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The Wizard, the Farmer, and the Very Petty Princess
There once was a princess who wanted an adventure. A wizard that wanted attention in the worst way. And stuck between the two... a farmer, who just wanted to be left alone. The evil undead are marching. As the human kingdoms stand on the brink of extinction, the reluctant farmer Idwal is forced into adventure, shanghaied by a vain princess, tricked out of his money by a cackling miser, and finds much to his surprise that he's starting to like it all.As he gets swept along he'll meet reluctant kings, wicked witches, mourning dwarves, and the surprisingly lively undead, as he is caught between the Princess Willuna who seeks to show herself a serious young woman and the wizard Bodolomous who is determined to prove himself The Most Evil Man Alive.
214 pages, Paperback
First published September 28, 2011
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223 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
August 16, 2013
A little-hearted romp through the land of fairy. A smash up of several recognizable fairy tales plus a "heroic" quest. Fox did create complex, if not believable characters.
If this is truly a YA novel, it includes several "adult" comments which are inappropriate. I know, kids see worse on the Disney Channel. Since when did the empire of the mouse set our cultural standards? Oh, for the last fifty years.
A good read.
If this is truly a YA novel, it includes several "adult" comments which are inappropriate. I know, kids see worse on the Disney Channel. Since when did the empire of the mouse set our cultural standards? Oh, for the last fifty years.
A good read.
January 8, 2012
The book got better as it went along, (not to say it didn’t have a good beginning, because it did) I personally loved how the characters grew before your eyes. It had a good deal of grammatical problems, but I can deal with that when there’s a really wonderful plot and set of characters. My emotions towards the characters morphed as the story went along. It wasn’t a difficult read, nor was it especially sophisticated but it was a wonderful tale, nonetheless. It didn’t have an excessive amount of flowery language, and it didn’t need it. I didn’t have a problem imagining any of the settings or characters —they were given traits, but time was not spent laboring over descriptions. I had a lot of fun reading this, and it was a wonderful divergence from the usual contemporary fairy tales. I recommend this to anyone in search of a light, and engaging read.
February 5, 2013
At first I thought I picked up your average fantasy novel, and prepared to be very bored. What followed was a tale that took me through your typical fantasy plots and twisted them around and tied them up with a fancy, snarky little bow. I haven't laughed this hard at characters and plot lines in a while. Every chapter ends with a fun little realization that makes you wonder where the next chapter goes, every plot twist leaves more unanswered questions that you never think will be answered. Can't wait for the next book from this author!
June 8, 2013
Read this to your kids, read this with your partner, read this alone, I don't care how you do it, but read and laugh and be moved and find complete and utter enjoyment. It's a rare book to find myself truly laughing out loud in the midst of a crowded train but this one did it and often. That the author is able to blend in adventure, rounded characters, a serious degree of sarcastic wit and also tell a humorous heart-warming tale without becoming simplistic or sappy is pure genius. I'll be reading this one again.
October 12, 2021
This book is a quick and light read, but doesn't suffer for that. It has a lot of humor, admittedly some of it is a little slapstick or immature, but come on, we shouldn't be humor snobs. The princess was very unlikeable at first, but I guess that was the point, as she and the farmer went through their respective character development. The wizard was over-the-top and foolish, but that's always a sure sell in fantasy spoofs, and he's entertaining when he's on the page. I'd read this again when I need a bit of a laugh.
May 31, 2012
A light-hearted fairy-tale type of story with engaging characters and a very tongue-in-cheek tone. I think it was supposed to be funny but I didn't find it too amusing - most of the lines were clever puns and silly slightly immature situations. This book would have been fun to read aloud to a younger audience - they would have appreciated it more than I did. Not a bad choice for a free e-book, though, so I can't complain too much. It was a quick and easy read.
November 24, 2012
I absolutely loved this book, it's one of the funniest books I've read. The lighthearted yet comical fantasy story was reminiscent of Shrek and Princess Bride. Each character brings a different brand of comedy that I couldn't help but enjoy. It's possible the comedy might not be for you, but I think anyone that enjoys a fun, almost satirical, fantasy adventure will love this book.
January 13, 2017
The start was a bit weird, I had no idea what to expect and I was not sure if I will like it. However, then when the story started to develop it turned out to be exactly the funny, crazy fairytale style I love. I laughed a lot. It has a bit of retelling of classic fairytales but in the same time it is original and really cool. It has suspense, lessons to learn for the characters. Irony is not missing... I loved it.
February 19, 2017
Absolutely Wonderful.
I used to have a fear of indie books, like they couldn't be as good as a "professionally" published book. I am happy to report this book has changed that opinion of mine. I loved it; I found joy in reading every sentence. If you like fun, fantasy, adventure, and comedy, you simply must read this book!
I used to have a fear of indie books, like they couldn't be as good as a "professionally" published book. I am happy to report this book has changed that opinion of mine. I loved it; I found joy in reading every sentence. If you like fun, fantasy, adventure, and comedy, you simply must read this book!
November 12, 2022
A humorous approach to a fairy tale story, but gets a bit random at times and could have used a bit more basic editing. Nice enough, but not quite as fun as it looked like it would be.
May 24, 2013
The Wizard the Farmer and the Very Petty Princess is very much what the title implies, a gentle ribbing of the fairy tale format. It is not a thing of substance, and it isn't trying to be. It is largely successful in its aims.
Between the structural observance of tropes and the consistent comedy elements, each main character almost had to be a pretty broad caricature with narrow focus, but the author goes forward from there and takes time to acquaint the reader with each one. The starting motivations of the titular princess Willuna and the farmer Idwal are expressed rather than assumed, allowing them to differ from said assumptions. They don't stray far from the traditional storyline, but are not wholly bound by convention either - Princess Willuna does not fully reject the trappings of her station or enter battle, but she takes steps to try to change her life and herself, and is an active participant in events rather than passively waiting for her fate to find her.
The treatment of minor characters allows for greater disruption of usual fairy tale assumptions than that of the principals. The author fleshes out a number of supporting characters, which lends texture to the storytelling, and it is they who are truly allowed to defy stereotype. The elder townsman is a war veteran only interested in peace and notably wise, the king is genuinely interested in the lives of his citizenry, and both former love interests act as decent human beings rather than trying to interfere in the growing relationship of the primaries. The evil ex in particular is so deeply embedded in these types of stories that it's almost shocking not to have one. That in itself makes the story worth reading.
The wizard Bodolomous and other main villain could have greatly benefitted from the same treatment. Their motivations are lightly skimmed, giving them more of a cartoonishly one-note feel. They do make up for it by having innovative plots and genuinely freaky monsters, even if they are a little light on the whys. A third, a minor bad guy, is a complete caricature whose motivations are ignored completely, and the story would definitely have been stronger if he'd been as thought-out as the named secondary characters.
The story parts in the middle to fold in a parody of Snow White, with similarly undeveloped characters. They initially show up to have their fairy tale directly mocked by the princess. This is a jarring departure from the rest of the book, which aims at the style and themes of the genre as a whole. It is also a sharp backwards angle in the Willuna's character arc. These parody characters then return to impact the climax. If they had been treated as thoughtfully as the other supporting characters it could have been a strong addition to the story, but as written this element would have been better scrapped completely.
The story cuts off just after the solution has been obtained but before the final rescue is performed. This leaves the happily ever afters as implied, which could have been a very strong way to end the story. Unfortunately, the final view is an eight paragraph coda in which the primary villain realizes that he was wrong all along and just needed a friend. Though this is a cute concept which could have been made to match the rest of the book, it is barely a ghost of an idea in the previous text, and it comes on the heels of the earlier chapter endings baldly stating the lessons learned, as in "That is how Princess Willuna of the Family Owl found out that she was not a serious woman." In comparison to that tone, the end result comes out of nowhere, and along with the lack of the standard ending comes off as rushed or incomplete rather than subversive.
Criticisms to the side, overall the story is a fun, light read, quirky and mildly trope-defying but not aggressively challenging. The tone of the humor is very consistent, and balances the freakiness of the monsters very well. Viewed as a multiple ages book, it would have entertainment value for kids while also having a few slightly more sophisticated chuckles for parents.
Between the structural observance of tropes and the consistent comedy elements, each main character almost had to be a pretty broad caricature with narrow focus, but the author goes forward from there and takes time to acquaint the reader with each one. The starting motivations of the titular princess Willuna and the farmer Idwal are expressed rather than assumed, allowing them to differ from said assumptions. They don't stray far from the traditional storyline, but are not wholly bound by convention either - Princess Willuna does not fully reject the trappings of her station or enter battle, but she takes steps to try to change her life and herself, and is an active participant in events rather than passively waiting for her fate to find her.
The treatment of minor characters allows for greater disruption of usual fairy tale assumptions than that of the principals. The author fleshes out a number of supporting characters, which lends texture to the storytelling, and it is they who are truly allowed to defy stereotype. The elder townsman is a war veteran only interested in peace and notably wise, the king is genuinely interested in the lives of his citizenry, and both former love interests act as decent human beings rather than trying to interfere in the growing relationship of the primaries. The evil ex in particular is so deeply embedded in these types of stories that it's almost shocking not to have one. That in itself makes the story worth reading.
The wizard Bodolomous and other main villain could have greatly benefitted from the same treatment. Their motivations are lightly skimmed, giving them more of a cartoonishly one-note feel. They do make up for it by having innovative plots and genuinely freaky monsters, even if they are a little light on the whys. A third, a minor bad guy, is a complete caricature whose motivations are ignored completely, and the story would definitely have been stronger if he'd been as thought-out as the named secondary characters.
The story parts in the middle to fold in a parody of Snow White, with similarly undeveloped characters. They initially show up to have their fairy tale directly mocked by the princess. This is a jarring departure from the rest of the book, which aims at the style and themes of the genre as a whole. It is also a sharp backwards angle in the Willuna's character arc. These parody characters then return to impact the climax. If they had been treated as thoughtfully as the other supporting characters it could have been a strong addition to the story, but as written this element would have been better scrapped completely.
The story cuts off just after the solution has been obtained but before the final rescue is performed. This leaves the happily ever afters as implied, which could have been a very strong way to end the story. Unfortunately, the final view is an eight paragraph coda in which the primary villain realizes that he was wrong all along and just needed a friend. Though this is a cute concept which could have been made to match the rest of the book, it is barely a ghost of an idea in the previous text, and it comes on the heels of the earlier chapter endings baldly stating the lessons learned, as in "That is how Princess Willuna of the Family Owl found out that she was not a serious woman." In comparison to that tone, the end result comes out of nowhere, and along with the lack of the standard ending comes off as rushed or incomplete rather than subversive.
Criticisms to the side, overall the story is a fun, light read, quirky and mildly trope-defying but not aggressively challenging. The tone of the humor is very consistent, and balances the freakiness of the monsters very well. Viewed as a multiple ages book, it would have entertainment value for kids while also having a few slightly more sophisticated chuckles for parents.
October 9, 2012
Started reading this about the same time I picked up a similar fairytale parody, The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom. The fact that I haven't gotten very far in Hero"s Guide, but have finished The Wizard, The Farmer, and The Very Petty Princess, shows which one drew me in more. Might have something to do with Hero's Guide being aimed at middle grades, while Wizard is more YA, and so a little more sophisticated in writing and humor. Wizard has some pretty funny stuff, but the story just seemed to wander around and I got to the point where I didn't care much for the plot and just looked for the jokes. It was worth it just for those.
January 28, 2014
I was a bit surprised by this book. I think the title is what grabbed my attention, and for some reason I expected it to be a bit more serious than it turned out to be. At first, I wondered if I was reading a book written more with the younger readers in mind, then came across some of the witty passages. Fox has done a wonderful job mixing together what many of us consider regular fairy tales, into a larger story, adding humor, and maybe a bit of a moral lesson.
September 1, 2012
This was a very entertaining read. It wasn't a very difficult one, but I really appreciated the sense of humour the author has! It is a fairy-tale type story (even incorporating a couple of well-known fairy tales), but it has a few quirky twists. Definitely a fun read if you're looking for a relaxing, humorous read!
February 7, 2026
Absolutely loved it! This book was fun from the beginning on. Quirky sense of humor that I found greatly amusing. It teased at fairy tales and played with those concepts. I am now a fan of Daniel Fox and shall have to find more of his work. This story was tickling, fun, and an overall good read. Truly enjoyable. Highly recommended.
January 25, 2013
I wanted to like this book better than I did. It started out kind of reminding me of "The Princess Bride."
Unfortunately, the tone and plot kind of wavered between "being a for kids" and satirizing kid's books, never really settling into one or the other.
On the other hand, it's a quick read, not requiring much thought and thus "comfort reading" (much like "comfort food.")
Unfortunately, the tone and plot kind of wavered between "being a for kids" and satirizing kid's books, never really settling into one or the other.
On the other hand, it's a quick read, not requiring much thought and thus "comfort reading" (much like "comfort food.")
November 2, 2016
Sorry but I didn't take to this one. Originally I thought I was going to enjoy this book but it seemed to get sillier, not in a good way. The princess and the farmer were nicely drawn characters but the whole thing felt like it had been written as a piece of homework by someone who had read The Princess Bride.
March 17, 2013
This book was a lot of fun. It's probably geared more towards young readers but not so much that it's childish. I was completely entertained and never lost interest. The book is a quick and easy read and a lively fairytale. The story is funny, romantic, and exciting.
A must read for anyone.
A must read for anyone.
May 15, 2013
After a magician is slighted one too many times, he turns everyone in the castle to stone. The only ones who can stop him are a shallow princess, a dull farmer, and a warrior king who actually wants to be a painter. It starts out too cutesy, but it grew on me. Parts of it are quite funny!
November 27, 2016
Once I finally sat down to read this book, I was hooked. This was an excellent, well written and engaging, with interesting characters. I was so pleasantly surprised with how good it is. It gave me some genuine laughs and had a few moving moments, as well.
January 8, 2012
I thought this book was simply excellent, it engaged me, kept me entertained, and got me more interested in it, the further I read. I'd recommend it to anyone.
July 6, 2012
Fun, easy read. Quite funny at times too!
September 2, 2012
I liked this book. cute story and clever writing.
July 8, 2013
3.5 stars
December 24, 2013
A fun, amusing and light- hearted story about a princess and the lessons she learned.
April 22, 2013
Enjoyable.
April 26, 2017
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
This was a humorous read based on several different fairy tales combined into something totally new. The author displayed a somewhat ironic wit in telling this story which provided a semi bent view of fairy tales in general. A good read
This was a humorous read based on several different fairy tales combined into something totally new. The author displayed a somewhat ironic wit in telling this story which provided a semi bent view of fairy tales in general. A good read
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews