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guyro's review against another edition
4.0
the amazon kindle version has shocking formatting
this was a fun little read
though i feel florizel should have had a proper love interest (buttercup), rather than starting that but not taking it further, this was 1 disapointment
this was a fun little read
though i feel florizel should have had a proper love interest (buttercup), rather than starting that but not taking it further, this was 1 disapointment
rlwaite's review against another edition
2.0
Tom Holt is one of my favorite authors, and I automatically buy anything he publishes. However, I was disappointed in this book. I think the whole YouSpace thing has run its course, and it's time for Holt to go in another direction.
meeghanreads's review against another edition
5.0
I saw this book in a book shop (surprise, surprise…), and as someone who works in a human resources/financial/ICT/corporate services section of a large organisation thought to myself – that looks pretty funny.
It is safe to say that I was not disappointed.
Tom Holt has a Terry Pratchett-esque witty style of writing – and this is praise that I do not hand out lightly. I experienced entire chapters where I was in hysterics, literally LOL-ing, which generally ends in me choking for air and then in a coughing fit.
Now, I did not read these books in numerical order. In fact, I read book 3 (this one), then 4, 2 and finally 1. It really doesn’t matter that much, as with the Discworld novels, and you can definitely understand what is happening without the lengthy back story of what YouSpace is.
Essentially, this story is a fantasy novel written by an experienced Chief Operating Officer – or at least someone who has read Business Management for Dummies*. It reminds me of how a bunch of HR and finance nerds (you’ll notice I am deliberately staying away from IT in this example) would congregate in order to play a game of Dungeons and Dragons. This is the book that has you philosophising about whether Red Riding Hood can claim a laundry allowance for her uniform; is there a Memorandum of Understanding with a schedule of payments between the dwarves and the elves; or, if an adventurer takes an arrow to the knee is he entitled to worker’s compensation?
Florizel is the mainest of all the recurring characters throughout this story. He is the one lost and wayward soul among the strange occurrings of this odd little world – and he is also the last one to figure out what is going on. I also really like Buttercup and Turquine. And the old man and his nephew who eats everything in sight, plus more that he seems to pull out of a Mary Poppins-esque number of pockets.
The story is good, but it might feel a bit like wading through mud if you aren’t familiar with the organisational jargon and rhetoric that is used in it. Economic models, forecasting, infrastructure, integrated transport systems, advanced interrogation techniques. It also goes on to discuss several scientific theories (as you would when discussing multiple universe theory), that I honestly have zero understanding of, but they sound fancy.
I did really enjoy this book – it’s probably my favourite of the four Tom Holt novels I have read. I think it’s also the least science-y of them, so that probably also explains my reasoning.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ – 8/10 hearts
* No, I am not entirely sure if this book exists; however, surely given the vast range of ‘for Dummies’ books there is something like it published out there in our universe. And if not, then there definitely would be one in an alternate universe.
It is safe to say that I was not disappointed.
Tom Holt has a Terry Pratchett-esque witty style of writing – and this is praise that I do not hand out lightly. I experienced entire chapters where I was in hysterics, literally LOL-ing, which generally ends in me choking for air and then in a coughing fit.
Now, I did not read these books in numerical order. In fact, I read book 3 (this one), then 4, 2 and finally 1. It really doesn’t matter that much, as with the Discworld novels, and you can definitely understand what is happening without the lengthy back story of what YouSpace is.
Essentially, this story is a fantasy novel written by an experienced Chief Operating Officer – or at least someone who has read Business Management for Dummies*. It reminds me of how a bunch of HR and finance nerds (you’ll notice I am deliberately staying away from IT in this example) would congregate in order to play a game of Dungeons and Dragons. This is the book that has you philosophising about whether Red Riding Hood can claim a laundry allowance for her uniform; is there a Memorandum of Understanding with a schedule of payments between the dwarves and the elves; or, if an adventurer takes an arrow to the knee is he entitled to worker’s compensation?
Florizel is the mainest of all the recurring characters throughout this story. He is the one lost and wayward soul among the strange occurrings of this odd little world – and he is also the last one to figure out what is going on. I also really like Buttercup and Turquine. And the old man and his nephew who eats everything in sight, plus more that he seems to pull out of a Mary Poppins-esque number of pockets.
The story is good, but it might feel a bit like wading through mud if you aren’t familiar with the organisational jargon and rhetoric that is used in it. Economic models, forecasting, infrastructure, integrated transport systems, advanced interrogation techniques. It also goes on to discuss several scientific theories (as you would when discussing multiple universe theory), that I honestly have zero understanding of, but they sound fancy.
I did really enjoy this book – it’s probably my favourite of the four Tom Holt novels I have read. I think it’s also the least science-y of them, so that probably also explains my reasoning.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ – 8/10 hearts
* No, I am not entirely sure if this book exists; however, surely given the vast range of ‘for Dummies’ books there is something like it published out there in our universe. And if not, then there definitely would be one in an alternate universe.
cakeordeath's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
pmerrison's review against another edition
3.0
It's was... Fine. Just fine. I don't think I'm going to go out of my way to read any other books by the same author.
spuddleing's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
napkins's review against another edition
3.0
I got this from the library because it looked light and funny and quick, and in those respects I was not disapponted.
However, nothing warned or prepared me for the fact that it was the third on a series, a fact I didn't know until I came to add it here, in fact.
It's technically fine to pick it up without reading the other two - from what I can tell, they take place on different parallel realities anyway - but there are many terms and short in-jokes that I'd shrugged off as just another part of the author's wink-knudge approach to humor.
There's really only one running joke that makes up the book, and it gets a little tired by the fourth iteration of it, but all I was looking for was a quick, light read for the laundromat, and it performed that function admirably.
However, nothing warned or prepared me for the fact that it was the third on a series, a fact I didn't know until I came to add it here, in fact.
It's technically fine to pick it up without reading the other two - from what I can tell, they take place on different parallel realities anyway - but there are many terms and short in-jokes that I'd shrugged off as just another part of the author's wink-knudge approach to humor.
There's really only one running joke that makes up the book, and it gets a little tired by the fourth iteration of it, but all I was looking for was a quick, light read for the laundromat, and it performed that function admirably.
thelauramay's review against another edition
2.0
It was entertaining--and I do love a fairy-tale or ten--but not up to the standard of 'Expecting Someone Taller'. 2.5 stars.
alliebookworm's review against another edition
5.0
Really fun, unique, funny and smart take on a fantasy realm. (How *is* woodcutting a sustainable economic model in a forest?) I liked that the book trusted the reader to be intelligent enough to figure out what happened between the lines. Great read for anyone who enjoys a bit of snark in their fantasy.
kitvaria_sarene's review against another edition
4.0
First of - this is not a book for everybody.
If you love silly, crazy and over the top humor - then go for it! You'll love it as much as me! If you don't - keep clear of this one...
Scenes like this one, made me absolutely fall in love with the book:
“In order to fulfill your quest -"
"Would you please not use that word? It's so Robert E. Howard."
"Fine. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to travel to the far ends of the earth...?"
"What? In these shoes? You must be joking."
"Crossing arid desserts and steaming jungles," the unicorn continued grimly, "fording mighty rivers and climbing snow-capped mountains-"
"I take it scheduled public transport isn't an option."
"Until you reach the Cradle of All Goblins, interrupt just once more and I wash my hooves of you, where you will encounter three trials. You must uncover the great truth that was hidden, you must right the ancestral wrong, and you must throw the fire into the ring of power. Only when you have done that -"
"Excuse me-"
"I warned you. Only when you have done that will you -"
"Excuse me," Benny said firmly, "but I think you may have got the last one a bit turned round. Surely it should be throw the ring-”
If you enjoy such silliness, this is the right book for you. If you are looking for "serious epic fantasy" or something of the like - just back of slowly :P
Holt combines a magical fairytale with economics, lots and lots of humor and perfectly crazy characters.
Just my cup of tea!
If you love silly, crazy and over the top humor - then go for it! You'll love it as much as me! If you don't - keep clear of this one...
Scenes like this one, made me absolutely fall in love with the book:
“In order to fulfill your quest -"
"Would you please not use that word? It's so Robert E. Howard."
"Fine. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to travel to the far ends of the earth...?"
"What? In these shoes? You must be joking."
"Crossing arid desserts and steaming jungles," the unicorn continued grimly, "fording mighty rivers and climbing snow-capped mountains-"
"I take it scheduled public transport isn't an option."
"Until you reach the Cradle of All Goblins, interrupt just once more and I wash my hooves of you, where you will encounter three trials. You must uncover the great truth that was hidden, you must right the ancestral wrong, and you must throw the fire into the ring of power. Only when you have done that -"
"Excuse me-"
"I warned you. Only when you have done that will you -"
"Excuse me," Benny said firmly, "but I think you may have got the last one a bit turned round. Surely it should be throw the ring-”
If you enjoy such silliness, this is the right book for you. If you are looking for "serious epic fantasy" or something of the like - just back of slowly :P
Holt combines a magical fairytale with economics, lots and lots of humor and perfectly crazy characters.
Just my cup of tea!