Book 3, The Eye of Zoltar: The Last Dragonslayer

I have been listening to audio books during my daily commute. And I stumbled on Jasper Fforde‘s Chronicles of Kazam series at the local library. I started with The Last Dragonslayer and next came The Song of the Quarkbeast. The third book, The Eye of Zoltar, turned out to be another fun listen on the daily commute.

Once again, Jennifer Strange is a good central character and the crew at Kazam Mystical Arts Management returns as well (although mostly backstage with the prominent exception of Perkins). And there are some fun added characters in this one which the narrator does a nice job of capturing (accents and personality).

I particularly enjoyed the princess who loves complex economics. Plus, we get to visit another kingdom and explore its unique culture, economy and people. There is plenty of wit but also some mystery and adventure.

This is not quite as good as the first two but I have enjoyed this series. This one ended on quite the cliffhanger so I guess we wait for the next book.

I love Fforde and the various weird worlds he brings to life. This is the third book in his YA series, and it does not disappoint.

Despite her unfortunate circumstances, Jennifer Strange has a lot going for her. She is exceedingly competent and sensible, and in a world as bizarre as hers, that goes a long way!

Naturally, though, this means she gets dragged into situations any reasonable person like her would prefer to avoid. Well, I love the reluctant hero trope, especially when said hero just gets down to business and doesn't whine.

She's not the only sensible one here. Various of the people she knows and meets are also extremely competent in their own areas, and Jennifer is smart enough to let them bloom.

The plot and the world are whacko, of course... but that's what we like in a Fforde novel, and like his others, they end up making a weird kind of sense. I'm not going to go into either more, except that it was a welcome note to see that there will be at least one more novel in the series! While this one didn't end on a cliffhanger per se, it is poised to head into new plot areas.

The secondary characters are again very well-drawn, even the most minor ones.

I don't think this is a good place to start the series, though. There's some background, but probably not enough. Start with "The Last Dragonslayer" and proceed- you'll enjoy the trip.

Ah, Jasper Fforde. When he isn't churning out tales of parallel worlds where you can literally fall into a book, he produces some somewhat more standard urban fantasy.

And in the third of his Last Dragonslayer books, "The Eye of Zoltar," Fforde provides yet another tale of a plucky nonmagical girl who is neck-deep in magical goings-on. Enjoying this book pretty much depends on whether you enjoyed the last two, because Fforde produces more of the same -- eccentric sorcerers, angel traps, weird wildlife and the occasional rubber dragon. Yes, you read that right.

In the course of twenty-four hours, Jennifer Strange has to deal with a lot of craziness:
1. She has to deal with a runaway Tralfamosaur with a licorice launcher.
2. She has to babysit a spoiled, bratty Princess who has been body-swapped with a lowly servant girl, since the Queen wants her taught some humility and compassion.
3. The Mighty Shazam blackmails her into finding a sorcerous ruby called the Eye of Zoltar, and threatens to kill the young dragons if she doesn't find it for him.

Her best bet for finding the Eye is the possibly-mythical Sky Pirate Wolff in the also-possibly-mythical Leviathan's Graveyard, which is in Cambria (imagine Wales crossbred with the whole Middle-East). Of course, things go horribly wrong in several different ways -- lifesuckers, a Australopithecine, flesh-eating snails, Perkins losing several decades -- before they encounter the sky pirates, and find a very strange tourism-based conspiracy.

The Last Dragonslayer books are fairly amusing fantasy fluff, relying on Fforde's somewhat warped imagination -- he comes up with some fairly majestic ideas (the Leviathans, aka sky whales) and some silly ones (rubber dragon bouncing for hours across Cambria). "The Eye of Zoltar" is not quite as clever as his Thursday Next books, but it is a pretty decent little fantasy story.

Fforde sprinkles the story with clever dialogue ("You must be mistaking me for someone who is shallow and indifferent") and humorous situations (thwarting barbarians with financial expertise), as well as some rather mundane magic (consider the clairvoyant who doesn't give the usual happy-future drivel).

But he keeps it from being too fluffy by inserting some more bittersweet moments, such as when Perkins reveals his true nature to Jennifer. It's very poignant to see a first love end up this way. And the story takes a very dark turn in the final chapters, leading in to the eventual fourth volume of the series -- without revealing too much, things are very nasty now in the kingdom of Snodd, and promise to get worse.

What's the problem? Well, the whole mentoring-the-Princess thing is a bit sitcomlike, especially since we know the Princess will see the error of her ways and become nicer blah de blah de blah.

As usual, Jennifer is the solidly sensible one of the group, which includes a clueless Princess in a royal dog-poop-cleaner's body, a savage guide, a scheming businessman, an Australopithecine, and the aforementioned Perkins. Most of the magical gang -- plus Tiger Prawns -- is mostly absent from this story, but it becomes increasingly clear that Shandar is targeting them for something shady.

"The Eye of Zoltar" is a solid fluff fantasy that transforms into something else about five-sixths of the way through -- and Jasper Fforde shows his talent for both humor and drama there. Hang on for the next story.

If you've been reading the adventures of Jennifer Strange and her Kazam cohorts, then The Eye Of Zoltar will feel familiar but a little bit not. Whereas the first two adventures felt very complete in and of themselves, this third volume actually leads into an eventually coming fourth volume. It is also the most adventure-y of the books.

In this latest Kazam Chronicle from Jasper Ffforde, Jennifer finds herself saddled with a spoiled princess and an offer she cannot refuse. Searching for the Eye of Zoltar in the Cambrian Empire, she makes some new friends but uncovers a plot that may have dire consequences. The Cambrian Empire is not without its dangers so Jennifer must rely on everyone to muddle through if the quest that's not a quest to find the powerful Eye of Zoltar is to be a success.

There's a few of the usual nods here and there to pop culture and literature and other things, but this story seems more about the adventure than any of the previous books. The laughs aren't as obvious or amusing. The commentary is a bit scathing. You'll find you understand insider trading just a little bit. There's a sense of the strange and wonderful that always falls the slightest bit short of complete wonder. As a third book it leads nicely into a fourth while revealing a little bit more about some of the characters and vastly under utilizing others. Still fun, just feels that little bit incomplete is all.

Note: Free advanced reader copy received via the store Vine program in exchange for an honest review.

Jasper Fforde has once again written a ffantastic and ffunny adventure, this time for a more young adult crowd than much of his previous material. The vocabulary is perhaps a little high for some readers, but that's good because you need to challenge kids a bit.

This book does some things really well - the absurd humour, Fforde's calling card, is in high gear throughout the book. This has the overall effect of reducing the tension in even the most action-packed scenes, but that's okay - some of the scenes are really tense, and tamping them down a bit is appreciated.

This is the second (third?) book in a series and yet you can walk into this book from the beginning without concern about that. The world, the characters and the plot all flow out and within a chapter or so you have your footing.

The book's one major drawback is the narrator, who's supposed to be a teenage girl. She just doesn't read that way at all. I mean, age-wise, she talks more like someone in her mid-twenties and while I get that she's supposed to be a clever girl who's been through a lot, it's a little jarring, especially in some sections where she shows a grasp of international politics that would shame most fully-grown protagonists. She's either not a believable narrator, or she's a character who's just too competent, and it detracts from what is otherwise and excellent book.

Oddly enough, I have to admit something here: I am one of the only human beings on the planet who does *not* care for Fforde's Thursday Next series (despite multiple aborted attempts at reading the books! gah!). But I love, love, LOVE The Chronicles of Kazam beyond all reason. Which probably says more about me than it does about Fforde's writing skills (ie, I must have the maturity level of a grade schooler). Whatever the reason, I have spasms of glee whenever a new book in this series is released and The Eye of Zoltar was cause for much rejoicing in my household....for me and my child.

I didn't detect any mid-series blues, but possibly that's because we had to wait so darned long for this one. Both my son and I thought The Eye of Zoltar was fabulous. I wish he'd knock it off with the cliff hangers at the ends of the books (I'm going to buy the next one regardless, okay?), but I love the series so much I'm going to overlook that huge pet peeve of mine.

Jennifer is still as wonderful as ever (truly --- I honestly just love this character very much) and the world she inhabits is one of my favorite ever. If you haven't tried these books, I'm recommending them as enthusiastically as is possible. This book is #3, go back and read the first for maximum enjoyment. They are funny, incredibly imaginative, and wonderful for children and adults both. They do not disappoint. I promise.

Jasper Fforde, known for his intellectually funny, word-witty adult books has really gone down the crapper with this YA series. The first book in this series was amusing, the second okay, the third is a completely pointless. I have devotedly read all of Fforde's books. I was hooked by the first Thursday Next book and completely enchanted by Shades of Grey (which is by far his best book). After reading the third installment of the Shazam series I regretted every minute I wasted on this book. It is clearly an "in-between" book, that slowly meanders through pedestrian attempts at zaniness and a pointless plot that ends up being a red herring. If you are looking for a good read, try Fforde's other books. This series is a real drag.

I've read the Thursday Next and Nursery Crimes series, both geared toward adults, and the previous two books from this series... and I think Jasper Fforde is one of the wittiest, most creative, and wholly original authors of our time. I have found every book of his to be delightful and smart, and I can't recommend his work enough to others.

This book is no exception to that.

Jennifer Strange and the rest of her magical crew are easy to root for. This book dives into action with a search for an escaped Tralfamosaur, and that was intense enough that I expected resolution for that storyline to take a lot longer... but it wrapped up quickly and then the story moved on and went deeper elsewhere. The twist involving the princess was unexpected and made the plot and character development a lot more intriguing than it would have been otherwise... and that was just the beginning. This book is a fun and wild ride, and I was sad when it ended.

One thing must be said of these books: constant zaniness, plot, and pace. When it's all well-balanced with good writing, it's enough to keep me reading. Even one unfamiliar to the world of Kazam and Jennifer Strange can quickly hop into this book even as it makes it way toward a more overarching plot.

Needing to locate the Eye of Zoltar, Jennifer and some companions (including a spoiled princess wise in the way of economics and some dragons), head off into a most deadly country side where they face danger after escapade after danger. It's a lot of excitement and a lot of fun.

The madcappery might be too much for some, but a reader with the right kind of humor ought to appreciate it. The world is fantastical and funny, Jennifer a sturdy narrator, and the plot surprisingly tight.

This is a solid adventure for the right crowd and I look forward to more.

I had not previously read Jasper Fforde's first two books in the Chronicles of Kazam series (The Last Dragonslayer,The Song of the Quarkbeast). Those aren't prerequisites to enjoying Book 3, The Eye of Zoltar, but they would help. There are many references to characters and situations from the first two books in the series which make the first couple chapters here a little more work. Even coming into this third book cold, however, Fforde's humor keeps things moving well. Plenty of moments are LOL funny, especially for older readers in the 10 to 14 recommended age range. There's lots of borrowing from pop culture. Influences from Harry Potter (Dementors here called Lifesuckers) and The Princess Bride (The Dread Pirate Roberts succession recycled here as the Sky Pirate) are obvious, as is the Spartacus gag of course. There's also a less expected but clearly recognizable parallel between Gabby and Don Cheadle's omniscient Cash from Family Man.

Interestingly, and perhaps because I have no history with the heroine from the first two books, I preferred Addie Powell far more than protagonist Jennifer Strange. I would be very interested in a prequel or spinoff centered on the tour guide. The Ununited Kingdoms sounds suitably dystopian. Love the Helping Hand(tm) invention. Chapter 22 (The Naval Officer's Tale) was a highlight for me.

The book's pacing was let down by the romance angle and some bits of humor pushed too far, such as the early drug dealer-esque exchange with Curtis: "Got any S(pells)? The weirder the better, but...it can totally do your head." Like, far out, dude. The bit about staring at private parts ("whatnots") was also very uncomfortable and would have been better left on the editing room floor. A fantasy book is expected to be far removed from reality, however some of the situations and characterizations feel unrealistic in their emotional response. The book also ends with a cliffhanger, though many middle grade novels seem to these days.

Weird typographical issues abound in this ARC: every instance of "eh" is indicated by a > symbol, while every instance of "ek" is indicated by a -- symbol. No points deducted but hopefully the publisher fixed those for the rest of you!

3.25 stars

[The reviewer was provided with a complimentary copy of the book.]

Slightly better than #2 in the series, but that is not saying much. Fforde is unquestionably talented, but he is throwing this talent into the dirt.
Again this book is shoddily written, full of disconnected, meaningless fluff and loads of factual mistakes. Sometimes he forgets the plot (Winston refers to the princess as princess long before he is supposed to know.... and only 2 pages later Jennifer scares herslef about nearly letting him know), sometimes he does not picture the scene he describes, but just happily hammers on his KB (Someone cries shotgun, jumps into the co-drivers seat of the VW, and the others have to sit in back......... ermmmmm, dear Jasper, have you ever seen one of those cars? To get into the back, you have to flip the seat, you can not sit down and have the others squeeze in).
The story has no line, he seems to type what-ever came to mind during morning coffee; I get the feeling he was glad to have it over with, as I was when I had finally finished this dreadful book.
And don't give me this "young adults" excuse. You don't give kids a ruined piano to learn playing, you don't give them books that are badly written to grow into reading.
I've said this before and I'll say it again: If you paid any money to an editor, ask for a refund. Sloppy, sloppy.

Dear Jasper: You can do much better than this. Slow down, for goodness sake! This was not worth writing, nor reading. Who on earth is pushing you into this?

2 stars only out of respect to the author.

Do read the first two installments of this series, but be prepared for a letdown here. It doesn't sustain the excitement and humor of the first books. Readers of the first books will definitely want to read this, but somehow, the author wasn't with it this time and so the poor readers won't be either.

A very good will written read with interesting characters, an entertaining story line, and a surprise ending. I would recommend this book and the series too anyone who enjoys a well written book. Enjoy reading

Brilliant fun. Whereas the first books in this series were charming, but slow to start, this book gets a great momentum early and keeps it going. Great plot turns, several surprises, great continuing character development. Bit of a cliff hanger makes me desperate for the next book.

Great and silly story by mr. forde. his writing is supberb! i have read all his books and this young readers series is fabulous. you will love it. this is the 3rd in the chronicles of kazam. Dragons, clever scenarios, magic and ridiculous encounters. you will love it!!! ( i do mean that!)