Are you a fan of dragons? Do you like magic? Would you be interested in long, complicated, repetitive, overly descriptive paragraphs before the dragons and magic are even mentioned? Yes, yes, and probably not. The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde eliminates these passages and replaces them with humor that will have you in stitches by the second page.
This comedic fantasy novel set in an alternate Britain stars fifteen-year-old Jennifer Strange. Jennifer is a foundling, an indentured servant sent to work at Kazam Mystical Arts Management from age twelve until her eighteenth birthday. Unfortunately, the Great Zambini, the magician who usually runs Kazam, has disappeared. Consequently, Jennifer oversees Kazam and deals with--or more aptly, babysits--the forty-five magicians and magical entities living there. Jennifer enjoys her role as manager, but unfortunately, magic is disappearing, so business is down. Back when magic was plentiful, magicians could save kingdoms. Nowadays, Jennifer struggles to keep Kazam in business--who needs a magician to clear a clog when cleaner is cheaper? Suddenly visions are arriving, predicting the DragonDeath of Maltcassion, the last living dragon. Jennifer decides to investigate this prophecy, for if the predictions come true, everything is going to change for Jennifer and Kazam. Despite the existence of actual magic in this novel, it is the quirky cast of characters that really cast the spell to make The Last Dragonslayer come alive. The way that Jennifer Strange deals with her bureaucratic and magical crises helps this alternate world rise off the page. The original blend of modern technology, magic, and wittiness help this novel stand out from the crowd. My favorite character, aside from Jennifer, was Horace “Tiger” Prawns. A new foundling that Jennifer takes under her wing, Tiger jumps in and helps Jennifer, even though Kazam is a slightly frightening, very odd new environment. I admired his bravery and willingness to do the right thing. I also loved the way that Jasper Fforde wove humor into the story, poking fun at monarchies, kingdoms and big business with clever quips. The only plausible downside to The Last Dragonslayer is that the plot doesn’t begin to fully develop until the middle of the book. The beginning is mostly descriptive and explains some of the magical exploits that Jennifer and the residents of Kazam get into, as well as some aspects of the alternate world that are different from ours. If you are looking for a magical quest and you don’t want to wait, this might not be the novel for you. However, the last half of the book is jam-packed with action and excitement, so I believe it’s worth the wait. I would recommend The Last Dragonslayer for fans of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld and Christopher Paolini’s Eragon. I would also give The Last Dragonslayer 5/5 stars, and pronounce it a resounding success.
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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