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Saturday 16 June 2012

***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 DepositoryBarnes & 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!

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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

17 comments:

Kyra said...

awesom review! I love it when a book is fun and imaginative! new follower :)

~Kyra~
www.blogofabookaholic.blogspot.com

Sue Moro said...

Loved your review on this book. Makes me even more anxious to read it now.

T said...

This book sounds really interesting, and completely up my street! I like the idea of magic being subject to certain taxes and restrictions! Really glad you enjoyed the book, and great review!

Carl Scott said...

I only started hearing of Jasper Fforde in the last couple of years. No idea why. maybe he's not that well-known here. Anyway, everyone who writes about him loves him, I've got to find out what that's all about. Thanks for the review.

Anonymous said...

Love this review! I've never read any Jasper Fforde but your & Dani's enthusiasm about his books definitely makes me want to :) The characters just sound wonderful in this too.

Randi M said...

Excellent review! I've read most of Fforde's Thursday Next series and have wanted to venture into his other series for awhile now, but haven't managed it yet. :) I love his quirky writing style! And I know exactly what you mean when you mention the extra-special-ness that comes with reading a book set in your own "stomping ground," so to speak; I recently read Mike Mullin's Ashfall which takes place in my state, and it was much more interesting knowing exactly where the story was taking place!

Carmel L. said...

Thanks for this positive review. It's interesting! I saw the first few pages on Amazon. I love the writing style. It's in first person POV. I love books that are fun! I dont go for too serious ones. :)

Mary Preston said...

I love dragons & magic so I'm already hooked. I have not heard of Jasper Fforde before, but he's on my author list now.

nurmawati djuhawan said...

great review...i love to read books about magic and dragon...
and i read in ur review this is a funny book too...
love it.... :)

Suz Reads said...

Great review! I am such a fan of Jasper Fforde's books and am glad to read that this book is as good as his other ones! If this is your 2nd favorite after Shades of Grey, than I know it's good! Thanks for the info!

Lisa Richards/alterlisa said...

as a lover of all things magic & dragons, this is a must for me!

Unknown said...

Wow! The story sounds great. I love fantasy genre. Magic and dragons, I'm going to love it.

Thank u for this great review :)

Veronika said...

This book sounds awesome and interesting! Full of action and magic! I've never heard of it before, but I need to read it now! :D

Natalie @ Book Lovers Life said...

I have to say dragons have and always will be a favourite fantasy creature of mine. I havent heard of this book before so thanks for spot lighting it, it sounds really good. Great review :)

Diana_Dimovska said...

Did someone mention dragons? M? :D I love everything about them! And when you add some sprinkles of magic, you can be sure it'll be a great read! :) Can't wait to grab this one! :)

Aleksandra said...

OMG sounds amazing & like a perfect book for me, from your review it seems it has everything I want in a fantasy book: fun (with laugh out loud moments), creative, descriptive & imaginative, I want to read this now! I've heard great things about his Thursday Next series & his Shades of Grey series, but still haven't tried anything from him, perhaps I'll start with this one :) Thanks for the recommendation & the review & I hope the sequel will be just as great!

Holly Bryan said...

Honestly, you say "dragons" and I am TOTALLY there!! Besides, I have had "The Eyre Affair" on my bookshelf LITERALLY since it was released and have STILL not read it yet... why, oh why?!?! But knowing that he's able to also write about dragons makes me even more eager to read *all* of his works :) I can't believe you got to meet him and even get a picture with him! That's so cool. Anyway this book sounds really great, I love the idea of a society where the magic exists (although it's dying off) right alongside science and technology...although it does create that situation where no one would want to choose the magic carpet over the jetliner!! Great review, as always...I'm looking forward to reading this one! I put it on my Goodreads list as soon as I first read your review.

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