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mmmlysaght's review against another edition
4.0
A fun, quick read with a cast of endearingly terrible characters. The distinct forms of magic invented by the author took a little time to parse, but I prefer that to lengthy exposition. The text needed a heavy second round of copy editing, but otherwise the production is lovely: great cover, beautiful inside illustrations.
emrodav's review
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. I really did! But it just...didn't work.
First off, the premise sounds so good! Imagine if, in Deathly Hallows, it was Ron who killed Voldemort and not Harry. Imagine dealing with that sense that you've let everyone down, and also feeling jealousy because YOUR story has been derailed. It's a really interesting idea for a story.
Unfortunately, it maybe would have worked better as a Harry Potter fanfiction than a book with new characters. In A Hero at the End of the World, we're thrust into book seven of a story, but we don't have the background for the rest of the world that's come before this. It works in fanfiction because you're working off of a common story that the readers will be familiar with. But it doesn't work when you've remixed things. There's no real connection to the characters or the lives they lived before the start of this book.
It also has a negative effect on character building. The characters map a little TOO well with characters from Harry Potter. Ewan is Harry, Oliver is Ron, Archie is Draco, and Sophie is Hermione. And there isn't a whole lot going on to make them more unique or separate from the characters that they're obviously based on. (This is why Rainbow Rowell's Carry On (which has a very similar premise/inspiration) works. The characters are very different. Simon and Baz feel like their own characters.)
And on top of all that, the magic system didn't work for me either. It's way too weird and complicated. There are so many random terms thrown around, and ideas that are introduced and not explained until later. That might work if you've had other books in a series to learn about the magic system, but it doesn't work for one 300 page novel.
I feel bad saying it, but I think this book should've stayed as a fanfiction idea. It would be a really good one! But it just doesn't work as a standalone original novel.
First off, the premise sounds so good! Imagine if, in Deathly Hallows, it was Ron who killed Voldemort and not Harry. Imagine dealing with that sense that you've let everyone down, and also feeling jealousy because YOUR story has been derailed. It's a really interesting idea for a story.
Unfortunately, it maybe would have worked better as a Harry Potter fanfiction than a book with new characters. In A Hero at the End of the World, we're thrust into book seven of a story, but we don't have the background for the rest of the world that's come before this. It works in fanfiction because you're working off of a common story that the readers will be familiar with. But it doesn't work when you've remixed things. There's no real connection to the characters or the lives they lived before the start of this book.
It also has a negative effect on character building. The characters map a little TOO well with characters from Harry Potter. Ewan is Harry, Oliver is Ron, Archie is Draco, and Sophie is Hermione. And there isn't a whole lot going on to make them more unique or separate from the characters that they're obviously based on. (This is why Rainbow Rowell's Carry On (which has a very similar premise/inspiration) works. The characters are very different. Simon and Baz feel like their own characters.)
And on top of all that, the magic system didn't work for me either. It's way too weird and complicated. There are so many random terms thrown around, and ideas that are introduced and not explained until later. That might work if you've had other books in a series to learn about the magic system, but it doesn't work for one 300 page novel.
I feel bad saying it, but I think this book should've stayed as a fanfiction idea. It would be a really good one! But it just doesn't work as a standalone original novel.
roboxa's review
4.0
Originally posted on Roberta's Literary Ramblings
Wow. This book is pretty awesome! I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it, and it didn't take long since I couldn't put it down. An acquaintance of mine mentioned that she had read this book and really liked it, and while doing some research for a grad project I discovered the publisher, Big Bang Press. (They are doing some cool stuff. You should look them up.) I saw this book on the website and realized it was the same one my acquaintance was talking about. I read the synopsis and had to have it. It proved to be one of the best purchase decisions I've made in a while.
The book is a light-hearted satire on the 'chosen one' motif that is so prevalent in YA fantasy and fantasy in general. Erin Claiborne masterfully shows her readers that while she pokes fun at this form of storytelling, it stills holds a very special place in her heart. A feeling that I believe many YA fantasy and sci-fi readers share. It's healthy to poke fun at the things you love, and this book proves that this fun can be just as good as what inspires it.
The characters in this book are really lovable, flaws and all (because what lovable character doesn't have those) and you find yourself rooting for everyone and hating no one. The dialogue between the characters was amazing and made me laugh out loud. I sometimes got weird looks for this, but I was having too much fun to care. I couldn't help but be completely invested in their lives which made the story that much more moving and funny.
A Hero at the End of the World is both hilarious and sincere in its depiction of a broken friendship, the difficulties of having to live up to exceedingly high expectations, and the pain that follows when those expectations aren't met. Many can relate to these characters on many levels. Who hasn't failed at something and felt devastated after? Or conversely, let a success go to their head? It's human. It's funny. It's touching. It's everything you could ever want from a YA novel, or any fantasy novel for that matter.
I will recommend this book to basically everyone I talk to. I am really looking forward to reading more from Erin Claiborne, whether she writes in this universe again or not.
Wow. This book is pretty awesome! I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it, and it didn't take long since I couldn't put it down. An acquaintance of mine mentioned that she had read this book and really liked it, and while doing some research for a grad project I discovered the publisher, Big Bang Press. (They are doing some cool stuff. You should look them up.) I saw this book on the website and realized it was the same one my acquaintance was talking about. I read the synopsis and had to have it. It proved to be one of the best purchase decisions I've made in a while.
The book is a light-hearted satire on the 'chosen one' motif that is so prevalent in YA fantasy and fantasy in general. Erin Claiborne masterfully shows her readers that while she pokes fun at this form of storytelling, it stills holds a very special place in her heart. A feeling that I believe many YA fantasy and sci-fi readers share. It's healthy to poke fun at the things you love, and this book proves that this fun can be just as good as what inspires it.
The characters in this book are really lovable, flaws and all (because what lovable character doesn't have those) and you find yourself rooting for everyone and hating no one. The dialogue between the characters was amazing and made me laugh out loud. I sometimes got weird looks for this, but I was having too much fun to care. I couldn't help but be completely invested in their lives which made the story that much more moving and funny.
A Hero at the End of the World is both hilarious and sincere in its depiction of a broken friendship, the difficulties of having to live up to exceedingly high expectations, and the pain that follows when those expectations aren't met. Many can relate to these characters on many levels. Who hasn't failed at something and felt devastated after? Or conversely, let a success go to their head? It's human. It's funny. It's touching. It's everything you could ever want from a YA novel, or any fantasy novel for that matter.
I will recommend this book to basically everyone I talk to. I am really looking forward to reading more from Erin Claiborne, whether she writes in this universe again or not.
diamondrust's review
2.0
Wanted to rate it higher - I appreciated her diversity, the concept itself, but I think I just had different expectations of what the book would be, and I never quite got over those unmet expectations. I'm not sure it's her fault, nor do I think it is a bad book, necessarily. More of a try it yourself and see.
mcf's review
4.0
All kinds of utterly absurd fun. Set in a semi-despotic London in which magic is a fact of life, and featuring a failed hero of prophecy, the former best friend who stole his place in legend, a posh git, a badass lady cop, and some evil masterminds, one of whom is (sometimes) a dragon. Among other things. The plot hurtles along at breakneck pace and, though almost all of the relationships are sorted out in cliched, simplistic form, it's nevertheless a delightful read, made even more so by the presence of people of color (!) and characters who aren't heterosexual (!!).
evelikesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
At first I really didn't like this book. Ewan was an obnoxious whiner, and Oliver seemed like a douchey hero in the vein of Captain Hammer. But the second half turned it around a lot, and the characters got a lot more likeable.
banrions's review
4.0
I am so glad I donated to the kickstarter for this book. One of the best decisions I've made recently if I do say so myself.
This book is funny. The characters are well fleshed out and entertaining and the world building is very well done. Highly recommend it!
This book is funny. The characters are well fleshed out and entertaining and the world building is very well done. Highly recommend it!
surfmonkey01's review
3.0
I loved this book in the early portions. It was just fun. Then as the main plot kicked into gear, it got less and less fun, until by the end it was almost a chore to finish it. And I thought it ended with a whimper instead of a bang. I had been so psyched for this book, and although it wasn't bad, in the end I think I was fairly disappointed.
earlieststar's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book was such a delight to read. this is a 2023 review of a book i read in 2014 to 2015 because it was just that memorable to me. i asked my cousin to bring it to brazil from overseas and Devoured it the minute she got it to my hands.
this story is such a nice exploration on the Chosen One trope, that subverts and meta-plays with the narratives we are used to. the characters are very lovable, really funny and the book is filled with heartwarming moments of reflection.
the main focus and conflicts of the narrative are the friendships between the characters, both the broken and the new ones and the interactions of those different social cores we have in our lives.
the plot is genuinely hilarious, but does not sacrifice the moments of reflection and sobriety it needs to work.
it's well past time for a reread to me and it brought me so much joy to see this book recommended to me by storygraph. i think this is a delightful short read for people who want a fun, out-of-the-box story to love, and i also would really recommend this book to anyone on a reading slump.
this story is such a nice exploration on the Chosen One trope, that subverts and meta-plays with the narratives we are used to. the characters are very lovable, really funny and the book is filled with heartwarming moments of reflection.
the main focus and conflicts of the narrative are the friendships between the characters, both the broken and the new ones and the interactions of those different social cores we have in our lives.
the plot is genuinely hilarious, but does not sacrifice the moments of reflection and sobriety it needs to work.
it's well past time for a reread to me and it brought me so much joy to see this book recommended to me by storygraph. i think this is a delightful short read for people who want a fun, out-of-the-box story to love, and i also would really recommend this book to anyone on a reading slump.
Content Warnings
Minor: Homophobia
seeinghowitgoes's review
3.0
The ultimate in anti-hero stories.
Growing up knowing that you're named in Prophecy as the Slayer of Duff Slan gives you a bit of a complex. Things get even worse when Ewan's best friend actually ends up Slaying Duff instead... Years later with a massive chip on his shoulder, Ewan is now working in a coffee shop and Oliver is working for the Government in the Unusual's department.
Tempted by Evil, Ewan finds himself caught up in the midst of a scheme to take his best friend down a peg and suddenly it's an episode of Sliders complete with a posey of side characters! The execution and story is good fun, but the problem is Ewan is such a moaner I wanted to slap him at times. The excruciating details about London are also such overkill, I get that it's based in London but I don't really need to read every detail of every train changeover.
Growing up knowing that you're named in Prophecy as the Slayer of Duff Slan gives you a bit of a complex. Things get even worse when Ewan's best friend actually ends up Slaying Duff instead... Years later with a massive chip on his shoulder, Ewan is now working in a coffee shop and Oliver is working for the Government in the Unusual's department.
Tempted by Evil, Ewan finds himself caught up in the midst of a scheme to take his best friend down a peg and suddenly it's an episode of Sliders complete with a posey of side characters! The execution and story is good fun, but the problem is Ewan is such a moaner I wanted to slap him at times. The excruciating details about London are also such overkill, I get that it's based in London but I don't really need to read every detail of every train changeover.