Beast Be Gone

Was macht ein NPC in einem typischen Rollenspiel oder Computerspiel wenn seine Existenz von Abenteurern bedroht wird? Und gibt es vielleicht sogar eine große Verschwörung? Diese und andere Fragen werden sehr amüsant und mit vielen Referenzen und Klischees in diesem Buch beantwortet. Auch stilistisch ist es gut geschrieben und schwer aus der Hand zu legen. Eindeutig eine Empfehlung für jeden der Fantasy mag und kein Problem damit hat wenn es nicht so ernst ist.

I should begin by acknowledging that NetGalley gave me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What is life like for the people in fantasy towns beset by Adventurers looking for their next quest? Adventurers who wantonly destroy property and kill anything and anyone they come across as they seek the high that comes from obtaining ‘Experience’. Why has this career recently become the choice of so many?

And what about those like Eric, the owner of Beast Be Gone? He’s an expert in monster pest control; he can rid areas of monsters because he knows what attracts or repels them, and how to negotiate their withdrawal in a way that benefits everyone. Thanks to the adventurers, he’s going out of business.

As Eric tries to get to the bottom of what or who is behind this rapid and puzzling world change, he encounters Rose, a girl from a Western country, who uses technology instead of magic (much to his chagrin), and a mimic named Larry who prefers to retain the form of a piece of furniture. Alternatively, we occasionally follow a little goblin named Squee as he naively pursues his hopes for a good career as a minion for the Dark Master. Finally, we see the perspective of the adventurer, shown to us through the exploits of Xenixala, an increasingly powerful sorceress with a sentient magic book as a familiar, who is introduced with newer, and more extravagant titles and achievements, with each passing chapter.

The book’s viewpoint is fun and quirky, an amalgam of fantasy gaming meets Terry Pratchett meets Free Guy, but it did have a few problems. First, the pacing wasn’t as quick as I would have liked. This may be because of problem number two, the story seemed somewhat predictable to me. Maybe I’ve just read too much fantasy and satire, or perhaps the author is a little TOO good at subtle foreshadowing, but, for me, nothing came as a truly funny surprise.

There was also a formatting problem with the mobi file on NetGalley that made the manuscript difficult to read. Fortunately, that issue has been resolved on Amazon’s website, and I’m finding it a much greater pleasure to read the second time through.

Yes, I’m reading it again. It’s a cute and clever tale, even if I know what’s going to happen. Maybe even better than Iron Man 2.