The Princess Beard (The Tales of Pell) by Kevin Hearne and
Delilah S. Dawson (Del Rey)
This is the third
“Tale of Pell” I’ve read, and by far the most entertaining. It is, of course, a
pirate story, complete with a beard-sporting princess, a dryad in the process
of transforming into a carnivorous tree, a pudgy elf, and a centaur whose
secret magical weapon involves pelting his enemies with hot tea and sugary
pastries. Oh, and the captain – Filthy Lucre – is a parrot in search of the
ideal shoulder perch.
For me this novel
had more structure and cohesiveness than the earlier two, which often devolved
into excuses for puns that had only approximate relationship to the central
plot. I found these characters much more sympathetic, I loved how each grew and
matured during their adventures, so the entire effect was of greater emotional
immediacy and warmth, but no less exciting action. And bad puns. Highly
entertaining, and with great heart.
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