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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
The most disappointing part about this book is probably all my fault. My brain kept trying to theorize that some crazy backstabbing or plot twist was going to take place (blame the other books I read before this) so the ending felt a bit… lackluster. But again, thats my fault. Not the book’s.
Overall I really enjoyed listening to this. It has enough whimsy to keep me intrigued and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their interactions.
There was nothing that completely blew me away but a book like this isn’t meant to. It did exactly what I think it meant to do, which was provide me with a fun little escape into the life and storyline of a wizard’s butler.
Overall I really enjoyed listening to this. It has enough whimsy to keep me intrigued and I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their interactions.
There was nothing that completely blew me away but a book like this isn’t meant to. It did exactly what I think it meant to do, which was provide me with a fun little escape into the life and storyline of a wizard’s butler.
Good premise squandered in a terribly boring book. I don't want to be mean but seriously what's up with the high ratings for this, srsly
I don't mind it having the thinnest of plots, or the daily minutia of the butler growing into his job. I mind when every single thing/thought is repeated ad nauseum. Seriously, this could have been a third of the length. How many times do you need to tell me this man is going to make a million by the end of his contract. Do I really need to hear modem installation explanations coming from 3 different characters and then again from the MC?
Please my man, I know my brain is a sieve but I *can* remember information you told me two pages ago, have some faith.
The fact that the villain is a money hungry 'cougar' that the MC cannot stop ogling down her blouse the first few meetings, was there a need for that?
But the biggest sin is that this could have been called 'the millonaire's butler' and it would have been the exact same book. The most magical thing that happens is a chair that turns into a wheelchair. There's also a lighter-sized flame at some point.
Talk about disappointing.
The fact that I listened to the audiobook was its only saving grace, the reader is very good. Looking forward to listen to some of his other books. But not this author's
I don't mind it having the thinnest of plots, or the daily minutia of the butler growing into his job. I mind when every single thing/thought is repeated ad nauseum. Seriously, this could have been a third of the length. How many times do you need to tell me this man is going to make a million by the end of his contract. Do I really need to hear modem installation explanations coming from 3 different characters and then again from the MC?
Please my man, I know my brain is a sieve but I *can* remember information you told me two pages ago, have some faith.
The fact that the villain is a money hungry 'cougar' that the MC cannot stop ogling down her blouse the first few meetings, was there a need for that?
But the biggest sin is that this could have been called 'the millonaire's butler' and it would have been the exact same book. The most magical thing that happens is a chair that turns into a wheelchair. There's also a lighter-sized flame at some point.
Talk about disappointing.
The fact that I listened to the audiobook was its only saving grace, the reader is very good. Looking forward to listen to some of his other books. But not this author's
The Wizard’s Butler by Nathan Lowell was exactly what I needed—a true palette cleanser. The writing is smooth and engaging, making it an easy yet satisfying read. The story’s believability is almost secondary to its emotional resonance, though I wonder if some of that emotion carried over from my last book. It’s funny how the impact of one story can bleed into the next. The imagery was vivid, but I found myself almost too drained to fully absorb it—again, likely a side effect of the emotional rollercoaster I had just finished.
That said, The Wizard’s Butler did its job perfectly. It balanced me out, offering a refreshing, lighthearted, yet compelling experience. Amusing, interesting, and well-paced, it gave me exactly the kind of reset I needed.
That said, The Wizard’s Butler did its job perfectly. It balanced me out, offering a refreshing, lighthearted, yet compelling experience. Amusing, interesting, and well-paced, it gave me exactly the kind of reset I needed.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Where is the rest of my series? *puppy dog eyes* Where is it, Lowell?
Listen, guys, The Wizard's Butler...it's that kind of book that you spend all your time reading because you don't want to put it down, but at the same time you're sitting there asking yourself "what exactly is it that I LIKE about this book?"
For me, a lot of it was the characters.
I don't usually like a lot of urban fantasy. I don't like books set in the modern world where magic and world building are limited. And yet, somehow, this book changed my mind. All because of its delightful characters.
In short, The Wizard's Butler is the story of two men: Mr. Shackleford, an eccentric old man alone in his mansion who insists on leaving a thimble of whiskey out for the pixies and demands to be acknowledge as a wizard. A man who insisters that he does not in fact have dementia as his family believes, but that rather he is under a magical curse. And it's also about Roger Mulligan, a man who escaped the army after two traumatic tours in Afghanistan as an army medic and served time as an EMT in NYC. A man who is greatly amused by Mr. Shackleford but isn't quite sure whether he believes in things he can't physically see.
And of course there is a wild bunch of side characters including a gold hunting niece named Naomi and a good share of long lost relatives and old magical friends who bustle through the house to visit regularly. And together, this host of characters fills the pages with delightful and relatable antics. Which is beautiful. Because can the average person see pixies or practice magic? Absolutely not. But do we maybe have an old man living in our house who loves to play pranks and spends his entire existence in his garden and library? Absolutely. And lord knows we've all got a family member (or three) that we politely wish we didn't have.
The Wizard's Butler, at the end of the day, is a simply, friendly, but emotional book. A journey between two gentlemen that is both a bit of Wooster and Jeeves and a bit of Mary Poppins and Mr. Banks. There's a quiet core to this that feels like a cozy fantasy, and yet, I wouldn't call it that at all. (But on the other side of the coin, there's also ancient Native American magic involved and that's super hella cool???)
If you're looking for a high stakes fantasy with lots of world building and murder, this isn't it. But if you're looking for a quiet, humorous story of friendship between a butler and his master and their ancient Native American curse, well, The Wizard's Butler's got you covered.
I will state that there were some plot lines that still felt like they had some loose ends, but I do assume that those are meant to be solved in the sequel? And there was one character who I'd have liked to see more of that kind of just "disappeared" at one point and I'm not sure whether that was purposeful or not?
That said, overall, just a lot to love about this quiet little story and I think lovers of urban fantasy or magical realism or low stakes cozy fantasy will really enjoy this story.
Listen, guys, The Wizard's Butler...it's that kind of book that you spend all your time reading because you don't want to put it down, but at the same time you're sitting there asking yourself "what exactly is it that I LIKE about this book?"
For me, a lot of it was the characters.
I don't usually like a lot of urban fantasy. I don't like books set in the modern world where magic and world building are limited. And yet, somehow, this book changed my mind. All because of its delightful characters.
In short, The Wizard's Butler is the story of two men: Mr. Shackleford, an eccentric old man alone in his mansion who insists on leaving a thimble of whiskey out for the pixies and demands to be acknowledge as a wizard. A man who insisters that he does not in fact have dementia as his family believes, but that rather he is under a magical curse. And it's also about Roger Mulligan, a man who escaped the army after two traumatic tours in Afghanistan as an army medic and served time as an EMT in NYC. A man who is greatly amused by Mr. Shackleford but isn't quite sure whether he believes in things he can't physically see.
And of course there is a wild bunch of side characters including a gold hunting niece named Naomi and a good share of long lost relatives and old magical friends who bustle through the house to visit regularly. And together, this host of characters fills the pages with delightful and relatable antics. Which is beautiful. Because can the average person see pixies or practice magic? Absolutely not. But do we maybe have an old man living in our house who loves to play pranks and spends his entire existence in his garden and library? Absolutely. And lord knows we've all got a family member (or three) that we politely wish we didn't have.
The Wizard's Butler, at the end of the day, is a simply, friendly, but emotional book. A journey between two gentlemen that is both a bit of Wooster and Jeeves and a bit of Mary Poppins and Mr. Banks. There's a quiet core to this that feels like a cozy fantasy, and yet, I wouldn't call it that at all. (But on the other side of the coin, there's also ancient Native American magic involved and that's super hella cool???)
If you're looking for a high stakes fantasy with lots of world building and murder, this isn't it. But if you're looking for a quiet, humorous story of friendship between a butler and his master and their ancient Native American curse, well, The Wizard's Butler's got you covered.
I will state that there were some plot lines that still felt like they had some loose ends, but I do assume that those are meant to be solved in the sequel? And there was one character who I'd have liked to see more of that kind of just "disappeared" at one point and I'm not sure whether that was purposeful or not?
That said, overall, just a lot to love about this quiet little story and I think lovers of urban fantasy or magical realism or low stakes cozy fantasy will really enjoy this story.
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
funny
mysterious
relaxing
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
I loved the protagonist’s approach to being told that magic is real.
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Super light and cute book. Could almost be a 4, but was sometimes a bit mundane.