Review by Samyukta_S -- Fish Wielder

[Samyukta_S]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Fish Wielder" by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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Fish Wielder by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison is a parody of popular mythical fantasy novels but deserves to be called an original fantasy in its own right. Like all high-fantasy novels, it follows the journey of a solitary man, Thoral Mighty Fist, and his faithful companion Bradfast, the talking koi fish, as they set out to save the magical land of Grome. Along the way, they encounter various loyal friends and mighty foes, interspersed with acquiring magical items and weapons.

Blending fantasy and mythical elements, but keeping a hilarious hold on present-day reality, this book started refreshingly unlike any other novel I had ever read. The inspirations and influences behind the book were openly displayed, even parodying the unpronounceable nature of half the names and locations. The first half was slightly weak as I felt the ideas were good but too scattered and not developed enough. But towards the second half of the book, an actual plot started to materialize, and I am amazed to say it was utterly unpredictable and ended in a nice twist.

The people were the best part of this book. Even though it was supposed to be driven by the suspense and the mystery, it felt more like a character-driven narrative. Each character—from the protagonist down to the innkeeper—popped out of the book with their zany personalities. I loved reading the interactions between them, as none of it felt forced or unreal. It was incredibly relatable. Another brilliant aspect of the book was how each detail ended up contributing towards solving the mystery in the end, and how it all tied up neatly.

The only parts I disliked were when the violence and gore were described during the numerous fights. They were written well, but maybe a little too well, as nothing was left to the reader’s imagination. It was hard to stomach those scenes, and there were many of them.

I rate Fish Wielder by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison 4 out of 4 stars, as it was exceptionally well-edited, and even though it calls itself a spoof on other fantasy novels, it had plenty of unique plot-lines that were funny and relatable. The gore and violence aspect is inevitable in such novels, but it was nicely offset by hilarious dialogues.

It would appeal to fans of the magic and fantasy genre as well as readers who enjoy parodies. There is minimal swearing involved, and it is not explicit. Reader discretion is advised, as the violence and gore are described in great detail.

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Fish Wielder
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