Review of Fish Wielder

[F N Chamomile]

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

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3 out of 4 stars

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What would happen when you combined several famous fantasy novels and added a little bit of realism? This book will give you an idea. Set in the world of Grome, Fish Wielder tells the adventure of a mysterious warrior, Thoral Mighty Fist, and his sidekick, a talking koi fish named Brad. Together, they try to defeat the evil Heartless One, the leader of Bad Religion, from stealing the Pudding of Power, which bestows the absolute power to control the entire Grome.

At first, the plot sounds like your typical fantasy novels, with an overpowered hero, a sidekick, a princess, a mysterious mentor figure, and a seemingly one-dimensional villain. However, all the predictable aspects are handled really well, creating many unpredictable twists. This novel is clearly a parody, but I don't get the impression that J.R.R.R. (Jim) Hardison tries too hard to make the story funny. Instead, I think the author has a genuine sense of humor, which allows me to laugh while reading the tale of our mighty fighter.

To be honest, I don't have any issues with this novel. Although I was skeptical at first, unexpectedly, I could enjoy this book until the very end. The characters are believable (though sometimes rather ridiculous), the plot is reasonable (though most of the time unexpected), and the worldbuilding is solid (just as weird as any other fantasy novels).

If I really want to be picky, however, I would complain about the violence and gore. Personally, the amount of blood in this book makes me uncomfortable, though I'm aware that it's intentional. In addition, in the part where Thoral shows his companions the magical tool from his world, a small detail made me wonder if the world of Grome has Wi-Fi.

Still, this is such an entertaining book that I won't mind dismissing those borderline negative aspects. Moreover, this book has been clearly well-edited and proofread, which made my reading experience more comfortable. Therefore, I'm giving this book 3 out of 4 stars, with the last star reduced for my own personal issue with graphic violence.

I recommend this book to those who love fantasy novels combined with some humor. I think this book isn't for children, though, so I'd suggest you read it by yourself, not as a bedtime story for your kids. As the first book of a series, this novel has given a promising beginning for the next installment.

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Fish Wielder
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