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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
I was hoping for a more sophisticated, adult version of the Artemis Fowl books which I loved so much. Instead, I found that this was more of a young adult novel, with cursing and predatory language.
I love the premise and most of the characters, however for how long the book is, there is a disproportionate amount of attention to the various events, mainly at the end. A lot of plot holes, even for a book where the main character is a dragon in the modern world. Pages and pages were dedicated to happenings that ended up going nowhere.
I went into this book with high expectations and was disappointed. However, if you are a fan of young adult novels with a high school aged main character (kind of) with adultish themes, then this is probably for you.
I love the premise and most of the characters, however for how long the book is, there is a disproportionate amount of attention to the various events, mainly at the end. A lot of plot holes, even for a book where the main character is a dragon in the modern world. Pages and pages were dedicated to happenings that ended up going nowhere.
I went into this book with high expectations and was disappointed. However, if you are a fan of young adult novels with a high school aged main character (kind of) with adultish themes, then this is probably for you.
Highly entertaining, I really enjoyed this and am really hoping that there's going to be a sequel.
Vern and Squib are such great characters and their adversary Hooke is brilliantly hateful. It's a fast paced, and ridiculous adventure that made me laugh out loud.
Vern and Squib are such great characters and their adversary Hooke is brilliantly hateful. It's a fast paced, and ridiculous adventure that made me laugh out loud.
adventurous
funny
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The last of his kind in the backwaters of the swamp, drinking vodka, watching tv is an unlikely hero is about a oil guzzling dragon. Humans are all bad, and out the question... or are they? can humans be trusted past that their farts are smelly? Well, if one has to be trusted for bringing the vodka maybe there are exceptions... but as far as Lord Highfire is convinced all humans are irredeemable but hell, they did make a few good things to watch on tv.
I've been on the search for media that paints Cajuns in a better light than just toothless yokels and gator wrastlers. The book gets a lot of credit for that. They're Cajun, but they're also just people. A few references to "swamp hillbillies", which I guess would be those toothless yokels, but hillbillies and Cajuns aren't the same thing. On the other hand, as it's narrated by rude characters, that is a phrase they would use, whether it's true or not.
A fun romp through Honey Island, a familiar playground for me. Terribly vulgar. Balls this, balls that, balls, balls, dick, pecker, balls. We get it, the bad guy wants to rape the hot nurse. We're reminded every chapter. There's also a lot of fat to be trimmed in general.
Overall, a good ride with a cartoonishly cruel villain, a sassy dragon, and a good ol boy who loves his momma. Good for folks looking for a Cajun story with some heart.
A fun romp through Honey Island, a familiar playground for me. Terribly vulgar. Balls this, balls that, balls, balls, dick, pecker, balls. We get it, the bad guy wants to rape the hot nurse. We're reminded every chapter. There's also a lot of fat to be trimmed in general.
Overall, a good ride with a cartoonishly cruel villain, a sassy dragon, and a good ol boy who loves his momma. Good for folks looking for a Cajun story with some heart.
After growing up on Artemis Fowl it was so wonderful to read a book by Eoin Colfer again. It felt like he wrote this book for me, knowing the books I've read sense Fowl. It was funny, childish but also adult at the same time.
Thank you to Jo Fletcher Books for sending me an ARC of this book.
I didn’t really have any specific expectations for this book as 1) I have not read any of Eoin Colfer’s books before, and 2) this is his first adult book so even if I had read his previous books, I would have nothing to compare with. I did think I would like it more than I actually did though, but having said that I didn’t dislike it and Vern is absolutely brilliant.
I enjoyed the story; Vern being the last dragon and having his only friend sending him supplies so that he can stay hidden and consequently alive. Vern having a deep hatred for humans and I can completely understandable why when he’s lost all of his family and friends because humans have killed them all off over the centuries. But mostly I love the development of his friendship with Squib. The characters were brilliant in this, Vern was sassy and grumpy and wouldn't take no crap from anyone, I especially loved how he dealt with the other animals on his island/swamp - the alligators were brilliant. Squib was, the only way I can describe him is clever, like not many people could talk and deal their way out of being killed by a dragon who hates humans. And granted he had Waxman's help, who is also a brilliant character. Vern hates everyone but has a soft spot for Waxman and their interactions are brilliant. Hooke was a nasty so and so, and the perfect villian in this story, and learning his upbringing with his dad you can definitely see how he turned out how he did.
My one and only issue which brought this down to a 3 star for me (and I hated giving it 3 stars because the story itself was bloody brilliant) was the dialogue, and I know it was completely on me. Firstly, I found the dialogue hard to follow at some parts, because the Louisiana accent was written into the dialogue. Secondly, the first third(ish) of the book they use the word 'daddy' far too much and that word just always makes me cringe.
I didn’t really have any specific expectations for this book as 1) I have not read any of Eoin Colfer’s books before, and 2) this is his first adult book so even if I had read his previous books, I would have nothing to compare with. I did think I would like it more than I actually did though, but having said that I didn’t dislike it and Vern is absolutely brilliant.
I enjoyed the story; Vern being the last dragon and having his only friend sending him supplies so that he can stay hidden and consequently alive. Vern having a deep hatred for humans and I can completely understandable why when he’s lost all of his family and friends because humans have killed them all off over the centuries. But mostly I love the development of his friendship with Squib. The characters were brilliant in this, Vern was sassy and grumpy and wouldn't take no crap from anyone, I especially loved how he dealt with the other animals on his island/swamp - the alligators were brilliant. Squib was, the only way I can describe him is clever, like not many people could talk and deal their way out of being killed by a dragon who hates humans. And granted he had Waxman's help, who is also a brilliant character. Vern hates everyone but has a soft spot for Waxman and their interactions are brilliant. Hooke was a nasty so and so, and the perfect villian in this story, and learning his upbringing with his dad you can definitely see how he turned out how he did.
My one and only issue which brought this down to a 3 star for me (and I hated giving it 3 stars because the story itself was bloody brilliant) was the dialogue, and I know it was completely on me. Firstly, I found the dialogue hard to follow at some parts, because the Louisiana accent was written into the dialogue. Secondly, the first third(ish) of the book they use the word 'daddy' far too much and that word just always makes me cringe.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
i nearly DNF'ed this book 3 times before I even got a third of the way through but stuck with it as other revies said it was quite funny. I never found it funny but quite graphic in it's violence. I don't think this was the book I wanted it to be and maybe should have DNF'ed it, but will admit it stayed true to what it was. I just didn't like what it was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Stalking, Murder
I ended up liking this book, in spite of myself. Even though half the book seemed like an Irishman trying to speak Louisiana Cajun by saying "that was all she wrote," "vis-a-vis," and sometimes both together, this has heart. It's a nice book to relax with, and even if the plot is (for the most part) predictable, the characters have heart.
However, this simply does not measure up to the rest of Colfer's work that I've read, namely the Artemis Fowl series as well as And Another Thing.... Sure, it's good, but it's a bit bland, even for a beach read. All the heart in the world may make characters lovable, but it doesn't necessarily hold your interest.
However, this simply does not measure up to the rest of Colfer's work that I've read, namely the Artemis Fowl series as well as And Another Thing.... Sure, it's good, but it's a bit bland, even for a beach read. All the heart in the world may make characters lovable, but it doesn't necessarily hold your interest.