Ahoy there me mateys! While drawin’ up me lists of 2016 for me log, I realized a curious thing – out of 134 books read, not a single one was a re-read. In me enthusiasm of discovery and taking suggestions from me crew, I did not revisit a single old port for plunder! And part of what I love about readin’ is re-visitin’ old friends. So I decided to remedy that and thus created me new category where I take a second look at a previously enjoyed novel and give me crew me second reflections, as it we...

I really enjoy Fforde's humor and this was a great escape read, which is exactly what I was looking for. This is the story of a sixteen year-old foundling who runs an employment agency for sorcerers. There was a small battle scene at the end, which I could've done without, but it's a fantasy series; what did I expect? I'm definitely continuing on with it. The laughs were priceless, and there were a couple of surprises I really didn't expect. The main characters in here are so good, particularly

I was first attracted to this book by the cover with such amazing colours and illustrations. My favourite chapter is Maltcassion, where Jennifer Strange talks to the dragon Maltcassion. This is where the Jasper Fforde humour really shines. If I could I would quote the entire chapter. Maltcassion and Jennifer discuss the human race and its many failures, like the failure to discover the 600 varieties of floon beetle, one of which turns itself inside out for fun. Maltcassion also tells Jennifer th...

Yet another witty read by Jasper Fforde! Although aimed primarily at younger readers, this book is very enjoyable and very Fforde: lots of great characters (Jennifer did remind me of a young Thursday Next), puns, jokes and inventiveness. Who else but Fforde could mix an evil multinational, media circus, crooked politicians and dragons in the same book? Granted, the book is short and the plot is a bit thin but this is still a great read. A very good Fforde:)• Book 2: The Song of the Quarkbeast ★★...

So very, very, very good!Excellent! The narration was wonderful as well!This story is the perfect mixture of cleverness, craft, cute whimsy, intelligence, social commentary, fantasy, and fulfillment of the hero's journey trope.I loved! This author has a new fan :-)Haven't been treated to this good a story in a while. And so funny!!I'm off to Audible for part 2.

I'd happily read it to my kid, or be pleased to see him reading it for himself. Fun and quick paced, without any creeping cultural ugliness in it. Also, it's nice to see a good female lead in a kid's book where there's not a big deal made of the fact that she's a girl. I can't stress that enough.

Funny and clever. Pretty tightly plotted too, with some fun twists.

Simply put, Jasper Fforde is brilliant. He has yet again created a wondrous, magical story right amid the everyday mundane. This is a quick and entertaining read with the perfect mix of adventure, humor, and feeling.I'm a big fan of the Thursday Next novels but admit they aren't the most accessible books and they are not everyone's "cup of tea." However, The Last Dragonslayer can be enjoyed by anyone!Mr. Fforde takes the average "orphan with destiny" plot and turns it on its head. Here is the Am...

I've never read a book quite like The Last Dragonslayer. It was very odd, to say the least, but maybe that's why I liked it so much. Honestly, the first half of it was THE BEST. <3 All the wizards (minus Lady Mawgon) were endearing, and the quirky magic in Kazam was so much fun. I loved the idea of magic "fading" from society. The book was set in modern times (as far as I know??) and magic was used for stuff like delivering pizza, rewiring houses, and charming moles. SO AWESOME. Okay, sooo...may...

OMG I love Jasper Fforde! He is one of those authors that I know I will enjoy, but for some crazy reason, do not ravenously consume when he has a new book. When I walked the isle's of BEA I paused when I saw his name. Honestly, bless the Welsh for their odd looking names. It never fails to grab my attention. This book is full of whimsy. That's the best way to describe Fforde's work: whimsical. He uses fantasy and whimsy to show the world and mock it. The world of The Last Dragon Slayer is 2011 i...

Warning, this book may possibly garner you strange looks if you decide to read it on a bus, a subway, or a coffee shop due to random bouts of sniggering, chuckling, and outright guffawing. There is usually fair warning, though. If the Quarkbeast enters the scene, make a hasty exit and read it where out loud laughter is ok.Seriously, I can only think of two others who have been able to make me laugh quite as hard with descriptions. 1) Douglas Adams with his Hitchhiker's Guide books, and 2) Brando...

It takes a special kind of reader to appreciate a Jasper Fforde novel: A reader who is not afraid to believe in the impossible, who is not afraid to accept even the most eccentric set-ups, a reader who revels in the imagination and creativity that stems from the mind of one of the most creative contemporary authors. Fforde’s characteristic satirical style rings true in The Last Dragonslayer that is ostensibly called YA fiction but, in my opinion, is meant for anyone who enjoys a good book. Of co...

I listened to the audio book on this one. I know this one was meant for people younger than a [ahem-blah-blah]-something, but I still felt it a bit lacking. To me, this one felt a bit derivative of Harry Potter. At least it started out that way and had witticisms and ideas and writing that seemed that way to me. Magic is part of the world and the world's history. The MC has a familiar called a Quark-beast, which sounded and acted a lot like an owl. The MC, 16 year old Jennifer Strange, is called...

Description: In the good old days, magic was powerful, unregulated by government, and even the largest spell could be woven without filling in magic release form B1-7g. Then the magic started fading away. Fifteen-year-old Jennifer Strange runs Kazam, an employment agency for soothsayers and sorcerers. But work is drying up. Drain cleaner is cheaper than a spell, and even magic carpets are reduced to pizza delivery. So it's a surprise when the visions start. Not only do they predict the death of

4.5 Stars I loved this so much … well, accept one thing I would never have known about this book if it wasn’t for my sweet murderous pea recommending it to me. What a quirky, crazy, fun book!! And I want a Quarkbeast of my own! Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾

This one started out really, really well -- it's been a few years since my last Jasper Fforde, and it has all his trademark features, and is decidedly Pterryish as well. You can probably see the "but" coming....At a bit over halfway in, the YA stuff is starting to bug me, big time. For sure I'm not the intended audience. Anyway, I'm going to let it rest for a day or two and start something else.It's a fast, easy read and definitely worth picking up a library copy to see if it suits you. For me,

The Last Dragonslayer is a good YA novel with a simplistic plot best suited for younger teens, but a whimsical style and satirical humor that is probably way over their heads. Like many novels that are the first in a series, The Last Dragonslayer suffers from way too much attention spent on introducing a huge cast of characters most of whom play little or no part in the events of the rising action. All of the characters are original, comical and interesting, but the reader learns little about th...

The Last Dragonslayer has something in common with Disney movies; no, not the racism thing... This is a book for younger readers, but that I, technically an adult, really quite enjoyed... I don't recall any racism, just to be clear!I laughed, I cried, I didn't put it down, and as is Jasper's way, there were jokes that some might not get, but that keep those of us who read a lot, and enjoy a good sense of humour, reading and laughing.With a sassy 15-year-old, female lead, and an assistant named T...

Hmm.Well... I loved the first half? The ending was kind of sudden and not what I wanted... I don't think? Although I didn't know what I wanted. So. I dunno. But it's kind of fun and I really enjoyed most of it, so... yep. :) I thought it was an automatic 5 stars until that all happened so... apparently I was wrong? I don't really know what I think of it right now. :P *wanders off in confusion*EDIT:Okay I took some time away for a bit and I think I figured out the problem, which is that I was rea...

"Magic, as I said, has no intelligence. The choice to use it for good or bad lies with us. All of us." Jennifer Strange lives in the Uninited Kingdoms, that's right, the Ununited Kingdoms, where she runs Kazam Mystical Arts Management. Soon, the few remaining seers are struck by the same powerful vision: the world's last dragon, Maltcassion, will die in less than a week, at the hands of the Last Dragonslayer. I fell in love with this novel almost instantly because of how darn funny it was! Je