A jobless jester and a misguided magpie venture into a land where technology is booming-- but trouble is brewing!
Dame Elsebet de Whellen has ruled her mildly magical, high-tech country for 50 prosperous years. But now it's facing a crisis three generations in the making, and the bold steps she's taken to save it have gone disastrously off the rails.
She prays for a hero. Instead she gets Malfred Murd, former Royal Fool, booted from his job and now scrounging a living around the corners of the Kingdom. What starts as Fred's quick attempt to con Dame Elsebet escalates until he— and his self-appointed magpie advisor— are hopelessly entangled in a desperate mission that might cost a Fool his life and a people their future.
Assessment:
Plot: A cleverly plotted, twisty novel with a gratifying conclusion. A somewhat unlikely hero, the story tells of a jester trickster who becomes involved in an intriguing political plot.
Prose: The writing is very strong. Dialogue reads naturally and adds to the development of the fictional world. The narration fits nicely into the mood and setting with strong descriptive language.
Originality: The novel depicts a unique and engaging setting and scenario. The world is carefully and thoroughly developed and self-contained.
Character/Execution: The characters are differentiated and have motivations outside of propelling the plot.
Date Submitted: August 31, 2020
An excellent and assured debut...a thoroughly enjoyable escapade. The inevitable comparisons to Terry Pratchett are accurate. Top stuff.
Eva Sandor creates a satisfying blend of fun observation and irony that powers action, tempered with a firm descriptive hand that brings this world to life.... The result is a lively account of villains, plots, tricky politics and uncertain associations that keeps its plot replete with satisfyingly unpredictable twists and turns.
I've always enjoyed fantasy but so much of it can start to feel derivative. So it's nice when you are presented with a world that feels very different....I've found a new writer whose work I will look out for in future.
A terrific read...the author is a talented individual, and if this is her first novel, then it's an absolute pearler. The writing is Shakespearean at times, and a touch of Blackadder thrown in. I absolutely loved it...I personally can't wait for the next one.
This charming comedy of errors follows the whimsical odyssey of former Royal Fool Malfred Murd....The characters shine in Fool's Proof. This would be a wonderful read for fans of the fantasy-comedy genre in the spirit of Monty Python or the gleeful musical television series Galavant.
A cleverly plotted, twisty novel with a gratifying conclusion...unique and engaging.
