Bostock’s idiosyncratic, high-energy romp follows the escapades of young ex-soldier Noddy, who dreams of staging a Liverpudlian revolution and being crowned King of Liverpool. After committing the shocking crime of shooting a government minister in the bottom, Noddy is hounded across England by the press. Meanwhile, Noddy’s brother Knobby searches for Noddy, accompanied by a strange elf, Mordecai, who seems to know all about Noddy’s exploits. Bostock (Hand in Glove) deconstructs common fantasy tropes and pokes fun at the state of British politics with brisk, pointed satire. Liverpudlian culture provides an entertaining backdrop. Noddy and his girlfriend, Meryl, are believable and unique characters; their chemistry is delightful, and the rest of the idiosyncratic cast rounds out the story well. This refreshing novel disregards genre clichés, and is all the better for its insistence on self-definition. (BookLife)