(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)

Ambit Afterman is the Chosen One. Born with the mark of the silver bellflower on his palm and given a magical spear, he is the one whose coming the prophecy foretold. Unfortunately, he would much rather drink beer and get laid - destiny can go fuck itself. Together with his demon friend Snarl, Ambit sets out on a mighty quest - to make sure the prophecy doesn't come true, and avoid doing anything heroic under any circumstances. Along the way he will make polite conversation with demons, not deliver any great speeches, not train with the wise monks, and weasel his way out of adventure and into the nearest pub. But there may just be time to have cheap sex with the beautiful princess along the way.

Let's just start by saying there is only one Terry Pratchett. Nobody satirises fantasy tropes better than he. There are a few decent others out there and I do think that Australian writer K.J. Taylor deserves to be there in that list...

...and the anti-hero character of Ambit ticks off a number of those clichés/tropes. There are definitely some funny moments along the way on this adventure to make sure the prophecy doesn't come to be. Some of the action sequences are very good and the plot points are okay too.

What didn't work for me, though, was what happened between action sequences. Pretty much nothing is what happened. It felt, at times, like the author needed filler to keep the story moving - and the book is only 240 pages or so. Shouldn't need that...

I think there is a very good story in here somewhere - but I think it got lost trying to be something more than it was...


Paul
ARH