A review by katherineshawwrites
A Troll Walks into a Bar by Douglas Lumsden

adventurous mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

I'm a big fan of mixed genre books, and I couldn't say no to an urban fantasy noir novel! Lumsden cleverly takes many staples of classic fantasy stories - trolls, elves, gnomes, elemental magic - and splices them with corrupt policemen, gang warfare, smuggling operations, and gun fights. It could so easily go wrong, but it works brilliantly, drawing the reader into a gripping mystery whilst peppering in bits of world-building that create a rich fantasy world without distracting us from the action. 

My only criticism is that some of the fight scenes went on a little bit too long for my liking, but all in all this was an excellent read, and I would happily pick up the next Alexander Southerland adventure!
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