Brigands and Breadknives

I was very excited when this book ended up being centered on Fern instead of Viv as I was quite a fan of the ratfolk from the second book, and the direction that the book went was a pleasant surprise. It starts off making you think it's going to be another entry in the "Fantasy warriors have gentle feelings while getting their local business of the ground" series of adventures, but when the main character has a break and essentially runs away screaming from the 'easy' cozy formula the series has become known for, the story picks up. What follows is a delightful (though perhaps a bit simplistic) journey and quest with a cast of lovable characters, more action than the last two books, but still with that core of tired characters finding a new lease on life.

If you're SUPER strict about wanting the same 'coziness' as the last books I still think there's enough here to satisfy you. The journey is absolutely not about the destination and is instead more about the friends we made along the way, as well as finding, in your older years, something new to be passionate about when your old purpose in life begins to fade. Fully recommended!

A very strong entry in that series. It went into a different direction than I thought. It's much more of a traditional fantasy story than the previous books. Nevertheless, we still get a cozy vibe. I really enjoyed being emerged into this quirky world again. There were plenty of amusing and funny scenes and characters. I recommend it (but you should read or listen to the previous two books in the series), especially the audiobook, once again read by the author in a very entertaining way.

I really waffled between giving this 3 stars or 4. Consider it a 3.5.

There were parts of this book I really enjoyed, and there were parts that felt like misses. I will say the ending felt very solid and I was actually pretty happy with it. The world building was very good, and I wish there had been a bit more of it.

Some of the prose felt a little stilted. Other parts felt heartfelt and beautiful. It's hard to quantify any particular areas as being weaker than others, it was just a feeling that cropped up from time to time while reading.

I did quite enjoy the evolution of the relationships, and Zyll the goblin was an especially interesting character, but it was hard for me at times to like Fern. Being accused of being 'chronically dissatisfied' felt apt, and I don't entirely feel like that description was ever really fixed. The ending/epilogue tied off some of the emotional loose ends, but I feel like a bit more could have been done to show Fern slowly coming into what it is she truly wanted instead.

Not at a bad read at all; not something I'll probably re-read though.

I really waffled between giving this 3 stars or 4. Consider it a 3.5.

There were parts of this book I really enjoyed, and there were parts that felt like misses. I will say the ending felt very solid and I was actually pretty happy with it. The world building was very good, and I wish there had been a bit more of it.

Some of the prose felt a little stilted. Other parts felt heartfelt and beautiful. It's hard to quantify any particular areas as being weaker than others, it was just a feeling that cropped up from time to time while reading.

I did quite enjoy the evolution of the relationships, and Zyll the goblin was an especially interesting character, but it was hard for me at times to like Fern. Being accused of being 'chronically dissatisfied' felt apt, and I don't entirely feel like that description was ever really fixed. The ending/epilogue tied off some of the emotional loose ends, but I feel like a bit more could have been done to show Fern slowly coming into what it is she truly wanted instead.

Not at a bad read at all; not something I'll probably re-read though.