A review by ephemerily
The Splintered Crown: A Tankards and Heroes Novel by Larry N. Martin

adventurous mysterious relaxing medium-paced

5.0

I was surprised by how much I liked this fantasy. I say that only because it has not a single bit of romance in it, and the cover shows an angry-looking dude shouting. I picked it up in anticipation of being on a panel with the author at a fantasy con. 

 

The basic premise is there’s a rundown pub with a “resident demigoddess” who hangs out and sends would-be heroes on quests through a magic portal. Five down-on-their-luck friends decide to try it so they can hopefully succeed on the quest and win the money to buy a farm in the country where they can live in peace. They are given a quest with a series of tasks, which of course involves each of them growing/learning. (And, they seem somewhat aware that “this is how quests work.”) 

Objectively, I can see that the plot (based on random tasks) is sort of contrived, but I just loved how this book felt. I can’t figure out what about it worked so well for me. But I was picking it up to keep reading every time I had five minutes all weekend. While there is some fighting/danger, it felt cozy to me because each task ends and they leave it behind, and as they journey (with a map), they are able to spend the night in “lychgates” at cemeteries that offer protection. The lychgates felt so cozy! Plus they have a sack that magically churns out the standard questing fare of bread, cheese, dried fruit, and cured meat.