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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
I love Jasper Fforde's novels, they're always a fun ride. This latest installment of the Chronicles of Kazam was a perfect palate cleanser after the last book I read (not by the same author!) proved to be disappointing.
Oh dear, I'm really quite sad now. Who knew such a ridiculous series could pack an emotional punch!
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I always enjoy Jasper Fforde's style of silly and puntastic adventures but this one was kind of a downer. Jennifer Strange is just as responsible as ever heading to a neighboring kingdom on a quest that has ramifications for the future of dragonkind. I still enjoyed my time in this world where magic is computerlike and the absurd is commonplace but I was less happy about the rather shocking cliffhanger ending.
Eigentlich 4 Sterne, aber die Nachricht, dass Band 4 demnächst erscheinen wird, ist mir ein extra Sternchen ✳ wert.
Ich habe Fragen :
Was ist in Gabbys Rucksack?
Findet Leviathan ein passendes Gegenstück oder wird es das letzte seiner Art sein?
4 Frauen, 3 davon Ehrenschwestern der Silurier, 2 Drachen...
Her mit Band 4!
Ich habe Fragen :
Was ist in Gabbys Rucksack?
Findet Leviathan ein passendes Gegenstück oder wird es das letzte seiner Art sein?
4 Frauen, 3 davon Ehrenschwestern der Silurier, 2 Drachen...
Her mit Band 4!
Check out my blog, One Man Book Club
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
The Last Dragonslayer (The Last Dragonslayer, #1)
The Song of the Quarkbeast (The Last Dragonslayer, #2)
The Eye of Zoltar (The Last Dragonslayer, #3)
The Great Troll War (The Last Dragonslayer, #4)
By: Jasper Fforde
My Rating: Four out of five stars.
Best for: 14 and up
Magic, dragons, and a whole lot of magnificent nonsense!
I've decided to officially join the Jasper Fforde Fan Club. Except...I don't think that's a thing. Don't mind me, I'm just having a fan club meeting and I'm all by myself.
Jasper Fforde specializes in magnificent nonsense. His stories are far fetched, random, bizarre, and wonderful. I say it takes a special writer to ask you to accept the strange just as it's written, and when you do, suddenly the odd seems normal--and even has meaning.
I've found this to be true in all his stories I've read, including The Last Dragonslayer series. It's YA, has no content concerns, each book in the 4 book series is a perfectly-sized 300 (ish) pages, and is all about magic, dragons, quests, and all the stuff that makes my book-nerd world go round.
The story is set in an alternate, modern day UK, where magic has always existed and is understood to be the force that makes things work--it's what keeps bicycles from tipping over, it's what let's microwaves cook food, it's what let's carpets fly, and it's what protects the world from the terrible and terrifying dragons! Unfortunately, the magic that once was in abundance is fading, and it's up to Jennifer Strange, the 15-year-old head of Kazam Mystical Arts Management, to find new and creative ways for the eclectic group of wizards in her employ to use their magical skills to make money. Times just aren't like they used to be! Once responsible for saving Kingdoms, today's magicians unclog drains and deliver pizzas via flying carpet. Business is plodding along, until Kazam's resident psychic predicts the death of the last dragon--and along with it perhaps the end of all magic!
These books are as full of heart as they are of fun, and I enjoyed them all tremendously. The cast of characters was colorful, the laughs were loud, and the fun was frequent. If you haven't tried Jasper Fforde yet yourself, The Last Dragonslayer would be an excellent place to start!
No content concerns, but I found the dialogue and humor often spent more time appealing to the upper end of the YA spectrum. I don't know that an average 12-year-old would appreciate these books as much as a thoughtful 16-year-old would. I'll say best for 14 and up.
Happy Reading!
The Value of a Star: Ratings Explained
The Last Dragonslayer (The Last Dragonslayer, #1)
The Song of the Quarkbeast (The Last Dragonslayer, #2)
The Eye of Zoltar (The Last Dragonslayer, #3)
The Great Troll War (The Last Dragonslayer, #4)
By: Jasper Fforde
My Rating: Four out of five stars.
Best for: 14 and up
Magic, dragons, and a whole lot of magnificent nonsense!
I've decided to officially join the Jasper Fforde Fan Club. Except...I don't think that's a thing. Don't mind me, I'm just having a fan club meeting and I'm all by myself.
Jasper Fforde specializes in magnificent nonsense. His stories are far fetched, random, bizarre, and wonderful. I say it takes a special writer to ask you to accept the strange just as it's written, and when you do, suddenly the odd seems normal--and even has meaning.
I've found this to be true in all his stories I've read, including The Last Dragonslayer series. It's YA, has no content concerns, each book in the 4 book series is a perfectly-sized 300 (ish) pages, and is all about magic, dragons, quests, and all the stuff that makes my book-nerd world go round.
The story is set in an alternate, modern day UK, where magic has always existed and is understood to be the force that makes things work--it's what keeps bicycles from tipping over, it's what let's microwaves cook food, it's what let's carpets fly, and it's what protects the world from the terrible and terrifying dragons! Unfortunately, the magic that once was in abundance is fading, and it's up to Jennifer Strange, the 15-year-old head of Kazam Mystical Arts Management, to find new and creative ways for the eclectic group of wizards in her employ to use their magical skills to make money. Times just aren't like they used to be! Once responsible for saving Kingdoms, today's magicians unclog drains and deliver pizzas via flying carpet. Business is plodding along, until Kazam's resident psychic predicts the death of the last dragon--and along with it perhaps the end of all magic!
These books are as full of heart as they are of fun, and I enjoyed them all tremendously. The cast of characters was colorful, the laughs were loud, and the fun was frequent. If you haven't tried Jasper Fforde yet yourself, The Last Dragonslayer would be an excellent place to start!
No content concerns, but I found the dialogue and humor often spent more time appealing to the upper end of the YA spectrum. I don't know that an average 12-year-old would appreciate these books as much as a thoughtful 16-year-old would. I'll say best for 14 and up.
Happy Reading!
It's no secret: Jasper Fforde is my favorite author.
The 3rd in the Kazaam series is thus far my favorite. I enjoyed this books set up for the future 4th volume, and am actually on the edge of my seat for it!
I'm actually torn with whether I want book 4 to come out next, or, the LONG awaited Shades of Grey Book 2: Paint by Numbers (not to be confused with a book series with a similar title).
ok...definitely the latter, but either would make me immensely happy!
*crosses fingers for both*
The 3rd in the Kazaam series is thus far my favorite. I enjoyed this books set up for the future 4th volume, and am actually on the edge of my seat for it!
I'm actually torn with whether I want book 4 to come out next, or, the LONG awaited Shades of Grey Book 2: Paint by Numbers (not to be confused with a book series with a similar title).
ok...definitely the latter, but either would make me immensely happy!
*crosses fingers for both*
Another great read for my daughter and me in the series. Huge cliffhanger at the end. Can't wait to start the next one together!
Fforde's Last Dragonslayer series is, like his other books, set in a rather strange world which the main characters find commonplace, with the plot revolving around something even weirder happening to them. However, it's usually been one of his weaker series (being aimed at children, so kept a little simpler), compared to Thursday Next, Nursery Crimes or Shades of Grey.
However, this (the third in the series) is actually quite riveting, with Jennifer and friends (and people she doesn't really like) heading off on an exciting and perilous quest, sorry, search for the Eye of Zoltar. The pacing holds up really well throughout the book, and I quite enjoyed the story, the narration, and even laughed out loud at the occasional joke. Far better than its predecessor, but still not quite up to Fforde's Shades of Grey level.
However, this (the third in the series) is actually quite riveting, with Jennifer and friends (and people she doesn't really like) heading off on an exciting and perilous quest, sorry, search for the Eye of Zoltar. The pacing holds up really well throughout the book, and I quite enjoyed the story, the narration, and even laughed out loud at the occasional joke. Far better than its predecessor, but still not quite up to Fforde's Shades of Grey level.
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes