no purpose. She has absolutely nothing to do with the plot or with Mulligan. And then there's a long lost relative. Again, pages and pages and PAGES or discussion about what could be done to make Shackleford House earn money – this, despite the fact that ol' Joe is a gazillionaire and the house could sit there and just be a house for eternity – and then, does anything come of all those discussions? No, of course not. How about the relative? Nope, not really. Does the long-lost relative help advance the main plot about the cursed amulet in any way? Absolutely not. In fact, the amulet is hardly discussed at all.
I found this book infuriating and frustrating. I'm not even sure there was a story in there.