Review by Nisha Ward -- Fish Wielder
-
Nisha Ward
- Previous Member of the Month
- Posts: 2311
- Joined: 04 Feb 2019, 15:00
- Favorite Book: Binti Home
- Currently Reading:
- Bookshelf Size: 321
- Reviewer Page: onlinebookclub.org/reviews/by-nisha-ward.html
- Latest Review: Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute by Jeff Meyer
- Reading Device: B0794RHPZD
Review by Nisha Ward -- Fish Wielder
[Following is a volunteer review of "Fish Wielder" by J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison.]
When I was a child, I really loved The Lord of the Rings. It was my introduction to the fantasy genre beyond the world of fairy tales. To be honest, I’ve read it so many times that it became a book I could never forget. J.R.R.R. Hardison’s Fish Wielder is also unforgettable, not just because it parodies Tolkien’s work, but because it’s intriguing in its own right.
The story of Thoral Mighty Fist and his faithful companions Warlordhorse and Bradfast, the talking koi, we’re treated to his journey to defeat the Bad Religion and the Heartless One who leads them. When Thoral saves the Elven princess Nalweegie, the three companions are thrust into a struggle between good and evil as her father, Lord Elfrod of the elves’ Creekenvalley kingdom, sets them on a quest to defeat the Bad Religion and restore goodness to the world.
To say that I love this book is an understatement. I really wish I could give it more than the full 4 out of 4 stars that I’m giving it now. It’s funny, well-written, and it understands the tropes of the genre that is its foundation. Fish Wielder is brilliant in too many ways to count.
In terms of plot, it starts off as your standard fantasy, but it soon becomes apparent that there’s so much more to Thoral’s story. Of course, it’s a story that's revealed at an even, quick pace that makes the pages fly. I really liked that because it gave me space to appreciate the jokes and nuances of the story without dwelling on them for too long. This was important as the jokes could have run the risk of becoming too much within the context of the book.
As it stands, they made me laugh quite a bit. They were quite intelligent and made the book better, like the use of puddings instead of potions and how that would come into play later in the book. Even the identity of the Heartless One and the allusions to The Lord of the Rings, like the repeated mentions of Lord Mauron, who never actually appears in the book, were fun to read.
Another thing I liked was how vibrant the characters were. Each one was unique and stood out from the rest of the cast in their own way, from the city guard Trenton and his relationship with Thoral, to Bradfast and his role as Thoral’s friend and confidante. They were all quite distinct and felt like people I could talk to for hours. This was a definite plus for the book, cementing what I initially thought about it standing out as a story, and not just a parody.
To be honest with you, reader, I couldn’t find a single thing I didn’t like about this book. It’s written well, funny, and seems to be meticulously edited with no errors. I think fantasy readers will love it, both as a parody and a fantasy novel, and I can’t wait to find out what else Hardison has in store for us.
Happy reading, everyone!
******
Fish Wielder
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
When I was a child, I really loved The Lord of the Rings. It was my introduction to the fantasy genre beyond the world of fairy tales. To be honest, I’ve read it so many times that it became a book I could never forget. J.R.R.R. Hardison’s Fish Wielder is also unforgettable, not just because it parodies Tolkien’s work, but because it’s intriguing in its own right.
The story of Thoral Mighty Fist and his faithful companions Warlordhorse and Bradfast, the talking koi, we’re treated to his journey to defeat the Bad Religion and the Heartless One who leads them. When Thoral saves the Elven princess Nalweegie, the three companions are thrust into a struggle between good and evil as her father, Lord Elfrod of the elves’ Creekenvalley kingdom, sets them on a quest to defeat the Bad Religion and restore goodness to the world.
To say that I love this book is an understatement. I really wish I could give it more than the full 4 out of 4 stars that I’m giving it now. It’s funny, well-written, and it understands the tropes of the genre that is its foundation. Fish Wielder is brilliant in too many ways to count.
In terms of plot, it starts off as your standard fantasy, but it soon becomes apparent that there’s so much more to Thoral’s story. Of course, it’s a story that's revealed at an even, quick pace that makes the pages fly. I really liked that because it gave me space to appreciate the jokes and nuances of the story without dwelling on them for too long. This was important as the jokes could have run the risk of becoming too much within the context of the book.
As it stands, they made me laugh quite a bit. They were quite intelligent and made the book better, like the use of puddings instead of potions and how that would come into play later in the book. Even the identity of the Heartless One and the allusions to The Lord of the Rings, like the repeated mentions of Lord Mauron, who never actually appears in the book, were fun to read.
Another thing I liked was how vibrant the characters were. Each one was unique and stood out from the rest of the cast in their own way, from the city guard Trenton and his relationship with Thoral, to Bradfast and his role as Thoral’s friend and confidante. They were all quite distinct and felt like people I could talk to for hours. This was a definite plus for the book, cementing what I initially thought about it standing out as a story, and not just a parody.
To be honest with you, reader, I couldn’t find a single thing I didn’t like about this book. It’s written well, funny, and seems to be meticulously edited with no errors. I think fantasy readers will love it, both as a parody and a fantasy novel, and I can’t wait to find out what else Hardison has in store for us.
Happy reading, everyone!
******
Fish Wielder
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
"...while a book has got to be worthwhile from the point of view of the reader it's got to be worthwhile from the point of view of the writer as well." - Terry Pratchett on The Last Continent and his writing.
Latest Review: Fear Not, Dream Big, & Execute by Jeff Meyer
