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Publication Date: Available Now from David Fickling Books.

Source: Publisher Review Copy.

Award-winning author Philip Murdstone is in trouble. His star has waned. The world is leaving him behind. His agent, the beautiful and ruthless Minerva Cinch, convinces him that his only hope is to write a sword-and-sorcery blockbuster. Unfortunately, Philip - allergic to the faintest trace of Tolkien - is utterly unsuited to the task. In a dark hour, a dwarfish stranger comes to his rescue. But the deal he makes with Pocket Wellfair turns out to have Faustian consequences.

This book was totally insane in the best way possible. I really really have no idea how to review it if I'm honest but I'll do my best and we will see how we go.

Wonderfully weird and terribly  clever I don't think I've ever read a book like this one - Philip Murdstone, ex teacher, is encouraged to write a Phantasy ( Yes I can spell!) not his genre but hey its the fashion - but he really doesnt want to do that. So, erm well, other things occur. If I describe them I'll give away the sheer joy of this, it is witty, ironic, funny and sad in equal measure and takes apart the publishing industry in fine fashion with a wry eye and using a set of circumstances that are beyond my powers of speech.

The character names alone are enough to bring a smile - Minerva Cinch (ha) his agent is a wonderful character, the strange people who live near Philip,  who resides in a mostly isolated cottage on Dartmoor,  are brilliantly caricature but all the more believable for it and this is a beautiful, magical, bizarre and preposterous fantasy come black comedy that will have you tied up in reading knots but enjoying every last minute of it.

Loved the beginning, loved the middle and thought the ending was fabulous - it is all written in a unique style and with some eclectic prose that matches the tale being told perfectly. It defies description in a lot of ways but if you like a good fantasy story that takes things both extremely seriously and not seriously at all, you will adore this.

It is going to be a subjective novel for sure but I would absolutely say give it a go - it is the most fun I've had with a book for ages.

Happy Reading Folks!