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thestainlesssteelrat's review against another edition
5.0
Problem solving is the essence of creativity...
...and Mennik Thorn has many problems to solve. A dog who won't stay with it's owner; a bar that is rotting from inside out and the no small matter of being press ganged into the service of smugglers.
Nik uses his unique creativity to 'solve' all these problems.
This is another smaller slice of the life of Mennik Thorn mage for hire in Agatos. Small slice it maybe, but packed full of usual hapless intrigue for our hero.
I truly enjoy seeing Nik put through the wringer yet again (possibly because that means it's not my turn).
...and Mennik Thorn has many problems to solve. A dog who won't stay with it's owner; a bar that is rotting from inside out and the no small matter of being press ganged into the service of smugglers.
Nik uses his unique creativity to 'solve' all these problems.
This is another smaller slice of the life of Mennik Thorn mage for hire in Agatos. Small slice it maybe, but packed full of usual hapless intrigue for our hero.
I truly enjoy seeing Nik put through the wringer yet again (possibly because that means it's not my turn).
kevinscorner's review against another edition
4.0
Everyone’s (okay, maybe not everyone’s) favorite mage-for-hire Mennik Thorn is back in this short mini-adventure. This third book in the Mennik Thorn series, Strange Cargo, is a short novel that is meant to tie up some unfinished business from the previous book Nectar for the Dead God. Nik once again demonstrates his terrible luck when is forced to do a job he does not want to by a smuggling gang. But weaseling his way out is more complicated than he thinks and may cone with even more consequences.
I really enjoyed this book that I like to think of as more of a side quest than an actual main entry or installment. It does provide the same funny quips and fun situations Nik always manages to get himself into. However, it does not actually progress the other story threads that’s been building in previous installment that I’m looking out for— his budding relationship with Captain Gale and whatever is going on with his sister and her partner. I am fully expecting those to fully bloom in the next book.
Mennik Thorn is just a great character who’s nobility and integrity keep getting in his way despite his better judgement, and I just love that about him. I like his “voice” with his sarcasm and wit and his self-depreciating humor. This time around, he comes off as less of a bumbling idiot and more the unlucky “good guys finish last” man that he actually is. I really hope thing finally goes his way in the fourth book.
Strange Cargo is a fun return to Mennik Thorn in this enjoyable short third novel that is more a tying of loose ends and a tease.
*I requested and was provided an eARC by the author.
I really enjoyed this book that I like to think of as more of a side quest than an actual main entry or installment. It does provide the same funny quips and fun situations Nik always manages to get himself into. However, it does not actually progress the other story threads that’s been building in previous installment that I’m looking out for— his budding relationship with Captain Gale and whatever is going on with his sister and her partner. I am fully expecting those to fully bloom in the next book.
Mennik Thorn is just a great character who’s nobility and integrity keep getting in his way despite his better judgement, and I just love that about him. I like his “voice” with his sarcasm and wit and his self-depreciating humor. This time around, he comes off as less of a bumbling idiot and more the unlucky “good guys finish last” man that he actually is. I really hope thing finally goes his way in the fourth book.
Strange Cargo is a fun return to Mennik Thorn in this enjoyable short third novel that is more a tying of loose ends and a tease.
*I requested and was provided an eARC by the author.
kitvaria_sarene's review
adventurous
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Strange Cargo by Patrick Samphire is the third book in the series, but also a bit of a side quest novella in a way.
As it says in the foreword it is its own story line that didn't fit well into book 3 or 4, but needed to happen, so it got its own little book. I really enjoy a quicker bite between the giant tomes, so for me that was not a problem, but more like a bonus!
Events from book two come back to bite him in the bum, and he tries to keep his head over water money wise by taking any job he can find, some of them quite repetitive or simply annoying.
The friendship with Benny is still strained, so in this book there's not really anyone to rely on, and you can imagine how much chaos and disaster follows!
There's a new mystery to solve, mouths to run and bad situations to escape! One hell of a lot of fun!
As it says in the foreword it is its own story line that didn't fit well into book 3 or 4, but needed to happen, so it got its own little book. I really enjoy a quicker bite between the giant tomes, so for me that was not a problem, but more like a bonus!
Events from book two come back to bite him in the bum, and he tries to keep his head over water money wise by taking any job he can find, some of them quite repetitive or simply annoying.
The friendship with Benny is still strained, so in this book there's not really anyone to rely on, and you can imagine how much chaos and disaster follows!
There's a new mystery to solve, mouths to run and bad situations to escape! One hell of a lot of fun!
zgale98's review
adventurous
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
esop's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
realmsofmymind's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
Mennik Thorn, mage-for-hire, prefers a simple life of casting spells to find lost dogs and tracking husbands to see if they’re stepping out on their wives. Unfortunately for Mennik, his last big case accidentally caused him to disrupt the work of a smuggling ring, and they’re coming to collect what they feel they’re owed. If Mennik doesn’t help them smuggle in some unknown cargo, well, Mennik won’t have to worry about any problems for too much longer.
STRANGE CARGO is a delightful little adventure that satisfies that urban fantasy itch, despite its smaller size (and epic fantasy setting). The author states up front his reasoning for this book: he had some story threads he wanted to lay out that just weren’t working in books 2 or 3 without making them feel bogged down with too much plot. Never fear that this is half-baked filler material; STRANGE CARGO stands on its own two feet, a full story with plenty of mystery and adventure.
The only real downside is that Mennik mostly works on his own in this outing, without the steadily building cast of characters that have developed over the last few books. The reasoning for their absence makes sense, and Mennik holds his own, but I still missed them.
STRANGE CARGO is another stellar adventure in a series that is proving perfect for those who like mystery in their fantasy. With the final book expected to hit later in 2023, I highly recommend jumping into the Mennik Thorn books, particularly if you’ve ever wanted a mystery series in an epic fantasy series (but without awkward chauvinism or straight out misogyny). I’m definitely excited to see where everything lands in the finale!
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