***Review** The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper FForde

 

The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde

Released: 2nd November 2010
Publisher:  Hodder & Stoughton
Series: Yes #1 In The Last Dragonslayer series
Format:  Hardcover
Source: Bought
Find At:  Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon | The Book Depository |  Barnes & Noble
Author Website:  Jasper Fforde

Goodreads Synopsis:

In the good old days, magic was powerful, unregulated by government, and even the largest spell could be woven without filling in the magic release form B1-7g. But somewhere, somehow, the magic started draining away.

Jennifer Strange runs Kazam!, an employment agency for state-registered magicians, soothsayers and sorceresses. But work is drying up. Drain cleaner is cheaper and quicker than a spell. Why trust a cold and drafty magic carpet when jetliners offer a comfy seat and an in-flight movie? And now potions are eligible for VAT...

But then the visions start. The Last Dragon is going to be killed by a Dragonslayer at 12.00 on Sunday. The death will unleash untold devastation on the UnUnited Kingdom, setting principality against dukedom and property developer against homesteader. And all the signs are pointing to Jennifer Strange, and saying"Big Magic is coming!"

The Last Dragonslayer is fizzing with all the creativity and genius Jasper Fforde's fans delight in, and will appeal as much to the young at heart as to the younger readers for whom it is written.

My Review:

 Magic is dying, years ago magic was very strong and many dragons roamed the land. But times have changed. All the dragons bar one have been slain and magic has weakened. We meet Jennifer Strange, a sixteen year old girl who runs a magical agency. Jennifer has to organise the wizards and soothsayers to do very menial tasks such as unblocking drains and re-wiring houses. In fact magic has gone so weak people are using normal means to do these menial tasks, making Jennifer’s job a lot lot harder! When visions start happening about the last dragon being slain by the last dragon slayer, Jennifer’s life gets a bit complicated. Big Magic is going to happen and it could have devastating consequences for the UnUnited Kingdom.

Fun, frivolous and very very descriptive, this is what basically sums up this book. High jinks in Herefordshire. Wish it was this fun in real life. Being from the wonderful county of Herefordshire myself, I have to say what a lovely change it was to recognise all the place names. It made the book even more special for me. And the fact that the main character and I share the same name.

I loved loved loved this book, it is a breath of fresh air. Creative and imaginative. I did find I was laughing out loud in several places. I wish I hadn’t left it on the bookcase for so long now. But as a friend and I were going to a Jasper Fforde event I thought I would get this read. And boy am I glad I did!

 I thought the characters were fantastic, I especially liked Jennifer Strange and her side kick the Quark beast. I was championing her all the way through the book. It is very easy to forget that she is only sixteen; she seems wise beyond her years. She had a lot to deal with and she managed to do this with great finesse.

 I’ve read Shades of Grey by this author and knew that The Last Dragonslayer had a lot to live up to. I can say that even though Shades of Grey is still my favourite book; this one is a very close second.

This book would be enjoyed by children and adults. I would highly recommend this book. I really can’t wait to read the next book in the series, which so happens to be sat on my bookcase at this very moment!

Story Rating: 5/5 - I wish this type of creativity and genius could be bottled.

Cover Rating: 5/5 - I love this cover, mine has scales and has a lovely bumpy feel, just like dragon scales. 

About The Author:

Myself and Jasper Fforde

Jasper Fforde is a novelist living in Wales. He is the son of John Standish Fforde, the 24th Chief Cashier for the Bank of England, whose signature used to appear on sterling banknotes, and is cousin of the author, Katie Fforde. His early career was spent as a focus puller in the film industry, where he worked on a number of films including Quills, GoldenEye, and Entrapment.

His published books include a series of novels starring Thursday Next: The Eyre Affair (2001), Lost in a Good Book (2002), The Well of Lost Plots (2003), Something Rotten (2004) and First Among Sequels (2007). The Big Over Easy (2005), which shares a similar setting with the Next novels, is a reworking of his first written novel, which initially failed to find a publisher. It had the working title of Nursery Crime, which is the title now used to refer to this series of books. The follow-up to The Big Over Easy, The Fourth Bear was published in July 2006 and focuses on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

Series:
* Thursday Next
* Nursery Crime
* Shades of Grey