A review by helenlp
Fool on the Hill by Matt Ruff

4.0

This book was recommended to me by a friend and I’m so glad I followed her recommendation. It is so much fun. It’s a delightful book about stories, storytellers and fairytales, with a nod to Shakespeare and a huge bow to Tolkien. I wasn’t sure about it at first, it definitely feels like the debut novel it is for the first 100 pages, but once he finds his stride Ruff knows how to entertain and pulls it off. I was never entirely convinced by George, his central character, but the supporting cast is superb - especially the Bohemians! I do wish his female characters were as well drawn as the male ones, but then I remind myself that this is a man writing fantasy in the 1980s and the females are generally pretty kick ass for that time, so I feel like I should give him a pass. All in all I enjoyed this hugely and would happily read something else written by him.