Review of Fish Wielder

[Kirtana Menon]

[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 an epic fantasy novel that contains everything needed to form the perfect fantasy story. It has the Hero, who has big muscles, flowing locks of hair, and is inexplicably powerful. It has the sidekick, who is funny and snarky and clearly the brains of the entire operation. It has the Damsel in Distress, who is soft and beautiful and conveniently placed to be rescued. Finally, it has the Villain, who is the very epitome of evil for evil reasons only he can understand. This satirical take on the fantasy genre follows Thoral Mighty Fist and his companion, a talking fish named Bradfast, as they journey through the fantasy land of Grome to defeat the forces of evil.

The story is absolutely hilarious from start to finish, making a mockery of the more common fantasy tropes. Despite the obviously satirical nature of the book, the story itself is compelling and well-formulated. The author manages to weave a gripping narrative interspersed with witty commentary and banter, leaving you in stitches while simultaneously ensuring the pages keep flipping. Although the actual story starts to reveal itself only after the first hundred pages or so, it becomes practically impossible to put the book down once the story gets going. The book has a good pace and nicely sets up the story’s puzzle pieces while also being mysterious enough with its clues that the reader isn't able to guess the entire story by the end of the first chapter. The writing pokes fun at all the cliché tropes of the fantasy genre while still maintaining the integrity of the story itself. It is the perfect kind of book for those who want a good fantasy novel but also want some well-organised chaos.

There were no negative points to this book.

The editing was also very well done. I could find only one error in the editing, and even that was barely noticeable. The style of writing was highly enjoyable from start to finish, and the narrative was intriguing. Due to the hilarious way it was written, and the gripping, albeit satirical, storyline, I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars.

I highly recommend this book to any fans of the fantasy genre, as well as anyone who likes reading a good comedy. I would also add that if you enjoy the works of authors like Douglas Adams or Terry Pratchett, Fish Wielder should be right up your alley.

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Fish Wielder
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