Helpful Score: 1
I don't remember how I came to know about this little book, but I'm glad I did. It's a little older fantasy, 1989, and the first book in the Dance of the Gods series.
In a world where Technology has come and been kicked out by the gods, replaced by magic that drains physical strength (body mass) from the caster, Maximilian the Vaguely Disreputable gets dragged into a power play between some powerful gods when he agrees to help his friend Karlini find a way to escape a castle that won't let him leave. The guy (probably a god) responsible for trapping Karlini seems to be throwing his weight around in the city of Roosing Oolvaya. Max's friend Shaa is wandering around fulfilling his destiny by throwing himself into a another adventure, in Roosing Oolvaya. A detective in Roosing Oolvaya is commissioned by a god, against his will, to find out why there is a magical barrier around the city. As you may think, Roosing Oolvaya isn't in for a good time.
One thing I really liked, though it confused me at the beginning making me think it was a sequel, is that all the characters seem to have actually had lives and adventures before this book started. Why is Max called the Vaguely Disreputable, and what dealings has he had with gods and the undead in the past that make him eager to avoid them? How did Shaa come to be cursed and how did he find out he has to go on adventures? Etcetera. Not all these questions are answered, but you learn more about the characters and their past.
I found the writing, and the thoughts and actions of the characters very amusing. I've read some opinions that the author was trying too hard, but I thought it was very well done. The magic is fun, the descriptions pretty wild. They get a little hard to follow, especially near the end with the climax that involves a lot of magic, but I had to skim very little. I liked the characters, the plot was fun if not entirely resolved, but I'm going to hunt down the next book and begin reading!
I recommend you try this book if you're up for a short amusing adventure fantasy.
In a world where Technology has come and been kicked out by the gods, replaced by magic that drains physical strength (body mass) from the caster, Maximilian the Vaguely Disreputable gets dragged into a power play between some powerful gods when he agrees to help his friend Karlini find a way to escape a castle that won't let him leave. The guy (probably a god) responsible for trapping Karlini seems to be throwing his weight around in the city of Roosing Oolvaya. Max's friend Shaa is wandering around fulfilling his destiny by throwing himself into a another adventure, in Roosing Oolvaya. A detective in Roosing Oolvaya is commissioned by a god, against his will, to find out why there is a magical barrier around the city. As you may think, Roosing Oolvaya isn't in for a good time.
One thing I really liked, though it confused me at the beginning making me think it was a sequel, is that all the characters seem to have actually had lives and adventures before this book started. Why is Max called the Vaguely Disreputable, and what dealings has he had with gods and the undead in the past that make him eager to avoid them? How did Shaa come to be cursed and how did he find out he has to go on adventures? Etcetera. Not all these questions are answered, but you learn more about the characters and their past.
I found the writing, and the thoughts and actions of the characters very amusing. I've read some opinions that the author was trying too hard, but I thought it was very well done. The magic is fun, the descriptions pretty wild. They get a little hard to follow, especially near the end with the climax that involves a lot of magic, but I had to skim very little. I liked the characters, the plot was fun if not entirely resolved, but I'm going to hunt down the next book and begin reading!
I recommend you try this book if you're up for a short amusing adventure fantasy.
