The Song of the Quarkbeast

Today’s post is on The Song of the Quarkbeast by Jasper Fforde. It is the second in his The Chronicles of Kazam. It is 289 pages long and it is published by Harcourt. The cover is a corner of an alley with a quarkbeast hiding behind a trash can. The intended reader is someone who has the first novel and loves stories told in new ways. There is no language, no sex, and no violence; just a great story for all. The story is told from the first person point of view from Jennifer the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the book jacket- Long ago, magic began to fade, and the underemployed magicians of Kazam Mystical Arts Management have been forced to take any work their sixteen-year-old acting manager, Jennifer Strange, can scare up. But things are about to change. Magical power is finally on the rise, and King Snodd IV of the Ununited Kingdoms knows that he who controls magic controls everything. Only one person stands between Snodd and his plans for a magic-grab- and that’s Jennifer.
Yet even smart and sensible Jennifer would have trouble against these powers-that-be. The king and his cronies will do anything to succeed- including ordering a just-might0be-rigged contest between Kazam and iMagic, Kazam’s only competitor in the magic business. With underhanded shenanigans afoot, how can Kazam possible win?
Whatever happens, one thing is certain: Jennifer Strange will not relinquish the noble powers of magic without a fight.

Review- I love Fforde and this book is wonderful. Fforde is building to a big plot move but I am loving the journey. Jennifer is a great character. She is funny, witty, and very clever. And with the way things are in a Fforde book she needs to be. We get more about magic and how it works in second volume. The dialog is wonderful and that is what really stands out in story. With all the world building that he did in first novel that he pretty much does not do anymore with the exception of we get to see some of the Troll lands. We learn more about the Quarkbeasts.  There is just so much in this novel that I like. I cannot praise it enough. The characters are good, the setting is fun and unique, the dialog makes this novel for me, and the tone is funny. I cannot think of anything that I did not like about this book. If you have not read Jasper Fforde before try him today.

I give this book Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this book with my own money.