katekintailbc | The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde (Reply)

The Last Dragonslayer
by Jasper Fforde
(Audio)

Only last year did I learn that Jasper Fforde (Or Ffffffffffforde, as I like to say it) wrote this book. And then I completely forgot about it until I saw the audio version on the new shelves at the library last week. I snagged it immediately to listen to. I was coming off an urban fantasy, so I really should have had a palate cleanser in-between these two. As I didn't, it took a little while for me to get into the book.

Not all that long, though. Jennifer Strange is a great character and the Quarkbeast was so adorable, I couldn't help fall in love. Jennifer, a foundling, works for Kazam, an employment agency for magicians. Magic keeps deminishing, however, and it looks like it might be ending soon. But then one of the magicians gets a biggie of a vision predicting the death of the last dragon at the hands of a dragonslayer. Jennifer starts investigating and suddenly finds out that SHE is the last dragon slayer, supposed to slay the last dragon!

This sets off a chain of events with many layers, twists and turns. I really enjoyed the way it played out. Very clever solution, even though it made me tear up a little for a moment or two.

This was definitely a fun world, melding classical fantasy with kingdoms and dragons and magic with modern day automobiles and product endorsements and television programs. Self-centered politians are native to both worlds LOL Plus, there is just enough of Fforde's quirky writing style that I fell in love with to keep me smiling and falling for every sentence. I still like the Nursery Crimes series best, but I really enjoyed this one. And come to find out it's part of a series? Fantastic! I can't wait to read the rest to find out what happens to Jennifer and the rest :-)